VIOLET EVERGARDEN – The Girl with Metal Hands

This review may contain SLIGHT SPOILERS. Though I’ll try to make it as short and spoiler-free as possible.

QUICK SUMMARY : The story follows Violet Evergarden’s journey of reintegrating back into society after the war is over and her search for her life’s purpose now that she is no longer a soldier in order to understand the last words of her mentor and guardian.

LENGTH : 13 Episodes + 1 Movie

Violet Evergarden is hands down the most unique and emotional anime I’ve ever seen. The anime has a beautiful soundtrack, masterful graphics & cinematography, with a heartfelt and mature story about love, war, and human connection.

STORY REVIEW

ON LOVE : After a major battle, Violet is found at the ruins of an enemy encampment with her arms torn off and Gilbert nowhere to be found.

Never quite grasping the concept of human emotions and relationships, Violet travels the world, writing letters for strangers and learning about human relationships. She writes letters for others, in hope that by understanding other people’s feelings she’ll finally be able to learn what Gilbert’s final words, “I love you,” truly mean.

ON WAR : While the anime begins at the end of the war, remnants of the war remain prevalent throughout the world.

There are groups opposed to the peace treaty trying to reignite the flames of war and families forever broken by the loss of a loved one. Themes of war and the destruction it causes are at the heart of this anime.

GRAPHICS REVIEW

The graphics are crisp and sleek, and the cinematography is artistic in its scene transitions. The anime flows from scene to scene seamlessly or with abrupt changes meant to take you aback or catch you off guard.

Furthermore, the anime’s presentation of plot devices, like Violet’s brooch, is masterful. I’ve never seen an anime be so mainstream, yet so imaginative and poetic at the same time. If you want to study art direction in anime, Violet Evergarden is must see series.

HEARTSTRINGS :

At its core, Violet Evergarden is about human relationships and love. It’s about a sister’s love her for crippled and alcoholic brother, a mother’s love for her only daughter, a son’s gratitude toward his loving parents, and Violet’s bond with the only man who saw her as more than just a weapon.

It hits you in ways you won’t expect and, if you’re like me, it will leave you in tears in the middle of a crowded train.

THE VERDICT

Every anime fan should watch Violet Evergarden. In all of the anime I’ve ever reviewed or will review in the future, I don’t think I’ve ever given or will give an anime, a score as high as this one. However, when trying to think of the series’ faults off the top of my head, nothing immediately came to mind.

RATINGS

Storyline : 10/10

Characters : 10/10

Animation : 10/10

Voice Acting : 10/10

Soundtrack : 9.5/10

Overall : 9.9/10

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