#Yuri! On Ice

[hopeymchope]

Hey. There was a new Raincode interview written a few days ago and in that interview, Halara’s gender was brought up. I made a post about that question on my blog and I am curious your thoughts about it. I also linked the interview in my post.

(This is the post in question, for anyone interested. Which I think you probably should be, but... )

My thoughts are mostly that Kodaka's quote/response feels frustratingly uninformative and devoid of any value, but also sadly unsurprising. I know it's just a machine translation, so maybe this isn't capturing the exact nuance of the statement... but the sentence "I didn't specifically intend a social message" is just exactly the kind of vague, wishy-washy, "I really don't want to be in trouble with or offend anyone on any side of any possible argument" language that I've LONG gotten used to in promotional interviews about movies, TV, books, games, etc. Because god forbid you possibly appear to be either for or against anything that might be considered controversial in any possible market! Having STANCES on THINGS could damage your profit margin with some potential demographic.

I suppose this could be all there is to it. Maybe Kodaka legitimately means what he says here and put no greater thought into Halara's lack of gender identity. But I also think it'd be weird if the implications of leaving their gender unknown didn't at least occur to him at some point, particularly as there's been a growing awareness of so-called "X-gender" people in Japan over the last year and a half.

But ultimately, "Master Detective Archives: Rain Code" is Japanese media, and that leaves this kind of question-dodging not only expected, but arguably maybe even necessary. Take a look at the recent of the recent controversy over The Witch From Mercury, the Gundham anime that is over-the-top mega-gay. Bandai Namco still felt the need to declare that the relationship between Suletta and Miorine is "open to interpretation" despite the fact that the two get FUCKED MARRIED.

In fact, this Kotaku article does a good job digging into not only that anime's particular can of worms, but also how queer-friendly media in Japan continues to be suppressed and censored from the dominant conservatives behind the media companies and government even while those works enjoy massive popularity with younger consumers. Get a load of what they say about Yuri! on Ice:

Look no further than the fate of 2016’s smash hit Yuri! On Ice, which tells the tale of a struggling figure skater, Yuri Katsuki, who is coached back to success by the charismatic and undeniably handsome Victor Nikiforov. Similar to The Witch From Mercury, the pair’s relationship is explicitly laid out in the story, and the characters also exchange rings. It was, and still is, celebrated as a landmark anime for LGBTQ+ representation. It received acclaim in Japan, winning Animation of the Year at the Tokyo Anime Awards as well as a number of fan-voted awards. It has consistently been named as one of the top anime of the 2010s by IGN, Anime News Network, and here at Kotaku. In what seemed like an obvious move to capitalize on the success of the show, a feature-length Yuri! On Ice movie was greenlit almost immediately. But six years later, a statement from Studio MAPPA CEO Manabu Otsuka said that despite the show being a hit, the company didn’t make a lot of money off of Yuri! On Ice, and as such, the movie likely won’t happen. Back when Blu-ray sales mattered to the anime industry, Yuri! On Ice torched the competition, selling nearly double the amount of discs of its nearest competitor, the juggernaut franchise Love Live. The runaway success of Yuri! On Ice led to MAPPA’s heightened profile in the industry, which helped it secure the rights to produce Attack on Titan’s never-ending final season, the massively popular Jujutsu Kaisen, and the second season of Makoto Yukimura’s viking masterpiece, Vinland Saga. For MAPPA to claim that the Yuri! On Ice movie isn’t financially viable is disingenuous and contradicts standard industry metrics for success. MAPPA could release the Yuri! On Ice movie tomorrow, and it would be a guaranteed hit. Which begs the question, what is the hold up? It's a reminder that speaking out against the anime production committees that dole out the work to animation studios is a dangerous game. In most of her press for Yuri! On Ice, creator and director Sayo Yamamoto played nice, answering softball questions that never directly addressed the very obvious love playing out on screen between Yuki and Victor. But, in the Yuri! On Ice fanbook “Go Yuri Go!” from 2017, Yamamoto claimed that the series had been censored outside of her control, and she had to fight to keep a kiss between Yuri and Victor in the final cut of the show. Since then, Yamamoto has not gotten any other projects. To have arguably the biggest hit of 2016, receive critical acclaim from your own industry, and then not be given any work? It doesn’t add up. MAPPA has tied Yamamoto to the Yuri! On Ice movie project and essentially strung her out for six years now, leaving her in a kind of professional purgatory. In an industry where the slightest scandal can lead to blacklisting, the idea that Yamamoto is being punished for wanting to go all-in on a queer narrative is not far-fetched.

So. Yeah. This is all a very long way of me saying "I don't know whether what Kodaka said here really tells us much about his intentions/thoughts, nor do I expect we'll ever hear much more on the topic." A lot of Japanese creators have gone the way of just letting the work speak for itself and vaguely denying anything else in public, because it's just safer that way... even if it leaves the rest of us clueless as to where the legit allies are.

Either way, Halara is a pretty awesome representation regardless. I'll just take that as a positive sign.

#japanese media #asks #kazutaka kodaka #master detective archives: rain code #rain code #master detective archives #the witch from mercury #yuri! on ice #queer media

[sophies-junkyard]

No you’re not hearing me. It’s the way that entire gala is referencing this panel. He’s canonically cosplaying Viktor Nikiforov. It’s all from the halloween party comic. Are you listening. Do you hear me. They healed them. This panel was the only gumlee moment for like 7 years. Do you understand.

