Has it really been 10 years?Credit: MAPPA
Before hockey romance gave us Shane and Ilya, anime gave us Yuri and Victor. For months in 2016, it felt nearly impossible to open Tumblr without seeing the pair somewhere on your dashboard.
Now, a decade after Yuri!!! on Ice first captivated fans around the world, Crunchyroll is marking the anime’s 10th anniversary by streaming the entire 12-episode series for free on YouTube. Rather than uploading each episode individually, the platform opted for a single four-hour-and-41-minute marathon, complete with every opening and ending theme for one uninterrupted binge.
The marathon will remain available through Aug. 25, giving longtime fans a chance to revisit one of the defining anime of the 2010s — or introducing a new generation to the series that turned figure skating into appointment viewing.
WhenYuri!!! on Ice premiered in October 2016, it became more than just another sports anime. The story of Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki and Russian champion-turned-coach Victor Nikiforov fueled a fandom that spilled far beyond the screen. Every new episode flooded Tumblr with GIF sets and fan art, inspired countless works of fanfiction (over 37,000 and counting on Archive of Our Own), and sparked hours of analysis as viewers dissected everything from the show’s breathtaking skating sequences to its nuanced portrayal of anxiety, ambition, and love.
The series also became a landmark for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream anime. While director Sayo Yamamoto often preferred to let the story speak for itself, describing it as “an irreplaceable bond,” many viewers embraced Yuri and Victor’s relationship as a meaningful milestone, particularly after the pair shared an intimate embrace (seemingly with their mouths) in Episode 7 and exchanged gold rings in Episode 10.
Mashable Top Stories
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Its popularity also extended outside of anime circles. The opening theme “History Maker” became instantly recognizable among fans, the soundtrack found new audiences through skating edits, and professional figure skaters — including Olympic athletes like Johnny Weir — performed routines inspired by the series in competition and exhibition programs.
Even after the show’s original run ended, fans never really stopped talking about it. For years, the community eagerly awaited Yuri!!! on Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence, which was first announced in 2017. Production delays stretched on for years before MAPPA officially canceled the project in 2024, leaving many fans heartbroken and uncertain whether the franchise would ever return in any form.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
While this anniversary celebration isn’t a new season or the long-awaited film, it is an invitation to revisit the series that once meant so much to fans — and still does.
The YouTube release also arrives at a time when anime is more accessible than ever. By making the entire series free on the world’s largest video platform, Crunchyroll is removing nearly every barrier to entry. Longtime fans can revisit favorite moments with a single click, while newer viewers can finally see what all the hype is about without needing a subscription.
Some anime don’t need new episodes to remain culturally relevant. Sometimes, all it takes is making them easy to watch again. Ten years later, Yuri!!! on Ice still knows how to make history.
TopicsSocial MediaYouTubeStreaming
Crystal Bell is the Digital Culture Editor at Mashable, where she leads coverage of the creator economy, internet culture, and digital life. Her work focuses on the people, platforms, and communities shaping modern entertainment, from YouTube creators and livestreamers to fandoms, social media trends, and the evolving relationship between technology and culture. She also oversees the Mashable 101, the publication’s annual list recognizing the internet’s most influential creators.
Previously, she was the entertainment director at MTV News, where she helped expand the brand’s coverage of fan culture, K-pop, and the internet’s most passionate communities. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, PAPER, NYLON, ELLE, Glamour, NME, W, The FADER, and elsewhere on the internet.
She’s exceptionally fluent in fandom and will gladly make you a K-pop playlist and/or provide anime recommendations upon request. Crystal lives in New York City with her two black cats, Howl and Sophie.
