The anime adaptation of Violet Evergarden has certainly managed to capture every emotional aspect of the manga, which made it incredibly popular. Taichi Ishidate, along with Kyoto Animation, managed to perfectly relay the messages of love, war, guilt, atonement, and growth as the main protagonist, Violet Evergarden, tries to decipher her emotions through various characters in the series.
The series about the young war veteran has one 13-episode season, 1 special, and two movies which have all been a massive hit with anime fans around the world. The Violet Evergarden series puts the viewers into an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. The second movie of the franchise, Violet Evergarden: The Movie, for many, becomes the cherry on top. Here is what the producer had to say about the movie.
Hatta Shinichirou gives his take on Violet Evergarden: The Movie
For many of the fans, Violet Evergarden: The Movie was the perfect ending for the story. The war veteran turned ghostwriter was able to perfectly convey her love in a letter written to Gilbert. The scene where the two broke down in tears had the viewers streaming tears along with the two, especially with the animators from KyoAni doing a spectacular job of animating the raw emotions of the two.
Violet Evergarden: The Movie perfectly shows Violet’s journey as she continues to grapple with the complexity of her emotions. During an interview with the producer of the series and movies, Hatta Shinichirou, he explains how the sequel movie can be enjoyed by fans despite not watching the series and prior movie and special, even giving a hind on an “even more fun” way of watching the story. In the interview, he stated;
It has turned into something that people can enjoy quite a lot even if they watch only the movie… Should anyone become interested in her way of life after watching the movie, if they go over the TV series and then watch the movie once again, there will be further depth to the story, so I think it would be even more fun.
The story of the former child soldier turned Auto-Memories Doll, as mentioned earlier, certainly is one of KyoAni’s best works at capturing the pure essence of human emotion, which they are known for perfecting. Among the many scenes in the Violet Evergarden series where viewers were forced to grab hold of the tissue, here are three moments that managed to tug on the emotional heartstrings the most.
Three moments that had most viewers bawling out in tears while watching Violet Evergarden
1. The first letter to Gilbert: We meet Violet as a young woman haunted by her past as a child soldier. The start of the series reveals a heartbreaking letter she wrote to her Major, Gilbert, which was filled with unspoken emotions and a call for help to understand the meaning of “I love you,” the last words he spoke to her before his death. Given that it was made to seem that the letter would never reach him was certainly an incredibly powerful introduction to Violet’s emotional journey.
2. A Mother’s last words: This one tugs at the heartstrings. Violet is tasked with writing letters for a terminally ill mother, Clara. As Violet helps Clara express her love and hopes for her young daughter through these letters, the weight of Clara’s impending goodbye and the impact it will have on her child is deeply moving.
3. Violet’s tragic past: As Violet delves deeper into the world of emotions and human connection, she grapples with her own traumatic past. Witnessing flashbacks to the horrors of war and the abuse she endured as a child soldier is emotionally distressing. But this also served to be an important point in Violet’s story. She began to comprehend the impact of her actions during the war and the importance of having empathy.
You can stream Violet Evergarden on Netflix.
Frequently asked questions
Why does producer Hatta Shinichirou say Violet Evergarden: The Movie was made the way it was?
Kyoto Animation producer Hatta Shinichirou explained that the film was built so people can enjoy it even if they only watch the movie. But if a viewer becomes interested in Violet’s way of life, watches the TV series, and then revisits the film, there is “further depth to the story” on that second viewing, which he felt would make it even more rewarding.
Who directed Violet Evergarden: The Movie and which studio produced it?
Both the TV series and Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020) were directed by Taichi Ishidate and produced by Kyoto Animation (KyoAni), the studio celebrated for the emotional storytelling and detailed animation that made the adaptation so beloved.
Do you need to watch the Violet Evergarden TV series before the movie?
No. The article notes the film was deliberately crafted to stand on its own, so newcomers can follow it without the series. The producer’s point is that the TV series is optional extra context that adds depth on a rewatch, not a prerequisite. The story centers on former child soldier Violet learning to understand human emotion as an Auto Memories Doll.
