Embark on a New Era with Uma Musume Pretty Derby’s Latest Film
Fans of the beloved Uma Musume Pretty Derby franchise have cause for excitement! A brand new official website and a brand-new Twitter account have launched, bringing forth the thrilling announcement of an upcoming anime film. Titled ‘Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Shinjidai no Tobira’ (Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era), this cinematic adventure is slated to hit the big screens across Japan on May 24, 2024. Teasing the excitement, the franchise has released a captivating teaser trailer and visual:
The film will illuminate the screen with its star-studded cast:
Yuri Fujimoto as Jungle Pocket
Sumire Uesaka as Agnes Tachyon
Yui Ogura as Manhattan Cafe
The narrative centers on the inspirational journey of Jungle Pocket aspiring to conquer the Triple Crown Classic—a prestigious race that is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Alongside Jungle Pocket’s drive and passion lie her formidable competitors, Agnes Tachyon and Manhattan Cafe; their rivalry forms the heart of the story.
Taking the directorial reins is Ken Yamamoto, known for his work on “Pokémon: Hisuian Snow.” Kiyoko Yoshimura is penning the script, as Tetsuya Kobari oversees the series composition and scenario direction. Jun Yamazaki is celebrated for both his role as the character designer and chief animation director; his unique artistic vision having previously graced “Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top.” Renowned film distributor TOHO will bring this enthralling story to life on the silver screen.
Expanding the Uma Musume Universe
The first season of the Uma Musume Pretty Derby anime, a 13-episode series, premiered in April 2018 and instantly captured the hearts of viewers; Crunchyroll streamed the series, sharing it with audiences worldwide. The story continued to unfold with a special anime titled “BNW no Chikai” released with the fourth Blu-ray Disc volume. The much-anticipated second season debuted in January 2021, followed by the third season, which began captivating fans on October 4. Each installment received international streaming via Crunchyroll.
The franchise also ventured into digital storytelling with the YouTube release of the “Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top” net anime in April. This series took fans deeper into the universe, showcasing the competitive spirit of iconic Horse Girls like T.M. Opera O and Admire Vega.
Fans also enjoyed the TV anime adaptation of the spinoff manga series “Umayon,” which continued the expansion of the universe. Cygames has not stopped there, as they have also released several other spinoff manga on their platform Cycomi, including “Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Haru Urara Ganbaru!” and “Starting Gate: Uma Musume Pretty Derby.”
The franchise extends into the gaming world with the Uma Musume Pretty Derby game, which launched for iOS, Android, and PC via DMM Games. This game invites players to train the next generation of Horse Girls and lead them to fame in the “Twinkle Series.”
To celebrate the game’s first anniversary, a special anime episode was released online, offering a moment of reflection on the game’s captivating journey.
Sources: Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Shinjidai no Tobira official website, Mainichi Shimbun’s Mantan Web
Final Thoughts
As “Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era” gallops towards its premiere, the anticipation is palpable among fans. This film promises to captivate with its unique blend of sportsmanship, idol culture, and heartfelt storytelling. As viewers await the starting signal, they can immerse themselves in the various facets of this dynamic franchise—from the television series, spinoffs, manga, and games. The race to the pinnacle of entertainment is on, and Uma Musume Pretty Derby is sprinting to the forefront, inspiring fans to dream big and aim for the stars.
