#Starting Late Doesn't Mean You'll Fail

Medalist is an underrated anime adaptation that emphasizes the significance of development. In the series, you will encounter numerous characters having problems about themselves or others, which affects their perspectives, and becoming the person they are. However, the story teaches us hope that hardwork or not giving up will bear fruits that may lead to success, but even if there's no success, there is development.

The main characters in the story (Inori & Tsukasa) inherently pertain to "being late" regarding ice skating, which many of us apprehend to be via various aspects- be it may career, life, maturity, or others- and usually, people invalidate as to them thinking they are "left behind" or "too late". However, despite the both of them were "late" in their passion for ice skating, and that the others around them invalidated them for it,

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(e.g. Inori's mom, Tsukasa's past)

the main characters' firm idealization of their characteristics tells us how impactful support and faith are, no matter the cost.

Tsukasa Akueraji, the coach of Inori, stands for "guiding people" which he simply does not do just because he is a coach, or he empathized to Inori for being late, but it's his nature to be humble and persevering. When Inori was having struggles in school, she took a profound interest in ice skating after watching her older sister's performance, and secretly practiced until she gained the courage of telling her mother. Inori's name stands for "to bind", which Tsukasa Akueraji does in the story after Inori always shows a negative attitude towards herself, and in fact, makes sense at all.

But, the story teaches us that society will always have their prejudice, which halts one's creativity and goals, (where her mother exactly implies the failure of her sister which she has doubts), but one shouldn't stop advocating for oneselves, which the main character does in the story. Her persistence made her mother rethink of her decisions, and let her enroll to ice skating where she met coach Tsukasa, who coincidentally had the same fate as her. At the end of the story, you can see the doubts turn into "thank you's" and realizations which makes the story more fulfilling.

As such, failure plays a big role in the story, as the story primarily executes the distinction between talentand hardwork. Both Akeuraji and Inori started late, their beginnings were filled with hardships and various failures, the others were judging them for it, and worse, they didn't believe in their selves in the most crucial times in the story, but with each others' support, they were able to adapt and teach each other that failures will always be a crucial part for success. At the end of the story, you can see Inori saying goodbye to herself,

Spoiler, click to view

it's as if she had already moved on from her failure life of school, and her failures lead her to where she is now.

There is also the concept that "people become who they are" due to factors such as childhood, influence, environment, and experiences, which certain characters in the story adapt, like Jun Yodaka. He is a coach, and former athlete who is obsessed with ice skating

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(and Tsukasa)

cold, unsociable, and doesn't like to be underestimated, but it was primarily because of his past, which he took Hikaru

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(Inori's rival in ice skating)

as a disciple to prove others wrong. He also became a moving force for both Tsukasa and Inori as he explicitly tells them that "they can't beat him, and that they'll have to go against Hikaru first if they try". He is the exact opposite of Tsukasa, who is humble and cooperative with the other coaches, but the both of them are moving forces to each other, all thanks to their different nature.

The lesson being that others' prejudice could also be considered as a way of driving one to become better and that our differences can be a good thing is apprehended. What one sees faulty in the past can be improved-

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e.g. Tsukasa understood the significance of working out because of his past or that both Inori and Tsukasa go out to their limits despite their inconveniences

and what people become will also build the foundation-

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e.g. as we see how many characters in the story choose to continue and pursue their dreams amidst the challenges and competitiveness of the industry

that is ultimately reasonable. Despite characters in the story with improvised challenges, they still continue with hope to see another day, and develop for the sake of themselves, and others. Ultimately, _each character in the story have their roles to pertain, just like in society where everyone has their reasons of their why, what, and when._

Talent cannot be bought, but perseverance and hard work will bring talent. This series encapsulates various lessons that evokes power and wisdom. It's primary key point is to not give up and start doing.

Visuals
The visuals aren't all that crazy, especially that we have to consider the animation source, but it did a fair job in terms of using various blends of CGI, 3D, and 2D animation.

Overall
The story is good. The visuals aren't all that, but it's fair. The characters have qualities that deserves recognition, and their character designs are well done. There are various lessons that can be apprehended in the story, and the good thing is, there is explicit acknowledgement of the execution of failure, which the others' become aware of and truly develop with the help of themselves, others, and their hardwork.

Truly,
Starting late doesn't mean failure, but if one is given talent, make use of it.