The audio commentary of Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll (ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン 外伝 - 永遠と自動手記人形) featured Ishikawa Yui (Violet's voice actor), Kotobuki Minako (Isabella's voice actor), and Yuki Aoi (Taylor's voice actor) as the commentators.
Ishikawa started by saying that there was guest cast for each episode of the TV series. Similarly, this time, the key characters were Isabella and Taylor. Kotobuki was offered the role, and she said that she and Yuki were the same age and had known each other for 10 years. She had also heard from Tomatsu Haruka (Iris's voice actor) about this series, and was happy to be involved in this series.
Recording for the TV series had already finished by January 2018, and that was when Ishikawa was told that there will be a sequel. This side story was was originally supposed to be shorter and run for only two weeks in theatres but turned out to be 1.5 hours with a script spanning two volumes. The cast talked about how their parents also went to watch the movie. When they did the voice recording, it was done in a single day, and they didn't expect it to become a full-length movie.
They also mentioned that these were the roles that they were good at playing. Ishikawa said that sound director Tsuruoka Yota mentioned that he chose the cast because of the roles that they were good in.
They then talked about how Violet's growth in the series allowed her to bring Isabella out of her shell. Yuki was there for the entire recording, and knowing the story allowed her to better portray Taylor. Looking at others voice act gave her inspiration for her role.
For the recording of the audio commentary, director Fujita Haruka also wrote down some notes. In her notes, she stated that the girls at the school were from good backgrounds and their behavior was supposed to bring out Isabella's awkwardness, but with time, Isabella's actions also became more refined as she became more ladylike. She had the ballet scene to show Isabella's initial awkwardness. Fujita recorded her own actions and shared them with the animators.
The castle the production staff visited in Germany was also both bright and dark during the day and this was incorporated into the movie. Fujita used the light and dark to portray Isabella's character. Ishikawa mentioned that she also went to Germany with the production staff.
They then talked about the white camellia. Fujita's notes stated that she used only white flowers in the first part of the movie, while the second part had flowers of many different colours. The cast also talked about how the school was located in the kingdom of Drossel where the national flower is the white camellia.
In the scene of running under the trees when Isabella was going to be late for class, Fujita stated that the speed was adjusted to between walking and running to show Violet's consideration for the physically weak Isabella.
The cast also mentioned that Violet was just copying how she was treated by Gilbert as a way of repaying Gilbert's kindness.
Fujita's notes also stated that Violet's pant suit was an idea from Yoshida Reiko (series composition) when they were going through the script. They mentioned how there were all kinds of dress styles during the dance scene, and Ishikawa brought up that, similarly, there were all kinds of cuisine in the TV series.
Recording for the TV series had already finished by January 2018, and that was when Ishikawa was told that there will be a sequel. This side story was was originally supposed to be shorter and run for only two weeks in theatres but turned out to be 1.5 hours with a script spanning two volumes. The cast talked about how their parents also went to watch the movie. When they did the voice recording, it was done in a single day, and they didn't expect it to become a full-length movie.
They also mentioned that these were the roles that they were good at playing. Ishikawa said that sound director Tsuruoka Yota mentioned that he chose the cast because of the roles that they were good in.
They then talked about how Violet's growth in the series allowed her to bring Isabella out of her shell. Yuki was there for the entire recording, and knowing the story allowed her to better portray Taylor. Looking at others voice act gave her inspiration for her role.
For the recording of the audio commentary, director Fujita Haruka also wrote down some notes. In her notes, she stated that the girls at the school were from good backgrounds and their behavior was supposed to bring out Isabella's awkwardness, but with time, Isabella's actions also became more refined as she became more ladylike. She had the ballet scene to show Isabella's initial awkwardness. Fujita recorded her own actions and shared them with the animators.
The castle the production staff visited in Germany was also both bright and dark during the day and this was incorporated into the movie. Fujita used the light and dark to portray Isabella's character. Ishikawa mentioned that she also went to Germany with the production staff.
They then talked about the white camellia. Fujita's notes stated that she used only white flowers in the first part of the movie, while the second part had flowers of many different colours. The cast also talked about how the school was located in the kingdom of Drossel where the national flower is the white camellia.
In the scene of running under the trees when Isabella was going to be late for class, Fujita stated that the speed was adjusted to between walking and running to show Violet's consideration for the physically weak Isabella.
The cast also mentioned that Violet was just copying how she was treated by Gilbert as a way of repaying Gilbert's kindness.
Fujita's notes also stated that Violet's pant suit was an idea from Yoshida Reiko (series composition) when they were going through the script. They mentioned how there were all kinds of dress styles during the dance scene, and Ishikawa brought up that, similarly, there were all kinds of cuisine in the TV series.
The cast also commented that the script did not have a lot of explanation so a lot depended on the cast. Isabella's father looked like a bad person from Amy's perspective but was probably a good person at heart, like how he put Taylor in a good orphanage. they also talked about how Isabella was the first person to call Violet a friend.
When the second part started, they talked about how the production staff used visuals to show the passage of time since the first part. In addition, Taylor looking like a boy but turning out to be a girl is also linked to Amy. They also note that Violet has grown and was now able to ask for favours on behalf of others. Another comment was that Benedict didn't wear a uniform probably because he was very particular about fashion.
Violet's room also had more things, and things were no longer just left on the floor. When Taylor and Violet went to deliver letter, they mentioned that the song Taylor sang was written by Evan, a song for Taylor to remember the alphabet.
They also noted the small changes in the clothes of Iris and Erica. As the characters in the movie talked about the future, Ishikawa hinted that the upcoming movie may be about Violet's future.
Fujita's notes stated that the first and second parts complemented each other. For example, by using the same layout even though the timeline is different.
The cast commented that just looking at Taylor purifies the soul.
Ishikawa mentioned that she had the chance to play the typewriter at the previous concert and said it took more force to type than she thought. They then talked about the short story given out to movie-goers which depicted Violet and Isabella's time at the school.
Toward the end of the movie, they didn't talk a lot during the letter scene. One comment was that the orphanage staff understood the situation with Isabella and Taylor because Isabella's father also cared about Isabella and shared with them.
Fujita's notes stated that the sky at the end had the clouds look like wings on Isabella.
The cast also talked about how the song "Amy" had the perspective change between the first part of the song and the second part.
Ishikawa then shared Fujita's message that she wanted to make a movie about how people develop their feelings for each other, how those feelings change, and she wanted to depict and give recognition to those feelings. Fujita hoped that this movie would bring viewers a bit of relief in their lives.
The cast ended by commenting that the movie, which originally was scheduled for two weeks in the theatres, had its run extended to three weeks, then longer.
My overall thoughts on Violet Evergarden The Movie
Events:
Translations of short stories:
The Tailor and the Auto-Memories Doll (unofficial translation of 仕立て屋と自動手記人形) Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Fleeting Dream (unofficial translation of "ギルベルト・ブーゲンビリアと儚い夢")
Violet Evergarden short stories: "Logbook entry" and "Diary entry" (unofficial translation)
The Starry Night and the Lonely Two (unofficial translation of 星降りの夜とさみしいふたり)
Diethard Bougainvillea's If (unofficial translation of ディートフリート・ブーゲンビリアIf) Tellsis (Nunkish) translation:
Last line of Violet's final letter to GilbertInsights on the movie:
Audio commentary notes:
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