Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era 2026 Movie Review
Beginning of a New Era shows again the excellence of Cygames Pictures in the anime genre.
The movie is essentially a condensed and refined version of the Cindarella Grey series. The story is relatively self contained, a few of the characters are re-occuring from other media, but you could start the franchise with this movie no problem.
From bad to good: What the movie fumbled were the arcs of the two supporting cast runners. One comes across as a bland friend to the protagonist while the other is introduced as an intriguing figure with her own struggles, but her circumstances are never illuminated and there is no real character arc.
While one could argue that the exploration of the protagonists psychological struggles overstays its welcome, the storyboarding overall is well done. The animators played a lot with thematic scene transitions that keep the viewer engaged.
The highlights are the big races, the theme of athletes struggling with insurmountable hurdles, voice acting and the occasional comedic relief. The animation quality, be it playful, impactful or fast-paced, is comparable to the best of its genre peers.
