Uma Musume Pretty Derby (Japanese: ウマ娘 プリティーダービー, Hepburn: Uma Musume Puritī Dābī, lit. "Horse Girl Pretty Derby") is a multimedia franchise created by Cygames. A mobile game for iOS and Android was scheduled to debut in late 2018 and then delayed to February 2021. A 13-episode anime television series adaptation by P.A. Works aired from April to June 2018, followed by a second season by Studio Kai which aired from January to March 2021, then a third season which aired from October to December 2023. An anime television series adaptation of the spin-off manga Umayon aired from July to September 2020. A short web anime titled Umayuru premiered in October 2022. A second web anime titled Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top premiered in April 2023 and ran for four episodes. An anime film titled Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era will open in Japan in May 2024.
Plot
In a world very much like our own, great race horses of the past have a chance to be reborn as "horse girls"—girls with the ears and tails of horses as well as their speed and endurance. The best of these horse girls go to train at Tokyo's Tracen Academy, hopefully moving on to fame and fortune as both racers and idols.
Anime
The first season features Special Week, a high school horse girl from the countryside, who has just transferred to Tracen. She's determined to fulfill her promise to her mother to become the best horse girl in Japan. On her way to school, she visits the race track and instantly falls in love with Silence Suzuka's style, becoming determined to race on the same team as her.
The second season features Tokai Teio as the main character, and draws focus to other side characters such as Mejiro McQueen, Rice Shower, and Mihono Bourbon. Like the horse she is based upon, she suffers multiple injuries and struggles to remain one of the best racers.
The third season features both Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond as the main characters, focusing on the relationship of the two which will end up becoming rivals in the race course. All while Kitasan is at odds against the crowd favorite in the racehorse Duramente.
Video game
Part 2 of the main story features Rhein Kraft, Cesario, Air Messiah and Daring Heart. In reality, those four horses were born in 2002, and competed in a number of races, including the Oka Sho in 2005, where they finished in the first to fourth.[4][5]
Characters
Most of the horse girls are named after famous legendary Japanese racehorses and are inspired by their careers and personalities. Each horse girl wears a ribbon or other accessory on one ear (or wears a hat that tilts toward one ear); if it's on the girl's right ear then that girl's namesake was a stallion, or if it's on the girl's left ear then her namesake was a mare.[6]
Team Spica (anime only)
Team Spica (チーム〈スピカ〉, Chīmu Supika) is the main character team for the anime.
She serves as the protagonist for the anime's first season and the final chapter of Part 1 of the video game's main story.
A young horse girl raised in Hokkaido, she never met another horse girl until she joined the Academy. Her birth mother died shortly after she was born and she was raised by her human mother to be the best horse girl in Japan. She has great stamina and speed and an instinct on the track as to when to hold back and when to open up.
In the main story of the video game, she will become a member of Team Sirius after Narita Brian, aiming to be the best horse girl in Japan.
She serves as the co-protagonist for the anime's first season and the protagonist for Chapter 5 of Part 1 of the video game's main story.
An accomplished young horse girl. She is one generation older than Special Week, is Special Week's roommate and teammate. Her racing, performance, and friendship inspire Special Week. Her goal is to make people dream and she believes that is what it means to be the best horse girl. Later on in the anime she goes to America.
In the main story of the video game, she becomes a member of Team Sirius with the advice of Special Week and the trainer.
She serves as the protagonist for the anime's second season.
A talented horse girl on Special Week's team. She has a strong admiration for the Student Council President, Symboli Rudolf, and wishes to one day be as good as her. She becomes Mejiro McQueen's rival, but suffers from repeated injuries.
A horse girl on Special Week's team, Spica. She is somewhat eccentric and seems to hold a deep admiration for and friendly rivalry with Mejiro McQueen. Initially, she was the only team member.
In the main story of the video game, she became a member of Team Sirius after Mejiro McQueen, but she isn't physically fit yet and rarely races.
She serves as the co-protagonist for the anime's second season and the protagonist for Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the video game's main story.
A horse girl of the famous Mejiro family. She is one generation older than Tokai Teio. She joined Special Week's team after being implored by Gold Ship numerous times. She may initially seem cold and blunt, but she actually cares for others and is willing to help them when needed.
