Belle and Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian is an anime adaption of a series of French novels called Belle et Sébastien by Cécile Aubry. The series ran on the Japanese network NHK from April 7, 1981 – June 22, 1982. It consists of 52 episodes and was a co-production of MK Company, Visual 80 Productions and Toho Company, Ltd.. Toshiyuki Kashiwakura was the head writer and character designs were by Shuichi Seki. The show was broadcast on French and Japanese television in 1981, with American cable network Nickelodeon picking it up in 1984. In the United Kingdom, it aired on Children's BBC in 1989 and 1990. This anime used many staffers from Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater franchise, thus the look and feel is similar to that of a WMT production even though Nippon Animation itself was not involved with this series. The series has been aired in many countries outside Japan and has been dubbed and subtitled in English and numerous other languages.

Belle and Sebastian (1981-1982) is a Japanese anime series adapted from the French novels Belle et Sébastien by Cécile Aubry, produced for NHK and co-produced by MK Company, Visual 80 Productions and Toho. Its protagonist is a young boy, Sebastian (voiced by Noriko Ohara), who lives in a mountain village in the Pyrenees with his grandfather Cesar (Ichiro Nagai) and their enormous white dog Belle. Sebastian's engine is a longing for his absent mother, and each episode of this single-season, 52-episode run follows the pair as they travel through the rugged mountain countryside, meeting villagers, facing weather, wolves and hardship, and deepening a bond of loyalty and friendship. The series is a classic of the world masterpiece theater tradition, carrying the look and feel of that franchise even though Nippon Animation was not involved. Its tone is gentle, wistful and warm, with a pastoral sense of landscape and an emphasis on kindness and perseverance. Fans of Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Anne of Green Gables will find the same earnest, wholesome storytelling, and viewers of Lassie will recognize the devoted animal companion at its heart. It is a family-friendly show with a nostalgic, hand-drawn charm.

• Heidi, Girl of the Alpsgentle family animation, child and animal friendship, wholesome adventure tone
• Anne of Green Gablesworld masterpiece theater style, rural European setting, journey-driven episodic animation
• Lassieanimal companion adventure, quest for a missing parent, family animation

Release Date

1981-04-07

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

7.3 / 10 (30)

What is Belle and Sebastian about?

A young boy and his giant dog cross the Pyrenees in search of his missing mother in this gentle 1981 Japanese anime adaptation of the French novel.

What is Belle and Sebastian like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Belle and Sebastian as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.

Is Belle and Sebastian violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Belle and Sebastian.

Which shows are like Belle and Sebastian?

Shows with a similar feel include Heidi, Girl of the Alps, Anne of Green Gables, and Lassie.

How long is Belle and Sebastian?

Belle and Sebastian: 1 season, 52 episodes.

Is Belle and Sebastian still running?

No, Belle and Sebastian has ended.