Originally posted July 19th 2021 | 7 mins | Spoiler Free!

Sometimes Instagram targeted advertising gets things right. Probably inspired by some sort of digital spying on my Pinterest boards and my “Study Mix” Youtube playlists, my Instagram feed brought up that the Violet Evergarden movie would be showing for one night only in selected theatres. When I say I instantly booked a ticket, I mean instantly. Yeah, I do often go to the cinema alone. I would say try it, but if you’re thinking of doing it for this movie then I take it back: you absolutely should take a friend for emotional support with you if you’re as big of a crybaby as me.

Because I booked my tickets just like that, I actually had no idea what this film was exactly going to be about. I’d already seen the whole anime and the spin-off movie ‘Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll’ (which the internet describes as a prequel to this movie), but I unfortunately keep forgetting to watch that one special episode on Netflix (update: I still haven’t watched it). That was fine though. I would recommend that for maximum enjoyment (and more emotional ass-whooping) you only really need to watch the anime as the film acts as basically the concluding climatic sequel to it.

And, of course, it was beautiful.

The film opens years into the future where telephones have come into full fruition and the profession of Dolls – the female postal workers who write letters on behalf of others – has become obsolete. We meet a young woman (Daisy) shortly after the funeral of her grandmother and who is just discovering the role of Dolls as she finds the old collection of letters that were annually sent to her grandmother by a Doll (three guesses who) on behalf of her deceased mother. The movie doesn’t focus on Daisy, but she makes for an occasional narrator who makes appearances in the present day as she follows a spontaneous journey to follow Violet’s footsteps. The main narrative is of course Violet’s, taking place years before Daisy’s time when telephones are only just starting to be used. Because I do not want to contain spoilers, this next synopsis bit will be a little vague, but I think you can tell where this is going by the trailer alone (which I’ve included below!). The narrative follows Violet after she has already made a name for herself as a highly demanded Doll, following the events of the series anime, and her final jobs as an Auto Memory Doll, before – as Daisy tells us – she quit her job and practically disappeared. Along with one of her final roles being to write three letters from a fatally sick child at the hospital and the sudden emerging traces of Major Gilbert Bougainvillea, the film makes for a perfectly fitting emotional climax to the Violet Evergarden story. Before even going into the cinema I knew this film was going to make me cry and, in true Violet Evergarden fashion, it made me want to weep like a newly made widow.

I’ve always loved Violet Evergarden for it’s absolutely ethereal animation, cinematography and romanticised aesthetic and this film is no exception. As is on par with the series, the soundtrack is divine. To be fair, I would recommend the music alone to anyone whether they watch anime or not. I absolutely adore the Violet Evergarden soundtrack. As for cinematography, we of course have some truly beautiful shots that are only maximized in their beauty by the big screen. I stand by the fact that this studio (Kyoto Animation) could literally animate 60 minutes of grass moving and I’d consider myself fed. The chosen colour scheme in every scene is also half the masterpiece. One of the biggest emotional scenes also sees it bucketing down with rain and the animation on those drops crashing into the ground around Violet’s feet is just *MWAH*. Fully mesmerizing, I think I could have stared at just that shot for hours.

Just like with the anime, I always feel the need to express that Violet Evergarden is, for the most part, rather slower paced. While it is in no way stagnant, it is always good to note that the power of this series has always been in its emotional pulses that flow elegantly and steadily like a river, as opposed to the action-packed thrill ride of many popular Shonen animes that you might enjoy. It works brilliantly for this series and I definitely think an anime of this cinematic integrity and romantic beats is tailor made for that kind of pace, but it may not be for everyone if you’re more of a fight-scenes and adrenaline kind of anime lover. That being said, the climax of the film hits like a bullet train. The narrative speeds up to deliver punch after heart-wrenching punch. Heartbreak is something we see often in the movies (anime or otherwise) and stories in general, but Violet Evergarden: The Movie definitely made me feel it. This is probably me exaggerating, (as if I haven’t been gushing non-stop for this entire review already because of seeing it in all its big-screen cinema glory), but that scene with the breathtakingly animated raindrops made me feel like I knew what real heartbreak was. After going through the journey of the series and knowing the core story of Violet’s whole existence, that climax breaks your heart as much as Violet’s (and Hodgins’, because he was really doing the most in this movie in comparison to his role in the show). That being said, of course, it wouldn’t be an anime film if it didn’t leave you feeling romanticised and teary-eyed, so don’t let me trick you into thinking the ending of Violet Evergarden is a solely sad one. I simply promise you it’s a must-see if you are a fan of the anime.

