I posted about my very visceral reaction to K-On! last month and I did not expect to find another show that would surprise-gut-punch me with all the feels so quickly.

I’ve had Medalist on my watch list since it came out at the beginning of the year and I’ve put it off for quite some time because I’m not a sports guy and figure skating just wasn’t much of a draw to me. I had seen here and there people recommending it, often people who clearly shared my taste, but it wasn’t from a studio I was familiar with, it isn’t about a thing I’m particularly interested in, and on Anilist the genres are listed as “drama”, “psychological”, and “sports”. I assumed it was some maudlin, depressing thing. Boy, was I wrong.

Now I don’t think the tags are wrong, per se, but this show is funny, heartwarming, and brilliantly upbeat, as well as being a dramatic, and occasionally intense, sports anime. I think I cried in more episodes than I didn’t, but always happy tears. I am a 40 year old childless man and this show made me wonder if I wanted kids. I still don’t, I’m pretty sure, but fuck me if this show doesn’t make being a teacher or coach look like the most rewarding career.

The show’s direction and performances are fucking gripping. The CG is very well executed, and the 2D animation is stellar. In the actual skating sequences, the direction and use of more expressive surrealist elements like motion lines and vignettes really drive home the beauty and difficulty of the sport. It’s legitimately some impressive filmmaking.

Inori and Tsukasa are both adorable goofballs with deep-seated trauma and hearts of gold. Tsukasa is also INCREDIBLY hot, not just because he’s a dancer and athlete but because he’s kind and empathetic and patient. Inori is so charming and so strong, while still really feeling like a 10 year old girl. It’s so painful to see her sad and so joyous to see her happy. They both believe in each other, and help the other to believe in themselves.

They use exaggerated cartooning a lot which I always love; like Bocchi The Rock or Maomao from Apothecary Diaries, they aren’t afraid to make the characters larger than life and go way off model. It really uses the medium of animation to great effect, something I’m always happy about. Special shoutout to Mike-chan and her hilarious cat eyes.

This thing is a masterpiece, full stop. I’m a little pissed at myself for not picking this one up earlier, but if I’m gonna take anything away from this show, it’s that it’s never too late.