Violet Evergarden has actually changed the perspective on life, love, and empathy for quite a lot of people who watched the anime. Given that grief is certainly a universal feeling for everyone, Kana Akatsuki’s light novel, which was then given an anime adaptation by Kyoto Animation, certainly managed to hit all the right notes to portray human emotions perfectly.
However, the Director of Violet Evergarden would reveal later on that it was certainly not an easy task to replicate and perfect all the scenes in the anime. Here is what Haruka Fujita had to say about working as the director of the series.
Haruka Fujita weighs in on her experience working as the director for Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden is arguably one of the most beautiful animes that KyoAni has graced their fans with. With breathtaking settings to characters that people just can’t help but relate to, the series holds a special place in the hearts of many. However, episode 9 of the series is when the emotions really start going through the roofs.
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Episode 9 is when Violet finally comes to a realization of what Gilbert told her during their last meeting. She begins to understand the depths of her actions during the war and even contemplates ending her life. From episode 10 onwards, we begin to see major growth in Violet’s character.
During an interview, Haruka Fyjita gave an insight into her time working as the director for Violet Evergarden. She said;
“On a personal front, reading the novel left me feeling that I’d been saved, and as such, I wanted to make the series into something that could share this same feeling with those who watched it….”
“But in reality, I was constantly encountering difficulties throughout production… I had to work through trial and error. It was easier after episode 9, where Violet sorted out her feelings and found a reason to live other than for Gilbert. But until then it was a struggle.”
Haruka Fujita also worked alongside Taichi Ishidate, and it would seem like the two had incredible chemistry working together, given how Violet Evergarden turned out. Here is what Haruka had to say about her experience working with Ishidate.
Haruka Fujita gives an insight into working with Taichi Ishidate for Violet Evergarden
One reason Violet Evergarden stands apart from the rest is its incredible cast of characters. Not only is Violet a well-written and detailed character who holds great depth, but the supporting cast in the series holds just as much significance and depth for how the story plays out. This perfect balance can be credited to Haruka Fujita and Taichi Ishidate’s impressive teamwork.
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During the same interview, Fujita would comment on their work together. She stated;
“I think the director (Ishidate) looked at Violet from the perspective of a parent. He wanted to raise and nurture Violet, who was, at the start, like a blank slate. If I had to choose, rather than Violet, I’d say that I felt more drawn to the characters that changed through their meeting with Violet.”
“Ishidate and I checked the storyboards for each episode. We made sure that the ups and downs in Violet’s emotions didn’t feel out of place, and that the subtleties in Violet’s emotions were being expressed. I think that the episode directors also thought about the series intimately whilst working on each episode.”
Violet Evergarden certainly is an anime series that needs to be watched at least once in life. Not only does it have quite an impact on the viewers, but also gives us a chance to grow alongside Violet Evergarden in the series.
You can stream Violet Evergarden on Netflix.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Haruka Fujita and what was her role on Violet Evergarden?
Haruka Fujita worked as an episode director on Kyoto Animation’s Violet Evergarden, alongside series director Taichi Ishidate. In the interview the article quotes, she reflected on how difficult it was to find her footing on the production, saying she ‘had to work through trial and error.’
Why did Fujita say it got easier after episode 9?
Fujita said production became easier after episode 9, the point where Violet ‘sorted out her feelings and found a reason to live other than for Gilbert.’ In that episode Violet confronts the weight of her wartime actions, and from episode 10 onward her emotional growth becomes clearer, which made her arc easier to convey consistently.
What is Violet Evergarden based on, and what is its story?
Violet Evergarden is based on the light novel series written by Kana Akatsuki, adapted into anime by Kyoto Animation. It follows Violet, a former child soldier who becomes an Auto Memory Doll writing letters on behalf of others while gradually learning to understand human emotions.
