Violet Evergarden had a strange way of dealing with it’s characters. The character design of every recurring cast member was flawless. Each character had a unique look and feel that makes the watcher want to get to know them as the show progresses. But that’s where the show’s minor issues arise. We never really see these characters fleshed out in any meaningful way other than being used as tools to further the development of the main character, Violet. With that said, Violet was one of the most interesting characters of the Winter 2018 Anime season. I appreciated the way her past as a hellfighter during the war was introduced little by little, as it always came exactly when the show needed a change of pace. The characters that requested letters from Violet were usually only in the show for their respective episodes but were expertly developed in a way that made you care about their personal story and the results that their request would bring.
Visuals
Two words… Kyoto Animation. Honestly that should be enough to justify the rating but lets dive a little deeper. When the first trailer for Violet Evergarden surfaced, the animation quality was the topic of the anime community for weeks. And even with all of the hype surrounding is production value Kyoto Animation found a way to make every single frame a treat for it’s audience. The most impressive thing about the shows visuals has to be the detail that was applied when bringing the light novel’s different scenes to life. I’m actually quite curious as to what the budget was to produce the show because it is clear that KyoAni used techniques that are usually saved for feature length films with budgets unobtainable to anime studios. Violet Evergarden is a virtual lock to win the award for Best Animation and that is why it receives our first perfect score in this category
Overall Score
Violet Evergarden is a simply a must-watch. The first few episodes start of fairly slow but by episode four it’s full steam ahead and doesn’t look back. This show will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride that you wont want to end. But the ending of the show comes at the perfect time and the wrap-up job is solid. Violet Evergarden is highly recommended and should go towards the top of your watch list.
887/1000 Heartfelt Letters
