The appeal and evaluation of "Uma Musume Pretty Derby" Season 1

Uma Musume Pretty Derby - A story of Uma Musume with glorious names and racing abilities

Overview

"Uma Musume: Pretty Derby" is a TV anime series based on the game created by Cygames, and was broadcast on TOKYO MX and BS11 from April 2 to June 18, 2018. It consists of 13 episodes, each 30 minutes long, directed by Oikawa Kei and animated by PAWORKS. This work tells the story of "Uma Musume", who have brilliant names and racing abilities inherited from another world, and who aim to become "Japan's best Uma Musume" while competing with each other at the training center academy, set in a world where they coexist with humans.

■ Story

This is the story of a world where "Uma Musume" with glorious names and racing abilities inherited from another world have coexisted with humans since ancient times. Special Week, a Uma Musume who transferred from the countryside to a training center school in the city, aims to win the Twinkle Series and become the "Best Uma Musume in Japan" while competing with her teammates!

■Cast

• Special Week - Azumi Waki
• Silence Suzuka - Takano Marika
• Tokai Teio - Machico
• Vodka - Ayaka Ohashi
• Daiwa Scarlet - Chisaki Kimura
• Gold Ship - Hitomi Ueda
• Mejiro McQueen - Saori Onishi
• El Condor Pasa - Minami Takahashi
• Glass Wonder - Reina Maeda
• Seiun Sky - Kito Akari
• Haruurara - Shina Shuto
• Tazuna Shunkawa - Yukiyo Fujii
• Trainer - Koji Okino
• Hana Tojo - Megumi Toyoguchi

■ Main staff

• Original creator - Cygames
• Director - Kei Oikawa
• Assistant Director - Tomoaki Ota
• Series Composition: Akihiro Ishihara (Cygames), Masashi Sugiura
• Character design and chief animation director: Yosuke Kabashima
• Art director: Hiroshi Ito
• Director of photography - Satoshi Namiki
• Color design - Naomi Nakano
• 3D Director - Ichikawa Motonari
• Edited by Ayumi Takahashi
• Music - UTAMARO movement
• Music Producer - Taro Iwashiro
• Music Production - Lantis
• Sound Director - Yuichi Morita
• Sound production - HALF H・P ​​STUDIO
• Animation Production - PAWORKS

■ Main Characters

Special Week

A lively horse girl who came to Tokyo from the countryside to train at the Training Center Academy. She belongs to the Spica team. She is in Class C, the oldest in the junior class and eligible to compete in the Triple Crown race. She is classmates with El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder. She is roommates with Silence Suzuka, whom she adores. Losing her mother soon after she was born, she was raised by her adoptive mother, "Mom," who showered her with love and gave her Spartan training. Her innocent personality and outstanding explosive power fuel her to form strong, irreplaceable bonds with her friends through the Twinkle Series. Her goal is to become the best horse girl in Japan!

Silence Suzuka

She is quiet and talks little. She is a cool and beautiful girl with a mysterious clarity and a dark melancholy. She is a year ahead of Special Week in the class. She was a member of the strongest team at Tresen Academy, <Rigil>, but she was forced to refrain from racing due to team policy and fell into a slump. However, after transferring to team <Spica>, she showed her true colors. Her specialty is a "big breakaway" where she stays in the lead from the start and keeps running away. Her overwhelming speed is such that once she starts running, no one can step on her shadow. She is an Uma Musume who is truly born to run. Her goal is to be an Uma Musume who can give dreams to those who watch her. She shares a room with Special Week in the dormitory, and they have a positive influence on each other.

Tokai Teio

A bright, lively, and beautiful Uma Musume girl with a dazzling, radiant smile. Her unique, light, bouncy footwork is called the "Teio Step". She has a competitive personality and is a bit cocky. She has a high sense of pride and can get angry easily, but her passion for racing is stronger than anyone else's. She is a member of the Spica team. She has a strong admiration for Symboli Rudolf, who is known as the "Emperor" and serves as the student council president of Tresen Academy, and her dream for the future is to become an "Emperor" and carry on his will. Her condition for achieving this is to "win the Triple Crown without losing a single race."

