I Waited Years For Ice Adolescence And Its Cancelation GUTTED Me

Anime cancelations always hit hard, but none have hurt quite as much as the cancelation of Ice Adolescence, the much-awaited sequel to Yuri on Ice. Ever since its release in 2016, Yuri on Ice has acquired quite a sizable cult following that has patiently been awaiting its return. However, fans like me were in for disappointment when MAPPA finally announced that Ice Adolescence was being scrapped, seven long years after it was announced.

Though I only discovered Yuri on Ice a few years after its release, like many fans, the series quickly stole my heart, and I was quite excited about the news that a prequel movie was already in the works. Yuri on Ice and its lovable characters were begging for a sequel or any form of continuation and the series’ international success more than warranted it.

While there are certainly fans who had waited for Ice Adolescence much longer than I had, the news of its cancelation gutted me nonetheless as it meant the franchise was pretty much done for. This was disappointing on so many levels, given that Yuri on Ice was MAPPA’s first large-scale international success and a series that could have also been very lucrative had the studio not allowed the series’ large, passionate fandom to dwindle over the years.

Why Was Yuri on Ice So Revolutionary?

Yuri on Ice Had It All: Amazing Animation, Representation, Diversity, and Strong Characterization

Years later, it is easy for some to dismiss Yuri on Ice‘s popularity as clouded by nostalgia; however, the many awards the series received prove the huge impact it had at the time. Yuri on Ice dominated Crunchyroll’s first-ever Anime Awards in 2017, bagging the awards for Anime of the Year, Best Animation, Best Opening Theme, Best Ending Theme, Best Couple, and even the award for the Most Heartwarming Scene. The series went on to win a long list of other awards as well.

Having said that, it is the series’ inherent qualities that speak for themselves and why the series is so beloved. Right off the bat, Yuri on Ice is essentially a sports anime, and it treats the sport it depicts with great passion and respect, which has garnered plenty of critical acclaim from real-life professionals for its accuracy.

The animation of the skating sequences also stands up fairly well even after all these years and the anime did an excellent job of introducing viewers to the sport. While the romance between Victor and Yuri is the most compelling aspect of it, their relationship isn’t the main focus but something that grows organically out of the story as Yuri gradually rediscovers his confidence in himself and his love for the sport.

As a result, the fact that Yuri and Victor are gay never feels forced or fetishized, as some have claimed. Victor and Yuri simply feel like two characters who just so happen to be gay and are treated as such even within the world of the series, where their friends and family are quick to congratulate them and be happy for them when they spot the matching rings on Yuri and Victor’s fingers. The trajectory of their relationship itself is also quite subtle and mature. As such, Yuri on Ice is an excellent watch for those new to BL anime looking to start slowly.

Besides its excellent LGBTQ+ representation, Yuri on Ice also features a diversity of characters from around the world and manages to give every character its own quirks without reducing them to ethnic stereotypes. Yuri on Ice‘s strong characterization is arguably its biggest strength and the main reason why fans simply cannot let the series go even after all these years. Every skater that Yuri encounters is memorable in their own right with their own motivations and dreams at stake. As a result, Yuri on Ice manages to make viewers invested in its fictional world of ice skating within a short span of just 12 episodes.

Ice Adolescence’s Cancelation Reflects Poorly on MAPPA

Yuri on Ice Could Have Actually Made History

Many fans claim that Yuri on Ice put MAPPA on the map, and there is quite some truth to that statement. Prior to releasing Yuri on Ice, MAPPA’s only project of note was perhaps Terror in Resonance, which did fairly well locally given that it was directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. However, nothing came nearly as close to Yuri on Ice‘s success, which projected MAPPA into global popularity long before it could take on the projects it is presently most well-known for, like Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Attack on Titan.

Despite Yuri on Ice having allegedly not done very well financially, MAPPA’s unsung projects like Yuri on Ice and Banana Fish have continued to win popularity polls even over Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen until very recently, proving that the series’ fan base is still thriving in spite of the studio’s neglect.

Of course, MAPPA has been highly criticized for Ice Adolescence‘s cancelation, with many fans claiming that the studio is neglecting its roots, and the decision certainly reflects poorly on the studio’s artistic integrity. MAPPA has been embroiled in controversy in recent times for the poor treatment of its animators and staff and the studio’s treatment of Yuri on Ice suggests a lack of passion. MAPPA simply strung fans along for several years, keeping the IP from going to another studio, slowly killing the vast global fanbase Yuri on Ice had acquired.

Even the rationale that Yuri on Ice didn’t make enough money doesn’t justify its treatment, as MAPPA has continued to take on risky experiments like Chainsaw Man despite its poor Blu-ray sales, with a movie adapting the Reze Arc already on the way. While Chainsaw Man sold less than 2000 copies in its first week, Yuri on Ice sold approximately 50,000 according to data published by Oricon.

Admittedly, there could be more going on behind the scenes that could explain why MAPPA’s CEO made the statement and whether there is any truth to it, but Ice Adolescence nonetheless had the potential to be extremely financially successful this time around.

How Ice Adolescence Could Have Meaningfully Expanded on the Series

Yuri on Ice only grazed the surface with Victor

While Yuri on Ice was mostly centered around Yuri’s personal journey, Ice Adolescence promised a glimpse into Victor’s early life and career. Yuri on Ice very much only grazed the surface with Victor, making the prequel perfect for exploring his character in greater depth than the original series did. Geniuses aren’t made in a day and seeing Victor’s own struggles had plenty of appeal. The movie also presented the opportunity to delve into Yuri Plisetsky’s origins and perhaps even his first meeting with Otabek.

Yuri on Ice deliberately leaves its ending quite vague, so pulling off a sequel might have been a little tricky. However, the series had certainly built up quite a rich cast and an even richer world with many plotlines waiting to be explored. A sequel could have delved into Yuri Plisetsky’s career, his relationship with Otabek, or even the careers of other promising athletes introduced in the series like Minami and Phichit.

At the end of the day, Yuri on Ice appears to suffer from the same infamous curse that plagues many of the best shojo anime. It is always the best anime that are canceled too soon and Yuri on Ice is a prime example. Many fans spend years waiting for news of a renewal but Ice Adolescence‘s cancelation simply hits so much harder because of the false hope MAPPA gave fans for so many years.

I can only hope that the studio turns over the rights to the intellectual property to someone finally willing to do the series justice after all these years, be it as a manga, an anime sequel, or even a prequel movie like Ice Adolescence itself.

Yuri on Ice

Release Date

October 6, 2016

Seasons

1

Writers

Sayo Yamamoto , Mitsuro Kubo

Directors

Sayo Yamamoto , Jun Shishido

Creator(s)

Sayo Yamamoto , Mitsuro Kubo

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