Candice "Candy" Andrew White Ardlay from the manga "Candy Candy" (1975-1979) by Yumiko Igarashi

Why Candy is an icon

Major spoilers for Candy Candy and tw for verbal harassment not explicitly discussed in this post) and death

This anime was one of my favourites as a kid and to this day, it still holds a special place in my heart. While it definitely has quite a few noteworthy characters, none stood out to me like Candy herself, and this is a list of reasons why

She enjoyed more stereotypically "masculine," things and threw the "delicate girl," stereotypes down the toilet- in early 20th century America, when the anime is set, girls were not expected to have hobbies like climbing trees or playing at cowboys, but this is exactly what Candy did, regardless of all the skepticism she faced and the negative comments from those around her about how it was "dangerous,". She dominated too, being skilled enough at tree climbing to beat a professional and win a bet against him in the process. She also had a bit of a temper and a rough side, which also lines up with this - she was often shown getting into scrapes with the boys when they provoked her, and later on with the Leagan children. It's definitely clear that Candy wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and fight against what she deemed unfair, talking back to adults and breaking school rules she deemed unjust, like when she his her pet racoon in the forest so she could keep him.

She never threw in the towel - Candy's life was a very difficult one as shown by the anime. First, the best friend she has known for her entire life leaves her and the children's home they both grew up in, then she's adopted by a family who uses her as a servant and is forced to deal with constant verbal abuse at the hands of their children, who stop at nothing to try to sabotage her, even causing her to get sent to work in Mexico for a period of time, and when it seems like things are finally taking a turn for the better as her relationship with Anthony starts to take off, he dies in a horse riding accident, leaving Candy devastated. A few years later, Candy goes to study in London and meets her next love, Terry Grantchester. The two develop deep feelings for each other but, after they get in trouble with the school directors, Terry is forced to leave so she won't have to. After a while, Candy also leaves to pursue a path in life that is completely her own - she starts to train to become a nurse, after experiencing first hand what it feels like to help the sick. In all this, no matter how difficult life got, how alone she felt or how scared she was, Candy still kept going, even when she was hesitant, in order to reach her goals and find happiness. The fact that she managed to persevere through so much, all the while keeping her smile and staying cheerful throughout the anime, shows a huge amount of mental strength and determination, which are two of Candy's most admirable qualities.

Candy was selfless - her own ambition is proof of this- wanting to become a nurse to help people get better. This is even more clear when she starts working for Dr Martin, despite the fact he can't pay her. Another point in the series when this selflessness is evident is when she was willing to give up everything she had with Terry after realising Susanna, a young actress who was in a terrible accident, needed him by her side to carry on living. Candy realised his importance in her life and left, trying her best to move on.

Candy showed a lot of loyalty to her friends - From the start of the series, Candy is always shown helping and protecting those she considered friends. From helping Pattie hide her pet from the teachers, to pretending she doesn't know Annie so her past at the children's home can remain a secret, just as her parents wished, to nursing Albert back to health when he got amnesia and even staying with him until he regained his memory, Candy definitely did a lot for those close to her and was the type to stick by her friends, no matter how painful or uncomfortable things got.

Candy was stubborn and opinionated - she had her beliefs and principles, and didn't shift from them, even when she was pressured to or when they caused her pain. Throughout the show, she continued to stand up for them and make decisions based on them, even when others were unhappy with these decisions.

She was a style icon - the dresses she wore throughout the series (when she did wear dresses) were instrumental in influencing today's soft, cutesy and fairy tale Lolita style, which means the impact of her stunning princess dresses is still felt today.

If you want to know my thoughts on Candy candy as a whole, click here

Masterlist

Candy

I really have to thank my mum who sometimes decides to make me watch some shoujo anime out of the blue, so I stop just watching stupid shonen all day. I started watching Candy Candy kind of ironically with her but then I really started liking the anime, although it was made for children I got used to the style after a bit. It has so much charm, it's earnest, it's so sweet that when bad things happen it hurts even more. Life can be all this but also difficult, and seeing Candy braving through all of it was really heartwarming. 115 episodes and I could have watched more. I don't think I would have done the same things Candy did at some point, but she's just better than me lol. She was honestly a really good role model for girls, I'm glad this story exists

I think maybe, aside from Candy Candy, the male characters had more charm than the female ones, but it depends on the person: I had very conflicting feelings on Annie, because sometimes she was not a great friend tbh, but Patty was really sweet. Anthony and Terence were something else tho: Anthony will always be in my heart, such a cutie pie, and Terence is timeless. I really felt like a girl from the 80s cheering for him and Candy ahah

Obviously special mention for my boy Stear, my number 1 fave but I thought he was called Steve for like... 60 episodes. The wonder of watching stuff without subtitles. A total sweetie, loved his arc. His brother Archie is an enjoyable character too, love how he's always ready to throw hands, but compared to other characters there isn't a whole lot

I love starting things casually but then falling in love with them, maybe I should follow my mum's advice a little more

Anyway, spoiler for the 40 years old anime

So... shonen are good, but do they make you cry thinking about how fragile young love is. Anthony's death was terrible and probably the first time I thought things could get serious in this time, actually cried for him... The way this completely blindsided me. Their sweet love was true and filled with joy, its end shocked me. But I'm glad that although she moved on, Candy never stopped thinking about him in some way

