#tr_character design

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #929

Yuri!!! on Life, official guidebook, Minor characters' introduction

Part 1.

~Hasetsu~

Katsuki Toshiya (54)

Yuuri's father and owner of 'Yuutopia Katsuki'. Supporter of a local soccer team, 'Sagantosu', not very knowledgeable about figure skating. It seems that Yuuri's bad drinking habits are inherited from his father, but his father's favorite party trick, when it comes to drunk dancing, is 'hara odori'.

Katsuki Hiroko (49)

Yuuri's mother. Together with her husband, she runs 'Yuutopia Katsuki'. On all times, she always supports Yuuri with kindness and a calm smile on her face. She attended the same school as Minako-sensei, and is her junior. Her behavior is incredibly cute, like she's still a young girl. It seems that Yuuri inherited his proneness to easily gaining weight form his mother.

Katsuki Mari (30)

Yuuri's older sister working at 'Yuutopia Katsuki'. At first glance, she looks like a cold person, but she always supports Yuuri and watches over his career as an athlete. She's a Yurio's fan, because he's a bishonen with blond hair, just like her favorite idol, and she's so passionate about being his fan, that she crafted a hand-made uchiwa to support him. The very person who gave him the name 'Yurio'.

Vicchan

Yuuri's beloved dog, a toy poodle. Vicchan died a natural death, having lived long and happy life, before the Grand Prix Final last year. Vicchan official name is 'Victor'.

Minako (age unknown)

In her younger day, she was a world-class ballerina, winning a few awards, too. Now she owns a ballet school in Hasetsu. She is quite strict, but she is a teacher, whom Yuuri owns a dept of gratitude to. She's a good mentor to have, as she is ready to give lessons until late night hours. She loves drinking and at night, she works at a bar. Her weakness are sexy men.

[Notes: Most info from these profiles is widely known in the fandom, but to have the guidebook completed, I'm translating them, too + there may be a few little tidbits that aren't that widely known~

I'm not sure if it was ever confirmed officially if Vicchan is a boy or a girl, so I avoided using either!]

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #931

Yuri!!! on Life, official guidebook, Minor characters' introduction

Part 3.

~Yurio's team~

Yakov Feltsman (70)

A famous Russian coach responsible for Victor, Yurio and Popovich. His words and behavior show that he's a strict coach, but he cares deeply about his athletes, and he also agreed to what Victor asked of him, and agreed to be Yuuri's coach during the Rostelecom Cup. Lilia is his ex-wife.

Lilia Baranovskaya (age unknown)

Former Principal of Bolshoi Ballet and choreographer responsible for Yurio's Free Skating program. A stoic person, who is very strict when it comes to doing things the proper way, and to her, there is nothing that is more important than beauty. She starts living together with Yurio, and teaches him not only the basics of ballet, but also tries to thoroughly drill into him the ballet's philosophy of beauty.

Nikolay Plisetsky (age unknown)

Yurio's grandfather, who has been his mental support since he was a small child. Because he lives in Moscow, he doesn't live together with Yurio, who is now in St. Petersburg. He always goes to see Yurio, when he competes in competitions in Moscow, taking home made pirozhki with him. It seems that lately, he's prone to back problems.

Mila Babicheva (18)

Yurio's rinkmate and currently in the 3rd place in women' singles World ranking. She's very slender, but strong enough to lift up Yurio without breaking a sweat. Tano jumps are her specialty and she was the one who taught Yurio this technique. It seems that recently, her relationship with a ice hockey player has ended.

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #900

Animage 2017/03, Hiramatsu Tadashi interview

Part 7.

-- Please, tell us about important points in animating other characters!

Hiramatsu: The personality of every character was firmly established from the beginning, so it was easy to draw them. First of all, JJ and Chris - there is something similar between them. Both of them are very self-confident, bold and proud. But Chris needs Victor. He's the type that's like 'That I can shine so brightly, it's only because Victor is here'. And JJ doesn't care very much about anything that's around him - he's that 'ONLY ME!' type of guy (laugh). I think that such differences between them are also expressed in their facial expression and appearance.

