Violet Evergarden began as a light novel series in 2014 and quickly went on to win awards in several different categories. Featuring a world-weary former soldier who tries to help others as a letter writer, the anime is known for being an incredibly moving tearjerker.
2019 saw the release of the Violet Evergarden movie, but following the horrendous arson attack on Kyoto Animation, things have gone quiet on a possible Season 2 for the anime. However, there's still plenty of the original source material yet to be adapted. Here's what the series is about and how real-life events may have pushed its potential second season further back.
The Plot of Violet Evergarden
The story of Violet Evergarden involves the Auto Memory Dolls, who began as assistants to Dr. Orland and helped his blind wife write stories. They soon became ubiquitous in this role for others, working as ghostwriters to help ideas get written down effectively. The main character is the eponymous Violet Evergarden, who was once part of the military. Now no longer a soldier and trying to make a life for herself, she becomes an Auto Memory Doll and tries to help others express their ideas.
This coming-of-age tale began as a light novel from Kana Akatsuki and Akiko Takase, which started on Christmas Day of 2015 and ran until March 2020. It won the grand prize for the Kyoto Animation Award's novel category, being the first to win in the novel, manga and scenario categories. KyoAni was also behind the anime adaptation, which ran for 13 episodes and an OVA in 2018. This was followed by a two-part animated film titled Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll, the second of which was released last September after several delays.
Will There Be a Season 2 of Violet Evergarden?
The delay in further production of the Violet Evergarden anime makes sense for a particularly tragic reason. 2019 saw Kyoto Animation become the victim of a deadly arson attack that killed over 30 people and gravely injured almost as many. This was one of the most horrific massacres in modern Japanese history. The studio's releases for upcoming projects and its production for the all-new series were understandably delayed.
As mentioned, this saw the Violet Evergarden movie, which was dedicated to the victims, released in 2019. With the studio now getting back into the groove of things following the attack, it can focus on producing new projects. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, is likely pushing things back even further. Unfortunately, remarks about the movie in an article suggest it's the closest fans will get to a second season. Shinichiro Hatta, the films' producer, stated:
"Violet Evergarden the Movie” is the finale of this work, which began with the television series. The staff made it with all their heart, and neither Director Ishidate nor Reiko Yoshida, the scriptwriter, can draw anymore. I hope you will warmly watch over the life of a woman named Violet. I strongly hope to share my feelings with the fans who have seen this work and connect those feelings to the future. Thank you very much."
If the movie was indeed the ending to the anime, it leaves much of Violet Evergarden's light novel source material still unadapted. There's yet to be anything official said either way, so fans can remain hopeful that the story of Violet Evergarden will eventually continue with more seasons of the anime.
