Violet Evergarden: Is It Worth Watching, Even If You Cry Easily?
Our verdict — 8.3/10, worth watching
TL;DR — Yes, and especially if you cry easily, as long as you want to. Violet Evergarden (Kyoto Animation, 2018) follows a former child soldier who becomes a letter writer to understand her commanding officer's last words: "I love you." It's one of the most beautiful anime ever made, often episodic, and very sad. Watch the 13 episodes, the side-story film from 2019, then the 2020 movie, which ends the story.
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Take the quizThe verdict
Worth it, if you want to be moved. Kyoto Animation's art is extraordinary, down to the light on water and the folds of a letter. The structure is mostly episodic, one client and one letter at a time, while Violet slowly learns what feelings are. A few early episodes are slower; from about episode 5 it rarely misses.
The premise
Violet was raised as a weapon and fought in a war under Major Gilbert, the one person who treated her kindly. After the war, with metal arms and no understanding of emotions, she becomes an "Auto Memory Doll," a ghostwriter who turns people's feelings into letters. She takes the job to understand the last thing Gilbert said to her.
Watch order
- Violet Evergarden (January to April 2018, 13 episodes, plus an OVA usually watched after episode 4).
- Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll (2019). A side story; works best after the series.
- Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020). The conclusion.
About Kyoto Animation
The studio, also behind K-On! and A Silent Voice, was hit by an arson attack in July 2019 that killed 36 people, including staff who had worked on Violet Evergarden. The films released afterwards credit them.
Who it suits
If you loved A Silent Voice, Your Lie in April or Clannad, start here. If you want a strong plot each episode, the anthology structure may feel slow at first.
Frequently asked questions
How sad is Violet Evergarden? Very. Several episodes deal with grief, terminal illness and war, and episode 10 is famously devastating. But it's ultimately hopeful, not bleak.
Is Violet Evergarden finished? Yes. Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020) concludes her story.
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