Violet Evergarden: A Fundamental Portrayal of Veterans, Loss, and Expression

When we think of war films and media, there are probably several great examples that come to mind—both from years ago and recent releases. Film and television capture the horrors of war right there in the moment of devastation and destruction that range from mere minutes to long-winded years of conflict, resulting in the loss of thousands. But what about afterwards? What of the stories told long after the blood in the gutter has drained? And how can a single franchise made in a little studio office in Kyoto both portray the after stories of veterans so accurately and emotionally?

Violet Evergarden is a 2018 anime series that recently got its (possible) final instalment film in 2021. Starting off as an award-winning light novel of the fifth Kyoto Animation Award in 2014, it later got a fourteen-episode adaptation and two feature-length films. It very quickly became one of the most beloved animated series in recent years.

The story follows Violet, a young girl who's only known the battlefield since she was very young; raised to be a human weapon for the military during a period of nationwide conflict. Naturally, her understanding of emotions ranges from repressed to entirely absent. While most of her superiors saw her as a tool, the one who took her in, Major Gilbert Bougainvillea, treated her as if she was normal by giving her a name and teaching her to be literate. Their bond became the only thing Violet latched onto when she had nothing else.

During a particularly volatile battle, both Violet and Gilbert are severely injured. While hiding in an unstable tower, Gilbert encourages Violet to escape by herself, despite her desperate protests, and states his last words before the structure collapses. Violet wakes up in a military hospital, both arms replaced with mechanical prosthetics and no Major Gilbert in sight. She wishes to find him and learn exactly what he meant by the words “I love you.”

From then on, the story focuses on Violet joining a postal company within the fictional realm of Leiden—specifically the “Auto Memory Doll” department: a service where female typists write letters for clients during a time when most people were illiterate. There, she hopes to get further in touch with the emotions of others and learn what it means to love someone and be loved. 

With absolutely breath-taking animation drawn to a pristine finish and an orchestral soundtrack that helps you dive headfirst into this brand new world, Violet Evergarden begins in gradual steps, turning to great strides in storytelling and character development.

A core theme of the entire franchise is the act of expressing emotions through words, a universal struggle we can all relate to one way or another. Violet’s development grows from the experiences and struggles of the different people she meets and what she learns about loss and people’s desire to get their feelings across. Each episode features a new ensemble of characters with a story to tell. Many of these stories focus on the characters' direct involvement in the war or the impact of its aftermath.

The emotional journeys act as the heart of the story. But there is a particular subject that is scathingly recognised within Violet Evergarden and is wholly present and impactful on our protagonist. And that is the topic of being a post-war veteran living a civilian life.

While Violet may struggle to show or even understand emotion, it isn’t because she’s completely devoid, but because she's never had the opportunity to experience or deal with severe, pivotal feelings. This is extremely common in all real-world veterans, past and present. In an environment where subjecting yourself to rash emotions can lead to causality, repressing them is treated as the best route for survival.

The show exemplifies the effects of on-hand military experience throughout Violet’s evolution as a character. Although some of them are exaggerated to balance the show’s serious themes with a few light-hearted moments, such as when she constantly salutes to figures of authority. There's also a hard-to-swallow realism to the way her conscience and emotional catch-ups weigh down on her so heavily as to incite horrific nightmares and feelings of utter uselessness at the loss of her commander and only guardian.

Some peaks cover the darkest consequences of war well after the battles have ended; loss of limbs, letters to loved ones that can only be read once a veteran has died on the front and the crisis of veteran suicide.

Violet Evergarden seamlessly covers all of these important matters with respect and great emotional weight. It directly speaks of the impacts of war on people: how it changes them, isolates them, takes away family and friends in several ways. While most characters only have a single episode dedicated to their story, the writing and direction never deter you from what matters. You’re given plenty of time to understand, feel sympathetic, and feel warmed by the soft storytelling of a world made of fantasy yet built firmly on reality’s haunches.

When you’ve latched onto the franchise’s original pull, you may delve into the newest film, Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2021). A film that stands up from everything already loved from the original and throws you headfirst into the deeper end of the pool. It evolves from war and coming to terms with the loss of a loved one to a well-earned love story about change and learning to live again. Not to mention it holds one of the most satisfying conclusions to a series if you’re all in for ugly crying your way through the end credits.

Violet Evergarden isn’t just an animated series it’s a gateway into a genre that many assume is dedicated only to children’s entertainment. It’s a series that proves something animated can be gorgeous on the surface but also incredibly mature and well-rounded when you take a moment to delve deeper. You may experience something new that you didn’t expect and open yourself up to completely different realms of emotion.