In the main story of the video game, she is the only remaining member of Team Sirius and will race with a new trainer.
She is a horse girl who is a fan of Tokai Teio. She is an elementary school student in season 2, and she enrolls in Tracen Academy in the final episode. She has a childhood friend called Satono Diamond. In season 3, she joined Team Spica.
Team Rigil (anime only)
Team Rigil (チーム〈リギル〉, Chīmu Rigiru) is the rival character team for the first, second, and third seasons of the anime.
A horse girl from USA who is friends with Special Week. She gets injured and is unable to race for a short time, but aspires to regain her former speed and surpass Silence Suzuka.
A horse girl from USA who received training abroad and aspires to compete in foreign races. She sees Special Week as her rival, but remains on friendly terms with her even when competing together.
She is a generation of Tokai Teio, and although she does not perform well, she is working very hard. She is also a friend of Silence Suzuka in the anime's first season.
She is a generation of Tokai Teio, and although she does not perform well because she runs at full power at any distance, she unilaterally sees Tokai Teio as a rival.
She is a horse girl who is a fan of Mejiro McQueen. Like Kitasan Black, she is an elementary school student in anime, and she enrolls in Tracen Academy in the final episode.
She serves as the protagonist for Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the video game's main story.
She is a rival of Biwa Hayahide and Narita Taishin and has a straightforward personality. She is also a friend of Silence Suzuka in the anime's first season.
In the main story of the video game, she will be a member of Team Sirius after Rice Shower, aiming to win the Japan Derby.
She serves as the protagonist for manga Cinderella Gray.
She is a horse girl called "Gray-Haired Monster" and has transferred from the local "Kasamatsu Tracen Academy" to the central "Japan Tracen Academy". She is a very big eater.
In the main story of the video game, she was a former member of Team Sirius and left the team when she retired.
She is the next generation of Narita Brian and is in the same dormitory room as Tokai Teio. She is an avid Top Gun fan, including using aeronautical references and wearing a bomber jacket. Ahead of the release of Top Gun: Maverick, Cygames and Paramount announced a Japanese collaboration between the film and Uma Musume, which featured her appearing as a promotional pilot, including her replacing Tom Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in an official alternate Japanese movie poster.[13]
She is the biggest rival of the T.M. Opera O generation and is an assistant to the fortune-telling of Matikanefukukitaru in the academy. She is always unconfident and frightened. Also appears in Road to the Top.
She is the representative of the Mejiro McQueen and Mejiro Palmer generations of the Mejiro family, and cares about her juniors, Mejiro Dober and Mejiro Bright. She is also a friend of Silence Suzuka in the anime's first season.
She is part of Gold Ship and Verxina's generation and is Verxina's rival during her Triple Tiara run. Due to her strength, she was always called gorilla.
She is a NPC horse girl from France. She appears at the final chapter of Part 1 of the video game's main story as one of the horse girl Special Week faced.
She also appeared at the first season of the anime as Broye.
Sonon Elfie (ソノンエルフィー, Sonon Erufī) (video game only)
The game was announced in 2016. An animated trailer by P.A. Works debuted at that year's AnimeJapan event.[32] It was set to be released in late 2018,[33] but was delayed[34] until its release on February 24, 2021.[35] The PC version was released on March 10, 2021.[36]
A YouTube channel titled Pakatube! (ぱかチューブっ!, Pakachūbu!) was launched on March 25, 2018. The channel features the character Gold Ship.[37]
By March 2024, there are 95 playable "horse girls" (uma musume) in the game.[38] Part 2 of the main story was released in March 2024.[4]
Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Party Dash
Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Party Dash (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 熱血ハチャメチャ大感謝祭, Uma Musume Puritī Dābī Nekketsu Hachamecha Daikanshasai), which is a party video game, will be released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam in 2024.[39] The game was announced during the Nintendo Direct live stream on June 21, 2023.[40] On February 22, 2024, it was revealed that the silhouette in the logo was Still in Love, a new uma musume announced on the same day.[41]
Manga
A manga series titled Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Haru Urara, Do Your Best! (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー ハルウララがんばる!, Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Haru Urara Ganbaru!), written by Katsumi Nakayama and illustrated by Huan Yu (ZECO), is serialized on Cygames' Cycomics website from May 8, 2016, to September 11, 2016. 10 episodes in total. This is a comedic story based on the true story of Haru Urara, with Haru Urara as the main character. The production was supported by Martha Farm, where the real Haru Urara lives the rest of her life, and the Kochi Prefecture Horse Racing Association.
