Yuri!!! On Ice was a series that almost didn’t get approved. Yuri on Ice is a series that showed a same-sex couple normalized in a healthy relationship, pursuing their dreams. Yuri on Ice is a series unlike any other. And now, it is not only a top-seller on Amazon, but has just been performed at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
The theme song of the hit anime is called ‘History Maker’, and that’s exactly what it’s done – reaching yet another peak yesterday in Pyeongchang as Japan’s Miu Suzaki and Ryuichi Kihara performed the song named after the series title, ‘Yuri on Ice’ for the world. You can watch their beautiful and captivating performance here.
The series debuted in 2016, and has gone on to inspire masses of people to follow their dreams, and be their authentic selves. Perhaps who it has inspired most is the figure skating community- earning tweets from famous skaters such as Johnny Weir and Evgenia Medvedeva. Weir announced the skate today, completely familiar with the series, encouraging viewers that ‘they may know the piece’.
This comes at an excellent time, as numbers of LGBT athletes have reached new heights in the world of sports, and the inclusion featured in the anime provides key representation. Not only is it about the much-needed representation, but the anime delivers a great story-line about following dreams through shortcomings, and picking yourself up and trying again. Seeing this message reach an event as large as the Winter Olympics is absolutely huge – and reaches to the masses of hopeful skaters and others who may truly need to hear these things.
The skate was beautiful, and everyone should see it – but more than that, there’s something special about a victory on all counts, coming back full circle to the talented individuals that created the anime. Little known fact is that Yuri on Ice almost never made it off the table. The world almost didn’t get to watch the history it would make. They almost didn’t get to see a same-sex kiss on the ice, or see it normalized into a healthy story. The creators fought for Yuri and Victor, and now, thanks to their efforts, and the efforts of these immensely talented figure skaters, this story is truly making history.
Take a look for yourself:
Thank you Miu Suzaki & Ryuichi Kihara for working so hard and bringing Yuri On Ice to the Olympics 😭💖🙏✨✨✨That was a fabulous if not magical performance 😭💖🙏✨ #YuriOnIce #Olympics pic.twitter.com/icDKqnRhok
— マル | Maru on ICE!!!❄⛸ (@earldenvoi) February 9, 2018
yuri on ice is really a beautiful song. just shows how much thought the creators put into the music of yoi. they wanted to make a song that an actual skater would use, and friends, THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THEY MADE
— Tiger is not feeling well, sorry. (@tigersplaygrnd) February 9, 2018
WE ARE TRENDING ON TWITTER !!!!!! #yurionice #Olympics pic.twitter.com/hy1qbLoKbq
— 💙 harumi 💜 (@princessharumi_) February 9, 2018
I see all the amazing love for Yuri on Ice worldwide – the numbers on Amazon, the presence in the Olympics – and I think of how Sayokan was considering leaving anime before the show was greenlit and I just get weepy.
— Caitlin Rose (@alltsun_nodere) February 9, 2018
Thank you, Miu Suzaki and Ryuichi Kihara, and all the best to you and the other talented athletes of the 2018 Winter Olympics- go out there and make your own piece of history!
