First of all, I want to say that my rating is subjective and may be influenced by nostalgia and personal attachment. I loved watching this anime as a kid, and it brings back a lot of warm memories. Now, as an adult, I decided to rewatch it properly—and I’m glad I did. It felt like rediscovering a lost piece of my childhood. Story: Surprisingly, for an anime mostly aimed at children, the plot is quite engaging. The story follows the adventures of Robin Hood, who loses his home and title and is forced to live in Sherwood Forest. Over time, the characters are developed quite well, andthe plot includes intrigue, conflict, and tension. Still, there are some naive elements—for example, a group of kids managing to beat up armed soldiers. In the first half of the anime, there's also frequent use of Deus ex machina, where conflicts are resolved by some higher power or outside force. But overall, the story is meaningful and fairly captivating. The dialogue is excellent—educational and significant (if you watch the original version).

Characters:
The character designs are quite memorable, and it's interesting to follow their development—each one has a unique journey. Robin is kind and pure-hearted. Marian is an aristocrat who is forced to come to terms with the changes in her fate. Sir Gilbert is a knight constantly torn between the moral code of chivalry and the cruel orders of his master. Then there’s Little John with his gang, and others.
The main villains—Alwyn, Cecil, and Bishop Hereford—may seem a bit caricatured at first, driven by greed and the thirst for power, but Alwyn actually proves capable of coming up with rather clever and evil schemes, and his motivations are partially revealed as the story unfolds.

Soundtrack:
The opening and ending themes in the English version are actually really good—but that’s about the only positive thing I can say for the dub. The original Japanese version not only had a different opening and ending, but also featured background music throughout the episodes that was completely missing in the English release. The Japanese ending, Hoshizora no Labyrinth, has become one of my favorites. Overall, the original soundtrack feels far more captivating and mysterious—it draws you in in a way the English version just doesn’t.

Visuals:
The art style is excellent, featuring beautiful, painterly backgrounds that vividly capture the atmosphere of Sherwood Forest. The animation quality is decent, and many scenes effectively bring the setting to life. Overall, the visuals add a great deal of charm and enhance the story’s mood.

Overall, it was really enjoyable; you can feel it was made with heart. Even though it was clearly meant for kids and teens, it hits something in you as an adult: don’t forget that you were once a boy or girl, with the purest and most original dreams.

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Lastly, I would like to strongly criticize the English version here.
I highly recommend watching it in the original Japanese—despite there being only about 20 episodes with subtitles. Even if your Japanese is at a beginner level, it’s worth watching the original, which is available on YouTube. I’m genuinely glad I did, because the English dub loses an enormous amount of nuance and emotional depth. It often feels like the dubbers were just guessing what the characters might be saying based on context, inventing entire lines of dialogue out of thin air. And not only are the changes inaccurate—they’re often painfully cringy. Goofy or awkward lines are inserted even when the original characters are silent. The tone isn’t just altered, it’s completely derailed.

Take this example:
Original:
Gilbert: “Do you plan to gather feathers and fly freely like a bird?”
Marian: “I would be endlessly happy if I could.”

English dub:
Gilbert: “Allow me to return the feather you were trying to retrieve.”
Marian: “Thank you. This is the second time you’ve helped me.”

The poetic imagery is completely erased, replaced by flat, literal dialogue.

Another example, an intense moment of inner conflict:
Original:
Marian (looking at the moon):
“Knight, if you're out there looking at the moon, please lend me your strength.”
Gilbert (also looking at the moon):
“Who am I? A knight playing the jester, or a jester playing the knight? God, why do you mock me so? Why did you make me meet Marian? Why?!”

Dub version:
Marian: “It should be me, not Winifred, looking at the moon. I’ll go and surrender to the Baron.”
Gilbert: “Lady Marian, you’ve confused me. My code of honor… But I was right to deceive the Baron and save you. I swear on my honor I’ll never harm you, Marian! Marian!”

The philosophical monologue is reduced to bland, melodramatic lines. The subtlety, the struggle—it’s all gone.

This scene also completely loses the original message:
Original Japanese:
Richard: “I wonder when a young boy becomes a man?”
Gilbert: “As long as he follows his dreams, a man will always be a young boy.”

English dub:
Richard: “I pray they will always stay pure and young.”
Gilbert: “Your Majesty, your heart will always be with them.”