Violet Evergarden watch order
After a war in which she was raised as a weapon, Violet Evergarden takes a job as an Auto Memory Doll, writing letters for other people, and tries to understand the last words her commanding officer said to her. A Kyoto Animation adaptation of Kana Akatsuki's novels.
First time? Watch the TV series, the extra episode, the film Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll, then Violet Evergarden: The Movie. Skip Recollections, which is a recap.
First-timer order
Release order without the recap. The extra episode is usually watched after episode 13; putting it after episode 4 is nice on a rewatch, but it slows the series down the first time.
- Violet Evergarden
Violet joins the CH Postal Company and writes letters for a string of clients, while flashbacks fill in her past as a child soldier and her bond with Major Gilbert. Mostly self-contained stories that build to a two-part finale.
- Violet Evergarden: Extra episode
"The Day You Understand 'I Love You' Will Surely Come." A 34-minute anime-original story in which the opera singer Irma Felice asks Violet to write a love letter. Released on Blu-ray in July 2018 and on Netflix that October. Set between episodes 4 and 5.
- Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll
Set after the TV series and told in two parts: Violet tutors Isabella York at a girls' academy, then three years later Isabella's younger sister Taylor arrives at the postal company. A side story, but part of Violet's arc.
- Violet Evergarden: The Movie
The conclusion of Violet's story, framed decades later by Ann's granddaughter finding the letters from episode 10. A 140-minute film, set after Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll.
Story order
The extra episode takes place between episodes 4 and 5. Recollections is left out because it's a recap.
- Violet Evergarden, episodes 1–4
Violet starts at the postal company and trains as an Auto Memory Doll.
- Violet Evergarden: Extra episode
"The Day You Understand 'I Love You' Will Surely Come." A 34-minute anime-original story in which the opera singer Irma Felice asks Violet to write a love letter. Released on Blu-ray in July 2018 and on Netflix that October. Set between episodes 4 and 5.
- Violet Evergarden, episodes 5–13
Violet's work takes her further afield, the story turns to what happened to Gilbert, and the series ends with a two-part story set as the war's peace treaty is signed.
- Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll
Set after the TV series and told in two parts: Violet tutors Isabella York at a girls' academy, then three years later Isabella's younger sister Taylor arrives at the postal company. A side story, but part of Violet's arc.
- Violet Evergarden: The Movie
The conclusion of Violet's story, framed decades later by Ann's granddaughter finding the letters from episode 10. A 140-minute film, set after Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll.
Release order
Everything in the order it came out in Japan.
- Violet Evergarden
Violet joins the CH Postal Company and writes letters for a string of clients, while flashbacks fill in her past as a child soldier and her bond with Major Gilbert. Mostly self-contained stories that build to a two-part finale.
- Violet Evergarden: Extra episode
"The Day You Understand 'I Love You' Will Surely Come." A 34-minute anime-original story in which the opera singer Irma Felice asks Violet to write a love letter. Released on Blu-ray in July 2018 and on Netflix that October. Set between episodes 4 and 5.
- Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll
Set after the TV series and told in two parts: Violet tutors Isabella York at a girls' academy, then three years later Isabella's younger sister Taylor arrives at the postal company. A side story, but part of Violet's arc.
- Violet Evergarden: The Movie
The conclusion of Violet's story, framed decades later by Ann's granddaughter finding the letters from episode 10. A 140-minute film, set after Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll.
- Violet Evergarden: Recollections (optional)
A roughly 95-minute edit of the TV series, built mostly from episodes 1–3, 7, 9 and 10, first shown on Japanese TV in October 2021 and on Netflix from December 2022. No new animation was reported and it leaves out the ending. Skip it unless you want a refresher before the films.
Explained
Where does the extra episode go?
It's set between episodes 4 and 5, but most people watch it after episode 13, in release order. It's a standalone story, so either works.
Do I need Recollections?
No. It's a compilation of TV episodes with no reported new footage, and it skips the series' ending. It's only useful as a refresher before the films.
Do I need the Gaiden film before The Movie?
Yes, watch it first. Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll is a side story about the York sisters, but it's set before The Movie and shows where Violet is in her life by then, and Taylor turns up again in The Movie. The Movie wraps up her story.
Why did The Movie take so long?
It was first due in January 2020. After the July 2019 arson attack on Kyoto Animation it was pushed to April 2020, then delayed again by the COVID-19 pandemic, finally opening in September 2020. Its credits name everyone who worked on it, including the staff who died in the attack.
Is there more coming?
No new Violet Evergarden anime had been announced as of autumn 2026. The Movie is the conclusion. Agents of the Four Seasons, a 2026 anime, is based on another series by the same author and isn't connected.