
The police and a lawyer for Kyoto Animation, Daisuke Okeda, have confirmed that Aoba submitted a novel to the company, as part of its talent-scouting scheme it was not accepted. Before succumbing to his injuries, Aoba reportedly told witnesses that the studio had “stolen” his novel. The suspected arsonist, 41-year-old Shinji Aoba, was gravely injured himself, and the police are waiting for him to recover before they formally charge him. The dead in the Kyoto Animation attack include (l-to-r) Yoshiji Kigami, Futoshi Nishiya, and Yasuhiro Takemoto. A further 33 people were injured in the fire. The other 25 deceased have been identified, but the police are holding back from publicizing their names for now, as they await permission from the bereaved. The New York Times ran an article on Yasuhiro Takemoto, while The Hollywood Reporter focused one of its reports on Yoshiji Kigami. The victims range from promising young artists to industry veterans, several of which have been profiled elsewhere since the attack.

Keisuke Yokota, 34 (production manager over many Kyoto Animation works).Ami Kuriki, 30 (key animator on Liz and the Blue Bird, Violet Evergarden, Myriad Colors Phantom World).Yuka Kasama, 22 (new hire at the studio, no credits yet).Yuki Omura, 23 (new hire at the studio, no credits yet).Mikiko Watanabe, 35 (art director on Amagi Brilliant Park, Beyond the Boundary background artist on many Kyoto Animation productions).Sachie Tsuda, 41 (finish animation on Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club, Pokémon 3: The Movie: Entei - Spell of the Unown, Hyouka).

