In an incident that has shocked anime fans across the world, a man screaming “You die!” set an animation studio in Kyoto, Japan on fire. Authorities have disclosed that the incident has left 30 people confirmed or presumed dead.
The suspect is believed to have sprayed a fire accelerant near the front door of the three-storey building. A man suspected for the arson has been taken in by the police and has been hospitalised for injuries.
Most of the victims are workers at Kyoto Animation, a studio that is famous for stories featuring high school girls. Their popularity has even caused some of the places featured in their plots to become “pilgrimage sites” for their fans. The studio founded in 1981 is known for their hits like “Lucky Star,” ″K-On!” and “Haruhi Suzumiya.”
Anime fans have taken to social media to mourn the event with people posting under the hashtag #PrayForKyoani.