“Full of Discoveries and Joy”: Disney’s Best New Anime Star Talks Unique Prep for the Role

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Experiencing firsthand the unprecedented success of 2025’s unexpected sensation, Medalist, I found myself immersed in a sea of anime enthusiasts at Event Square in Matsuya Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. The series, centering around a young and determined ice-skater named Inori Yuitsuka, has managed to capture the essence of sincerity that resonates with fans across the globe.

The occasion was graced by the Japanese voice actors behind the two principal characters of this captivating anime. The event provided an intimate platform for these talented individuals to share their insights on their roles. Among them was Natsumi Haruse, who brings Inori Yuitsuka, a resilient 11-year-old ice-skater, to life on screen. Takeo Otsuka portrays Tsukasa Akeuraji, Inori’s dedicated coach and a former competitive skater aiming to guide her protégé towards her dreams. The camaraderie between these two characters adds depth and authenticity to the series that has touched so many hearts.

The animated series “Medalist” was made available on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally (except Japan), as part of the Disney Platform Distribution. This anime received acclaim for its captivating ice-skating animation and the authentic emotions portrayed by its characters. In an interview, Haruse and Yuitsuka shared their preparations for the “Medalist” Exhibition Event. Haruse, a skating enthusiast since childhood, even took ice-skating lessons, which helped her understand the challenges of skating and enabled her to convey the appropriate weight while portraying Inori. She described the recording sessions as a source of discoveries and joy.

Natsumi Haruse and Inori Yuitsuka Discuss Medalist

Besides delving into skating techniques, Otsuka also sought insights about his character’s role by conversing with Akiko Suzuki, a professional ice-skater who provided motion capture data for the anime. Suzuki even taught Otsuka how to skate himself, offering valuable reference points for his acting. In addition, they frequently worked together on the anime, and Otsuka would often consult Haruse about anything that was unclear. The first season of Medalist concluded its run on March 30, 2025, but lucky fans can look forward to a second season in January 2026! Hulu has also made an English dubbed version available, featuring voice actors Madeline Dorroh as Inori and Jonathon Ha as Tsukasa.

A medalist encourages a young girl named Inori, who was initially dissuaded from skating due to beliefs that she’s too old at 11 to start professionally. She later teams up with Tsukasa, a fellow skater on the brink of abandoning his aspirations. Their shared ambition is for Inori to clinch an Olympic gold medal; however, to qualify for the Olympics, Inori needs to participate in numerous ice-skating competitions and secure top scores.

Back in March, I, a huge fan, shared the electrifying music video for “Bow and Arrow” by the incredible Japanese artist Kenshi Yonezu, which he performed for the anime adaptation of Medalist. This passionate piece quickly became one of the most-watched openings of the Winter 2025 anime season, amassing over 2.3 million views in just eighteen hours on my official YouTube channel, home to over 7.5 million subscribers! The first season ran for a thrilling 13 episodes, and on July 27th, Hulu dropped the trailer for an exciting second season. Ever since its initial publication at Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon magazine on May 25th, 2020, the original Medalist manga continues to captivate readers, with the story still unfolding today.

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2025-08-16 15:20