To Those Who Thought It Was Too Late — What Medalist Teaches Us

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"I have nothing." — A girl who believed this with all her heart sees her life transform through a single encounter with one adult who truly sees her.

The TV anime Medalist is a sports drama centered on figure skating. But this is far more than a typical competition anime. It's a redemption story for everyone who's ever been told "it's too late" — proving that if someone believes in you, you can change at any age. As a longtime fan of the original manga, superstar artist Kenshi Yonezu personally reached out to compose the opening theme, with legendary figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu appearing in the music video. From Japan, I can tell you this series dominated the Winter 2025 anime season, leaving countless viewers in tears.

🎬 Trailer

Note: Official English trailer not available. Japanese trailer shown below.

📖 Story

Inori Yuitska is 11 years old. At school, she's labeled "the girl who can't do anything," spending her days without a shred of confidence. Her only dream is figure skating — inspired by her older sister, she fell in love with the ice. But her mother insists "it's too late," leaving Inori to teach herself at public rinks. Then one day, she crosses paths with Tsukasa Akeuraji, a former ice dancer.

Tsukasa knows the sting of "too late" all too well. He started figure skating in middle school — everyone said it was impossible. Despite the doubters, he pushed forward, eventually excelling in ice dance. But an injury ended his career as a competitive skater. When Tsukasa sees Inori, he recognizes the same flame that once burned in himself — a fire that refuses to die. "I might be the only one who can truly understand this girl's feelings," he thinks. And with that conviction, he volunteers to become her coach. A challenge staking two entire lifetimes begins.

✨ What Makes This Title Special

A Modern Ideal of Mentorship — The Power of "An Adult Who Truly Sees You"

Coach Tsukasa's approach to teaching is the heart of this series. He addresses his young student as "Inori-san" — using honorifics that show respect for her as an individual, never talking down to her. Yet when it matters, he has the strength to declare, "You don't have to listen to anyone who can't skate."

"I might be the only one who can truly understand what this girl is feeling." — This resolve changes Inori's life. And at the same time, it sets Tsukasa's own life in motion again. The one who finds and the one who is found — both are transformed. This is the essence of Medalist.

Two "Late Starters" Betting Two Lifetimes on One Dream

The world of figure skating is brutal. Conventional wisdom says you need to start by age 5 to compete globally, and it demands enormous amounts of money and time. At 11, Inori is "too late." But Tsukasa was also someone who started in middle school — another "late bloomer" written off by everyone around him.

That shared experience gives their partnership its power. "There are skaters who never gave up on developing their abilities despite starting late, who never gave up despite being told they had no talent — and they achieved truly incredible things." When Tsukasa speaks these words, he's also affirming his own past. For him, helping Inori win means saving the version of himself who was once told it was too late.

Breathtaking Skating Sequences Supervised by Professional Figure Skaters

The performance sequences in this series use motion capture from Akiko Suzuki, a former member of Japan's national figure skating team. The sound of blades carving ice, the precision of edge work, every detail of the footwork — the animation quality makes you wonder, "Can anime really achieve this?"

The balance between CG and hand-drawn animation is masterful. Dynamic camera work during skating uses CG, while emotional close-ups are hand-drawn. Episode 12's performance by Coach Tsukasa is particularly stunning. Within his powerful, expansive movements using his full adult frame, there's delicate expression down to the fingertips. You understand viscerally why someone with such talent still had his dreams cut short.

Ready to watch now? Stream on Hulu

😅 What Could Be Better...

The Pace of Growth

The original manga, serialized in Monthly Afternoon (published by Kodansha), depicts Inori's growth in much greater detail. If the anime's pacing felt too fast, I highly recommend picking up the source material. That said, this brisk "tempo" is also part of the anime's charm — viewers are swept along by the relentless cycle of challenges and breakthroughs, their emotions constantly stirred.

Cultural note: In Japan, figure skating tests are graded from Level 1 to Level 8 (plus higher competitive levels). The progression system is unique to Japan's skating federation and differs from ISU international standards.

🎭 Memorable Scenes

"Were you able to tell your parents that you wanted to skate? I couldn't."

Tsukasa murmurs this while watching Inori. He's seeing his past self reflected in this girl before him. To "find" a child's dream means confronting your own unfulfilled dreams. In this moment, both Tsukasa's and Inori's stories begin to move forward together.

