Princess Sara

Princess Sara (also spelled Princess Sarah) is a Japanese anime television series adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1905 novel *A Little Princess*. Produced by Nippon Animation as part of its World Masterpiece Theater, it aired on Fuji TV from January to December 1985. The story centers on Sara Crewe, a student at an all-girls boarding school who is orphaned and forced into servitude.

In 1885, wealthy English widower Captain Ralph Crewe, living in British-ruled India, enrolls his seven-year-old daughter Sara at Miss Minchin’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies in London. Sara excels academically and is beloved by her classmates, but she earns the hatred of class representative Lavinia Herbert and the resentment of headmistress Miss Minchin. On her eleventh birthday, Sara learns of her father’s death and bankruptcy from an enraged Miss Minchin, who then forces the orphaned girl to work as an unpaid maid. Miss Minchin and Lavinia try to break her spirit, but with the support of her friends, Sara endures hardships through kindness and imagination.

Key characters include Sara Crewe, a kind, brave, and intelligent girl; Captain Ralph Crewe, her devoted father who dies in India; Miss Maria Minchin, the strict and cruel headmistress; her meek sister Amelia Minchin, a teacher; Lavinia Herbert, Sara’s jealous rival who remains antagonistic throughout; Becky, a scullery maid and Sara’s closest friend; Peter, a street-smart boy and loyal friend; Ermengarde St. John, a slow-learning but kind schoolmate; Lottie Legh, the youngest student prone to tantrums; Jessie and Gertrude, Lavinia’s close schoolmates; Molly and James, a resident maid and cook; Mariette, a maid serving Sara; Monsieur Dufarge, a French teacher; Mr. Tom Carrisford, a kind neighbor and Ralph Crewe’s best friend; Ram Dass, an Indian lascar serving Mr. Carrisford, who has a pet monkey named Surya; Mr. Carmichael, Mr. Carrisford’s solicitor; his children Donald and Janet Carmichael; and other figures such as Mr. Barrow, Lavinia’s parents, orphaned street child Anne, Becky’s siblings Teddy and Martha, Peter’s friend Jim, and Dr. Wild.