Violet Evergarden: The Movie

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 $21 million worldwide, and received awards and nominations, including the awards at Tokyo Anime Awards Festival and Japan Media Arts Festival.

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.