Alps no Shoujo Heidi

Heidi, Girl of the Alps (Alps no Shoujo Heidi) is an absolutely lovely anime adaptation of the 1880 Swiss novel written by Johanna Spyri. The novel has gotten other numerous adaptations beside the anime series, which should indicate how much the original novel has touched the hearts of its readers. Some adaptations surely have been much more grim and gut-wrenching than the rest with its happy moments but none might ever be held as high as this particular adaptation that for many is a taste of nostalgia from their their childhood. Many who have seen it might still imagine the people of Switzerland herding theirgoats while happily dancing on the high mountains of the Alps just like the character representing Japan in another series called Hetalia. In fact a lot of people from Japan wanted to visit Switzerland when the series had started airing, indicating even more of its impact on the viewers. Back when I was young the only place I ever heard or saw of Heidi's story was from my grandmother, who I watched the live action adaptation(s) with, although I remember them having more sadness and melancholy than in the anime version, which I don't actually have a lot of memories of. Only when I was much older did I finally watch a bit of the anime adaptation as I recognized the familiar name from my childhood and skipped almost or, well basically everything as I was still a bit impatient a few years back. And finally this week I finally started watching it and finished all 52 episodes while knowing very well how the story would be. The story of Heidi, Girl of the Alps is quite simple without big plot twists or any real big changes to the setting, which the characters reside in as the show wants you to feel like you're truly living in the beauty of the mountains along with Heidi. The beauty of the setting is also enhanced by the background art, which makes it feel like mimicking the real beauty that is the country of Switzerland from the towns, the lakes, the trees to the mountains. The characters are not as detailed or as clean as the background but they sure do stand out from it and the animators were able to put more detail into the movements when needed accompanied beautifully by the sound design, which sadly does sometimes use the same happy tracks that are very noticeable but you'll get pretty used to it as it doesn't really spoil a scene. There are also quiet moments when it's supposed to be serious or eerie in the scene. The biggest factor to enjoying Heidi, the Girl of the Alps is its characters, which the story, art and sound are there for. All of it exists to enhance how the characters feel. Normally this is all expressed in the novel as text, so those who can't get themselves to imagine the scenes from text get to see it in art with the sound of the fir trees greeting Heidi as her face lights up with joy accompanied by her laughing as she turns around to chase the goats back into the top of the mountain where the sun smiles and turns the cliffs into a blanket of yellow and red. A scene so beautiful that you can truly feel what is going on in Heidi's head as she runs back into the hut to enjoy a piece of bread and cheese with the grandfather that smiles so kindly upon seeing the young girl enjoying her dinner after a long day on the top of the mountain. This is what makes the show so great, understanding the characters, their feelings, sorrows, happiness, everything. And despite this show being old enough to be re-adapted by anyone many many times, I think no other adaptation could ever redo what this version did for so many people. There doesn't really even have to be an adaptation or even a continuation to expand the their world as much as I would want there to be. The story of a girl that lives on the Alps is something that was there and can't be really redone. It's a gem with small cracks but one of a kind that cannot be replicated or replaced despite its small imperfections. A gem that can be enjoyed by anyone despite their culture or origins.