Umamusume: Cinderella Gray Wins Anime of the Year
Umamusume: Cinderella Gray Wins Anime of the Year, Sweeping 8 Major Awards After a Game-Changing Comeback from 26th Place
If we were to call 2026 the “Year of the Horse,” it certainly would not be an exaggeration. Recently, Umamusume: Cinderella Gray (an anime adaptation from the Umamusume: Pretty Derby franchise) beautifully claimed the biggest prize, Anime of the Year, at the 12th Anime Trending Awards.
The series swept up a massive 11,721 votes from a total of 21 nominees, defeating the runner-up, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2, which received 10,243 votes. Interestingly, this makes it the very first sports anime to ever win this prestigious award.
Not Just Playing Around: A Massive Award Sweep
Aside from the grand prize, the series took home an incredible haul of other awards, including:
- Girl of the Year
- Supporting Boy of the Year
- Supporting Girl of the Year
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Best Animation
- Best Character Design
- Sports Anime of the Year
Totaling 8 major awards and placing as runners-up in 5 additional categories, it firmly stands as one of the most heavily awarded titles of the year.
From the Bottom Ranks to This Year’s Champion
What makes this series even more fascinating is that it did not start off strong. During its debut in the Spring 2025 season, the show began at a mere 26th place before gradually climbing the ranks:
- Week 5: Climbed into the Top 10
- Week 6: Reached the Top 5
- Week 7 Onwards: Held the #1 spot straight until the end of the season.
Moving into the Fall 2025 season, it maintained its strong momentum, hitting #1 again towards the end and officially closing the season retaining its champion title.
What is the “Horse Girl” Story, and Why is it So Popular?
Umamusume: Cinderella Gray is a spin-off of Cygames’ Umamusume: Pretty Derby franchise, retelling the story of the character “Oguri Cap” with a much more intense and serious tone.
The story introduces us to “horse girls” who inherit the spirits of legendary racehorses. Oguri Cap, a seemingly ordinary country girl who doesn’t stand out at first, harbors hidden potential. She slowly steps onto the national stage through grueling competitions, rigorous training, and mounting pressure, resulting in a gripping coming-of-age journey that makes viewers subconsciously root for her.
Produced by CygamesPictures with an experienced, high-quality production team, the anime consists of 23 episodes (split into 2 cours) broadcast throughout 2025. It received excellent feedback for its visuals, storytelling, and dynamic character development.
The True Dark Horse
Ultimately, Umamusume: Cinderella Gray isn’t just an anime that “won awards”; it is a work that steadily built its own clear momentum. From starting completely under the radar, it climbed step-by-step through a gripping narrative, solid production, and tangible character development. Finally, it accelerated in the final curve, overtaking every other show to stand at number one, crossing the finish line as Anime of the Year with true dignity.
 Origin: anitrendz
