The Fall 2016 anime season had the best collection of anime in the entire year; Sound! Euphonium Season 2, March Comes in Like a Lion, Flip Flappers, Gi(a)rlish Number, etc. However, one anime in particular was getting the most buzz, the most popular series airing at the time was the series I had very little expectations for. Odd, considering the anime I went into with low expectations happened to be a serious contender for Anime of 2016 for me. Yuri!!! On ICE is the anime series most people are probably going to remember from 2016. It’s even caught the attention of former figure skater Johnny Weir, so you know it’s become quite a hit. However, the question stands: Does it deserve the hype? Today, I take a look at Yuri!!! on ICE, the 2016 anime born to make history.
Story: 8/10
Yuri on Ice's popularity is mostly due to its easily accessible and relatable story about a figure skater climbing up the ranks after hitting rock bottom and his interactions with other competitors and his coach. The plot may seem like your typical underdog story, however Yuri on Ice takes it in a different direction. Rather than focusing on getting better at figure skating, the anime focuses more on building Yuri’s confidence. The main conflict isn’t that he can’t skate, it’s just that he doesn’t have the confidence to. For a lot of people, the show may come off as nothing but a yaoi anime that has figure skating in it, and that’s something that can either be liked or hated. However, the show offers so much more than that. I thin that it ties in with the story quite well as their relationship has a strong contribution to Yuri's confidence and Viktors motivation for teaching him. The story may seem simple, but it's the character's that make it so much more better, which we'll get into right now.
Characters: 8/10
The character’s are probably the strongest point in this anime. Yuri is a good-natured guy that most of us can relate to, but what makes him such a great character is his determination and passion for ice skating. Watching him mature into a confident, young skater with Victor's guidance is more than worth the price of admission. Yuri on Ice has one of the best developed characters i've seen in a long time; Yuri himself is a great character with real emotions, real motivations, and his journey throughout the series is both satisfying and enjoyable to watch. Yuri isn’t the only standout, as Victor is the exact opposite of him, being much more lively and bubbly. He’s just a delight to watch, both on and off the ice, but still maintains his wisdom and sympathy for Yuri’s inner struggle. Whether you think the main duo’s relationship is platonic or not, it’s a genuine connection that immensely helps in their character development. Yuri and Victor is one of the anime’s strongest points, and the moments between them are such a joy to watch. Yurio is your typical tsundere-ish rival, although he doesn’t mature by the end unlike the rest of the cast. The rest of the skaters are likable in their own right, although there are a few that you never hear from after their performances. They’re just there to fill in the gaps.
Ultimately, the story and characters work due to the incredible amount of heart at it’s core. You genuinely feel for these characters; their struggles, their downfalls, and their uprisings are what make the series so enjoyable to watch. Of course, some characters get set aside, never to be seen again, but the characters that we DO see are great.
Sound: 6/10
The soundtrack isn't anything special, save for a few tracks: the OP, History Maker is one of the most upbeat and well-animated openings i’ve seen. The single track simply called Yuri on Ice encompasses the main character’s story throughout the anime, telling a story within the song. As I said, soundtrack is solid save for those two tracks; nothing too special.
Animation: 7/10
I have a love-hate relationship with the animation of this anime. When off the ice, the animation is decent to look at; MAPPA, the studio behind such series as Terror in Resonance and Rage of Bahamut: Genesis did a decent job of things like character designs and backgrounds. However, one of the strongest points of the anime is the skating sequences. Man, they are a joy to watch. Former Japanese figure skater Kenji Miyamoto handled the choreography, and the passion poured into the routines make them impossible to take your eyes off of. Unfortunately, the art itself isn’t consistent, as you’ll mostly see shots of poorly animated skaters in the middle of performances. In my opinion, that’s a very small complaint that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the anime. In short, the skating sequences are fantastic, and the animation itself is fine to look at most of the time.
Final Verdict:
Wednesdays aren’t the same anymore without Yuri!!! On ICE. Much like how Ping Pong: The Animation made me so invested in a sport that I had no interest in prior, YoI got me invested into figure skating; every performance, I smiled every time a skater would get a jump right, or if they nailed a step sequence. The anime manages to be what it set out to be, and does it in flying colors. Even if all buildup isn't paid off, the series is still satisfying enough, and ends in a way where it’s open for a second season. Hopefully we get to see a continuation of Yuri, Victor and everyone else’s journey as they continue to make history.
Yuri!!! on ICE gets an A-
