selayar

Pretty intense start! The downside of being in the spotlight is having a target in your back. Despite being targeted by everyone, Oguri was able to get the victory. Truly the beast of Kazamatsu, even outclass her senpai. There's only Tamamo Cross left to be Oguri's worthy rival. She already has the aura farmed for several episodes now.

Kitahara also finally make a comeback, bringing presents from Kazamatsu's cast. He even made a doll for Oguri (his best effort).

There's also March's present, a keychain

Can't wait for the next episode. We will finally be able to see Oguri and Tamamo competing.

@rikka@ani.social

This week episode is a calm one. A deserving break after weeks of peak, just like what Roppei said we have to pace our race in order not to tire ourselves. While Oguri is having a break, they decide to use this for Tamamo Cross intro. Will she be a promising rival for our girl Oguri? In the meantime, Oguri still have two more rivals she has to beat in the next episode.

I'm happy we got to see March and Norn again. Sad that she didn't win Tokai Derby. Oguri doing her best consoling March here. Also, what a goofy phone just to reach their high ears.

We also got to see Oguri in her casual wear, looking cute as ever, while devouring the whole Harajuku food stand.

Sorry, I have to put March in the spotlight whenever I can

As someone who also only get into Uma Musume franchise thanks to Cinderella Gray, I'm happy seeing another comrade also enjoying Uma Musume through the same route. Now, I have high expectation for S2, because BoaNE was phenomenal.

That was a clever misdirection. They make it looked like as if Oguri was racing in Nippon Derby. I genuinely thought the immovable Japanese would actually do an exception for Oguri, that's just how goated she is, but alas, reality is often disappointing. I guess there's only one thing that can stop Oguri Cap, and that is Japanese bureaucracy. Though the journalist effort wasn't in vain, they were able to make the organizers to change the rule to enter Nippon Derby, even though Oguri still wasn't allowed to enter in the name of fairness. Stand proud Oguri Cap, your presents actually change Japan.

Even with the misdirection, I was pretty invested with the race. They actually highlight Oguri's rival and classmates pretty well. Sucks for Dicta Striker not performing well because of her injury, she was my favorite (what can I say, I love tomboy).

There's actually several hints before the reveal. Like how Oguri rather than wearing a costume like the other horse she wears her gym clothes. When Rudolf reminiscing her racing age, we can see a newspaper just outside the focus with Sakura Chiyono O on the cover (probably covering her winning Nippon Derby). When they do a sweeping shot, Oguri Cap couldn't be seen in the pack. Also when they do a transition from Dicta Striker to Oguri Cap the transition time actually far longer than the others because it was on a different track.

Can't wait for the next episode titled peak! They can't stop peaking

That was rough! Not only had Yachiyo been stranded for millennia, but she also no longer had her original body. Didn't know a robot could go through a rebellious phase. I guess a by-the-book robot like Yachiyo would go through a lot after seeing such changes to her routine.

Meanwhile, Ponko has grown into such a beauty. She even got a boyfriend.

You really can't never predict what will happen next with this anime. We haven't seen the rest of Ponko's family after the timeskip, I wonder what they look like now.

Bro, where's the continuation

If you're okay with Movies:

• Liz and the Blue Bird: (technically part of Hibike Euphonium but works as a stand-alone) A masterpiece film by Yamada Naoko, about a timid girl's struggle with her relationship
• The Colors Within: Another Yamada Naoko film about finding your own color, super low stake drama, more on feels good anime
• Silent Voice: Yet another Yamada Naoko film about forgiving yourself and finding strength through each other (CW: suicide attempt)
• Look Back: The love and struggle for doing art
• Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a new Era: (Just finished this one) An anthropomorphized race horse's struggle to rise to the top, beautiful animation and drama

As for series:

• Hibike Euphonium: band drama
• Hyouka: a highschool detective solving mundane every day life through clever deduction, more character driven story
• Keep Your Hands off Eizouken: about making animation (not a real life representative, lean on the whimsical and creative aspect of animation)

I don't think so. Each installment of uma musume seems to focus on different horses' so they work as a stand alone

which of the other Umamusume anime is similar to Cinderella Gray? Would enough context be given to watch a season as a standalone series instead of starting from season 1?

You could try the movie Uma Musume: Road to the Top and Uma Musume: Begining of a New Era. Haven't watch either, but I've hear a lot of praise for them

I kinda doubt they would do that. Cinderella gray's story is based on real life story Oguri Cap. I'm not familiar with Japan's horse racing scene so this is just a guess, but I don't think they would do a one of race like that. Japan is land of bureaucracy, so exception like this needs a lot of paperwork and valid reason.

This soundtrack is what makes it so exciting during the races.

They definitely know how to hype the races. Not only the soundtrack, but also the pacing. Like how every race is introduced with a title screen, and how they gave empty space during the race. There are moments during the race with no soundtrack, and let the scene filled only with galloping sound. They also went into complete silence to give the twist more impact.