now THIS is a cover fail

[writinchica2k]

Comments

[blondebeaker]

I betcha whoever designed it never read the book. Anne's hair colour is mentioned a billion times in it.

[ljlee]

To the extent that at least one international version (Korean) is titled Read-Headed Anne.

[missabnormal]

Not just the Korean version, the Japanese version as well. Anne of Green Gables is called Akage no An in Japan (it means 'Red-Haired Anne'), and she's pretty much a cultural icon in Japan. In fact, her red hair is like a trademark for her!

[ljlee]

I'm almost positive the early Korean versions were translated directly from the Japanese. I remember growing up with the dubbed Japanese animation version, too, entitled Red-Haired Anne.

[missabnormal]

I only found out about Anne Shirley's popularity in Asia two years ago, and to be honest, I was rather surprised. I never knew she was so popular in Asian countries, especially Japan (I saw a part of the Japanese production of the Anne of Green Gables musical on Youtube).

I guess it could be the charm that she had, how she was so optimistic and cheerful, as well as her red hair and love for romance and pretty dresses?

[ljlee]

As a teen I read the whole series, right down to the one starring Anne's daughter Rilla during WWI--but the fandom in Korea, and to the best of my knowledge Japan, doesn't go nearly so far. I think her popularity is due to all the reasons you state, plus, I suspect, the fact that she considers herself an ugly misfit, something that a lot of kids can identify with. I think in a specifically Asian context it also reflects Asian anxieties about not quite fitting into modernity, whether by looks or background and temperament. This may also be why interest drops off steeply as Anne becomes more secure in herself and grows into an accomplished woman, though to be fair I think it's the first couple of books that are the most popular in the West, too.

[missabnormal]

I see ^_^ That makes a lot of sense. And to be honest, from what I heard, Japan still has its fascination with Anne Shirley, they made a drama based on the woman who had translated Anne of Green Gables into Japanese (called Hanako to Anne, I think), and PEI still gets quite a lot of Japanese tourists at the Green Gables attraction.

In fact, a lot of the Japanese ESL students in my university seem to like Anne of Green Gables (especially the girls). I remembered liking her as well when I read the first book a while ago.

[ljlee]

Based on the translator's life?! Wow, when Japan geeks out it goes all OUT. O_o I don't think the Anne mania in Korea ever went so far, the animation and book were just fairly popular for a while with children and have widespread name recognition.

[missabnormal]

Haha, that's definitely true! When they like something, they really go all out in their merch and what not!