-- JJ's 'JJ fingers' pose is very well-known, isn't it?

Hiramatsu: Yes, that's right. It has been there in Kubo-san's storyboards from the beginning. The pose of his left hand does look a bit unnaturally strained though (laugh).

-- As for Otabek, the story of how he become Yurio's friend was very interesting.

Hiramatsu: Otabek is very much 'a manly man!' type of character, isn't he? He's silent, and somebody who is very stable, not easily swayed by people around him. I think that from Yurio's perspective, Otabek's 'I'll follow my own path!' stance appears very cool.

[Notes: 900th translation! 😆🎉]

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #899

Animage 2017/03, Hiramatsu Tadashi interview

Part 6.

-- Victor during Rostelecom Cup also said that Yuuri is the type that is more motivated when he's an underdog in a foreign land.

Hiramatsu: It's like he can feel more confident, when he underestimates himself, like 'that's the best I can do anyway, so'. I think that when during Cup of China, Yuuri jumps and in his mind he shouts 'Victor, you idiot!!', and lands the jump successfully, that's also very Yuuri-like behavior.

-- Makkachin is also an important character, that brings Yuuri and Victor closer together. Her characteristic is the fluffy, very manga-like look.

Hiramatsu: She looks more like a stuffed animal toy than a real dog. But well, poodles actually do look like stuffed toys. A lot of pets make an appearance in this anime, but Makkachin is somebody who Victor has a real emotional bond with, his family. I draw her as one whole separate character. On the other hand, that would be rather unfortunate if people thought that there is a human hiding inside a dog-costume, so I'm careful to balance that properly.

-- Starting with episode 4. Yuuri gradually opened his heart to Victor, The scene when he touched his hair whorl was also interesting.

Hiramatsu: Ah yes, Victor is a bit worried about his hairline, perhaps? (laugh) At first, I didn't know what's the meaning of this scene. That 'am I so much in danger?' and why was he so depressed, when Yuuri touched his hair whorl.

-- Is it the reason why a part of Victor's character design is that larger-than-usual forehead?

Hiramatsu: No, no! (laugh) It's just how his hair flows, and the large forehead is a by-product of that! Everything is okay!

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #932

Yuri!!! on Life, official guidebook, Minor characters' introduction

Part 4.

Isabella Young

JJ's high school classmate and his fiancé. She has a slight problem with reading the room, and at times, that makes her provoke arguments with Yuri's Angels. On the other hand, she's also extremely devoted to JJ, and we saw her screaming his name to support him, when the whole venue went quiet.

Anya

Popovich's ex-girlfriend and an ice dancer. When she was still lovely-dovely with him, she posted loads of photos showing them kissing on her socials, but a closer look at them can reveal that even then, her eyes drifted towards other men. A sinful girl. Obviously, now she posts loads of photos with her current boyfriend showing how in love they are.

Sara Crispino

Michele's twin sister, born after him. 4th in the women' singles World Ranking. She jumps extremely difficult combination of triple lutz and triple loop. Right now, she's looking for a boyfriend, and she set her aim on Seung Gil. She wishes for her brother to finally cure his sister complex.

Morooka Hisashi

A figure skating commentator, who is also a passionate skating fan. His commentary can be heard on all competitions, from regionals to the Grand Prix Final. Obviously, he has an interest in Yuuri, who is the Japan's Ace skater, more than anyone else, but lately, the rumor has it that JJ became his personal favorite and he is very knowledgeable in all things JJ.

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #930

Yuri!!! on Life, official guidebook, Minor characters' introduction

Part 2.

~Hasetsu~

Nishigori Yuuko (25)

Ex-rinkmate of Yuuri, adored by him, since they were children and now, Nishigori's wife. Together with her husband, she works at 'Ice Castle Hasetsu'. She's a huge fan of Victor, and as a skating otaku, she's on a quite advanced level. Since Yurio came to Hasetsu, Yuuko has been worrying about him, and they are still in touch with each other.

