Uma Musume: Pretty Derby - Road to the Top

I was wondering if Uma Musume's formula was starting to wear off on me while watching this. I mean, admittedly it probably is since it still follows the same beats, moods, writing, and racing "twists" as the first two seasons despite the new main characters. And while season 2 had this same problem after watching season 1, the difference there is the high highs that ultimately made parts of it very emotional and memorable. While Road to the Top certainly has emotional moments, they didn't reach me. The MAIN main character, Narita Top Road, is the strongest of the main three thanks to her emotional struggle being written well-enough. However, while the foundations are there, it ended up feeling weak since her supporting cast isn't fleshed out. It still had its moments where you can tell what the writers were going for, at least. Admire Vega's whole situation felt asinine to me and made her not enjoyable throughout. This wasn't wasn't helped by it being very obvious how it was going to end up for her. I will admit that I still like how it happened...but even then it should've happened in time for her to flex it. Plus that would've stopped her from repeating herself up to the end. Actually seeing it would've definitely helped me like her more. Opera O is unsurprisingly a joy and the best foil to put next to these two, but she definitely felt more like a secondary character than an equal. But maybe that's for the best. I think the point of her (and a great aspect of her) is that, unlike most other horse girls, she doesn't have anything to flesh out. I think that gave the writers a hard time making her impactful enough to fit as a main character as advertised, though. Another issue is that the supporting cast is basically non-existent — besides Top Road's trainer (who is good). The rest of small supporting cast that actually is there felt very one-dimensional and not impactful to the main trio. And they're all you have. I ended up missing when the first two seasons gave small one-line roles or mentions to the other unimportant racers, because they get literally nothing here. It made the world feel surprisingly empty. Of course this is probably because this was only a four-episode ONA and all they wanted to do was highlight the main three, but that doesn't stop the experience from being weaker as a result. For what it's worth, I think this anime still works as far as highlighting what makes Top Road, Admire Vega, and Opera O notable and likeable characters (at least if you haven't met them in the mobile game already like me). It just does it in a way that isn't interesting, especially after watching the previous seasons. At best I'm left to imagine the best versions of these character (which, hey, I'll take).

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 to the 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.

Road to the Top focuses primarily on both Narita Top Road’s and Admire Vega’s ambitions to win the three Classic competitions (similar to the American triple crown). This being a side story the other parts of the franchise are not necessary prerequisites to watch this, but would help in the sense of knowing the cast members and concept of Uma Musume a little deeper. With only four episodes of runtime the story is largely concise and stays focused on developing the main pair. Many aspects familiar from the television series are there (comedy, character cameos, etc), but toned down in order to not stray too far from the core plot line of training and competing. Narita Top Road takes the role of primary main character, and her portrayal is fairly straightforward in comparison to her primary rival, Admire Vega, who has a somewhat emotional backstory giving her drive. Frankly I found that T.M. Opera seemed more like a supporting character, as she lacked much development and often fell to the background in favor of the racing rivalry between the two previously mentioned girls. I would say this is the primary negative along with Admire’s story becoming a little too single-mindedly fixated on her sister, but frankly the fact that the story’s focus wasn’t spread too thinly worked out due to the limited amount of episodes to work with. With more runtime this could rival the impactful story of the second season, but what emotional scenes are present are used appropriately and don’t feel too overly dramatic. Having not played the original game or know the source content with much depth I can’t say how accurately this is adapted, but from what I can tell the historical aspects connecting each girl with their real world namesake’s achievements is done well, and the flow of the story rarely feels too choppy or rushed. In terms of audio & visuals - excellent. There are a wide range of instances where they go the extra step in portrayals of scenes. Small hand/facial movements at times show emotions without needing the scene to be voiced, while during races sound effects of everything from jangling of metallic adornments on clothing to the running of the girls themselves enhance what’s being shown. Off of this the shift in how the races are directed compared to the TV seasons is the most notable. The racing feels more powerful and almost intimate with the main cast due to the camera angles being used as well as the largely hand drawn focus allowing more creative freedom in how their speed is expressed. Instead of the viewer largely watching the race like a spectator, this actively imbeds you inside the race itself. There are numerous instances where it wouldn’t have been out of place to rely on CGI, but they chose not to. The music and OST I would say is safely on par with the television seasons in quality, and appropriately capture the tone of each scene. This overall matched if not exceeded my expectations on how well this would turn out, and while they are done by different studios this has only bolstered how much I’m looking forward to the third season. It would be really nice if Cygames continued to produce quality side stories like this in-between full length seasonal anime in the future. I would definitely recommend this as either a small sample of the franchise for someone new to Uma Musume, or to a returning seasonal viewer who wants some more quality horse racing action.

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.

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 feeling of 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.

