The theatrical anime adaptation of Medalist will collaborate with figure skating’s Grand Prix Series/Final 2026, which opens on October 24, 2026. A special visual bringing together the series’ main characters and athletes competing in the Grand Prix Series has been unveiled.
Medalist began in Afternoon in 2020 as a manga by Tsurumaikada. It follows Yuitsuka Inori and Akeuraji Tsukasa, who meet as athlete and coach and aim for an Olympic medal. The manga has received a number of honors, including first place in the comics division of the Next Manga Awards 2022, the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award, and the 4th Kodansha Manga Award.
The TV anime aired two seasons starting in 2025, and the first film adaptation is scheduled to open nationwide in Japan on February 19, 2027. Set at the All Japan Novice Championships, the film will depict a direct showdown with prodigy Rousaki Hikaru on the ice, brought to the screen with large-scale staging and visuals.
The film’s key visual has been revealed.
A Third Team-Up With the Grand Prix Series
The collaboration between the Medalist film and the international Grand Prix Series/Final 2026 has now been confirmed. The two have collaborated twice before, with both previous collaborations drawing strong responses, and this season, ahead of the film’s release, marks their third partnership.
A special collaboration visual has been released, featuring main characters from Medalist alongside skaters scheduled to compete in the Grand Prix Series 2026. More collaboration projects are planned, with the film and the Grand Prix Series/Final 2026, opening October 24, set to create a special run limited to this winter.
New Film Character Visuals and Cast
The film has also added new character visuals and character introductions. The newly revealed characters are Ahiru Miku (CV: Inagaki Konomi), Kamogawa Kouhei (CV: Ishige Shouya), and Shiratori Juna (CV: Ono Yuuki).
Ahiru Miku (CV: Inagaki Konomi)
Ahiru is a first-year middle school student belonging to the Juunanmachi Lake FSC in Niigata and a gold medalist at the Hokkaido-Tohoku Block Championships. After her home rink closes, she decides to retire from skating at the end of this season. She aims for a high finish at the All Japan Novice Championships so she can keep skating as long as possible.
Kamogawa Kouhei (CV: Ishige Shouya)
Kamogawa is the head coach of the Juunanmachi Lake FSC. A former clubmate of Tsukasa and a former ice dance skater, he has skated with Miku since she was four in their shared hometown, giving the two a family-like bond that goes beyond coach and student.
Shiratori Juna (CV: Ono Yuuki)
Shiratori is a former clubmate of Tsukasa with experience as a figure skater in both singles and ice dance. She handles choreography for Miku, and together with Kamogawa, the three form ‘Team Ahiru.’ She also works in entertainment under the name ‘Shiratori Juna.’
Schedule and Theatrical Film Story
The Figure Skating Grand Prix Series starts October 24, 2026, while the Grand Prix Final is scheduled for December 10-13, 2026. In addition to the skaters’ results, attention is on the third collaboration with Medalist.
In the film’s story, Yuitsuka Inori has a strong passion for figure skating but has been unable to seize a chance to pursue her dream. After meeting Akeuraji Tsukasa, who shares a similar background, she teams up with him as an athlete and coach. The pair gradually begin to stand out and eventually win the Chubu Block Championships, earning a place at the All Japan Novice Championships. For Inori, this means her first direct competition against Rousaki Hikaru, her goal and greatest rival; for Tsukasa, it means facing Yodaka Jun, Hikaru’s exclusive coach.
On the day of the All Japan Novice Championships, Inori draws attention in official practice amid rumors that she will attempt a quadruple jump. With their passionate bond as their weapon, Inori and Tsukasa take on the summit showdown. What kind of performance will they show on the grand stage on the ice?
Staff
| Role | Staff |
|---|---|
| Original Work | Tsurumaikada (Kodansha ‘Afternoon’ serialization) |
| Director | Yamamoto Yasutaka |
| Script | Hanada Jukki |
| Character Design / Chief Animation Director | Kameyama Chinatsu |
| Figure Skating Choreography | Suzuki Akiko |
| Figure Skating Director / 3DCG Director | Kouji |
| 3DCG Visual Director | Toda Takayuki |
| 3DCG Animation Supervisor | Hori Shoutarou |
| 3DCG Producer | Hagiwara Kyouka |
| Color Design | Yamagami Aiko |
| Art Director | Nakamura Hazuki |
| Director of Photography | Kunimasa Ibu, Saitou Asuka |
| Editing | Nagasaka Tomoki |
| Music | Hayashi Yuuki |
| Sound Director | Imaizumi Yuuichi |
| Sound Effects | Koyama Kenji |
| Animation Producer | Miura Takasumi |
| Animation Production | ENGI |
| Distribution | ANIMEC |
Cast
| Character | Cast |
|---|---|
| Yuitsuka Inori | Haruse Natsumi |
| Akeuraji Tsukasa | Ootsuka Takeo |
| Rousaki Hikaru | Ichinose Kana |
| Yodaka Jun | Uchida Yuuma |
| Ahiru Miku | Inagaki Konomi |
| Kamogawa Kouhei | Ishige Shouya |
| Shiratori Juna | Ono Yuuki |
（C）つるまいかだ・講談社/メダリスト製作委員会
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