Can Medalist Become the Next Yuri on Ice for Ice-Skating Sports Anime?

Since debuting in January 2025, Medalist has been making waves in the anime fandom, with some already comparing it to the popular Yuri on Ice. They take two very different routes for the figure skating sports anime genre, but both shows handle figure skating with love and respect. And of course, the question everyone’s asking: Will this new series live up to the 2016 cultural phenomenon that was Yuri on Ice?

What Makes These Ice-Skating Sports Anime Unique?

Yuri on Ice was about adult professional skaters who competed at the highest level of the sport. The ice-skating sports anime followed 23-year-old Yuuri Katsuki as he worked with legendary coach Victor Nikiforov to revive his career. Medalist, meanwhile, follows Inori and Tsukasa, her coach, who was not a competitive skater. Instead of the Grand Prix Finals, the anime begins with regional contests and badge testing.

The distinction in scope is important. Medalist keeps things realistic, while Yuri on Ice displayed the glitter of international figure skating with breathtaking performances and high-stakes drama. For Inori, basic skills like single leaps and back crossovers are challenging. The less glamorous aspects of being a skilled athlete are not overlooked in this ice-skating sports anime. It's more significant to get from nothing to something than to go from great to outstanding.

The Numbers Tell an Interesting Story

Social media was dominated by Yuri on Ice when it debuted. Over 1.4 million tweets were sent about the show during its season, more than any other autumn anime. It topped sales figures in Japan and won seven consecutive Crunchyroll Anime Awards. The enormous influence on culture was exemplified when figure skaters at the 2018 Winter Olympics skated to music from the series.

Medalist is now at 8.37 on MyAnimeList, an impressively high but not unusual score. The ice-skating sports anime isn’t super mainstream despite being a niche favorite for many. Season 2, announced right after season 1 ended, shows the confidence of the production committee. But the audience numbers are not as high as those of Yuri on Ice, at least not yet.

The Medalist's Potential Future

This is where the ice-skating sports anime becomes interesting. Fans have praised its realistic depiction of figure skating development and training. Real skaters appreciate that the show hired retired professional Akiko Suzuki to choreograph routines. It’s the details that are striking. You see real falls, proper technique, and the kind of extensive training necessary to be a good jumper.

Yuri on Ice had an actual choreographer, Kenji Miyamoto, but as the series went on, it was called out for reusing material and animation workarounds. Because Medalist is produced by ENGI, it has lower expectations. The CGI performances in the ice-skating sports anime are criticized by some fans, but at least they remain consistent throughout the season.

The emotional core is also very beautiful. Adult viewers in their thirties have reported crying through episodes of Medalist because it plays on memories of inadequacy and unsupportive parents from childhood. That specific kind of relatability is expertly captured in the ice-skating sports anime. Yuri on Ice's battles with anxiety and work pressure resonate with a different kind of audience.

The Romance Factor Is Unavoidable

Let's address the problem. It was only natural that Yuri on Ice became the anime sensation it did because of Yuuri and Victor’s relationship. Whether they kissed, whether they really got engaged, and why the ice-skating sports anime just couldn’t come right out and say it were all points of incessant speculation. Many fans were irritated by that ambiguity, even as some were lured to it.

In Medalist, romance is not a central subject. The ice-skating sports anime deals exclusively with Tsukasa and Inori’s coach-student relationship, which is refreshingly free of romantic tension. Some fans love it this way because it allows the sport to stand alone without distraction.

Can a Lightning Strike Occur Twice?

The honest answer is probably not in the same way. Yuri on Ice seized on a moment in 2016 when it appeared that representation in anime was rare and valuable. The ice-skating sports anime then became a lightning rod for fans hoping to see themselves on screen. It benefited from perfect timing, strong word-of-mouth, and the novelty of its premise.

Medalist operates in a unique context. The ice-skating sports anime is vying for viewers’ attention in a time when there is an infinite supply of stuff. Furthermore, it is an adaptation of a seinen manga rather than an original animation, which modifies expectations and marketing opportunities.

But Medalist has a crucial trait that Yuri on Ice sometimes lacked: consistency. The writing doesn't get worse in the final few episodes of the season. The ice-skating sports anime is unambiguous about the story it wishes to tell and adheres to it. Such attention builds a devoted following even though it might not produce the same explosive popularity.

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To sum up

Whether you like the grassroots underdog quest of Medalist or the glitzy international tournaments of Yuri on Ice, both ice-skating sports anime show the genre's strength. In all honesty, figure skating fans worldwide have won.

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