Little Lord Fauntleroy

When young Cedric Errol, nicknamed Ceddie, learns he is heir to an English earldom, his life changes in ways he never expected. Raised in New York by his widowed mother, Cedric keeps the simple manners and warmth from his upbringing when he moves to his stern grandfather's estate. The story follows how his kindness and honesty affect the household and the local community, opening old hearts without erasing the social realities around them. The series stays focused on character interactions and moral choices, favoring quiet moments and steady development over dramatic twists, so the emotional core is about family, class, and personal decency.

Produced by Nippon Animation and aired in 1988 as part of the World Masterpiece Theater, the anime adapts Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel "Little Lord Fauntleroy." The Japanese voice cast includes Ai Orikasa as Cedric 'Ceddie' Errol, Takeshi Watabe as the Earl of Dorincourt, Tomoko Munakata as Annie, Shinji Ogawa as James, and Toshiya Ueda as Mr. Silas Hobbs.

The series didn't win major international awards, and there aren't widely reported nominations in big festivals. It has, however, maintained a steady place among World Masterpiece Theater entries appreciated by collectors and fans of classic literature adaptations.

As part of the long-running World Masterpiece Theater anthology, this adaptation contributed to a tradition of bringing Western children's classics to Japanese television, reinforcing the program's role in cultural exchange. Its restrained storytelling and period detail made it a recognizable example of that yearly format, and it still gets mentioned by viewers who grew up with those yearly broadcasts.

Critical and fan response has been modest, reflected in a small average rating around 6.5 out of 10 from available votes. Viewers often praise the faithfulness to the original plot and the emphasis on moral virtues, while some note a measured pace that won't suit those wanting fast action. Major themes include kindness across class lines, the responsibilities of inheritance, and the everyday impact of empathy and integrity.