Medalist
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| Inori truly has improved herself as shown in her performance this episode and what she's learned throughout this series. So proud of her. A lot of competitive energy even in the finale. Riou's out there to show how much he's improved too. Truly, this season finale is more like a celebration for the art of figure skating than competition. A very beautiful season finale. This episode featuring Inori is my favorite performance from her. Season 2 announced! https://twitter.com/medalist_PR/status/1906028583866282133 |
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| Forget about badge tests, Inori wasn’t even officially learning all of this when we started. So might be only twelve-thirteen weeks for us, but yeah, been nothing less than a journey for Inori. Though I’d say they should’ve tried showing us all of her badge tests, as I mean seeing the payoff after every bit of struggle and hard-work would’ve felt even more rewarding, but yeah, the adaptation taking the liberty to expand over everything they did was fucking wow. Loved that, and btw, Inori and Hikaru might not have been in competitions together, but yeah, the way both of them look forward to compete with each other is one of my favourite things about this series. The Level 6 badge test really was something though.. kinda tells why only a few get to become one of these. Splendid performance from Inori there in all three rounds… her very best till now. Loved every bit of it. She had a LOT of backing coming till here, and yeah, glad to see she didn’t disappoint anyone. Was really nerve wracking though when they were announcing the results, great they didn’t try to give us any surprises lol. Two students under GOAT Tsukasa acing level 6 badge test was just cherry on top. Still don’t like blond kid but yeah, happy for him. Really though, I had my doubts before this started, for very obvious reasons.. I mean studio, but yeah, they nailed this one. Engi’s best animated series yet, without a doubt. Loved the adaptation overall. Would love a season 2, so yeah, whenever this comes back. In fact, it is coming already. Big W , if I say so. |
Softhenic03Mar 29, 10:06 AM
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| Wouldn't be a finale without getting to see the rivals have their little interaction with each other one last time. Hikaru still as beautiful as she was last time. Really wish we could've gotten another amazing performance from her one last time, but seeing Inori and Rioh go crazy on the rink was nice to see as well. Rioh especially because HOLY they cooked on both the performance itself as usual ofc, but that FUCKING OST WAS FIRE!! But ofc if the cooked that hard for the side character, you know they'll go even crazier for the main, and crazier did they. Everything from a new outfit, to a a new OST, to a new almost EVERYTHING. Yes, they went TWO FOR FUCKING TWO with the OSTs this episode. The montage of everything that's led to this point with the OST in the back.. yeah man, wow. Inori, as per usual, FUCKING COOKED. What a way to end off the season... hopefully right, JUST THE SEASON AND NOT THE SERIES PLEASE. Not including Apothecary, Ruroken, and Orb, yeah EASILY FUCKING ANIME OF THE SEASON. ENGI, you've did it, an actual good anime for once... an amazing one at that. One that really deserved it. Never thought the words would come out of my mouth, by sasuga ENGI... truly... AND FOREVER SASUGA, BECAUSE SEASON TWO IS ON THE WAY, I REPEAT.. SEASON TWO IS ON THE WAYYYYYY  |
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| Not a single dry eye in the room for this Medalist finale. Greatest sports animanga I’ve experienced I do not care about recency bias. This is the one for me. Please give me 20 seasons lol. I could not be prouder of my girl Inori and even Rioh annoying ass 😂 both of them have come so far and even though they sort of made us nervous for a bit, this was never in doubt. They both put in the work, have failed numerous times and learned from it, there was no way they were gonna be denied level 6. Really like how this episode contrasts against her first trial. Inori wasn’t shaking or uncomfortable at all because she had full faith in herself and Tsukasa. It is amazing what having a great coach can do for you in any sport, but especially skating. The scene of her tying Tsukasa’s hoodie strings instead of pulling on them like she did at the start was also really sweet. She’s not just a raw nervous wreck anymore, she’s focused, methodical and free now and that came through in her performance. The classical soothing music accented her free flowing movements and I loved the montage of her past memories, it was basically like Inori saying goodbye to her old self. It’s also really fitting that performance was as beautiful and well animated as Hikaru’s iconic one from a couple months ago. Just a beautiful full circle finale. Inori’s mom hugging her and crying is literally all of us during this episode. Seeing our girl take her place among the elite youth skaters is amazing. I can not wait for season 2 to see her competing with the best of the best and continuing to chase Hikaru! Easily anime of the season. |
Marinate1016Mar 29, 11:17 AM
