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C3 AFA Singapore to Screen 1st Episode of Kyoto Animation's Violet Evergarden TV Anime

The official website for Kyoto Animation's Violet Evergarden anime announced last week that Anime Festival Asia's C3 AFA Singapore 2017 event will host the Singaporean premiere of the anime's first episode. The event takes place on November 24-26.

The website also began streaming the anime's first promotional video and revealed a key visual.

Los Angeles' Anime Expo will host the world premiere of the first episode in July. ANImagic 2017 will host the anime's European premiere of the first episode in Mannheim, Germany. Kyoto Animation and Do Animation's third fan appreciation event will host the Japanese premiere of the anime's first two episodes in Kyoto on October 21.

The anime will premiere in January, and will stream worldwide simultaneously.

Kyoto Animation announced an anime project based on author Kana Akatsuki and illustrator Akiko Takase's Violet Evergarden novel in May 2016, and has streamed two animated commercials (below) from director and storyboard artist Taichi Ishidate. Takase served as character designer and animation director for the videos. Ishidate and Takase are returning for the anime itself, and Reiko Yoshida (Tamako Love Story, A Silent Voice) is in charge of series composition. Yui Ishikawa will voice the titular protagonist Violet Evergarden. TRUE is performing the anime's opening theme song.

Anime Festival Asia describes the story:

Long ago the "Auto Memories Doll" was born. Professor Orland, an influential figure in the printing industry, invented a new type of printing machine for his wife Molly, so that she could write novels after she lost her eyesight. The machine was given the appearance of a petite lovely doll.

Putting his heart and hopes into it, the professor named it "Auto Memories Doll." Eventually, Auto Memories Dolls became widespread, supporting the lives of many. Now, the term is applied to women whose work is to put thoughts into words, either for those who cannot write or on behalf of others.

The story is about a young girl, Violet Evergarden, and how she connects people's hearts as an Auto Memories Doll living at the turning point of a generation.

There are words Violet heard on the battlefield, which she cannot forget. These words were given to her by someone she holds dear, more than anyone else. She does not yet know their meaning.

A certain point in time, in the continent of Telesis. The great war which divided the continent into North and South has ended after four years, and the people are welcoming a new generation.

Violet Evergarden, a young girl formerly known as “the weapon”, has left the battlefield to start a new life at CH Postal Service. There, she is deeply moved by the work of “Auto Memories Dolls”, who carry people's thoughts and convert them into words.

Violet begins her journey as an Auto Memories Doll, and comes face to face with various people's emotions and differing shapes of love. All the while searching for the meaning of those words.

KA Esuma Bunko published the novel series' two volumes in Japan in December 2015 and December 2016. The novels won the grand prize in the fifth Kyoto Animation Award program's novel category in 2014. The win marked the first time that any work won a grand prize in any of the contest's three categories (novel, scenario, and manga).