Anime Himitsu no Hanazono
English title: The Secret Garden
Japanese title: アニメ ひみつの花園
Alternative titles: The Animated Secret Garden, Secret Flower Garden, The Secret Garden, Himitsu no Hanazono
Type: TV
Source: Book
Episodes: 39
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Apr 19, 1991 to Mar 27, 1992
Broadcast: Fridays at 19:30 (JST)
Duration: 25 min per ep
Rating: G - All Ages
Studios: Gakken, Aubec
Producers: NHK, Sogo Vision, NHK Enterprises, Omnibus Promotion
Genres: Drama
Themes: Historical

Every child deserves to have a fun and carefree childhood. Unfortunately, life is not always fair, as is the case with Mary Lennox. At a very young age, Mary loses her parents to a disease, leaving her traumatized and orphaned. From India, she is brought to England with her uncle who has taken on the role of her new guardian.

Although she is sad to have lost her parents, Mary is happy and grateful to have someone to take care of her. She gets to eat everyday and live in a big mansion, things that she understands should not be taken for granted. However, her uncle is a very quiet person, hardly ever speaking to anyone. This solitude causes Mary to oftentimes get bored to tears, forcing her to relive horrible memories of her past.

As she enjoys a stroll outside one day, she discovers a secret garden near her home. Along with her new friends, Dicon and Martha, as well as her disabled cousin, Collin, Mary embarks on a journey that is sure to brighten her dull life to the uttermost extreme!

Anime Himitsu no Hanazano is a direct adaptation of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, sharing the same characters and plot.