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| Inori's relationship with earthworms and the ice rink receptionist Sekoma definitely was a bad memory she had in the past, though that's behind her now. It's been a while since we've seen Mika take care for Inori, and as for Tsukasa, having the Kago family take care of him once again is nothing but treats like his past that he feels even greater now. Inori's first meeting with Hikaru for her Level Six Badge Test, and simultaneously a declaration that she can catch up to Hikaru at the All-Japans competition, the word from Jun Yodaka stays true, but is ever more motivation for Tsukasa to go beyond. From the Elements Test to the short program and the free, both Inori and Rioh attempting their very best, espeically for the latter doing his 6th test, all eyes are on the skaters, from the judges to loved ones. The OST during Inori's free skating is just pure majesty, signing off her past and embracing the present her, dancing to her glee, and to the girl that simply loves figure skating. In the end, both Inori and Rioh pass their Level Six Badge Test, and can now move forward in their dreams. This finale is EVERYTHING I wanted about Medalist, to the ultimate degree. Absolute cinema. |
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| felt almost short, i was so focus on the perf, it was a great finale arigato 8/10 |
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| Congratulations Inori on passing the 6th test she has come so far and will just keep getting better and better. I an so happy to see that season 2 has been confirmed this show has been fantastic and a delight to watch. |
| Très Magnifique! That final skating scene was something out of a Disney film, from the music to the animation. Like I was watching the ballroom dance in beauty and the beast on ice. Can't wait for Season 2  |
| I feel that Hikaru in her street design, give a vibe that she is from another genre of anime, like action or horror. Yep, coach Sonidori is just a good person. We had back-to-back presentations, was a good ending. And now that there's a second season coming. I wont need to read the manga, for now. |
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| It’s wonderful to see the Riou wanting to be like Tsukasa! Both Inori and Riou gave it their all and shined like true stars—they absolutely deserved that Level 6. The anime was truly enjoyable, and it was great to learn more about the sport along the way. Looking forward to the next season! |
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| Inori's hard work paid off, now she and Rioh can compete on the same stage as Hikaru. This anime is absolute cinema. While the zero-to-hero formula is very common in sports animes, Medalist goes through Inori's trials and tribulations in detail and presents it in an engaging way that kept me eagerly waiting for the next episode. The 3D animation is one of, if not the best I've ever seen in an anime. 10/10. |
| never thought that I'll cry for this series but 😭 great character development for Inori. the CGI for the series suits very well too. reminds me of ballroom e youkoso too. |
| Nice season 2 announced already. |
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As if the combination of flashbacks, sweeping music and Inori and Rioh's efforts paying off weren't already lethal enough for my tear ducts, the rink receptionist just being there again was the killing blow. The emotional validation is unreal. |
| I am very glad that this anime is very popular in Japan including the manga. I really like Inori's amazing journey, Inori has very strong self-confidence. As Rioh said "I wish I could be as confident as she is". Tsukasa is one of my favorite characters in all the anime I've ever watched, and not forgetting Hikaru THE GOAT, really looking forward to seeing Hikaru's performance in season two. Very happy that ENGI successfully adapted the Medalist manga and brought it to life. This is undoubtedly the best adaptation from Studio ENGI. For me Medalist is the Anime of the Season so far (waiting for how 100 Girlfriends will end tho) and this is the Anime of the Year contestant for me. Hope to see Inori and Tsukasa again at least in 2026, and Season 2 will adapt one of my favorite arcs in the manga so I'm really looking forward to it, hopefully the OP will be filled by Kenshi-san again lol, THANK YOU TO THE STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED ON MEDALIST. INOOORRIIIINNNNNNNN AND TSUKASAAAA SEEEE YOUUUU IN THE SECOND SEASONNNNNNNNN  |
NezuSwallowtail_Mar 29, 1:25 PM
| Easily the best new anime of the season. This is what perfect final episode of the season looks like. One of the most deserving s2 announcment, I have seen in a while. |
My doctor has always told me to smoke. He even explains himself: “Smoke, my friend. Otherwise someone else will smoke in your place.” |
| Love the earlier episodes but couldn't said the same to the rest of the show unfortunately. Hikaru is the one that lit up Inori's fire and yet her presence is so lacking so much so that I lost almost all the earlier enthusiasm that I had when Hikaru was there. Good news is we can see more of her next season, yay I guess...... |
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| Medalist was an absolute hidden gem this season. I wish it was one episode longer, as the Level 6 exam felt a bit rushed. But overall, it was a fantastic anime, and I can't wait for the next season! |
| "Goodbye. Goodbye. Because you were there, I can skate like this." I cried. Seeing Riou smile while skating was so satisfying... It's a shame they cut that short. |
| AOTS for me, no doubt about it. Every aspect of this anime was spectacular, and I'm so glad that it's been confirmed that we are getting a second season. |
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| this was absolute peak and we get s2 !! |
| This anime was one wholesome ride from start to finish, one of the best anime this season. And season 2 is already announced, which this show more than deserves. For me it is 10/10, it develops characters well, the animation and ballet scenes are just top notch and the soundtrack is nice. Cannot wait for S2 to come out, hopefully next year. |
