Yuri on ice💗

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The anime gained cult status largely due to its unusual balance: it's simultaneously a sports drama, a story about support and faith in humanity, and a visually striking performance show. It resonated with sports fans, fans of emotional stories, and a wider audience thanks to its expressive direction and memorable characters.

A full-length film, Yuri!!! on Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence, was planned, but its release was repeatedly postponed.

A realistic and beautiful depiction of figure skating. The programs, steps, spins, and emotions during the performances are so articulated that skating becomes a fully-fledged "language" of the story: the routines reveal the emotions and changes in the characters. The focus is on the athlete's psychology. Instead of the typical "practice and you will win," there's a strong emphasis on how to cope with failure, how to accept yourself, and how trusting your coach and yourself helps you blossom.
The visuals and music are strong. The ice animation, the dynamic spins, the angles of the jumps, and the soundtrack make the performances truly captivating. The atmosphere is warm and humorous. Despite the serious sports theme, the anime features many everyday scenes (especially in Yuri's hometown), which add a cozy atmosphere and reveal a different side of the characters.

Key characters
Yuri Katsuki is a 23-year-old Japanese figure skater and the country's hope. He's very sensitive to pressure and easily loses confidence, but he's also hard-working, possessing an excellent sense of rhythm and a unique stride. He loves pork and cherishes the comfort of his home.
Viktor Nikiforov, a five-time world champion and a charismatic figure skating "rock star," decides to coach Yuri, seeing in him the potential to discover something new—both in the sport and in himself.
Yuri Plisetsky is a 15-year-old rising star from Russia, ambitious and edgy, yet truly dedicated to the sport. His nickname, "Yuri," was coined by his sister because of his resemblance to the pop idol.

The protagonist, Yuri Katsuki, suffers a crushing defeat at a major tournament and returns home in utter disarray: he doesn't know whether to continue his career at all. Everything changes when his idol, the legendary Russian figure skater Viktor Nikiforov, decides to become his coach. Together, they prepare for the Grand Prix series, where Yuri will have to contend not only with his rivals but also with his own fears. One of Yuri's main rivals is the young and daring Yuri Plisetsky.

This is a spokon (sports anime) with strong dramatic and comedic elements. The focus isn't just on the competition itself, but on the athlete's inner world: their fears, insecurities, finding their own style, and overcoming pressure. Due to the nature of the relationships between the main characters, fans often classify the title as shonen-ai, although it doesn't contain any explicit content.

An anime about figure skating that was released in 2016 (12 episodes), studio - MAPPA, director - Sayo Yamamoto.