This is one of my favorite anime series that I watched as a child in my native Dominican Republic. I looked forward to each weekly episode. The episodes were dubbed in Spanish but unfortunately I didn't get to see all of them. To this day (and I am in my 30s), I still remember the opening and ending songs that played at the beginning and ending of each episode (in Spanish of course).
Candy Candy was a phenomenon: it resembled an animated soap opera. It was so original because back then the Japanese were the first ones to come with a concept like that: an animated soap opera.
I loved how Candy was always so tomboyish and always got back to her nemesis Neil and Elisa. I hated them so much because they tried to make Candy's life miserable but she always got back at them.
Candy Candy is apt for the entire family. But be warned: it will make you cry and laugh, not exactly in that order.