Violet Evergarden is an anime that perfectly fits the description of the word “beautiful.” It has both a beautiful story and beautiful work in the animation department. The series has captured the hearts of many viewers, who hold it in high regard. The exquisite animation style and the attention to detail in the animation have given the anime series a huge following and immense popularity among anime fans.
Violet Evergarden falls into the Slice of Life genre of anime series. The series is based on a light novel of the same name by Kana Akatsuki. It stands among the top animes ever released in this category and is ranked sixty-first on MyAnimeList’s ranking for all anime series. The story is set in the post-war fictional continent of Telesis and revolves around Violet Evergarden, the series’ main protagonist. Violet was formerly known as “the weapon,” as she fought in the four-year-long war as a child trained to kill.
The timeline shown in the anime is after the war, and Violet starts a new life at CH Postal Service, leaving the battlefield behind. She was moved by seeing the work of “Auto Memories Dolls,” who convert people’s feelings into words. The storytelling in the anime is deeply emotional and thought-provoking. The series has well-developed characters who are very relatable, and Violet’s experiences while working as an Auto Memories Doll give the series that taste of uniqueness.
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The resonating themes covered in the series, such as loss, self-discovery, love, and romance, resonate very much with the viewers. Overall, the compelling story, unforgettable characters, and beautiful animation and cinematography create an unforgettable experience for the viewer. The series has touched many anime fans’ hearts and convinced many people to start watching it. But where to start from? The series features a classic thirteen-episode anime and two movies.
This article will provide you with the correct watch order for the anime and a brief synopsis, and a short note about every installment so you can enjoy the series to the fullest. Here is the watch order for the Violet Evergarden Series:
1. Violet Evergarden: The Anime
This is the first anime in the Violet Evergarden series. Kyoto Animation beautifully animated it and started airing on January 11, 2018. The last episode of the anime was aired on April 5, 2018. The anime got a very good response from the viewers, and Kyoto Animation was praised for the detail and hard work they put into the anime.
Violet starts her new life at CH Postal Service in this anime, working as a new auto-memory doll. The season’s main theme is self-discovery, where Violet experiences a wide variety of human emotions as she tries to put them into words for their clients.
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Violet had never experienced such emotions as a weapon for war, and experiencing them confuses her about herself and her emotions. She held something dear to her: the words said by a certain someone, which she did not understand. In the thirteen-episode run of the anime, she explores the meaning of those words while also discovering her true self.
The watching order of the anime follows the sequence number of episodes but with a break in between. It is recommended to watch episodes 1 to 4 first, then the OVA, and then resume with episodes 5 to 13.
2. Violet Evergarden: Eternity and The Auto Memory Doll
This is the first movie and the second installment in the Violet Evergarden series. It was released on September 6, 2019. The movie was a huge success, gathering over 10 million USD at the box office. It was hugely praised and applauded work by Kyoto Animation with a beautiful story. Kyoto Animation proved itself by leveling up the animation to match the status of the silver screen.
The story in the movie features Violet’s trip to a private women’s academy. She was commissioned to tutor Isabella in the ways of being a lady. Isabella is the second lead character and the heir to the York family line. Isabella feels trapped and uncomfortable in this new world. She still grieves for the lost person, the only one who brought her happiness.
Violet’s company relieves her melancholy, but there seems to be no joy in it. Voilet helps Isabella heal, and in the process, she explores more about emotions and what the words she holds dear could mean.
Overall, the movie is an emotional roller coaster with both ups and downs to experience for the viewers. All the good stuff from the anime is carried over and even enhanced in the movie, making it a movie worth rewatching over and over.
3. Violet Evergarden: The Movie
This is the second movie and the third and final installment in the Violet Evergarden series. This was released on September 18, 2020, and was a huge box office hit. It gathered more than 20 million dollars, almost double the previous movie’s. This gave us the series finale and was a major tearjerker for many fans, including myself. Everything seems perfect in the movie, from the music to the cinematography, the animation, the voice acting, and the climax of the series.
The story in this movie focuses on Violet and her growth as a character. She feels that she may have neglected her own while writing about other people’s emotions. Violet Evergarden is a former child soldier turned auto-memory doll who writes letters for her clients that evoke emotions they can’t. So when a terminally ill boy requests Violet’s services for his family, she faces her feelings of love and loss. She is forced to confront her past and come to terms with the feelings she might have left behind for too long.
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The movie has received a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 8.4 on IMDb, and 8.9 on MyAnimeList. It is one of the highest-grossing anime movies of 2020–21. The final movie truly does justice to the series and is excellently executed.
The watchlist can be summarised as the Violet Evergarden anime, then Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll, and finally, Violet Evergarden: The Movie. The Violet Evergarden series has become a fan favorite in the anime world, and I think you will also enjoy this series.
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