They believe that Kyoto Animation is in decline

It's been five years since the tragic fire that rocked Kyoto Animation, and the impact of the tragedy still resonates in the anime industry. Despite its legacy as one of Japan's most prestigious production companies, some wonder if Kyoto Animation has managed to maintain the level of excellence that characterized it in the past. A recent article published by the DAILY SHINCHO has put the studio's evolution in the spotlight, sparking a debate among fans about whether the company has changed in recent years.

During the 2000s, Kyoto Animation was responsible for a series of hits that marked an entire generation of anime fans. His ability to create 'divine anime' (that is, with sublime animation quality) was widely recognized, and many of his productions became benchmarks of visual quality. Fans in their 30s and 40s remember that golden age with nostalgia.

However, according to the article, it seems that new generations of anime fans, especially those in their 10s and 20s, are not as familiar with Kyoto Animation's works. Instead, studios such as MAPPA (Jujutsu Kaisen) and Ufotable (Kimetsu no Yaiba) have captured the attention of younger people, who associate the term "divine animation" with these companies rather than with Kyoto Animation.

This change in perception became evident after the recent broadcast of the third season of "Hibike! Euphonium", one of Kyoto Animation's flagship titles. Although the series was generally well-received, with comments on social networks, there were also critical voices among longtime fans. Some mentioned that while it's hard to put it out loud, they noticed a decline in animation quality, which was an unexpected blow to those who have followed the studio for years.

With this article, it didn't take long for community feedback to emerge:

"They should keep creating just Nichijou forever."
"It seems that the studios in Tokyo attract more talented young women and promising foreign animators."
"It's cruel to expect Kyoto Animation to return to its heyday."
"I didn't like Kyoto Animation in the early 2000s so much, when I was famous for animating minor works well."
"I think even before the incident, they weren't managing to create anything impressive."
"They became famous in the 2000s for having good animation for late-night series. Today, any studio that doesn't have serious production problems can achieve that quality, so they've lost that advantage."
"People don't care who makes the anime anymore, unless it's a studio with a very strong style, like Madhouse or Trigger."
"Suzumiya Haruhi and those shows came out 15 years ago, so I'm not surprised they haven't seen them. Maybe you've seen Violet Evergarden."
"The KyoAni boom was until the early 2010s, it's normal that it has changed."

The debate over the evolution of Kyoto Animation and its place in the contemporary anime industry remains a hot topic. While the company has left an indelible mark on anime history, the question of whether it can continue to innovate and capture the imagination of new generations is up in the air.

Source: Otakomu