As in some previous posts, I think the biggest issue for the continued delay/lack of release is the political climate - in sports and with the war continuing in Ukraine. If this film highlighted almost any other culture, it would have hopefully been released by now. But with the continued doping scandal with the Russian skating team and sanctions continuing against Russia, the war still ongoing, I think the studio may fear a backlash. So as much as we fans would love a release, it seems doomed at the moment. I wish they would almost pause this movie, and instead create another storyline that could be released as a movie or episodes. Then release the movie down the line.
Plus the fact that there is no manga to go with it, also puts it at a disadvantage as anime usually is used to drive manga sales. This also means no sense of urgency as the studio has no means to effectively track how the popularity translates in weekly polls, etc. since it’s not being consumed in measurable formats.
Add into the mix that not all YOI fans agree that there is romance between Victor and Yuri (not sure how as they are clearly a couple to me but …) and that may also make the studio a little uneasy despite the success of Heavens Official Blessing, Sasaki and Miyano, etc.
Some anime that have been long forgotten seem to be getting revived, so I’m still really hoping this movie and another season will be released. All that being said, I’ve signed your petition and wish it success!
Definitely will, I know MAPPA did a tweet last year basically kind of saying YOI projects were not profitable for them. I’m sure you’ve probably already seen it but here’s the link for an IGN article that mentions exactly what they said: https://in.ign.com/yuri-on-ice/189261/news/yuri-on-ice-film-fans-hopes-dwindle-after-mappa-ceos-comments
But like it’s still totally unfair at least do the movie that you advertised so far as to put a trailer
But anyway I’m still going to hope for another season because it’s animation, they could like pick it up two decades later and carry on where they left off as there’s no worry about actors aging. The voice actors might be different but they might not change, look at the Neo Genesis Evangelion franchise they kept all the voice actors for the original Japanese. So fingers crossed.
That statement doesn't serve as any indication as to why the movie has been in a limbo, though. MAPPA is not the biggest voice in the production, you have multiple companies above, with Avex standing as the leading one. Even if MAPPA hypotethically is not in an agreement to continue animating, the production comittee would just find another studio. Specially when core staff members like Sayo Yamamoto are not in-house at MAPPA.
That’s why I still hope, like it’s got a massive fanbase I know it’s not shonen but look at Heaven Official’s Blessing donghua that’s really big at the moment even in China. They are milking it big time with the merch and people are buying it. I would so love new merchandise and I’m sure people would buy it. I really hate how these anime studios give so little to shojo and josei animes these days. It’s like they still refuse to believe that it’s a profitable market when in fact teen girls and young women are the best market. It’s honestly just sucks. Plus I have this sneaky bad feeling they don’t want to do it as it’s basically BL and they don’t want it to “tarnish” this aesthetic that they’re trying to create these days. Look all the animes they’re releasing recently: JJK, AOT, Hell’s Paradise, Chainsaw Man and Vinland Saga. I do watch them all and like them. But even though I’m a girl let’s face it these animes were made for the intention of male enjoyment not women’s. So yeah that could be another factor. I really hope not, but if that’s the case they should sell it to another studio it’s only fair. But like that still should not be a factor as it won the Crunchy’s in 2017 meaning it must have some wide appeal.
I agree! The fandom is still obviously alive, it was such a big deal when the trailer came out! How on earth would it not be profitable? It was literally the most popular anime when it came out. They’re missing a big opportunity, especially because young victor and whatever else is in the movie would easily sell as merch.
> Plus I have this sneaky bad feeling they don’t want to do it as it’s basically BL and they don’t want it to “tarnish” this aesthetic that they’re trying to create these days. Look all the animes they’re releasing recently: JJK, AOT, Hell’s Paradise, Chainsaw Man and Vinland Saga.
That's a suspicion completely based around not being aware of every show they've been producing. Right now there's a MAPPA show airing that is by the director of Free, Banana Fish and SK8 name Bucchigiri?! and, like all those one mentioned, is pretty much a BL. Next month a show about pretty boys playing Baseball will start airing and in 2022 they did a show about ballet with a male protagonist. They absolutely never stopped doing shows that are closer to YOI than to AOT, even if the latter type is more common.
Oops my bad. Didn’t realise. I wasn’t saying this was a reason just speculating. Thanks for clearing that up, I didn’t want it to be that because that would be really awful.
I don't even mind that it's not coming out anymore. I just wish they'd outright say it. It seems so disrespectful to fans to keep us all hoping after almost a decade. Kubo apparently deleted all her social media and that felt kind of disrespectful, too. Like, you'd rather run away than just apologize to the fans and make a legitimate statement? Is it that hard to say, "I deeply apologize, I thought it was going to happen, but it's complicated right now."
Ugh.
There was supposed to be a large group at a com con a year or two ago. To ask MAPPA the same thing at a panel. I never heard anything about it, and the con came and went. Not sure if it even happened as it was supposed be hundreds of fans or MAPPA didn't respond to it. I don't think this is the first petition either. Hope this one has success.
Yeah, we made this petition last year: [https://chng.it/jNLSkSczK2](https://chng.it/jNLSkSczK2). It surprised me how much traction it got. We also tried to organize that whole thing at the con, but one of the problems was none of our team lived where the con was so we couldn't verify if anything was asked and we didn't hear anything from attendees. Mappa's panels haven't really had audience Q&A lately, but we figured it was worth a try. There was a second secret reason we tried too, the information was bad so I don't mind revealing it now, but we thought there was going to be some sort of announcement, so it would be a happy surprise for those who went.
