Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
After five months of demolition work, anime production company Kyoto Animation’s Studio #1 has been completely cleared away.
Work crews began gutting the building in November, roughly four months after a devastating arson attack on the building, located in Kyoto’s Fushimi Ward. The attack resulted in 36 deaths and injuries to 33 other employees who were in the building at the time, with only one escaping the blaze unharmed. Between the extensive damage to the structure and, no doubt, the traumatic memories now associated with it, Kyoto Animation decided against rebuilding, and as of Tuesday the location is an empty sandlot with a protective fence completely enclosing it.
▼ The site of Kyoto Animation’s former Fushimi studio
The question now becomes what will happen to the site. Some, including the mother of one of the deceased victims, are hoping for the erection of a memorial to those who lost their lives. However, the studio was located in a largely residential part of the city, and the local neighborhood association, after taking a vote, announced that the majority of its members are opposed to the idea, citing concerns over a long-term influx of mourners and anime enthusiasts coming to pay their respects disrupting residents’ way of life.
▼ The Fushimi studio, following the arson attack but prior to the start of demolition work
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the company’s official Twitter accounts sent out an announcement that merchandise for its upcoming "Violet Evergarden the Movie" theatrical feature will become available for pre-order on May 1 through the franchise’s official website here.
The Kyoto Animation official YouTube channel has also posted recap videos for the series to help jog existing fans’ memories and get new viewers up to speed.
That’s not to say that Kyoto Animation has forgotten about its fallen, though, as the complete list of victims’ names appeared in the credits of the last "Violet Evergarden" film, which debuted in Japanese theaters last summer. Still, the company seems committed to the belief that the best way to honor their memories is to keep pushing bravely forward into the future.
Sources: NHK New Web via Otakomu, Mainichi Broadcast System
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Kyoto Animation to release full list of arson attack victim names in credits of new anime movie
-- Mother of Kyoto Animation artist who died in arson wants on-site memorial, residents opposed
-- Kyoto Animation will use none of its arson donations for business recovery, all of it for victims
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2020/04/29/goodbye-kyoto-animation-studio-1-arson-struck-studio-now-completely-demolished-cleared-away/
9 Comments
Login to comment
Brian Wheway
I just hope the local council create a local play park for children and may be a small memorial for those who lost their lives on that tragic day. with children playing there and being happy, this place should not be a somber or morbid place, it should be filled with the voices of happy children to make it a happy place.
kohakuebisu
I think the neighbours' right to move on from this is more important than certain anime fans' right to extend it into the future.
Kazuaki Shimazaki
BTW, does anybody know exactly what happened to the arsonist? He has dropped off the radar of reporting for some time.
Mark
I understand the local neighborhood association decision.
I use to work near an Animation products retail shop, and I must say that many customers were rough, many were not well mannered, and use to trash the area around the store. I am sure the majority are well behaved customers, but having a memorial will seriously alter the neighbors life style negatively.
Amy Braun
He is still in the hospital, recovering from the burns. He still needs help in everyday tasks like eating.
Jeff Huffman
"However, the studio was located in a largely residential part of the city, and the local neighborhood association, after taking a vote, announced that the majority of its members are opposed to the idea, . . ."
While this was not a light industrial site, not uncommon in residential areas, it was a commercial site in a residential area. Build a block of flats.
JCosplay
Yes, I do understand a lot of people, including the fans, wanting a memorial on the site. But I do understand why the residents do not want something like that there. Because they’re right, it would be very disruptive to their life, as well as it being much of a morbid place in the residential setting.
Choose a different site and like someone else was saying, make it into a park and put a memorial there as well. That’s the right way to honor the dead and be able to move on from this.
ReynardFox
The voices of happy children!? Are you INSANE!? That's the most disturbing sound in the world according to the oyaji brigade!