Little Women II: Jo's Boys, also known as Wakakusa Monogatari Nan to Jō Sensei (若草物語ナンとジョー先生) is a 1993 Japanese animated television series based on Louisa May Alcott's Little Men, produced by Nippon Animation. The title is taken from Jo's Boys, the title of the sequel to Little Men, on which the series is also partially based. The series is the sequel to the studio's 1987 Tales of Little Women, an adaptation of Alcott's novel of the same name.

Plot

Josephine March has grown into womanhood about ten years since Tales of Little Women and is now married to the German Professor, Friedrich Bhaer. In the Plumfield farm-house that Aunt March had left her, Jo Bhaer has established a new school for her two sons, Robby and Teddy, nephews (Franz, Emil, Demi-John), niece (Daisy) and a gang of orphaned children, including Annie "Nan" Harding and a rough, street-wise adolescent named Dan. With the experience of a model childhood and a faithful and caring husband, Jo guides her pupils in their young lives; with song, music and play, the children are led through the joys and sorrows of life, work and play, rewards and punishments, getting involved in all sorts of mischief and adventure.

Cast and characters

The original voice cast is:

Broadcast

Jo's Boys aired on Fuji Television on Sundays from 17 January to 19 December 1993 as part of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater.

International titles

Music

The opening theme ("Ashita mo otenki") is performed by Akiko Kosaka.

Episode list and original air dates in 1993

The original broadcast list of episodes is:

Reception

The series received generally positive reception, and it was described as "beautiful" and "thought-provoking", with a story that can appeal to both younger and older audiences. The French website Planet Jeunesse gave a positive review, mainly commending its fidelity to the source material and the focus on the main character Nan.