Our prayers and condolences are focused today on the 33 deaths and other serious injuries related to the murderous fire set ablaze at Kyoto Animation Studio in Japan (#PrayForKyoAni). Any such a tragedy is disturbing, and even more so when it takes place in an industry of talented artists and a country of relative non-violence. Our hearts go out to the friends and family mourning this shocking loss.
Creative manja (comics) and anime (animation) are a regular part of Japanese culture, and have influenced art and entertainment worldwide. A US-based distributor of Japanese anime, Sentai Filmworks, has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help those affected by the tragedy. We appreciate the work of our colleagues who are helping families wrestle with this loss and extend our support.