Preamble: I am a new UmaMusu fan. I have friends who have been interested in the series for a while and have osmosisd some knowledge and I preregistered for the English release of Pretty Derby though I havent actually opened the app yet. I have also never been to an anime convention before. Anime Expo where this movie was shown was my first. Praises: English subtitles by Jasmine Li of Cygames America and three editors. I really really enjoyed them as a translator myself. They had an incredible amount of spark and passion. Animation was top notch expected for a theatrical release. Though it really impressed me as a new fan whos never seen UmaMusu animated before. Cinematography was phenomenal the dramatic parts reminded me a lot of what I enjoyed about Revue Starlight without as much baggage. PARTICULARLY the imagery of prismatic light through the use of Pokkes necklace and the window decoration in Tachyons dorm. The metaphor conveyed is really powerful: Fuji acting as a catalyst for Pokkes talent and then Pokke acting as a catalyst for Tachyon to return to racing and then back to Fuji too. A prism that reflects and enhances the light shone through it. So good. I appreciate characters like Pokke Opera O and Tachyon getting focus the way they do. When it comes to allfemale casts the tropes that those three play into tend to get snubbed by the work. Orekkos princely bokukkos and mad scientist freaks in my experience tend to be more niche favorites in properties like these. Like yeah it makes sense for ME to squeal over Opera being cool or Tachyon being unsettling but it was kind of bizarre to hear EVERYONE ELSE in the audience squealing over them too. Its nice but also incredibly bizarre having an oshi thats actually a popular favorite. Relationships between the girls were really well done. One moment in particular I appreciate is Dantsu getting a moment to shine and show that she IS a worthy rival to Pokke even without Tachyon there. Fuji and Pokkes mentorpupil relationship with Tanabe was also incredibly wholesome and heartwarming. To that end: YURI NUKE I need these horses to kiss. The chemistry they have in the movie is so chefs kiss mwah. Official UmaMusu guidelines prohibiting romance between the horses and trainers as well as any sexually suggestive content is a good thing actually. Shoutsout. Theater Experience Miscellaneous: Thoroughly enjoyable experience. Exceptional movie. Id watch it a million more times. My friend Lily was also in the theater with me although unfortunately we couldnt sit together. But shes a bit more invested in new releases and consuming lots of anime properties than I am and she said that this was possibly one of the best anime movies shes ever seen. The movie screening was held in panel room 403AB. There was a MASSIVE line to get in easily around or above 500 from what I could glean and even before the movie started the staff were asking people not to leave until they filled the theater completely. And within the first 1020 minutes there were staff opening the doors intermittedly and saying we have XX seats available which caused a lot of commotion near the back. 403AB is one of the bigger panel rooms from what I could tell so it wasnt an awful choice but I still felt like it wouldve been better suited for a different venue. Like the third floor ballroom of the JW Marriott that was reserved for the Detective Conan movie screening and was over half empty the entire time lol Lots of clearly longtime fans with merch and plushies and light sticks. Every time there was a cameo of the other nonfocus horses the crowd went fucking crazy. Audience was almost too wellbehaved climactic moments I expected to get the crowd going wild had less reaction than I anticipated. It felt like I often had to be one of the first people to cheer and woop before everyone else got the hint. Final Thoughts: Will finally be entering the horse girl pit after that movie. This wasnt enough of a complaint to warrant a whole complaints section but I didnt quite gel with the pacing of the races in this movie. This speaks less about UmaMusu race pacing or the movie pacing and more about how Im relatively unversed in this property. Ill get used to it probably I LOVE YOU TACHYON I LOVE YOU TACHYON I LOVE YOU TACHYON