History Awesome / YuriOnIce

!!Meta
* Fans are joking that they're being overwhelmed by the creators because they are pretty much ''[[http://halcyon-morpho-menelaus.tumblr.com/post/154182837499/me-oh-itd-be-so-nice-if-my-otp-held-hands-or granting all of their wishes]]'' in order to further fuel the Victor/Yuri ship. It doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}.
* Normally, sports anime are rarely or never picked up on by real-life professional athletes. It would be difficult to find a professional basketball player who had watched ''Manga/KurokosBasketball'', or a professional swimmer who watches ''Anime/{{Free}}'', and so on. However, many real-life figure skaters -- even if they normally don't watch anime -- watch ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' and even post about it on Twitter and the like, commenting on either how they enjoy the series or how they resemble some of the characters.
** Russian figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva (2016 World Champion and holder of both the highest free skate score ''and'' short program score) has been constantly tweeting her love for the show. She loved it so much she actually [[https://twitter.com/JannyMedvedeva/status/799326889517219840 cosplayed as Yuri]]! Mitsurou Kubo was elated and drew a [[https://twitter.com/kubo_3260/status/799333517482082304 sketch]] of Medvedeva with Victor in response, which Medvedeva used as her Twitter header for a while.
** When American figure skating legend Johnny Weir [[https://twitter.com/JohnnyGWeir/status/804559588863471616 tweeted]] that he was going to watch ''Yuri!!! on Ice'', it left Kubo [[https://twitter.com/kubo_3260/status/804560885133914112 in this state]]. Judging from his tweets, he greatly enjoys the anime (to the point that he broke his self-imposed "one episode a day" rule and caught up with the anime in about four days), and it's explored in detail in these interviews for [[http://thegeekiary.com/johnny-weir-watched-yuri-ice/40241 The Geekiary]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ldrU3crvd4 Crunchyroll]].
** ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' became so popular with professional figure skaters, that Japanese former ice skating champion Nobunari Oda is cast as himself to serve as a commentator in Episode 11. Additionally, Swiss figure skater and choreographer Stéphane Lambiel guest-stars as himself in the final episode.
** And not only figure skaters; at the US National Championships, ice dancer Joe Johnson flashed [[https://twitter.com/joejohnsonice/status/822598263039787008?lang=en a very specific hand gesture]] while in the kiss and cry.
** Joel Minas, retired Filipino skater, recreated the ''eros'' program perfectly at a YOI convention in the Philippines. In costume. To much fan rejoicing. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WXwHJkjrNw Watch it here.]]
** The ultimate proof that this show being a huge hit among professional skaters: during the first night of the team figure skating competition at the [[UsefulNotes/OlympicGames 2018 Winter Olympics]], the Japanese team's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN2H7tbu8E4 pairs short program performance]] was to titular "Yuri on Ice" track. The internet '''exploded'''.
* A flashback in Episode 7 shows a younger Victor wearing a costume identical to Johnny Weir, who has been a subject of controversy due to his sexuality. Therefore if you think about it, this show paid tribute to an openly gay skater who suffered in a homophobic industry. To add, Weir carried a rose bouquet and wore a rose crown at the same Vancouver Olympics he received derogatory comments from newscasters about his sexuality and gender. To have this tribute to Johnny Weir in the same episode where Victor and Yuri openly kiss each other on the ice rink is immensely important.
* Yuri's Japanese VA, Creator/ToshiyukiToyonaga, definitely deserves mention for delivering his lines in the garage scene in Episode 7 with pure emotion, without ever bordering on melodramatic or narmy. In fact, [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct his entire performance]] is one SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome as he perfectly nails every line, emotion, and nuance of the character -- to the point that it earned him the accolade of "Best Lead Actor" in the 12th Annual Seiyuu Award.
** To add to that, Creator/JunichiSuwabe wins the "Best Supporting Actor" award in the same event, and the role that contributed to his win is none other than Victor.
* Creator/JoshGrelle as Yuri, period. While the fanbase is generally divided about the English dub, all fans unanimously agree that their performance as Yuri is the best thing about the dub and is worthy of high praise.
* When the anime was first announced, while some were interested, the amount of hype was akin to one waiting for yet another run-of-the-mill sports anime. But then after the first episode was aired, it ''skyrocketed'' in popularity, with every following episode attracting more and more fans until the anime became an online phenomenon. Or more accurately, an ''internet juggernaut'' (which is still an understatement), and the anime became one of the most trended topics in all social media, ''particularly'' on Tumblr. By the time its seventh episode aired, its popularity is already neck-on-neck with the likes of ''WebComic/OnePunchMan'' and ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', and to do such is no mean feat. Its popularity even ''eclipses'' other popular sports anime like ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis'', ''Manga/KurokosBasketball'', and even ''Anime/{{Free}}'', with only ''Manga/{{Haikyuu}}'' coming close.
