Gunjo Fanfare: What is the appeal of this youth drama depicting the world of horse racing?

Ultramarine Fanfare - A Horse Racing School Story of Dreams and Youth

■Overview of the work

"Gunjo no Fanfare" is a TV anime series that aired from April 2 to June 25, 2022. It is a youth drama set in the jockey course of a horse racing school. The original work is an original anime, directed by Makoto Kato and produced by Lay-duce. It consists of 13 episodes, each of which lasts 30 minutes. This work depicts the growth and friendship of boys who pursue their dreams through the sport of horse racing.

■Broadcast information

"Gunjo no Fanfare" was broadcast on the following stations:

• TOKYO MX: April 2, 2022 to June 25, 2022, every Saturday from 23:30 to 0:00
• BS11: April 2, 2022 to June 25, 2022, every Saturday from 23:30 to 0:00
• Gunma Television: April 2, 2022 to June 25, 2022, every Saturday from 23:30 to 0:00
• Tochigi TV: April 2, 2022 to June 25, 2022, every Saturday from 23:30 to 0:00
• MBS (Mainichi Broadcasting System): April 3, 2022 to June 26, 2022, every Sunday from 3:08 to 3:38
• TV Hokkaido: April 6, 2022 to June 29, 2022, every Wednesday from 1:30 to 2:00
• Iwate Menkoi TV: April 9, 2022 to July 2, 2022, every Saturday from 1:30 to 2:00
• Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting: April 12, 2022 to July 4, 2022, every Tuesday from 1:50 to 2:20
• AT-X: April 3, 2022 to June 26, 2022, every Sunday from 23:30 to 0:00
• Green Channel: April 25, 2022 to July 18, 2022, every Monday from 12:30 to 13:00

It was also streamed online and was available to watch on ABEMA, GYAO!, Niconico Live Broadcasting, Niconico Channel, Prime Video, Netflix, d Anime Store, U-NEXT, Animehodai, Bandai Channel, Hulu, J:COM On Demand, TELASA, Miru Plus, au Smart Pass Premium, Hikari TV, FOD, WOWOW On Demand, Video Market, DMM.com, music.jp, GYAO! Store, and Green Channel Web.

■ Story

Yu Arimura and Shun Fuha enroll in the jockey course at the Horse Racing School and spend the next three years working towards their dreams. After completing the one-year curriculum, they are assigned to two training centers in Ritto and Miho, where they learn practically through stable training. The story follows them as they grow up while working with horses in the tough environment of the stables. Will they be able to graduate from the Horse Racing School and achieve their dreams?

■Explanation

The jockey course at the horse racing school has an extremely difficult entrance exam ratio of 10 to 20. Students are required to pass not only written exams, but also rigorous physical and motor function tests, and other qualifications. This work depicts the growth of boys from various backgrounds as they meet at the horse racing school and spend three years together. Characters with unique personalities appear, including Arimura Yu, who gained popularity in an idol group; Fuma Shun, who grew up on an island and dreams of racing with horses; and Amane Grace, who is from the UK and faces her dream despite being confused about the path her parents chose for her. The trajectory of their youth is depicted through the sport of horse racing.

■Cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Yu Arimura: Shogo Yano
• Shun Fuha: Shimba Tsuchiya
• Amane Grace: Natsuki Hanae
• Akiki Kyoriki: Yoshiro Itokawa
• Jinjin Hojo: Toshiyuki Toyonaga
• Sojiro Sakuraba: Tachibana Ryumaru
• Kota Maki: Chiaki Kobayashi
• Eri Shimotsuki: Inori Minase
• Yutaka Asahi, Takeshi Asahi: Takahiro Sakurai
• Hiroki Noda: Hiroki Tochi
• Kitami Tako: Lynn
• Nanako Nishizonji: Masako Katsuo
• Kaikyu Kuji: Daisuke Namikawa
• Kirinari Nambara: Shoya Kimata (JO1)
• Azuma Masaaki: Ohira Shosei (JO1)
• Emperor Shuri: Yoko Hikasa
• Tayanyo: Junya Enoki
• Kashino Futoshi: Mitsuru Miyamoto
• Future Kashino: Minako Kotobuki
• Kazuma Hayashida: Yuichi Nakamura
• Sadahiro Matsumiya: Nobuo Tobita
• Shigeki Kikumi: Hidenari Ugaki
• Masao Hirado: Hiroo Sasaki
• Hirado Sonoko: Ito Shizuka
• Oliver Grace: Simon Loveday

