Violet Evergarden: The Movie

Violet Evergarden: The Movie (劇場版 ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン) is a 2020 Japanese animated film based on Violet Evergarden light novel series by Kana Akatsuki and a sequel to the 2018 anime television series adaptation. Produced by Kyoto Animation and distributed by Shochiku, the film is directed by Taichi Ishidate from a script written by Reiko Yoshida, and stars Yui Ishikawa and Daisuke Namikawa who reprise their roles from the series. In the film, Violet Evergarden continues in her search for the meaning of the final words left by Gilbert Bougainvillea when she receives a request to write a letter from a boy named Yuris.

Initially teased in March 2018 as a new project, it was revealed in July to be an anime film. Ishidate and Yoshida were revealed as part of the film's staff in April 2019. The film suffered setbacks following an arson attack at one of Kyoto Animation's studio buildings and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Violet Evergarden: The Movie premiered in Japan on September 18, 2020. The film grossed over US$21million worldwide, and received awards and nominations, including the awards at Tokyo Anime Awards Festival and Japan Media Arts Festival.

Plot

Daisy, the granddaughter of Anne Magnolia, stumbles upon the letters sent to her grandmother during her birthdays. She becomes curious about the legend of Violet Evergarden, who is well known for writing beautiful letters on behalf of her customers. More than half a century ago, Violet receives a request from a terminally ill boy named Yuris to write letters for his family. Meanwhile, Claudia Hodgins finds a mail with a vague address on it and recognizes the handwriting to be from Gilbert Bougainvillea, whom they thought to be dead. He manages to find its origin from the remote island of Ekarte and decides to bring Violet with him. Upon reaching the island, Claudia finds Gilbert alive yet missing his right eye and arm. Gilbert declines to meet Violet due to his guilt of bringing her misery, thinking that she will be happier without him. Violet tries to meet him but the latter insists on not wanting to see her, causing her to emotionally break down.

A storm prevents Violet and Claudia from leaving the island when they received a telegraph message stating that Yuris' condition has worsened. Violet has one last task to write a letter for Yuris' friend Lucas so she asks Iris Cannary to substitute for her. Benedict Blue brings Iris to the hospital, where they find Yuris unable to rise from bed. They decide to let him talk to Lucas via telephone to deliver his final message. After his death, Yuris' parents take turns in reading the letters he requested from Violet. Violet writes a final letter to Gilbert before she and Claudia leave the island. Touched by her words and the support of his brother Dietfried, Gilbert chases Violet as she boards a ship. He reunites with Violet when she jumps off the ship and tells her about his love for her, promising that he will stay by her side from now on. Violet later resigns from CH Postal Company to live with Gilbert on the island. Back in the present, Daisy visits the island to learn from the locals about their history with Violet and writes a letter to her parents.

Voice cast

Production

In March 2018, the wrap-around jacket for newly released Violet Evergarden Gaiden light novel volume by Kana Akatsuki revealed that there was a "new project in progress".[6] At the Violet Evergarden Film & Concert special event in July 2018, the project was revealed to be an anime film based on Akatsuki's light novel series.[7] Taichi Ishidate was revealed to be directing the film at Kyoto Animation in April 2019, along with Reiko Yoshida as the screenwriter and Akiko Takase as the character designer.[8] Ishidate initially hesitated to helm the direct sequel to the 2018 anime television series Violet Evergarden because its ending was the "entirety of the story I intended to tell", but later "spurred to action" after reading Yoshida's script that made him think that it was "fine for Gilbert [Bougainvillea] to live".[9] In July 2019, an arson attack took place at one of Kyoto Animation's studio buildings, destroying most of their upcoming projects in the works and past animation materials from the fire.[10] Violet Evergarden Production Committee announced in September 2019 that the production work on the film was "still continuing", while the scheduled January 2020 release was delayed.[11] The film was shot with a 2.31:1 screen ratio instead of 16:9 that was previously used for Violet Evergarden anime series, which was initially proposed by director Haruka Fujita and used in the 2019 film Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll.[12]

Music

Evan Call was revealed to be composing Violet Evergarden: The Movie in April 2019, after previously doing so for Violet Evergarden and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll.[8] In February 2020, the film's theme music was revealed to be performed by True titled "Will",[13] with its single being released in Japan on September 16.[14] The film's original soundtrack is included in Call's soundtrack album titled Violet Evergarden: Echo Through Eternity, which was released in Japan on October 21, 2020.[15]

Marketing

A teaser trailer and a key visual for Violet Evergarden: The Movie were released in April 2019.[8] The film's second teaser trailer and key visual were respectively released in February and March 2020.[16][17] In March 2020, the film held collaboration with instant noodle brand Acecook in promoting its release.[18] Three short stories written by Akatsuki were given to the filmgoers who have viewed the film in Japan: Benedict Blue's Violet (ベネディクト・ブルーの菫), Oscar's Little Angel (オスカーの小さな天使), Violet Evergarden If (ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン If), and Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Transient Dream (ギルベルト・ブーゲンビリアと儚い夢).[19][20]

Release

Reception

External links