After the fire incident that occurred more than a week ago at Kyoto Animation's main headquarters, some updates about the company's future have been revealed. According to KTV, employees who were not present and even those who survived returned to work at the other offices on the 24th.
A letter containing a message of support from fans, left at the site of the accident.
The studio is rebuilding with financial help from people around the world, including a campaign on GoFundMe organized by Sentai Filmworks, the Western distributor of KyoAni productions. The campaign had received $2,344,903 from 69,091 people after 12 days online. KyoAni itself also made its bank account available for international donations; if you want more details about how to help, click here.
The donated money will be used to help rebuild the building and provide the necessary support to the families of the victims involved in the accident. Through a statement, KyoAni asked police and the press not to disclose the victims' names until the official investigation is complete.
Original server data is recovered
It was originally believed that the fire had caused a complete loss of materials, but this update brings hope on that front. On July 29, Asahi reported that it had been discovered that the server was still operating even after all the damage it suffered. All digital files made by Studio 1 were recovered, including animations believed to have been lost.
Hideaki Hatta, president of Kyoto Animation, recently published a statement about what happened on Kyoto Animation's official website, saying:
Kyoto Animation will continue to create animations that help people have dreams and hope and that impress them. Kyoto Animation will not give up; we will not disappear silently into the night... we will not disappear without a fight!
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary willing to help
Yoshihide Suga, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, recently made a public statement about the accident at KyoAni. He made clear that there is interest in supporting the company and the victims in every possible way, including removing taxes from donations received domestically and internationally, as well as investing in training new animators.
Yoshihide Suga
Before government assistance officially began, Suga made clear that he wanted to discuss the proposal with the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, as well as other relevant government agencies, to ensure that the money would be used to help the victims and their families and support Kyoto Animation's rebuilding efforts.