Starting Gate!: Uma Musume Pretty Derby
A manga series titled Starting Gate!: Uma Musume Pretty Derby (STARTING GATE! -ウマ娘 プリティーダービー-, Stātingu Geito!: Uma Musume Pretty Derby), written by Cygames and illustrated by S. Kosugi, began serialization on Cygames' Cycomics website on March 25, 2017.[42] The manga has been compiled into six tankōbon volumes as of March 18, 2022.[43]
A four-panel manga series titled Umayon (うまよん), written and illustrated by Jet Kuma, began serialization on Cygames' Cycomics website in March 2018.[53]
Uma Musume Cinderella Gray
Another manga, titled Uma Musume Cinderella Gray (ウマ娘 シンデレラグレイ, Uma Musume Shinderera Gurei), produced by Junnosuke Itō, written by Masafumi Sugiura and illustrated by Taiyō Kuzumi, began in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump on June 11, 2020.[54] The first collected tankōbon volume was released on January 19, 2021.[55] As of December 2023, thirteen volumes have been released.[56] The protagonist is Oguri Cap.[57]
Another manga, titled Uma Musume Pretty Derby Uma Musumeshi, began serialization on Cygames' Cycomics website on March 2, 2023.[70] As of October 2023, two volumes have been released.[71]
Another manga, titled Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Star Blossom (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー スターブロッサム, Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Sutā Burossamu), written by Monjūsaki and illustrated by Shin Hotani, began serialization in Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+, YanJan! app and Tonari no Young Jump website on April 10, 2023.[73][74][75] As of September 2023, a single volume has been released.[76] The protagonist is Sakura Laurel [ja].[57]
Another manga, titled Uma Musume PisuPisu☆SupiSupi Golshi-chan, written and illustrated by Naoki Shibata, began serialization in Shogakukan's Weekly CoroCoro Comic manga website on November 29, 2023. The protagonist is Gold Ship.[78] As of February 2024, a single volume has been released.[79]
A 13-episode anime television series adaptation by P.A. Works aired from April 2[80][81] to June 18, 2018, on Tokyo MX, with the first two episodes being broadcast back-to-back. Crunchyroll streamed the series.[82] The anime is directed by Kei Oikawa at P.A. Works with scripts written by Masafumi Sugiura and Akihiro Ishihara.[83] Utamaro Movement composed the music at Lantis. The series' opening theme is "Make Debut" and the ending theme is "Grow Up Shine!"; both are sung by Azumi Waki, Marika Kouno, Machico, Ayaka Ōhashi, Chisa Kimura, Hitomi Ueda, and Saori Ōnishi.[84]
A second season, with a returning cast and Studio Kai replacing P.A. Works in animation production, aired from January 5 to March 30, 2021.[9][85]
On February 22, 2022, a new animation "1st Anniversary Special Animation" was released on YouTube to commemorate the first anniversary of the game, which this work is a continuation of the anime's second season. A third season was announced on November 6, 2022.[86][87] Shingo Nagai and Tetsuya Kobari are supervising the scripts, while Studio Kai and the rest of the main staff are returning from previous seasons. The season aired from October 5 to December 28, 2023.[88][89]
"Gate of Dreams!" Transliteration: "Yume no Gēto!" (Japanese: 夢のゲートっ！)
Kei Oikawa, Tomoaki Ōta
Masafumi Sugiura
April 2, 2018 (2018-04-02)
Special Week arrives in Fuchu, Tokyo ready to become the best Horse Girl in all of Japan. Her first day, she watches a race and sees Silence Suzuka win. From then on, she wants to be as good as Suzuka.
