Jungle Pocket

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a big Japanese franchise of games and anime in which famous real racehorses are reborn as girls with horse ears and tails. They race on tracks, train at school, and even sing on stage after a win. Beginning of a New Era is the first feature film in the series. It opened in Japan on May 24, 2024, and runs 108 minutes. Ken Yamamoto directed it at CygamesPictures, Kiyoko Yoshimura wrote the script, and Toho handled its release in Japan. Like the rest of the franchise, the film is loosely based on real horse racing. Its story draws on the Japanese classic races of 2001 and the horses who ran in them. Fans of real racing can spot many true events, but the movie still works for people who know nothing about horses. The main character is Jungle Pocket, called Pokke by her friends. She is a wild, cocky girl who races in street-style events outside the official system. Then she sees Fuji Kiseki win a big official race, and the sight changes her life. She decides she must race in the Twinkle Series, the top racing league in this world. She joins Tracen Academy, the school where these racers train, and gets on Fuji Kiseki's team under the veteran trainer Tanabe. Pokke soon learns that her generation is full of strong runners. Agnes Tachyon is an odd genius who treats her own body like a science project and wants to find the true limit of an Umamusume's speed. She beats Pokke early in a big race, and Pokke names her as her rival. Manhattan Cafe is a quiet girl who seems to chase a shadow, a "friend" no one else can see. Dantsu Flame is a hard worker who never lets up. Their main target is the Triple Crown, three famous races that a runner can try only once in her life. The movie is a sports drama at heart. It is about hunger to win, the fear of falling behind, and what it costs to push your body and spirit past their limits. The races are the big draw, with fast camera moves, loud crowds, and long, tense final stretches. The film also has quiet scenes about the bond between a racer and her trainer. It did well with both fans and critics. It opened at number one in money earned in Japan and made about 1.4 billion yen there. It later came to North America in February 2026. Anime News Network and The A.V. Club both gave it a B+. Critics liked the deep look at Pokke and Agnes Tachyon, though some felt the other two rivals got less time.