The popular Umamusume: Pretty Derby franchise has launched a new four-episode mini anime series titled Umayuru: Pretty Gray. The first episode debuted on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, on the official YouTube channel for the Umamusume franchise, Pakatube!. The new episodes will be streamed every two days until May 6, 2025. The streams include subtitles in English, Traditional Chinese, and Korean, making it accessible to a wide international audience.
What is Umamusume: Pretty Derby?
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a multimedia franchise created by Cygames that anthropomorphizes real-life racehorses as anime-style “horse girls.” These characters, known as “Uma Musume,” are human girls with horse traits, such as tails, ears, and enhanced speed. They compete in races and perform as idols. The franchise spans anime, manga, music, and games. Each Uma Musume is based on a legendary racehorse from Japanese horse racing history, with their personality, backstory, and racing style reflecting their equine counterparts.
The Uma Musume multimedia project was first revealed in 2016 and continues to grow. The franchise debuted with its first anime series in 2018, introducing viewers to a world where horse girls train to be the best racers in Japan.
The Premise
The story typically follows a Uma Musume who dreams of becoming the best racer in the world. They join Tracen Academy, where horse girls train to compete in high-profile races while navigating friendships, rivalries, and personal challenges. Along with their classmates and trainers, the Uma Musume work towards winning the Twinkle Series.
A Multimedia Phenomenon
The Uma Musume Pretty Derby anime is where many fans first encountered the franchise. The success of the anime has also sparked renewed interest in horse racing among younger audiences, with some fans visiting racetracks or learning about the sport for the first time. The franchise’s mobile game has also set new benchmarks, consistently ranking among the top-grossing apps in Japan.
Umayuru: Pretty Gray
Umayuru: Pretty Gray is a short anime series that is part of the Umamusume: Pretty Derby franchise. It is animated by Scooter Films, with Miyajima returning to direct and design the characters, and Seiichirō Mochizuki and Yumi Suzumori writing the screenplay.
Streaming Details
The first episode of Umayuru: Pretty Gray premiered on April 30, 2025, on the official Umamusume YouTube channel, “Pakutabe!”. New episodes will be distributed every two days.
Where to Watch
- Official Umamusume YouTube channel “Pakatube!”
Subtitle Languages
- English
- Traditional Chinese
- Korean
Other Umamusume Anime
- Uma Musume Pretty Derby (2018): The original anime series.
- Umayon (2020): An anime television series adaptation of the spin-off manga.
- Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top (2023): A web anime series that premiered in April 2023.
- Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray (2025): An anime television series adaptation of the manga.
Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray
Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray follows Oguri Cap, a horse girl who strives to become the strongest runner at Kasamatsu Training Center Academy. The anime series premiered on April 6, 2025, and is directed by Yūki Itō and Takehiro Miura at CygamesPictures.
Where to Watch
- Amazon Prime Video (US, Canada, Mexico, UK, Ireland, and Australia)
- It’s Anime YouTube channel (US, Canada, Mexico, UK, Ireland, and Australia)
- YouTube (New Zealand, select parts of Europe, and the Middle East)
English Release of Umamusume: Pretty Derby
Cygames announced that pre-registration has opened for the English language release of Umamusume: Pretty Derby. The game will launch on June 26 on Steam and mobile devices. Players who pre-register will receive 3,750 carats (enough for 25 gacha pulls) and other in-game items.
Pre-Registration
- Official website
- App Store
- Google Play
- Steam
- Google Play Games
Gray Week Campaign
Cygames is holding a “Gray Week Campaign” in the game Uma Musume Pretty Derby from April 30, 2025. The campaign includes up to 80 free gachas and the distribution of the “Umayuru Pretty Derby” anime. A new TV commercial is also airing.
In-Game Campaigns
- 10 free gachas per day
- SSR support card “Grayish PARTY☆” White MacQueen
- “Gray Week Pretty Derby Gacha”
Characters
Each Uma Musume is based on a real-life racehorse. Here are a few examples:
- Special Week
- Silence Suzuka
- Oguri Cap
- Symboli Rudolf
- Maruzensky
- Mr. C.B.
Music
Music plays a significant role in the Umamusume franchise. Alexandros performs the opening theme song “Koeru” for the Umamusume: Cinderella Gray anime, and Tomoyo Takayanagi performs the ending theme song “∞”.
Other Media
- Manga: Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Haru Urara Ganbaru!, Starting Gate!: Uma Musume Pretty Derby, Umayon, Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray.
- Game: Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a simulation game where players train Uma Musume to compete in races.
- Live Events: The franchise also includes live events featuring the voice actors and actresses of the Uma Musume characters.
With the launch of Umayuru: Pretty Gray and the upcoming English release of the game, the Umamusume: Pretty Derby franchise continues to expand its reach and captivate audiences worldwide.
