umamusume: road to the top (🎥 7/10)
narita top road's... road to the top!! she's a cheerful horse that everyone loves and supports, but the pressure starts to give way to guilt. meanwhile, her rivals admire vega (ayabe) and opera also compete for the crown!! [7/10]
SUPER CUTE!! i don't play the actual pretty derby game, so i don't feel AS connected to these characters than i should be... i think that's why this (and 'beginning of a new era', watched on the same day) is rated as it is. STILL it's such a fun experience and i found myself very giddy watching with my partner!! i was rooting for top road, i love her rivalry with ayabe and how they want the best for the other racer while at the same time wanting the best for themselves too, not holding back for anyone while still finding joy in racing beside someone they admire in the end. opera was fun too!! but the movie doesn't focus TOO much on her motives or backgrounds n stuff.. really, this is a movie about top road first, with ayabe second.
the animation in this was very lovely!! colorful and vibrant images always hook me in, so i really enjoyed watching this :D i love my partner too, but that goes without saying. it's a simple and straightforward movie about wanting to reach a goal, never giving up, and the struggles along the way (you just have to lose sometimes or sometimes you feel like you're letting someone down). really, it's just a good time and i like it for that :)