World Masterpiece Theater

World Masterpiece Theater (世界名作劇場, Sekai Meisaku Gekijou^?) has been the jewel of Japanese TV animation for more than 40 years. It's a TV animation series based on classic children's literature, animated by Nippon Animation. Takahata and Miyazaki started this series with Heidi, in 1974 (at that time, Nippon Animation was called Zuiyo Enterprises). Usually, a series based on one book took one year to complete (50-52 episodes), and a new series started in the following year.

The titles:

Heidi, Girl of the Alps (アルプスの少女ハイジ, Arupusu no Shoujo Haiji^?) TV Series: 6 January 1974 - 29 December 1974 / 52 Episodes Miyazaki: Scene design & scene organization / Takahata: Director

A Dog of Flanders (フランダースの犬, Furandaasu no Inu^?) TV Series: 5 January 1975 - 28 December 1975 / 52 Episodes Miyazaki: Key Animation (ep. #15) / Takahata: Direction & Storyboards (ep. #15)

3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (母をたずねて三千里, Haha wo Tazunete Sanzenri^?) TV Series: 4 January 1976 - 26 December 1976 / 52 Episodes Miyazaki: Scene design & scene organization / Takahata: Director

Rascal the Raccoon (あらいぐまラスカル, Araiguma Rasukaru^?) TV Series: 2 January 1977 - 25 December 1977 / 52 Episodes Miyazaki: Key animation (eps. #4-6, 10, 12-22, 24-28)

Perinne's Story (ペリーヌ物語, Periinu Monogatari^?) TV Series: 1 January 1978 - 31 December 1978 / 53 Episodes Takahata: Storyboards (eps. #3 & 6)

Anne of Green Gables (赤毛のアン, Akao no An^?) TV Series: 7 January 1979 - 30 December 1979 / 50 Episodes Miyazaki: Scene design & scene organization (eps. #1-15) / Takahata: Director; screenplay

Quicklinks to works

World Masterpiece Theater
1974 | 1976	1974	1975	1976
	Heidi, Girl of the Alps	A Dog of Flanders	3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
1977 | 1979	1977	1978	1979
	Rascal the Raccoon	Perinne's Story	Anne of Green Gables