Nishigori Takeshi (24)

Ex-rinkmate of Yuuri, now working at 'Ice Castle Hasetsu'. He was a bully when he was a child, but actually he believes in Yuuri's talent more than anyone else, and he is always worried about him. At present, he supports Yuuri also as his trainer.

Nishigori Axel, Lutz and Loop

Nishigoris' triplet girls, known also by the name of 'The Three Skating Otaku Sisters'. Hyper-kindergartners, that absolutely love everything about figure skating and social media. They have divided between themselves the roles of taking pictures, filming videos, and posting everything on social media, and they are constantly waiting for an occasion to post something interesting. Even though they are only 6yo, they were responsible for money earned by 'Onsen on ICE' and there is a lot about them that is unfathomable.

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #897

Animage 2017/03, Hiramatsu Tadashi interview

Part 4.

-- Miyamoto Kenji, the person responsible for Yuri!!!'s skating choreography, said that he imagines Victor as a marble statue.

Hiramatsu: Ah yes, I think he meant that Victor really looks like a living legend would, I suppose? In addition, Victor has an adult and a child-like personality, living together in one body, so there is also that unpredictability in him, because you don't know what he will do next. I think that's also a part of what makes him such a charming character. And of Yurio I'd say that he's a gemstone, that still hasn't been polished completely. He's very delicate and often wavers. Of course, Yuuri often wavers, too, but in case of Yurio, he gives you the impression that he's a Russian delinquent, but in reality he's a child, that's very easy to hurt. It's like Yuuri and Yurio are the opposite sides of the same coin. Yuuri may seem to be timid, but contrary to expectations, he is very bold.

-- In case of Yuuri, it's very interesting how the impression you get of him changes dramatically, almost like there is a switch that gets flipped on and off. It's like, suddenly, he changes into that seductive man.

Hiramatsu: Yeah, even the shape of his eyes changes (laugh). When Yuuri decided that he's ready to do something, he's eyes look sharper, and the distance between his eyebrows and his eyes gets smaller. Normally, Yuuri's eybrows are shaped like ハ [ha] katakana character, which makes him look kind of tired and weary, but when that switch is flipped on, he looks more concentrated and there is that sense if tension. Yuuri on the cover of Animage 2017/2 is a Yuuri somewhere in-between the on/off setting.

[Notes: This's the Yuuri he's talking about: ↓　]

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #998

Newtype, 10/2016 Hiramatsu Tadashi's interview

Part 3.

-- Eyelashes of the characters were also drawn with a lot of attention to details.

Hiramatsu: Thanks to Yuri!!! I stopped having any doubts if I should draw eyelashes on male characters. Some of the expressions would be impossible to draw without those eyelashes.

-- What did you think about the theme of this show that is figure skating?

Hiramatsu: I don't know really a lot about figure skating. I watched it on TV, feeling deep emotions, but I've never thought that I'd end up drawing figure skating myself. Watching real-life skating competitions, I used what I saw as an inspiration mainly for how the facial expressions of figure skaters change in the time between when they enter the venue and when it's their turn, the start of their program. It was very important for the Director as well, to show how they enter the fight mode...　As they warm up behind the scenes, during the 6-minutes practice, when they wait at the rinkside and directly before their start their performance.

-- The focus on the show was more on the mental struggles, rather than on the physical development of the competitors.

Hiramatsu: It's a story about athletes, but it's not a 'supokon - sports anime'. It's not a story about learning how to jump a new type of jump, but it's the emotions and relationships between skaters what the story is about. So we didn't decided on a specific facial expressions for a character, but instead, if it's Yuuri, for example, then when he's with Victor, that's how he's is, when he's with Yurio, he's different, and when with Phichit he's also different - we draw the expressions, to show what each relationship between the characters is like.