I first discovered Anne Shirly almost ten years ago in the first season of Anne with an E starring Amybeth McNulty and since then she has never left me. Anne’s story is one of the most heartwarming and experiential ever told (in my opinion) and Lucy Mongomery deserves more recognition for the character she created. The first book of Anne of Green Gables was published January 1st 1908 and over the next thirty-one years Lucy would publish eight books in total; which follow:
{1} Anne of Green Gables (1908)
{2} Anne of Avonlea (1909)
{3} Anne of the Island (1915)
{4} Anne’s house of dreams (1917)
{5} Rainbow Valley (1919)
{6} Rilla of Ingleside (1921)
{7} Anne of Windy Poplars (1936)
{8} Anne of Ingleside (1939)
Since the publication of the books there has been over forty adaptations of Anne’s story including films, series and musicals and it’s obvious there will be more adaptations in the future. I myself have not seen all of them but I continue to check more off my list in time and for those to wish to check their own list here is the full guide to the adaptations of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
1. Anne of Green Gables (1919) (Film)
The first film adaptation of Anne of Green Gables was a black and white silent film which was released in 1919. The film was directed by William Desmond Taylor. Lucy herself did see the film and reportedly was not happy with the adaption at all and was most angered of how the story was Americanised including showing an American flag. Lucy mentioned in her diary that if she hadn’t already known it was from her book she never would have recognized the story, so perhaps it’s only good that the film is lost media.
Cast:
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Mary Miles as Anne
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Paul Kelly as Gilbert Blythe
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Marcia Harris as Marilla Cuthbert
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Frederick Burton as Matthew Cuthbert
2. Anne of Green Gables (1934) (Film) and Anne of Windy Poplars (1940) (Film)
Anne of Green Gables is a black and white silent film directed by George Nichols Jr. The film mainly focuses on Anne and Gilberts romantic relationship rather than Anne’s life struggles and her growing as an individual. Lucy liked this film much better than the first but was not a fan of the ending. A sequel was also made in 1940 titled Anne of Windy Poplars which continues to follow Anne and Gilberts love story with them now due to marry. Anne is also a vice-principal of a school in Pringleton where she faces challenges with her students but in the end wins them over.
Cast:
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Anne Shirley as Anne Shirley
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Tom Brown as Gilbert Blythe
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Helen Westley as Marilla Cuthbert
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P. Heggie as Matthew Cuthbert
3. Anne of Green Gables (1952) (TV Series)
Anne of Green Gables was a six-episode mini-series produced by BBC and was believed to have been accurate to the first book including both the plot and characters. Unfortunately, the episodes were released live and never recorded and is lost media.
Cast:
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Carole Lorimer as Anne Shirley
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David Spencer as Gilbert Blythe
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Joan Miller as Marilla Cuthbert
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Charles Richardson as Matthew Cuthbert
4. Anne of Green Gables (1956) (Musical Film)
Anne of Green Gables is a black and white filmed directed by Don Harrin and is considered the first version film of the musical Anne of Green Gables: The musical. The film follows the book accurately and was actually partly written by Lucy Montgomery.
Cast:
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Toby Tarnow as Anne Shirley
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William Cole as Gilbert Blythe
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Margot Christie as Marilla Cuthbert
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John Drainie as Matthew Cuthbert
5. Anne of Green Gables – The Musical (1965) (Theatre Production)
Anne of Green Gables – The musical is the longest running annual theatre production. It first premiered in 1965 in Charlottetown Festival in Prince Edward Island and briefly stopped during the Covid years but was thankfully brought back and continues to be performed annually.
6. Anne of Green Gables (1972) (TV Series)
Anne of Green Gables is a BBC television miniseries directed by John Craft; the series follows the first book which is then followed by a sequel based off the second book in 1975. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot of information on this series due to no recording making them lost media.
Cast:
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Kim Braden as Anne Shirley
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Robin Halstead as Gilbert Blythe
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Barbara Hamilton as Marilla Cuthbert
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Elliott Sullivan as Matthew Cuthbert
7. Anne of green gables (1985), Anne of Avonlea (1987) (TV Series), Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing story (2000) (TV Series), and Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008) (TV Series)
Anne of Green Gables 1985 is by far the most popular adaptation of all to date, with accuracy to the book and characters fulfilment of Lucy’s writing the reviews are deserving. Produced and directed by Keven Sullivan the series was released as a two-part miniseries. The sequel (Anne of Avonlea) was released in 1987 and is loosely based on the following books: Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, and Anne of the Windy Poplars.
Cast:
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Megan Follows as Anne Shirley
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Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe
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Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla Cuthbert
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Richard Farnsworth as Matthew Cuthbert
Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story is the third adaption from the 1985 version and is not based of Lucys books but is an original focusing on Anne and Gilbert as adults During World War I.
Cast:
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Megan Follows as Anne Shirley Blythe
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Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe
Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning is the final adaption of the Anne of Green Gables 1985 with an original story setting in 1945, Anne returns to Price Edward Island following the death of her husband Gilbert, struggling with grief and life challenges Anne discovers a long hidden secret beneath the floorboards of Green Gables encouraging a search for her biological parents.
