It turns out that Olympic medalists aren’t only amazing at sports – they’re also great cosplayers.
Japan loves skating (especially considering they took home the gold medal in the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics), and Japan loves gaming. You may have seen the nation’s love for anime and ice skating mashed together in Yuri on Ice, but what happens when you try to combine skating and gaming?
This enchanting advertisement happens. In a creative marketing strategy, the producers of mobile phone game Magia Record made a commercial for the new release starring the 2018 Olympic figure skating champion Alina Zagitova and two-time silver medalist Evgenia Medvedeva. The two athletes appear as popular Magia Record game characters Madoka (Zagitova) and Homura (Medvedeva), playing out a scene where the pair reunite.
▼ The commercial is sure to entertain game fans and skate fans alike.
Zagitova said she was happy to have the opportunity to perform as Madoka (probably almost as happy as she was to receive her Akita Inu last year). Medvedeva was equally as delighted to play the role of Homura, saying she loves watching anime (like–surprise!–Yuri on Ice).
▼ Zagitova makes a pretty darn cute Madoka.
It was Zagitova’s second commercial appearance for Magia Record (the previous one aired in August 2018), but this was the first time for Medvedeva to appear in a Japanese commercial. She’s already a bit famous for her cosplays of characters like Sailor Moon and her striking kimono outfit.
▼ And Medvedeva is equally stunning as Homura.
Netizens were unsurprisingly enthralled with the dynamic duo and had a lot to say about it.
“What is this beauty?”
“They’re real witch girls.”
“Amazing! Their costumes are so cute, I could cry.”
“Nice casting.”
Of course, not everyone was in agreement, with one netizen commenting, “It’s a mystery why they spent so much money on this.”
Well, considering there are a fair number of Japanese people that spend between 10,000 yen (US$91.36) and 50,000 yen (US$456.82) a month on mobile games, it may be safe to say the gaming industry isn’t in financial trouble. Perhaps that’s why Magia Record producers decided to go big and beautiful for this ad.
Sources: Livedoor News via Hachima Kiko, PR Times
Images: YouTube/maidigitv
Figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva receives hate mail in Japan, fans respond with viral hashtag
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno crushes pro gamer in Super Smash Bros. tournament【Video】
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Studio Ghibli celebrates the magic of movie theaters with short video, Hayao Miyazaki illustration
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
Downtown Tokyo’s meaty monster Kaibutsu ramen will challenge your stomach, thrill your taste buds
Pokémon store character meet-and-greet events to resume in May
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Dry and iron your laundry hands-free and fast with Village Vanguard’s hot air bag clothes dryer
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says