Category Archives: Umamusume: Pretty Derby

July 22, 2026

Umamusume: THE STAGE, Coming to LA, A Survival Guide

By omo

I saw someone pass along a large google doc detailing all aspects about what happens when you go to an Uma concert in Japan as a “survival guide” for the Los Angeles leg of Uma 7th. I’m like, hold my beer.

First, here’s the official post on the LA stop. It has all the details for a reasonable person to make it to the show. I’m assuming you read it. Good.

I will assume you’re a shut-in who’s never been to a concert in the USA, or another country’s concert for that matter. You know how to get to LA Live (the entertainment complex where the Peacock Theater is located) by car and you can get there by car, have a credit card (AMEX), and have enough money to pay for everything like an average person and conduct yourself in society like an average person. And on that note, I’m not going to write for things that someone coming from out of town will need (like hotels and how to book a plane ticket or things like that), I assume if you’re doing that you are advanced enough to know “how to survive” a concert trip.

In this case, the first thing to decide is do you even want to go? Concerts are kind of involved. If you are not at a level to be able to be around a few thousand strangers cheering on some Japanese voice actors performing a stage event and sing Umamusume songs, you might want to watch the online stream instead. For that matter, anyone who doesn’t want to spend the money to travel (for me, two VIP tickets are still cheaper than my flight + hotel costs combined), staying home is perfectly nice and better than being goaded to go to the show. I will assure you while going in person can be a great experience, you can also have a great experience not going in person. I enjoyed many watch parties in my short stay on Earth thus far too. For that matter, it’s likely that at least one person who will be at the venue will go home with a bad time. It all comes down on how you execute. Can you execute? Are you confident? Maybe? The cheat code to this is to go with a friend or SO. It’s just like anime cons in that regard–more the merrier, and you can split some of the cognitive and monetary burdens, maybe.

Once you decide that you are going, great. See you there?

Ticketing

First, you want to get tickets. I’m going to assure you that for a majority of the attendees, being there is more important than having a good seat. To me, this kind of a concert in America is extremely special. Otaku content (not counting, say, Sailor Moon) with the full-blown, seiyuu idol treatment (17 is a lot for America!) is a first-in-history type of thing. Being a part of this odd otaku history to me is the main thing. So basic things first–create and an AXS account. Add your credit card in there. Try to buy tickets on another show at the Peacock Theater (not to actually buy, but learn the process). You might have to disable VPN and AdBlock.

If you want to fight the ticket sales war, you need to have an AMEX to pay for the ticket on the July 23 presale at 10am Pacific time. It’s not certain if all seats will be available at the various presale rounds and how many you can buy per sale. If you aren’t sweaty about having the best seat, you should still be able to buy tickets during the other rounds of presales (promoter and venue both have rounds of presale on July 27, and July 28 is public sales start). I personally don’t think it will sell out quickly, and it might not even sell out completely, because they’re using most or all of the seats and it’s on a Thursday and Friday. I think it could still sell out, but unlikely right away.

In any event, deciding to go soon is a boon, so you can purchase tickets right away. So you do, just log in to AXS up to 60 minutes before ticket sales start, and it should put you in a queue for the tickets. Once you pop out of the queue (it’s your turn to buy the tickets), you can auto select or manual pick seats you want, then check out with your AMEX (assuming it’s during the AMEX presale round onward from July 23). You’ll need to do that for each of the two shows. And that’s it for tickets.

If you want to get sweaty, I won’t get into this, but there are definitely ways! Don’t resort to illegal means! But, if you failed to purchase tickets from AXS/Peacock directly, in the USA 3rd party ticket sellers are just as good. If you don’t need a VIP seat I would be okay scalping it from the usual large ticket reselling platforms like Seatgeek or Stubhub. For VIP tickets, it will depend on how they handle distributing the VIP bonus merch, but it might also work fine second-hand.

With tickets in hand, the rest of it is the “survival part” and I will sort it based on importance. Some of it, IMO, is super important, but not important in terms of, say, health or safety. So they’re in the “optional” or “semi-important” category. You get my gist?

