The anime "Medalist" recently gained attention for its impressive animation in one of its scenes, but what began as admiration quickly turned into controversy. Internet users in South Korea are accusing the production of copying choreography from legendary figure skater Yuna Kim, the 2010 Olympic champion.
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According to South Korean fans, the anime scene features movements almost identical to a performance by Yuna Kim in 2009, during an event of the International Figure Skating Union.
Besides the choreography, the costumes and the chosen music, "Danza Macabra," are extremely similar, raising suspicions that the studio may have drawn excessive inspiration from it, possibly without official permission.
Korean social media quickly erupted in critical comments:
- "They never managed to beat her in real life, so they turned her into a villain in an anime to achieve a 'spiritual victory'."
- "They used the same music and almost identical costumes. How can they deny the resemblance?"
- "In figure skating, choreography is also copyrighted. Did they ask for permission?"
Despite the criticism, some people try to downplay the controversy, arguing that although the music is the same, the structure of the jumps and other technical details differ from Yuna Kim.
The plot of “Medalist” follows Inori Yuitsuka, an 11-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a professional figure skater, trained by Tsukasa Akeuraji, a former skater determined to guide her towards Olympic gold.
Finally, plagiarism or inspiration from the anime Medalist? The debate is open. And you, what do you think of this controversy? Furthermore, keep following AnimeNew for more updates on the world of anime, manga, and geek culture!
Source: Yaraon!