“Anne of Green Gables” has been interpreted since its publication in 1908, including this image from the 1985 Canadian mini-series by the same title. On May 12, Netflix adds their own spin on the classic book.
Netflix has been a forward-thinking streaming service, bringing several original shows or adaptations to the screen to the delight of binge watchers.
One of the newest shows coming to Netflix is “Anne,” an interpretation of the book “Anne of Green Gables” written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Netflix recently released the trailer for their upcoming series, appearing on Netflix May 12.
The plot centers around Anne Shirley, an unwanted orphan girl living in Canada in the late 1890s. The young girl deals with feelings of being unloved and unwanted while struggling to fit in with those around her at home and in school.
Throughout her entire childhood, Anne was tossed around abusive homes with strangers until she lands in the home of aged siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert.
School is rough at first, with several of Anne’s classmates openly stating their disgust in the “dirty trash” that is the orphan girl. Eventually, Anne meets Diana, a courageous and loyal friend that she begins to rely on.
Anne is not a typical children’s book heroine, however. With her wildly imaginative spirit and brash, feminist demeanor, she stands up for what she believes in and doesn’t care who gets in her way.
Some of the most memorable moments from the trailer include her saying, “Girls can do anything a boy can do, and more” and her hitting a boy who makes the mistake of pulling her hair.
The setting, lighting and mood of the series give viewers a sort of “indie” vibe, with the kind of camera work that makes the viewer believe we’re going to see a realistic, coming-of-age type series. The shots seem whimsical and dramatic all at different times, giving an interesting angle to Anne’s story.
However, this series hasn’t been without controversy.
Since the series was aired and promoted in Canada before coming to Netflix, there are two different promotional posters that have been used. The Canadian poster is a good representation of the series, showing Anne as realistically as possible with her bright red hair, prominent freckles and bags under her eyes.
The Netflix poster has the exact same image of the titular character but photoshopped to look younger, smoother and less like the heroine several know and love. Many say that photoshopping a little girl’s image is damaging to the message of the series and is completely unacceptable.
Despite promotional mishaps, when the series drops on the last day of finals week, several NDSU students are sure to turn in and “visit Green Gables” like the tagline promotes.