And they’re off, in this exhibition derby.

Earlier today, the official Uma Musume Pretty Derby anime website updated with a new teaser trailer. The 90-second promo introduces the show’s major plot beats with character dialogue, as theme song Make Debut plays as a background track.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby will hit Japanese TV on April 1. The full broadcast schedule is as follows:

  • Tokyo MX: 4/1/2018 at 24:00 (4/2/2018 at midnight)
  • BS11: 4/1/2018 at 24:00 (4/2/2018 at midnight)
  • Kansai TV: 4/1/2018 at 25:55 (4/2/2018 at 1:55AM)
  • Saga TV: 4/2/2018 at 25:25 (4/3/2018 at 1:25AM)
  • AT-X: 4/2/2018 at 23:30 (4/2/2018 at 11:30PM)
  • Abema TV: 4/3/2018 at 23:00 (4/3/2018 at 11:00PM)

The series will be helmed by Kei Oikawa (Outbreak Company, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!) at P.A. Works, with Yousuke Kabashima (D.Gray-man Hallow, Lord Marksman and Vanadis) filling the dual role of character designer and chief animation director. Masafumi “Pierre” Sugiura (Barakamon, Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru) and Akihiro Ishihara (Cygames) will work together to write the scripts and tackle series composition.

The seven core cast members (Azumi Waki, Marika Kōno, Machico, Ayaka Ohashi, Chisa Kimura, Hitomi Ueda, Saori Ōnishi) will perform both the opening and closing themes to the show. The opening theme will be titled Make Debut, while the closing will be named Grow Up Shine!

The series will star the following:

  • Special Week: Azumi Waki
  • Silence Suzuka: Marika Kōno
  • Tōkai Teiō: Machico
  • Vodka: Ayaka Ohashi
  • Daiwa Scarlet: Chisa Kimura
  • Gold Ship: Hitomi Ueda
  • Mejiro McQueen: Saori Ōnishi
  • Tazuna Hayakawa: Yukiyo Fujii
  • Trainer: Kōji Okino
  • Hana Tōjō: Megumi Toyoguchi
  • El Condor Pasar: Minami Takahashi
  • Grass Wonder: Rena Maeda
  • Seyoung Kai: Akari Kitō

All of the cast members, save Okino and Toyoguchi, are reprising their roles from the smartphone game.

Uma Musume – Pretty Derby is a multimedia project from Cygames, which will include a manga series, a smartphone game, and the upcoming anime series. The game is on track for a 2018 release.

The manga, titled Starting Gate -Uma Musume Pretty Derby-, launched in March on the publisher’s “Cycomi” manga website. The work is being drawn by “S. Koisugi,” though the author’s full name is still unknown.

Source: Ota-suke