Winter 2025’s Best New Anime Celebrates Latest Release With Special Promo

Kodansha recently announced a special promotion for the latest installment of the popular “Medalist” manga. The thirteenth volume was released in Japan on June 23rd, and to celebrate this event, Kodansha revealed new animated clips from the manga. These clips showcase key images from the series, which is an anime about ice skating, with a focus on many scenes of the main character, Inori Yuitsuka, on the rink. The promo has been edited in a similar style to the opening sequence of the first season of the anime, which aired during the 2025 Winter season. Just like the anime, Kenshi Yonezu’s “Bow and Arrow” is played in the promo, underscoring the similarities between the new footage and the original show.

Earlier this year, Yonezu unveiled a music video for “Bow and Arrow,” featuring a dashing male figure skater executing impressive moves similar to those seen in the Medalist. The video was uploaded onto Yonezu’s official YouTube channel, boasting over 7.5 million subscribers, and in just eighteen hours, the “Bow and Arrow” video garnered more than 2.3 million views, making it one of the most viewed premieres during the winter 2025 anime season.

Why You Should Read and Watch The Medalist

The promotional video is straightforward yet impactful, featuring impressive sketches by the series creator Tsurumaikada. By blending real-life footage with anime, the trailer could entice new readers who have only watched the show. The Medalist was one of the standout surprises in the 2025 Winter television schedule, earning praise for its animation and relatable protagonists. Eleven-year-old Inori is the main character, dreaming of becoming a figure skater. However, she faces opposition from those around her as they believe she’s too old to start professional training. Her mother also disapproves because she fears her daughter will follow in the footsteps of her older sister, who had an unsuccessful career in the same field.

Fortunately, Inori encounters an older professional ice skater named Tsukasa Akeuraji, who elects to mentor her. Their objective? For Inori to secure the Olympic gold medal. However, to be eligible for the Olympics, she must first triumph in numerous ice skating tournaments. The manga made its debut on May 25th, 2020, in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon magazine and is still ongoing. The anime wrapped up its initial thirteen-episode season on March 30th, 2025, but a second season has been confirmed; as of now, there’s no set release date. In the U.S., you can catch it exclusively on Hulu, while Disney+ broadcasts it globally.

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2025-06-25 05:40