The anime producer Hideo Katsumatapresident of the streaming service AnimeTimes and representative of Avex Picturesexplained in a recent interview the reasons behind the film's cancellation Yuri on ICE: Ice Adolescence. According to him, the project could not be completed due to difficulties in the creative area.
A cancellation derived from internal conflicts
“I can't talk about the details, as they include very personal matters. But if you ask me if it was a creative or business problem, the reason comes from the creative side. Since it was an original animation, a situation arose between the creators and the MAPPA studio in which it simply became impossible to continue production,” Katsumata stated in the interview with animehunch.
The film, which would serve as a direct sequel to the original anime, was officially canceled in April 2024seven years after its initial announcement. At that time, the study MAPPA published a statement on his official account x (formerly Twitter), reporting that “after multiple discussions between the production committee and staff, the difficult decision was made to stop production due to various circumstances.”
The project context
Yuri on ICE: Ice Adolescence was originally announced in 2017 as a direct continuation of the anime aired in 2016. However, the project faced several delays before being officially cancelled. According to Katsumata, the final decision was based on issues of creative direction and coordination between the teams involved, rather than budgetary issues.
The history of the franchise
Yuri on ICE was an original production directed by Sayo Yamamoto and written by Mitsurou Kubo. The anime, composed of 12 episodesfollows the story of the Japanese skater Yuri Katsukiwho after a defeat in the Grand Prix returns to his hometown with doubts about his future. His life changes when the world champion Viktor Nikiforov decides to become his coach, while a young Russian competitor, Yuri Plisetskyseeks to surpass them both.
The anime was produced by MAPPA and it became one of the most recognized series of its year for its animation and sports themes. However, the long-awaited film sequel failed to materialize.
Do you think MAPPA could resume Yuri on ICE: Ice Adolescence in the future or that the history of Yuri Katsuki is it already complete?
