Ice Adolescence Is Officially Canceled

Fans of the 2016 anime series Yuri on Ice have waited nearly a decade for an update for the theatrical animated movie that was announced in 2017. On April 19, 2024, fans got the unfortunate but expected announcement about Yuri!!! On Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence.

The anime’s Japanese social X (formerly Twitter) account announced that Yuri!!! On Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence was no longer in development, stating: “Thank you very much for always supporting Yuri on Ice. Regarding the postponed release of Yuri!!! On Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence, we have come to the decision to unfortunately cancel its production. We deeply apologize for not being able to meet the expectations of all those who have been waiting and have continued to support us throughout these years. The production committee and staff have been in constant discussion to create and to deliver the movie, but due to various circumstances, we have had to make the difficult decision to stop production. We sincerely apologize to everyone who has been anticipating its release and thank you once again for your continued support.”

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Junichi Suwabe, the Japanese voice actor who played Victor Nikiforov, responded to the official cancelation of the Yuri on Ice anime movie. “I am also very sad because there are fans all over the world who have been looking forward to it. I hope that one day, in some form, the world line in which Victor and his friends live will be depicted again… With that in mind, I will rewatch the beautifully concluded TV series. The memories will never fade.”

Kazuma Kudo, a tenor who sang “Aria (Stammi Vicino, Non Te Ne Andare)” in the Yuri on Ice anime series, also commented online about the film’s cancelation. “It’s really a shame that production has been discontinued,” Kudo said. “However, I believe that the love shown by all the production staff who have worked so hard to make this film a reality, and by the fans who have continued to wait, is genuine! Now, I’m going to watch the main story again from the beginning!!”

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Yuri On Ice Is a Fan-Favorite Anime That Put Studio MAPPA on the Map

When it ran from Oct. 6, 2016-Dec. 21, 2016, the Yuri on Ice anime TV series was celebrated for its captivating story about a washed-out 23-year-old figure skater named Yuri Katsuki who regains his love of the game through the mentorship by his idol, Russian figure skating champion Victor Nikiforov. Additionally, the series was praised for its romantic portrayal of the two leading male figure skaters by the LGBTQ+ community. Arguably, Yuri on Ice was the anime series that put studio MAPPA on the map before Jujutsu Kaisen or Attack on Titan.

Despite the series’ critical acclaim, the lack of updates regarding the Yuri On Ice movie seven years after its announcement has caused the fandom to significantly dwindle. However, its remaining fans have been extremely vocal toward studio MAPPA about the status of Ice Adolescence, whether it be good news or bad. While the official cancelation notice didn’t state any specific reason as to why the Yuri on Ice movie was canceled, MAPPA CEO Manabu Otsuka said in 2023 that the anime TV series made an “insignificant” profit for the studio.