Violet Evergarden: a review

Do you know what love is? Have you been in love? Violet Evergarden will show you the different kinds of love, the happiness and sadness of love it brings to anyone and lessons from some characters. We'll talk about the plot, the characters and also the animation, but first let's know some basic information in this anime.

Violet Evergarden (ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン Vaioretto Evāgāden) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Akiko Takase. It won the grand prize in the fifth Kyoto Animation Award's novel category in 2014, the first ever work to win a grand prize in any of the three categories (novel, scenario, and manga). The story follows Violet Evergarden's journey of reintegrating back into society after the war is over and her search for her life's purpose now that she is no longer a soldier.

The plot is about discovering and accepting oneself. At the end of the anime, Violet understood that her life is not about being a tool used by the military and taking orders from her major, that she can choose the life she wanted to take.

"So I shall live, live, live, and live some more, though there is no telling what life might have in store." -Violet

Before, Violet only knew following orders from her superiors in the military since she was already exposed to killing people, until the war ended and her superior major Gilbert died in the war, now that she is free,she must discover her path she want to take without anybody ordering her what to do.

Violet also understood that what she have done in the past can never be changed or forgotten, that she had killed countless people during the war.

"With your bloodstained hands that have taken countless lives, you write letters that bring people together?" -Dietfried

I cannot say that Violet is a terrible person in the anime because of the countless people she have killed, but I think the terrible people here are the ones who treated her like a "tool" for the war and nothing more. Dietfried is the brother of Violets major, he just resent her because Violet didn't protect his brother who died in the war. Violet knew that she can never be forgiven for what happened to Gilbert and the killing of people during the war, and she think that she doesn't deserve to live because of that. But it's not to late to do what is the right thing. She just have to accept her past and move on.

"You can't erase the past. But your Auto Memory Doll accomplishments shall never be forgotten either. Violet Evergarden." -Claudia

For Claudia, no matter what they have done in the past can't be changed, what's important is to not do it again and learn from it for Violet to be a better person. Violet then decides that she will continue to connect people through letters as an Auto Memory Doll.

The animation of Violet Evergarden was done amazingly. What makes the animation amazing is the combination of 2d and 3d animation especially in the typing scenes.

The scenery were amazingly drawn. The saturation of the colors in the scenes were properly used that it tells the season of the scene that is happening.

The scenes were also detailed. From simple animations to fight scenes. The movements of the characters were realistic and has a beautiful flow.

The characters of this anime have improved from start to finish. Violet Evergarden who is the protagonist in this story has improved a lot. From the beginning where she is seen as a merciless soldier who only knew how to kill, to a person who connects people by writing heart-felt letters from her clients. Claudia Hodgins who is a former army commander that became the president of the CH Postal Company has set himself free of guilt when he have scene Violet killing people at a young age and do nothing about it, by helping Violet to take her first step in life. Gilbert Bougainvillea who is a major in the Leidenschaftlich Army followed his superiors order to use Violet as a tool in the military, but even though people treat her like a tool, Gilbert treasured Violet and taught her how to speak, read and write.

Finding your true self and accepting yourself for who you are, no matter what your past is, is the story of this anime. The animation were beautiful and amazingly done, from simple movements to the fight scenes. Main characters thought its viewers lessons and they have grown/improved from the start of the anime. The whole anime was amazing, the voice actors were very talented that they portrayed the characters with great emotions. It's a 10/10. I highly recommend this anime.

How about you? What are your thoughts about this anime?