■ Main staff

The main staff are as follows:

• Director: Makoto Kato
• Series Composition: Team Fanfare
• Main writer: Naohiro Fukushima
• Character design: Hiro Kanzaki
• Chief animation director: Tomokatsu Nagasaku
• Art director: Tomoe Okubo
• Color design: Reiko Iwasawa
• Director of photography: Keiichi Saito (Production IG)
• Edited by: Shota Miyama (TROYCA)
• 3DCG: Peakys
• Horse racing 3D model, motion cooperation: Shibusawa Kou (Koei Tecmo Games)
• Sound Director: Masaki Tsuchiya
• Sound production: HALF H・P ​​STUDIO
• Music: Hiroyuki Sawano
• Animation production: Lay-duce
• Produced by: Fanfare Anime Project (Aniplex, BS11, TOKYO MX, Koei Tecmo Games, Hakuhodo, Hochi Shimbun)

■Main Characters

The details of the main characters are as follows:

Yu Arimura

15 years old, from Tokyo. She was active as the center of the famous idol group "Mr. Doctor", but was so moved by the first race she saw at a racetrack that she applied to enter a horse racing school and enrolled. Her stage name is Otonashi Yu. Her birthday is May 19th, she is a Taurus and blood type O. Her motto is "never forget your beginner's mind", and her favorite foods are gratin, tamagoyaki and ice cream. Her special skills are singing, dancing and kendama, and her hobbies are reading and gardening. She dislikes pranks and thunder, and when it comes to reading, she prefers mystery novels, but she also often reads historical novels, which she started reading to study acting.

Shun Kazanami

15 years old, from the Izu Islands. Grew up surrounded by nature and without television, listening to horse racing broadcasts on the radio. Although he had no experience riding horses until entering the horse racing school, he shows a natural talent for it. His birthday is February 14th, Aquarius, blood type B. His motto is "Be kind to people, be kind to living things", and his favorite foods are mountain vegetable tempura, sashimi, and pudding. His special skills are fishing and woodcarving, and his hobbies are listening to the radio and watching the stars from his island ranch. He dislikes operating electronic devices, noise, crowded trains, making lots of detours, and his sister often gets angry at him for not coming home in time for dinner.

Amane Grace

15 years old, from the UK. Half British, with a father who was a former jockey and is now famous as an owner-breeder. Raised in a wealthy family, he is an elite who travelled around the world to various horse racing schools before coming to Japan. His birthday is September 20th, Virgo, blood type A. His motto is "Be the best," and his favorite foods are fruit, smooth bean paste, and black tea (Assam). His special skill is golf, and his hobbies are boxing and art appreciation. He doesn't like girls, and he often listens to rock music.

Aki Kyoriki

15 years old, from Gifu Prefecture. Her father is a jockey in local horse racing, and she enrolled in horse racing school with the goal of becoming a leading jockey in the central horse racing. Her birthday is August 8th, she is a Leo, and her blood type is A. Her motto is "Walk for Dream", and her favorite foods are spicy cod roe and mapo tofu. Her special skills are cooking, singing, and sewing, and her hobbies are listening to music (Miss Doku) and running with her dog. She doesn't like long baths, people who are careless about time, and people who don't follow manners, and she can't stand sitting on the bed or sleeping before taking a bath.