Cast:
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Barbara Hershey as Anne Shirley
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Hannah Endicott-Douglas as young Anne
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Shirley Maclaine as Amelia Thomas
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Rachel Blanchard as Louisa Thomas
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Ben Carlson as Water Shirley
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Natalie Radford as Bertha Shirley
8. Road to Avonlea (1990 - 1996) (TV Series)
Road to Avonlea is a spin of series of the Anne of Green Gables adaptations 1985 and told the stories of the folks of Avonlea taking inspiration from the Anne of Green Gables Books. Although Anne does not appear in the series other memorable characters were present including Gilbert, Miss Stacy, Marilla, and Rachel Lynde.
8. An Avonlea Christmas (1998) (Film)
An Avonlea Christmas also known as Happy Christmas Miss King is a reunion special to the Road to Avonlea (1990 – 1996) (TV Series) with a story taking place in Avonlea during World War I.
Cast:
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Patricia Hamilton as Rachel Lynde
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Jackie Burroughs as Hetty King
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Cedric Smith as Alec Kind
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Mag Ruffman as Olivia Dale
10. Anne of Green Gables (1979) (Animation Series), and Kon’nichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables (2009) (Animation series)
Anne of Green Gables is a Japanese animated series with a total of fifty episodes following the original book with a sequel released in 2009.
Cast:
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Eiko Yamada as Anne Shirley
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Kazuhiko Inoue as Gilbert Blythe
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Fumie Kitahara as Marilla Cuthbert
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Ryuji Saikachi as Matthew Cuthbert
11. Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series (2001 – 2001) (Animation Series), and Anne: Journey to Green Gables (2005) (Animation Film)
Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series was directed and produced Kevin Sillivan and has a total of twenty-six episodes. With each episode follows Anne as she navigates life struggles and adapting to Green Gables with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert.
Cast:
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Bryn McAuley as Anne Shirley
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Patricia Gage as Marilla Cuthbert
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Wayne Robson as Matthew Cuthbert
Anne: Journey to Green Gables serves as a sequel to the animated series following Anne with an original story of taking on the journey to Green Gables.
Cast:
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Mckenzie Sullivan as Anne Shirley
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Wayne Robson as Matthew Cuthbert
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Patricia Cage as Marilla Cuthbert
12. Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables (2010)
Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables is a summarized compilation of the first six episodes of the animated series Anne of Green Gables (1979) (Animation Series).
13. Lucy Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables (2016) (Film), Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars (2017) (Film), and Anne of Green Gables: Fire and Drew (2017) (Film)
The full trilogy of Lucy Mongomery’s Anne of Green Gables includes the telling of Anne’s arrival at Green Gables and learning of the mix up, from there she forms connections with Marilla and Matthew and completes her schooling adapting into young adult hood.
Cast:
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Ella Ballentine as Anne Shirley
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Drew Haytaoglu as Gilbert Blythe
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- Sara Botsford as Marilla Cuthbert
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Martin Sheen as Matthew Cuthbert
14. Anne with an E (2017 – 2019) (TV Series)
Anne with an E is a Netflix adaptation loosely following the Anne Of Green Gables books however the story line of Anne adapting to Green Gables and struggling with her youth and friends. I believe Anne from this adaption is the best Anne as further screen time deepens into Anne’s personality and her mind more than the others. It is also noticed Anne’s growth is more realistic and willing throughout the series.
Cast:
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Amybeth McNulty as Anne Shirley
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Lucas Jade Zumann as Gilbert Blythe
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Geraldine James as Marilla Cuthbert
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H. Thomson as Matthew Cuthbert
15. Anne Shirley (2025) (Animation Series)
Anne Shirley is a Japanese animated series telling the original story of Anne of Green Gables. The full series includes twenty-four episodes of Anne growing as an individual.
Summary List:
{1} Anne of Green Gables (1919) (Film)
{2} Anne of Green Gables (1934) (Film) and Anne of Windy Poplars (1940) (Film)
{3} Anne of Green Gables (1952) (TV Series)
{4} Anne of Green Gables (1956) (Musical Film)
{5} Anne of Green Gables – The musical (1965) (Theatre Production)
{6} Anne of Green Gables (1972) (TV Series), and Anne of Avonlea (1975) (TV Series)
{7} Anne of Green Gables (1985) (TV Series), Anne of Avonlea (1987) (TV Series), Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000) (TV Series), and Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008) (TV Series)
{8} Road to Avonlea (1990- 1996) (TV Series)
{9} An Avonlea Christmas (1998) (Film)
{10} Anne of Green Gables (1979) (Animation Series), and Kon’nichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables (2009) (Animation series)
{11} Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series (2001 – 2001) (Animation Series), and Anne: Journey to Green Gables (2005) (Animation Film)
{12} Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables (2010) (Animation Compilation)
{13} Lucy Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables (2016) (Film), Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars (2017) (Film), Anne of Green Gables: Fire and Drew (2017) (Film)
{14} Anne with an E (2017 – 2019) (TV Series)
{15} Anne Shirley (2025) (Animation Series)
And so one-hundred and eighteen years, over forty adaptions, original sequels and more retellings the story of Anne Shirley continues to thrive and inspire many across the world, and the legacy of Lucy Maud Montgomeray forever lives on.
Ealasaid | Posted 2nd June 2026