2
2
"The Debut Race out of Nowhere" Transliteration: "Ikinari no Debyū-sen" (Japanese: いきなりのデビュー戦)
Yuriko Abe, Fumihiko Suganuma
Masafumi Sugiura
April 2, 2018 (2018-04-02)
Special Week trains with Team Spica for her debut race happening in a week's time. During that time, Special Week becomes roommates with Silence Shizuku, meets the student council president Symboli Rudolf and is given a school tour by Tokai Teio. Special Week becomes nervous ahead of her debut race, but with the support of Silence Shizuku, manages to calm herself ahead of the race. Despite dodging mud balls and jostling from Queen-Berry, she manages to beat her, winning her debut race.
3
3
"First Big Win" Transliteration: "Hajimete no Ō Ichiban" (Japanese: 初めての大一番)
Tomoaki Ōta
Masafumi Sugiura
April 9, 2018 (2018-04-09)
The members of Team Spica win their races which impress their trainer. However, the trainer admonishes them for not performing well in their Winning Concerts. To practice for their Winning Concerts, the trainer organises a karaoke session with Tokai Teio to train the team on singing and dancing. Afterwards, in preparation for the Satsuki Shou, the first race of the Japanese Triple Crown, the trainer enters Special Week for the Yayoi Shou against King Halo and Seiun Sky. Special Week beats them in the race and celebrates with Team Spica, where Tokai Teio joins the team. On the day of the Satsuki Shou, Special Week is given a special racing costume before starting the race. Special Week follows the same strategy as the Yayoi Shou, only to finish third when Seiun Sky sprints earlier to win the race. Special Week becomes frustrated at the loss, but is consoled by her trainer who encourages her to prepare for the next race.
Still reeling from the loss in the Satsuki Shou, Special Week finds out that she has gained weight. To gain muscle, Special Week goes on special training with the other members of Team Spica, including going on a diet, undergoing a boot camp, learning ballet dancing and diving off a platform. The trainer also organises a mock race between Special Week and Taiki Shuttle, the fastest short-distance horse girl in Japan. Special Week learns a lot from Taiki Shuttle during the mock race such as slip-streaming and short-stride running. Despite narrowly losing the mock race, Special Week becomes happy again, and responds to El Condor Pasa's challenge to race in the Japanese Derby.
5
5
"The Derby With Rivals" Transliteration: "Raibaru to no Dābī" (Japanese: ライバルとのダービー)
Jong Heo
Masafumi Sugiura
April 23, 2018 (2018-04-23)
Special Week, El Condor Pasa and Seiun Sky train and prepare for the Japanese Derby. As part of her training, Special Week climbs some stairs in front of the shrine, with her trainer timing her. Before the Japanese Derby, Gold Ship tries to persuade Mejiro McQueen to join Team Spica who helps them find a four-leaf clover for Special Week. On the day of the Japanese Derby, Special Week, El Condor Pasa and Seiun Sky are introduced to the crowd before they race. Seiun Sky pulls ahead on the last corner of the race, only to be surpassed by Special Week thanks to her training. Special Week fends off again a fast El Condor Pasa, winning the Japanese Derby together with her on a dead heat thanks to Team Spica's cheers.
6
6
"Autumn Skies and Horse Girls" Transliteration: "Ten Takaku, Uma Musume Moyuru Aki" (Japanese: 天高く、ウマ娘燃ゆる秋)
Osamu Honma
Ryō Ikeda
April 30, 2018 (2018-04-30)
The night before the Fall Twinkle Series Fan Festival, Special Week writes a letter to her adoptive mother, recounting what had happened to Team Spica after the Japanese Derby. Team Spica then celebrates the Fall Twinkle Series Fan Festival. At sunset, Special Week listens into discussions on the Mainichi Okan, a race that Silence Suzuka and Grass Wonder will be competing. Hearing that Silence Suzuka will be racing overseas in the future, El Condor Pasa decides to enter the race as well. The day of the Mainichi Okan comes, and Silence Suzuka, El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder race against each other. El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder try to chase Silence Suzuka, but to no avail as Silence Suzuka wins the race.
