Summary
MAPPA's cancellation of Ice Adolescence disappointed fans who were eagerly awaiting a sequel to Yury on Ice. Yuri on Ice revolutionized anime with its representation, diverse characters, strong personalities, and beautifully portrayed LGBTQ+ relationships. MAPPA's handling of Ice Adolescent reflects poorly on the studio's artistic integrity and passion, demonstrating an indifference to the successful global franchise.
Anime cancellations always hit hard, but nothing hurts as much Canceled Ice TeensThe much awaited sequel to yuri on ice. Since its release in 2016, Yuri on Ice has garnered a sizable following and has been patiently waiting for its return. However, fans like me were disappointed when MAPPA finally announced that Ice Adolescent would be dropped, seven long years after it was announced.
Although I only discovered Yuuri on Ice a few years after its release, like many fans, the series quickly stole my heart and I was quite excited by the news that a prequel film was in the works. perform. Yuri on Ice and its lovable characters are begging for a sequel or any kind of continuation and the series' international success more than warrants it.
While there are certainly fans who have been waiting for Ice Adolescent a lot longer than I have, the news of its cancellation still breaks my heart because which means the franchise is pretty much done. This is disappointing on many levels, as Yuuri on Ice was MAPPA's first large-scale international success and a series that could have been very lucrative as well if the studio hadn't allowed for its passionate fan base, The popularity of this series has gradually decreased over the years.
Why is Yury on Ice so revolutionary?
Yuri on Ice has it all: Great animation, presentation, variety, and strong characterization
Years later, some could easily chalk up Yuri on Ice's popularity to clouded nostalgia; however, the many awards the series received attest to its enormous impact at the time. Yuri on Ice dominated the 2017 Crunchyroll First Anime Awards, won the Anime of the Year award, Best Animation, Best Opening Music, Best Ending Music, Best Couple and there's even a Best Touching Scene award. The series went on to win a long list of other awards.
Having said that, it is the inherent qualities of the series that speak for themselves and why the series is so popular. To put it simply, Yury on Ice is essentially a sports anime, and it is treats the sport it depicts with great passion and respecthas received praise from real-life experts for its accuracy.
The animation of the skating scenes also holds up quite well after all these years and the anime does a great job of introducing viewers to the sport. Although the romance between Victor and Yuri is the most intriguing aspect of the film, the relationship is not the main focus but something that develops naturally from the story as Yuuri gradually regains confidence in himself and his love for this sport.
As a result, Yuuri and Victor being gay never feels forced or fetishized as some have claimed. Victor and Yuri simply feel like two characters who just happen to be gay and are treated as such even in the world of the series, where their friends and family are quick to congratulate and be happy for them when they see the matching rings on Yuri and Victor's fingers. The trajectory of their relationship itself is quite sophisticated and mature. So Yuri on Ice is a great watch for those new to BL anime who want to start slow.
Yuri on Ice was my introduction to BL anime, and even after watching the best the genre has to offer, I still find myself coming back to Victor and Yuri.
In addition to excellent LGBTQ+ representation, Yuri on Ice also features a diverse cast of characters from around the world and manages to give each character their own unique characteristics without turning them into ethnic stereotypes. Yuri on Ice's strong personality is arguably its greatest strength and the main reason why fans can't put the series aside after all these years. Each skater Yuuri meets is memorable in their own way with their own motivations and dreams. As a result, Yuri on Ice managed to get viewers invested in the fictional world of ice skating in a short period of just 12 episodes.
The cancellation of the youth tape reflects poorly on MAPPA
Yuri on Ice may actually have made history
Many fans claim that Yuri on Ice put MAPPA on the map, and that statement is quite true. Before the release of Yuri on Ice, MAPPA's only notable project was probably Terror in Resonance, which did quite well locally as it was directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. However, nothing can compare to the success of Yury on Ice. It is expected that MAPPA will become popular globally long before it could take on the projects it's most famous for today, like Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Attack on Titan.
Although Yury on Ice was not considered very successful financially, MAPPA's unknown projects such as Yuuri on Ice and Banana Fish continued to win popularity polls even surpassing them. over Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen until recently, proving that the series' fanbase is still going strong. despite the studio's neglect.
Of course, MAPPA was widely criticized for the cancellation of Ice Adolescence, with many fans claiming that the studio was neglecting its roots and the decision certainly reflects poorly on the studio's artistic integrity. MAPPA has been embroiled in controversy recently for its poor treatment of its animators and staff, and the studio's treatment of Yuuri on Ice showed a lack of passion. MAPPA simply absorbed fans for several years, preventing the IP from moving to another studio, gradually killing off the huge global fan base that Yuri on Ice had gained.
Even the argument that Yuri on Ice didn't make enough money doesn't justify its treatment, as MAPPA has continued to make risky experiments like Chainsaw Man despite poor Blu-ray sales, with a Reze Arc film adaptation in the works. While Chainsaw Man sold less than 2000 copies in its first week of release, Yuri on Ice sold about 50,000 copies according to data released by Oricon.
Admittedly, there may be more going on behind the scenes that could explain why MAPPA's CEO made this statement and whether it is true or not, but Ice Adolescence still has potential. extremely successful financially during this time.
How the gang's youth could be meaningfully expanded on the series
Yuri on Ice only grazes the surface with Victor
While Yury on Ice primarily revolves around Yuuri's personal journey, Ice Adolescent promises a glimpse into Victor's early life and career. Yuri on Ice barely scratches the surface with Victor, making the prequel perfect for exploring his character in greater depth than the original series. Geniuses aren't made in a day, and witnessing Victor's own struggles has a lot to offer. The film also offers the opportunity to delve deeper into Yury Plisetsky's origins and perhaps his first meeting with Otabek.
Yuri on Ice intentionally left the ending quite ambiguous, so making a sequel might be a bit difficult. However, the series has certainly built up quite a rich cast and an even richer world with many storylines waiting for you to explore. A sequel could delve into Yuri Plisetsky's career, his relationship with Otabek, or even the careers of other promising athletes featured in the series like Minami and Phichit.
At the end of the day, yuri on ice seems to suffer from the same infamous curse that plagues many of the best shoujo anime. The best anime series are always canceled too soon and Yuri on Ice is a prime example. Many fans spent years waiting for renewal news but Ice Adolescent's cancellation simply hit a lot harder because the false hope MAPPA has given fans for years.
I can only hope that the studio will transfer the intellectual property rights to someone finally willing to do the series justice after all these years, whether as a manga, an anime sequel, or even a prequel film as Frozen youth it's him.