Summary
MAPPA cancels long awaited Yury!!! The movie On Ice made fans angry and accused the studio of exploitation and greed. The original anime had a huge impact, winning many awards and being praised for its representation of same-sex relationships. MAPPA's reputation suffered from poor working conditions and delays, once again disappointing anime fans.
Several months after becoming a villain in the anime world due to the poor working conditions of Jujutsu Kaisen employees, the studio MAP attacked again as a result of the long-awaited Yuri announcement!!! The movie On Ice has been cancelled.
Fans are protesting MAPPA's decision to cancel Yuuri!!! On Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence, the next installment in the franchise, after eight years they've been waiting to see the next installment of the critically acclaimed story. They are pointing that out Yuri!!! On Ice's success put the animation studio on the map, starting its rise to the top.
The sequel film was supposed to focus on the character of Viktor and was first announced in April 2017. The film was originally scheduled to be released in 2019 but was repeatedly delayed. Although the first teaser trailer was released in Japan in 2019 and the rest of the world in 2020, there were no further updates until the shocking news of the project's cancellation.
MAPPA is giving Anime fans another reason to hate it
Yury's Cancellation!!! The movie On Ice was the last in a long and controversial history
It seems like whenever MAPPA trends on social media, it's never for the right reasons. The studio has a long history of controversy but received the most criticism in late 2023, when it aired the hit second season of Jujutsu Kaisen. Several animators working for MAPPA have spoken out to denounce the inhumane working conditions and low wages imposed by the studio. Fans were quick to express their outrage, but Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 hasn't stopped, and perhaps controversially, it's been praised for its incredible animation quality.
Notice of Yury's trip cancellation!!! On Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence bucks the MAPPA trend once again. Fans are reminding everyone that the original anime was a turning point for the studio, but that's not all. Many people credit MAPPA with holding the film together over the yearsdue to the success of the franchise, while other companies were able to produce it and bring it to market much sooner.
Other fans were simply heartbroken by the announcement. They are taking this opportunity to remember the importance of the series and its impact on their lives.
Yuri!!! On Ice had a huge impact on a generation of Anime fans
The original anime was directed and written by Sayo Yamamoto with an original script by Mitsuro Kubo
Yuri!!! On Ice is actually a precursor film, released in 2016, before anime became one of the dominant mediums in the entertainment industry. It won three awards at the Tokyo Anime Awards Festival, seven awards at the inaugural Crunchyroll Anime Awards, and a Japan Character Award. The series has been praised for its depiction of same-sex relationships in a sport – and country – where the issue is still considered controversial.
Yuri!!! On Ice had a huge impact on a generation of anime fans, who waited patiently for eight years, believed in MAPPA despite all the difficulties. It's clear that the reaction to this announcement goes beyond simple disappointment at a beloved product being canceled. Fans are accusing MAPPA of taking advantage of their love for the series, holding on to it out of pure greed.
While some other studios may have been given the go-ahead after sharing this news, MAPPA certainly won't be given the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, while most of its products were praised for their quality, the studio built a reputation for exploitation and greed. While many hoped that the failure of the Jujutsu Kaisen animators would push the company to turn a new leaf, the project's cancellation Yuri!!! Movie On Ice: Youth on Ice comes as another sad chapter in MAPlong history of controversy.