Silence Suzuka consoles a crying Special Week who lost the Kikuka-sho to Seiun Sky. Silence Suzuka tells Special Week of her plans to race together in the Japan Cup before she leaves for America. After Team Spica runs from Tracen Academy to an inn deep in the mountains, Special Week asks the trainer to race together with Silence Suzuka in the Japan Cup, which the trainer approves, with the condition that Silence Suzuka wins the Tennoushou. On the day of the Tennoushou, El Condor Pasa, Hishi Amazon, Winning Ticket, Meijiro Ryan and Nice Nature race against Silence Suzuka who sprints ahead of the pack. However, in the middle of the race, Silence Suzuka suffers a leg fracture, forcing her to run slow before stopping and having to be helped off the field by Special Week and her trainer. Resting in hospital, Special Week and the other members of Team Spica give Silence Suzuka hope that she can recover in time for the Japan Cup with Special Week.
8
8
"For You" Transliteration: "Anata no Tame ni" (Japanese: あなたの為に)
Tomoaki Ōta
Yōko Yonaiyama
May 14, 2018 (2018-05-14)
Silence Suzuka recovers in hospital before undergoing rehabilitation to run again, being supported by Special Week. Silence Suzuka and Special Week attend Team Spica's new year party and shrine visit. After watching the Winter Dream Trophy during the party, each member of Team Spica dreams of racing the Dream Trophy someday. As the year passes, Silence Suzuka eventually trains again with the team, with Special Week spending a lot of time with her. This takes a toll on her training which results in her losing to a fast-sprinting Grass Wonder in the Takarazuka Kinen. Grass Wonder questions Special Week on whether she gave it her all during the race, leaving Special Week doubtful before the trainer reinforces why she is racing in the first place and directing her to win every race in the fall.
9
9
"Dreams of Spica" Transliteration: "Supika no Yume" (Japanese: スピカの夢)
Ken'ichi Imaizumi
Masafumi Sugiura
May 21, 2018 (2018-05-21)
Team Spica head to the coast for their summer training camp, where they stay at a run-down ryokan. Team Spica split into two teams, with Special Week and Silence Suzuka, still feeling down, placed in separate teams. During training, Special Week and Silence Suzuka run slowly, the former because of her worries about Silence Suzuka and the latter feeling weighed down by the leg injury. The trainer organises a triathlon for both teams, but Special Week and Silence Suzuka race slowly. However, after being pushed by the trainer just before the run leg, both of them run quickly, with Silence Suzuka, following a re-motivated Special Week, overcoming her fears to run back at full speed.
Later in the episode, the horse girls, Hana Toujou and the trainer watch El Condor Pasa race in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe against Broye. El Condor Pasa races ahead of the pack and almost finishes in first place, when she is passed by Broye in the last 50 metres who wins the race in her stead. After hearing a crying El Condor Pasa following her crushing defeat, Special Week is motivated to run at night, with SIlence Suzuka following her.
10
10
"No Matter How Many Times I Lose" Transliteration: "Nando Makete mo" (Japanese: 何度負けても)
Mitsutaka Noshitani
Ryō Ikeda
May 28, 2018 (2018-05-28)
Motivated by her phone conversation with El Condor Pasa, Special Week trains hard for her next event, the Kyoto Daishoten. However, due to overtraining herself, Special Week only finishes in 7th. This prompts the trainer to order everyone to rest, including Special Week who prompts her to go home in Hokkaido to rest. Spending time with her adoptive mother, Special Week is forced to not run during her break. However, she regains her motivation, seeing all the letters her adoptive mother has put in front of her biological mother's altar at home, and receiving a horseshoe present with an inscription that tells her to be the best horse girl in Japan. Coming back to Tokyo, she returns to a Team Spica that has won its races and goes back to training. Special Week races at the Fall Tennoushou against Seiun Sky and Grass Wonder, managing to win her race thanks to her training and her rest.
Silence Suzuka prepares for the Open Special, her comeback race. At the same time, Broye comes to Japan, where she declares that she will race in the Japan Cup against Special Week. These events prompt Special Week and Silence Suzuka to train hard for their respective races, with help and support from their friends. On the day of the Open Special, while Special Week trains for the Japan Cup, Silence Suzuka races against Sun Visor in the Open Special. Leaving the gates late, Silence Suzuka is last and trails behind the pack. However, towards the finish, Silence Suzuka runs quickly, passing the pack and Sun Visor on her way to victory, much to the excitement and relief of everyone.