** Want further proof on how popular the anime is? In an [[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2016-12-23/the-best-and-worst-anime-of-fall-2016/.110280 article of Anime News Network]], five out of nine reviewers cite ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' as the best anime of the Fall 2016 season. It even dominated the poll for "The Best Anime of 2016", beating ''LightNovel/ReZero'' by ''two thousand votes'', compensating for its loss to the same anime in Crunchyroll's "The Most Popular Anime of 2016". While this isn't an uncommon occurrence, it nevertheless proves that the show is ''that'' highly lauded.
* The simple fact that this is the very first sports anime to feature a completely healthy same-sex relationship between the main characters is what's garnered the series so much praise and such a unique reputation out of all the anime to come out of the Fall 2016 lineup. Like ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' is slowly breaking barriers.
* In an interview that's featured in the official fanbook, Sayo Yamamoto says that she faced a lot of pressure to not include the scene with TheBigDamnKiss between Yuri and Victor in Episode 7, but she [[http://gogoeeg.tumblr.com/post/162106083219/sayo-yamamoto-talking-about-the-kiss-scene refused to give in]] and made sure it stayed.
* The after-credits scene in Episode 10 -- which lasts for no longer than twenty seconds -- is one for the creators and writers. Why? It sheds a whole new light on everything that had happened in the previous nine episodes, and adds a lot more depth to the story, ''without'' retconning or hand-waving any plot point in the process. It also shows that the series has made a ''masterful'' use of the UnreliableNarrator trope as a narrative device to deceive the audience from the very beginning, leaving everyone surprised after TheReveal.
** It's an even bigger CMOA when you realize that [[https://twitter.com/kubo_3260/status/806718916508590080 the director, Sayo Yamamoto, came up with the idea for the actual ED sequence so late that she and Mitsurou Kubo had to do all the art for it by themselves so they didn't stress out the animators]].
* Not long after Episode 12 aired, the servers of Tumblr, Crunchyroll, [[RuleOfThree and]] many other anime streaming sites ''[[DemandOverload suffered from so much traffic that they all crashed]]''. While the online activity for all those sites normally spikes up after a new episode is released, this is the first time that such an incident occurs for ''any'' anime, even in mainstream anime.
* The fact that the sales numbers for Volume 1 (Blu-Ray and DVD combined) have surpassed 50,000 copies ''in the first week.'' There's also how the sales of the CD for the soundtrack sold the same amount of copies in two weeks' time. In fact, all six volumes topped the charts (even after the export ban), with the final volume making the most sales. It even got to the point where ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' is currently '''''fourth''''' ''among the top ten best-selling anime'' '''''of all time''''', ''and it hadn't been a year since its release when this happened!''
* In the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2016, ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' participated in seven categories -- namely, "Anime of the Year", "Best Boy", "Best Animation", "Most Heartwarming Scene", "Best Couple", "Best Opening", and "Best Ending", -- and won '''all''' ''of them by a landslide'', showcasing its power and impact by the way it took the anime and the figure skating community by storm.
* The sheer ambition [[Creator/{{MAPPA}} the studio]] had in creating the anime. Remember that ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' is an original work, the likes of which have a far harder time gaining a solid budget than anime adaptations of manga, light novels, etc. Not to mention, a fair amount of budget for the anime is used to pay for the choreography and for the various artists who lent their voices to the soundtrack, and all the skating sequences -- which are ''very'' difficult to animate -- are ''hand-drawn'', and despite having deadlines to meet, the animators never once resorted to CGI animation, sticking to the traditional style from beginning to end. And yet, the staff was still able to produce an anime with moments of flawless animation, regardless of the later episodes that suffered from OffModel shots, break boundaries by portraying a positively romantic relationship between its two male leads, and attract a massive deal of attention from a widespread audience, making the series one of the biggest {{Sleeper Hit}}s of the 2010s.
* Despite it having a staggeringly high number of key animators and outsourcing, which is not always a good thing as it means the main key animators are rushed for time, ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' has some true prestigious talents on board -- including Tadashi Hiramatsu of ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'', ''Manga/{{Parasyte}}'', and ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' fame acting as character designer and animation director. In fact, he won the "Best Animator" award in the Tokyo Anime Award Festival.

