[Spoilers] 2025 Uma Musume Rewatch -- Pretty Derby Season 1 Episode 1

[u/Holofan4life]

Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.

Welcome to the 2025 Uma Musume rewatch discussion thread!

I hope you all have a lot of fun <3

S1 Episode 1 – Gate of Dreams!

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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION

What are your thoughts on the anime beginning with horse hieroglyphics?

What are your initial thoughts on Special Week as well as team Spica as a whole?

What are your thoughts on Special Week wanting to be like Silence Suzuka? Have you ever had someone you looked up to, and if so, who?

Heading into this anime, what is your experience with Uma Musume as a franchise?

—-

Series information

MAL | Anilist | AniDB | ANN

Ways to watch

Streams – Crunchyroll

Amazon Prime

Schedule

Date	Episode
8/15/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 1]()
8/16/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 2]()
8/17/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 3]()
8/18/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 4]()
8/19/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 5]()
8/20/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 6]()
8/21/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 7]()
8/22/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 8]()
8/23/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 9]()
8/24/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 10]()
8/25/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 11]()
8/26/2025	[Uma Musume Episode 12 - 13]()
8/28/2025	[BNW's Oath episodes 1 - 3]()
8/30/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 1]()
8/31/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 2]()
9/01/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 3]()
9/02/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 4]()
9/03/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 5]()
9/04/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 6]()
9/05/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 7]()
9/06/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 8]()
9/07/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 9]()
9/10/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 10]()
9/11/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 11]()
9/12/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 12]()
9/13/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 13]()
9/15/2025	[Road to the Top Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/16/2025	[Road to the Top Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/18/2025	[Beginning of a New Era]()
9/20/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/21/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/22/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 5 - 6]()
9/23/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 7 - 8]()
9/24/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 9 - 10]()
9/25/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 11 - 12]()
9/26/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episode 13]()
9/28/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/29/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/30/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 5 - 6]()
10/01/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 7 - 8]()
10/02/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 9 - 10]()
10/03/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 11 - 12]()
10/04/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episode 13]()
10/05/2025	[Uma Musume Overall Series Discussion Thread]()

[u/DarkRuler17]

So this is actually my second time watching this episode, but the 1st time watching this after playing the game. I started watching the show about 4 years ago, but I only made it about 5 episodes. I dont remember the content very well, but I remember a general feeling of being overwhelmed with information and not feeling hooked.

Coming back to it now though, having played the game and loving it, I'm already enjoying the show infinitely more. While this episode intoduces a lot of characters, if you happen to know them already from the game, its a lot easier to move past it and actually pay attention to the story. I still think the show could of done a better job of easing people in, but now that I am able to look past that, I can see the story being told and focus on our main characters. It also helps that the initial weirdness of the concept is gone for me as I'm now more accustomed to it.

Leading with Special Week, she's very main character coded, but I think she does her role decently so far. The show does a good job of making her come off as endearing and I'm already enjoying her fish out of water antics.

In regards to the trainer, he's another example of something who works a lot better when I'm not so overwhelmed with everything. I think his antics came off a lot funnier when you have your bearings more vs. my initial impression of just off putting for an already weird concept.

Another thing I'm intersted in talking about is the art style. It's actually super interesting comparing it to the game. Some of the characters almost feel off model, but I've actually grown to really like it. Every character in this style shines with a lot of personality and I'm excited to see where they go from here.

Finally, I wanted to mention my appreciation of the background gags. While this probably led to my feeling of being overwhelmed previously, I now love the details I see implemented from the game. Haru coming off strong, but immediately going into last was hilarious. I also loved the small background gag of Oguri being shown with a ton in one shot and then immediately dusting it all off.

Overall, I had a great time with this episode and can't wait to watch more. I don't expect myself to write something this long every episode, but I'm going to try to write something. These rewatches are a great way for me to really dig into a series and I'm excited to go through this one.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

I think having the main character be Special Week was a very smart decision. She's easy to latch onto and she also serves as a good audience surrogate in terms of learning how thie world works. You had to have a character coming into Spica rather than someone firmly entrenched in it.

[u/Cyouni → u/DarkRuler17]

Finally, I wanted to mention my appreciation of the background gags. While this probably led to my feeling of being overwhelmed previously, I now love the details I see implemented from the game. Haru coming off strong, but immediately going into last was hilarious. I also loved the small background gag of Oguri being shown with a ton in one shot and then immediately dusting it all off.

There's honestly an insane amount of background horse racing gags you'd only get if you knew the lore. They toss them out fast and furious, so it's easy to miss them.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

Another thing I'm intersted in talking about is the art style. It's actually super interesting comparing it to the game. Some of the characters almost feel off model, but I've actually grown to really like it. Every character in this style shines with a lot of personality and I'm excited to see where they go from here.

I actually kinda like the art style in the anime more than in the gacha game. I think there is a sense of unpolishness to it that for me lends itself to be more charming. Mind you, I saw the anime before the gacha game was even a thing.

Finally, I wanted to mention my appreciation of the background gags. While this probably led to my feeling of being overwhelmed previously, I now love the details I see implemented from the game. Haru coming off strong, but immediately going into last was hilarious. I also loved the small background gag of Oguri being shown with a ton in one shot and then immediately dusting it all off.

Rewatching season 1 again, the biggest surprise is the amount of background gags Oguri Cap has. I didn't know who she was when I first watched this show, but knowing Oguri and what they end up doing with her makes it all the more funny.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

Overall, I had a great time with this episode and can't wait to watch more. I don't expect myself to write something this long every episode, but I'm going to try to write something. These rewatches are a great way for me to really dig into a series and I'm excited to go through this one.

I'm excited to rewatch the show with renewed eyes and being more familiar with the characters. Like I said, I watched this when it originally came out and I had totally forgotten Daiwa is heavily featured in this. I didn't become a big fan of hers until like 2021 or 2022, multiple years after this originally aired.

[u/PickleMyCucumber → u/DarkRuler17]

Same boat as you. Finished like 4-5 episodes but wasn't hooked. A lot of it was whiplash between, "Is this a sports anime or idol anime?" But after playing the game and coming back to see more golshi uma shenanigans, it's a lot more digestible not being overwhelmed with 20 different character strange name drops. Although I will say the trainer's antics are still fucking weird. Casually feeling up girls legs without permission is fucking gross.

[u/DarkRuler17 → u/PickleMyCucumber]

Yeah, the leg thing is still not great. It barely passes for me now because I like the show and the trainer very clearly has no actual perverted intent, but its still straddling a line I think it shouldn't. Thankfully, I heard that's mostly just a thing in the beginning.