Violet Evergarden
Alternative Names: /
Genres: Drama, Fantasy
Episodes: 13
Stream available on: Netflix
In the last war, Violet Evergarden was used as a child soldier. Through ruthless brainwashing, she was trained to kill and annihilate the enemies of the empire without emotions. Now the war is over, and the people who shaped her into a weapon are no longer there. As a survivor of the war, Violet must now find a new place in the world and access her humanity.
Following her inner voice, she eventually starts working as an “Autonomous Correspondence Assistant” and writes letters for those who cannot read and write themselves.
But deciphering the true feelings behind people’s words is not easy for Violet. It only becomes harder as she gradually realizes how many people with such a wealth of feelings she has taken the lives of.
What to expect from Violet Evergarden: At its core, Violet Evergarden is a war drama, even if that’s not obvious from the start. Although Violet is clearly the main character, most episodes focus on the people around her and their personal stories, which are often influenced by Violet.
As Violet gradually becomes aware of what she has done and the extent of emotions that people are capable of, the stories become more and more emotional. The extremely elaborate drawing and animation style contributes to the feeling that with Violet Evergarden, you are continuously looking at a true work of art – if you can even see it through the glassy eyes.
Clannad & Clannad: After Story
Alternative Names: /
Genres: Drama, Romance, Supernatural
Episodes: 47 (2 seasons)
Stream available on: Currently only available for purchase.
Tomoya does not think much of life and even less of school, which is why he often skips it with his friend. One day he meets a girl who is quietly mumbling something to herself. One event leads to another, and he slowly begins to connect with Nagisa, who tells him about the big dreams she still has for her life.
Through Nagisa, Tomoya meets other girls, all of whom have their own plans, wishes, and hopes. While he tries to understand the various girls and their motivations, he slowly realizes that life may not be as bleak as he feared – but suffering cannot always be prevented.
What to expect from Clannad: Clannad takes a while to fully unfold its impact. The strength of the series lies in the fact that over both seasons, the characters are experienced not only during their youth but also during their adulthood. This gives emotional connections a greater weight – and the drama can unfold even better.
The only thing that might take some getting used to is the drawing style. Because SO big doe eyes are not something even a long-time anime fan is used to.
I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
Alternative Names: Kimi o Suizou wo Tabetai, KimiSui
Genres: Drama, Romance
Episodes: 1 (Film)
Stream available on: Currently only available for purchase.
The high school student Haruki Shiga lies in bed with heavy thoughts. A few days ago, his classmate was buried, and he did not find the courage to attend the funeral. In his thoughts, he now rolls back the events that led to that day:
As Haruki has his stitches from an appendectomy removed in the hospital and waits for the appointment, he accidentally finds the diary entitled “Living with Dying” and quickly learns that it belongs to a person who has only about a year left to live. The cheerful Sakura, who reveals herself as the owner of the book, is not at all the type of person he gets along with. She is lively and active, while he prefers to retreat into books and isolate himself from the world.
She asks him not to mention her limited time in class – and they share a secret that gradually leads them to open up to each other more.
What to expect from I Want To Eat Your Pancreas: The style of storytelling in this film is unusual, as you know exactly where the journey is headed from minute 1. And even though it is clear from the outset that death seems inevitable in this story and you have a long time to prepare for it, it hits you like a blow to the stomach. Despite the short length of just one film (108 minutes), you will have formed a bond with the characters and will think about what you have actually seen for a long time.
Do you know any other deeply sad anime that you want to send your friends into a crying fit that they would never admit to?
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