Important Items

  • Make sure you are physically capable to handle a concert. This means you’re not ill, and any physical disability can be accommodated with the venue (you can reach out to the venue in advance to make arrangements or ask questions about disability related accommodations). I expect the concert to run for about 2 hours. If none of those clears, maybe consider not coming and stay somewhere you’re comfortable. If you are going both days, you’re not going to sleep early after Thursday since it ends kind of late! Keep all of that in mind in terms of your physical condition please. And yeah, don’t come to the venue smelly, do your hygiene. Precious 女性声優 are going to look upon your countenance, so keep that in mind when you present yourself at the venue.
  • Make sure you read the rules and regulations for Peacock Theater and from Cygames about this show. If you need to bring any accommodations, make sure it is allowed into the venue, such as any medication or fluids. Peacock theater itself sells refreshment inside the venue. The bag policy is no bags larger than 14 x 14 x 6 inches, and no glass/aluminum bottles. No outside drink or food is allowed other than made exception by guest services (for ADA) and unopened plastic bottles of water 1L or smaller.
    • As of this writing Cygames has not posted anything about rules for this show, so stay tuned. If you are curious, in Japan, they don’t allow UOs nor UO cyclones, and overly bright penlights. Recording of any kind and photography are prohibited (except during that one segment on 5th Tour, LOL). I doubt the recording part will change, but some things may be relaxed for the USA.
  • I recommend parking at LA Live (the underground deck, which is Lot E or East Garage), if you need parking. You might need to get there early enough, since it can run out of space. It seems like a convenient, safe, and not that expensive of a deal (40 plus tax for all day)? If you want cheaper parking you can park further but I don’t recommend it. Note that I have not parked in any of the LA Live garages on my own, but I’ve gotten in and out of cars from all those garages before w.
  • If you plan to show up early at LA Live to hang out, like doing some of the “optional” things listed below, then make sure you bring enough hydration and get enough rest. If you didn’t sleep enough the day before, obviously that could impact your experience. It’s all understandable, having to break out of your daily routine to go se some Horse Girls in the flesh sure makes one excited and all. Still, the point here is make sure you are in good, nay, great condition! Not only will you have a much better time when you’re feeling well, you’re more likely to not screw up executing.
  • If you are driving from home, make sure you budget in traffic, but I probably don’t need to tell you that if you’re driving in LA normally. If you’re an out of towner counting on an uber on the other hand, definitely take traffic into account.
  • On another LA note, while DTLA in general is somewhat safe, especially the area that is LA Live, you need to be aware of your surrounding at all times outside the venue. Definitely be careful when walking alone after dark outside of LA Live (say if you’re taking the mass transit or parked farther away) and avoid leaving your belongings unattended.
  • Lastly, don’t forget to bring your ticket. You might also want to bring something to prove your age and ID (don’t drive without your license…), and some cashless payment method (Peacock is cashless). Most AMEX credit cards support chips or Apple/Google pay these days. I assume all concert merch sales sold by Peacock event handlers are also going to be cashless, but this was not always the case IIRC. All this basic stuff you can refer to not to a google doc or a blog post, but the literal guide on Peacock Theater’s site for visitors.

