Kyoto Animation to Build Two Memorial Monuments in Honour of Arson Attack Victims

Kyoto Animation will commemorate the victims of the tragic arson attack that took place four years ago by building two memorial monuments.

The animation giant has decided to build the first memorial site near its headquarters in Uji City, just a short train ride away from the location of Studio 1, as reported by NHK (via Crunchyroll). This site is within a 10-minute walking distance from the headquarters, making it a fitting location to honour the victims and express gratitude for the support fans offered.

Kyoto Animation shares details about the memorial sites and more

According to the report, finding an appropriate location for the memorial posed challenges. This is because the Studio 1 building was in a quiet neighbourhood. Building a public memorial that would invite visitors not only from Japan but also anime fans from around the world visiting Japan would have turned into a major issue for the neighbourhood.

The first memorial site is scheduled to open by July 18, 2024, marking the fifth anniversary of the arson attack. Kyoto Animation is encouraging current staff members to submit design plans for the memorial to ensure their involvement in the creation of a meaningful tribute.

In addition to the public memorial, Kyoto Animation plans to build a second memorial site within the space where Studio 1 once stood. This private memorial will be located within a new building intended for business purposes by the studio. While it will not be open to the public, it will likely be a dedicated space for those connected to Kyoto Animation.

Tragedy in 2019

The attack took place on July 18, 2019, claiming the lives of 36 employees and injuring 35 others. In the attack, animation colour designer Naomi Ishida, who worked on The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Hyouka among other titles, passed away. It was also confirmed that animator and director Yasuhiro Takemoto, who spent almost his entire career at the company, was also a victim of the attack. He had directed anime such as Lucky Star, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, and The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya.

A month later, it was confirmed that animation directors Yoshiji Kigami and Futoshi Nishiya had also passed away due to the incident. Kigami had worked on titles such as Grave of the Fireflies, seven Doraemon films, four Crayon Shin Chan films, and served as the key animator for many Kyoto Animation titles. Nishiya, on the other hand, was an animation director on Sound! Euphonium, Amagi Brilliant Park, Tamako Market and more.

The 41-year-old arsonist later revealed to police that he believed a brief scene about buying discounted meat from the fifth episode of the anime Tsurune had similarities to a draft novel he submitted to the studio’s novel-writing competition. He accused Kyoto Animation of stealing his work and not crediting him, which was likely the motive behind the attack.