Hayato Hosho

16 years old, from Hokkaido. A talented rider who has won prizes in horse riding competitions since elementary school, she failed the entrance exam for the horse racing school, but after trying again she was accepted. Her birthday is April 21st, she is a Taurus and type A blood. Her motto is "Perseverance pays off," and her favorite foods are omelettes, nikujaga (meat and potatoes), and celery. Her special skill is sketching, and her hobbies are plastic models and shogi (Japanese chess). She is not good at dentists, and she likes manga with love themes.

Sojiro Sakuraba

15 years old, from Shiga Prefecture. His family home is the prestigious Sakuraba Stable in Ritto, and he grew up in a horse racing family with his father being a former jockey and trainer, his eldest brother a stable hand, and his second brother an active jockey. His birthday is June 10th, Gemini, blood type B. His motto is "Tomorrow the wind will blow tomorrow," and his favorite foods are glass noodle soup and soy sauce ramen. His special skill is the violin, and his hobbies are fashion and online games. He dislikes frogs and dragonflies, and he says he is jealous of his uncle who married a female announcer. He has a wide circle of friends, with about 300 people in his smartphone address book. The type of jockey he wants to be is a superstar jockey.

Kota Maki

15 years old, from Fukushima Prefecture. His grandfather took him to the racetrack from an early age, and he became a horse racing fan. His passion led him to enter the horse racing school. His birthday is November 27th, Sagittarius, blood type AB. His motto is "If you love something, you will be good at it," and his favorite food is curry rice. His special skills are identifying which racehorse belongs to a horse just by listening to its cry, shorthand, and teaching. His hobbies are visiting castles and collecting data related to horse racing, and he dislikes assertiveness and airplanes. His favorite castle in Japan is Himeji Castle. He wants to be a stable-income jockey.

Eri Shimotsuki

15 years old, from Kyoto Prefecture. Thinking that he could earn money from prize money if he was successful as a jockey, he enrolled in the horse racing school. His birthday is December 24th, Capricorn, blood type O. His motto is "Money doesn't fall from the sky", and his favorite foods are Matsuzaka beef (which he has only eaten once) and non-conveyor belt sushi. His special skills are mental arithmetic and gymnastics, and his hobbies are collecting Giza 10s and surfing the internet. He is not good at long phone calls, and he often watches variety shows on TV where people guess how much food will cost. The type of jockey he wants to be is one who can earn prize money.

Other characters

• Yutaka Asahi: 31 years old. A horse racing school instructor who trains Yu and his friends. He has a unique way of speaking and is difficult to understand.
• Kazuo Nohira: 45 years old. An instructor at the horse racing school who trains Yu and his friends together with Asahi. He is feared by the students because of his strict teaching methods.
• Tako Kitami: 25 years old. An employee of the talent agency that Yu belonged to. She infiltrates the horse racing school to film a documentary.
• Naoko Saionji: The president of the agency that Yu Arimura belonged to when she was an idol. She acted as a parent figure and raised Yu.
• Yoshihisa Kuji: A graduate of the horse racing school and an active jockey. He meets Yu by chance at the racecourse he visited to observe.
• Kosei Nambara: A member of the idol group "Mr. Doctor" that Yu belonged to, 17 years old. A mischievous mood maker.
• Masaki Azuma: A member of the idol group "Mr. Doctor" that Yu belonged to, 18 years old. He is calm and acts like a leader.
• Akari Sumeragi: 34 years old. A trainer who runs the Sumeragi Stable at Ritto Training Center. He is thoughtful and calm, and will do anything to achieve his goals. He takes on Shun as a trainee in the 41st class of the Horse Racing School and trains him.
• Yukino Tayasu: 28 years old. One of the assistant trainers at the Ritto Training Center's Sumeragi Stable. He values ​​numbers and theory.
• Futoshi Kashino: 53 years old. Owner of the racehorse Kisuke (Oak Nature) kept at the Sumeragi Stables.
• Miku Kashino: 12 years old. Kashino Futoshi's daughter, she loves Kisuke.
• Kazuma Hayashida: 42 years old. A veteran jockey with a proven track record.