12
12
"Stage of Dreams" Transliteration: "Yume no Butai" (Japanese: 夢の舞台)
Akira Takamura, Yuriko Abe
Ryō Ikeda
June 11, 2018 (2018-06-11)
Silence Suzuka's win in the Open Special wows the crowd and fires up Broye for the Japan Cup. The next day, Special Week's adoptive mother comes to Japan to watch her in the Japan Cup. Special Week, preparing herself for the race, meets her friends who give her the motivation to win the Japan Cup. Broye and Special Week step up to the racetrack, meeting each other before getting into the gates. During the Japan Cup race, Special Week initially goes to the back of the pack, being followed by Broye. However, towards the end of the back straight, Special Week starts sprinting, and is being followed by Broye. Broye tries to overtake Special Week, but Special Week manages to hold off Broye, getting the last burst of speed needed to win the Japan Cup. Special Week proclaims on the night that she wants to continue to make everyone's dreams come true before performing her Victory Concert.
A few years after Special Week's win in the Japan Cup, Special Week writes a letter to her adoptive mother, updating her on the successes of Team Spica. She then meets up with Silence Suzuka in Tokyo Narita airport who has come back from America for the Winter Dream Trophy. On the night, the horse girls of Team Spica and Team Rigil meet up for the ceremony and barrier draw of the Winter Dream Trophy, while the trainer recalls to Hana how his horse girls joined Team Spica. A few days after the barrier draw, the horse girls race in the Winter Dream Trophy before performing together in the Victory Concert after crossing the finish line.
A few years before the start of season 1, a young Tokai Teio sees Symboli Rudolf win the Tokyo Derby and extend her unbeaten winning streak. Tokai Teio then sneaks into the press conference and asks Symboli Rudulf how she can emulate her. Maruzensky responds to Tokai Teio's question by saying she needs talent, effort and luck to emulate Symboli Rudolf, while Symboli Rudulf suggests that she enrol at Tracen Academy.
Back at the present age, Tokai Teio is undefeated at five wins, including the Satsuki Sho, and is preparing for the Tokyo Derby. Tokai Teio, along with the other members of Team Spica, help out in the open campus day, where they guide the young horse girls around the academy. Afterwards, Tokai Teio trains with the other members of Team Spica for the Japan Derby. During the race, Tokai Teio runs outside in the middle of the pack. However, towards the end, Tokai Teio sprints to the finish line, pulling away from the pack to finish in first place. Tokai Teio performs at the Victory Concert, but her left ankle destabilises slightly during the performance which worry Symboli Rudolf and the trainer.
14
2
"Never Gonna Give It Up!" Transliteration: "Yuzurenai kara!" (Japanese: 譲れないから！)
Taisuke Tsukuda
Yōko Yonaiyama
January 12, 2021 (2021-01-12)
After the Victory Concert, the trainer takes Tokai Teio to the doctor. The doctor tells Tokai Teio that she has a leg fracture and that she will not race until the next spring before admitting her to hospital. Despite being on crutches while waiting for her leg to recover, Tokai Teio is determined to race in the Kikka Sho in November. This prompts the trainer to research on ways to support Tokai Teio's rehabilitation. Tokai Teio trains for the Kikka Sho, starting with image training, then walking slowly before jogging. Despite their best efforts; though, Tokai Teio could not fully recover for the Kikka Sho, forcing her to pull out of the race.
Despite not racing in the Kikka Sho, Tokai Teio requests the trainer to take her to the race. In a tight race, all the horse girls are motivated to better Tokai Teio as Rionatal wins the race. On the way back, Tokai Teio vows to stay undefeated which the trainer aims to fulfil.