Semi-Important Things

  • It helps a lot to know the songs at the show. It’s not important but it will immensely improve how much you get out of the show. By “know” I mean knowing how the song goes, the lyrics, and maybe even the song title? For bonus points you can know how the calls for the song goes (Umamusume build most calls into the recording itself), but you don’t need to do them. You can if you want to, but not doing calls means you can’t mess it up or tire out faster, and sometimes that’s preferred, YMMV.
    • Your best bet is look around online for a prediction setlist. The only two songs I’m counting on to happen is UMA IN AMERICA and Umapyoi Densetsu…or Umapyoi Legend if we get the English version. More likely I think we’ll just get the same classic hits they have always done, just taking the best old songs from 7th SSA.
  • It helps to have something to cheer with. If you’ve never been to a concert before, having a pen light is a huge clutch. In 2026 you can buy one off Amazon, so I’m assuming you know where to go to get one. If you got one from another concert, hell, nobody says you can’t bring it to Umamusume. However, it would be great if you just got a generic, unbranded one or buy an Umamusume one for this concert. You should be able to buy one at the venue (queues and stock willing). If you want to get sweaty and mail order one from Japan, the official carrot blade seems to always be in stock (15 days lead time). You’ll need a proxy or something, just to be aware.
    • Yeah there are advanced strats like buying a tube cover. Check the official site for ones still left in stock. El, Cafe, Mambo, Kitachan and Nicene are still in stock, and this can change.
    • Cheering with just your hands is what I always recommend. You really do not need to bring anything, which is why this is “semi-important.” Some songs have clapping, others just need you to wave them in the air (in a way that is considerate to your neighbors).
    • Bring other cheering goods if you have them, and hopefully they’ll just sell it at the venue. Just be aware of Peacock Theater’s rule about banners if you’re rolling that route.
  • For the same reason why it’s good to go to the show with friends, socialize with other trainers at the venue. Maybe it’s the people in the seats near you or before the show. Obviously don’t get creepy about that but just be nice and helpful is always good.
  • Buying merch is semi-optional. Well okay it is entirely optional, but we want to support the concerts and this part of the Umamusume business. Unlike gacha or buying carots you actually get something in return. It is good culture. Just don’t get too sweaty and compromise your experience at the Umamusume concert over this!

Completely Optional Things (That May Be Important)

  • Cosplay is completely optional. The only thing I beg is for cosplayers to observe Time Place Occasion rules. Don’t go into the venue with a bulky cosplay and block the views of people behind your fake ears or something. It’s just inappropriate when you cross that line.
    • On that note, if you have a towel, a uchiwa, or something like that, please refrain from raising them over your head. Thanks, the person behind you says in advance.
  • Hanging out and socializing with friends before the show is completely optional. Half the time with these Peacock Theater otaku event I do hang out with people before the show, since I got nothing to do, as I’m across the country from home. The locals might still pull up 30 minutes before the show, park, and get inside 10 minutes before start time. LA is infamous for traffic, so take that into account if you’re not the one driving, too.
  • Flaunt your itabag/itashas/itachari/itawhatever. If you’re into them you know. If you’re not you can just ignore this. Just make sure you don’t get into trouble trying to secure it or bring it to the venue.
  • Flaunt your nuis or dolls or whatever.. If you’re into them you know. If you’re not you can just ignore this. Just make sure you don’t get into trouble trying to secure it or bring it to the venue.
  • Take photos with your stuffed animal/horse children at the venue and your seat and all that (rules permitting).
  • Write a letter to the cast member(s) of your choice. I don’t know if Cygames is going to arrange this but they might have some people on staff who cares about it enough to enable gift boxes at the venue. If not, write a letter to their agency or something and detail your concert experience.
  • Flower stands and backstage flowers. Flower stands is a Chinese/East Asian custom that Americans generally do not do, and are not familiar with outside of funerals and weddings. Having looked into this years ago it is a major pain in the butt to do at the Peacock Theater, given what you get out of it. More importantly, BNML and Cygames has to allow this in the first place, you can’t just unilaterally do it. Backstage gifts on the other hand might be easier to do at Peacock Theater. I still recommend against it because these are not something in your control unilaterally and could cause the recipients trouble, but you can try I suppose. Definitely in the bonus round category here, it is a super extra optional activity.
  • Learning calls is almost completely optional I would say, but it is. It’s definitely a tier lower than “learn the songs” at any rate. Because Umapyoi Densetsu exists and it’s the most Umamusume thing in the world, the only call that you should learn in advance is the “ore no aiba ga” call from that song. And even then it’s okay that if you don’t. More specifically, learning calls is something you do over time by going to concerts. You can read about it, sure, but until you’ve gone to one of these things you probably would have no real idea how it goes–and I’m not even sure 7th LA would count, since the calls are likely not at the same level as calls in Japan. But Uma fandom is a little less hardcore I would say, so I expect the excited Trainers in America (along with our Japanese Trainer friends flying to the States) will give the cast the same loud welcome during their performances. You earn lots of brownie points if you watch the live streams, follow the call guides, and learn it on your own (or with friends), but it’s literally just brownie points. More over, if you’re quick-witted you can probably do most of the calls just by following the audience and having some basic understanding of calls, while knowing all the songs.

