Handsome 2-D young men twirling and jumping in body-tight sparkly suits? Of course we’re looking forward to it.
Hot guys playing sports has always been a winning formula, as seen in the numerous manga and anime successes that include Slam Dunk, The Prince of Tennis, Captain Tsubasa, Free!, and… we could go on and on, but as you can already tell, there has been an evident lack of attention placed on winter sports.
Cue Yuri On Ice, an original anime that places its spotlight on the glamorous stage of a figure skating Grand Prix tournament. As its title suggests, the main character of the series is named Yuri, but here’s where the fun begins. There’s not just one, but two characters named Yuri; Japanese representative Yuri Katsuki and Russian representative Yuri Plisetsky. Alongside a handful of athletes hailing from various countries, these handsome young men get into heated battle of grace and technique on their frozen battlefield, the skating rink!
If that isn’t enough reason for us to be excited over Yuri On Ice, the stellar cast definitely is! Here are some of the characters and their respective voice actors:
▼ Yuri Katsuki, 23, Japan (CV: Toshiyuki Toyonaga)
▼ Yuri Plisetsky, 15, Russia (CV: Kouki Uchiyama)
▼ Victor Nikiforov, 27, Russia (CV: Junichi Suwabe)
▼ Emil Nekola, 18, Czech Republic (CV: Satoshi Hino)
▼ Georgi Popovich, 25, Russia (CV: Wataru Hatano)
▼ Leo De La Iglesia, 19, United States of America (CV: Shunichi Toki)
▼ Otabek Altin, 18, Republic of Kazakhstan (CV: Yoshimasa Hosoya)
▼ Christophe Giacometti, 25, Swiss Confederation (CV: Hiroki Yasumoto)
▼ Guang Hong Ji, 17, People’s Republic of China (CV: Yuutarou Honjou)
▼ Jean Jack Leroy, 19, Canada (CV: Mamoru Miyano)
▼ Phichit Chulanont, 20, Thailand (CV: Kenshou Ono)
▼ Michele Crispino, 22, Italy (CV: Tomoaki Maeno)
▼ Kenjiro Minami, 17, Japan (CV: Ayumu Murase)
▼ Seung Gil Lee, 20, Republic of Korea (CV: Kenji Nojima)
▼ Takeshi Nishigori, Yuri Katsuki’s childhood friend (CV: Jun Fukuyama)
Co-produced by manga artist Mitsurou Kubo (Moteki, Again!!), anime director Sayo Yamamoto (Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, Michiko & Hacchin) and animation studio MAPPA (Ushio to Tora, Teekyuu, DAYS), Yuri On Ice is all geared up for broadcast starting October 5th.
Also, did we mention that Kenji Miyamoto, ex-Japanese representative and Japan’s most renowned figure skating choreographer, is choreographing the figure skating moves? Things are gonna get real.
Check out the original anime’s official website, or follow them on Twitter, Facebook and even Instagram, for behind-the-scenes tidbits and latest updates!
Source/images: Yuri On Ice official website
Follow Joan on Twitter if you, too, can’t wait for the next season’s anime! *excites*