Violet Evergarden | The Beauty Of Love
- Daniel Rhodes
- Mar 9, 2022
- 5 min read
What is Love?
If I asked you right now to describe what love is, how does it make you feel? What would your response be?
Would you be able to give me a clear definition?
One with truth and gravitas?
For some, “what is love” is a mystery. Others are a distant memory and, for a majority, a daily reality. It can hold different values to different people, it’s a constant and a variable, a shared fine interconnected string between persons. An experience we all share but in different forms. The question, “what is love?” Is never simple, it does not boast a direct answer - it’s a “narrative question!”
Violet Evergarden follows this fundamental premise. The idea of love. How a person born into a world of conflict, living a life of “to kill or be killed” can strip herself of her woes and find meaning in those words.
Each narrative in Violet Evergarden holds “love” as its central motivator.
Violet goes on this journey to find the meaning of the words “I love you.”
Iris: who abandoned her hometown to become the best “auto memory doll.” Does so out of regret. Regret for confessing her love to a person who didn’t love her back. The strength to express her feelings was stripped in an instant. She flees in hopes of never seeing her love interest again.
Claudia: hoping to help Violet. He employs her into his company, buys back a jewel she lost and allows her to train as an “auto memory doll.” He does these acts of kindness out of love for his dead friend. The one who loved Violet.
At heart, Violet Evergarden’s story is character-driven. The premise of “love” and a narrative of differences. Each character experiences “love” in their way. You have the ones who regret and ones who forget. The moment is now you have to decide - “wait, no! That’s Doctor Who. Wait a minute! (Willow Smith) That’s an onion joke about an onion joke. That’s like, a double onion joke.” You could say Multi-layered.
Violet Evergarden’s story is not one with quick-thrills. The only character motivation is this idea of three words. The only driving force is three words.
Character ---
As a character drama, the narrative is less about the story.
Violets personality is one of complex origin. Throughout the show we see her personality breakdown, evolving and becoming more. She grew up in the military, become a tool for war. A lack of knowledge of the exterior world left violet a perfect tool but a hollow human.
She lacks emotional understanding. Incapable of projecting her feelings into actions, this makes her seem cold and calculating. However, these are just flaws. Violet is a strong-headed character, she is intelligent and one of ownership, she’s a hard worker and compassionate, caring for those around her and striving for an overall goal.
“Perception without comprehension is a dangerous combination.” - Lutece Twins
This becomes a theme throughout the show. A calm flowing river of understanding. People are no more callous or perfect as they may seem. Some cannot express emotions or understand them, others are ashamed. Violet Evergarden as a show delves into this bag, rummaging through, then laying the content out in a show of beauty in all the right ways.
About beauty!
Animation ---
Let me just interject. This is a note from editor Daniel before I pass the keyboard back to writing Daniel. I wrote a sentence whilst watching the show, and I quote, “cough,”… “THIS SHOW IS FUCKING BEAUTIFUL.”
Written whilst watching the show, spelt wrong, I shall clarify, is the word “this.”
Guess I was happy?
me
Take it away, me.
There is a sense of hyper-realistic beauty to behold in the visual presentation of the show. They live in a near-perfect world with it being saturated, bright and elegant. Great animation in Anime is a selling point. Attracting the visual mindset of the viewer is a given, but this show goes above and beyond.
The character of Violet Evergarden is purposely made to be hyper-elegant. Every character in the show is beyond perfect, but this isn’t to say they’re beyond perfect characters.
All have flaws, all are, human. However, the show goes to the extreme in animation and to that end, all I can other is due credit. “Well played!”
Violet's Character is the embodiment of a doll.
The bright crystallised-cyan glow of her eyes contrasted with the dark-navy tint of her dress's tunic. The sheen of the green-jewel balanced around her collar sparkled as the light from the window repelled its glow across the room, like a spotlight in the night. She typed away, her speed matched only by her determination and charisma. Her well-polished metallic-arm arms were exposed. Most of the time they remained covered, not to startle the masses. Hidden behind brown leather gloves, but when alone, the prosthetic arms shined brighter than the green jewel around her neck. Her soft blonde hair remained still, supported by a red-stringed ribbon in her hair.
“In any scene, you can pause, take a screenshot and, no joke, you’ll have a wallpaper worthy image. This is just how good the show looks.”
We have great visuals and writing. How’s the soundtrack?
Soundtrack ---
Evan Call did something marvellous with the music in Violet Evergarden. A portrayal of the character. Every song throughout the show is a masterpiece of Violet's character - I use the word “masterpiece” due diligently.
I know nothing about composing or creating music. I am simply a writer. One who respects the art of music and watches from the sidelines.
I am a fan of classical music, and the music in Violet Evergarden hits home for me.
Always Watching Over You - Evan Call
They are an emotionally charged crescendo of beauty. Using orchestral instruments to create this amazing soundtrack - I’d highly advise you to give it listen.
Conclusion ---
I want you to imagine something?
Imagine three artists, all creating an idea. They are all in the same room together, one next to the other. Each separated by a fine piece of one-way glass, two mirrors are on either side of the three. One can see the other and the end can see the first.
The three are prodigies in their field but lack the knowledge of the other two. These artists must create an idea that will change the world. What’s the best way of going about this?
Kana Akatsuki, Evan Call, and Haruka Fujita created a beautiful Tv Show. Violet Evergarden is a show driven by character motivation. A world run by Love and those who seek to learn from it. Those who learn, find the ugly truth and the beautiful delusion. Love is a belief between two people, a connection between one person and another. Finding meaning in “what love is,” is to understand another person for who they truly are.
As a better writer once said:
“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved despite ourselves.” - Victor Hugo
That’s the beauty of love… Love is about compromise, the ability to give and to take. Loss, grief and sadness are all attached to love, they're inseparable.
To "love" is to hurt. This is why love makes us blind.
This is the message Violet Evergarden portrays, so...
Watch, relax, and enjoy!
P.s I know you said, "baby don't hurt me." In your head when you read the first sentence.
And I’ll see you in the next… You tea sippin’, beautiful fuckin’ legend!
Kommentare