"Watch — watch my Tsukasa."

Riou, initially portrayed as arrogant, speaks these words once he's come to truly trust Coach Tsukasa. He's speaking to Inori — his rival — proudly declaring his coach's brilliance. The bond between mentor and student has, somewhere along the way, taken root between rivals as well.

"Thank you." "Goodbye." — To my past self

In the finale, as Inori faces her Level 6 test, she addresses these words to her past self — the girl who couldn't do anything. Not rejecting that version of herself, but thanking her and moving forward. "Because that past me existed, the present me exists." In reaching this understanding, Inori becomes truly strong.

💭 Emotional Takeaway

I'll be honest. I cried every episode. I pumped my fist every time a jump landed, held my breath every time she fell. Before I knew it, I was applauding at the end of each of Inori's performances.

This isn't just a sports anime. It's a universal story of hope — "If someone believes in you, you can change." And at the same time, the adult doing the believing changes too. Watching Tsukasa reconcile with his past through Inori hits hard, not just for children, but deeply for adults as well.

To everyone who has ever regretted not starting something sooner — this series will gently push your back and whisper, "It's not too late, even now."

🎬 If You Loved Medalist, Watch These 3 Titles

Violet Evergarden

A story of a girl whose life transforms through meeting someone who sees her true potential. The delicate handling of emotional nuance resonates deeply with Medalist. With Kyoto Animation's breathtaking visuals, Violet learns to understand human hearts through the act of writing letters — her journey mirrors Inori's transformation through skating.

Ping Pong the Animation

Director Masaaki Yuasa adapts Taiyo Matsumoto's masterpiece manga into anime form. A cornerstone sports anime exploring talent, effort, and mentor-student bonds through table tennis. With its profound themes questioning "What is talent?" and "What does it mean to win?" alongside utterly unique visual expression, if you loved Medalist, this will strike your heart just as deeply.

BLUE GIANT

The story of a young man chasing his dream to become the world's greatest jazz saxophonist. The protagonist who charges forward on "passion" rather than "talent" overlaps with Inori and Tsukasa's challenge. Real jazz performances by Hiromi Uehara synchronize perfectly with the animation in an overwhelming musical experience. The simple yet powerful message — "betting your life on what you love" — will move your heart.

📺 Where to Watch

Medalist is available to stream in the US on Hulu with both subtitles and English dub, and internationally on Disney+. From a Japanese perspective, it's worth noting that this series created unprecedented buzz in Japan during Winter 2025 — so much so that venues hosting figure skating events reported increased attendance from anime fans wanting to experience the sport firsthand.

📊 Streaming Service Comparison

Service	Region	Status	Dub Available
Hulu	US	Streaming	Yes
Disney+	International	Streaming	Varies by region
Crunchyroll	—	Not Available	—
Netflix	—	Not Available	—

Cultural note: Kenshi Yonezu is one of Japan's most influential artists, known for mega-hits like "Lemon" and "KICK BACK" (Chainsaw Man OP). For him to personally request to create the theme song speaks to how deeply the manga resonated with Japanese readers. Yuzuru Hanyu, featured in the music video, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and arguably the most beloved figure skater in Japanese history.

📝 Final Thoughts

Medalist uses figure skating as its canvas, but what it truly paints is a universal truth: "The right encounter can change your life." An 11-year-old girl dismissed as "too late" and a former skater whose dreams were shattered. When these two meet and stake their lives on a shared challenge, the result is a story that resonates regardless of age.

What makes this series brilliant is that Tsukasa transforms just as much as Inori. The adult doing the "finding" guides a child while simultaneously confronting and healing his own past. It's not just "for the child's sake" — it's a relationship where both illuminate each other. Kenshi Yonezu's opening theme "BOW AND ARROW" captures this perfectly: a bow needs an arrow to have meaning, and an arrow needs a bow to fly.

To everyone who has ever thought "I wish I had started earlier" — this series will whisper to you, "It's not too late." With Season 2 confirmed, Inori and Tsukasa's journey is only just beginning.

⭐ Title Characteristics

Category	Rating
Story	★★★★★
Characters	★★★★★
Visuals/Animation	★★★★☆
Music	★★★★★
Pacing	★★★★☆