My approach to this is not so much, don’t do these, but trying to make it so that we strip out the extra stuff so we keep our eyes on the real prize. If you want to do the optional things, great, but do remember they are optional and shouldn’t ever cause problem for the more important, non-optional side! If your condition suffers because of these extra optional stuff, then it might not be worth it. Take care of yourself first.

Leave a comment | posted in Conventions and Concerts, Modern Visual Culture, Seiyuu, Idol, Pop, Umamusume: Pretty Derby

March 6, 2026

Umamusume: Beginning of a New Era

By omo

I finally, finally, got to watch it in theaters. On the way home, my playlist rotated to GIRLS’ LEGEND U by chance. This is how it feels, again, to wait and finally fulfill that desire.

It didn’t occur to me at first that the Umamusume feature film, Shinjidai no Tobira, was something you had to see in theaters. I blame that on being exposed to so much lead-up marketing to the film, that desire to watch it as soon as possible–which, with a VPN on U-Next solved a few months after it hit the screens in Japan. I didn’t expect it to be a film that stretches into the contemplative. I would had thought it followed the fierce desire of its protagonist, Jungle Pocket, but the movie was a beast of its own.

Now that it’s finally a thing, which marks the 4th time I’ve watched the film, first I just want to thank REMOW/GAGA for making it happen, and it was not a 1-night event like many other anime movie screenings out here. Pretty sure I missed the last 7 or 8 out of 10 of those in my area, because they’re always happening on a weekend I’m out of town.

Second, as a part of the movie promo, the director, Ken Yamamoto, has done some interviews. I quote the Crunchyroll one here because it’s to the point:

With the mobile game launching in English, the Cinderella Gray anime airing and this film now coming out overseas, Umamusume has had a big year for fans around the world. How does Beginning of a New Era build upon that?

Yamamoto: Since this project was specifically made for the big screen, I feel there is profound meaning in fans experiencing Umamusume in a cinema, especially as a point of connection for fans coming from the mobile game, manga, stage plays, anime, and live concerts.

The world of Umamusume is incredibly vast; how it is perceived can change drastically depending on the lens you view it through. I hope this film contributes to that ever-expanding breadth and offers a new perspective on the franchise.

Having watched it on a PC, a TV, and on a tablet, none of it made as much sense as watching it in theaters. Everything just made the visual language click better, from the sound design to the contrasting lightscapes between the race track, Tachyon’s lab, and Pokke’s memories.

Unfortunately, like most people I don’t have access to Japanese films all the time at my local movie theaters. It seems like half the time I need to watch the said film in Japan, and that really comes down to timing. In this day and age of Netflix and what have you, it’s nice to see that the medium is still the message even if streaming has become the norm. I mean, I don’t need to bring up Cho Kaguya-hime here? Anime in movie theaters is for sure, still a large chunk of that pie, but we’re still not really established in terms of exporting that chain outside of east Asia maybe. When I visited Taiwan earlier last month I realized many Japanese works can be seen in theaters. I don’t mean just normal Japanese movies–that’s actually quite spotty–but things like the HypMic screening that happened recently, various live viewings, and other niche content with established fanbases. America is way, way behind on this front, despite how much we proclaim we may like anime and anime-adjacent media.

Heck, the fact that I had to watch the new Gundam Hathaway chapter in Japan is a huge sign that things are not doing as well as we could, not by a long shot. That said, review to come soon? I don’t know.

