The Secret Garden
Synopsis
Every child deserves to have a fun and carefree childhood. Unfortunately, life is not always fair, as is the case with Mary Lennox. At a very young age, Mary loses her parents to a disease, leaving her traumatized and orphaned. From India, she is brought to England with her uncle who has taken on the role of her new guardian. Although she is sad to have lost her parents, Mary is happy and grateful to have someone to take care of her. She gets to eat everyday and live in a big mansion, things that she understands should not be taken for granted. However, her uncle is a very quiet person, hardly ever speaking to anyone. This solitude causes Mary to oftentimes get bored to tears, forcing her to relive horrible memories of her past. As she enjoys a stroll outside one day, she discovers a secret garden near her home. Along with her new friends, Dicon and Martha, as well as her disabled cousin, Collin, Mary embarks on a journey that is sure to brighten her dull life to the uttermost extreme!
Audience Consensus
The anime is well-received as a faithful adaptation of the book, with added content that enhances the story and characters. The animation is considered good for its time. However, the music is generic and the pacing may be slow for some viewers. Overall, the series is a heartwarming tale of friendship and personal growth.
Strengths
- Faithful adaptation of the original book with added content.
- Positive character development.
- Lively and happy opening theme.
- Good animation for its time.
Weaknesses
- Generic music.
- Slow pacing compared to the book.
- Generic animation.