History Anime / YuriOnIce

** Two are brought up at the "Hot Springs on Ice" showdown in Episode 3. The two Yuris need to skate to two similar pieces, with one representing ''eros'' and the other ''agape''. However, the shy, insecure Yuri gets the seductive ''Eros'' program, while the hot-blooded and temperamental Yurio gets the emotional ''Agape'' program. It's done to give the boys a chance to branch out from their usual programs, and to make them look inside themselves for emotions they can use in their dancing in order to look forward.
** As Yuri's program centers around the concept of love, it stands to reason that he's looking at it from all angles as well. He recognizes the love he receives from his family and friends, and he describes his feelings toward Victor as a sort of "love" as well, since he's the first person that Yuri wanted to keep a hold of.

* NamedAfterTheSong: In Episode 4, Yuri decides that "Yuri on Ice" will be the name of the piece of music he's skating to for his free program. The piece itself is meant to embody his career as a skater, which is especially important since he believes that this will be his [[TheLastDance last season]].

* TheNamesake: In Episode 4, Yuri decides that "Yuri on Ice" will be the name of the piece of music he's skating to for his free program. The piece itself is meant to embody his career as a skater, which is especially important since he believes that this will be his [[TheLastDance last season]].

* BathroomStallOfAngst: In the first episode, Yuri cries while sitting in a bathroom stall after all the accumulated stress from his failure at the Grand Prix Final catches up to him.

A [[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-04-29/yuri-on-ice-anime-gets-brand-new-film/.115476 movie]] has been greenlit, called ''Yuri!!! on Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence'', which [[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-07-01/yuri-on-ice-anime-film-reveals-staff-title-2019-date-visual/.133649 was originally going to be released in 2019]], but has been delayed.

** Almost a meta-example, but this is about the third time that Creator/JunichiSuwabe voices [[Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis a character from a sports anime who is acknowledged as good-looking]] InUniverse [[Manga/KurokoNoBasuke and the ace of all aces in the featured sport.]] [[Manga/FoodWars Fourth, if cooking counts as well.]]

** Yurio is set up as Yuri's big [[TheRival Rival]] in the first episode. He even has all of the hallmarks of a typical sports anime rival: a TeenGenius, [[TheAce the best skater]] in the junior division, a connection to the main cast, and even a bit of a [[HairTriggerTemper temper problem]]. You think that the story would be about them fighting neck-and-neck against each other... but after Episode 3, they don't meet in competition again until the Rostelecom Cup. Both Yuris have very different paths to follow in their competition season, meaning that they don't see each other often, and Yuri [[OneSidedRivalry doesn't really see Yurio as a rival]] at all. Until Episode 8, the most one hears about the other is from the news.

* EvilLaugh: Creator/ToshiyukiToyonaga unleashes one as [[spoiler:Yuri is subjected to DemonicPossession]] in the semi-canon CrackFic of a special event that is ''Yuri!!! on Festival''.[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2VZR1Vi5T0 Enjoy.]]

** The creator also drew Creator/EvgeniaMedvedeva with Victor holding a banner of Yuri. Evgenia is a massive fan of the anime.

[[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas Not to be confused with]] the YuriGenre; quite the opposite, in fact, give that the predominant romantic themes are between two men. This has led to some fans joking that it ought to be named "''Yaoi!!! On Ice''", instead, though it isn't strictly YaoiGenre, either, despite its queer themes.

* SeriousBusiness: Of course, like in any other sports anime, the characters do ''not'' take their careers as figure skaters for granted, and every one of them aims to win the gold medal at the Grand Prix Final -- although here, it's portrayed in a far more down-to-earth and realistic manner.

