Figure Skating Anime

[GF2445]

This has been a great venture for MAPPA this season. This anime stands out in comparison to other sports animes because of how it was willing to experiment by putting two genres that don't usually go together, together. Though this was innovative, the two genres used in the show, sports and shounen-ai (or boys love, or BL), are staple genres in the anime/manga world. Both are niche genres and have their own conventions/flow to how it works. So actually, yuri on ice incorporated aspects of both genres together- the specific sports aspects and the specific BL aspects of the anime, were themselves not original or groundbreaking, but put together, it was an original product.

On a personal note...
I actually am not a fan of the Shounen-ai genre, nor any romance genres tbh, and at times yuri on ice really went heavyhanded with it. i wish they had a tad more focus on the sport aspects (they actually did a good job of that in this episode- but if you watch other sports animes, they really go into the details of the sport), but in mixing sport genre with the shounen-ai (boys love or BL) genre, they were able to draw a wider crowd.

I am very much looking forward to season two, as Yuri sets off on his next quest for Grand Prix Final Glory.

Anime fan signing off from Yuri on ice. Time for me to get ready for the next anime season.

 

[sallycinnamon]

Well,Kubo-sensei asked us to watch Victor's decision closely. Maybe I should re-watch it again, or does he really meant that Victor will return to competitive skating and he will coach Yuri at the same time? How will it all work out? I don't get it. I know, they wanted to left all the doors open for a 2nd season...

The competition part was quite exciting and fun to watch but the scoring really can't be taken seriously at all. I didn't get why a clean Otabek placed lower than JJ while the Canadian did have mistakes plus he was on the last place anyway. It just doesn't make ANY sense.
Also I didn't get why they decided for Yurio to fell, when falling was the rarest thing so far at the GP season? That's so stupid lol

One thing I really liked was Stephane and his voice.

 

[Yatagarasu]

Well we knew Stephane would be on so we can talk about that normally I think and yes! I could listen to that voice for an entire episode, negl

And yes, that's what they meant with Victor he says, 'even I'm worried about making a full comeback if I'm also staying on as your coach. In exchange, I'll need you to become a five-time world champion' to Yuuri so he will coach him and at the same time he is going back to skating (while training under Yakov I guess) so that means he'll be Yuuri's opponent who Yuuri has to beat for at least one of those? After he lost to Yurio. This anime has zero sense when it comes to skating.

 

[cathlen]

How the hell Otabek FP score is lower than Phichit? The creators are crazy. They don't make any sense. I can't just ignore it. It's a big flaw of the show. I just can't with the scores. Otabek was robbed by creators! Why they pushed for JJ to be on podium anyway?
The only moment I really liked, was that R-Yuri is thinking of Yuko as a person who helped to get to GPF. Very glad she's not forgotten

 

[GF2445]

There was alot of Tessa and Scott's Free Dance in that exhibition number.
Especially the choreo twizzle.

 

[Sydney Rose]

On a personal note...
I actually am not a fan of the Shounen-ai genre, nor any romance genres tbh, and at times yuri on ice really went heavyhanded with it. i wish they had a tad more focus on the sport aspects (they actually did a good job of that in this episode- but if you watch other sports animes, they really go into the details of the sport), but in mixing sport genre with the shounen-ai (boys love or BL) genre, they were able to draw a wider crowd.

This is the first anime I've ever watched and I feel exactly the opposite: I wanted more BL and a lot less of the skating. More emphasis on the Victor/Yuri relationship and less on all those secondary characters.

 

[eta]

The creators are going crazy with the scores......

My prediction/wish/hope for Worlds podium - Victor Yuri Gil in that order (yes I know that's not going to happen but still)

 

[karne]

^With Gil's specific mention of 4CC my guess is that any season two would have first Japanese/Russian Nationals and then 4CC as a focus, with Worlds later in the piece.

 

[Yatagarasu]

We are probably not going to get Worlds due to the issues with rights but just Nationals plus 4CC.

 

[eta]

Wait so Worlds not going to happen because rights, but if we get 4CC and Euros that means Victor and Yuri won't be competing against each other! Which is actually not bad because I don't see Victor losing to Yuri even with skipping the first half of the season but being the MC comes with perks...

 

[GF2445]

Since its asahi tv, season 2 would likely be next grand prix season.
But we will have to wait until we get more word, likely mid of next year (if they want to keep the series in the Fall Season)

 

[Yatagarasu]

^^
Considering what is happening with scores, I think it's very likely Yuuri can beat Victor. I don't think they care about actual content, only plot reasons. Maybe they'll make some deal about the Worlds so they'll show it because I anticipate a lot of I'm not worthy, Victor is so much better, etc angst. Otherwise they'll just find something else like indeed, just the next GPF season.

I mean as far as I know, you cannot coach and skate at the same time under current rules? If that is true, they really do not care at all what is possible.

The announcement about s2 should probably go out around that official event, Feb 11th I think.

