Julia Ho Week 4- Be Free As A Bird
As I walk to school, I feel the season shifting. My breath in the morning becomes more apparent against the cloudy sky, the droplets of water laying on the leaves of the tree, or the cold breeze hitting my face as I step out the door. As time marches on toward Winter, the thought of sitting on the couch with a warm cup of hot chocolate in my hands and my dog cuddling up next to me sounds really appealing. The warmth emanating from the cup and my dog’s body heat defrost my ice cold hands. Paired with watching my favorite heartwarming show, it can’t get any better than that!
What is that show?
Well, it's Violet Evergarden!
It’s hard not to call Violet Evergarden a masterpiece. Because it is. It’s the beautifully animated, detailed frames of Kyoto Animation coupled with Kana Akatsuki’s captivating story that draws you in and never lets you go.
It follows an orphan who initially serves a military officer as a weapon. He later gifts the orphan to his brother, Major Gilbert, who treats her like a human; the Major teaches her to read, write, and even gives her an official name, Violet. They form a close bond, trusting one another on the battlefield as they fight alongside each other.
Her sole purpose becomes to serve Major Gilbert. But, what happens if that wish is crushed?
One gun. One bullet. One second. He’s gone.
He says “I love you” in his last breath.
Violet wakes up in an infirmary and later gets taken in by one of Gilbert’s friends, the president of a postal company. Due to the recommendations of some workers there, she decides to become an Auto Memory Doll.
Violet wants to understand what those words, “I love you,” meant.
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| (1) Her metal prosthetic hands reflect her scars of her past. |
Being an Auto Memory Doll, she writes letters for clients who are unable to translate feelings into words. At first, she is frustrated that she can only write military style report love letters.
Throughout the many jobs, she gradually becomes more accustomed. Slowly, you see her drop the military phrases and the rigid structure. She starts becoming aware that she is herself, instead of a soldier whose loyalty is solely tied to Major Gilbert.
Violet’s understanding of her own identity is what brings her to these realizations. She helps these people and sees the difference that she herself is making. The smile from the clients of having someone else understand their burden, the tears from the audience after feeling the emotions she put into her lyrics, the blushing of a princess reading her prince’s reply letter.
Watching Violet metamorphose into a completely new person from an emotionless soldier is truly rewarding. Just like the ending song expresses, “[Flap] the wings we are given” and “promise to never stop flying.”
(1) Album cover of the official soundtrack by Evan Call
Julia, I was really captivated by your description of Violet Evergarden. The imagery used at the beginning was really intricate, and showed me a deeper, introspective side of yourself. I enjoyed reading about the little details and feelings that make the show so special to you, and saw the way you drew a sort of parallel between the show’s detailed creation, and the specific ways you enjoy it. You have a really sophisticated style of writing, and this precision makes your writing understandable while also nuanced, and intricate.
ReplyDeleteI feel that this blog ties into the rest of your blogs well. Throughout the blogs, you seem to ask yourself questions about your own identity, and take us along your journey of self-discovery. Whether those questions relate to anime, cultural identity, or shifting your identity, you have a clear storyline about the impacts those questions have on your growing self-image.
I saw a connection between your description of Violet and your previous blog about how you resonate with Ai from Oshi no Ko. Both characters seem uncertain about growing into their own skin, but eventually find a way to come to terms with their true selves and identity. I felt that these characters are reflective of what you strive to accomplish with the blogs: understanding yourself and exploring your identity through various writing styles and aspects of your identity. While your last blog showed me a humorous side, this blog definitely displayed your observant side, and how you carefully examine your self-image and try to improve upon it.
I really liked how you connected Violet Evergarden to the idea of identity rather than just writing about how you enjoy the shows. What stood out to me was Violet moving away from the rigid military language that she normally uses. Before, those words just felt like instructions, but as she writes letters to other people, she begins to understand and connect with the emotions behind it. This journey displays Violet’s way of learning who she is beyond just a soldier.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the way you describe Violet’s relationships with the people she writes for. How she starts by helping them put their feelings into words, but in the process she learns to express her own feelings. It is really ironic that Violet is helping other people communicate emotions while she herself is trying to understand it as well. The transformation becomes much more personal and meaningful because instead of just becoming a new person, she is discovering pieces of herself that were never developed.
The way you opened the blog with the changing weather and your daily routine before introducing the show was something I admired. It adds a personal touch to the blog instead of a review. I also can understand why you associate this show with sitting inside during the colder months of the year.
I really enjoyed the addition of comfy imagery in the first paragraph. It was pretty relaxing and got me in the right mood for a story–the effect was kind of like sitting down to listen to the tale in real life.
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard of Violet Evergarden before, but never knew the story. After reading your blog, I’m much more interested in what the show has to offer. I loved the stylistic choices you used to retell the tale, especially the description: “One gun. One bullet. One second. He’s gone,” which uses staccato syntax to mimic the initial shock and lingering pain of watching a loved one ripped away in an instant.
I loved how you tied everything back to identity in the final paragraph–especially the way you added little snippets of the joys of Violet’s new life. It really helped convey how her experiences shaped her new identity.
I also chose to write my blog about an anime character that I took a particular interest in, and had real trouble trying to figure out how to kick off the blog. Although I don’t hate what I settled for, I do find your way of doing so quite unique and engaging, and something that I didn’t even consider when brainstorming.
ReplyDeleteYou mention that Violet Evergarden is your favorite “heartwarming show,” and I can clearly see why with your explanation of the main character’s progression, but it surprised me on first read because I remember seeing one of those posts where it’s like “yo where were you bro” inserts anime cover picture “I understand take your time.” I assumed that it was some super sad and tragic show, but thinking about it now it could also just be how good it is. I guess I would just have to watch it to truly know.
The way you explained the show as a whole was really understandable and visualizable and it feels like you did just the perfect amount to the point where it's explained well but doesn’t take up too much of your blog. I noticed that unlike your other blogs, after beginning to discuss the show you completely moved away from your own personal feelings and focused completely on the material, which is not at all a bad thing. I noticed that I did the exact same for mine, so I can really see how passionate you are about the series.
I’ve always really liked the trope of someone who's grown up devoid of exposure to humanity being exposed to the outside world, and it seems like it's been really well done here. I recently just finished a show and have been wondering what to watch, so I GENUINELY might give it a try (unlike people who commented on My Best Thing video telling me they would "definitely start it soon”... cough cough).