| Absolutely the best anime of the season. Well, Apothecary exists, but it is in a 2-cour set-up, so it won't get its full props until end of next season. The finale was great. When we first met Riou, never imagined I would be getting emotional for that little shit, haha. It was such a great arc for him and I loved every second of his focus in this finale. Inori's focus was familiar and unsurprising, but still so goddamn well done. I could talk about every individual point of the series, but I will just say I loved all of it from start to finish. My eyes were, "watering," in nearly every episode, chills in basically every episode, the whole nine yards, lol. I'm not going to give it a 10 yet because we are just getting started. However, if ENGI can keep this up, it will easily end up there. By far, by an insane amount of miles, to the moon and back this is ENGI's magnum opus. I still don't know where the talent came from all of the sudden, but I've just accepted it at this point. My score for now... Score: 9.51 I know it got Disney-jailed being on Hulu and all, but only having 27k watching this on MAL is a travesty. We need a, "help a friend find Medalist," campaign or something. :P |
KingYoshiMar 29, 3:13 PM
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| really enjoyed this show. it hit all of the emotional lows and highs of being an athlete, along with worthwhile character growth from the whole cast. looking forward to s2. inori vs hikaru when?? |
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| If someone had told me that an Engi animation show would be my anime of winter season, I would have called them back with "are you nuts?" and would have pulled The Detective is already dead and Uzaki-chan from my bible of bad anime. |
Such a beautiful episode! It was so emotional to see Inori leaving her old self behind and moving towards the future. Seriously, it was amazing to see their efforts paying off. By the way, they confirmed the second season, which will show Inori making incredible progress along with some monstrous participants. I'm beyond excited! |
| When I tell you I've never been so proud of a fictional character before... I shed so much tears seeing Inori perform that I felt like I've known this little girl for years when all I've been doing is watching a show for like 12 weeks. Like, this anime is EXTREMELY good at creating impactful moments and showcasing their characters growing and developing. Seeing all their hard work come to life in the form of them performing feels so rewarding that I can't help but cry for them because they(the author and director) showcase their hard work and struggles on the rink so well. Now other than that, can we talk about how good the animation is by the way??? Everything feels so fluid and the movements feel so realistic. Seriously, major props to the whole team working on this, they did amazing. Anyways, all I have to say is, I LOVED this show. It might be my AOTY, though it is a bit early to say, so for now it's gonna be sitting at a comfortable 9.5/10 for me. Can't wait for season 2! |
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| What a poignant way to wrap up the first season. |
| A really good finale to end a surprisingly good show in Medalist. I love the manga for this but had minimal expectations based on the studio's history. While it isn't perfect, it was a lot better than I expected and ultimately, did enough to make the anime a solid experience on its own while carried by great writing present from the manga. You can just tell how much development has occurred in 13 episodes and most of it feels really well done. Looking forward to season 2 if it follows similar standards like this. ENGI needed a redemption arc somewhere and while they didn't nail the visuals perfectly, this is a good starting point for them to turn it around. |
| enjoyed the content but otherwise the manga is way better. well, let's see how the second season goes. |
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| Oh man, I cannot wait for s2!! ENGI WILL cook. This is practically their passion project at this point. Sure it's not the best looking visually, but considering that Orb was airing at the same time and even the same day of the week, both have made a strong case that you don't need fancy looking production quality to effectively express high quality storytelling. |
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| A great show. Inori was lovely to watch progress. Will happily watch season 2. Possibly one of my favorite shows this season, a 9/10 for me. |
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| Inori's growth has been incredible, she leaves her fears behind and transforms into a competitor. Her relationship with Tsukasa and the emotional closure with her mother made this episode a good end. Looking forward to the second season, hopefully ENGI can keep up this level. |
 ㅤㅤ I love Nao Tomori ♡ ㅤㅤ友利奈緒のことが大好きです ♥ |
| This was great! Inori went so far, and her hard work is really showing. Glad there's going to be a 2 season!! |
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| My word, I can't believe my eyes, an ENGI production that did not blow up and stayed great all throughout the season, we're witnessing history here folks. But man, what an amazing show and that was the perfect way to end the season with Inori passing the badge 6 exam and showing how much she has grown. Rioh has also grew to be one of my favorite characters in the show, protect that smile. Really looking forward to season 2, I hope ENGI keeps it up. |
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| Thank you so much ENGI, I love you now. Season 2 announced let's gooooo!!! I haven't read the manga yet, but I hope I'll read it in the future and recommend everyone else to read it too, its quality appears to be insanely high. |
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