Surrounded by green meadows and mountains, an 8-year-old girl brings a flower to her mother's grave. Thus began the story of Pollyanna, protagonist of the anime of the 80s which we will talk about in this new article of our column. We are in 1987 when this Japanese animated series, of 51 episodes, produced by Nippon Animation, which is part of the World Masterpiece Theater, we already told you about a few articles ago. Even this cartoon is in fact based on some novels. But, before going into these details, let's find out what it is the story of Pollyanna.
Pollyanna: the plot
Pollyanna's is a difficult story, made up of many dramas, but also full of hope. The protagonist lives in the mountains with her father John, pastor of the local church, after the death of her mother. The first episode of the animated series presents us this cheerful and very lively but also judicious girl thanks to the teachings of her father. We also meet other characters in the story: Pollyanna's best friend, the stern but affectionate Molly White, whom the girl calls aunt, and other inhabitants of the city. However, the lively Pollyanna experiences a new drama when her father accuses an illness: at the end of her life, the man reminds her of the first times together after the death of her mother and tells her not to forget 'the secret of happiness': the ability to see and enjoy only the positive side of life. "Always seek happiness" are the last words of the man before dying in the arms of his daughter Pollyanna in tears.
Aunt Polly and Mr. Pendelton's secret
Ms. Molly White is very fond of Pollyanna, so she decides to take care of the little girl after her father's death. After a few days, however, it turns out that the protagonist has an aunt, Polly Harrington, younger sister of her deceased mother, who lives in Vermont. The deceased father wrote that, in the event of her untimely death, the child would be entrusted to her. Aunt Polly is a very strict woman who has no longer had relations with the child's parents, disagreeing with her sister's choice to marry a modest man and abandon her wealthy status. Pollyanna's sweetness and great cheerfulness, however, will manage to melt the coldness of her aunt who, little by little, he will begin to love her like a real daughter. Everyone is fond of the child, even the surly Mr. Pendelton, a man who lives alone with his dog, far from everyone. A condition that lives for a love that has so disappointed him and that Pollyanna believes was for her aunt Polly. Instead, he will reveal to her that, many years ago, he fell madly in love with his mother, Jenny.
Pollyanna's accident
Pollyanna's days are also enlivened by the presence of her new and inseparable friend, Jimmy, an orphan who wants to be adopted by the gruff Mr. Pendelton. In the intent to implement this plan, however, the child remains victim of a serious accident, ending up hit by a car. The spine is damaged and this plunges Pollyanna into great despair. Everyone is worried about the baby but it is Jimmy who learns of a doctor who could operate her and make her walk again. Aunt Polly agrees to have her examined by him: he takes her to Boston and here the doctor approves the operation, while specifying that the chances of it succeeding are few. But Pollyanna makes it: the operation is successful, the girl will walk again. However, she will have to undergo weekly therapies, which will force her to move to Boston for a while.
The move to Boston to Mrs. Carew's house
It turns out that Aunt Polly and the town doctor, Chilton, have been in love in the past and still are today. The two understand this and decide to get married. The too many commitments of the aunt, who now also helps her husband in the clinic, make it difficult for the weekly trips to Boston for Pollyanna's therapies, the child is thus entrusted for some time in the house of Mrs. Carew, sister of the doctor who has the child. under treatment. A very beautiful woman but also sad and depressed due to the death of her loved ones and the disappearance of her grandson. Pollyanna is eager to find him and believes he is James, an orphaned child who lives nearby. Ms. Carew is also convinced and adopts it but eventually it will be discovered that the lady's missing nephew is Jimmy, Pollyanna's best friend, who has meanwhile been adopted by Mr. Pendelton.
The end
After the period of treatment in Boston, Pollyanna returns home. The happiness of the family, however, is ruined by another tragedy: Dr. Chilton, during a stormy night, falls off a precipice and dies. Aunt Polly falls into depression and returns to being the grumpy woman of the early days. To help her, the little girl invites Mrs. Carew and her adopted grandson Jamie and it is on this occasion that she discovers the truth about Jimmy, currently the son of Mr. Pendelton. But everything is resolved when the latter, falling in love with the woman, he asks her to be his wife and she accepts. Pendelton, Mrs. Carew, Jamie and Jimmy will happily live together. Even Aunt Polly finds her smile again thanks to Pollyanna, realizing that she is the sense of her happiness. The woman, therefore, is also able to understand the importance of game of happiness that Pollyanna had learned from her father: to be able to grasp their positive of all things.
