Uma Musume: Pretty Derby - Road to the Top

I've been an Uma Musume fans from the game release back in February 2021 (in turn, fan of the real Japanese horse racing as well) and consumed all of its media since then. So I was very delighted when they announced the production of this anime and season 3. While I enjoyed the overall content of this anime, there are some points that I'd like to address. PLOT: 7/10 I would give a lower score if this is a full season anime, but since it's just a 4-episode ONA I give it a loose pass. The pros: + Reference and accuracy with real-life events. Somewhat comparable with faithfulness tothe manga/light novel source, almost every bit of details in this anime has a real-life reference, from the characters names and traits, conversations and events, and even the races from tracks, gate numbers, progressions, and finishing orders and gaps. This is something you would expect if you're into Uma Musume prior to this reading. + Thrilling and quite unpredictable outcome of races. For those who unfamiliar with Uma Musume or the history of Japanese horse racing, the story have been dramatised so much that it would be difficult to guess who will win the races (bar a certain race). They treat the three main characters as if they're all the heroine of the story. The cons: - Pacing. It's a bit too fast for each episode, as there might be watchers who are new to Uma Musume franchise and have no clue of what's going on. - Plotholes. Again, because it's just a 4-episode, expect a lot of unfilled plotholes by the end of the anime. - Missing jigsaws of real-life events. While the references are accurate, there are some important events that's not even included on the screen, which potentially can be used to fill the plotholes and complete the anime as a whole. My personal dissatisfaction on this point majorly laid on the last episode, especially the aftermath of Kikka-shō. Instead of a short storytelling about what happened to the trio in the future, the production decided to waste the last minutes by throwing the winning live (yes, that idol concert). GRAPHIC/ANIMATION: 9/10 The graphics are gorgeous and a major upgrade from season 2, thanks to Cygames Pictures. What preventing them from getting the perfect score is a bit of choppy animations that can be spotted on several occasions, mostly the action scenes from the races. SOUND: 11/10 Oh boy. This is where the anime gets very exciting, the limit of 10 score is just not enough. While I'm not the big fan of the opening, but the BGMs and their utilisation are godly. They're so beautiful, so touching, and massively enhance the atmosphere and emotions happening on the screen. Simply perfect. CHARACTER: 10/10 This is a biased score, since they put some of my favourite Umas on the screen, that is Oguri Cap, Manhattan Cafe, and Admire Vega (the others are Neo Universe, Mihono Bourbon, and Nakayama Festa). OVERALL ENJOYMENT: 9/10 While I'm not entirely impressed with the plot, but the rest of the aspects really patch that up to make this anime still very enjoyable for me, as an avid Uma Musume fan. I can't really say if this would be enjoyable for a non-Uma Musume fan, but if you like instrumental BGMs, you're in for a treat.

A great mini season (ONA). even with just a few episodes, it managed to do its job well and gave us a small taste of what UmaMusume is. i couldn’t enjoy it fully because there were no subtitles in my language (PT-BR), but i still understood most of it since i already know the anime. the animation looked kinda raw in some moments, but in the end it felt peak. the fluidity was insane compared to the seasons so far. so yeah, even if this UmaMusume entry isn’t one of the best, it still doesn’t fall short. it delivers what every UmaMusume season does: that feelingof satisfaction for watching this story. this was the only season where i couldn’t pick a favorite, but they’re all cool in their own way.

ABSOLUTE CINEMA!!! ✋😮🤚 It’s crazy how Uma Musume just keeps improving with every season, OVA, and movie — both in technical quality and storytelling. This ONA/film has a much more serious tone than the anime, and even with less runtime, it still managed to completely pull me in and make me care about the characters. The only thing I didn’t like is that I wanted TM Opera to get a bit more spotlight, but on the other hand, I loved that we got to see more of the GOAT, Haru. This movie only made me even more hyped for the next one.

I thought Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Road to the Top was another great entry in this super cute and wholesome franchise. Even with just four episodes, it still managed to tell a good story and have some really great emotional moments. The trio of Top Road, Opera O, and Vega was all great to watch. Top Road is easy to root for; she's determined and hardworking in a way that makes you like her right away. Opera O is just brimming with self-confidence, but she's still sweet and encouraging at heart, which makes her personality so enjoyable. Vega was the most interesting to mebecause of her mental struggles and how she coped with the pressures of racing. I also liked getting to see a bit more of Rice Shower and Haru Urara, despite their brief appearances—they always bring that little something extra that reminds me why I love this series so much. The storyline itself was solid, if a bit rushed in pacing, because there are, after all, only four episodes to cram everything into. Still, I thought it did a great job in expressing the tension, grit, and emotional element of competition. The races were exciting and felt packed with energy, and each character's motivation resonated. It doesn't hit the same emotional peaks as season 2, but for what it set out to do—focusing on a smaller cast of Uma Musume and depicting their growth—it entirely worked for me. Animation-wise, Cygames really outdid themselves here. It honestly looked close to movie quality at times, with some fantastic lighting, smooth character movements, and beautifully drawn race sequences. I’d even say it looked better than the main series in some spots. The character designs are as adorable as ever, and the way they capture each Uma’s personality through expressions and little details is just great. The music was similarly wonderful—catchy, energetic, and precisely fitting the energy of the show. Even the sound design stood out, especially in the races, where the pounding hooves contributed so much to the tension. Voice acting was flawless as usual; everybody brought so much life and personality to their characters. Overall, Road to the Top was a short but truly enjoyable watch that added even more heart and sparkle to the Uma Musume franchise. I gave it 8/10 because it struck all the right chords for me—funny, wholesome, poignant, and downright beautiful to watch.