# Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (TV series)

The Girl in the Wind: Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (風の中の少女 金髪のジェニー, Kaze no Naka no Shōjo: Kinpatsu no Jenī) is a Japanese animated television series produced by Nippon Animation which ran for 52 episodes on TV Tokyo from October 1992 to September 1993. It is based on the 1854 song "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" by Stephen Foster.

## Outline

This work depicts the childhood of the composer Stephen Foster and his wife Jane McDowell Foster Wiley. The original is the novel based on the biography of Stephen Foster, written by Fumio Ishimori. Among music-themed anime, this work is an anime whose theme is not only music but also biography, and depicts the childhood of a noted composer, but the anime itself has almost nothing to do with the real Foster or his wife. It is one of companion volumes of the World Masterpiece Theater, broadcast on TV Tokyo from 19:30 to 20:00 on Thursday.
This work is the last anime based on Western literatures which was produced by Nippon Animation. In fact, there are no anime based on Western literatures in anime that were first broadcast since 1993, except for Fuji TV's World Masterpiece Theater series.

## Synopsis

The story begins in a small town in Pennsylvania in 1838. Jeanie MacDowell is a cheerful and beautiful girl with light brown hair (although this could be perceived as being blonde hair). Jeanie enjoys playing the piano and loves taking piano lessons from her mother.
Steven, a good harmonica player, and Bill, a boy who is good at playing the banjo, are great friends of Jeanie's. They enjoy playing music together like a small band.
Jeanie's happy life changes dramatically after her mother suddenly passes away. Experiencing many difficulties and learning the importance of life, she decides to devote her life to helping many people suffering from illness.

## Characters

* Narrator: Toshiko Fujita

### Main trio

* Jeanie MacDowell: Voiced by: Mitsuko Horie
* Steven Foster: Voiced by: Toshiko Fujita
* Bill: Voiced by: Masami Kikuchi

### Other characters

* Freddie MacDowell: Voiced by: Kinryū Arimoto
    Jeanie's father.
* Angela MacDowell: Voiced by: Waka Kanda
    Jeanie's mother.
* Dr. Sandy: Voiced by: Keaton Yamada
* Diana: Voiced by: Masako Katsuki
    Jeanie's stepmother.
* Robert: Voiced by: Hiro Yūki
* Big Joe: Voiced by: Takkō Ishimori
    Bill's father.
* Mammy: Voiced by: Noriko Oka
* Henry Foster: Voiced by: Hidetoshi Nakamura
* Susan: Voiced by: Kei Hayami
* Ms. Garland: Voiced by: Rumiko Ukai
    An illiberal teacher.
* Betty Lambert: Voiced by: Yuri Shiratori
* Cathy: Voiced by: Masako Miura
* Mora: Voiced by: Kumiko Nishihara
* Kanna: Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa
* Sister Nancy Conrad: Voiced by: Sumi Shimamoto
* Dr. Jason: Voiced by: Mitsuo Senda
* Jackson
* Carla
    A snobbish student who dislikes Jeanie.

### Animal characters

* Tray
    Bill's domestic dog. It goes well with the Jeanie trio and can even save them from the crisis.

## Staff

* Director: Ryō Yasumura
* Assistant director: Hiroshi Nishikiori
* Scenario: Fumio Ishimori, Nobuyuki Fujimoto, Mai Sunaga
* Character design: Masahiro Kase
* Music: Hideo Shimazu
* Sound director: Etsuji Yamada
* Animation director: Masahiro Kase, Hirokazu Ishiyuki, Ikuo Shimazu, Moriyasu Taniguchi, Satoshi Tasaki
* Art director: Masamichi Takano
* Producer: Mutsuo Shimizu (TV Tokyo), Takaji Matsudo, Shun'ichi Kosao (Nippon Animation)
* Planning: Shōji Satō (Nippon Animation), Masunosuke Ōhashi (Dentsu Osaka branch)
* Production management: Junzō Nakajima (Nippon Animation)
* Production desk: Ken'ichi Satō
* Copyright management: Tadashi Hoshino
* Public relations: Caroline Briey (TV Tokyo)

## Theme songs

* Opening theme: Chasing the Sun (太陽を追いかけて, Taiyō wo oikakete)
** Singer: Mitsuko Horie
** Lyricist: Kazunori Sonobe
** Composer, arranger: Tomoki Hasegawa
* Ending theme: Mirror of Memories (思い出の鏡, Omoide no kagami)
** Singer: Mitsuko Horie
** Lyricist: Mitsuko Shiramine
** Composer, arranger: Hideo Shimazu
The music collection of this work is titled as "Mirror of Memories", which is also the title of the ending theme, and occasionally inserts narrations by Mitsuko Horie who acts as the main character Jeanie McDowell.

