Yuri!!! on ICE

As a competitive figure skater myself, I came into this show expecting it to not be as accurate or understanding of the sport. However the animation is not only beautiful but it creatively captures the art of figure skating. I found that the animation was fairly accurate to actual figure skating, and a lot of detail was put into it. I also really enjoy the characters, especially Yuri. He is relatable and understandable, and over all adorable! I cant wait to see how this anime turns out.

This isn't just a review to express my love for the sport of figure skating. Yuri!!! on Ice has done something I never, ever, expected to find in an animation based on a sport as complex, artistic and complicated as figure skating. I expected something that gave glimpses of skating and a more slice of life viewpoint. Instead, we are immediately shown whole segments of mens figure skating programs, complete with spins, footwork, jumps, artistry, AMAZING music selection and the type of commentary I hear while watching competitions. Everything is so beautifully balanced between real ice skating facts, terminology and movement that I'm instantly transported to my own experiences. Katsuki Yuuri is an unassuming character at first... but he will SURPRISE YOU the moment his blades hit the ice. He is human in ways I haven't recently seen in generally any realm of anime - he has weight problems, impaired vision, a lack of confidence that is true to skaters whom suffer from nervous breakdowns at the idea of missing a single turn or element... And his mother is adorable. ADORABLE I TELL YOU. The best skater friend/idol, the admiration/obsession with a champion skater, the need to better himself and remind himself that he loves skating... I wish I could express properly why Yuuri is just the sweetest, greatest leading character to date. The supporting cast already have my love and the dynamics of personalities and background have me giving 5 stars JUST for them. This is like old school Disney where they used real actors and drew over the movements for real accuracy... times like A MILLION in smooth, artistic genius. Insert adorable dogs, GORGEOUS COSTUMESSSSSS and incredible interpretation of what music and training mean to an athlete in this sport... All points toward an A++++ series. I laughed a little, for those that know, a QUADRUPLE jump is the hardest jump in skating to date and are rarely attempted more than twice during a mens long program. But alas, such is the phenomenon of anime and going a LITTLE over the top. Just a tad. For me, this is the purest sport animation I have ever seen... And I love it to the point of tears. One episode in and as a huge critic of my own sport, I CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE. ...AND YOU SHOULD WATCH. GO. NOW. Also, spoiler, beautiful hot spring scenes about killed me. ;D

Thank you, Yuri on ICE, for portraying a healthy, mature, homosexual relationship. Thank you for not putting a label on it, for not binding it to a typical, “Boy’s love,” genre. You’ve cast away the stereotypes, the stigma surrounding that category by abandoning it altogether, because love is love. It should have never needed caution tape surrounding it in the first place. By not making their relationship purely physical, and simply focusing on the raw emotion between these two men, this anime is truly making history. I’ve never been more proud to view something so unabashedly courageous during these daunting time, all stilling retain focus on the hardwork and passion that goes into the sport. What’s wonderful about this show is that there’s no queer-baiting, no mixed signals, and no teasing to appease the fans. This love is real, joyfully canon, and not inhibited by social conventions. It’s just the story of two athletes, two /people/, who fall in love, doing something that they love. And it’s without any drama surrounding their gender, and without any titillating or dancing around. Yuri and Viktor are just two human beings, like you and me, who have dreams and ambitions, strengths and weaknesses; and they acknowledge their flaws whilst working together to fix them. On equal footing this couple–this beautiful, fearless pair–continuously meet each-other half-way, shamelessly walking hand in hand to face their world one step at a time. And that’s just how it should be. I’m just moved. It took a long time to get to this point, and I hope that other studios will follow suit. God knows we need this kind of positive representation amidst all the ignorance floating around. So thank you Mitsurō Kubo and Studio MAPPA for giving the LGBT community, and all their allies, this gift of love. Love truly wins.

Boi, let me tell you that this anime right here... has me so shook. I cant believe how madly in love I fell for it. The animation is beautiful, the plot is beautiful, the music is beautiful, the characters are sooo beautiful and I'm just so happy. BLESS the writers, and the whole department. I'm very hopeful to what may come from this anime in the near future. As Ep.7 got me so shooked that I need help. Def recommend to anybody who's second guessing. 11/10

[Written after Episode 7] I'm so happy this show is getting the popularity and acclaim it richly deserves. It's a sports anime that feels like a meticulously detailed love letter to the sport it portrays. It's a love story that develops organically and without any stupid unnecessary drama, but with just enough friction for character growth and communication building. It subverts tropes, defies expectations, and beautifully avoids being either dismissive or exploitative of how non-traditional everything about it is. It's adorable, it's bittersweet, it's deeply heartfelt in a real way. I can't recommend this anime highly enough to anyone who loves an underdog story, or anyone who has ever felt like they needed inspiration to get out of a funk and fall in love with their passions again, or anyone who just likes to see pretty boys who ultimately are unashamed of their own vulnerabilities and eccentricities and affection towards each other.