Johny Imanuel
The rerelease schedule indicates a phased rollout across international markets. Consumers in Japan can expect the figures to arrive in September 2026, with a retail price set at ¥6,900 each. For the North American market, Good Smile Company has slated the release for the first quarter of 2027, with a domestic price point of $40.99 per unit. This strategic move aims to stabilize the secondary market, where prices for out-of-print Umamusume merchandise have escalated significantly following the characters’ prominent roles in the franchise’s evolving narrative.
Character Profiles and Franchise Context
The Umamusume: Pretty Derby franchise, developed by Cygames, reimagines famous Japanese racehorses as "Horse Girls"—idols who compete in both high-stakes races and musical performances. Since its inception, the series has become a cornerstone of Japanese pop culture, blending sports drama with character-driven storytelling.
Agnes Tachyon is depicted as a "mad scientist" figure within the series, characterized by her analytical mind, her obsession with the physical limits of speed, and her signature lab coat. In the game’s mechanics, she is a two-star character who has been available since the initial launch, making her a familiar face to long-term players. Her popularity saw a massive resurgence following the release of the film Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era, where she plays a central protagonist role alongside Jungle Pocket.
Manhattan Cafe serves as a stylistic and personality-driven foil to Tachyon. A three-star character known for her quiet, stoic demeanor and her penchant for dark coffee, she is often associated with supernatural elements and the "ghostly" presence of other racers. Manhattan Cafe’s global availability in the game expanded in late 2025, further cementing her status as a fan favorite among international audiences.
Technical Specifications and Figure Details
The Nendoroid line is world-renowned for its "chibi" aesthetic, featuring large heads and smaller bodies with high levels of articulation and customizable parts. The rereleases of Agnes Tachyon and Manhattan Cafe are confirmed to be identical to their 2024 original runs, ensuring consistency for collectors who missed the initial window.
Each figure stands approximately 100mm in height and is crafted from painted plastic. The sets include:
- Agnes Tachyon: This figure features three distinct face plates: a confident smiling face, a "mad scientist" grinning face, and a more neutral, contemplative expression. Her accessories include a test tube, reflective of her scientific pursuits, and a specialized base designed to look like the turf of a race track, complete with a guard rail.
- Manhattan Cafe: Matching the quality of her peer, Manhattan Cafe includes three face plates: a calm standard face, a slightly embarrassed blushing face, and a focused racing expression. Her primary accessory is a coffee mug, and like Tachyon, she includes the race track-themed base to facilitate dynamic posing.
Both figures utilize the standard Nendoroid joint system, allowing for a wide range of motion. This allows collectors to recreate iconic "Winning Live" poses or intense racing stances seen in the anime and game.
Chronology of the Umamusume Merchandise Cycle
The timeline of these releases highlights the rapid growth of the Umamusume brand and the logistical challenges of meeting global demand.
- Early 2024: The initial production run of the Agnes Tachyon and Manhattan Cafe Nendoroids is released in Japan.
- Mid-2024 to 2025: The figures sell out at major retailers, leading to a "sold-out" status globally. Secondary market prices on platforms like eBay and specialized hobby sites begin to climb, often doubling or tripling the original MSRP.
- Late 2025: The global version of the Umamusume: Pretty Derby game sees a significant influx of new players in North America and Europe. The introduction of Manhattan Cafe to the global servers spikes interest in her merchandise.
- Early 2026: Good Smile Company monitors market trends and consumer feedback, identifying a clear deficit in supply for these specific characters.
- April 2026: Official announcement of the rerelease.
- September 2026: Expected shipping date for the Japanese market.
- Q1 2027: Expected shipping date for the North American market.
Market Analysis and Secondary Market Implications
The decision to rerelease figures is rarely arbitrary in the hobby industry. For Good Smile Company, rereleases are a tool used to combat the "aftermarket inflation" that can alienate newer fans. When the global version of the Umamusume game launched, a new demographic of players sought to purchase merchandise for their favorite characters, only to find that the Agnes Tachyon and Manhattan Cafe Nendoroids were long out of print.
Industry analysts note that Umamusume merchandise holds its value particularly well due to the crossover appeal between horse racing enthusiasts, anime collectors, and mobile gamers. By reintroducing these figures at the original price point (adjusted for current currency rates), Good Smile Company effectively lowers the barrier to entry for new collectors.
Furthermore, the timing of the North American release in early 2027 suggests a long-term commitment to the Western audience. While Japanese fans can acquire the figures sooner, the logistical chain for North American distribution—which often involves sea freight and localized warehousing—accounts for the several-month delay.
Broader Impact on the Umamusume Global Strategy
The rerelease of these figures is a small but significant part of a larger push by Cygames and its partners to establish Umamusume as a global powerhouse. Historically, the franchise was largely confined to Japan due to the complex licensing issues surrounding the names of real-life legendary racehorses. However, with those hurdles largely cleared for the global game release, the floodgates for merchandise have opened.
The presence of Umamusume content on major streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Amazon has also played a pivotal role. As viewers finish the anime series or the recent movie, their first point of contact with the physical hobby is often Nendoroids, which are seen as "entry-level" high-quality collectibles.
Official Responses and Consumer Reception
While Good Smile Company typically does not issue long-form press releases for individual rereleases, the company’s social media channels have seen high engagement regarding this announcement. Collector forums and social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have shown a positive reaction, particularly from users who had previously balked at the $100+ prices on the secondary market.
Logically inferred from previous corporate statements, Good Smile Company prioritizes characters who show sustained engagement in digital metrics—such as character popularity polls within the game and social media mentions. Agnes Tachyon and Manhattan Cafe consistently rank high in these metrics, making them "safe" bets for a second production run.
Summary of Availability
Prospective buyers are encouraged to utilize official channels to secure their pre-orders. While the Amazon storefront for Good Smile Company carries a variety of Umamusume characters, the Agnes Tachyon and Manhattan Cafe listings are expected to appear closer to the shipping dates. Currently, the most reliable method for acquisition is through the Good Smile Company Online Shop or authorized hobby retailers such as AmiAmi or Tokyo Otaku Mode.
As the Umamusume franchise continues to expand its digital and cinematic footprint, the rerelease of these Nendoroids serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of its characters. For fans of the "mad scientist" Agnes Tachyon or the mysterious Manhattan Cafe, the 2026 and 2027 release windows offer a second chance to own a piece of the series’ history without the premium of the resale market.
The game remains available for download on PC and mobile devices worldwide, ensuring that the community surrounding these characters will likely remain active well into the scheduled release window and beyond.