## Episodes

| # | Title | Original airdate |
| 01 | "Hometown People" Transliteration: "Kōkyō no Hitobito" (Japanese: 故郷の人々) | October 15, 1992 (1992-10-15) |
| 02 | "A Local Horse Race" Transliteration: "Kusakeiba" (Japanese: 草競馬) | October 22, 1992 (1992-10-22) |
| 03 | "Please Don't Die, Mother" Transliteration: "Shinanai de Kāsan" (Japanese: 死なないで母さん) | October 29, 1992 (1992-10-29) |
| 04 | "Tears Are on the Other Side of Stars" Transliteration: "Namida wa Hoshi no Kanata ni" (Japanese: 涙は星のかなたに) | November 5, 1992 (1992-11-05) |
| 05 | "The Flashy Patient" Transliteration: "Hanayaka na Kanja-san" (Japanese: 華やかな患者さん) | November 12, 1992 (1992-11-12) |
| 06 | "An Appointment with Father" Transliteration: "Otōsan to no Yakusoku" (Japanese: お父さんとの約束) | November 19, 1992 (1992-11-19) |
| 07 | "An Unexpected Gift" Transliteration: "Igai na Purezento" (Japanese: 意外なプレゼント) | November 26, 1992 (1992-11-26) |
| 08 | "The Riddle of Ms. Diana" Transliteration: "Daiana-san no Nazo" (Japanese: ダイアナさんの謎) | December 3, 1992 (1992-12-03) |
| 09 | "My Best Friend Bertha" Transliteration: "Yūjō no Bazā" (Japanese: 友情のバザー) | December 10, 1992 (1992-12-10) |
| 10 | "A Night Alone" Transliteration: "Hitoribotchi no Yoru" (Japanese: 一人ぼっちの夜) | December 17, 1992 (1992-12-17) |
| 11 | "Father's Determination" Transliteration: "Otōsan no Ketsui" (Japanese: お父さんの決意) | December 24, 1992 (1992-12-24) |
| 12 | "A New Journey" Transliteration: "Atarashii Tabidachi" (Japanese: 新しい旅立ち) | December 31, 1992 (1992-12-31) |
| 13 | "The Strong Bonds of Friendship" Transliteration: "Tsuyoi Yūjō no Kizuna" (Japanese: 強い友情のきずな) | January 7, 1993 (1993-01-07) |
| 14 | "An Important Gift" Transliteration: "Taisetsu na Okurimono" (Japanese: 大切なおくりもの) | January 14, 1993 (1993-01-14) |
| 15 | "Morning of Goodbyes" Transliteration: "Sayonara no Asa" (Japanese: さよならの朝) | January 21, 1993 (1993-01-21) |
| 16 | "The Fate of Two Letters" Transliteration: "Unmei no Nitsū no Tegami" (Japanese: 運命の二通の手紙) | January 28, 1993 (1993-01-28) |
| 17 | "Goodbye to the Hometown" Transliteration: "Sayonara Kokyō" (Japanese: さよなら故郷) | February 4, 1993 (1993-02-04) |
| 18 | "A New Life" Transliteration: "Atarashii Seikatsu" (Japanese: 新しい生活) | February 11, 1993 (1993-02-11) |
| 19 | "An Enjoyable Sunday" Transliteration: "Tanoshimi na Nichiyōbi" (Japanese: 楽しみな日曜日) | February 18, 1993 (1993-02-18) |
| 20 | "Ms. Annamarie" Transliteration: "Annamarī Sensei" (Japanese: アンナマリー先生) | February 25, 1993 (1993-02-25) |
| 21 | "The Long Awaited Recital" Transliteration: "Machidōshii Happyōkai" (Japanese: 待ち遠しい発表会) | March 4, 1993 (1993-03-04) |
| 22 | "The Golden Watch of Friendship" Transliteration: "Yūjō no Kindokei" (Japanese: 友情の金時計) | March 11, 1993 (1993-03-11) |
| 23 | "A Goal of Friendship" Transliteration: "Nerawareta Yūjō" (Japanese: 狙われた友情) | March 18, 1993 (1993-03-18) |
| 24 | "I'm Not Gonna Lose" Transliteration: "Watashi wa Makenai" (Japanese: 私は負けない) | March 25, 1993 (1993-03-25) |
| 25 | "Alone on Christmas Eve" Transliteration: "Hitoribotchi no Seiya" (Japanese: 一人ぼっちの聖夜) | April 1, 1993 (1993-04-01) |
| 26 | "The School Ghost Rebellion" Transliteration: "Gakuin Obake Sōdō" (Japanese: 学院おばけ騒動) | April 8, 1993 (1993-04-08) |
