"Medalist" and TV Asahi's figure skating broadcast collaboration event

An event called "TV Anime 'Medalist' x Figure Skating Broadcast Special Collaboration Event!", a collaboration between the TV anime "Medalist," which is based on a figure skating manga that was also selected as the top comics category at the "Next Manga Awards 2022," and TV Asahi's figure skating broadcast, was held at Roppongi Hills Arena (Minato-ku, Tokyo) on August 14th.

The collaboration event took place at TV Asahi's summer festival "SUMMER FES," held at Roppongi Hills (Minato Ward, Tokyo). Professional figure skater Akiko Suzuki, who choreographed the figure skating scenes in the anime "Medalist," commented on the appeal of the show, "Seeing the interactions between the skaters and the relationships between the coaches and skaters, I felt like, 'I have parents like that!' and 'I have skaters like that!' I empathized. When watching the actual performance, you can't really understand the emotions, but in the anime, the emotions and feelings are expressed in the dialogue. I think that those parts reach the audience more realistically!" Speaking of an aspect unique to the anime, she said, "They're a little too good (laughs). No one can learn jumps that quickly (laughs)," drawing laughter from the audience.

Shuzo Matsuoka, the main Caster for the network's "Figure Skating Grand Prix Series/Final," also said he has watched the anime, and emphasized its appeal, saying, "It's everything."

Also appearing at the event were voice actors Haruse Natsumi, who plays Yuzuki Inori in the anime, and Takeo Otsuka, who plays Akiura Michiji. Regarding the dubbing of the performance scenes choreographed by Suzuki, Otsuka commented, "I tried to carefully recreate the reaction I had when I first saw Inori's performance." Haruse, who has been a figure skating fan since she was a student, said, "When performing the emotional choreography, I tried to balance the need to be emotional as an athlete with the need to remain calm for the next jump." Suzuki smiled at Haruse and said, "Thank you!"

It has also been decided that "Medalist" will collaborate with the Grand Prix Series in October and the Grand Prix Final in December. Matsuoka said enthusiastically, "A 'medalist' is something that makes you shine, no matter what it is, and it's something that everyone has. In the Grand Prix Series and the Final, I want to convey as much as possible what it means for the athletes to feel like they're 'medalists'!"

Suzuki said, "The characters depicted in the anime 'Medalist' and the athletes appearing in the Grand Prix series are putting their lives on the line in competition, so I hope you enjoy both the anime and the Grand Prix series." Haruse sent a message saying, "Both 'Medalist' and the Grand Prix series are getting more and more exciting, so I hope you will support both!"

"Medalist" is a manga by Tsurumai Ikada that has been serialized in the manga magazine "Monthly Afternoon" (Kodansha) since 2020. The story follows Akiura Michiji, a young man who has failed as a skater, who meets Yuzuki Inori, a girl who dreams of becoming a figure skater, and aims to become a glorious medalist as both a coach and athlete.

The first season of the TV anime aired on TV Asahi's late-night anime slot "NUMAnimation" from January to March. The second season will air in the same slot from January 2026.