Ill be referring to my narrative rating rubric which can be found in detail on my profile. 2/2 = peak entertainment and art Entertaining and Artistic: Uma Musume is back with top tier animation and sound design which is accompanied by incredibly intense and fun races. The artistic appeal of someone who has the talent and hard work but faces the reaility of losing is well explored and so is the burden of survivors guilt for the other. Making this a compelling piece to watch on its own 2/2 = perfect narrative consistency Narrative Consistency, defined as the strength of story telling such that in any episode you can stop to question What is going on, Why is this happening, When is this happening, Where are we and How is this unfolding. Essentially going from one plot point to another without causing confusion and being coherent. With 4 episodes, there was suspicion of toning down the plot a lot that it may feel jarring but thankfully not. We follow the Consequential Classic Races and the flow from one plot point to another is clear and enjoyable making it a pleasing and entertaining watching experience that ensures you arent lost. 2/2 = Has something for everyone, wholeheartidly recommend Recommendation? Wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. While knowledge of the Uma Musume-verse helps, the 4 episodes are largely self contained even though we have some characters in Rice Shower and Urara chan making an appearance. The narrative story of seeing someone work hard and use the best of talents but still fall short, and work to fight that frustration is a compelling story for any athlete. Admire Vega's story arc focusing on her sister too much was unfortunate consequence of 4 episodes, but it works really well to its advantage where we are able to see her journey of coming to terms with her survivors guilt. 2/2 = CHOCKFULL OF EMOTIONAL MOMENTS Whether its the first race with someone making a statement from the outside. The second and third race, especially the second, with a blow out phenomenal performance that left me losing it. And of course the finale. Oh the finale.. a nail biting moment with emotions running high culminating in a very memorable high. Multiple highly Emotional moments gives this full points here and will be stay with you long after. Bias: Historical Accuracy is top tier, Admire Vega vs Narita Top Road vs T M Opera O is an amazing 3 way rivalry to cover The Idealogue is top tier. Top Road suffers from the complex of combining hard work and talent to the max and still falling short.. overcoming that hurdle was a big win. Admire Vega suffers from survivors guilt, the story of overcoming that mental block is amazing. TM Opera acts as an amazing foil for both of the protags here. Power System exists in a satisfactory capcity. We are demonstrated the strengths of each of the 3 and then the play is around out competing each other.. the Final race was heavily unusual as it betrayed most norms and was a tight race of strategy and expectations leading to an explosive finish that kept you guessing For satisfying all 3 of my biases, thats a 2/2 here as well And as a Bonus cherry on top. *I didn't skip a single second start to finish* which includes the OP as well. Its a rare honor deserving only of 10/10s If you like Uma Musume, you will absolutely love this. If you haven't watched uma musume, this one still has something for you in regards to an amazing sports drama.

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 me because 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.

"Uma Musume: Pretty Derby - Road to the Top" feels like Cygames didn't want to make a season 4 of Pretty Derby, so they had Makoto Shinkai make a Uma Musume movie they split into 4 episodes (each being ~25 minutes each). Every second or third scene has at least one still that can easily be used to make a cool desktop wallpaper. The downside to this is that because all of the budget went towards pretty scenes, the runtime doesn't really have time to do the main characters' stories justice. To generally summarize the Pretty Derby seasons, season 1's theme was about becoming the greatest. Season 2's theme was about suffering tragedy when you are the greatest. Season 3's theme was about irrationally whining about not being the absolute best when you are already one of the greatest (first-world problems). If you can call this edition of "Pretty Derby" to be a season, Road to the Top's theme seems to be about how expectations affect the greatest mentally. Although the runtime is short compared to the other seasons, it does a great job telling the story of these struggles. Narita Top Road's story delves into the struggle of handling the grand expectations of her classmates, marketplace fans, and trainer. Admire Vega's story delves into the struggle of handling the perceived expectations of her departed sister. T.M. Opera O's story delves into the expectations she places on herself, although the animation curiously never shows her mentally struggle when she fails to meet her own exaggerated expectations. All of these main characters have really compelling stories that the animation gives you just enough to get sucked in, but then the season ends right when you get fully invested. After the last race, there is a lot of character growth for all of the characters, but it feels like another 2 more races and training scenes should have happened afterwards. The music and animation seems to have taken both a few steps up while simultaneously dropping the ball. The opening song "Glorious Moment!" has the most powerful visual openings in the Uma Musume series. While every other season has the logo drop be some dainty fade-in to show the static logo against a static sky background, "Road to the Top" drags the camera against the turf at 70km/h to show Top Road's left behind cleat prints and then builds the shaking, energized cleat logo where the imprint in the turf is. While every other season has the main Uma's silhouette slowly jog in from the right, Top Road's silhouette complete the logo by bursting through it like a laser beam. After that, every scene is basically just wallpaper bait, as no other opening has this much quality in detail or visual perspective. The series itself continues with some of the best animation and thoughtfully placed background music in the Pretty Derby series. Road to the Top failed by not having an ending animation though, which just makes it seem apparent that this was always intended to be a movie. They couldn't even come up with an original song for the credits, as it is literally just a slowed piano version of the opening song. Continuing the trend set in season 3, there also isn't any scene change in the opening or ending to reflect what is occurring in the episode. if you are a fan of the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby franchise or just like watching pretty-looking anime scenes, you will find a lot to enjoy in "Road to the Top". PS Thank you writers for breaking the record for the number of Haru Urara voice lines in a season of Uma Musume. Congratulations. You did it and we are all proud of you for real for real. Now if we can have a full season where Urara is the main character, that would be great. Please.