| 27 | "Beginning a Journey to Freedom" Transliteration: "Jiyū e no Tabidachi" (Japanese: 自由への旅立ち) | April 15, 1993 (1993-04-15) |
| 28 | "The Beautiful Transfer Student" Transliteration: "Utsukushiki Tenkōsei" (Japanese: 美しき転校生) | April 22, 1993 (1993-04-22) |
| 29 | "Girls in Love" Transliteration: "Koisuru Shōjotachi" (Japanese: 恋する少女たち) | April 29, 1993 (1993-04-29) |
| 30 | "Becoming a Little Bit Grown Up" Transliteration: "Choppiri Otona ni" (Japanese: ちょっぴり大人に) | May 6, 1993 (1993-05-06) |
| 31 | "It's Gonna Be a Great Summer Vacation" Transliteration: "Tanoshii Hazu no Natsu Yasumi" (Japanese: 楽しい筈の夏休み) | May 13, 1993 (1993-05-13) |
| 32 | "Jeanie's Crisis" Transliteration: "Jenī no Kiki" (Japanese: ジェニーの危機) | May 20, 1993 (1993-05-20) |
| 33 | "Desperate Escape" Transliteration: "Inochigake no Dasshutsu" (Japanese: 命がけの脱出) | May 27, 1993 (1993-05-27) |
| 34 | "The Traveler with the Wandering Heart" Transliteration: "Kokoro Kayoi Au Tabibito" (Japanese: 心通い合う旅人) | June 3, 1993 (1993-06-03) |
| 35 | "The Exciting Treasure Hunt" Transliteration: "Osawagase Hihō Tanken" (Japanese: お騒がせ秘宝探検) | June 10, 1993 (1993-06-10) |
| 36 | "A Real Scream" Transliteration: "Sana no Sakebi" (Japanese: 真実の叫び) | June 17, 1993 (1993-06-17) |
| 37 | "The Sorrow of a Lonesome Bill" Transliteration: "Kodoku na Biru no Nayami" (Japanese: 孤独なビルの悩み) | June 24, 1993 (1993-06-24) |
| 38 | "Goodbye, Bill" Transliteration: "Sayonara Biru" (Japanese: さよならビル) | July 1, 1993 (1993-07-01) |
| 39 | "The Melody of My Heart" Transliteration: "Waga Kokoro no Merodi" (Japanese: わが心のメロディ) | July 8, 1993 (1993-07-08) |
| 40 | "Jeanie, Age 15" Transliteration: "Jenī, 15-sai" (Japanese: ジェニー・15歳) | July 15, 1993 (1993-07-15) |
| 41 | "Angels with Cold Eyes" Transliteration: "Tsumetai Hitomi no Tenshitachi" (Japanese: 冷たい瞳の天使達) | July 22, 1993 (1993-07-22) |
| 42 | "A Glass Full of Good Intentions" Transliteration: "Gurasu Ippai no Zen'i" (Japanese: グラス一杯の善意) | July 29, 1993 (1993-07-29) |
| 43 | "Let's Rescue the Teacher!" Transliteration: "Sensei o Tasukero!" (Japanese: 先生を助けろ!) | August 5, 1993 (1993-08-05) |
| 44 | "Jeanie's Determination" Transliteration: "Jenī no Ketsudan" (Japanese: ジェニーの決断) | August 12, 1993 (1993-08-12) |
| 45 | "Goodbye, Bessie" Transliteration: "Sayonara Besshī" (Japanese: さよならベッシー) | August 19, 1993 (1993-08-19) |
| 46 | "The First Dinner" Transliteration: "Hajimete no Dinā" (Japanese: 初めてのディナー) | August 26, 1993 (1993-08-26) |
| 47 | "Castaway on a Stormy Night" Transliteration: "Arashi no Yoru no Hyōryūsha" (Japanese: 嵐の夜の漂流者) | September 2, 1993 (1993-09-02) |
| 48 | "Eviction Tree" Transliteration: "Tachinoki no Ki" (Japanese: たちのきの木) | September 9, 1993 (1993-09-09) |
| 49 | "A Real Proposal" Transliteration: "Sana no Puropōzu" (Japanese: 真実のプロポーズ) | September 16, 1993 (1993-09-16) |
| 50 | "The Time Dreams Come True" Transliteration: "Yume Kanau Toki" (Japanese: 夢かなうとき) | September 23, 1993 (1993-09-23) |
| 51 | "Love Winter Days Are Gone" Transliteration: "Ai ga Kieta Fuyu no Hi" (Japanese: 愛が消えた冬の日) | September 30, 1993 (1993-09-30) |
| 52 | "Color Harmony Style" Transliteration: "Kaze no Iro no Hāmonī" (Japanese: 風の色のハーモニー) | September 30, 1993 (1993-09-30) |

