Candy Candy originated from a shoujo manga by Mizuki Kyouko and Igarashi Yumiko published in 1974. It was soon be picked up for television as anime, which runs up to 115 episodes (not to mention several ovas and movies). The manga itself continued until 1982 (8 years in total -- not the longest running manga, but it's very close).

This story is about a girl, Candy, who is a orphan. She is a nice and optimistic girl and she has a warm heart. When she was a child, she lived in an orphanage called Pony's Home. She had a good friend called Anne. And she met the "handsome boy on the hill" who is a important person in her life, on the hill behind the orphanage.

She was adopted by the Leagan family. What's awaiting her are the bad-hearted Neil and his sister, Eliza. One day, in the rose garden, she met a boy, who is identical to the "handsome boy on the hill" who she had met in her childhood. The boy is called Anthony. Thereafter, a fantastic story that she has never expected begins.

Source: AnimeNfo

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Summary: Candy Candy (1992)
Sequel: Candy Candy: Haru no Yobigoe