Apologies for the sparse updates the past week or so. Being online has been a little bit emotionally challenging for me lately, due to some upsetting anime fandom-related occurrences both local, and now international.
By now I think many/most people are aware of the tragedy that took place at Kyoto Animation’s building 1. In short, an arsonist attacked the production office and set it on fire, killing 33 people and injuring several others. As of this time there’s been no confirmed motive from the perpetrator (who was captured and arrested), although I doubt any sort of reasoning could possibly even begin to make sense of such an inherently senseless act.
I think that there is a lot to process here for those within the anime community, and everyone deals with grief in their own way. I would venture to guess that the majority of us aren’t directly connected to any of those who lost their lives, and for me I always feel some guilt in being so greatly affected by the loss of people who I don’t know personally when my emotions are often more measured when faced with the loss of people who I do know. I’ve already unfortunately seen some very insensitive comments floating around, including many variations of “they’re just cartoons, get over it.” The thing about art is that it’s created by the hands of people, and through those hands flow the entire spectrum of human experience and emotion. We connect with these works of art by connecting to the conduit of humanity through the gateway that they provide. I think there is something magical about the kind of talent that artists have to conjure up stories, experiences, and feelings from nothing but their own imaginations. I think that is why this loss strikes me so deeply, and why so many others are feeling pain right now.
There are many places to learn about Kyoto Animation’s particular output of anime series and movies, as well as their unique structure as a company and their relatively good employment and creative practices (Sakuga Blog has several posts devoted to the studio and members of its staff). What resonates the most with me about the studio is the fact that, when I look out at my anime family – the other fans and friends I know through my local and online communities – almost everyone has a few KyoAni series among their favorites. Nichijou, Hyouka, Free!, and Liz and the Blue Bird are just a few of the KyoAni series and films that have resonated with me over the years, and I’ve enjoyed many more. I’ve also been heartened by the fact that the studio employs the services of many talented women, in a world and an industry where that isn’t always the case.
I think we all feel a little bit helpless and distraught at the moment. I haven’t been able to focus on anything productive today, beyond just taking stock of my own feelings and sharing them with those close to me. If anyone reading this is in search of more concrete ways to help, some individuals have mentioned that purchasing downloadable high-res art from KyoAni’s shop might be an impactful way to ensure that money reaches the company directly:
Sentai Filmworks (based in the United States) has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser which I understand will be dispersed to the families of the individuals affected by the tragedy.
Even if contributing financially isn’t an option, know that the empathy that you can share with those directly affected by this crime, as well as the enjoyment you take from KyoAni’s animated series, are also both important ways of being present and helping to heal. I believe the anime fandom is capable of kindness and good; we just have to be willing to demonstrate it.
One reply on “When the World Makes Little Sense at All”
[…] which one normally escapes the world’s problems, that can feel especially brutal. I’ve already talked a bit about the KyoAni arson attack and don’t necessarily want to talk much more about it, but it hit me very hard and the ripples of […]