Umamusume: Pretty Derby’s anime movie spinoff, Beginning of a New Era, launched in theaters in Japan means again in Could 2024. And now, it is coming to the U.S. for a one-night-only theatrical launch on February 27, 2026.
As shared by Crunchyroll, the movie will hit choose, to-be-announced theaters within the U.S. for a one-night screening subsequent month, and shared an English-language trailer and poster alongside the information. Tickets will likely be obtainable at a later date through the official English website, although it is unclear how broad a launch this movie will truly get.
For those who’re not conversant in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, it is an exceedingly well-liked franchise from Cygames centered round a cellular sport that launched in 2021. It options the Umamusume, or girls with some of the options (equivalent to ears and tails) and skills of horses who take part in races styled after real-world historic horse races. Within the sport this takes the shape of a sports activities simulation sport the place gamers prepare Umamusume to compete in varied raises and meet sure, character-specific targets.
Throughout the cellular sport, a multi-season anime, a manga, and varied different spinoffs, Umamusume has coated the tales of a number of characters based mostly on real-world race horses from the ’90s, ’00s, and ’10s. The movie, Beginning of a New Era, launched in Japan on Could 24, 2024 and follows Jungle Pocket, based mostly on the real-world horse of the identical identify, and her rivalries with Agnes Tachyon, Manhattan Cafe, and Dantsu Flame. Within the movie, Jungle Pocket trains with veteran coach Tanabe in an effort to win the Triple Crown, a sequence of three races that may solely be competed in as soon as in a lifetime.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby launched within the U.S. in July of final yr and solely elevated its recognition from what it already loved in Japan. A lot in order that followers at the moment are taking note of the real-life horses that impressed their fictional counterparts, cheering them on, and even mourning the loss of life of one final yr.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Bought a story tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.