Yuri on Ice Movie Cancelation - Why It Was More Than Just a Disappointment
Series cancelations always hit hard, but nothing has ever hurt as bad as the cancelation of the much-awaited sequel to the 2016 Yuri on Ice!! anime, the Ice Adolescence movie.
On April 19, 2024, MAPPA officially announced that the movie was canceled due to "various circumstances." There was no further explanation as to why and given the false hope they've been feeding fans in the last seven years, we think we can speak for everyone when we say that after a reason like that, we all felt a flurry of frustration, disappointment, anger, and sadness that day. These feelings remain strong even today.
Yuri on Ice!! was one of those shows that instantly made waves following the premiere. It received so much good reception from fans all over, not just from the anime community but from the skating community too. Everyone was excited and proud to see the sports represented with so much passion and respect, not to mention how the animation quality was really good and representative of the medium.
Despite so many iconic elements – the lovable characters, the ice skating, the drama, and the music, the anime sequel was first delayed from its 2019 planned release and then eventually canceled. What exactly went wrong?
What Made Yuri on Ice!! So Memorable?
Sure, it is a sports-comedy series (with a sprinkle of BL romance), but fans of the series know that it is everything and more. Yuri on Ice!! took us on a satisfying journey with its anxious in-betweens and emotional ups and downs. The competition also tackled so many realistic (and relatable) experiences in not just the sports, but life in general. At its core, Yuri on Ice!! tells a story of how to overcome mental blocks and anxiety through ice skating. A simple reason like that is what makes it an incredible show worth celebrating, even after so many years.
What makes the show so beloved is its exceptional portrayal and writing of its characters. The three leads — Yuri Katsuki, Viktor Nikiforov, and Yuri Plisetsky (Yurio) — have some of the best dynamics seen in modern anime. Yuri is a ball of anxiety and self-sabotage; Viktor is a living legend who has lost his direction; and lastly, Yurio is a young, headstrong athlete, with a somewhat unfriendly demeanor. Throughout the series, we find that they, directly and indirectly, make each other stronger, and more motivated, and help each other to become the best version of themselves. They each take their own paths to finding and learning their steps to grow. In a way, Yuri on Ice!! teaches us how to be brave, gather the courage to work for our dreams, and have the strength to keep at it.
It felt like there was a certain comfort in the anime, especially for those who are dancers. The sound of ice cracking with the swoosh and swish of the skates, which parallels the sound of dance shoes on the wooden dance floor, is a small detail to fondly remember. Just like that, regardless of background, nearly every Yuri on Ice!! fan found something meaningful in this uplifting and heartfelt story.
The way in which Yuri and Viktor’s relationship was handled remains one of the highlights of the story. It wasn’t too dramatic nor was it underplayed. It didn't rely on a character or a trope. For such a sensitive issue in the real world, especially considering Viktor is Russian, Yuri on Ice!! managed to handle the romance in a simple and thoughtful manner. For all the criticism it got for that hidden kiss and not addressing the real-life discrimination same-sex couples face, the anime managed to create a world in which love is just that, love. The character writing was so perfectly crafted, strengths and weaknesses and all, that the relationship aspect of the series that followed made them (individually and as a couple) easily likable. It's wholesome and heartwarming, and you couldn’t help but want happiness for them.
Yuri on Ice!! was one of MAPPA's first hits, back when the studio was still somewhat "new" and without the reputation it has today. A lot of effort was put into the preparation for the show's production. The creators traveled and studied everything about competitive figure skating. The choreography, by Kenji Miyamoto, was planned with real-life references and costumes. Everything was drawn by hand; nothing in 3D. On top of the fact that each skater in the story had their own personalized song, the anime’s iconic theme songs were created to express the feelings that the show wanted to deliver.
That inspired many creatives like the Japanese pair skaters Suzaki Miu and Kihara Ryuichi, who showed off a routine to the “Yuri on Ice” theme at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. The anime brought in a fanbase outside of the usual enjoyers. In the same way, it brought attention and appreciation to Yuri’s real-life inspiration, Japan’s legendary Yuzuru Hanyu, and perhaps more attention to professional skaters and ice skating as a whole. It was inspiring to many, especially the fandom that ended up turning it into a cult classic.
The Impact of Yuri on Ice!! on Anime Community
As an anime original, Yuri on Ice!! didn't have the traditional manga audience most shows today have. Yet, it attracted what is potentially the strongest force of anime fandom: the women. The anime scene simply exploded with art, merchandise, fan fiction, edits; you name it and it was there. It’s also important to note that the creative minds behind this story are also women: mangaka Mitsuro Kubo (known as Mitsuko Kubo) and animator Sayo Yamamoto, who also directed the anime. Maybe this is why they attracted a huge following so seamlessly: they understood who this story was meant for.
