[Exclusive] Yuri On Ice Producer Speaks Out On Why The Sequel Film Was Cancelled

Yuri On Ice The Film: Ice Adolescence stays one of the talked-about unrealized anime initiatives in recent times, and now, Hideo Katsumata, one of many producers behind the collection, has lastly damaged the silence on why it was scrapped.

The movie’s cancellation was formally introduced on April 19, 2024, after years of delays and silence. The choice left followers heartbroken, because the collection stays one of the influential sports activities anime in recent times for its portrayal of determine skating, together with the LGBTQ+ themes it touched upon.

In a latest interview with Animehunch, veteran anime producer Katsumata confirmed that the mission fell aside as a result of inventive points.

Katsumata defined that inner inventive issues made it inconceivable for the mission to maneuver ahead. “I can’t discuss concerning the particulars, as that features some very non-public issues,” he stated. “However in the event you ask whether or not it’s a inventive or enterprise situation, the explanations stem from the inventive facet. Because it was an authentic animation, the folks concerned—together with the creators and the animation studio, MAPPA—among the many creators, on the inventive facet, a state of affairs arose the place it simply turned inconceivable to proceed with manufacturing.”

Though no correct purpose was revealed until now, on the time of the cancellation, the manufacturing committee cited “numerous circumstances” as the explanation for halting manufacturing, noting that regardless of a number of discussions and revisions, they have been unable to finish the movie.

Ice Adolescence was initially set to launch in 2019, with the important thing workers who labored on the anime collection anticipated to reprise their position. Nevertheless, the mission was delayed, earlier than in the end being cancelled.

Whereas Katsumata’s remarks level to inventive variations as the first purpose for the cancellation, earlier remark from MAPPA’s CEO, Manabu Otsuka, have offered perception into the studio’s evolving priorities, revealing that whereas Yuri On Ice achieved international success, the monetary return for the studio was “minimal in comparison with its success.”

This imbalance prompted MAPPA to rethink the way it dealt with manufacturing possession and income distribution shifting ahead.