Team Spica go to the shrine to celebrate and pray for good luck, with Tokai Teio aiming to stay undefeated and Meijiro McQueen aiming to win the Spring Tennoushou for the 2nd time. Later, Tokai Teio and Meijiro McQueen attend the URA Awards, with Tokai Teio winning the Horse Girl of the Year and Meijiro McQueen winning the Top Senior-Class Horse Girl of the Year. After the awards night, Tokai Teio and Meijiro McQueen train for their preparatory races, while also reminiscing how they met each other before racing under Team Spica. Meijiro McQueen races for her preparatory race the Hanshin Daishoten on a rainy day. Despite being crowded around by the other horse girls, Meijiro McQueen pulls away from the pack at the finishing straight and wins the race. This motivates Tokai Teio to win her preparatory race the Osaka Hai.
An anime television series based on the four-panel manga spinoff Umayon (うまよん) aired from July 7 to September 22, 2020. The series is directed by Seiya Miyajima at DMM.futureworks and W-Toon Studio.[53]
"D On The Beach?" Transliteration: "Hamabe no D?" (Japanese: 浜辺のD？)
December 8, 2021 (2021-12-08)
Umayuru
On December 8, 2021, a Blu-ray containing the main story, 12 episodes of the new OVA, and a manga tankōbon was released. A new short anime series titled Umayuru (うまゆる) was announced on May 5, 2022. It is animated by Scooter Films with Miyajima returning to direct and design the characters, with Seiichirō Mochizuki and Yumi Suzumori writing the screenplay. It premiered on YouTube on October 16, 2022.[99][100]
No.
Title
Original air date
1
"Uma Musume(s) Who Summon a Storm" Transliteration: "Arashi o Yobu Uma Musume (-tachi)" (Japanese: 嵐を呼ぶウマ娘（たち）)
"Run through the Mountains!" Transliteration: "Yama wo Kakeru!" (Japanese: ヤマヲカケル!)
November 27, 2022 (2022-11-27)
Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top
An anime OVA series titled Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー Road to the Top, Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Rōdo tū za Toppu) was announced on May 4, 2022.[101] It is animated by CygamesPictures and directed by Chengzhi Liao, with Tetsuya Kobari supervising the scripts and serving as scenario director, and Jun Yamazaki designing the characters and serving as chief animation director.[102] The series premiered on YouTube on April 16, 2023.[88]
No.
Title
Original air date
1
"A Dream's Starting Gate" Transliteration: "Yume no Hajimari" (Japanese: 夢のはじまり)
An anime film titled Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 新時代の扉, Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Shinjidai no Tobira) and starring Jungle Pocket was announced on December 28, 2023. It is animated by CygamesPictures and directed by Ken Yamamoto, with Kiyoko Yoshimura writing the scripts, Tetsuya Kobari supervising the scripts and serving as scenario director, Jun Yamazaki designing the characters and serving as chief animation director, and Masaru Yokoyama composing the music. The film will open in Japanese theaters on May 24, 2024.[107]
Stage play
Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Sprinters’ Story (舞台「ウマ娘 プリティーダービー」〜Sprinters’ Story〜) was performed from January 15 to 29, 2023 in Stellar Ball, Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo. The story features Daitaku Helios, Yamanin Zephyr, Daiichi Ruby and K.S. Miracle in Takamatsunomiya Cup.[108]
Reception
The mobile game, within ten months of release, grossed nearly US$965 million in Japan by December 16, 2021. This makes it the world's ninth highest-grossing mobile game of 2021.[109] The game grossed a total annual revenue of $990 million in 2021.[110] According to data analysis from Sensor Tower, the game made a total of more than $2 billion as of April 2023.[111]
The manga spin-off, Uma Musume Cinderella Grey, was nominated in the seventh Next Manga Awards in the Best Print Manga category and placed 2nd of 50 nominees.[112]
The Blu-ray release of the second season of the anime became the highest selling home video release of a television anime series in Japan.[113][114]
Masayuki Gotō, the 15th chairman of the Japan Racing Association, showed his gratitude towards Uma Musume Pretty Derby for its positive influence towards the horse racing community, in an interview on Shũkan Gallo.[115]
In 2022, for the first time in Japan, Abema, another subsidiary of CyberAgent, was able to broadcast all 64 matches of 2022 FIFA World Cup, live and free of charge,[116] largely because of the huge profit earned from Uma Musume Pretty Derby.[117]
Notes
^ abInformation is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
