Home industry animation Shinji Aoba Withdraws Appeal in Kyoto Animation Arson Case

Shinji Aoba Withdraws Appeal in Kyoto Animation Arson Case

Animation

CIO Bulletin
2025-02-03

The Legal Case against Shinji Aoba to challenge his arrest collapsed after he abandoned his opposition to capital punishment for the Kyoto Animation arson crime.

The Osaka High Court verified on January 28 that Shinji Aoba had officially withdrawn his defensive challenges to the conviction for Kyoto Animation arson. Aoba's decision to drop his appeal resulted in a trial conclusion after his January 25, 2024 death sentence for killing 36 employees whose list included famous animators Yasuhiro Takemoto and Yoshiji Kigami. The court also convicted Aoba of 32 attempted murder charges together with arson and additional offenses.

Aoba’s defense filed their first judicial appeal during January 2024 to reduce his sentence citing his mental health needs. Two comprehensive mental health assessments concluded the offender understood what he did which led the Kyoto District Court to maintain his death sentence. Following the withdrawal of Aoba's appeal the defense team maintained quiet about the matter publicly.

The attorney representing Kyoto Animation named Daisuke Okeda acknowledged the withdrawal but decided to delay all statements until this dispute concludes. Multiple talented animation professionals perished tragically which continues to affect deeply the studio operations.