Yuri!! On Ice Releases New Art for Series’ 5th Anniversary

Animation studio MAPPA released new Yuri!! on Ice art.

The new image was revealed on the company's official Twitter account and shows a surprisingly stern looking Yuri Katsuki discussing skating strategies with his coach and love interest, Viktor Nikiforov. Several other characters from the series can also be glimpsed in the background, including the temperamental Yuri Plisetsky and the headstrong Jean-Jacques "JJ" Leroy. Interestingly, several of the characters are wearing face masks, suggesting the image is set after the original 2016 series and shows the characters during the modern pandemic of 2022.

Yuri!! on Ice is an original anime production by studio MAPPA (Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Jujutsu Kaisen) that first premiered in 2016. The series was directed by Sayo Yamamoto, who is also known for her work on numerous other critically acclaimed anime, including Michiko & Hatchin, Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine and Eureka Seven. The story was written by Mitsuro Kubo, the creator of the romantic comedy Moteki and the time-travelling high school drama Again!. The anime starred Durarara!! and Tokyo Ghoul's Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Yuri and veteran voice actor Junichi Sawabe (Fate/stay Night, Jujutsu Kaisen) as Viktor.

The series tells the story of Yuri Katsuki,  a sensitive and kind-hearted young man who was on track to be one of Japan's greatest figure skaters until his severe anxiety and lack of confidence caused him to put his career on hold. After a video of him skating goes viral on the internet, Yuri attracts the attention of Viktor Nikiforov, a former world champion who retired from the sport after losing his creative drive. Viktor becomes Yuri's new coach, and the two begin a relationship that reawakens their love of ice skating.

The series has been recognized for both its depictions of professional ice skating and same-sex romance. The series was praised by many former and current professional figure skaters, including Johnny Weir, one of the sport's first openly gay athletes. "I think all positive imagery of LGBT themes in sport are good. Unfortunately, the majority of people that rule the skating world are conservative and more business minded... I don't know if Yuri on Ice will be able to change the perception of gay athletes to a 60 year old businessman, but I am of the school of thought that every little bit helps," Weir said. The two-time Olympian also stated "I broke my rule about one episode per day because I physically couldn't stop watching."

Yuri!! on Ice is set to continue with the release of the still mysterious Yuri!! on Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence. The movie was originally announced in 2017 with a 2019 premiere date, but the movie has since been indefinitely delayed while its producers expand the scope and content of the film. A new release date has yet to be announced.

Source: Twitter

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