PS. Here’s a spoiler-lite quickie on the Hathaway film. Long story short, it’s a good second act in the story where Hathaway drives the camera time but the development is on what depicts the complicated life that Gigi lives. I did think the final scene/sequence was gratuitous in that they had to have that to relieve tension and give the movie something with oomf. It also would be cowardly to do things this way. I thought it would have been fine to have a quiet second act, for a proper SF-y story about the son of Bright Noa and the current-event-y themes this film tackles.

Leave a comment | posted in Gundam, Modern Visual Culture, Umamusume: Pretty Derby

May 5, 2025

Anime Events, May Anime, Eventing in May

By omo

Isn’t it wild that Masako Nozawa is appearing at a West Coast convention and you can join her meet and greet for $3500? Anyways, this is just one of the many recent developments I saw today.

Let me start with house keeping, it’s this kind of a post, sorry? First of all, the newsletter is pretty dead since over a year and half ago so that was that. I have links and pages dated 2023 that I have not linked anywhere. Slowly I’m trying to clean those up from my massive number of Chrome tabs. Only 3-400 more to go or something.

For anime, for what it is, the business that it is, you can check out a couple substacks. It’s nice that semi-pros are doing what I always envisioned to exist in the right way. That said I really should continue to write about my own niche–events, and seiyuu, around anime/game/manga etc.

I recently came back from a local convention (Kogaracon) and talking/overhearing some people who attend these events there are definitely a network of local school cons on top of the more profit-driven events. If you know one near you, it helps to support them by showing up. It’s also pretty relaxing to hit a con and be back home the same day, getting all the things you want.

I have a post written up for Kawaiikon and the fan event I helped run for Sally Amaki and Kana Ichinose. Hopefully that comes out before I start my next chain of events starting from Acen in a couple weeks. (This sentence weights on me more than you think.)

I should also put some thoughts down about the upcoming changing of guards with the josei seiyuu wave. I did have this few weeks of break so I can go back to recouping for things. Or rather, from Aceon onward I will be kinda busy for the rest of the summer–like after Labor Day basically.

This means I actually watched a lot of anime in March and April. I went back and basically finished Atri the anime. This season, I actually felt engaged with a number of the offerings. The last two seasons on the other hand was kind of a dull thing. Maybe it’s just I didn’t watch the shows I would enjoy. Or maybe I should watch more Netflix. Anyways, going to list some for this season that I am/will be/had been watching.

  • Lazarus – The show they finally end up making after like 30 years, IDK. A huge miss to be dub only in legit stream means in the US though.
  • Cinderella Grey – Other than Alexandros being there and breaking the combo of Umamusume signing the OP, it’s just as you’d expect. Which is great. Just like the EN game release date is now set.
  • Witch Watch – Possibly my fav this season. It’s a romcom with a pop culture edge and Narichan nailed her role.
  • Maebashi Witches – It’s a kids show that is dressed like a young adult, and it’s oddly amusing to me.
  • Aharen-san – Not sure if I’ll continue in S2, probably will drop if I don’t have the time, given it’s getting stale already.
  • Zatsutabi – It’s ok and one of the three chill anime girls-do-cute-things anime this season (Kadokawa).
  • Summer Pockets – I might save this for later but it’s ok?
  • Aru Majo ga Shinu Made/Once Upon a Witch’s Death – This production is too gucci to, uh, Drop(s).
  • Ballpark de Tsukamaete – Too many baseball seiyuu in this. Also the subject matter is one I like. Oddly enough the main character is the one thing that sticks out.
  • GQuuuuuuX – I enjoyed Beginnings enough, so it’s time to see what Tsurumaki has left for the rest of “us” who aren’t like myself. I mean it’s a gorgeous work already.
  • Apocalypse Hotel – Sold me after 2 eps, just a matter of finding time to keep up.
  • Takamine-san – Probably will still watch, if not to completion.
  • YOUR FORMA – I have a Samsung tablet so this is actually something I can easily pull up on my TV. That said this show feels like a 2010s anime.
  • Rock Lady – This is also an anime kinda made for me, so I feel obliged to continue.
  • Anne Sherley – Surprisingly great, thanks to Honoka’s spirited performance and dialing the grating aspect of this brat to the right level.
  • KOWLOON GENERIC ROMANCE – Also sold me from the start but I feel this is bait… I will wait for the season to end probably to finish.
  • Ossan Kensei/From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman – I don’t like the harem aspect so not sure how far I’ll get…
  • mono – the highest profile girls-do-cute-things anime this season (Aniplex). I probably will finish it but it’s like an inferior Yurucamp anime reminding you about Yurucamp.
  • Meshi Umashi/Food for the Soul – The third or my favorite cute-girls-do-cute-things this season (PA Works). It’s the reunion of the Non Non Biyori creatives? It is also an original media mix.
  • Yandere Elf – Takamiina in the lead role of this particular character niche that she seems to end up with every time? As an American I don’t even think it fits her that well, but maybe this is a cultural thing. It’s a trashy anime so I might not survive it, but it is short.

