Sense of loss spreads beyond fans of the genre as Justin Trudeau and Tim Cook voice their shock

“I have watched animation since I was a student, and this was a terrible event,” says Jun Shin, a 30-year-old fan from Osaka who visited the site of the Kyoto Animation fire in Japan to say a prayer. “I wanted to come and mourn.”

Jun is just one of the fans of Kyoto Animation, affectionally abbreviated as “KyoAni”, to visit the Studio #1 building in Fushimi, Kyoto, after Thursday’s arson attack in which at least 33 people died, the country’s worst mass-casualty event in decades.

As a person who suffers from depression and anxiety, A Silent Voice touched me in more ways that one with it's beautiful animation and touching story. Kyoto animation has been and will always be one of my favorite animation studios. pic.twitter.com/nJzsjPMuhc

Related: Kyoto Animation fire: police search for clues as donations pass $1m mark

When I was lost in a changing world, a KyoAni work helped ground me.
When I wanted a new direction, a KyoAni work helped me improve as a translator.
When I needed passion in my life, a KyoAni work inspired me to become better.
When I needed friends KyoAni works helped me find ppl