Violet Evergarden is a Japanese light novel series written by Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Akiko Takase. It 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 each of the three categories. Kyoto Animation published the first light novel on December 25, 2015, under their KA Esuma Bunko imprint. A 13-episode animetelevision series adaptation by Kyoto Animation aired between January and April 2018 with several advance screenings taking place in 2017. The series was awarded Best Animation at the 2019 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. An original video animation episode was released in July 2018, and a spin-off film premiered in Japan in September 2019. Another anime film was originally scheduled to premiere on April 24, 2020, but it was later delayed to September 18, 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plot
The story revolves around Auto Memory Dolls: people initially employed by a scientist named Dr. Orland to assist his blind wife Mollie in writing her novels, and later hired by other people who needed their services. In the present time, the term refers to the industry of writing for others. The story follows Violet Evergarden's journey of reintegrating back into society after the war is over and her search for her life's purpose now that she is no longer a soldier in order to understand the last words her major, Gilbert, had told her: "I love you."
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 "Michishirube" 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.
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Film
A spin-off film, Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll, premiered on August 3 at Germany's AnimagiC 2019 convention, and premiered 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, and premiered 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 will be a brand new anime film. It was originally scheduled to premiere on January 10, 2020, but it was later delayed to April 24, 2020. It was later delayed again to September 18, 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
