Umamusume: Pretty Derby
is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Cygames. The franchise centers on anthropomorphized racehorses known as Umamusume, who compete in races inspired by real-life race tracks managed by the Japan Racing Association. Most of the characters are named and modeled after actual racehorses, reflecting their namesakes' personalities, racing records, and relationships with other racehorses. Initially announced in 2016 as a mobile game, the franchise soon expanded to include multiple anime series, manga, and live concerts.
The game was scheduled to debut in late 2018 for iOS and Android devices, but it was delayed to a February 2021 release, with a Windows client releasing a month later on DMM Games. The game was later released on Google Play Games in April 2023. The game was released in Korean by Kakao Games and Traditional Chinese by Komoe Game in June 2022, with the former language getting a PC version in a stand-alone client a year later, then later in Simplified Chinese by Bilibili in August 2024. An English-language edition was released worldwide in June 2025 for the aforementioned platforms, alongside a Steam release for both the Japanese and English versions.
An anime television series adaptation produced by P.A. Works aired from April to June 2018. A second season produced by Studio Kai, with the former studio assisting in its production, aired from January to March 2021. A third season produced solely by Studio Kai aired from October to December 2023.
Alongside the main anime series, multiple anime spin-offs have been made. An anime television series adaptation of the manga Umayon aired from July to September 2020. Its sequel, titled Umayuru, was released from October 2022 to March 2023. A web anime produced by Cygames' in-house animation studio CygamesPictures titled Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Road to the Top was released from April to May 2023. An anime film also produced by CygamesPictures titled Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era premiered in Japan in May 2024. An anime television series adaptation of Umamusume: Cinderella Gray produced by CygamesPictures aired from April to December 2025, with a short spin-off anime titled Umayuru: Pretty Gray being released from April to May 2025.
The franchise has been received positively, both domestically in Japan and worldwide following the game's global release in 2025. The franchise has also had a significant cultural impact, with observers notably remarking its positive impact to the sport of horse racing and bringing awareness to the stories of racehorses.
Premise
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is set in a fictional universe similar to the real modern world but featuring the titular Umamusume, female kemonomimi with the ears, tails, and capabilities of horses who live alongside humans and replace actual horses in the franchise's setting. Many Umamusume are inspired by real-life Thoroughbred racehorses of the past and present who seek fame and fortune as both racers and idols by competing in organized races akin to middle-distance and long-distance track events. The series centers on Umamusume who attend the elite Tracen Academy in Tokyo and train to compete in the Twinkle Series of professional races organized by the Umamusume Racing Association. The main stories across the series are focused on specific Umamusume and loosely based on the racing careers of the racehorses they are based on.Anime
The main anime series depicts the journeys of various Umamusume who are affiliated with Team Spica, a racing team at Tracen Academy. Each season is a direct follow-up to the previous one, though the historical content greatly varies based on the real-life racing careers of the focused character.- The first season features Special Week, who aspires to become the best Umamusume in Japan, all while idolizing Silence Suzuka's style and wanting to reach the same heights as her and their friends with King Halo, El Condor Pasa, Seiun Sky, and Grass Wonder. The story is based on Special Week's races from 1997 to 1999.
- The second season features Tokai Teio, who continues to persevere despite suffering multiple injuries that endanger her career and struggling to remain one of the best racers of her generation that includes Mejiro McQueen, Rice Shower, and Mihono Bourbon. The story is based on Tokai Teio's races from 1991 to 1993.
- The third season features Kitasan Black, who aims to win on her own merits through her camaraderie and friendly rivalry with Satono Diamond, while also facing a new generation of Umamusume such as Duramente, Satono Crown, and Cheval Grand. The story is based on Kitasan Black's races from 2015 to 2017.
Manga
Cinderella Gray and its anime adaptation depict the races between Oguri Cap, who transfers from the regional racing scene to the Twinkle Series, and rivals of the previous and next generations that include Tamamo Cross, Inari One, and Super Creek. The story is based on Oguri Cap's races from 1987 to 1990.Star Blossom depicts the races of Sakura Laurel and her peers such as Sakura Bakushin O, Mayano Top Gun, Marvelous Sunday, and Narita Brian, as she aspires to achieve acclaim through defeating Narita Brian and racing at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in spite of her fragile body. The story is based on Sakura Laurel's races from 1994 to 1997.
