Violet Evergarden

is a Japanese light novel series written by Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Akiko Takase. It was published by Kyoto Animation under their KA Esuma Bunko imprint, from December 2015 to March 2020. The story follows Violet Evergarden, a young ex-soldier who becomes an Auto Memory Doll tasked with writing letters that can connect people.

A 13-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Kyoto Animation aired between January and April 2018 with several advance screenings taking place in 2017. An original video animation episode was released in July 2018, and a spin-off film premiered in Japan in September 2019. A second anime film, '' Violet Evergarden: The Movie'', serving as a sequel to the anime series, premiered in September 2020.

In 2014, ''Violet Evergarden'' won the grand prize in the fifth Kyoto Animation Award's novel category.

Synopsis

Following four long years of conflict, The Great War in the land of Telesis finally came to an end. Caught up in the bloodshed was Violet Evergarden, a young girl raised as a ruthless killer. Hospitalized and maimed in a bloody skirmish during the War's conclusion, she was left with only the words "I love you" from the person she held dearest, but with no understanding of their meaning.

Recovering from her wounds, Violet starts a new life working at CH Postal Company after a falling out with her new intended guardian family. There, she witnesses by pure chance the work of an "Auto Memory Doll", amanuenses that transcribe people's thoughts and feelings into words on paper. Moved by the notion, Violet begins work as an Auto Memory Doll, a trade that will take her on an adventure, one that will reshape the lives of her clients and hopefully lead to self-discovery.

Characters

Main characters

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: Violet is a newcomer to the CH Postal Company, and works as an Auto Memory Doll—a ghostwriter for people who cannot write or are looking for help expressing their emotions in letters.
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: A major in the Leidenschaftlich Army, Gilbert came from an aristocratic family. Although he treasures Violet much more than anything else, he never expressed his feelings to her because of their identity as soldiers. It is his final words to her—"I love you"—that drive her to move forward on her new path as an Auto Memory Doll. The only memento of Gilbert that Violet has is an emerald brooch that reminds her of Gilbert's eyes. As he wanted Violet to live a life like a normal girl, instead of a tool, he told Claudia to announce that he died in the war. However, he recovered from his injuries and lived in a rural place before meeting Violet several years later.

CH Postal Company

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: A former army lieutenant colonel, Claudia is the president of the CH Postal Company. He was a good friend of Gilbert during their time in the military and Claudia attempts to help Violet take the first steps of her new life in order to absolve himself of his own guilt, stemming from Violet's treatment back in the military.
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:Cattleya is an Auto Memory Doll who works alongside Violet at the CH Postal Company as its most popular Doll. She has been close to Hodgins since before the company was established, and joined as one of its initial employees.
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:Benedict is a eccentric postman who works at the CH Postal Company. Alongside Cattleya, he maintained a close relationship with Hodgins before the company's establishment and eventually became one of its initial employees.
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:Erica is an Auto Memory Doll working at the CH Postal Company. Her skills when it comes to client interaction are poor, but she continues to believe in her work as a Doll, attributing it to the inspiration she found upon reading the novel written by Molly Orland, a blind novelist.
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:Iris is an Auto Memory Doll who started working at the CH Postal Company shortly after Erica was hired. Hailing from the small farming village of Kazaly, Iris has always admired the image of a working woman and has since aspired to become Leiden's most popular Auto Memory Doll.

Others

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:A navy captain and the older son of the Bougainvillea family, Dietfried is Gilbert's older brother. Though he was the one who first "gave" Violet to Gilbert, he treats Violet as a "tool" for war and resents her for the things she did to his men during the war. Dietfried also blames Gilbert's "death" on Violet, stating that she had failed to protect Gilbert as a tool for the war.
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:An Auto Memory Doll who first became friends with Violet during training school. She lives with her brother Spencer, a former soldier who has turned into a guilt-ridden drunk after failing to stop the death of their parents during the war.
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:The 14-year-old princess of the Kingdom of Drossel. Charlotte is betrothed to the prince of Flügel, Damian Baldur Flügel—a man who is 10 years older than her—in the pursuit of peace between the two kingdoms. Their relationship is openly declared for the public by exchanging love letters written by the Auto Memory Dolls. While she genuinely wants to marry Damian, she is unsure if he feels the same. Recognizing the doll writing on behalf of the prince and wanting to stop Charlotte's tears, Violet hatches a scheme with Cattleya to have Charlotte and Damian write their own letters to each other. This has the effect of both strengthening the couple's relationship and increasing support from the people of both countries.
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:A staff member working under the Shahar Observatory's Manuscript Division who was paired with Violet during a joint operation between the Observatory and a group of Auto Memory Dolls. Because of the circumstances behind his missing parents, he thinks that love causes people to become foolish.
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:A famous playwright who has become a drunk recluse after the loss of both his wife and daughter. Seeking to write his very first children's play and dedicate it to his daughter's memory, he entrusts Violet with the task of bringing his ideas to paper.
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:Clara's daughter, Anne is a young girl who loves dolls and initially thought that Violet is a life-size doll. Noticing her mother's worsening health, Anne believes that visitors take away her remaining time with her mother, not knowing Clara's real intentions for Anne.
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:Anne's mother, Clara has a terminal illness and predicts that her fate is close. Worried that her daughter will be all alone after her death, she requested Violet to write 50 letters for Anne that will be sent on her birthday for the next 50 years.
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:A soldier fighting for the moderate faction of Ctrigal, a country plunged into a civil war against extremists who want the country to return to war. Not sure what to do with his money, he decided to use the service of Auto Memory Dolls to write letters for his parents and his childhood friend Maria.
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:A young woman who is assisted by Violet to debut into high society. She once lived in squalor as Amy Bartlett with her younger foster sister Taylor until she was found by a man claiming to be her father. Initially aloof to Violet, the two women become friends after learning of each other's backstories. However, she becomes reclusive sometime after Violet leaves until she receives an emotional letter from Taylor.
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:A young girl who was taken in by Amy Bartlett. When Amy is forced to leave her behind, Taylor is sent to the orphanage. After receiving a letter from Amy, by then going under the name Isabella York, she tracks down Violet a few years later to become a mail courier but also to reunite with Amy once more.

