Uma Musume Announces Real-Life Replica of Marche Lorraine’s “Maru-chan” Puppet
New merchandise inspired by one of Uma Musume: Pretty Derby’s most popular characters is on the way, giving fans the chance to own a real-life version of a familiar companion from the series.
A replica of “Maru-chan,” the handmade puppet that rarely leaves Marche Lorraine’s side, has been revealed, transforming the character’s constant companion into a fully realized merchandise release.
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is an anime, gaming and music franchise that imagines famous racehorses reborn as horse girls known as Uma Musume, blending real-world racing history with original character-driven stories across games, anime, manga, and other media.
Among the franchise’s expanding cast, which saw the recent addition of “Titleholder”, Marche Lorraine stands out for her extremely shy and reserved personality.
Inspired by the real-life racehorse Marche Lorraine, the first Japanese-trained horse in history to win an American dirt Grade 1 race after her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the character has become known for communicating through her handmade puppet rather than speaking directly to others.
While Marche Lorraine often struggles with face-to-face conversations, Maru-chan presents a completely different personality, acting cheerful, outgoing, and highly sociable during interactions.
The new Maru-chan puppet, which is approximately 35 cm tall and 22 cm wide, has been carefully designed to faithfully match its appearance in the series, with attention paid to details that fans will instantly recognize.
The production team has emphasized recreating Maru-chan’s appearance as accurately as possible, making the item feel as though it has stepped directly out of the anime and game world.
Pre-orders are currently being accepted through Animate stores, Animate Online Shop, Movic’s online store, and other participating retailers, with orders available from June 20, 2026 through July 19, 2026.
The made-to-order Maru-chan puppet is scheduled for release around October 23, 2026 and is priced at ¥6,600 (approx. $46 USD/ £36 GBP).
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