10 Years Later, Cancelled MAPPA Anime Returns With an Official New Release

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The popular anime Yuri!!! on Ice, created by Studio MAPPA, continues to gain fans nearly a decade after it first aired. It was a major success for the studio, helping them reach a worldwide audience and establish themselves in the anime industry. Although the first season suggested a continuation, a prequel film wasn’t officially announced until 2020. After four years of waiting, fans were disappointed to learn the film had been cancelled. Despite strong reactions from fans, MAPPA maintained its decision and offered no indication of a future return for the series. Even with this controversial choice, Yuri!!! on Ice remains a highly cherished sports anime.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the anime, and to celebrate, a beautiful new illustration by character designer Tadashi Hiramatsu has been revealed. Along with this, a special, limited-edition Blu-ray & DVD box set is being released to commemorate the milestone. The set, which includes the complete anime series and soundtrack, will go on sale in Japan on December 23rd, 2026 – exactly ten years after the anime finished airing. While exciting, this special release is currently only confirmed for fans in Japan, and an international release hasn’t been announced yet. More details about bonus content will likely be shared soon.

2026 Sparked Another Hope For The Anime’s Return

Even though the anime was canceled, it still has a large and dedicated fanbase around the world who frequently discuss it on social media. Fans often joke about the possibility of the show coming back, which leads to rumors about its revival. Recently, before the announcement of the anime’s 10th anniversary, fans noticed the cancellation announcement was removed from the top of the show’s account. Although the original post wasn’t deleted, this change sparked renewed hope among fans that the anime might return.

The anime’s official X account was verified on May 22nd, generating more buzz. A highlight was Dean Fujioka’s performance of the popular opening theme, “History Maker,” at this year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards, putting the series back in the spotlight. Even though the show was cancelled, it’s stayed popular over the years and will likely continue to do so.

Yuri!! on Ice’s Story Will Forever Remain Incomplete

Despite its huge international following, MAPPA doesn’t intend to create another season of the anime. And because Yuri!!! on Ice was originally created for animation, there’s no manga or novel series fans can turn to for continuation. Though the first season had a good ending, there was plenty of potential for the story to continue, particularly with a prequel focused on Victor’s backstory.

The series focused mainly on Yuri’s development, so it didn’t have enough time to fully tell the story of Victor, a figure skating prodigy who became a five-time gold medalist by age 27 and captivated audiences worldwide. Because Victor was such a complex character, the studio MAPPA originally considered creating a prequel series dedicated solely to his life. However, with the anime cancelled, that story will likely never be told.

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2026-05-31 22:41