An Anime Review of 'Violet Evergardan: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll'

The feature length follow up to the KyoAni series, based on the novels Violet Evergarden. I have spoken extensively about the show on this platform before, and this film allows me to sing the praises of Violet Evergarden once again. If you are looking for my, to the point, recommendation, it is simply to get on Netflix and watch it right now. While I have been hard on Netflix for its treatment of seasonal anime, I have always maintained it is a great service nonetheless and that I am a fan of the fact they host various media including anime films.

Now then, for those who are looking for my actual thoughts on the show they are as follows. As far as the structure of the film goes it very much feels like two elongated episodes of the show being stitched together. In another sense, two forty minute long episodes. The reason why I say this is because Violet Evergarden has a very distinct way of paying off a narrative in an emotional perspective. I will leave things at that. The narrative follows Violet performing her role as an auto memory doll, and what is great about the film is that while there are references to the events in the show, they are not so overpowering that you feel as if you need to watch the show first. Though the references are great if you have seen the show prior.

What is also great to see is that while this is an incredibly character driven narrative, the world that the characters inhabit does not stay still. Instead the world itself is developing, getting more technological with advancements occurring in most facets of life. As a result we are able to see the reactions of the characters and their feelings about the rapid changes. This gives a sense of life to the show that would otherwise be missing, hinting that this world will continue to move on, with it without the characters that we follow. This is especially evident when we get a glimpse into the political aspect of the world, the gender roles associated with it, and how it is not just technology, but every aspect of life that is changing.

The characters themselves show growth in the film, as we get both character development and character progression. This is not restricted to the existing characters, but including the ones that have been introduced in the film, even the minor ones. While I really liked Benedict in the show, I have grown to outright love him since I have seen the film. The emotional punch that the film delivers throughout the film by the expert usage of the characters is fantastic.

From a visual standpoint, this film is immaculate. The show was already impressive to look at, and now it looks even better in the feature film format. The colours are even more vibrant, the world more detailed, the movement is incredibly fluid, and the film looks and feels cinematic. So much so I desperately wished it came to cinemas in the UK and more specifically, Liverpool. From a sound perspective, the sound design is fantastic, really helping you feel immersed in the world. The soundtrack is always a highlight as it is still fantastic. There are times I would listen to the soundtrack when I am working on my computer or studying. It has a lot of repeatability.

The film is a fantastic addition to the show, going so far as to expand the world, develop the characters, and tell a fantastic story. Once again Violet Evergarden was able to bring the tears as is the show's modus operandi. This is a film and series that I highly recommend to anyone and a story that remains my all time favourite. You can watch it all on Netflix.