* Creator/JoshGrelle as Yuri, period. While the fanbase is generally divided about the English dub, all fans unanimously agree that his performance as Yuri is the best thing about the dub and is worthy of high praise.

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!!Moment Subpages are Administrivia/SpoilersOff. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.

True to the lyrics of its opening song, ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' was born to make history, and these are the reasons why.

'''Moment Subpages are Administrivia/SpoilersOff. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yoi4.png]]

* When the anime was first announced, while some were interested, the amount of hype was akin to one waiting for yet another run-of-the-mill sports anime. But then after the first episode was aired, it ''skyrocketed'' in popularity, with every following episode attracting more and more fans until the anime became an online phenomenon. Or more accurately, an ''internet juggernaut'' (which is still an understatement), and the anime became one of the most trended topics in all social media, ''particularly'' on Tumblr. By the time its seventh episode aired, its popularity is already neck-on-neck with the likes of ''WebComic/OnePunchMan'' and ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', and to do such is no mean feat. Its popularity even ''eclipses'' other popular sports anime like ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis'', ''Manga/KurokoNoBasuke'', and even ''Anime/{{Free}}'', with only ''Manga/{{Haikyuu}}'' coming close.

* Normally, sports anime are rarely or never picked up on by real-life professional athletes. It would be difficult to find a professional basketball player who had watched ''Manga/KurokoNoBasuke'', or a professional swimmer who watches ''Anime/{{Free}}'', and so on. However, many real-life figure skaters -- even if they normally don't watch anime -- watch ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' and even post about it on Twitter and the like, commenting on either how they enjoy the series or how they resemble some of the characters.

* Yuri's flawless reenacting of one of Victor's performances, despite being slightly out of shape and spending some time in a state of depression. Is it any wonder he caught Victor's attention? Even though [[spoiler: Episode 10 reveals that Victor already knew of him beforehand]], it doesn't mean that Victor is any less impressed.

* After being assigned the ''agape'' program, Yurio snaps that Victor had "better give [him] a program that [he] can ''win'' with!" Victor simply replies, perfectly calm, "Whether or not you win is up to you. [[BadassBoast It would be a winning program if]] ''[[AwesomeEgo I]]'' [[BunnyEarsLawyer skated it]]." Arrogant or no, [[LivingLegend Victor]] has every right to make such a boast. [[spoiler: In the end, Victor ''did'' give him a winning program]].

* Phichit isn't half-bad in the free program. Despite placing fourth in the short program, he's able to overcome the odds and [[spoiler: win first place by giving a flawless performance, surpassing Christophe by 2.05 points]].
* The maturity that Yuri and Victor both show when [[spoiler: the latter accidentally makes the former cry during his well-intentioned albeit insensitive attempt to snap Yuri out of his stage fright]]. They're both able to turn the situation into something positive, when other characters would make things worse instead if put in the same situation.
** While Victor [[spoiler: was mainly at fault]], he gets points for [[spoiler: not trying to defend himself or arguing back when Yuri calls him out on his actions, and only admits that he doesn't know what to do to help Yuri]].
* During Yuri's free program, despite fumbling a few jumps, and even falling when [[spoiler: he tries to land a quadruple flip (which is Victor's SignatureMove)]], the fact he partially succeeded in pulling off an extremely difficult feat [[note]]He attempted to land the quadruple flip at the end of his program, which tends to be avoided since landing quads at the very end is physically exhausting; not to mention that by then, any skater would have run out of stamina to still pull it off. And while he fell on the ice, he managed to get enough rotations, which is still challenging on its own.[[/note]] impressed the audience and the judges alike (''especially'' Victor himself), that he [[spoiler: won the silver medal]]. You can't help but wonder: [[spoiler: would he have won the gold medal if he nailed all his jumps]]?
** In fact, [[spoiler: he would have. Phichit and Christophe (the latter ending in third place) have total scores of 285.86 and 283.81, respectively; which means that the difference between their scores and Yuri's total score, even if it isn't specified, is very small. With a perfect performance, Yuri might have even achieved a score in the ''300's'']].
* Of course, there's the WhamShot of [[spoiler:Victor launching into TheGlomp[=/=]TheBigDamnKiss combination]] after Yuri's free skate. Considering how most anime tend to avoid [[spoiler: featuring same-sex couples in any anime that aren't categorized as yaoi/shounen-ai or yuri]], ''especially'' when sports are involved, the entire scene is a CMOA for anime itself.
** Putting [[spoiler: the kiss]] itself aside, ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' is a show starring [[spoiler: an interracial same-sex couple, both of whom are from countries who have contentious relationships with the LGBT+ community at best, who publicly ''become'' a couple in a country where perceptions of homosexuality as a disease weren't challenged until as late as 2014]]. The creators have serious balls for producing a show that throws down the gauntlet for intersectionality.