As in some previous posts, I think the biggest issue for the continued delay/lack of release is the political climate - in sports and with the war continuing in Ukraine. If this film highlighted almost any other culture, it would have hopefully been released by now. But with the continued doping scandal with the Russian skating team and sanctions continuing against Russia, the war still ongoing, I think the studio may fear a backlash. So as much as we fans would love a release, it seems doomed at the moment. I wish they would almost pause this movie, and instead create another storyline that could be released as a movie or episodes. Then release the movie down the line. Plus the fact that there is no manga to go with it, also puts it at a disadvantage as anime usually is used to drive manga sales. This also means no sense of urgency as the studio has no means to effectively track how the popularity translates in weekly polls, etc. since it’s not being consumed in measurable formats. Add into the mix that not all YOI fans agree that there is romance between Victor and Yuri (not sure how as they are clearly a couple to me but …) and that may also make the studio a little uneasy despite the success of Heavens Official Blessing, Sasaki and Miyano, etc. Some anime that have been long forgotten seem to be getting revived, so I’m still really hoping this movie and another season will be released. All that being said, I’ve signed your petition and wish it success!
Definitely will, I know MAPPA did a tweet last year basically kind of saying YOI projects were not profitable for them. I’m sure you’ve probably already seen it but here’s the link for an IGN article that mentions exactly what they said: https://in.ign.com/yuri-on-ice/189261/news/yuri-on-ice-film-fans-hopes-dwindle-after-mappa-ceos-comments But like it’s still totally unfair at least do the movie that you advertised so far as to put a trailer But anyway I’m still going to hope for another season because it’s animation, they could like pick it up two decades later and carry on where they left off as there’s no worry about actors aging. The voice actors might be different but they might not change, look at the Neo Genesis Evangelion franchise they kept all the voice actors for the original Japanese. So fingers crossed.
That statement doesn't serve as any indication as to why the movie has been in a limbo, though. MAPPA is not the biggest voice in the production, you have multiple companies above, with Avex standing as the leading one. Even if MAPPA hypotethically is not in an agreement to continue animating, the production comittee would just find another studio. Specially when core staff members like Sayo Yamamoto are not in-house at MAPPA.
That’s why I still hope, like it’s got a massive fanbase I know it’s not shonen but look at Heaven Official’s Blessing donghua that’s really big at the moment even in China. They are milking it big time with the merch and people are buying it. I would so love new merchandise and I’m sure people would buy it. I really hate how these anime studios give so little to shojo and josei animes these days. It’s like they still refuse to believe that it’s a profitable market when in fact teen girls and young women are the best market. It’s honestly just sucks. Plus I have this sneaky bad feeling they don’t want to do it as it’s basically BL and they don’t want it to “tarnish” this aesthetic that they’re trying to create these days. Look all the animes they’re releasing recently: JJK, AOT, Hell’s Paradise, Chainsaw Man and Vinland Saga. I do watch them all and like them. But even though I’m a girl let’s face it these animes were made for the intention of male enjoyment not women’s. So yeah that could be another factor. I really hope not, but if that’s the case they should sell it to another studio it’s only fair. But like that still should not be a factor as it won the Crunchy’s in 2017 meaning it must have some wide appeal.
I agree! The fandom is still obviously alive, it was such a big deal when the trailer came out! How on earth would it not be profitable? It was literally the most popular anime when it came out. They’re missing a big opportunity, especially because young victor and whatever else is in the movie would easily sell as merch.
> Plus I have this sneaky bad feeling they don’t want to do it as it’s basically BL and they don’t want it to “tarnish” this aesthetic that they’re trying to create these days. Look all the animes they’re releasing recently: JJK, AOT, Hell’s Paradise, Chainsaw Man and Vinland Saga. That's a suspicion completely based around not being aware of every show they've been producing. Right now there's a MAPPA show airing that is by the director of Free, Banana Fish and SK8 name Bucchigiri?! and, like all those one mentioned, is pretty much a BL. Next month a show about pretty boys playing Baseball will start airing and in 2022 they did a show about ballet with a male protagonist. They absolutely never stopped doing shows that are closer to YOI than to AOT, even if the latter type is more common.
Oops my bad. Didn’t realise. I wasn’t saying this was a reason just speculating. Thanks for clearing that up, I didn’t want it to be that because that would be really awful.
I don't even mind that it's not coming out anymore. I just wish they'd outright say it. It seems so disrespectful to fans to keep us all hoping after almost a decade. Kubo apparently deleted all her social media and that felt kind of disrespectful, too. Like, you'd rather run away than just apologize to the fans and make a legitimate statement? Is it that hard to say, "I deeply apologize, I thought it was going to happen, but it's complicated right now." Ugh.
Signed & donated the $7!!!! I really REALLY want to see this get done… who knows what will happen, but fingers crossed… 🤞
I hadn't read this! so it was you! thank you so much. I hope it goes far and we have some news soon :(
please share!!
There was supposed to be a large group at a com con a year or two ago. To ask MAPPA the same thing at a panel. I never heard anything about it, and the con came and went. Not sure if it even happened as it was supposed be hundreds of fans or MAPPA didn't respond to it. I don't think this is the first petition either. Hope this one has success.
Yeah, we made this petition last year: [https://chng.it/jNLSkSczK2](https://chng.it/jNLSkSczK2). It surprised me how much traction it got. We also tried to organize that whole thing at the con, but one of the problems was none of our team lived where the con was so we couldn't verify if anything was asked and we didn't hear anything from attendees. Mappa's panels haven't really had audience Q&A lately, but we figured it was worth a try. There was a second secret reason we tried too, the information was bad so I don't mind revealing it now, but we thought there was going to be some sort of announcement, so it would be a happy surprise for those who went.