Emily Nguyen, Week #13: Vividness

Back in February I watched an intriguing series called Hyouka. It seemed to be the typical slice of life, high school genre but actually revolved around mystery and far deeper themes than a simple carefree show. What drove me to watch such a show (which was a bit outside my usual taste for thrill) was its use of color and the incredibly effective color palettes—characteristically stellar work of the one and only Naomi Ishida of Kyoto Animation. 

Hyouka -- Ep. 1

Just look at her mastery of emotions. Ishida also tweaked and checked every single colored frame of critically acclaimed works like A Silent Voice, Liz and the Blue Bird, and much more, all by Kyoto Animation Studio or adjacent. Her dedication to color designing was unmatched and I could never imagine it being replicated by anyone besides her. Her extensive 26-year career largely shaped many of KyoAni’s title films and supported its reputation as one of Japan’s most legendary animation studios.


Naomi Ishida died on July 18, 2019 at age 49. In a tragedy that has cemented itself as one of the “deadliest massacres in Japan” since WWII, thirty-six Kyoto Animation staff passed away by suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, or severe burns. These include extraordinary lead directors, well-appreciated key frame animators, scriptwriters, and many more.


This was the Kyoto Animation arson attack. The arsonist doused the entire front portion of the Studio 1 building with 11 gallons of gasoline and set everything aflame, trapping and killing all lives inside as an explosion broke out. Bodies were on the stairs, the whole place suffocating in smoke and smog. Victims were “burned beyond recognition.” 


Ishida was the first to be identified, by her own parents. For her funeral, her mother dressed her in what would’ve been her wedding kimono dress. 


She worked on “over 50 film and television productions.” In this way, Ishida can be memorialized through her passionate work as lead color designer for KyoAni’s best works. Even after death, her contributions live on through the exceptionally emotional visuals she brought to life. Each handcrafted frame serves to honor her memory. As I attempt to finish my never-ending watchlist, I will always recognize Ishida’s colors.


Comments

  1. Tanisha MadhukarMarch 25, 2026 at 8:41 PM

    I enjoyed your retelling of the Kyoto Animation arson attack. The way you wrote about it felt so connected and your words felt smooth. As I was reading your blog I went back to my belief that art holds the most memories, whatever type of art it may be it is the main form of remembrance. I have had the joy of watching, some of, Ishida's work with my older brother, who loves her animation style. It has been something that we have, somewhat bonded over, and it brings me joy when I see her work out in public as it reminds me of that connection we continue to create.

    Hearing that she was buried in her, potential, wedding dress hit me hard. The immense love and joy that could have grown and spread was replaced with the unfortunate blazing heat in front of that studio. So many happy memories were replaced by one sorrowful one. It’s insane how quickly things can change so it is so important we cherish what we can make of time.

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  2. Harshi PannalaMarch 25, 2026 at 8:56 PM

    Hi Emily! Reading your blog hit me way harder than I expected. The way you describe Hyouka makes it sound like you resonate with the show on a deeper level than I would assume most people would. It is interesting to see how you connect something as simple as color to the overall tone (haha get it?) and the mystery of the anime. This subtlety you described is what I prefer when choosing which shows to binge-watch; the ones that are seemingly pretty light-hearted but hold deeper emotion underneath.
    I enjoyed the artist focus you incorporated into your blog. The way you tied the blog Ishida’s artistry made visuals feel impactful and added extra emotion. The part about the Kyoto Animation tragedy from WWll made your writing feel more grounded. I would never have even considered that connection—not because I don’t watch anime but because I, in general, don’t think about all the behind the scenes events that go into making a show. Not only just for this series or Ishida’s work, but this connection makes creating films and shows a part of a greater legacy. Maybe after I finish all my impending assignments I will watch one of her great works, but for now it will have to be added to my evergrowing TBW list.

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  3. Alex FrancavillaMarch 25, 2026 at 9:23 PM

    Art is probably the most prolific way to truly memorialize someone, especially in an age where art can be digitized online and stored near indefinitely in archives. I found it particularly interesting that you chose to dedicate your blog to celebrating the work of Naomi Ishida, a colorist who definitely isn’t the animation role at the forefront of public perception. That spot usually goes to remarkable voice actors or studio directors or even concept artists. But all roles in any form of art creation are important and deserve to be celebrated.

    Her legacy is unfortunately complicated with her death in the Kyoto Animation arsonist attack. Unlike the 36 staff and employees that died as a result of the fire, the arsonist themself will be remembered not for incredible contributions but as a mass murderer, which could overshadow those who deserve to be celebrated. But those such as Naomi Ishida all played their own vital parts in the creation of exceptional pieces of animation, forever immortalized in shows like Hyouka.

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