Speaking of shorts there is a Uma short and a Lycoris Recoil short, and others that don’t get wide distribution (Kaiju #8 and Frieren)? It’s been a while since I’ve followed so many in one season. Let’s see if I can keep this up.

If I don’t, it is because…Umamusume EN (Steam, and Android/iOS!), and for sure, Gakuen IDOLM@STER. I can’t play Sense for my life but I can play the other two just fine and it’s been a lot of fun. The game’s commu are super enjoyable and as someone who don’t bother most of the time it’s even gotten me to read (almost) all of it. The gameplay is a bit broken at time, and RNG at times, but it’s part of the game and they copied the right things from Slay the Spire, let’s just say.

With the first anniversary later this month I probably will be stuck in this gacha hell for some time. I hope I am not totally bankrupt lol. Uma EN will be right before AX, and AX as usual will conflict with the usual MLTD anniversary event. If Uma EN is going to be the first produce scenario from the JP game, it will be a huge time sink so I don’t know, it’ll suck for a while. At least I know early-game Uma is kind of skippable.

Anyways, feel free to say hi if I run into you at Acen, London, Berlin, Gakumas 1st HS, Dere Okinawa, LiSA NYC, AX, Ado NJ, 765AS, Animethon, Anime NYC, Anisama…and more…

Leave a comment | posted in Bishoujo Gaming, Conventions and Concerts, Gundam, Idolmaster, Modern Visual Culture, Umamusume: Pretty Derby

April 16, 2021

Umamusume Observations: April 2021

By omo

Just jotting down some thoughts about the game. Take it as you will. A hint of a spoiler for S2 of the anime down there but it’s not much of one.

Also this is one of those annoying articles with an image. in. between. every. paragraph.

Continue reading

Leave a comment | posted in Bishoujo Gaming, Modern Visual Culture, Umamusume: Pretty Derby

March 18, 2021

Umamusume: The Finer Points

By omo

The theme song “GIRLS’ LEGEND U” from the game Umamusme Pretty Derby starts with this phrase: やっとみんな会えたね! It translates loosely to “We finally get to see everyone.” Mixed into that is the marching horns and battle cries of the cast in an anthem. It is the banner theme song of the core product in a media-mix property years in the making–partly due to a multi-year delay between the initial release date and the actual release date. It’s really cute that the song tips the hat to the delay. In fact, in a way this song tips a hat to the strange journey of the video game from conception to coming out on our phones, tablets and PCs: Don’t stop until you finish.

But we can farm a lot more out of GIRLS’ LEGEND U than all that. Much more. Woven into the instrumentals are these thematic strings that you can also get a good glimpse in the bridge, as well as different parts of the game as background music. Having the theme song of a thing synchronize musically with the other background pieces of the thing isn’t unusual–it’s rather expected, especially in video games. But also the song itself tells us more up front–really, what I want to write about isn’t the song, but horses.

Umamusme is about horses…girls, of course, but it’s really about horses. Specifically, the legends of horses IRT to horse racing. I would call Umamusme a game about HORSE GIRLS’ LEGEND but the titular song is, instead of HORSE it’s… U for Uma? Umapyoi Densetsu (うまぴょい伝説) is the first theme song for the franchise from 2016 and the title really says more or less the same thing, just more horse than girl.