* Yuri nailing his short program yet again, receiving a total of [[spoiler: 109.97 points and beating his previous personal best, only falling behind J.J. with a score difference of 3.59. He even beats Yurio (who skates ''Agape'' for the short program) by 11.88 points. Even if Yurio hadn't failed to land his triple axel, it's obvious that Yuri still would have beaten him]].
** Heck, his performance made everyone cheer for him when a few minutes ago they were cheering for ''Victor''. To explain, most of the audience were keen on seeing Yuri lose because (as stated in previous episodes) they would rather see Victor return to figure skating and [[YokoOhNo don't favor Yuri since they blame him for Victor's departure from the sport]]. Yuri knows this all too well, and just like in Episode 6, promptly silences the crowd by giving a perfect performance, receiving a standing ovation and being awarded [[spoiler: another score breaking the hundreds]].

* As stated above, Yuri isn't well-liked by many skaters and by the audience, and both he and Victor know this. However, instead of letting it get to them or vocally opposing the matter, through Yuri's skating and through [[spoiler: the subtle (and not-so-subtle) public acts of affection they give each other]], they're basically giving everyone a big middle finger for their scorn and telling them they don't care.
* Whether or not you like how self-confident he is, J.J.'s performance proves why he was the bronze medalist in the previous Grand Prix Final, only behind the likes of Christophe and Victor. There are his spinning skills, his jumping height, and his willingness to break the traditional practice of saving the jumps for the second half, which undeniably leaves an impact on the audience. [[spoiler: He even got first place in the short program with a score of ''113.56'', which in RealLife would be a world-breaking record]].

* Yurio's free program, which we finally see in full. He was able to last until the very end (the program was so exhausting that he was gasping for breath at the end), and was able to perfectly perform such a difficult program, which he even made ''harder'' by adding the number of jumps. [[spoiler: He might have even won first place, [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter had it not been for J.J.,]] ''[[AlwaysSomeoneBetter again]]'']].
* Despite not performing to the best of his ability due to [[spoiler: Victor's absence]], Yuri still does well enough to [[spoiler: place fourth and qualify for the Grand Prix Final. The audience is even aware that if Victor was there to watch, the results would be drastically different]].
** This scene deserves a lot more credit, as it truly shows how much Yuri has grown. [[spoiler: Without Victor around, Yuri is at a loss and isn't in the right state of mind to skate, and it shows when he fumbles a jump early in his program. Compared to how he was in Episode 7, he's in a much more fragile state than ever and is barely hanging by a thread, knowing that it's all or nothing now in the free skate, and he's doing his very best not to lose it completely. Unlike last time, where he had a chance to vent out his emotions, there's no such opportunity this time around. However, after a long and painful struggle, he picks himself back up and impresses the audience once more as they feel all the emotions he conveys into his choreography. In the end, he barely qualifies for the Grand Prix Final, but even if he made it only by a hair's breadth, it was more than worth it]].
* Speaking of J.J., even if you don't like him, you can't say that his arrogance is unfounded -- [[spoiler: he's the only skater among the six finalists to win ''both'' the qualifying events he participated in with a gold medal]]. It's no wonder he's seen as Victor's successor, what with being acknowledged as "a new prince in the figure skating world".

