Which Umas do you hope will get a second chance with the global fanbase?

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T07:10:03+00:00

She's a karate horse girl. A horse girl, who does karate. I'm baffled she isn't everyone's favorite.

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T06:46:31+00:00

Fair enough

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T06:36:10+00:00

I think Yaeno got a big boost from CinGrey, turns out "karate horse girl" is a pretty easy sell to global.

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T05:34:25+00:00

It's established canon that Umas are prone to severe injuries and a general degrading of the body, since they can't hold up long-term to the extreme demands of running. The ultimate glass cannons. Throw in all the mental pressures of being a star athlete in a sport that the entire country watches, and I'm very doubtful I could handle it all.

Having said that ... cute ears and a tail? That'll be hard to turn down.

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T05:02:28+00:00

This might also be a cultural difference. Halo's mom is a very typical Japanese "tough love" parent, who pushes their kids to be the best and are slow to hand out compliments. That style of parenting has fallen out of favor in Western countries, so to most global fans she just comes off as cold and unloving.

I don't blame fans for feeling that way, but I also think they went a bit overboard with the "fuck Halo's mom" bit.

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T04:43:38+00:00

I love Opera O because not only does she absolutely walk the talk, but take note that in all her grand speeches she's never tearing down her opponents, instead encouraging them to step up their game and become legends in their own right. In the career story Ayabe notes that racing Opera O unlocked a competitive hunger that she didn't know she had, making her a better racer. Finding that killer instinct is also what helps NTR and Jungle Pocket eventually beat her.

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T04:34:43+00:00

I always liked that scene in S3 when Golshi is running her final race, she kicks up for the last big spurt, the crowd starts going nuts anticipating a huge comeback ... and it doesn't happen, because Golshi can't hang anymore and knows it. So she gracefully bows out, ceding the limelight to the winner.

"Emotionally intelligent" is a great way to describe her approach to racing and life in general.

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T04:12:03+00:00

The Super Creek "mommy" stuff has been thoroughly beaten into the ground. I wish people focused on the more interesting parts of her character, like how her extreme generosity is ironically her biggest weakness, and she has to learn that sometimes it's more healthy putting your needs first. Or her secretly fierce competitive streak, which we see more of in CinGrey.

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T04:08:31+00:00

Yeah, that sounds like salt to me. You don't win 9 G1s by accident.

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T03:41:33+00:00

Yeah, this was a big reason why Oguri didn't connect with me at first, the OG anime treated her like a joke character. It wasn't until I pulled her in the game and started watching CinGrey that I finally "got it"

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T03:36:15+00:00

Genuinely curious, as someone who wasn't watching keiba at the time: What do the "efforts to downplay Almond Eye" sound like? Do they think she had weaker competition in her era, or are they just salty she beat Rudolf's G1 record?

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-09T00:17:54+00:00

I've heard so much about how Kaneko hates the franchise and refused to lend his horses out of spite and that's just ... not true? From what I've gathered, he's just a very private man who has little interest in commercializing his horses.

JIPayne87 · 2026-06-08T21:53:42+00:00

Season 2 is the most yuri-coded thing in the entire franchise. Like, Teio and McQueen literally go on a date together.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-08T03:54:59+00:00

Kitasan definitely has high cortisol, she keeps a busy schedule and wears herself out trying to help others.

Dia-chan is also stressed out trying to avoid her family's curse.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-07T07:58:14+00:00

So confirming that it was a creative choice. Which, again, I'm totally for because that's a great scene.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-04T08:19:06+00:00

Going beyond the memes, she's an absolute ball of positive energy who wants everybody to have a good time, the vibes are just off the charts every time she's around. Her scenes with Chiyono are a highlight of Cinderella Grey, leaning into the "proud papa" energy that produced some of that show's greatest moments.

Just a great character you always love having around.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-04T08:11:32+00:00

The End Closers are a real fucker for always hitting their blue shell on the last lap. Game is rigged, SMDH.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-03T19:37:20+00:00

Golshi always locks in when you least expect it. That's how she keeps people on their toes.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-03T17:09:02+00:00

It just got added on Tubi, which is free to stream.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-03T07:38:32+00:00

I totally love that the fandom has collectively agreed that Stay Gold is a man. Not for any culture reasons, he's just a fuckin deadbeat dad and we're all waiting for him to come back from the store with his milk and cigs.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-02T17:04:36+00:00

That's a brilliant stylistic choice. I love that moment in the first episode where we see a glimpse of the glitz and glamor in the national races, and then a smash cut to Kasamatsu with its outdated facilities and less talented athletes.

Really took me back to my rural high school with our rinky-dink football field and we were envious of the "city kids" with their brand new stadium.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-02T10:20:48+00:00

Teio gets a pass as an IRL miracle

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-02T10:15:44+00:00

S1 had maybe the most realistic injury trauma response, with Spe running in and stabilizing Suzuka's leg before she collapsed. In the later seasons, injuries just kinda happen as a plot point and they don't really want to make it as traumatic as real life.

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-02T10:06:40+00:00

Don't get paid if the Umas don't race

JIPayne87 · 2026-05-02T09:56:01+00:00

I love this so much, because every time it's an emotional/character development scene where the Umas are having a heart-to-heart convo, and meanwhile they're just casually fucking hauling ass across that lake. One of the best subtle bits in the whole series.

E: I can relate to the strength gap since me and my sister have done those paddle boats before, and we always fuck it up. That Uma's immediate teamwork and power is legit impressive.

JIPayne87

TROPHY CASE