Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era

  • Umamusume: Pretty Derby –
    Beginning of a New Era
Theatrical release poster
Japaneseウマ娘 プリティーダービー 新時代の扉
Revised HepburnUmamusume Puritī Dābī Shinjidai no Tobira
Directed byKen Yamamoto
Screenplay byKiyoko Yoshimura
Based onUmamusume: Pretty Derby
by Cygames
Starring
Cinematography
  • Akane Fushihara
  • Yūki Kawashita
Edited byKashiko Kimura
Music byMasaru Yokoyama
Production
company
Distributed byToho[1]
Release date
  • May 24, 2024 (2024-05-24)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era[a] is a 2024 Japanese animated sports drama film directed by Ken Yamamoto from a screenplay by Kiyoko Yoshimura. Based on the multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, it is produced by CygamesPictures and stars Yuri Fujimoto, Sumire Uesaka, Yui Ogura, Haruna Fukushima, Sora Tokui, Eriko Matsui, and Kenichi Ogata. The film is loosely based on events surrounding the 2001 Japanese Classic Races and follows Jungle Pocket in her journey to become one of the strongest racers while facing strong competition.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era was released in Japan on May 24, 2024. It is set to be released in North America by GAGA Corporation on February 27, 2026.[2]

Plot

Delinquent racer Jungle Pocket travels to the racetrack with her friends to watch a Twinkle Series race, where she witnesses Fuji Kiseki win. Inspired by her performance, Jungle Pocket decides to become a Twinkle Series racer herself and enrolls at Tracen Academy to join Fuji Kiseki's team led by the trainer Tanabe. Jungle Pocket wins her preliminary races, allowing her to enter her first high-profile race at the Hopeful Stakes.

While entering the racetrack, Jungle Pocket meets the eccentric Agnes Tachyon. Jungle Pocket remains confident in winning the Hopeful Stakes, only for Agnes Tachyon to defeat her in an upset. Between her loss and witnessing the undefeated T. M. Opera O win the Arima Kinen, Jungle Pocket is inspired to get stronger to defeat them. She makes a direct challenge to Agnes Tachyon and declares her as her rival, during which she becomes acquainted with Dantsu Flame and Manhattan Cafe.

Agnes Tachyon slyly accepts and monitors Jungle Pocket's training and subsequent races to further her research. Agnes Tachyon also defeats Manhattan Cafe at the Yayoi Sho, where she becomes concerned with her body's condition. As Jungle Pocket trains for her upcoming races, Fuji Kiseki opens up on being forced to retire before the Japanese Derby due to a leg injury, adding that she hopes Jungle Pocket can win the race to fulfill her promise of making Tanabe a "Derby Trainer".

Jungle Pocket holds her rematch against Agnes Tachyon at the Satsuki Shō with Dantsu Flame, though she is soundly beaten again. Agnes Tachyon later announces her indefinite hiatus from the Twinkle Series. An angered and anguished Jungle Pocket confronts Agnes Tachyon on abandoning their rivalry, where Agnes Tachyon responds on becoming more interested in research than racing. As Jungle Pocket leaves with Dantsu Flame and Manhattan Cafe, Agnes Tachyon vaguely remarks she wants to see Jungle Pocket surpass her.

Tanabe meets with a frustrated Jungle Pocket and surmises that Agnes Tachyon suffered a leg injury from trying to surpass an Umamusume's limit, before encouraging her to continue training. Jungle Pocket and Dantsu Flame later duel in the Japanese Derby as Agnes Tachyon watches on, hoping her provocations will push Jungle Pocket to her limits. Jungle Pocket wins the race and fulfills Fuji Kiseki and Tanabe's promise, while Agnes Tachyon realizes she will be left behind by her rivals winning in her stead and becomes reclusive.

Despite her victory, Jungle Pocket remains haunted by the inability to prove herself against Agnes Tachyon and feeling she is not strong enough, causing her to fall into a slump and lose the Kikuka-shō to Manhattan Cafe. Seeing Jungle Pocket's troubles, Fuji Kiseki reminds her of the reason she started racing by challenging her to a duel. Jungle Pocket later visits a lonely Agnes Tachyon, reiterating her desire to go up against her in spite of her self-doubt, before leaving to train for the Japan Cup.

At the Japan Cup, a determined Jungle Pocket faces off against T. M. Opera O and a contingent of strong domestic and international Umamusume, where she overcomes her self-doubt at the final stretch and wins. Agnes Tachyon witnesses Jungle Pocket's drive to race and is inspired to end her hiatus. At a future race, Jungle Pocket and Agnes Tachyon have an opportunity for a rematch with Dantsu Flame and Manhattan Cafe, and the four later perform their Winning Live Concert.