* [[spoiler: Victor and Yuri's relationship]] is a CMOA in of itself, as [[spoiler: they had gone farther than any other romantic couple in anime had in the span of only ten episodes: they're already ''truly'' '''''engaged''''', and with golden rings as solid proof]].

* Yuri's final performance of the ''eros'' program, even though [[spoiler: he doesn't perform it as flawlessly as the last two times]]. Still, it took him a lot of guts to [[spoiler: change the last two jumps of the program: the quadruple Salchow into a quadruple Salchow + triple toe loop combination, and the quadruple-triple toe loop combination to a quadruple flip]]. Doing the latter part gets special mention, as he chose to [[spoiler: land a jump he hasn't mastered yet -- and even though he doesn't land it cleanly, he still was able to do so without falling down on the rink unlike the last time]]. Sure, it may have caused him to [[spoiler: have a minor breakdown, but he has still come a long way, and his performance earned him a decently high score of 97.83]].
** It's a personal CMOA for Yuri to [[spoiler: not let the incident ''destroy'' him, and he manages to keep calm throughout the entire episode, even when watching the other skaters perform flawlessly (besides J.J.), even with Yurio [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown picking on him again]], along with Victor [[InnocentlyInsensitive unintentionally failing to provide him the support he needs]]. Had this happened a few episodes ago, it might have irreparably damaged Yuri, and while it still hurts him, he has grown strong enough to not break down completely]].
** On the side, while [[spoiler: watching J.J. bomb his performance due to being overcome by pressure, Yuri acknowledges that no matter the results, J.J. should be proud about how far he has come, and he should be proud of himself too, since he's still a Grand Prix finalist and one of the top six best male skaters in the world. [[CharacterDevelopment This is something that he never would have acknowledged earlier in the series]]]].

* Yurio ''finally'' perfecting his ''Agape'' performance, and even upping the difficulty by raising an arm in the air while performing his jumps, causing him to [[spoiler: place first in the short program with a world-breaking score of ''118.56'']]. To emphasize, he [[spoiler: surpassed ''Victor's'' world-breaking record, which no one ever saw coming, not even Victor himself]].
* Otabek's performance. It's the first time we see his short program and now that we have, it's no wonder he made it this far. It says something that, according to Sara, he wasn't that memorable the previous year and this year, and yet not only did he nailed ''every'' jump, but he managed to [[spoiler: rank in second place, breaking his previous personal record in the process and cementing his status as the dark horse of this season's Grand Prix Final.]]
* Isabella and all of J.J.'s fans cheering for him even though [[spoiler: he messes up his short program and comes in dead last.]] Doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}.

* While sad, [[spoiler:a crying Victor giving Yuri a well-deserved callout for being so insensitive counts.]]
* Despite [[spoiler: placing dead last in the short program]], J.J. is [[spoiler: able to pick himself back up in the free program and get a score of 213.83, which then amounts to a total score of 300.54, earning him the bronze medal once more]].
* After seeing him make mistakes the past few times, Yuri [[spoiler: finally gives a perfect performance of his free program, with flawless execution ''and'' animation to boot, as well as perfectly landing the quadruple flip. He even changed a few jumps to aim for higher points (e.g. a triple loop to a triple flip and a triple flip to a quadruple toe loop). All in all, his performance leads to him receiving an overall score of ''319.41'', '''''beating Victor's world record for the free program'''''. He doesn't end up winning the gold medal, but the fact remains that his free program score is the ''highest'' among all the six contestants, and even though Yurio beats him, it's only by the skin of his teeth. Technically, Yurio won, but it's obvious who's the true champion here]].
** Let's make this clear: remember that Yuri bombed during his last Grand Prix Final, and yet this time, [[spoiler: even though he doesn't win first place, he still gives the performance of a lifetime and finally overcomes the anxiety and stage fright that has always held him back from skating at his best. He even surpassed Victor's world record for the free program, which certainly no one had expected to happen, even more than when Yurio had beaten Victor's personal best in the short program. Yuri had already achieved the victory he sought, therefore even if he won only the silver medal, [[VictoriousLoser he was more than satisfied]]]].
** There's the fact that many fans who are knowledgeable about how scoring works in ice skating have stated that in the scenario where [[spoiler: both Yuris perform flawlessly in both their short and free programs, Yuri would score higher than Yurio. Even in the scenario where the scores for their actual performances are more realistic (particularly in their short programs), Yuri would still win]]. Say what you will on who deserved the gold medal more, but there's a reason Yuri is Japan's ace skater.
* While it's easy to overlook, Otabek is the only other other finalist aside from Yuri to skate his free program ''without'' making any mistakes. [[spoiler: While he sadly places only at fourth place, he still came a long way from someone who was of barely any recognition in the previous seasons]].

