Today is a sad day for Japan and for the global anime community. At around 10:30 am, an arsonist set fire to the Studio 1 Building of Kyoto Animation. KyoAni is known for creating adaptations for works like Haruhi Suzumiya, Clannad, Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (that’s hilarious). They’re also known for giving their animators actual living wages.

Because of the arsonist (who shall be henceforth be known as “Turd” until otherwise), 33 people are dead, and Studio 1’s wrecked. It’s the deadliest mass murder Japan has seen since the end of World War II. The Turd has been arrested and is custody; he claims his motives are Kyōto Animation “ripped off” materials.

I’ve been on Twitter all day since word of the fire became public. I have seen fans all over the world pour their hearts out, offering their support and condolences. I’ve only seen a few of their works, but it doesn’t matter to me: they were part of the anime community, so I mourn for the dead. I offer my condolences to their families, and to their coworkers who survived. When you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.

If you want to do something to help Kyōto Animation, here’s a way. Sentai Filmworks has started a fundraiser to help Kyōto Animation recover from this act of evil. If you want to help, click this link. Help KyoAni heal.

Update

As of now, a 34th victim of the fire has passed away in the hospital. The President of Kyoto Animation has said that all their computers and materials from past works were destroyed in the fire.