■ Main robot items

The main items and facilities that appear in the work are as follows:

Horse Racing School

This is an educational training facility that develops candidates for horse racing jockeys or stable hands. There are two courses: a three-year jockey course and a six-month stable hand course.

Jockey

It is a profession that involves controlling racehorses and racing them around the course. It is also called "jockey" in English. In Japan, there are schools to become a jockey at both the central and local horse racing organizations: the Racing School at the JRA and the Local Horse Racing Education Center at the local horse racing organizations.

Race horse

A horse that is produced, raised, and trained for the purpose of competing in horse races. There are various breeds depending on the type of horse racing, but the particularly well-known thoroughbred is a breed that excels at running. Racehorses have been bred over many years, and it is also important that horses that have achieved excellent results in races have their bloodline passed on to the next generation.

Stablehand course

A stable hand is someone who looks after and supports the racehorses under the direction of the trainer. The stable hand course at the Japan Racing Association Racing School has a curriculum designed to enable students to pass the stable hand exam after six months of study.

Jockey course

The Japan Racing Association Racing School's jockey course is a three-year boarding school with a curriculum designed to allow students to acquire skills and obtain a jockey license even without prior horse riding experience. Students undergo basic physical training and riding techniques necessary for a jockey, as well as practical training at a training center. Eligibility to take the exam is 15 years of age or older, weighs within the weight limit set for each age (45kg-48kg), and has eyesight of 0.8 or higher in both eyes and 0.5 or higher in both eyes (correction with soft contact lenses is acceptable).

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: The First Encounter (2022/04/02)
• Episode 2: Yu and Yu (2022/04/09)
• Episode 3: The Prince from a Faraway Land (2022/04/16)
• Episode 4: Summer Camp Night (2022/04/23)
• Episode 5: Setting sun (2022/04/30)
• Episode 6: The Reins Are Loose (2022/05/07)
• Episode 7: The day they left the nest (2022/05/14)
• Episode 8: The Wind of Ritto (2022/05/21)
• Episode 9: Let's jump out together! (2022/05/28)
• Episode 10: The Sound of Distant Rain (2022/06/04)
• Episode 11: Morning Dew is Far Away (2022/06/11)
• Episode 12: 1700m Dirt Driving (2022/06/18)
• Episode 13: Gate In! (2022/06/25)

■ Related works

"Gunjo no Fanfare" Broadcast Special ~ Horse Racing School Admissions Guide ~

■ Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes are as follows:

OP1

• Song title: Move the soul
• Lyricist: PURPLE NIGHT
• Composer: PURPLE NIGHT
• Arrangement: PURPLE NIGHT
• Sung by: JO1

ED1

• Song Name: OUTSIDERS
• Lyricist: Benjamin + cAnON
• Composer: Hiroyuki Sawano
• Arrangement: Hiroyuki Sawano
• Sung by: SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: Junki Kono (JO1) & Sho Yonashiro (JO1)

■Work evaluation and recommendation

"Gunjo no Fanfare" has been highly praised as a coming-of-age drama set in the sport of horse racing. In particular, the storyline depicting the growth and friendship of its unique characters deeply touched viewers. It was also highly praised for its realistic portrayal of the horse racing school and its careful explanation of horse racing terminology.

This work is recommended not only for those who are interested in horse racing, but also for those who like youth dramas and sports anime. In particular, the scenes depicting the pursuit of dreams and the bonds with friends resonated with many viewers. In addition, the opening and ending themes, which use songs by JO1, also became a hot topic and attracted the attention of music fans.

Furthermore, episodes depicting the harsh environment of the horse racing school and the bond between boys and horses provided viewers with a new perspective. This is a work that not only conveys the appeal of horse racing as a sport, but also gives courage to viewers in their own lives through the depiction of boys working hard to achieve their dreams.

"Gunjo no Fanfare" is a moving story about the brilliance of youth and the world of horse racing. Please enjoy the story and feel the growth and friendship of boys who pursue their dreams.