#gumlee #adventure time #am I insane for remembering this #prince gumball #Marshall Lee #Fionna and cake #this is my life #Fionna and cake spoilers #THEY NEVER FINISHED THIS CONVO BTW WE JUST NEVER WENT BACK TO THAT #yuri on ice

[kimdokjas]

though the movie might be cancelled, yuri on ice will live forever in our hearts. thank you yoi fandom, it's been real ♡

#yuri on ice #yoiedit #yoi #victuuri #ice adolescence #anime gif #*gifs #animangahive #dailyshounenai #userkarura #usergojoana #userhanyi #useralphonse #usertorichi #usermoonz #usericybtch #userheidi #usergokalp #userartless #homuras #himawaari #this is not goodbye this is still my house!!! #devastated but not surprised tbh but i still wanted to channel my emotions somehow and just. express how much this show means to me so here #this thank you goes out to u guys. the fandom #mappa can eat a brick btw <3 #god i wish i could articulate just how special yoi is to me #it truly resonated with me like very few other pieces of media have (i can count them with one hand in fact) #it was sooooo revolutionary and ahead of its time not just in terms of queerness but also in terms of mental health #it truly changed me as a person and i just. really appreciate how earnest and kind it was above all #thank you yoi. you will be a part of me forever <3

[bethanythebogwitch]

#yuri on ice #anime memes #yuri #yaoi #i know it's a character's name or smth #don't yell at me #look inside #greentext

[hinamie]

surprise it's yuri!!!in 2024

#my art #yuri on ice #yuri!!! on ice #yoi #fanart #katsuki yuuri #victor nikiforov #victuuri #yoi fanart #this was the secret 4th thing that lost the poll jdsfgsdfjj #id been thinking about doing a tribute since getting that one ask but i didn't anticipate how Into it i would get once i started #the way i flew through this piece .. just over 1 day??? insane #yuri is /that/ ingrained in my muscle memory #I was looking at refs and ?? id forgotten how wild this show was #we just got all of that?? a pole dance a proposal a kiss a pair skate....and it was ALL canon? incredible #AND YEAH UNPROMPTED HISTORY MAKER PLAYS IN MY YT MIX #dean fujioka jumpscare #also looking back at my old yoi pieces was so wild. that ws really 8 years ago huh. #little bit of an ego boost looking at how far ive come #but also im just grateful idk sry 2 b sappy on main #i hope 16 year old me is happy that i did this bc im happy i did this #edit bc i forgot a bunch of white outline i am a fraud

[madamemachikonew]

"Go to hell" is basic. "Hope your favourite anime movie sequel gets cancelled after seven years in production AND getting an animated teaser." is smart. It's possible. It's terrifying. It's happened.

#I don't follow YOI #but seriously though I feel really bad for the fans #Mappa has such talented staff but management's work practices suuuuuck #those guys are probably being overworked on way too many projects and there's been too high a staff turnover to continue the film #like I'd be amazed if any of the original artists are still working on it #imagine working on it knowing now that your work won't see daylight and that none of the overtime or suffering was worth it #yuri on ice #ice adolescence #mappa studio

[ankle-beez]

> be mappa

> creates the single most popular original anime ip of the decade which launches your studio into the stratosphere

> announces a movie after the first season takes the world by storm

> puts it in development hell while you make 4000 other shows

> refuses to do anything with the ip but also refuses to sell it so somebody else can do something with it

> cans the movie

#angel.post #yoi #yuri on ice #ice adolescence #ice ado

[rikichie]

The beginning and the ending.

This story is already full of everything I need.

#viktuuri #victuuri #yoi fanart #yoi #yuri on ice #yuri!!! on ice

[blended-ice]

we never got to hear his story.

#yuri on ice #yoi #viktor nikiforov #peas n guac #id in alt text #fanart #ice adolescence

[kkopimint]

when you're crying about the cancellation but remember how good YOI was to you

#fanart #yuri on ice #yuuri katsuki #yuuri!!! on ice #yoi #i mean i was sure it was cancelled before #but having an announcement about it? hits hard #since i was 16 i was waiting and now theres nothingggg #anyway yeah #i love yuuri #my kinnie

[su-rodriguez]

im so fucking sad

#yuri katsuki #victor nikiforov #yuri on ice #doodles #mappa studio is my public enemy no.1 #victuuri #yuri!!! on ice #yoi

[crimson-chains]

I promise I was drawing this before the news came out, lol! Ah, I was just thinking about how much I love them again ;; Sad about the movie, but, the fandom will continue! Anyway, this will be a gold foil standee and I'll hopefully have it available in a few months! <3

#Yuri on Ice #YOI #Victuri #Victor Nikiforov #Yuri Katsuki #fan art #my art

[jercythesiscrying]

via suwabe junichi (victor's jpn VA)

#.someone pls ID for me i'm too upset right now thanks #yuri on ice #yuri!!! on ice #yoi #viktor nikiforov #victor nikiforov #junichi suwabe #suwabe junichi #jercy speaks

[ahskp]

REMEMBER WHEN THESE DROPPED 😭😭😭

#im so miserable #yuri on ice #ice adolescence #victor nikiforov

[animatorroseoak]

I hate you mappa genuinely. I adore him with all my heart, I wanted to hear and see his story

#yuri on ice #ice adolescence #victor nikiforov #viktor nikiforov

[jelly-guiro]

My grief cannot be measured. Yuri on Ice has been part of my life since it aired in 2016 😭

I hope that we can keep the fandom alive.

Twitter announcement here.

#yuri on ice #i will hate mappa for the rest of my life #yoi