Crunchyroll released a special illustration of Olympic gold medalist figure skater Alysa Liu drawn by Risa Ebata, the character designer behind Macross Frontier. The artwork celebrates Liu's love of anime and her impressive performances at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Liu became a fan favorite among anime enthusiasts during the Games after being spotted carrying a Pochita plush tissue case from Chainsaw Man throughout the competition season. She even posted the collectible on Instagram just before the Olympic opening ceremony on February 6. The visibility caught the attention of fans worldwide, and a Japanese supporter later gifted Liu another plush to show appreciation for her anime fandom.

"[Alysa Liu] is a main character no matter where she goes," Crunchyroll wrote in the post. "To celebrate Alysa's passion for anime, MACROSS character designer and illustrator Risa Ebata created this anime-inspired art!"

Liu's return to competitive skating has been remarkable. After stepping away from the sport in April 2022, she announced her comeback in March 2024. Since then, she's claimed silver at both the 2025 and 2026 U.S. Championships, gold at the 2025 World Championships and the 2025-26 Grand Prix Final, and helped Team USA secure gold at the 2025 World Team Trophy. Her 2026 Olympic performance—both individually and as part of the team—added to an already stellar resume that includes a bronze medal at the 2020 World Junior Championships and a bronze at the 2021-2022 World Championships.

Ebata's artwork serves as a fun intersection of two worlds: competitive athletics and anime culture. For fans of both, it's a nice acknowledgment of Liu's visibility as an anime enthusiast on the global stage. The piece also highlights how anime continues to find representation in unexpected places, from Olympic podiums to the collections of world-class athletes.