The director of Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era, Ken Yamamoto, recently shared his thoughts on the future potential of the Umamusume franchise. In an interview with ThisIsGame, Yamamoto explained why the series continues to grow and generate new stories.
A World Built on Strong Character Stories
According to Yamamoto, the strength of Umamusume: Pretty Derby lies in its storytelling concept. Each character within the Umamusume universe has their own background, motivations, and personal journey. Because of this structure, the franchise can create many different narratives within the same shared world.
This approach allows the series to highlight individual character arcs while still contributing to a larger interconnected universe. New protagonists, rivalries, and emotional moments can be introduced without repeating the same storyline.
Inspired by Real Horse Racing History
Another key factor behind the franchise’s longevity is its inspiration from real-life horse racing. Many characters in Umamusume are based on famous racehorses and the people involved in the sport.
Because horse racing history continues to evolve in the real world, Yamamoto noted that the franchise always has the opportunity to draw from new stories, rivalries, and achievements. This constant flow of inspiration ensures that the series will never run out of material.
A Flexible Storytelling Style
Yamamoto also pointed out that the Umamusume universe is not limited to a single type of narrative. The franchise can explore multiple genres, including:
Sports competition and racing drama
Lighthearted comedy and character interactions
Emotional personal journeys and rivalries
This flexibility allows the series to appeal to a wide audience while keeping its storytelling fresh.
With its combination of strong characters, real-world inspiration, and genre variety, Yamamoto believes Umamusume: Pretty Derby has the potential to keep expanding for many years—continuing to deliver new stories within its unique racing-inspired world.
