I heard that a large reason why Yuri on Ice is so popular in Japan is because of how realistic it is.
I gave it some thought, and I think thatâs not restricted to Japan at all - itâs a genuine reason regardless of the nation.
I think that stems from the lack of typical anime tropes. Itâs what makes the anime accessible to newcomers or to people who havenât previously enjoyed anime. I know for a fact that many fans of YOI have never seen anime before or never enjoyed the concept of it but easily got into Yuri on Ice.
I think this is precisely the lack of anime tropes that adds to its realism and makes it easy to pick up for anyone. Of course, itâs not trope-free, not at all, but letâs list a few of the ways in which it managed to defy the popular tropes: itâs not set in high school, the characters are adults (but the life of those who arenât isnât centered around school), there are no annoying female characters, no female body related fanservice, doesnât rely on the same gags repeated ad nasueam, the main character is considered âweakâ because of an actual mental illness and not just being wishy washy and bland, the protagonist doesnât always win gold (in fact, he never does, but sometimes he doesnât even place on the podium), there are no villains and no heroes, all the characters are likeable in some way, most of the stunts they perform are imaginable in real life (even if not always 100% doable), the gay relationship isnât passed off as a joke and doesnât involve typical BL dynamics, the characters actively use social media (like most people these days) and change their outfits every day.
Thereâs even more that you could add to the list, but I think this shows enough already.
Of course, thatâs not to say that Yuri on Ice features no anime tropes because it does, but theyâre usually not as invasive or off-putting as in many other anime.
I think realism really is an important part of Yuri on Ice and why the anime was able to gain so many fans, especially among people who were nver particularly interested in anime as a whole. Through not pandering to otaku culture, it was able to show a natural, organic story, one that most people could relate to or at the very least imagine in real life.
I think it is really is the realism in it that struck a chord with so many people - it felt grounded in real life, presenting situations and conversations that could actually happen, as well as people (and their cultures) from all over the world, all with their strengths, weaknesses and motivations that were believable and often relatable. I personally think it was the anime that you should show to someone who thinks that anime is just flashy fights and pink-haired girls with huge breasts and tons of screaming.
Yuri on Ice was a story in anime form, but it wasnât what you could call a âtypical animeâ and I think thatâs partly what made such success possible. Through not following usual paths set up by many popular anime and manga series, it was able to go beyond the otaku community and grab the hearts of people who would never otherwise watch anime.
titsay
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