Candy Candy

is a Japanese series created by Japanese writer Keiko Nagita under the pen name Kyoko Mizuki. The main character, Candice "Candy" White Ardley, is a blonde girl with freckles, large emerald green eyes and long hair, worn in pigtails with bows. Candy Candy first appeared as a manga in April 1975, written by Mizuki and illustrated by manga artist Yumiko Igarashi, a collaboration which was put together by the Japanese magazine Nakayoshi who were interested in recreating a "masterpiece" manga in the same vein as Heidi, Anne of Green Gables and other famous classic titles of literature read predominantly by young girls. The manga series ran for four years and won the 1st Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo in 1977. The story was adapted into an anime series by Toei Animation. There are also three animated short films. Plot The Candy Candy manga provides a story for the shōjo demographic of young girls in early adolescence. Candy is an abandoned orphan taken in by Pony's Home, an orphanage near Lake Michigan around the start of the 20th century,. She spends the first years of her life at the orphanage, to where she would often return to repose and to decide the next course in her life. When Candy was 6 years old, Annie, her best friend at the orphanage, is adopted. Without her friend, Candy runs to Pony's hill while crying. There she briefly meets a mysterious boy dressed in a Scottish kilt, carrying a bagpipe, who tells her she is more beautiful when she laughs. Candy retains fond memories of that boy. She remembered him as the "Prince on the Hill". After he disappears, Candy finds a badge left behind by the "Prince". This will be her happiness talisman in later life. When she turned 12, Candy was taken in by the Leagan family as a companion for their daughter Eliza. The Leagans treat her poorly and eventually make Candy a servant girl. Whilst there, Candy also meets three boys. Anthony Brown, who looks exactly like the "Prince on the Hill" boy she had met in the past, and the Cornwell brothers, the inventive Alistair and the flamboyant Archibald (Stair and Archie). They all become smitten with Candy and become friends. Candy has special feelings for Anthony. He is her "first, innocent love". This does not go unnoticed by Eliza who wants desperately to send Candy away. Both her and her brother Neal bully Candy with every opportunity. In one such an occasion, the two siblings plot against Candy and she ends up being accused of stealing.