[[caption-width-right:350:''Yes, we were born to make history!'' [[labelnote:Note]]Counter-clockwise from center: [[{{Adorkable}} Yuri]] [[PerformanceAnxiety Katsuki]], [[LivingLegend Victor]] [[EccentricMentor Nikiforov]], [[{{Fanboy}} Kenjiro Minami]], [[AwesomenessByAnalysis Seung-Gil]] [[HeManWomanHater Lee]], [[{{Narcissist}} Jean-Jacques]] [[InsufferableGenius Leroy]], [[{{Keet}} Phichit]] [[CameraFiend Chulanont]], [[MySisterIsOffLimits Michele Crispino]], [[ShrinkingViolet Guang-Hong Ji]], [[ShamelessFanserviceGuy Christophe]] [[MellowFellow Giacometti]], [[TheStoic Otabek Altin]], and [[JerkWithAHeartofGold Yuri]] [[HotBlooded Plisetsky]].[[/labelnote]]]]

** Hisashi Morooka, a reoccuring commentator, is voiced by Taihei Katou, who in real life is an announcer for TV Asahi and a figure skating commentator.

* TheCameo: Real life figure skaters and announcers have shown up in the anime.
** Morooka Hisashi is voiced by Taihei Katou, an announcer for TV Asahi and a figure skating commentator.
** Oda Nobunari appears as a commentator, and watches J.J.'s short program from the stands at the Barcelona Grand Prix Final. He also appears in the preview for episode 11, in which he calls Victor and Yuri by their nicknames, comments on their matching rings, and agrees to take a photo with Yurio.
** Honda Takeshi is a commentator at the Sochi Grand Prix Final.
** Stéphane Lambiel announces the start of the free program at the Barcelona Grand Prix Final and seems to be an acquaintance of Victor's. He is a fan of the series and owns at least one Yuri on ICE phone case (as of 2017).
** Muramoto Satsuki, Phichit's coach, is based on a retired skater who coaches in Thailand. Similarly, Odagaki Kanako, Minami's coach, is based on a real skater who worked with Miyamoto Kenji to choreograph the show.

* TheBigDamnKiss: [[spoiler:Between Victor and Yuri at the end of Episode 7, after Yuri skates his free program. Not only is the kiss given a lot of significance, but it happens in front of a huge crowd, ''on international television''. While Victor's arm [[KissingDiscretionShot blocks their mouths]], the angles of their faces and the reactions of Yuri's friends and family make it clear that they weren't just hugging. It was further confirmed in the [[http://fencer-x.tumblr.com/post/159183024629/for-anyone-still-doubting-that-yuuri-and-victor audio commentary]] for episode 7, where Mitsurou Kubo, Leo's voice actor and Guang Hong's voice actor all congratulated Victor and Yuri for finally doing it.]]

** Yuri didn't inform Victor of his decision that this would be his last season (even though [[DramaticIrony the audience has known this almost from the start]]). His poor coach[[spoiler:/fiance]] does ''not'' take the news well.

*** Visually, Yuri looks quite a bit like Creator/YuzuruHanyu and his idolization of Victor was directly inspired by Yuzuru's admiration of Victor's real-life counterpart, Evgeni Plushenko.

*** Victor's skating style is most likely based on Creator/StephaneLambiel's, which is very different from Evgeni Plushenko's. Some of his cheerful personality seems to be based on Lambiel (who is quite a fun-loving goofball) as well. There's also the little tidbit that Lambiel went to Japan and briefly served as a choreographer for Daisuke Takahashi (a contemporary of his), just after he retired from competition.

* TheCameo:
** In Episode 9, Evgeni Plushenko [[http://yuri-on-ice.tumblr.com/post/153949672348/alliandoalice-evgeni-plushenko-made-a-cameo seems]] to be watching Yurio's performance.
** In Episode 10, [[spoiler: Evgenia Medvedeva [[http://www.fandompost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/yuri_on_ice_10e.jpg is taking pictures just behind Mila.]]]]
** In Episode 12, in a BlinkAndYouMissIt moment, J.J. is holding an issue of Ice Jewels with Yuzuru Hanyu striking J.J.'s trademark pose [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/yurionice/images/3/33/Jj_iy_ep_12.png on the cover]].

** Almost a meta-example, but this is about the third time that Creator/JunichiSuwabe voices [[Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis a character from a sports anime who is acknowledged as good-looking]] InUniverse [[Manga/KurokoNoBasuke and the ace of all aces in the featured sport.]] [[Manga/ShokugekiNoSoma Fourth, if cooking counts as well.]]