Pollyanna: curiosity
From novels to anime
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the anime series is based on two novels: Pollyana e Pollyanna cresce by Eleanor H. Porter, published respectively in 1913 and 1915. As in any self-respecting transposition, also in this case there is no lack of differences between what was written and what went on video. What distinguishes the two novels, as can be guessed from the title, is that in the second (which acts as a sequel) the protagonist grows up. Pollyanna is no longer a child but a 17-year-old teenager. The growth comes after the spinal injury caused by the car accident (episodes 28 to 51), when the child remains in Boston to follow rehabilitation therapies after the operation. In the animated series, however, there is no growth: Pollyanna remains a child from start to finish. Another difference is that the protagonist in the anime is 8 years old but in the novel she is 11.
The different ending
The second novel and the anime series of Pollyanna do not differ only in the growth of the protagonist. The fact that there is a 17-year-old protagonist in the text gives the possibility of develop further plots which, therefore, do not go on stage in the anime where we are in front of a little girl. Many aspects of the story - the death of Aunt Polly's doctor husband, the discovery of Jimmy's real family, etc. - are dealt with in the novel by a 17-year-old protagonist; but that's not all because the story develops further and Pollyanna also experiences her first love. The girl falls in love with his best friend Jimmy but finds Aunt Polly's opposition. However, the novel ends with a happy ending: the two boys happily live their love.
Pollyanna's syndrome
It is curious to discover that "The game of happiness“, Which Reverend John Whittier teaches his daughter Pollyanna before she dies and which teaches the little girl to find the bright side in all things, was the perfect example to describe what is now defined as a real syndrome. L''excessive' optimism of the protagonist, happy even a few hours after the death of her father or after any other tragedy that happens to her on the road, gave the name to Pollyanna syndrome which, without going too far into issues that do not belong to us, indicates the tendency to neglect negative events in order to remember only the positive ones.
The abbreviation
The beautiful Italian theme song of the animated series is simply titled 'Pollyanna' and is sung by Cristina D'Avena.
The characters
Pollyanna Whittier - 8-year-old girl, protagonist of the story.
John Whittier - Reverend and father of the protagonist who dies in the second episode of an illness.
Polly Harrington - Pollyana's aunt, younger sister of her dead mother Jenny.
Nancy - Aunt Polly Harrington's maid, will become a great friend of the protagonist.
Jimmy Bean Pendelton - Initially an orphan, he is Pollyanna's best friend when he moves in with Aunt Polly.
John Pendelton - Man initially gruff and lonely. His life will change thanks to the meeting with Pollyanna. He will adopt Jimmy.
Thomas Chilton - Country doctor and Aunt Polly's ex-boyfriend. The two will reunite and marry but he will soon die of an accident.
Tom, Dargene e Timothy - Aunt Polly's nice servants, of whom Pollyanna is very fond.
Pon pon - Pollyanna's inseparable squirrel.
Ruth Carew - The woman who will host Pollyanna during her convalescence in Boston. She is Jimmy's true relative and will later marry Mr. Pendelton.
James - Child who will be adopted by Mrs Carew who, initially, believes him to be her missing grandson (who turns out to be Jimmy).
Molly White - The lady who looks after Pollyanna right after her father's death and before she moves in with her biological aunt.
Doctor Ames - It is the Boston surgeon who operates the protagonist and makes her walk again.
Of Wetherby - Ruth's nurse and sister.
Pollyanna
- Porter, Eleanor (Author)
You want to relive the stories of others 80s anime? We took a dip in prehistoric times with Ryu the cave boy, then in the troubled history of Lady Oscar, between Sorgenti Maledette with Ranma 1 / 2, in the witch magic contest Bia. We went to a dystopian future with Conan and we are passionate about the sporting challenges of Holly and Benji, Lotti e Mila and Shiro. But also a lot, more!
Tagsanime Cristina d'Avena Pollyanna pollyanna novel Pollyanna: the 'game of happiness' as a lifestyle
