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After announcing on June 22 that the memorial statue for the victims of the Kyoto Animation arson attack would open in July, the studio released a statement on July 5 saying the memorial will officially open to the public on July 14. The statue will be installed in the Historical Park of Tea and Uji Town in Uji City just outside Uji Station. This location was chosen as Uji is the home city of Kyoto Animation. Before the opening at 2:00 p.m. (local time), a private ceremony will be held at the statue to commemorate the unveiling. As such, Kyoto Animation is asking visitors to wait until after 2:00 p.m. to visit the memorial. The studio also asks visitors to be courteous of others using the public park during the opening as it is also a long weekend. Mock-up of the Kyoto Animation-designed statue ( Image via Nhk) Kyoto Animation says the...

This July 18 will mark the fifth anniversary of the arson attack on Kyoto Animation. In a post on Kyoto Animation’s website , the studio stated it has confidence that the previously announced memorial statue will be finished on or before July 18, 2024, though the official public opening date for the monument has not been confirmed and will be revealed as soon as preparations are complete. Nhk showed the concept art of the statue back in March, which was designed by the studio and approved by the families of those who were lost. Additionally, the studio once again asked fans to not visit the former Studio 1 site on the date of the incident, instead redirecting people to a newly built memorial at a public park inside Uji City. Image via Nhk The public monument, which Kyoto Animation says will “serve as a symbol to remember the incident and the prayers and...

Yesterday the main Kyoto Animation arson attack trial concluded when Shinji Aoba, the defendant, was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to the death penalty. While Aoba’s lawyer has not released a statement since the verdict was handed down, according to the Nhk , the defense team filed an appeal with the Osaka High Court, according to the Kyoto Shimbun . The Osaka High Court is in Japan's second highest court tier , followed by the Supreme Court. Aoba was found guilty with the murder of 36 employees — who included The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya director Yasuhiro Takemoto, animator Yoshiji Kigami, chief animation director on the Free! franchise Futoshi Nishiya, Sound! Euphonium character designer Shouko Ikeda and many more — attempted murder on 32 counts, arson, breaking and entering, and violating the firearms and sword control law, according to the Nhk . Presiding Judge Keisuke Masuda of the Kyoto District Court stated “The court has...

Editor's Note : The following article contains sensitive material regarding the Kyoto Animation arson attack with statements made during the courtroom sentencing. One of the biggest court cases in Japanese history came to a close today as the Kyoto District Court handed down the verdict against 45-year-old suspect Shinji Aoba for the Kyoto Animation arson attack which tragically occurred on July 18, 2019. After a summary of the evidence, the court found Aoba guilty on all counts, sentencing him to the death penalty. Aoba was charged with the murder of 36 employees — who included The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya director Yasuhiro Takemoto, animator Yoshiji Kigami, chief animation director on the Free! franchise Futoshi Nishiya, Sound! Euphonium character designer Shouko Ikeda and many more — attempted murder on 32 counts, arson, breaking and entering, and violating the firearms and sword control law, according to the Nhk . On all counts, he was found guilty by the court.

Features the voices of: Crispin Freeman, Wendee Lee, Michelle Ruff, Stephanie Sheh, Johnny Yong Bosch | Written by Fumihiko Shimo | Directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, Yasuhiro Takemoto

A flaw with the Haruhi Suzumiya series lies in its massive fantastical elements. The stories could get really grand, insane and the characters just had to roll with whatever was thrown their way. The animated series never had a sense of real dramatic pay-off. Don’t get me wrong, the storylines are fun to watch but those moments of drama when they did happen captured human emotion brilliantly and you can’t help but wish for more of it. Well, that’s what the movie taps into and excels in turning a story known largely for its comedy into something much more grounded.

The premise of the movie is self-explanatory given what the title is. Haruhi disappears. Literally, Kyon wakes up on a cold December...

Top animation directors Yasuhiro Takemoto and Futoshi Nishiya were among the talent killed by last month’s arson attack on Kyoto Animation, city police have confirmed.

Revealing the names of 10 of the 35 victims of the fire that ravaged the three-story studio, police also said that veteran animator Yoshiji Kigami was killed.

Takemoto was the top director at the studio, familiarly known as KyoAni, with credits that include the feature animation “Lucky Star.” Nishiya was animation director on the “Free!” TV series, among many other credits. Kigami worked as key animator on the “Free!” series as well as last year’s “Violet Evergarden” series.

All 35 killed have been identified by DNA analysis, but the police are releasing their names in consultation with the bereaved families as they make funeral and other arrangements. A further 33 people were injured in the blaze.

The suspected arsonist, Shinji Aoba, is recovering in the hospital from severe burns.

A crowdfunding campaign launched by U.S. animation distributor Sentai Filmworks to assist Kyoto Animation has passed the $2 million mark. The Japanese studio was the victim of an arson attack last Thursday that killed 34 people and injured 34 more.

Among the contributors is software giant Adobe, which anonymously donated $50,000, according to a report on ITmedia News. A spokesman for the company confirmed the donation and said: “Kyoto Animation is a center of the creative community, not only in Japan but worldwide.”

In spite of the horrific attack, Kyoto Animation said in a post on its website that its next feature film, “Violet Evergarden Gaiden” (“gaiden” means “special episode”), is set for a two-week theatrical run in Japan in September. The company asked fans not to bring flowers or gifts to a “Violet Evergarden” orchestral concert scheduled for Saturday in Tokyo, adding that it would also not be accepting donations at the concert.

Yasuhiro Takemoto, director of TV series Lucky Star and co-director of feature The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, both by Kyoto Animation (KyoAni), is feared to be among the 34 who died in the arson attack on the studio July 18.

Takemoto’s father told The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper Monday that he called his son's cellphone after hearing news of the attack but couldn't reach him, and was later asked by police to help with a DNA test to identify the victims.

"I've cried and cried. I'm exhausted from crying," Takemoto's father told the paper.

At the ...

Yasuhiro Takemoto, director of TV series Lucky Star and co-director of feature The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, both by Kyoto Animation (KyoAni), is feared to be among the 34 who died in the arson attack on the studio July 18.

Takemoto’s father told The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper Monday that he called his son's cellphone after hearing news of the attack but couldn't reach him, and was later asked by police to help with a DNA test to identify the victims.

"I've cried and cried. I'm exhausted from crying," Takemoto's father told the paper.

At the ...