 

[Alchamei]

Ah, too many feels! But I also feel this episode was not the ending I imagined.

Firstly, the scoring made ZERO sense. How on earth could Otabek finish fourth when he was clean and JJ and the others weren't? I can hate JJ again now. And Yuri was really behind after the short, so I didn't expect it would be so close between him and Yurio. Yurio's fall wasn't worth 20 points! They went completely overboard on this one. The creators are very inconsistent regarding mistakes.

Also, like seriously both Yuri and Viktor will continue? Like da fuq? Story wise, it is disapointing. They like kissed in episode 7, got their rings in episode 10 and still have not declared love for each other? I'm starting to wonder of they are really meant to be in love. There are so many obvious clues, but in the end they pretend they are just a coach and a student. Are the creators afraid or what? Because it doesn't feel like really romance but like a fan service again. I'm so disappointed because of that.

 

[Alchamei]

We are probably not going to get Worlds due to the issues with rights but just Nationals plus 4CC.

I thought Worlds weren't a problém, were they? Since they mentioned various results from Worlds a lot. They pretend Olympics doesn't exist, which disapoints me, but I thought copyright problems doesn't affect Worlds. Or they do?

 

[eta]

^^
Considering what is happening with scores, I think it's very likely Yuuri can beat Victor. I don't think they care about actual content, only plot reasons.

I'm not sure how I feel about that...

I imagine if I knew nothing about figure skating I'd feel a lot better, but that's not the case and well...

To be perfectly honest I would probably not watch season 2 if Yuri won gold at GPF - I'm still shocked that he didn't (as in, shocked that the creators made him "bomb" his SP) - I think the creators had season 2 in mind when they made this GPF podium happen

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

I sort of found it disappointing because what if there is no season 2 and that was the series finale. I don't always need something explicit or heavy-handed but in the world anime, I think this needs to be much more open and explicit.

I gave up on the judging a long time ago.

Can someone explain to me about rights to Worlds and why that might be a problem? They refer to Worlds a lot and show Victor's past Worlds performances and him on the podium at Worlds.

 

[Yatagarasu]

To be perfectly honest I would probably not watch season 2 if Yuri won gold at GPF - I'm still shocked that he didn't (as in, shocked that the creators made him "bomb" his SP) - I think the creators had season 2 in mind when they made this GPF podium happen

I feel surprised that he didn't because I expected it as a proper culmination of the current narrative. Instead I think you're right and it is because of season 2 and I feel like that really messed up the arc of season 1. Yuuri winning in s2, against Victor, no matter how weird that is, just won't have the same effect as this Yuuri winning, with Victor, after overcoming his anxiety and feelings of lesser worth. And yeah, I really think this was made for the general audience that has no clue about skating.

BTW did anyone get weird vibes over R-Yuri and J-Yuri? I mean it kind of, sort of got me wondering if R-Yuri is into J-Yuri?

 

[Rissa]

1. What the effffff was that scoring??!!!

I need a thread for that, like we have for real competitions so that we can argue about under and overscoring, only nobody will argue because for once everybody will be in agreement that Yuri K should have won this competition! :angry1:

2. But the fantasy gala makes up for the scoring, omg.

3. Omg Stephane! He and Victor sound like old buddies, as they should!

4. Omg so this is how animated Yuzuru would look like... just like real Yuzu! Now I really think the creators should include a Hanyu cameo like Lambiel's so that some of those internet idiots would stop insisting Yuri K looks like Hanyu because he really doesn't.

Overall, great ending, can't wait for the second season!

 

[eta]

I feel surprised that he didn't because I expected it as a proper culmination of the current narrative. Instead I think you're right and it is because of season 2 and I feel like that really messed up the arc of season 1. Yuuri winning in s2, against Victor, no matter how weird that is, just won't have the same effect as this Yuuri winning, with Victor, after overcoming his anxiety and feelings of lesser worth. And yeah, I really think this was made for the general audience that has no clue about skating.

Yeah I really thought the creators were expecting only one season at first - certainly hoping for a season two but not for sure, until it got so popular and season two is very likely and so the ending of season one got changed...

BTW did anyone get weird vibes over R-Yuri and J-Yuri? I mean it kind of, sort of got me wondering if R-Yuri is into J-Yuri?

What I got was that Yurio was into Victor and Yuri was in his way (because of what happened at last season's GPF banquet) and after getting to know Yuri he shifted his interest from Victor to Yuri but then the Kaz skater comes along... It's all a big mess

 

[Yatagarasu]

I thought Worlds weren't a problém, were they? Since they mentioned various results from Worlds a lot. They pretend Olympics doesn't exist, which disapoints me, but I thought copyright problems doesn't affect Worlds. Or they do?

Can someone explain to me about rights to Worlds and why that might be a problem? They refer to Worlds a lot and show Victor's past Worlds performances and him on the podium at Worlds.

Different TV station, the one that airs the anime airs the GPF but not the WC.