For once, I’m deviating from my normal coverage of cosplay. This week, I think it’s important to sit down and talk about an anime airing this season, Yuri!!! On Ice.
This show follows a young Japanese figure skater who through a series of events ends up living with his idol and coach, Russian figure skater Victor.
It sounds cute, right?
Well, sports anime are known for falling into the trap of queer-baiting. As in, they tease through the entire series hints of two characters of the same sex being romantically involved together but only do so for fan-service and ratings - there is no goal to actually include any representation.
Shows like Free! and Haikyuu!! are referenced often in arguments about queer-baiting because viewers tend to see subtext within the shows hinting at same-sex relationships, but one never actually comes to fruition.
In some shows, the subtext is so prominent that the creators will tease relationships and connections as much as they can, think Black Butler.
Back to Yuri though.
In this show there are multiple points where the same-sex relationship elements are much more prominent. For example, in one episode Victor asks Yuri if, “this means they’re boyfriends.”
And in episode 7 this past week, we saw a heartfelt interaction between the two boys where Yuri reveals he just wants Victor to have faith in him. Cue Yuri completing his program successfully and rushing to Victor, who not only hugs him and knocks him back onto the ice, but appears to kiss him.
This is a huge step in the right direction for anime. Because not only are the characters interacting with one another in a way that’s more than just to make the fans buy more merchandise or keep watching episodes.
Yuri and Victor’s relationship is portrayed in a very realistic way- they aren’t perfect, they don’t treat each other like princes and they certainly have struggles. Yuri is self-conscious and nervous about impressing everyone. Victor wants to succeed as a coach, but also wants Yuri happy.
They fight in episode 7, huge tears rolling down Yuri’s cheeks but it isn’t the end of the world. They move on and share a kiss. The show doesn’t set unrealistic standards of what a same-sex couple should look like, they just show two figure skaters who also happen to have a thing for each other.
LGBT inclusion isn’t exactly common in anime either, especially representation done well. Some people will refer to Haruhi’s dad in Ouran High School Host Club to be a good example of trans inclusion, but she still calls her dad by male pronouns, despite an outward female appearance.
In the new anime Magical Girl Raising Project, there is a trans girl as part of the main cast. But of course like most progressive characters, she’s killed off rather early.
Yuri!!! On Ice is a perfect example of an anime done right. Their relationship isn’t the focus of the series, rather the focus is on the beautiful choreography and fantastic music and all of the characters’ personal struggles and aspirations.
