The Masterpiece: Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden, in my opinion, is one of the best works of art I have ever seen and experienced. It's a coming-of-age story that transforms an emotionless war machine into a charming young woman. I can't help but praise the author and the studio for creating such a good storyline and visuals to go with it. The pacing of the story starts off slow so that you can get to know the characters better. As it goes on, the pace increases, giving us a more in-depth detail of what the characters are doing. In addition, the music is very cool.
Violet Evergarden is an anime based on a light novel that shares the same name. The adaptation was produced in 2018 by Kyoto Animation, which also produced other works such as A Silent Voice and CLANNAD. The series features 13 23-minute episodes, alongside 2 movies and a special. The series is available to watch now on Netflix(except the most recent movie). The genres for the series are Drama, Fantasy, Romance, and Sci-Fi.
The story is set in a post-war time frame in Leidenschaftlich(Leiden for short), a fictional country in the south-central part of a bigger continent. The main character, Violet Evergarden, is an orphaned young girl who's training to be a weapon in the war; now, she is trying to fit in with society. As she goes through the brutal training she's been given, she has no sense of her emotions and only follows orders given to her. Everyone thinks of her as a tool for war, despite her performance in battle far exceeding what anyone expected. There is one exception, Gilbert Bougainvillea, a major in the Leidenschaftlich Army who values Violet and thinks of her as a human and more than just a tool.
Although it might seem a little subjective, trust me when I say that the visuals are absolutely stunning. The number of details put into every frame of the series is mind-blowing. Violet Evergarden and Kyoto Animation were awarded "Best Animation" in 2019 by Crunchyroll Anime Awards. The series has an overall rating of 8.64/10 on MyAnimeList.com, making it the 58th most popular anime ever created. It also has an IMDb rating of 8.4/10.
However, it is not for everyone. A slow start can bore just about anyone, especially those who enjoy suspense and action. Although the environment slowly changes, the show is based around character development; there's not that big of a difference for most of the characters at the start of the series compared to the end.
Even though Netflix says it's 16+, you should watch it even if you're under 16; the show doesn't contain any violent language, nudity, etc. I think you should give it a try; it's very cool. :)
- Bryant L.