On paper, the conceit of these alternative character-based franchises (ships, guns, katanas, cities, appliances, etc.) are as database as it gets. You put these things (and animals in our case) in the otaku database machine and create a character story out of it. Bundle a bunch of these and tie it together with a setting and a few themes, and out comes a media franchise.

In that sense, Umamusume is no different. But the big difference that I can see between Umamusume and the garden variety ones out and about, is that Umamusume has been imbued, at least from what I can tell, a spirit that is horse-like. Horses are large, majestic, temperamental and sensitive land mammals. Horses are social, in that they exhibit social behaviors such as pact mentality, dominance, individuality, competitiveness, and others (such as being able to be domesticated). They play and court. It’s easy to translate a particular natural aspect of horses into anime characters, and I see that being a very strong underlying pattern in the Umamusme franchise.

It’s easy to see this in the characterizations of all the horsegirls. It also helps that the “good girl” trope resonate well with the audience–our racing horses all are good horses (and presumably their rights owners wouldn’t allow otherwise). I mean there are so many of them (even just in Japan alone) and the ones that people commemorate enough to put in a video game are already legends themselves. Of course they are good girls. Even if you run into problems like making El Condor Pasa into a she… Doesn’t that break grammar LOL.

Contrast this with, say, things that are based on WWII heroes or weapons of destruction. How do you channel “the military” except only superficially? You can do a lot more when you’re channeling legends about racing horses, it turns out, maybe because it’s not problematic.

And I think this is where Cygames really flexed their muscles. You can directly take what is lovely and endearing about these horses and put them right in the game, down to the way their tails wag or the way their ears twitch. It’s beyond the whole sexual aspect of furry appeal–we are talking about making fiction where you combine the best of what racing horses have to offer with typical otaku tropes. (And including the sex appeal as appropriate, as it never was gone, just not in the fore.)

This to me comes across like all the strings in the instruments throughout the game BGM. Cygames was tasked to make Umamusume a game that conservative Japanese businessmen would gladly sign over their legendary horse brands over to, so I think a certain level of restraint was needed throughout the entire Umamusume experience. The characters (and the cast, FWIW) are still going to do the same rigmarole, the same toe taps and dance routines. Tracen Academy is extremely generic but it does adhere to a classy all-girls school vibe. Symboli Rudolf and Meijiro McQueen can walk down the school yard gracefully, while Vtuber Gold Ship can jump kick the trainer while it happens.

That is the framework that allows things to happen, but what endears us is the individual stories themselves, and how it’s executed. For me, the game taught me the one behind Rice Shower, who was put down during her final race due to injury. It’s sad, sure, but the story in the anime and game makes it a lot more approachable due to the execution and details. The most famous of them all–Haru Urara–only got as popular as she did because of marketing/promotion and production, after all. In a way, Umamusume is the same pitch, but for a lot more horses besides Haru Urara. When these horsegirls channel their named legends, it’s where the magic happens. Even if it’s extremely normal/boring like Special Week, it is still endearing that our mother-loving, Hokkaido born glutton became one of Japan’s best.

Which is all to say, GIRLS’ LEGEND U is a great piece of music, and you can tell by hearing someone playing it on the piano. This is some great composition fit for a sweeping orchestra. Instead we have a bunch of seiyuu grunting calls about winning races. No matter how you cloak it, a good story will shine through–and that’s what Umamusume really is about, putting into character-stories of racing horses, their lives, and their struggles.

PS. There are other finer points to Umamsume Pretty Derby. So far it has largely inherited many of the QOL stuff that I love about Princess Connect! Re:Dive. It being a raising game doesn’t quite translate into how not to make it into the same kind of “menu hell” that JRPGs can be, but I see some small glimpses of hope here as is. It is also kind of time consuming given each raising run takes a good half hour, at least. There are many little touches in the game and in the IP generally that I wish I can highlight but it will make several post at least. Anyways, I’ll end with this video.

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