The highly anticipated second season of the TV anime “Medalist,” based on the popular figure skating manga, is officially slated to begin airing in January 2026. The announcement was accompanied by the release of a teaser visual and a promotional video, building excitement for the continuation of Inori and Tsukasa’s journey in the competitive world of figure skating.
Returning to the Ice: What to Expect
The second season of “Medalist” is set to delve into the Chubu region tournament, where aspiring figure skaters vie for a coveted spot in the All Japan Championships. Fans can anticipate seeing the determined protagonist, Inori, back on the ice, as depicted in the newly released teaser visual. The visual is accompanied by the powerful tagline, “We will shine brighter than anyone else.”
Production Details and Key Personnel
Studio ENGI, responsible for the animation of the first season, will continue their work on the second season. The creative team behind the success of the first season is also set to return, including director Yasutaka Yamamoto, series composer and scriptwriter Jukki Hanada, and character designer Chinatsu Kameyama. Akiko Suzuki, a professional figure skater, will once again be in charge of the figure skating choreography, ensuring the authenticity of the on-ice sequences.
The main voice cast, featuring Natsumi Haruse as Yuzuki Inori and Takeo Otsuka as Michiji Akiura, will reprise their roles. Other returning cast members include Kana Ichinose as Hikari Oosaki and Yuma Uchida as Jun Yodaka.
The Journey of “Medalist”
The “Medalist” anime is an adaptation of Tsurumai Ikada’s manga series, which began serialization in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon magazine in May 2020. The manga has garnered critical acclaim, having been recognized as the top comic in the Next Manga Awards 2022 and winning the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category in 2023.
The story centers on Tsukasa Akiura, a young man whose own dreams of being a skater were cut short, and Inori Yuitsuka, a girl with a fierce passion for figure skating who was initially left to fend for herself. Together, as coach and athlete, they aim to achieve the elusive goal of becoming glorious medalists on the world stage.
The first season of the TV anime aired from January to March on TV Asahi’s late-night anime slot NUMAnimation and other affiliate channels. The announcement of the second season came shortly after the conclusion of the first season, with a new key visual and announcement trailer released at that time.
Upcoming Events
To further celebrate the “Medalist” anime, a stage event is scheduled for August 14th at TV Asahi’s “SUMMER FES” in Roppongi Hills. This event will be a collaboration with the network’s figure skating broadcast and will feature appearances by voice actress Natsumi Haruse, voice actor Takeo Otsuka, professional figure skater and anime choreographer Akiko Suzuki, and figure skating main caster Shuzo Matsuoka.
