I'm slipping on the anime about “Yuri!!!!on Ice”.
I have a rule - if on the Internet - a product of culture will break through the circle of faithful and dedicated devotees then - even if I am not usually interested in a genre, I gives a chance. However, when half of the internet lived from one episode to the another episodes of the series about ice skaters, there is no way out. You must watch Yuri!!! on Ice.
For some time now, I have been following with distance not so much the products of culture as the discussions around them. Sometimes I try to expand my vocabulary to know more or less what is being said. There is nothing to be scared about. I am an anime fan but my knowledge is not so good in this area. So I'm always curious about what others have to say.
Yuri!!! on Ice interested me not only because of the fast growing popularity in the network. I was attracted primarily by the subject because the series is about professional figure skaters. As a kid, I once had a terrible phase for figure skating - I was even ready to get up early in the morning to watch the competition, then the great love weakened somewhat (actually there was not enough time) but I still try to keep on the pulse, especially because the world championships and olympics are not that often. Anyway, it's easier today because every time a talented skater appears you can quickly make up his performances on the net. However, this does not change the fact that I have not forgotten anything from my fascinating years - counting points, overcoming a personal record, further components of the long and short program, important figures in the history of modern skating - all this was lying in peace and waiting to take out when I start watching this animation. Therefore, it was not difficult to enter the world of Yuri.
The story told in the animation is quite nice - mainly because it combines the elements well-known from sports films with those that are not so worn yet. Our main character, Yuri, is a 23-year-old skater who has an injury on his leg in the international Grand Prix final. Not a young skater loses enthusiasm and abandons the sport, especially since there is no greater idea what to do next with his life. He returns to his hometown in Japan (previously he studied in the States) and does not really know what to do next. And then on his doorstep appears the most outstanding living skater - Russian Viktor Nikiforov and declares that instead of starting in the next season (as we understand the last because Viktor is already 27) will be Yuri's coach. A little later, in the same Japanese city, there is also the second Yuri - a dozen-year-old Russian skater jealous, that Viktor decided to train the Japanese and not him. The story sounds pretty trite - the goal of all heroes is quite clear - come to the Grand Prix and show the world that Yuri has potential in it. On the way, of course, we have competitions, obstacles and a whole lot of emotions.
What should be appreciated in YOI is the idea that uncertainty will reach not only the player but also the coach. Viktor may be a legend among competitors, but as a trainer he does not always know what to do to deal with the problems of his pupil. At the same time, Yuri himself is a very nice character and rarely shown in productions. He is a player who has a lot of potential but his biggest problem is not technical skills but psychology. Not only does he cope badly with pressure but also - we can see that playing sports does not always make him happy. More - it seems that skating is rather his personal experience, and does not necessarily feel good when taking part in competitions. The creators, in fact, try very hard to make all players encountered by the heroes have different motivations and different approach to sports. Some people drive to prove something, others just want success, others see the next competition as an opportunity to confirm their value. At the same time - contrary to the patterns of Western sports production - it is important to support each other players. Yuri supports the other Yuri even if they both differ in character and the series naturally puts them on opposite sides of the barricade. However, it's not just about cheering your friends - in general, the series rather indicates the community of players, each of them is different but they can admire and inspire each other. What is a nice and rare element of this type of production.
The creators made sure that watching the performances of the next players, the viewer could not take his eyes off. I heard complaints about the level of animation but most of the performances are animated very well, which is not so easy considering that the series does not mix in the rules and the characters do the same arrangements all the time. What makes it difficult to keep the viewer's attention but also the diversity of material between sections. Another thing - I am always terribly amused how much Japanese issues are related to the character's appearance in the Japanese animations. Everyone has at least a few faces - for different occasions - from those charming and round to the more "realistic" ones. Which does not change the fact that they draw them nicely. Especially Viktor is one of those few animated characters who is really so cute that there is a bit of astonishment that someone animated can be liked so much. Though such a silver-haired Russian is playing around a bit. Anyway, it's fascinating how much the series westernizes the features - and all in all - the Chinese, Japanese, Russians, Thai - look more or less the same.
It does not change the fact that the series offers skating fans like me a wonderful opportunity to think about who is who in the series. There is no doubt that at least some of the characters are to some extent a reference to existing skaters. For me, the most exciting seems to be the discussion about who was the inspiration for Yuri - was it Tatsuki Machida - a very good Japanese skater who won in the Grand Prix competition but otherwise got mainly silver medals or maybe a Yuzuru Hanyū - a wonderful Japanese child or rather Asian skating - the winner of the gold medal from Sochi and the youngest gold medalist of the winter games. I would bet here Maschida because Hanyu has a slightly different career path. Which does not change the fact that Yuri's programs from the show are more like what Hanyu drives. However, regardless of what the creators say, I am sure that Viktor was inspired by Evgeni Plushenko - one of the most titled skaters in history and a peculiar living legend of this sport. It's true that somewhere I have read that Viktor has nothing to do with Plushenko but I know better. You do not get the figure of an incredibly talented and award-winning Russian skater without obvious reference to specific athletes. Anyway, the fun does not end here because almost every hero can be assigned to someone, even based on the way in which they show their riding or the costumes. Besides, I had the impression that the costumes are almost identical to those I have seen on the ice.
Okay, so much when it comes to skating - I'm really impressed by how well they managed to convey the atmosphere that you can really feel watching skating competitions. Now it's time to talk about moral issues. I'm well aware that Japanese animation (which - probably all gathered see - is not directed to children) has always been popular homosexual threads - used in a rather classic way - that is, the romantic (though not always romantic) love of two heroes is a decoy on heterosexual women. That's how it has become established in culture. Logic suggests that, paradoxically, from a social point of view, observing such a relationship is much more melodramatic than watching a hetero compound and you can calmly play well-known scenes and patterns without worrying about ridiculousness. At the same time - it is used in a completely deliberate and cynical way and has little to do with any active need for representation. So much theory. In fact, it was quite a surprise for me to watch this in the show.
After the first episodes I was sure that I deal with the classic queerbating - a procedure often used in movies and series where in subtexts, gestures and understatements, it is suggested the possibility of a homosexual relationship that never occurs. This treatment is often used cynically - with a large dose of awareness that the more one does not show something the more the viewers get involved. So I was convinced that I was watching something like that and even enjoyed it. Meanwhile, the farther into the plot, the farther away from the subtext and the nearer classical romantic thread, where there are even scenes of running around the airport. I was a bit surprised, but also amused because this layer of the series functions in a separate world, where nobody even notices it especially and where all the tender gestures between players seem to be an element of everyday life that does not bother anyone but rather it is not particularly noticed. This is a very specific way of showing the relationship between the heroes and for the Western spectator requires a shift of thinking (the characters are sometimes very pompous and exalted by European standards) but ultimately falls out quite sweetly and as in the series that engage we want everyone to live happily ever after with a large group of poodles (puddles are important for the plot of the series).
Yuri!!! on Ice has proved that good animation with an interesting leitmotif will always be fun. At the same time, it seems that if you do not have any knowledge about anime, YOI is the perfect entry into this world. The plot is simple, it refers to numerous western patterns, there is nothing here that would be impossible to overcome, and the animation is at a high level. So if you think about spending a bit of time watching anime on the day then it seems that YOI will be perfect for beginners. Only the problem can be when the first season ends and hunger for subsequent episodes. Then you can sing differently.