* TheBigDamnKiss: [[spoiler:Between Victor and Yuri at the end of Episode 7, with Victor kissing Yuri after he skates his free program in front of a huge crowd, ''on international television''. While at first it was unclear if they kissed due to Victor's arm [[KissingDiscretionShot blocking their mouths]] it was later confirmed in the [[http://fencer-x.tumblr.com/post/159183024629/for-anyone-still-doubting-that-yuuri-and-victor audio commentary]] for episode 7, where Mitsurou Kubo, Leo's voice actor and Guang Hong's voice actor all congratulated Victor and Yuri for finally doing it.]]

* TheBigDamnKiss: [[spoiler:Between Victor and Yuri at the end of Episode 7. Later confirmed in the [[http://fencer-x.tumblr.com/post/159183024629/for-anyone-still-doubting-that-yuuri-and-victor audio commentary]] for episode 7, where Kubo, the writer, Leo's voice actor and Guang Hong's voice actor all congratulated Victor and Yuri for finally doing it.]]

* UnderdogsNeverLose: Contrary to what most would expect, [[spoiler: this is averted when Yuri ''doesn't'' win the gold medal at the Grand Prix Final; instead, it's Yurio who takes first place at the podium with Yuri placing at second. This is much less depressing example however, since Yurio wins only by a 0.12-point difference, and was driven to win so that Yuri wouldn't retire just yet and would continue skating for another season, which is exactly what happens]].

** {{Downplayed|Trope}} with the two Yuris. They are both talented and hardworking, but their differences as skaters are highlighted during their competition during Episode 3: Yurio's performance is perfect from a technical point of view, but he struggles to convey the emotional theme of his program. On the other hand, Yuri fumbles some jumps, but he expresses the theme of his program perfectly. [[spoiler:As is usual with this trope, the latter wins the competition]].

* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Played with. They do not talk ''out loud'' while they're skating, though each skater has their own internal monologue that lasts as long as their programs, so the show employs a more realistic example of this trope.

* AuthorAppeal: Yamamoto is a huge fan of figure skating [[note]]Quite a few of her directing roles have figure skating in them: see the ''ENDLESS NIGHT'' short and the ''VideoGame/Persona5'' opening.[[/note]], and it really shows in this series. Mitsurou Kubo, who came up with the original concept for the anime, is also a big skating fan, particularly of Tatsuki Machida (whom Yuri Katsuki was partially inspired by).

** The reason why Yuri ended up bombing at the previous Grand Prix Final? [[spoiler: His dog died while he was away from home.]] Then in the present, when Yuri hears from home that [[spoiler:Victor's dog is in critical condition]] he immediately urges Victor to go back to Japan even though it means [[spoiler:Victor won't be able to watch him perform]].

*** Visually, Yuri looks quite a bit like Yuzuru Hanyu and his idolization of Victor was directly inspired by Yuzuru's admiration of Victor's real-life counterpart, Evgeni Plushenko.

*** Victor's skating style is most likely based on Stephane Lambiel's, which is very different from Evgeni Plushenko's. Some of his cheerful personality seems to be based on Lambiel (who is quite a fun-loving goofball) as well. There's also the little tidbit that Lambiel went to Japan and briefly served as a choreographer for Daisuke Takahashi (a contemporary of his), just after he retired from competition.

** The research is so good that it's actually recognizable which figure skaters were used as the inspirations for their skating based on the characters skating styles. Yuri is a sensual "sexy" skater with strong high jumps, which strongly alludes to Daisuke Takahashi. Although Victor's backstory as a legendary figure skating champion would fit very well with Evgeni Plushenko's, it's actually Yurio whose skating style fits with his the closest. They are both incredible prodigies that have a fast, agile skating style with powerful jumps and high flexibility. Victor's skating style seems to be based of off Stephane Lambiel who was known for his elegant, yet manly skating style and his incredible spins in his active years.

** Choreographer and former figure skater Stéphane Lambiel appears in the final episode as a reporter.