Tim Cook has sent his condolences to the Japanese animation studio targeted in a suspected arson attack. The attack resulted in the deaths of 33 people. It is Japan’s worst mass killing in 20 years.
“Kyoto Animation is home to some of the world’s most talented animators and dreamers,” Cook tweeted. “The devastating attack today is a tragedy felt far beyond Japan.”
“KyoAni artists spread joy all over the world and across generations with their masterpieces,” Cook continued. KyoAni is the common abbreviation for Kyoto Animation. He also sent his message in Japanese.
Kyoto Animation is home to some of the world’s most talented animators and dreamers — the devastating attack today is a tragedy felt far beyond Japan. KyoAni artists spread joy all over the world and across generations with their masterpieces. 心よりご冥福をお祈りいたします。
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 18, 2019
One of the world’s best animation studios
KyoAni was founded in 1981. Some of its most popular hits include K-On, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and the Netflix-distributed Violet Evergarden. It is one of the world’s largest animation studios.
The blaze was started by a man named Shinji Aoba. He started the fire using a bucket of patrol at the animation studio’s HQ in Kyoto. He reportedly believed that the studio has plagiarized his novel. He has been arrested by police.
Source: Reuters
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
