Princess Sarah is a 1985 Japanese television series based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1905 children's novel, A Little Princess. The series was produced by Nippon Animation under the direction of Fumio Kurokawa, and its scriptwriter was Ryūzō Nakanishi.Princess Sarah premiered on 6 January 1985 on Fuji Television. The 46-episode series was the 11th of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater.
Two songs, performed by Satoko Shimonari, were the opening and closing themes of each episode. The opening theme song is "Hana no Sasayaki" (花のささやき, "Whisper of a Flower"), and the closing theme is "Himawari" (ひまわり, "Sunflower"). Both have lyrics by Rei Nakanishi, music by Kōichi Morita and were arranged by Katsuhisa Hattori.
Solicitor Barrow discusses Sarah's childhood with Headmistress Minchin. Sarah is acclimating herself to London after a long voyage from India with her father, Captain Ralph Crewe. While the headmistress, her sister Amelia Minchin and Barrow discuss Sarah's living arrangements at the seminary and decide if she is a suitable student, Sarah's carriage ride is the backdrop for her book knowledge of London.
Sarah's enrollment contract is now in force, and her belongings are scheduled to arrive at the Seminary with a London wardrobe bankrolled by her father. She wants to create some happy memories before Ralph returns to India. After visiting St. Paul's Cathedral, Sarah wants a doll and leads Ralph on a shopping expedition through London. Peter, shivering in the cold, must move the carriage to avoid parking illegally. Sarah finds the doll she wants, and persuades the reluctant storekeeper to sell it to them.
Sarah watches Ralph depart for India, and cries herself to sleep on her first night. She awakens to a beautiful winter scene outside her window and her maid, Mariette, helps her prepare for her first day of class. Lavinia Herbert is upset at the prospect of getting into trouble with the Headmistress because of her three roommates (including Jessie and Gertrude).