Video game
Part 1 of the main story focuses on the efforts of Team Sirius as it flourishes following the retirement of the team's star racer and previous trainer. The story is based on the races run by Mejiro McQueen, Rice Shower, Winning Ticket and Narita Brian in the 1990s, while additionally covering Silence Suzuka and Special Week's races in the late 1990s. A number of supporting characters appear throughout the story including Gold Ship, Biwa Hayahide, and Narita Taishin.Part 2 of the main story focuses on the efforts of Team Ascella and the journeys of Tiara Umamusume, who are characters based on racemares. The story is based on the races run by racemares Rhein Kraft, Cesario, and Fusaichi Pandora in the mid-2000s, and features a supporting cast such as King Halo, Air Messiah, and Daring Heart.
Gameplay
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a sports simulation game that allows players, who are referred to in-game as "trainers", to raise and train Umamusume to compete in races whilst achieving the Umamusume's individual goals. Players collect two types of units through the game's gacha system: playable Umamusume or "trainees," and support cards that provide skills and bonuses.The main gameplay mode, "Career," lets players choose a scenario, trainee, and support cards, then work to achieve specific goals. Players must also factor in the trainee's preferred terrain type, track distance, and running style in order to perform well. The game operates on a calendar system, with each action or turn taking up half a month, requiring strategic planning and balancing of the actions to be taken.
The calendar used is based on the real-life JRA's race schedule, with the races that players can enter being based on their real-life equivalents, such as the Japan Cup or the Arima Kinen. Succeeding scenarios would also allow players to enter international races, notably the French Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the American Breeders' Cup.
Players use turns to raise their trainee's five attributes, rest to restore energy, or enter races to earn skill points and fans. Additionally, random events can occur during a Career attempt that may grant additional stats, skills, and buffs or debuffs, as well as positively or negatively impact the trainee's mood, which affects training effectiveness and race performance.
Completing or failing a trainee's goals, as well as reaching certain stat totals and acquiring skills, grants stats and potential skills known as "sparks". These can be passed down to trainees as "legacies," allowing them to inherit these and be strengthened in future Career attempts.
Alongside the Career, players can also partake in other game modes, including the PvP "Team Trials" and "Champion's Meeting" races, where players use their best trainees and compete against each other in a set of races for various rewards, and "Legend Races," where players race against notable Umamusume to gain rewards and upgrade their trainees.
Media
Live events
- Umamusume 1st Event "Special Weekend!"
- Umamusume 2nd Event "Sound Fanfare!"
- Umamusume 3rd Event "Winning Dream Stage"
- Umamusume 4th Event "Special Dreamers!!"
- * Tokyo Stage
- * Yokohama Stage
- * Extra Stage
- Umamusume 5th Event Arena Tour "Go Beyond"
- * -Wish-
- * -Gaze-
- * -Yell-
- * -New Gate-
- Umamusume 6th Event "The New Frontier"
- * -Spring Performance-
- * -Autumn Performance-
Video games
''Umamusume: Pretty Derby''
The game was announced in 2016. An animated trailer by P.A. Works debuted at that year's AnimeJapan event. It was set to be released in late 2018, but was delayed until its release on February 24, 2021. The PC version was released on March 10, 2021, on DMM Games, then later on April 19, 2023, on Google Play Games. A YouTube channel titled Pakatube! was launched on March 25, 2018, to promote the game, prominently featuring Gold Ship., there are 114 playable horse girls in the game. Part 2 of the main story was released in March 2024.On February 15, 2022, Komoe Game announced the release of a traditional Chinese version of the game app for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, and pre-registration began on April 27. The traditional Chinese version was officially released on June 27, 2022. In South Korea, Kakao Games released on June 20, 2022, and pre-registrations, which began on April 28, 2022, exceeded 1 million in 10 days. A PC version for the Korean version was released on June 15, 2024. In China, Bilibili released a simplified Chinese version on August 30, 2023, and pre-registrations, which began on August 4, 2023, exceeded 1 million in 10 days.
On June 24, 2024, a Paka Live TV livestream on Pakatube! announced the release of an English version of the game. As part of promotions for the English version launch, Cygames entered into sponsorship deals with several prominent U.S. horse racing events, and a booth was operated at Churchill Downs where attendees are able to play a demo of Umamusume: Pretty Derby. On April 27, 2025, a Paka Live TV livestream announced its release date, along with a PC version on Steam for both the Japanese and English versions. Pre-registration started on April 28, 2025, and the game was released on June 26, 2025.