China News Service, July 18 (Liu Danyi) "This is the darkest moment in the animation industry in Japan and the world." One year ago today, Kyoto Animation (Kyani) suffered an arson, 36 people were killed, and countless precious manuscripts were turned to ashes.
In that unopened escape door, dreamers were desperately "fallen" in the fire, and the animation industry lost precious wealth. Today, after 365 days and nights, the grief caused by the fire is still burning, but the pace of Kyoto Animation's re-starting has not stopped.
Data map: On July 18, 2019 local time, a fire broke out in the Kyoto Animation Studio, killing 36 people and injuring 33 people.
[A fire of "blame", 36 people died in flames]
At 10:00 a.m. on July 18, 2019, a disheveled, burly man came to the entrance of a three-story yellow building in Fushimi, Kyoto, Japan, lit a gasoline barrel, and the building instantly fell into a hell-like scene .
This man was the arsonist Aoba, and he quickly fled the scene. In Aoba's opinion, it was only because "Jing Ani stole his novel", so he had to set fire to "revenge".
This "vengeance" fire eventually killed 36 innocent animators and wounded 33 others. These dreamers who fell due to fire can be said to be the "most precious asset" in the Japanese animation industry.
Data map: On July 21, 2019 local time, the scene after the fire in Kyoto Animation Studio, Japan, there is anime draft by the burnt window.
"Made in Kyoto, it must be a fine product." The animation circle circulated this sentence. The studio originally set up by housewife Yoko Hada to subsidize the home has been regarded as an industry benchmark and industry conscience after nearly 40 years. Animators polish their works like craftsmen and produce an average of one or two works per year.
Kyoto Animation is one of the few animation companies in Japan that is dominated by female employees. From the perspective of women, the works generally show the unique vitality and delicate feelings of girls. The representative works include "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya". However, 44-year-old Toshiko Ikeda, the chief painting supervisor of this popular anime, was devoured by the fire.
Now, the main building of the studio, completely unrecognizable by this tragic fire, has been completely demolished.
The golden wood on the walls, the straw tatami mats in the corners, these beautiful pictures inside the old building are no longer; and the spiral staircase that extends from the third floor to the hall is also permanently fixed by 20 bodies stacked on top. In the sad scene, after being set on fire, many people in the workroom eventually failed to open the door to the roof to escape.
[The arson is delusional? Japanese society calls attention to "disappointed people"】
This fire was the most serious arson event in Japan since 1989. The arsonist Aoba himself was also burned and seriously injured, once life-threatening.
Ten months after the blaze, on May 27, 2020, the Kyoto police stated that Aoba was still unable to walk or eat independently, but there was no problem in speaking, and his physical condition had reached a state where he could withstand detention. In order to prevent Aoba from escaping and hiding the evidence, the police decided to formally arrest him on charges of homicide and arson.
Data map: On May 27, 2020 local time, in Kyoto, Japan, the Japanese police officially arrested Shinobu Aoba on charges of murder and arson. The picture shows Aoba Aoba lying on a stretcher and sent to Fushimi District Police Station.
Police revealed that Aoba admitted the accusation and said that "anyone will be sentenced to death anyway."
There is evidence that Aoba participated in the call for novels of Kyoto Animation many times before the incident. But investigators said that the police found no evidence to support Aoba's claim that the Kyoto animation "stole" his novel.
Investigators believe that Aoba may be suffering from delusions, and is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation, which is expected to continue until September 10. If Aoba is judged to be responsible, he will be prosecuted.
In recent years, "indiscriminate homicide cases" have occurred in Japan from time to time. After the Kyoto animation tragedy, some social crime experts pointed out that marginalized groups in Japanese society are expanding. Because of economic and psychological reasons, they think they are losers and are abandoned by society, and tend to retaliate against society. The form manifests itself.
Aoba had a mental illness, was jailed for robbing a convenience store, and had clashes with neighbors several times because of noise problems. Some psychologists said that “social frustrations” like Japan are increasing. For the sake of social stability, “don’t isolate them, but try to have a dialogue with them”.
[Sadness without resentment, the pain of losing loved ones will never disappear]
Although the formal arrest of Aoba is a major development in the case, for the survivors who have lost their beloved relatives, one year is far from enough to heal their wounds.
77-year-old Takeo Takemoto lost his son Takemoto Kurohiro in the fire and experienced the pain of "white hair giving black hair". The father said: "Our pain will not disappear with the passage of time."
Takemoto Kyuhiro is one of the most well-known directors of Kyoto Animation, and was the supervisor of works such as "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" and "Lucky Star". After his death, his parents tried to check every news report about the fire. Although this made the two elderly cry in pain, they wanted to know what happened.
Data map: July 19, 2019 local time, Kyoto, Japan, people are praying for the victims in the fire.
The couple said they had no hatred for Aoba, but had questions, including what kind of life he lived, what his motivation was, and whether he had considered the consequences of arson. Takemoto said he hopes to finally get an answer from Aoba.
Of the employees who survived the fire, few resigned. Akiko Takase, chief character designer of "Violet Eternal Garden", said that only when she was painting would she feel "closer" to her lost colleagues. At home, she will fall into a "blank."
However, Kyoto Animation President Hideaki Hada previously stated that "there is still a long way to go before returning to normal." "(2019) The things we have in our daily lives before July 18th no longer exist."
[After the fire, they chose "Nirvana Rebirth"]
During the arson incident, some people speculated that this tragedy may lead to the end of the Kyoto animation. However, after a year, Jing Ani still insisted, and has made up his mind to start again.
From July 3rd, Kyoto Animation will rerun its 19 animated films since its founding in a theater in Ikebukuro, Tokyo for 7 days.
Data map: On September 6, 2019 local time, Osaka, Japan, Kyoto animation works "Violet Eternal Garden Gaiden-Forever and Automatic Notes Puppet" will be screened.
At the same time, Kyoto Animation has announced the recruitment of new employees, positions include animators, systems engineers, CG artists and animation assistants.
On its website, Kyoto Animation said: "We are eagerly looking forward to passionate people who can promote the production and development of animation products by thinking, learning and creating together."
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the fire, Kyoto Animation will also hold an online mourning event on the 18th. However, affected by the new crown epidemic, the public is urged to mourn the incident.
The movie "Violet Eternal Garden" has been re-scheduled twice due to the fire and epidemic, and will be released in Japan on September 18. The moving story of "love" will meet the audience again. (Finish)