The famous Japanese singer-song-writer Kenshi Yonezu revealed the music video for “BOW AND ARROW,” the opening theme for the Medalist anime, featuring the professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who shows off his skill as Yonezu sings.
A Visual and Emotional Spectacle
The “BOW AND ARROW” music video shows Kenshi Yonezu singing while Yuzuru Hanyu delivers an incredible skating performance that follows the song’s increasing intensity.
Yuzuru Hanyu made history by winning gold medals at both the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, becoming the first Asian man to claim Olympic gold in figure skating. He was also the first male skater to achieve back-to-back Olympic victories since 1952.
In addition to his Olympic success, he won World Championship titles in 2014 and 2017, dominated the Grand Prix Final with four consecutive victories from 2013 to 2016, and set multiple world records. Following his fourth-place finish at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, he announced his retirement from competitive skating at the age of 27.
Hanyu himself choreographed his skating sequences for the Medalist MV, which was directed by Kyotaro Hayashi. The main staff also included Hiroshi Okuyama as the cinematographer and Masaru Ito as the assistant director.
The Medalist Anime
Medalist brings the world of competitive figure skating to life, following the story of Inori Yuitsuka, a young skater striving to reach the top, and Tsukasa Akeuraji, a former competitor turned coach. Their journey is filled with challenges as they aim for medals despite facing severe competition who started the sport younger.
Studio ENGI handles the animation, and the anime premiered on January 4, 2025. Yasutaka Yamamoto serves as the director, Chinatsu Kameyama is the character designer, and Jukki Hanada oversees the series composition and screenplay. The anime is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu worldwide.
The anime’s opening theme, “BOW AND ARROW,” was first previewed in the anime’s main trailer, while the ending theme, “Atashi no Dress” (“My Dress”) by neguse, was introduced in the third promotional video. You can watch the anime opening below.
Voice Cast
The main cast of Medalist includes:
- Natsumi Haruse as Inori Yuitsuka
- Takeo Otsuka as Tsukasa Akeuraji
- Kana Ichinose as Hikaru Kamisaki
- Yuma Uchida as Jun Yodaka
- Hina Kino as Ryouka Miketa
- Makoto Koichi as Rio Sonidori
- Megumi Toda as Mario Nachi
- Kotori Koiwai as Ema Yamato
- Takahiro Miyake as Yudai Jakuzure
Background
Written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada, Medalist has been serialized in Monthly Afternoon since May 2020. As of August 2024, eleven volumes have been released. The series has received significant recognition, including a win at the 68th Shogakukan Manga Awards in the general category. Kodansha has been publishing the manga in English since May 2021.
The story follows Tsukasa, a man whose dreams of competitive skating were shattered, and Inori, a girl determined to make it to the world stage despite starting out late. United by a shared goal, they embark on the difficult journey of figure skating.
Source: Kenshi Yonezu Official YouTube
©TSURUMAIKADA, KODANSHA / Medalist Production Committee
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