Forty years ago today, Anne of Green Gables first aired on CBC Television. The miniseries was adapted for the screen by Kevin Sullivan from the novel by L.M. Montgomery. The first part of the two-part, made-for-television miniseries aired on December 1, 1985, and the second part aired the next day on December 2, 1985. Starring Megan Follows as the unforgettable Anne Shirley, the television film was directed and produced by Kevin Sullivan.
The miniseries was highly rated on Canadian television, and it was later distributed internationally to acclaim around the world. The film re-introduced L.M. Montgomery's stories and Anne Shirley to a new generation.
As a child, who watched the miniseries when it first aired, the film had a profound impact on my life. I watched it again and again with my family each year. When I moved to another country, the miniseries was an essential and important part of my Canadian identity. The story shaped my worldview and my belief in friendship and kindred spirits, and it reinforced my love of nature.
I'm grateful to have grown up with Kevin Sullivan's enduring production and to have had the story play a lasting role in my life.
Image credit:
Photograph of Megan Follows as Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables © Sullivan Entertainment.
External link:
Anne of Green Gables: The Official Website
Created December 1, 2025.
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