If you get the chance to see it on the big screen, I cannot recommend it enough. I actually didn’t check this when I booked the tickets for myself, but the movie I saw in the cinema was subbed. While I personally watched the anime in dub (because with its slow pace and atmospheric romanticism I found it a great show to watch while I was doing other things like baking where I was looking away from the screen), the movie is definitely something you forget you are reading subtitles for once you get into it. If you’re concerned about that sort of thing. Like I said before, I think this is a great film to drag a friend to; but not because they might enjoy it, but because you might need the emotional support. I know I did. The climax had me wanting to sob in the ugliest way possible and what I wouldn’t have given to have suddenly not been sitting by myself in a dark room full of strangers. Would have been nice to have instead the shoulder of a friend that wouldn’t mind me hiding my grossly weeping face in their arm while I tried to compose myself before missing all the best parts at the end of the film. If you do bring a friend along who hasn’t already seen the anime, I do highly recommend sitting with them through the series so that they can get the full impact of Violet’s final journey. However the film is not incomprehensible without it. We are treated to various flashbacks of Violet’s past that we are familiar with from the series and all the main narrative tentpoles are there so it shouldn’t be difficult for them to piece together. Violet Evergarden was definitely an anime that was made to be adaptable into over hour-long film – as the anime was already one of the longer-episode works which you needed for the emotional pull of the characters – that I wouldn’t be surprised if the climax to this series was always intended to be in movie format.

Because I sorely want you to experience it as I did, with minimal knowledge as to how the narrative would play out, I have made this a spoiler-free review. My hope is that you will go and watch the film for yourself, perhaps after binging the whole series because you hadn’t before and now I’ve piqued your interest. As a general overview, I would highly recommend the series for a break from the action-packed, (sometimes chaotic mess *side-eyes to particular animes*), of the popular Shonen animes that get the blood pumping and tears flowing in one massive onslaught. I personally think Violet Evergarden does both of these things too, remembering that the backstory to most of these characters is a violent world war equivalent, but in a much more elegant and melancholic brilliance that makes you want to go out and have a personal growth adventure rather than punch someone in the face with the power of friendship. The characters are very touching and Violet makes for a peaceful, muted protagonist (in terms of aesthetic, not life story) that drifts the story forward like a piece of old, steady machinery. Admittedly, I would never describe Violet herself as a strongly captivating protagonist. Not because she is uninteresting, she just has a softer screen presence and her quiet, mechanical (no pun intended) lifestyle doesn’t really grab you by the collar and force you to pay attention. For example, when I remember events from the anime, I actually don’t remember Violet herself that much. I tend to remember the people she met more and the stories she encountered, but there are very few instances where I can describe in detail Violets own interactions in those episodes. I remember the scholar watching her disappear into the distance, saying “I wonder if I’ll ever meet someone like her again”. I remember the red-haired girl who was trying to repair her relationship with her brother and how much that hit me, as a younger sister myself. And, of course, we all remember Princess Charlotte with her complex regal romance and the iconic shot of Violet Evergarden “walking on water” as a father tries to reclaim the image of his daughter through the old precious umbrella. I don’t really hate that because I think, at its core, we are following Violet on a learning journey of empathy, the power of words and communications of love. I see it as we kind of follow Violet as an acquaintance on her adventures, standing next to her and listening to others with her, rather than standing in front of her and judging her actions as we might other protagonists.

I don’t think it is for everyone, but I will bounce for joy if you decide to give it a shot and love it.

Because there are some things I want to talk about in the aftermath of this movie, I’m going to upload a separate ‘Thoughts’ article that WILL contain spoilers, perhaps after I have had the opportunity to see it for a second time and revaluate some feelings. If you’ve already seen the film, please come and have a chat with me!

Can we also please acknowledge the killer heels that Benedict be rocking in this anime: I wish my letters got delivered with such class, damn.

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