Vodka

A tomboy with a boyish aura. She has a naughty and cheeky personality, and is currently in the middle of her rebellious phase. She hates being treated like a child or teased. However, she is actually sensitive and innocent. She has a strong desire to be recognized as a full-fledged Uma Musume, and this feeling manifests itself in her rebellious attitude. She is a member of the Spica team. Incidentally, she and her classmate Daiwa Scarlet are polar opposites, a delinquent and an honor student, and are always fighting. However, in reality, they are her closest comrades and best friends.

Daiwa Scarlet

She is an outstandingly beautiful girl that everyone acknowledges, and is an honor student who is popular like an idol at school. She is cheerful, kind and popular in her class, but that is only on the surface. In reality, she is proud and competitive. She doesn't just win in matches, she loves to dominate the entire race at her own pace and completely defeat her rivals. She is a member of the Spica team. She is her biggest rival with her classmate Vodka. She denies it, saying "She's just a bad friend!", but they are comrades and best friends, the only ones who can reveal their true selves to each other and recognize each other's abilities.

■Subtitle

• Round 1 - "The Gate of Dreams!"
• Round 2 - "A sudden debut!"
• Round 3 - "The first big match"
• Round 4 - "Special training!"
• Round 5 - "Derby with Rivals"
• Round 6 - "High Skies, Burning Autumn Horse Girls"
• Round 7 - "Promise"
• Round 8 - "For You"
• Round 9 - "Spica's Dream"
• Round 10 - "No matter how many times I lose"
• Round 11 - "Welcome back!"
• Round 12 - "The Stage of Dreams"

■ Theme songs and music

OP1

• "Make Debut!"
• Lyricist: Shun Nitta
• Composer - Shun Nitta
• Arrangement: Shun Nittame, Yuya Hirosawa
• Singers: Special Week (Waki Azumi), Silence Suzuka (Takano Marika), Tokai Teio (Machico), Vodka (Ohashi Ayaka), Daiwa Scarlet (Kimura Chisaki), Gold Ship (Ueda Hitomi), Mejiro McQueen (Onishi Saori)

ED1

• "Grow Up Shine!"
• Lyricist: Erika Masaki
• Composer - Kuwahara Sei
• Arrangement - Takuya Sakai
• Singers: Special Week (Waki Azumi), Silence Suzuka (Takano Marika), Tokai Teio (Machico), Vodka (Ohashi Ayaka), Daiwa Scarlet (Kimura Chisaki), Gold Ship (Ueda Hitomi), Mejiro McQueen (Onishi Saori)

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Uma Musume: Pretty Derby" is a work that depicts the growth and friendship of the horse girls, who are personified race horses, and its unique setting and charming characters have drawn viewers. In particular, the story of Special Week's growth was moving, and her pursuit of her dreams with her friends resonated with many people. In addition, each horse girl's personality stands out, and their racing scenes are very exciting and visually enjoyable.

The beautiful drawings by PAWORKS, who was in charge of animation production, and the music by UTAMARO movement also enhance the appeal of the work. In particular, the opening theme "Make Debut!" and the ending theme "Grow Up Shine!" are songs that symbolize the passion and dreams of the Uma Musume girls, and have captured the hearts of viewers.

In addition, even for fans of the original game, the anime version allows them to enjoy the story of the Uma Musume characters from a new perspective, and the synergy between the game and anime is brilliant. The story development and character development are well-done, and the series has been widely accepted not only by fans of the original game but also by anime fans.

■ Recommendation points

• Appealing characters : Each Uma Musume has a rich personality, and their growth, friendships, and racing scenes are moving.
• Beautiful animation : PAWORKS' beautiful animation realistically depicts the racing scenes of the Uma Musume characters.
• A moving story : A coming-of-age tale centered around Special Week will warm the hearts of viewers.
• Music : The opening and closing songs set the mood of the film and stir emotions in the viewer.
• Link with the original work : Fans of the original game can enjoy the content from a new perspective.

Related information

"Uma Musume: Pretty Derby" is not just a game, it has also been expanded into various media mixes. You can enjoy the world of Uma Musume even more deeply through comic book adaptations, novelizations, merchandise, and more. In addition, the production of sequels and new series has been announced, and expectations are high for future developments.

This work is a story about horse girls with the history and achievements of race horses as a background, but it is loved by a wide range of people because it depicts their human drama, friendship, and growth. Even if you are not interested in horse racing, you will surely be drawn in by the charm of the horse girls. Please give it a watch.