* Even with the aforementioned statements, the fact doesn't change that [[spoiler: Yurio won first place at Grand Prix Final, right at his senior debut. This is especially when you factor in that while he always aimed for the gold medal, he became even ''more'' driven to win because he didn't want Yuri to retire, believing that if he wins, Yuri would continue his career instead]]. After WordOfGod confirms that [[spoiler: Yuri would've retired if he won the gold medal]], this becomes even more awesome, as well as a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}.
* Yuri declaring [[spoiler: that this wouldn't be his last season after all, and will continue competing for another year, with the intention to win the gold medal this time]]. His journey isn't over yet; it's only truly beginning.
* During the Grand Prix exhibition gala, we are introduced to a short but grand spectacle: [[spoiler: Yuri and Victor pair-skating to the duet of “Stay Close to Me”.]]
* The final words the episode leaves us with: [[spoiler: “See you NEXT LEVEL!”, which could only mean one thing... '''''a second season is on its way!''''']]
** While it turns out that [[spoiler: the sequel will actually be a movie, and not a complete season]], it doesn't change the fact that we'll be getting more of ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' for a while. And who knows, [[spoiler: it may follow the formula of having a movie sequel before adding a second season, [[Anime/{{K}} like what another anime did]]]].
** There is also the possibility that [[spoiler: the movie will cover the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Given that a medal in the Olympics is far more prestigious than a medal in the Grand Prix, one can't help but feel excitement as to who will take the gold medal this time]].

* Fans are joking that they're being overwhelmed by the creators because they are pretty much ''[[http://halcyon-morpho-menelaus.tumblr.com/post/154182837499/me-oh-itd-be-so-nice-if-my-otp-held-hands-or granting all of their wishes]]'' in order to [[spoiler: further fuel the Victor/Yuri ship]]. It doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}.

* A flashback in Episode 7 shows a younger Victor wearing a costume identical to Johnny Weir, who has been a subject of controversy due to his sexuality. Therefore if you think about it, this show paid tribute to an openly gay skater who suffered in a homophobic industry. To add, Weir carried a rose bouquet and wore a rose crown at the same Vancouver Olympics he received derogatory comments from newscasters about his sexuality and gender. To have this tribute to Johnny Weir in the same episode where [[spoiler:Victor and Yuri openly kiss each other on the ice rink]] is immensely important.

* The simple fact that this is the very first sports anime to [[spoiler: feature a completely healthy same-sex relationship between the main characters]] is what's garnered the series so much praise and such a unique reputation out of all the anime to come out of the Fall 2016 lineup. Like ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' is slowly breaking barriers.
* In an interview that's featured in the official fanbook, Sayo Yamamoto says that she faced a lot of pressure to not include the scene with [[spoiler:TheBigDamnKiss between Yuri and Victor]] in Episode 7, but she [[http://gogoeeg.tumblr.com/post/162106083219/sayo-yamamoto-talking-about-the-kiss-scene refused to give in]] and made sure it stayed.
* The after-credits scene in Episode 10 -- which lasts for no longer than twenty seconds -- is one for the creators and writers. Why? It sheds a whole new light on everything that had happened in the previous nine episodes, and adds a lot more depth to the story, ''without'' retconning or hand-waving any plot point in the process. It also shows that [[spoiler: the series has made a ''masterful'' use of the UnreliableNarrator trope as a narrative device to deceive the audience from the very beginning, leaving everyone surprised after TheReveal]].