Voice cast

See also: List of Umamusume: Pretty Derby characters
Character Japanese voice actor
Jungle Pocket (ジャングルポケット, Janguru Poketto) Yuri Fujimoto
Agnes Tachyon (アグネスタキオン, Agunesu Takion) Sumire Uesaka
Manhattan Cafe (マンハッタンカフェ, Manhattan Kafe) Yui Ogura
Dantsu Flame (ダンツフレーム, Dantsu Furēmu) Haruna Fukushima
T. M. Opera O (テイエムオペラオー, Tei Emu Opera Ō) Sora Tokui
Fuji Kiseki (フジキセキ) Eriko Matsui
Trainer Tanabe (タナベトレーナー, Tanabe Torēnā) Kenichi Ogata
Narita Top Road (ナリタトップロード, Narita Toppu Rōdo) Kanna Nakamura
Meisho Doto (メイショウドトウ, Meishou Dotou) Misaki Watada
Ru (ルー, Rū) Miyuki Sakurai
Shima (シマ) Yurie Igoma
Mai (メイ, Mei) Saya Hitomi
Nana Izumoto (泉本 奈々, Izumoto Nana) Rina Honnizumi

Production

On December 28, 2023, an anime film that is part of the Umamusume: Pretty Derby multimedia franchise, titled Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era, was announced through a teaser visual and trailer.[3][4] It would be produced by CygamesPictures and directed by Ken Yamamoto, with Kiyoko Yoshimura writing the script, Tetsuya Kobari serving as scenario director and story organizer, Jun Yamazaki designing the characters and serving as chief animation director, and Masaru Yokoyama composing the music.[5][6]

On March 22, 2024, the film's official website also revealed the main theme song, titled "Ready!! Steady!! Derby!!". The song is performed by Yuri Fujimoto, Sumire Uesaka, Yui Ogura, and Haruna Fukushima as their respective characters.[7]

Release

The film was released in Japanese theaters on May 24, 2024.[8] The film was promoted alongside Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire as part of a collaboration.[9] It was later announced that the film would also see a theatrical release in Taiwan and Hong Kong, with Medialink licensing the film in the aforementioned regions.[10][11]

On January 15, 2026, it was announced that the film will receive a theatrical release in North America, with GAGA Corporation licensing and releasing the film with English subtitles.[2]

Reception

Box office

Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era debuted at first in gross, earning over ¥354 million (about $2.25 million) on its opening weekend, and at second in attendance.[12][13] The film has earned ¥1.4 billion (about $8.7 million) in its run in Japanese theaters.[2]

Critical response

On the Japanese review aggregator website Filmarks, the film received an average rating of 4.14/5.0, out of 962 reviews.[14]

Richard Eisenbeis from Anime News Network rated the film B+ overall; he commends how the film reinterprets the 2000-2001 Japanese horse racing season with emotional and psychological complexity, adding depth to the main leads in Jungle Pocket and Agnes Tachyon. However, he notes that certain characters who were the leads' real-life racing contemporaries, notably Manhattan Cafe and Dantsu Flame, felt lacking in their character development, remarking that they "seem shoehorned in because they were around in real life".[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 新時代の扉, Hepburn: Umamusume Puritī Dābī Shinjidai no Tobira

References

  1. ^ ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 新時代の扉 [Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era]. eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c Cayanan, Joanna (January 15, 2026). "Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era Anime Film Screens in N. America on February 27". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  3. ^ 『ウマ娘』初の映画『ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 新時代の扉』が制作決定。公開は2024年5月24日。ジャングルポケットが主人公でアグネスタキオン、マンハッタンカフェと競い合う. Dengeki Online. KADOKAWA Game Linkage. December 28, 2023. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  4. ^ 「ウマ娘」初映画化決定 主人公はジャングルポケット『新時代の扉』2024年5月24日公開. Cinema Today. December 28, 2023. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Mateo, Alex (December 27, 2023). "Umamusume Pretty Derby Franchise Gets Anime Film in May 2024". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  6. ^ 「ウマ娘」が初の映画化！主人公はジャングルポケット ティザービジュ＆特報映像も. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 27, 2023. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  7. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 22, 2024). "Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era Anime Film Previews Theme Song in New Trailer". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  8. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (May 28, 2024). "Uma Musume: Beginning of a New Era Film Opens at #2". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  9. ^ Iikura-Gross, Ken (May 28, 2024). "Uma Musume Sprints Into Crossover With Godzilla x Kong". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  10. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (June 6, 2024). "Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era Anime Film Opens in Taiwan on August 2". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  11. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 8, 2024). "Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era Anime Film Opens in Hong Kong on August 1". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  12. ^ 「帰ってきた あぶない刑事」初登場1位！　劇場版「ウマ娘　プリティーダービー」、「デデデデ」後章などが初登場【国内映画ランキング】. Eiga.com (in Japanese). May 28, 2024. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  13. ^ 映画『ウマ娘』公開3日間で興収3.5億円突破. Oricon (in Japanese). May 27, 2024. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  14. ^ 【発表】初日満足度ランキング！1位は映画『劇場版 おいしい給食 Road to イカメシ』 | FILMAGA（フィルマガ）. Filmarks (in Japanese). May 27, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  15. ^ Eisenbeis, Richard (June 27, 2024). "Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era Anime Film Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
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