Media

Light novels

''Violet Evergarden'' is written by Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Akiko Takase. Published by Kyoto Animation under their KA Esuma Bunko imprint, from December 25, 2015, to March 27, 2020.

Anime

The anime adaptation was first announced via a commercial of the light novel's first volume in May 2016. In June 2017, Kyoto Animation announced that Anime Expo, AnimagiC, and C3 AFA Singapore 2017 would host the world premiere of the first episode. The second episode was first screened at the KyoAni and Do Fan Days 2017 event on October 21, 2017, and the third episode in five theaters across Japan on December 10, 2017. The 13-episode anime aired from January 11 to April 5, 2018, in Japan. An original video animation episode was released on July 4, 2018, with the final Blu-ray and DVD volume. The series is directed by Taichi Ishidate at Kyoto Animation with the screenplay written by Reiko Yoshida. Akiko Takase designed the characters and Yota Tsuruoka handles the sound direction. The opening theme is "Sincerely" by True while the ending theme is by Minori Chihara. Netflix began streaming the series worldwide on January 11, 2018, except for the United States and Australia, where they began streaming on April 5, 2018. Anime Limited acquired the series for home video distribution in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and premiered the first episode at MCM London Comic Con on October 28, 2017. Madman Entertainment acquired the home video distribution rights for the series in Australia and New Zealand.

Films

A spin-off film, , premiered on August 3 at Germany's AnimagiC 2019 convention and in Japan on September 6, 2019. The film was directed by the show's series director Haruka Fujita. The film credits feature the names of those killed in the Kyoto Animation arson attack as a dedication to their work. Madman Entertainment licensed the film for distribution in Australia and New Zealand, premiering the film theatrically in Australia on December 5, 2019, and in New Zealand on December 12, 2019. Funimation screened the film theatrically in the United States in early 2020. Anime Limited licensed the film in the UK and Ireland, with a premiere scheduled on March 1, 2020, at the Glasgow Film Festival.

When the ''Violet Evergarden Gaiden'' light novel was released, the jacket band announced that a "new project" was in progress and that it will be a completely new work for the anime. In July 2018, it was announced at a special event for the series that the aforementioned new project would be a brand new anime film. The second spin-off film, , premiered on September 18, 2020. It was originally scheduled to premiere on January 10, 2020, but it was later delayed to April 24, 2020 due to the Kyoto Animation arson attack. It was subsequently delayed again to September 18, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The official Kyoto Animation channel uploaded the first 10 minutes of the film on YouTube on October 8, 2020.

Music

The series' soundtrack titled ''Violet Evergarden: Automemories'' was composed by Evan Call and distributed by Bandai Namco Arts under their Lantis label on March 28, 2018. It contains 47 tracks and 6 vocal tracks featuring performances by Aira Yuuki, Minori Chihara, and True.

Track listing

All music/lyrics/tracks are composed by Evan Call, except where indicated.

Reception

Light novel

''Violet Evergarden'' 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).

Anime

See also

* '' Agents of the Four Seasons'', another light novel series by Kana Akatsuki

Notes

References

External links

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{{Crunchyroll Anime Award for Best Animation

2015 Japanese novels
Anime and manga based on light novels
Coming-of-age anime and manga
Crunchyroll Anime Award winners
Fiction about disability
Funimation
KA Esuma Bunko
Kyoto Animation
Light novels
Netflix original anime
Novels about postal systems
Steampunk anime and manga
Television shows based on light novels
Tokyo MX original programming