I was hesitant to watch this on Netflix because honestly, a lot of the animé they put on there is rushed, made for quick money, crap. I'm not even sure why I clicked on it. It may be a turn off to you that they seem to show unnecessary clevage from one of the character's. But I assure you, this does not detract from the animé. Every episode is special. Violet goes through a transformation the first time we see her till the end. She's a killing machine. Following orders is all she was created for. But as her Commanding Officer forms feelings for her, she feels something inside too, she just doesn't know what. I don't just like this animé as a passerby. I connected deeper with it than I thought I would. I'm a veteran, and I know the struggles she endures to reclaim her humanity, or what's left of it. There are even moments where I winced at the pain she was going through. Overall, it's a very lovely animé. This is my first review because they finally let us post them in the app (which I always use) and I was looking at V.E. on Netflix with a tinge of sadness that it was over, and I wanted to get the impression it had on me out to a wider audience. Violet's struggles are my struggles, and it's very healing to see her embrace her demons, and, try to understand what's in her heart.

Don't let the words "the weapon" in the summary fool you. This is not a story about some weapon or about a war and filled with action. Rather it's a story about the aftermath of war and about the human emotion. Violet goes out to learn about emotions by writing letters for people, her goal is to understand the words "I love you". The pace in this series is slow and leveled, it won't hold you at the edge of your seat with suspense, but the curiosity about Violet's journey will make you want to keep watching. The series managed to portray very well the feeling of loss, and made the characters feel alive. Although it had some down sides as well: Like the whole profession that was called "Auto Memories Dolls" , this title made no sense to me but maybe it's just bad translation. The fact that Violet's past and abilities were never explained, though I guess it could be argued that the series on purpose tried not to touch this subject. And I think what bothered me the most is the smooth transaction from emotionless puppet who killed people without bashing an eye to someone who could be considered a normal person after a relative short time. It could be a nice series to pass the time, but also can be dull in moments.

Much as I enjoy sensational action and fantastical worlds, once in a while I'll delve into something more laid back, especially in the realm of anime. One such recent endeavor was a new show titled "Violet Evergarden", based on a light novel series, which I watched on Netflix. Plot: In a Victorian-style world, Violet was a nigh-emotionless teen soldier fighting in a war that took her arms. Now that the war ended and she is outfitted with robotic arms, she follows her major's last order to live her life. Violet takes a job as a ghostwriter in order to not only try to reconnect with the major but to also understand life outside of war, particularly human emotions which are foreign to her. The big draw of the series is Violet herself. Though mostly human, she acts like a machine, accentuated by her lack of expressions, eloquent vocabulary, and practical way of thinking, which can be mildly amusing at times. She isn't without depth, however, as her dedication and willingness to learn new things allows her to gain experiences previously unfelt before; as the series progresses, she becomes more and more human (and more expressive). Her actions influence others (each fine in their own right) as many episodes revolve around a side character's point-of-view and subsequent change of heart/perspective having interacted with Violet and she does the same, both gaining something from each other. In fact, her job essentially is about bringing lives together, a contrast to her previously separating them via the war. There are several drama scenes that moved me, especially one episode where Violet meets a girl with a dying mother, and the soft music that plays during these scenes elevate them to new heights. I also gotta talk about the animation, which is breathtaking. Lively colors, intricate details, great use of lighting, steampunk elements, and lifelike environments, like something out of a Renaissance painting. I especially love the water effects, starry skies, and the designs of the characters eyes which look like precious gems. There are a few action scenes, though they are not treated as glorious but rather how an actual war would feel. The show also reveals the effects war can have on a person and those around him/her, a confusing state of being to say the least, emphasizing the need to be able to move on when peace settles in. I'm also pleased to see little fan service beyond the designs of a select few characters, a problem most anime suffer these days. I had a good time watching this series. I can relate to Violet in terms of trying to find a purpose in life and took great pleasure at watching her journey. Overall, nicely done.

It's been a while since the last time I watched such a brilliant anime. Violet Evergarden is absolutely stunning. Its about a young girl that fought in battles and now works as a ghostwriter - "Auto Memories Dolls". She writes letters for people who can't express their feelings. The reason she works as a ghostwriter is because she wants to find out, what it means, when someone says "I love you"!