Medalist Season 2 Release Date & Trailer: Ending Song "Rookies" by Conton Candy Revealed

The staff for the television anime of Tsurumaikada's award-winning figure skating manga Medalist started streaming on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the second season's second promotional video, which officially reveals and previews the ending theme song "Rookies" by rock band Conton Candy. The Medalist Season 2 trailer announcement builds anticipation for the upcoming season, which will continue the story of Tsukasa Akeuraji, a retired skater whose professional dreams were crushed, and Inori Yuitsuka, a young girl determined to skate despite starting late, as they form a coach-student duo aiming for the world stage. The anime's staff also released a character video featuring Iruka Okazaki on Tuesday, providing fans with a closer look at one of the new characters who will appear in the second season. The character video showcases Iruka's design and personality, giving viewers a preview of what to expect from the expanded cast. The second season will debut on January 24, 2026, on the "NUMAnimation" programming block on TV Asahi and 23 other affiliate channels at 25:30 (effectively, January 25 at 1:30 a.m.). The anime will also run on CS TV Asahi Channel 1 and BS Asahi on January 25. The second season's first two episodes will also get an advance screening on January 17, 2026, at Marunouchi Piccadilly in Tokyo, giving fans an early opportunity to experience the new season. Ten new cast members were revealed for the second season, representing rivals at the Chubu Block Tournament: Natsuko Abe as Yuna Yagi, Mao Ito as Rinna Sarukawa, Maria Naganawa as Manaka Roba, Minami Tanaka as Yotsuha Ushikawa, Hikaru Tono as Kurumi Risu, Takako Tanaka as Sakina Anaguma, Yuko Natsuyoshi as Sana Niwatori, Hibiku Yamamura as Iruka Okazaki, Kotomi Aihara as Riina Kojo, and Ai Kayano as Marika Kurione. These additions to the Medalist Chubu Block Tournament cast expand the world of the series, introducing new characters who will play important roles as rivals in Tsukasa and Inori's journey toward the world stage. The second season will feature returning cast and staff, ensuring continuity with the first season. The first season's 3DCG environment supervisor Hazuki Nakamura is the art director for the new season, replacing Yōko Nakao. Kentaro Kashiwagi, the first season's 3DCG composite supervisor, is the second season's compositing director of photography, replacing Shin'ichi Komeya. These staff changes demonstrate the production team's commitment to maintaining high-quality animation while bringing fresh perspectives to the series. The seven-member girl group HANA performs the opening theme song "Cold Night" (written and composed by Chanmina), adding to the series' musical identity. The combination of HANA's opening theme "Cold Night" and Conton Candy's ending theme "Rookies" creates a diverse musical experience that complements the emotional journey of the characters. The Medalist Season 2 ending song "Rookies" by Conton Candy, who gained massive popularity for previous hits like "Fasener," brings a powerful rock energy to the series. Japanese figure skater Rika Hongo will take part in the anime's motion capture filming alongside the first season's Akiko Suzuki, who is returning for the second season. This collaboration with real-world figure skaters ensures that the animation accurately captures the technical aspects and beauty of ice-skating, bringing authenticity to the series' portrayal of the sport. The first season premiered in Japan on the "NUMAnimation" programming block on TV Asahi and 23 affiliated channels on January 4, 2025, at 25:30 (effectively, January 5 at 1:30 a.m.), and on BS Asahi on January 6. Disney+ streamed the anime globally, and Hulu streamed it in the United States, making it accessible to international audiences. The first season's success and positive reception have built anticipation for the second season, which will continue the story of Tsukasa and Inori's pursuit of their Olympic dreams. Where to watch Medalist Season 2: The second season is confirmed to stream on Disney+ internationally starting in January 2026. Former Olympic skater Akiko Suzuki, who is returning for the second season, choreographed the skating routines in the first season of the anime, in collaboration with retired figure skater Yuhana Yokoi and active competitive figure skater Hinano Isobe. This collaboration between anime production and real-world figure skating expertise has been a key factor in the series' success, ensuring that the skating sequences are both visually stunning and technically accurate. Kodansha USA Publishing licensed the manga, and it describes the story: Tsukasa, whose dreams were crushed. Inori, left to fend for herself. These two share a dream...and their tenacity may be the only thing that sees them through. Their destination? The ice...on the world's stage! The story follows the partnership between Tsukasa Akeuraji, a former skater whose dreams were shattered, and Inori Yuitsuka, a young girl with natural talent who is determined to skate despite starting late, as they work together to achieve their shared goal of reaching the world stage in figure skating. Tsurumaikada launched the manga in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine in May 2020, and it has gained critical acclaim and a dedicated following. As of June 2025, the manga has 13 collected volumes published by Kodansha. The Medalist manga has received high critical acclaim, winning the Next Manga Award (Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taisho) 2022 in the print category, the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award (General Category) in 2023, and the 48th Kodansha Manga Award (General Category) in 2024, demonstrating its excellence and popularity. The announcement of the ending theme song and the new promotional video marks an important milestone in the lead-up to the second season premiere. The promotional materials provide fans with updated information about the adaptation, including the musical direction and character introductions. The second promotional video likely previews key moments from the upcoming season and gives viewers a sense of the animation quality and storytelling that will continue to define the series. As the January 2026 premiere approaches, fans can expect more promotional materials, including additional character visuals, trailers, and cast announcements. The advance screening on January 17 provides an early opportunity for fans to experience the new season, building excitement for the official premiere. The combination of returning staff, new cast members, and fresh musical contributions ensures that the second season will continue to deliver the high-quality storytelling and animation that made the first season so compelling. Fans can find official news on the Medalist Anime Website and follow the official X (formerly Twitter) account @medalist_PR for the latest updates about Medalist Season 2.