The ice is about to get hotter: ENISHIYA has dropped a full trailer, a dramatic new key visual, and the exact premiere date for Medalist Season 2, sending the figure-skating drama racing toward its winter return.
Based on the acclaimed manga by Tsurumaikada, Medalist follows the story of young skater Inori Yagi and her coach Tsukasa Saotome as they navigate the cutthroat world of competitive figure skating. The first season, which aired earlier this year, delved into themes of perseverance, rivalry, and the raw emotional toll of pursuing Olympic dreams, earning praise for its fluid animation and authentic depiction of the sport. Season 2 picks up the narrative, escalating the stakes as Inori faces tougher challenges on her path to greatness.
In a recent reveal, a brand-new trailer for Medalist Season 2 has been unveiled, offering a glimpse into the intensifying competitions and character developments ahead. While keeping major plot points under wraps, the preview teases heightened drama on the ice, with dynamic skating sequences and interpersonal tensions that promise to deepen the series' emotional core.
Accompanying the trailer is a striking new key visual, illustrated by the manga's creator Tsurumaikada, which spotlights protagonist Inori Yagi in a poised skating stance during the Chubu Block Tournament. The artwork captures the intensity of the moment, with swirling ice motifs and focused expressions that underscore the personal growth and competitive fire driving the story forward.
Adding to the momentum, the opening theme for Medalist Season 2 has been confirmed as Kagayaku Ashita e (To a Shining Tomorrow), performed by the vocal group TrySail. Known for their energetic and emotive tracks in anime soundtracks, TrySail's contribution is expected to perfectly encapsulate the blend of hope and determination that defines the series.
The newly-announced voice cast for Medalist Season 2 are:
Natsuko Abe as Yuna Yagi
Mao Ito as Rinna Sarukawa
Maria Naganawa as Manaka Roba
Minami Tanaka as Yotsuha Ushikawa
Hikaru Tono as Kurumi Risu
Takako Tanaka as Sakina Anaguma
Yuko Natsuyoshi as Sana Niwatori
Hibiku Yamamura as Iruka Okazaki
Kotomi Aihara as Riina Kojo
Ai Kayano as Marika Kurione
These talented actors previously lent their voices to a diverse array of skaters and coaches, each role highlighting the unique pressures and joys of the sport. Their reprisals ensure continuity in the heartfelt portrayals that made the first season resonate so strongly.
Directed by Shinichiro Ushijima at ENISHIYA, with series composition by Mitsutaka Hirota and character designs by Satomi Tamura, Medalist Season 2 is set to premiere on January 24, 2026, in Japan via TV Asahi's NUMAnimation programming block. International streaming details will follow in the coming weeks, with Crunchyroll likely to handle global distribution as it did for the inaugural season.
As the release approaches, Medalist continues to stand out in the sports anime genre for its realistic take on athletic pursuit and human resilience. In the words of Kodansha USA, the series' English publisher:
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!
Source: Comic Natalie
