The animated series Medalist, an adaptation of Tsurumaikada’s manga centered on Olympic figure skating, recently concluded its first season successfully. Shortly afterward, an official announcement confirmed that a second season was in preparation.

The animated series Medalist, an adaptation of Tsurumaikada’s manga centered on Olympic figure skating, recently concluded its first season successfully. Shortly afterward, an official announcement confirmed that a second season was in preparation, delighting fans of this poignant story. The anime began airing in Japan on January 4 in TV Asahi’s “NUMAnimation” programming slot, followed by BS Asahi the next day. At the same time, Disney+ handled its streaming distribution, while Kadokawa’s YouTube channel offered a special live broadcast to celebrate its launch. The excitement even led to the creation of an online radio program.

This project stood out for its artistic rigor, notably thanks to the participation of former and current Japanese figure skating stars. Akiko Suzuki, a former Olympic skater, handled the choreography for the on-ice performances, assisted by Yuhana Yokoi, who has since retired, and Hinano Isobe, who is still competing. This commitment to realism helped convey all the emotional and physical intensity demanded by the sport. The animation quality was also praised for its precision in depicting the characters’ movements and expressions.

The original manga, published since 2020 in Kodansha’s Afternoon magazine, follows Tsukasa and Inori, two protagonists bound by a shared dream: to shine on the world stage of figure skating. Both broken by life, they find common strength on the ice. This coming-of-age story of learning and perseverance earned Medalist two major awards: the prestigious Shogakukan Prize and the Kodansha Manga Award in the Best General Manga category. With twelve volumes already published and its success continuing to grow, the anime’s sequel looks promising.

Medalist aura une seconde saison