The official website for the figure skating anime Medalist has confirmed that its highly anticipated second season will debut in January 2026. The announcement was accompanied by a new teaser visual and a promotional video, revealing its broadcast slot on TV Asahi’s “NUMAnimation” programming block and 23 other affiliate channels.
The news of a second season was initially confirmed shortly after the conclusion of the first season, which ran for 13 episodes from January 4 to March 30, 2025.
What to Expect in Season 2
The second season of Medalist will continue to follow the journey of aspiring figure skater Inori Yuitsuka and her coach Tsukasa Akeuraji. The upcoming season is set to focus on the Chubu region tournament, where competitors vie for a spot in the prestigious All Japan Championships. The teaser visual released features Inori on the rink, with the accompanying tagline, “We will shine brighter than anyone else.” Visuals of Inori and Tsukasa in new costumes for the second season have also been unveiled.
Returning Staff and Cast
Fans can expect the return of the key creative team and voice cast that brought the first season to life. Yasutaka Yamamoto is set to direct the anime, with Jukki Hanada handling the series composition and screenplay, and Chinatsu Kameyama in charge of character design and co-chief animation direction. Studio ENGI will once again be responsible for the animation production.
The main voice cast reprising their roles includes:
- Natsumi Haruse as Inori Yuitsuka
- Takeo Otsuka as Tsukasa Akeuraji
- Kana Ichinose as Hikaru Kamisaki
- Yuma Uchida as Jun Yodaka
- Hina Kino as Ryouka Miketa
- Makoto Koichi as Rio Sonidori
- Megumi Toda as Mario Nachi
- Kotori Koiwai as Ema Yamato
- Takahiro Miyake as Yudai Jakuzure
Notably, professional figure skater Akiko Suzuki, who was involved in the choreography for the first season, will also contribute to the second season’s figure skating choreography.
The Medalist Manga’s Success
The Medalist anime is based on the critically acclaimed manga series by Tsurumaikada. The manga has been serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon since May 2020. It has garnered significant recognition, including winning the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category and the Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taisho 2022 award in the “Comics” category. As of January 2025, twelve volumes of the manga have been released in Japan, with Kodansha USA publishing the English translation.
The story centers on Tsukasa, a young man whose own skating dreams were crushed, and Inori, a determined girl who, despite being considered “too old” at 11, harbors a strong desire to become a figure skater. Together, they aim to overcome obstacles and reach the world stage.
Promotional Events
A stage event for Medalist is scheduled for August 14th at TV Asahi’s “SUMMER FES” in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo. This event will be a collaboration with the network’s figure skating broadcast and will feature appearances by Natsumi Haruse (Inori Yuitsuka), Takeo Otsuka (Tsukasa Akeuraji), professional figure skater Akiko Suzuki, and Shuzo Matsuoka, who serves as the main caster for the Figure Skating Grand Prix Series/Final.
The first season of Medalist was streamed on Hulu in the U.S. and internationally via Disney+ in select English-speaking territories.
