19. Candy Candy

More orphantainment, though this time not in an adaptation of a 19th Century European novel.

Based on the novels by Kyoko Mizuki, the Candy Candy anime began in 1976, a year after a manga adaptation by Mizuki herself and artist Yumiko Igarashi began in Nakayoshi.

The story follows the life and loves of the American orphan, Candice White Ardlay. It covers the gamut of cruel stepbrothers and sisters, mysterious relatives, friendly hobos, boarding schools, death, nuns, love and World War I. You know, the usual.

The anime and manga only covers the first 2 novels, with the 3rd novel unadapted, meaning it lacks an ending. As it happens, the 3rd novel doesn't resolve things either, so it's not so bad.

The popularity of the show at the time was insane, and spread throughout the world in the early 80s, this ground to halt in the 90s when Igarashi began to produce Candy Candy material without the input of Mizuki or Toei, this led to various lawsuits ending in 2001 with the result being the pair have equal ownership of the property.