Medalist Anime Movie Sets February 19 Premiere
The television anime’s cast and staff return for a story following the second season.
Kadokawa announced a February 19 opening for the Medalist anime film and released new promotional visuals and a teaser trailer. The story takes place after the television anime’s second season.
Kadokawa announced on Sunday that the anime film adapting Tsurumaikada’s Olympic ice-skating manga Medalist will open on February 19. The company also released a teaser trailer, a teaser visual, and character visuals.
The film’s story follows the events of the television anime’s second season. The TV cast and staff will return.
The second season premiered on January 24 and finished on Sunday. It aired in the “NUMAnimation” block on TV Asahi and 23 other affiliated channels.
Hulu is streaming the anime in the United States. Disney+ is streaming it in other countries and territories.
The first season premiered in Japan in January 2025, also airing in “NUMAnimation” on TV Asahi and 23 affiliated channels. Disney+ streamed that season.
The second season brought back the cast and staff, with these staff changes and theme songs:
- Hazuki Nakamura, the first season’s 3DCG environment supervisor, replaced Yōko Nakao as art director.
- Kentaro Kashiwagi, previously the 3DCG composite supervisor, replaced Shin’ichi Komeya as compositing director of photography.
- Girl group HANA performed the opening song, “Cold Night.”
- Conton Candy performed the ending song, “Rookies.”
Japanese figure skater Rika Hongo joined Akiko Suzuki, who had participated in the first season, for the anime’s motion capture filming.
Suzuki, a former Olympic skater who returned for season two, choreographed the first season’s skating routines. She worked with retired figure skater Yuhana Yokoi and active competitive figure skater Hinano Isobe.
Kodansha USA Publishing licensed the manga. Its synopsis follows Tsukasa, whose dreams have fallen apart, and Inori, who must manage on her own. They share a dream of reaching the world stage on the ice, with their determination potentially their only way forward.
Tsurumaikada began the manga in Kodansha’s Afternoon magazine in May 2020. Kodansha released its 15th compiled volume on July 22.
The series earned two manga awards:
- Best General Manga at the 68th Shogakukan Manga Awards in 2023.
- Best General Manga at Kodansha’s 48th annual Manga Awards in May 2024.
Sources: Medalist anime's official website via ANN
