Medalist Season 2's 1st Video Reveals More Cast, Opening Song Artist, January 24 Debut

Girl group HANA performs opening song "Cold Night"

The staff for the television anime of Tsurumaikada's Olympic ice-skating manga Medalist revealed on Tuesday the second season's first full promotional video, new visual, 10 more cast members, and January 24 premiere. The video reveals and previews the opening song "Cold Night" by girl group HANA.

The newly announced cast members are:

Natsuko Abeas Yūna Yagi, a sixth-grader signed to Meikoh Wind FSCMao Itouas Rinna Sarukawa, a first-year junior high student with Meikoh Wind FSCMaria Naganawaas Roba Manaka, a sixth-grader with Aisei Ryde FSCMinami Tanakaas Yotsuha Ushikawa, a sixth-grader with Meikoh Wind FSCHikaru Tōnoas Kurumi Risu, a sixth-grader with Nagakute Flower FSCTakako Tanakaas Sakina Anaguma, a fifth-grader with Tokt Toyohashi FSCYūko Natsuyoshias Sana Niwatori, a sixth-grader with Meijo Crown FSCHibiku Yamamuraas Iruka Okazaki, a high schooler with Aisei Ryde FSCKotomi Aiharaas Riina Kojō, a college student with Meikoh Wind FSCAi Kayanoas Marika Kurione, a high schooler with Meijo Crown FSC

The anime's staff also announced that Japanese figure skater Rika Hongo will take part in the anime's motion capture filming alongside the first season's Akiko Suzuki.

The second season will debut on January 24 on the "NUMAnimation" programming block on TV Asahi and 23 other affiliates channels at 25:30 (effectively, January 25 at 1:30 a.m.). The anime will also run on CS TV Asahi Channel 1 and BS Asahi on January 25.

The second season's first two episodes will also get an advance screening on January 17 at Marunouchi Piccadilly in Tokyo.

The second season will feature returning cast and staff. The first season's 3DCG environment supervisor Hazuki Nakamura is the art director for the new season, replacing Yōko Nakao. Kentaro Kashiwagi, the first season's 3DCG composite supervisor, is the second season's compositing director of photography, replacing Shin'ichi Komeya.

The first season premiered in Japan on the "NUMAnimation" programming block on TV Asahi and 23 affiliated channels on January 4 at 25:30 (effectively, January 5 at 1:30 a.m.), and on BS Asahi on January 6. Disney+ streamed the anime.

Former Olympic skater Akiko Suzuki (returning for the second season) choreographed the skating routines in the first season of the anime, in collaboration with retired figure skater Yuhana Yokoi and active competitive figure skater Hinano Isobe.

Kodansha USA Publishing licensed the manga, and it describes the story:

Tsukasa, whose dreams were crushed. Inori, left to fend for herself. These two share a dream...and their tenacity may be the only thing that sees them through. Their destination? The ice...on the world's stage!

Tsurumaikada launched the manga in Kodansha's Afternoon magazine in May 2020. Kodansha will publish the 14th compiled book volume on January 22.

The manga won in the Best General Manga category of the 68th Shogakukan Manga Awards in 2023. The manga won Best General Manga at Kodansha's 48th annual Manga Awards in May 2024.

Source: Press release