Fans flocked Friday to the opening of the first film released by Kyoto Animation Co. since a deadly arson attack in July on one of its studios claimed the lives of 35 staff members.
Audiences packed a theater in Kyoto for "Violet Evergarden Gaiden: Eien to Jido Shuki Ningyo" ("Violet Evergarden Story: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll") from the first showing at 9 a.m.
Some members of the audience were seen sobbing when the film's end credits displayed the names of those killed and injured in the fire.