Uma Musume: The Gray Cinderella Hit "White Lightning" Chapter in June to Widespread Acclaim

Amid the grand constellation of horse racing’s four-century legacy, a star from Japan’s Shōwa era is lighting up once more — this time through the vibrant world of animation. Uma Musume: The Gray Cinderella is based on the manga of the same name. It revives the legendary tale of Oguri Cap, the most iconic gray horse of Japan’s Shōwa era, which was overlooked as a “Cinderella” for her humble lineage at the start.

Figure 1. Visual posters of the first two chapters of Uma Musume: The Gray Cinderella (Source: Oricon)

The anime’s first two chapters, The Kasamatsu Chapter and White Lightning Chapter, delicately portray Oguri Cap’s youthful beginnings: rising from an underdog in the local Kasamatsu circuit to a formidable contender on the national stage, missing out on registration timing of the Classic Triple Crown, and clashing repeatedly with Tamamo Cross who was known as “a storm incarnate, swift as lightning”. These events were all brought to life with striking detail

Premiering in April 2025, the anime completed the Kasamatsu Chapter and previewed the first two episodes of White Lightning by June. Its thrilling races have sparked a cross-generational horse racing craze across East Asia. Streaming on ABEMA and Bilibili, it has already captivated the hearts of millions. The rest of White Lightning will return as Season 2 in October this year.

How Do Viewers Respond to The Gray Cinderella?

I interviewed viewers of The Gray Cinderella and horse racing enthusiasts from the Internet to hear their thoughts on the series. 

“There are very few drawing errors in this anime. The characters look cute and cool. The rhythmic music blends perfectly with the sound of pounding hooves during the races, which gave me goosebumps,” said a Chinese university student named Xu Fang.

Figure 2. Main characters from The Gray Cinderella (Source:Official Website)

A fan going by the pseudonym Luciferin said that he was touched by the deep bond between Oguri Cap and her Kasamatsu hometown friends. “I want that kind of relationship”, he added, “I also like the special feelings in the White Lightning Chapter, like when Oguri first met Tamamo and felt that mix of awe and excitement sensing Tamamo’s strength. The framing of that scene evoked the feeling of a fateful encounter.”

Figure 3. Oguri first saw Tamamo (Source: Umamusume YouTube Channel)

For horse racing enthusiast Walter, The Gray Cinderella’s vivid, saturated colors recreate the energy of real-life races. He believed it’s the delicate portrayal of the characters’ emotions and the dramatic adaptation of the story that truly transforms a real-life racing saga into an emotionally charged anime odyssey.

How to Recreate the Thrill of the Racetrack?

Beyond the adrenaline of the racetrack, The Gray Cinderella portrays the 1980s Japanese horse racing through its masterful use of music, visuals, and voice acting.

The score blends driving percussion with sweeping strings to mirror the rhythm and intensity of the races, while soft piano and woodwinds lend emotional weight to moments of victory and reflection. Hints of vintage synthesizers recreate the cultural atmosphere of the era.

Visually, the anime pays tribute to sports photography with saturated colors and bold contrasts. Detailed backgrounds, including racecourses, spectators, and dynamic camera work, make every scene feel immersive and immediate.

Voice actors imitate the tone of coaches and announcers. As for uma musume players, Oguri Cap’s voice balances youthful energy with quiet determination, reflecting her amazing journey from obscurity to glory.

Together, these elements gently reconstruct history, allowing viewers not just to watch the past but to feel it gallop beneath their feet.

All Creatures Small And Great

The Gray Cinderella presents an unforgettable equine epic. Yet as an artistic creation, the anime deliberately sidesteps the darker realities of horse racing. The harsh consequences faced by real-life horses—those forced into early retirement or even fatal outcomes due to intense training and relentless racing schedules—are scarcely acknowledged. The owner’s decision to push Oguri Cap through an intensive, profit-driven schedule is also romanticized. It conceals the toll such choices take on a horse’s body and spirit.

Figure 4. Kyoei March, who had previously suffered from epiphysitis and won the Oka Sho — one of the Filly Triple Crown races — was kept racing until the age of seven. Only seven years after retiring, she died from an intestinal displacement caused by foaling.

What’s more regrettable is the anime’s lack of social responsibility in raising awareness for equine welfare. It shies away from criticizing powerful yet morally questionable owners and industry figures, and instead chooses to glorify the triumphs of legendary racehorses and their human handlers. In doing so, it misses the chance to focus on the silent, four-legged athletes who bear the weight of it all without voice or choice.

Standing at the Crossroads of History and Art

Even so, The Gray Cinderella, at the crossroads of history and art, tells a moving, character-driven story of rivalry, friendship, and the spirit of the underdog. We follow Oguri’s journey from an overlooked “Cinderella” to a rising star, and appraise the grit and belief behind every win.

If what lingers in memory are the thundering hooves and roaring crowds of Oguri’s final sprints, then the silence, which means the absence of concern for equine welfare, is just asking: Can we extend greater understanding and care to the true horse heroes in real life now?