Umamusume: Pretty Derby–The Ultimate Guide!

The success of Umamusume: Pretty Derby proves that anime girls can sell anything. The series has become one of the most popular anime franchises in recent years. It features anthropomorphic horse girls that players raise and train to compete in horse races.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby may sound like an unusual concept, but it has become a significant hit in Japan and beyond. If the mix of horse racing and anime girls sounds exciting, this article is for you!

What is Umamusume: Pretty Derby exactly?

At its core, Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a game where players raise and train horses to compete in races. Gameplay boils down to players making decisions based on a real calendar used by the Japan Racing Association for its real-life events. These decisions can include training a player’s horse to increase their stats of speed, stamina, power, guts, and wit. How a player trains their horses will affect their performances in races, their personalities, and how they can pass their skills to other horses.

The game also features PvP gameplay, allowing players to compete against each other in races. With its Career mode and multiplayer features, the game offers plenty for players who want to become top horse girl trainers. Although the idea is simple, Umamusume: Pretty Derby’s success has grown far beyond being just a cute mobile game.

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Is Umamusume: Pretty Derby more than just a game?

Umamusume: Pretty Derby has become one of the largest and most popular franchises in recent years, expanding into anime, manga, stage plays, and even live performances. To date, the series has hosted six major live event performances since 2017. These live events feature cosplayers and singers performing live dances and songs inspired by the series. Performers are also dressed up as horses from the series, helping to bring the games to life.

There are also seven different manga based on Umamusume: Pretty Derby. 2016’s Umamusume Pretty Derby: Haru Urara, Do Your Best! was based on the real-life horse Haru Urara. The manga was also supported by Mother Farm, the farm where Haru Urara actually lived, as well as the Kochi Prefecture Horse Racing Association.

The other manga based on the game follows similar plots and themes, too, as they focus on the various horses that compete. As they are horse girls, not just plain old horses, the stories portray the horses as spunky and impassioned young women yearning to do their best in the world.

These themes are also why Umamusume Pretty Derby has received numerous anime adaptations, original net animations, and multiple films to its name. There has even been a live stage play, Umamusume Pretty Derby: Sprinters’ Story, that was performed in 2023 at Stellar Ball, Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo. There is no hyperbole to the statement that Japan is absolutely in love with its horse girls.

Why is it so popular?

Umamusume: Pretty Derby has become a favorite in the anime world for good reason. It promotes positive themes about real-world horse racing. Each girl is based on a real racehorse, giving the series close ties to the sport. Instead of showing harsh rivalries or injuries, it focuses on encouragement and growth. The girls strive to be the best that they can be. It explores the themes of friendship, camaraderie, and perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds.

Globally, the series has become a smash hit, too. For example, in May of this year, the series became a part of an exhibit held at the Smithsonian-affiliated International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

This is a prime example of how culturally important the series has become in the world of horse racing. There have been concerns about how the series can be marketed to international audiences. Japanese horse racing includes many uniquely Japanese elements. Still, efforts to preserve those cultural roots have been successful.

Why should you check out Umamusume Pretty Derby?

Raising and training a horse girl might sound strange at first. However, in the show’s world, horse girls are intelligent and independent beings. Training them is akin to coaching athletes in sports like track and field or tennis. The game has generated over $2.5 billion in Japan, underscoring its intense gameplay and compelling story. Even if it were only about racing, it would likely still attract fans. If it focused solely on cute anime girls with horse traits, it would also find an audience.

What makes the series special is its respectful portrayal of Japanese horse racing. Umamusume: Pretty Derby serves as a cultural ambassador, sharing the excitement of Japan’s racing world with audiences everywhere. Moreover, real-life horses have experienced a significant surge in popularity, support, and care thanks to the series. It might just be a game about anime horse girls, but it’s proven to have done plenty of real-world good. Have you played the game or watched any of the shows? If so, please let us know in the comments below!

Cited Sources

• The Japan Times. “Racehorses, anime girls and gambling: Umamusume’s recipe for success“.
• PocketGamer. “Umamusume: Pretty Derby hits $2.5bn after most lucrative day in four years“.
• CNN. “Game On: Horse girl racing game ‘Umamusume: Pretty Derby‘”