## Kinpatsu no Jeanie (1979 TV series)

This series is almost completely different from its 1992 counterpart.
During the civil war a girl living in Virginia, named Jeanie, waits for her old boyfriend Robert to marry him, according to a childish promise, but the war makes the things complicated and, Robert comes back as northerner soldier. Only with the conflict's end, and many misadventures, their dream will become true.
Episode list
* My First Love
* A Meeting of Hearts
* The Rose Pendant
* A Long-Awaited Reunion
* Mother's Secret
* So Close Yet So Far
* The Beginning of A New Road
* A Kiss
* Goodbye My Dear
* A Bittersweet Birthday
* Boy Wearing A Dress?
* Days That Will Not Return
* I Will Look To The Future

## VIZ Blu-Ray DVD Region 1/A

* Part 1 (ep. 1–28) (May 28, 2020)
* Part 2 (ep. 29–52) (October 22, 2020)

## International broadcast

The series was broadcast in the Arab World on several Middle Eastern networks, titled ابنتي العزيزة... راوية ("My Dear Daughter").
In France, the series aired starting on December 23, 1996, on French TV channel TF1, during the children's program Club Dorothée. It aired as Le Rêve de Jeanie ("The Dream of Jeanie"). Only 38 episodes out of the total 52 were aired on French television, leaving episodes 39–52 unreleased on television on France. The anime was never released on DVD in France, and only received a TV airing.
In Italy, it aired on the private television channel Italia 1 in June 1994, titled Fiocchi di Cotone per Jeanie ("Cotton Balls for Jeanie"). It has since been released on DVD by Yamato Video with both the original Japanese audio and the Italian dub. The Italian version also had its own theme song, "Flakes of Cotton for Jeanie", performed by Cristina D'Avena. It has also been published on a streaming channel on YouTube under "Yamato Animation" by Italian anime distributor Yamato Video.
In Spain, the series was broadcast on the private television channel Telecinco in 1997, titled Dulce Jana ("Sweet Jana"). The Spanish version also had its own theme song, "Sweet Jana", performed by Sol Pilas.
The show aired in three Scandinavian countries in 1996: in Norway (as Jeanie Med Det Lysebrune Håret) on NRK in September; in Sweden (as Jeanie Med Ljusbrunt Hår) on SVT2 in August; and in Denmark (as Jeanie Med Lysebrunt Hår) on DR2 in May. The anime was again being broadcast in all 3 countries in 1998 on the Scandinavian version of FOX Kids.
In Indonesia, it was broadcast on RCTI, Lativi, and Spacetoon in mid-2000s.
In the Philippines, it was aired on ABS-CBN in 2002, rerun in 2004, and was rebroadcast on QTV-11 in 2010.