This one originally ran around Halloween. I won’t bother to explain Halloween for those who don’t know about it (likely few in number). I will bother to explain Anne of Green Gables for those who don’t know about it (likely slightly larger in number).
Anne of Green Gables was a book published over one hundred years ago by Canadian author L.M. Montgomery. The story (often considered children’s lit, though some debate that label) concerns two aging siblings who wish to adopt a boy to help them around the farm in turn-of-the-century Prince Edward Island. A girl (Anne) shows up, and though she’s not initially wanted, she wins over the whole town with her wild imagination and winning personality. Anne has bright red hair, freckles, and bears more than a passing resemblance to Puck.
For the record, Anne of Green Gables has been translated into 36 languages and is insanely popular in Japan, though no one quite knows why. There’s even an anime movie version of the book. The Green Gables farmhouse in PEI gets tons of Japanese tourists visiting every year, some of whom plan Japanese Green Gables weddings where the bride dresses up as Anne. I’m totally serious here.
In the book, Anne’s age ranges from ten to eighteen, but Puck’s dressed up as the iconic ten year-old Anne – hence her reaction to Colin’s revelation.
Like all such comedy, if you don’t know Anne of Green Gables, the joke isn’t quite as funny, but c’est la vie.
I’m not sure what the heck Colin is dressed up as: maybe Robin Hood, maybe Peter Pan, maybe Link, maybe Legolas.
Actually, there’s a really, really obvious reason it’s hugely popular in Japan–just watch the Anne of Green Gables anime TV series, and you’ll instantly know why. It’s fantastic (and a very faithful adaptation).
Back in the ’80s proto-Ghibli did a bunch of big-budget TV adaptations of classic children’s literature (Heidi, etc), which were (rightly) well-loved. Green Gables was one.
I’ve heard of that, and to be honest, I have no idea whether the Japanese obsession predates that TV series or not. But I think your answer is likely…
Megan Follows was awfully cute in the 80s TV series.
True, though I got kind of sad seeing the picture of her now on that wikipedia link. She doesn’t look bad; she just doesn’t look in any way like classic Megan Follows.
Sad but true.
As an Islander (Prince Edward Island duh) it’s always so strange to me when Anne pops up in something not from PEI. I almost can’t believe she’s that famous or that she even exists as a character outside of our tourist shops.
She does. Though I’d say that her star has sort of waned over the past few years. She was huge in the 80’s in the post-Megan Follows miniseries time period. I don’t know about now.
But but. Anne of Green Gables is well known across Canada! I’m from Quebec, like Gecko says, she was huge in the 80s here.
And she was also super big in Japan in the 70s.
Everyone loves Anne. Especially the Japanese. I’m cool with that.
I know exactly what Colin looks like: dead set replica of those “forestmen” Lego dudes from the castle series in the late eighties and early nineties. I mean exactly.
Guess what was probably a big influence on this costume? Those Lego forest guys. I still have all of the sets to this day. They defined what I thought a forest guy should look like.
Anne Shirley! =D
So Canadian!
Anne Shirley: Canadian superhero. Kinda sorta.
THIS I had heard of before… but not “Sara Lee”. Funny how that happens, hmm? =)
IMDb knows a lot about Anne, incl things The Colonel didnt know.
Well, that’s sort of IMDB’s job.
Wow, Puck makes one great Anne!
She’s typecast.
He did warn her.
Fair enough.
I think “Anne of Green Gables” should be redone “Sopranos” style.
Satan could be the director.
They recently redid Anne on Netflix. It was good.
Did it survive the storm?
You mean the Green Gables house? I dunno. I don’t think PEI was hit that hard. The real damage was in Newfoundland.