My Daddy Long Legs

Growing up in an orphanage, Judy Abbott watches other kids get chosen while she stays behind. Then one day, a mysterious rich man offers her a full scholarship to a prestigious school — the only catch is she has to write him a letter every month. She never gets a reply. She doesn't even know his name. She only caught a glimpse of his long shadow as he left, so she calls him 'Daddy Long Legs' and just... starts writing. That setup sounds a little melancholy, but this 40-episode TV series from Nippon Animation is genuinely warm and funny. Judy is sharp, curious, and adjusts to a world of etiquette and wealth with a mix of awkwardness and quiet determination that's easy to root for. The letters she writes become the heartbeat of the story — personal, candid, and full of personality. If you grew up watching Akage no Anne or Trapp Ikka Monogatari, this fits right into that same World Masterpiece Theater tradition of adapting classic Western literature with real care and emotional patience. And if you liked Oniisama e and enjoy stories about young women navigating school friendships and unspoken feelings, there's plenty here for you too. Based on Jean Webster's early 20th-century novel, it's a period piece that doesn't feel dusty — just gentle, romantic in a slow-burn way, and honest about what it means to grow up when someone believes in you from a distance.