Umamusume has grown to be one of my favourite franchises in anime, with its great storytelling, reality to fiction conversion, unique characters and beautiful animation. And this OVA was no exception either… in some places. Road to the Top is a genuinely visually splendid piece of media. It has probably the greatest level of lighting animation I’ve ever seen in anime. And the rest of the animation elements don’t shy either… The color balance and vibrancy is incredibly visually pleasing, the special effects are dynamic and explosive and the overall artistic style is just so smooth and elegant. A masterpiece of animation, something CyGames have been impressing me more and more while watching through their productions. But well, when it comes to the actual story of this OVA, I feel like it is not the strongest Umamusume has been, the execution honestly beautiful with many hearth warming moments, yet the basis of our three main characters are not really the most narratively compelling ones. Starting of with the weakest, Opera O, is a lot more of a smug character than I expected, and she’s not really that great of a character outside of that either… her story is the most overshadowed, and the most we can really grasp as redeeming from her, is her confidence in the way she follows the path to victory without ever feeling scared of failure or let down, which on it’s own is a great trait and it’s shown in a beautiful way, but that’s all going for her, she doesn’t have any depth to her character outside of being confident and smug. Then we have Ayabe, which was honestly the strongest in terms of backstory and her struggles, where her ambitions come from, yet it felt really forced, her motive felt overwhelming. Her feeling are for the most part totally justified, but the way the narrative felt around her made it go to lengths where it felt unnatural. Elements like her ankle going forward for so long without failure in races, her restrained personality… and also the training camp. The training camp made it feel like literally no one was supporting her, not her roommate and no sight of a trainer, which was really odd. And lastly, Top Road, the title of the series makes her our main lead, and that’s how it was for the whole OVA, her personality is the most refined out of the bunch, and she beautifully represents the typical sports protagonist… she goes through grief, strong moments, disappointments and finds her way through all. Her story is really just the cliche roadmap for a sports protagonist, yet it is genuinely beautifully executed, that’s exactly what makes this OVA stronger than it should be. Even with the basic plot around Top Road, her emotions and the way she handles everything throughout the story is heartwarming to say the least. She is a fragile character that builds strength from the people around her, this is easily seen with beautiful moments like the junior academy training, her encounters with Ayabe and communication she has with her trainer. That being said, as overshadowed, forced or cliche the base stories of those umas are, the execution is incredible and manages to make a beautiful cohesive experience. And there are still strong narrative choices that unite the other elements, like the summer camp, race atmosphere, recurring characters from previous series, comedic background moments, all of those elements add value to this show and elevate it, overshadowing what is this OVA’s weaker moments. Overall, I feel like this is a beautifully executed Umamusume entry with the best animation of the franchise I’ve seen so far, heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, great pacing and build-up. Totally not the strongest narrative Umamusume has delivered, yet a splendid show of how well directed a series can be to cover for those weaker elements. 9/10

Road to the Top is an emotional and heartfelt experience of 3 Kemonomimi horse girls, TM Opera O the loud, obnoxious, and comedic relief power house. Narita Top Road, a horse girl that is sweet, kind, but plagued with self doubts. And Admire Vega, a horse girl who is distrustful, determined, and the lone wolf of the show. All three characters are well written and well developed for an OVA you get just enough screen time for each character and learn their motives for wanting to race. It's a show that touches upon genuine human experiences that everyone can relate and understand--the thrill and excitement of winning. Winning something that you train your entire life for. What you dream about and fantasize how amazing that huge accomplishment will feel. But for every winner there must always be losers and it's not often that you see the losing perspective in the way Road to the Top displays. My only gripe is the short length means you do feel rushed through the story and some races are even fast forwarded which is unfortunate. I would have enjoyed seeing the main characters training more, running more races against each other, and getting more character development for TM Opera O which was just comedic relief. It's difficult to complain about short lengths for OVA's as they meant to simply be short extras but if this was a fully fledged 13 episode series it'd be at least a 9/10. It's still quite good it's just lacking more. Being an OVA only having 4 episodes it's not got the wow factor of animation quality as the movie "Beginning of a new Era" or the longevity of character growth and development of the longer running animes series like "Cinderella Grey" which are all apart of the Uma Musume world. I would not recommend it as a starting point if you are just starting to get into the animated media because of the gacha game. I would highly recommend either starting with the first season of "Pretty Derby" the anime that focuses on an easier to understand introduction, or starting with the "Cinderella Grey" anime for something more modern that still describes the world quite well. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys watching sports animes, Uma Musume fans, and anyone that likes a good balance of slice of life and drama.