The popularity led Yuri on Ice!! to complete domination of the first-ever Crunchyroll Anime Awards. If you were around in 2017, you’ll remember the seemingly endless complaints of a rigged vote, as Yuri on Ice!! won seven out of seven nominations. According to Crunchyroll, over 1.8 million votes were cast that year. The company didn’t reveal additional information about the voters (or if it has, that has been lost to time), but they did specify that the majority was in the United States.
Keep in mind, Yuri on Ice!! aired in 2016. This was the same year in which Erased, Mob Psycho 100, Re:ZERO, My Hero Academia, and many more very popular titles debuted. Yet, this story about ice skating brought together a fandom so strong that it dethroned titles that managed to outlive Yuri on Ice!!.
And it’s not just the awards. The merchandise scene exploded: from fan-made content to official merch, you could find it all. There was something for every pocket, and while it is hard to discern just how much of it was official and how much it went to the fans, it’s undeniable that in this regard Yuri on Ice!! sold well. And let’s not forget the music and manga spin-off.
The anime also sold quite a few home video copies; over 270,000 Blu-ray discs and 110,000 DVDs. Additionally, it topped Oricon’s sales lists quite a few times during the release of the six volumes. These numbers (over 30,000 Blu-rays in the first week for each volume) are quite difficult to surpass, even today. To put things into perspective, the latest movie from the Haikyu!! franchise, The Dumpster Battle debuted with 48,000 (Blu-ray) / 21,000 (DVD) copies earlier this year. This was a Deluxe Edition, featuring English subtitles, and was the latest addition to one of the most popular anime and manga franchises in the world. Yuri on Ice!!’s numbers were impressive for 2016-2017, especially for a series that popped out of nowhere and was done by, at a time, a fairly new studio.
Yet, last year, MAPPA’s CEO, Manabu Otsuka, gave an interview to Japanese publication Kompass, in which he stated that while Yuri on Ice!! was a hit, it did not bring studio money. He goes on to explain how to change things, MAPPA needed to invest in human resources and choose what kind of content it would work on. In addition to MAPPA, the production committee for the anime consisted of Avex Pictures, TV Asahi, Dentsu, CIC, Cygames, Asahi Music, and Movic. All of these companies had a share in the production and if we go by the order they are listed in, MAPPA is the last - meaning they, as the animation studio, got the least of the earnings, a practice that is sadly not uncommon.
It’s important to note that Otsuka doesn’t mention Yuri on Ice!! again in the interview and the series not being profitable was not brought up as an official reason for cancelation. Still, this raises a question: why was this franchise, loved and cherished by so many fans, that was by all accounts well-received and profitable, treated like this, and ultimately canceled? Where does art stop and when does anime become solely a product?
The Disappointment of Ice Adolescence's Cancelation
Everything mentioned makes the Yuri on Ice!! Ice Adolescence movie cancelation all the more... depressing. Fans waited for seven years for it and we all hoped that an update was coming soon. It was still nice hoping that Yuri on Ice!! would receive the same care MAPPA gave its recent titles because this was the series that put the studio’s name out there in a way. As we know, the update did happen, but it was not what the fans were dreaming of. At first, it was just a delay announcement, then it was a confirmation that the movie was still in production, and finally, it was this.
Just a notice of a cancelation, as if we were not talking about one of the most impactful anime titles in recent years. During the seven years in which fans were assured that the production was underway, the spirit of Yuri on Ice!! continued strong. From Yuzuru Hanyu and the Fantasy on Ice cast recreating the opening theme to most recently Duolingo’s “Duo on Ice”; these small things kept the fandom alive. The very fandom that was only given “various circumstances” as an explanation, as if its members didn’t pour their passion into this series.
This cancelation hits especially hard now, after seeing so many older titles get special revival by MAPPA (and others involved in this production committee). But, after going through nearly every stage of grief, it’s clear that it’s time to accept that it is what it is.
It’s important to say that it is truly a shame that Yuri on Ice!! was shelved just like that. Profitable or not, this series left its mark, something that not many titles do today. With overproduction and seemingly dozens of new isekai adaptations every season, stories that stand out in any way are few and far between. Maybe this is a reflection of the current state of the industry: less creativity, more productivity. Maybe this is for the better – to close the chapter before the memory of it is destroyed any further by various money-making tactics.
Today, Yuri on Ice!! speaks of a different time. Not just a simpler one, where sweet little stories like these were welcome and accepted, but also one where originality was accepted and cherished, by both the industry and fans. It definitely deserved to tell more of its story and we can still hope for more, even though it’s likely never going to come, as unfair as it is. But for now, Yuri on Ice!!, just like many others who came before this time, will remain remembered for the gem that it is – as it was, after all, born to make history.
© Hasetsu Townspeople／Yuri!!! on ICE PROJECT