Terence and Candy were perfect for each other, nothing else to say. Them slowly falling in love at college, Terence being a child-friendly bad boy who actually listened to her, who defended her when she was hassled by her bullies, them growing together. And when Terence left the school Candy had no reason to remain either. Their break up was so painful to me, and later seeing Terence so destroyed made me forgive him completely; that situation totally sucks and it's a bit convoluted tbh, but I understand

I love how in the second Italian dub they snuck "Terence leaving Susanna" in the final episode just to give hope to the readers lmao, I totally fell for it and then my mum told me it was an addition

Albert ??? I had a feeling he was part of the Andrew family but I didn't expect all that. I like his affection for Candy and how their stories tie together so well, especially how they're connected by Anthony. The build up to it was insane. Although I didn't think he could a love interest due to the age gap but I don't mind tbh. From what I understood they do end up together in the manga

I think I have stronger feelings for Terence but in the end every love interest was perfect for the life stage Candy was on, maybe this is the most realistic part, nothing assures you a person will be with you forever

My God, Stear... At first I felt weird saying he is my favourite but who else. He's silly, kind, always there to help, wears glasses (which is always a plus), I loved to see him on screen. Hearing his reasons to go to war made me reconsider him a bit, for the better: wanting to stop "being a rich kid who spends his time making useless inventions", I can see why a boy of his time would decide going to fight for a better future was a good option, even though he knew how terrible war can be. I already found him charming enough when he made "useless inventions" because they were mostly made for his friends, and I enjoyed seeing him becoming more skilled and basically an engineer, taking care of an airplane and making the carillon, but seeing him mature was amazing, realising how lucky he was, while people on the other side of the ocean kept dying and suffering while he lived in luxury. The fact even his brother didn't take him seriously when he told him he wanted to make something more of his life is just so sad. And his death scene ? I actually hoped we wouldn't see it but it was better this way: he saw his dead friend in the enemy in front of him and couldn't shoot. It's a slow and beautiful arc for him, I can't even be mad about it

I peeked at the manga, Patty says they had a vacant grave, I actually wondered watching it if they had retrived his body but that's sombering

Such a good person all around, he deserved the world

so yeah this anime ruined me, can you tell

Candice "Candy" Andrew White Ardlay and Terence "Terry" Grandchester from the manga "Candy Candy" (1975-1979) by Yumiko Igarashi

gentlebeard crumbs from the s2 trailer(s)

or, the only thing keeping me alive during the agonising wait for october :(

via Max on YouTube & the Max App

hi

HI BABY !!!! :DDDDDD

Friend is holding a future spaceship starwars DnD campaign and for some reason the character i made for it is a twitch streamer egirl internet troll psychopath.

I hope you all hate her.

There's a Very Wild Thing I noticed in my last rewatch of ofmd that I have seen no one in my reblog sphere comment on, nor has this Very Wild Thing appeared in any fic I have come across.

Therefore I can only assume no one has noticed it, because I can't imagine there wouldn't be some level of meta surrounding this Very Wild Thing-- if only to explain it away as random continuity error or something similar.

...and so why yes I am preparing an end-of-year gif/video with which to explain, this is a reasonable way to spend my New Years Eve thank u for asking.

ETA 1/1/2023--

Exhibit A: The beach kiss scene

you know it, I know it, we've all seen the time knife.

recently friends gifted me their stupidly large, high definition television. naturally, I started a rewatch of ofmd.

and so it was that I noticed, after the kiss and while Stede is half agony, half hope... the Very Wild Thing.

Exhibit B: Computer. Enhance.

In one shot, for the briefest of moments, Stede appears to have a single tear trailing down his cheek.

Discuss.

is there anything i can need help with? :)

-★ anon

Candice "Candy" Andrew White Ardlay and Terence "Terry" Graham Grandchester from the manga "Candy Candy" (1975) by Yumiko Igarashi

Why are you so afraid to show yourself? Did something bad happened that push you to cover yourself?

Pls pls PELASE give me All ur headcanons about candy corn,,,,

Candy corn the beloved it is so SWAG W/ A $!!!!

(Ignore bacon, thsi is about candy corn)

Ongnjy Candy Corn yes hmmmmmm

Candy corn have ADHD and autism (because I says so)

I think Candy Corn used 2 have a driver's license but got it revoked so many times that they are permanently banned from being near any motorized vehicles, the only vehicle candy corn can drive is a unicycle and even then that requires supervision (Candy Corn lives for danger and purposely drives over the speed limit)

Candy corn definitely has a professional clown license and has went to clown college for 4+ years umnmm

Waffle let's candy corn drive motorized vehicles even though candy corn is banned legally from driving (Unbelievable how could they not let such an innocent soul drive)

Candy corn is legally blind (no one has found out yet)

Explodes

R2's Holoprojector

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 01:43:36

Maybe its delutional of me to think that he likes me just because he talked to me…

BUT HE FUCKING TALKED TO ME

I was rewatching the Matatagi episodes of Galaxy for a something I'm writing and

damn Tenma, when did you, of all people, become so introspective of human morality? let's gooo

FUFUIICKCLCCPVKODODKKFKCLFKVL