* The sheer ambition [[Creator/{{MAPPA}} the studio]] had in creating the anime. Remember that ''Yuri!!! on Ice'' is an original work, the likes of which have a far harder time gaining a solid budget than anime adaptations of manga, light novels, etc. Not to mention, a fair amount of budget for the anime is used to pay for the choreography and for the various artists who lent their voices to the soundtrack, and all the skating sequences -- which are ''very'' difficult to animate -- are ''hand-drawn'', and despite having deadlines to meet, the animators never once resorted to CGI animation, sticking to the traditional style from beginning to end. And yet, the staff was still able to produce an anime with moments of flawless animation, regardless of the later episodes that suffered from OffModel shots, [[spoiler: break boundaries by portraying a positively romantic relationship between its two male leads]], and attract a massive deal of attention from a widespread audience, making the series one of the biggest {{Sleeper Hit}}s of the 2010s.

** The ultimate proof that this show being a huge hit among professional skaters: during the first night of the team figure skating competition at the [[UsefulNotes/OlympicGames 2018 Winter Olympics]], the Japanese team's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlraiHS1goc pairs short program performance]] was to titular "Yuri on Ice" track. The internet '''exploded'''.

* Of course, there's the WhamShot of [[spoiler:Victor launching into TheGlomp[=/=]BigDamnKiss combination]] after Yuri's free skate. Considering how most anime tend to avoid [[spoiler: featuring same-sex couples in any anime that aren't categorized as yaoi/shounen-ai or yuri]], ''especially'' when sports are involved, the entire scene is a CMOA for anime itself.

* No matter how badly Yuri thinks of himself, he's still one of six best male skaters ''in the'' '''''whole world'''''. He treats it as a personal failure, but he still had to defeat a number of talented skaters just to even qualify for the Grand Prix Finals.

* Whether or not you like how self-confident he is, J.J.'s performance proves why he was the bronze medalist in the previous Grand Prix Finals, only behind the likes of Christophe and Victor. There are his spinning skills, his jumping height, and his willingness to break the traditional practice of saving the jumps for the second half, which undeniably leaves an impact on the audience. [[spoiler: He even got first place in the short program with a score of ''113.56'', which in RealLife would be a world-breaking record]].

* Despite not performing to the best of his ability due to [[spoiler: Victor's absence]], Yuri still does well enough to [[spoiler: place fourth and qualify for the Grand Prix Finals. The audience is even aware that if Victor was there to watch, the results would be drastically different]].
** This scene deserves a lot more credit, as it truly shows how much Yuri has grown. [[spoiler: Without Victor around, Yuri is at a loss and isn't in the right state of mind to skate, and it shows when he fumbles a jump early in his program. Compared to how he was in Episode 7, he's in a much more fragile state than ever and is barely hanging by a thread, knowing that it's all or nothing now in the free skate, and he's doing his very best not to lose it completely. Unlike last time, where he had a chance to vent out his emotions, there's no such opportunity this time around. However, after a long and painful struggle, he picks himself back up and impresses the audience once more as they feel all the emotions he conveys into his choreography. In the end, he barely qualifies for the Grand Prix Finals, but even if he made it only by a hair's breadth, it was more than worth it]].

* Phichit's performance of the "Shall We Skate?" program, with him nailing ''all'' his jumps this time. Not to mention, the animation for his program has significantly improved compared to Episode 6. He has definitely made an impact on the audience, and proved why he's the first Thai skater to qualify for the Grand Prix Finals.

* Otabek's performance. It's the first time we see his short program and now that we have, it's no wonder he made it this far. It says something that, according to Sara, he wasn't that memorable the previous year and this year, and yet not only did he nailed ''every'' jump, but he managed to [[spoiler: rank in second place, breaking his previous personal record in the process and cementing his status as the dark horse of this season's Grand Prix Finals.]]

** Let's make this clear: remember that Yuri bombed during his last Grand Prix Finals, and yet this time, [[spoiler: even though he doesn't win first place, he still gives the performance of a lifetime and finally overcomes the anxiety and stage fright that has always held him back from skating at his best. He even surpassed Victor's world record for the free program, which certainly no one had expected to happen, even more than when Yurio had beaten Victor's personal best in the short program. Yuri had already achieved the victory he sought, therefore even if he won only the silver medal, [[VictoriousLoser he was more than satisfied]]]].

