Meanwhile, series' voice actresses publicly apologize for ongoing controversy

Amid the ongoing controversy regarding Kadokawa's decision to remove Kemono Friends director TATSUKI from the series' upcoming season and animation studio Yaoyorozu backing out over disagreements regarding the property's use (possibly the shorts made for Cup Noodle and Animelo Summer Live), fans have not taken the news lying down.

Fans have turned to petition website Change.org to gather signatures asking Kadokawa to bring Tatsuki back as director. The petition is making its rounds on social media, garnering 25,000 signatures in a single night and less than 500 away from reaching its 50,000 signature goal.

TATSUKI's announcement of his removal on Twitter quickly skyrocketed, with over 300,000 shares on the social media platform. Kadokawa, meanwhile, is in the midst of damage control after Nobuo Kawakami, the president of Kadokawa's parent company Kadokawa Dwango, posted a response on Tuesday that he was "worried" about the incident and that discussions are ongoing in both Kadokawa and Dwango.

Voice actresses Yuka Ozaki, Saki Ono, Aina Aiba, Ikuko Chikuta, Kana Motomiya, Mikoi Sasaki, Ruka Nemoto, and Kyōka Tamura appeared on the "Kemono Friends Nico Family Special #13: Kemono Friends Hour" streaming program on Tuesday. The actresses publicly apologized for the ongoing issues despite having little to nothing to do with the corporate decision to remove Tatsuki. Viewers criticized the apology as a ploy by Kadokawa to pull out the "voice actress guard" to deflect blame off of the company.

Since Yaoyorozu left the second season's production, fans may have a longer wait before getting more episodes with their animal friends. Kadokawa stated that the production is back at "square one" as the company tries to re-establish the major players for the show.

[Via Nijipoi, Hachima Kikō, Yaraon!]