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

Yuri On Ice The Movie: Ice Adolescence remains one of the most talked-about unrealized anime projects in recent years, and now, Hideo Katsumata, one of the producers behind the series, has finally broken the silence on why it was scrapped.

The film’s cancellation was officially announced on April 19, 2024, after years of delays and silence. The decision left fans heartbroken, as the series remains one of the most influential sports anime in recent years for its portrayal of figure skating, along with the LGBTQ+ themes it touched upon.

In a recent interview with Animehunch, veteran anime producer Katsumata confirmed that the project fell apart due to creative issues.

Katsumata explained that internal creative complications made it impossible for the project to move forward. “I can’t talk about the details, as that includes some very private matters,” he said. “But if you ask whether it’s a creative or business issue, the reasons stem from the creative side. Since it was an original animation, the people involved—including the creators and the animation studio, MAPPA—among the creators, on the creative side, a situation arose where it just became impossible to proceed with production.

Although no proper reason was revealed till now, at the time of the cancellation, the production committee cited “various circumstances” as the reason for halting production, noting that despite multiple discussions and revisions, they were unable to complete the film.

Ice Adolescence was originally set to release in 2019, with the key staff who worked on the anime series expected to reprise their role. However, the project was delayed, before ultimately being cancelled.

While Katsumata’s remarks point to creative differences as the primary reason for the cancellation, earlier comment from MAPPA’s CEO, Manabu Otsuka, have provided insight into the studio’s evolving priorities, revealing that while Yuri On Ice achieved global success, the financial return for the studio was “minimal compared to its success.”

This imbalance prompted MAPPA to reconsider how it handled production ownership and revenue distribution moving forward.