* Even with the aforementioned statements, the fact doesn't change that [[spoiler: Yurio won first place at Grand Prix Finals, right at his senior debut. This is especially when you factor in that while he always aimed for the gold medal, he became even ''more'' driven to win because he didn't want Yuri to retire, believing that if he wins, Yuri would continue his career instead]]. After WordOfGod confirms that [[spoiler: Yuri would've retired if he won the gold medal]], this becomes even more awesome, as well as a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}.

-->'''Yuri (Japanese)''': They can laugh at me all they want. They can think it’s not like me. But everyone really wants to know the new me, don’t they? [...] I’m the only one who can satisfy Victor. I’m the only one in the whole world who knows Victor’s love. ''I’ll prove that now''.
-->'''Yuri (English)''': They can laugh all they want. They can doubt and whisper behind their hands. But I’m going to show them the new me, and when I do, they won’t be laughing anymore. [...] Nobody else can satisfy Victor; ''only me''. Nobody else knows Victor’s love; ''I’m the only one''. And today, that’s what I’m skating to prove.

-->'''Otabek''': Now is the time for you to take center stage. The whole world is waiting for you. Don't let yourself lose sight of what you want. Now is the time to take off. Fulfill your dream. Only you can make it a reality. Live your life as it was meant to be lived. Move... dance your dream. Sing, sing... sing your own song. Work to the fullest, play to the fullest, discover all you can! Follow your own path until it ends, and then keep going! Now is the beginning. Now is your chance to live! This is your beginning... this is your time!

[[caption-width-right:350:''I hear a voice crying far away...'']]

* Isabella and all of J.J.'s fans cheering for him even though [[spoiler: he messes up his short program and comes in dead last.]] Doubles as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.

* Even with the aforementioned statements, the fact doesn't change that [[spoiler: Yurio won first place at Grand Prix Finals, right at his senior debut. This is especially when you factor in that while he always aimed for the gold medal, he became even ''more'' driven to win because he didn't want Yuri to retire, believing that if he wins, Yuri would continue his career instead]]. After WordOfGod confirms that [[spoiler: Yuri would've retired if he won the gold medal]], this becomes even more awesome, as well as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.

* Fans are joking that they're being overwhelmed by the creators because they are pretty much ''[[http://halcyon-morpho-menelaus.tumblr.com/post/154182837499/me-oh-itd-be-so-nice-if-my-otp-held-hands-or granting all of their wishes]]'' in order to [[spoiler: further fuel the Victor/Yuri ship]]. It doubles as a CrowningMomentOfFunny.

* Yuri's Japanese VA, Creator/ToshiyukiToyonaga, definitely deserves mention for delivering his lines in the garage scene in Episode 7 with pure emotion, without ever bordering on melodramatic or narmy. In fact, [[HeReallyCanAct his entire performance]] is one CrowningMomentOfAwesome as he perfectly nails every line, emotion, and nuance of the character -- to the point that it earned him the accolade of "Best Lead Actor" in the 12th Annual Seiyuu Award.

[[AC: Episode 1]]

[[AC: Episode 2]]

[[AC: Episode 3]]

[[AC: Episode 5]]

[[AC: Episode 6]]

[[AC: Episode 7]]

[[AC: Episode 8]]

[[AC: Episode 9]]

[[AC: Episode 10]]

[[AC: Episode 11]]

[[AC: Episode 12]]

* Yuri's Japanese VA, Creator/ToshiyukiToyonaga, definitely deserves mention for delivering his lines in the garage scene in Episode 7 with pure emotion, without ever bordering on melodramatic or narmy. In fact, [[HeReallyCanAct his entire performance]] is one CrowningMomentOfAwesome as he perfectly nails every line, emotion, and nuance of the character. It's even his performance as Yuri that earned him the accolade of "Best Lead Actor" in the 12th Annual Seiyuu Award.

* Yuri's Japanese VA, Creator/ToshiyukiToyonaga, definitely deserves mention for delivering his lines in the garage scene in Episode 7 with pure emotion, without ever bordering on melodramatic or narmy. In fact, [[HeReallyCanAct his entire performance]] is one CrowningMomentOfAwesome as he perfectly nails every line, emotion, and nuance of the character.