Junnosuke Itō
Description
Junnosuke Itō is a Japanese creative professional recognized for his work in manga planning and production, particularly within the Umamusume Pretty Derby franchise. He is not a manga artist or illustrator but serves in a planning and compositional role, shaping the narrative structure of the projects he oversees.
Itō is best known as the manga planner for Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, a popular manga series based on Cygames' multimedia franchise. The manga, illustrated by Taiyo Kuzumi with scripts by Masafumi Sugiura, began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump in June 2020. It centers on the horse girl Oguri Cap and her journey to become a racing legend. The series has achieved significant commercial success, with over seven million copies in circulation as of April 2025, and a television anime adaptation produced by Cygames premiered in April 2025.
In his role as manga planner for Cinderella Gray, Itō is responsible for the project's overall composition and structure. According to Taiyo Kuzumi, the manga artist, Itō works alongside scriptwriter Masafumi Sugiura to develop the story, while Kuzumi focuses on the illustrations. Kuzumi has publicly praised Itō for his encyclopedic knowledge of horse racing, his exceptional communication skills, and his overwhelming passion and drive. In a joint interview, Itō explained the meaning behind the manga's title, Cinderella Gray, noting that the real-life rise of the horse Oguri Cap from regional to central racing was a true Cinderella story. He added that the word Gray refers both to Oguri Cap's coat color and the nickname Gray Phantom of her grandfather, the famous racehorse Native Dancer.
Before his work on Cinderella Gray, Itō was affiliated with TOHO animation, a major Japanese film and production company. In 2018, he announced the launch of his own anime production company called QROUT. His background also includes serving as a producer for the Umamusume: Pretty Derby anime, demonstrating his longstanding involvement in the franchise's development across different media. Regarding his approach to storytelling within the Umamusume universe, Itō has stated that he is careful not to contradict real-life historical events involving the actual racehorses that inspire the characters, while still incorporating what-if scenarios to enhance the drama and narrative.
Itō is best known as the manga planner for Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, a popular manga series based on Cygames' multimedia franchise. The manga, illustrated by Taiyo Kuzumi with scripts by Masafumi Sugiura, began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump in June 2020. It centers on the horse girl Oguri Cap and her journey to become a racing legend. The series has achieved significant commercial success, with over seven million copies in circulation as of April 2025, and a television anime adaptation produced by Cygames premiered in April 2025.
In his role as manga planner for Cinderella Gray, Itō is responsible for the project's overall composition and structure. According to Taiyo Kuzumi, the manga artist, Itō works alongside scriptwriter Masafumi Sugiura to develop the story, while Kuzumi focuses on the illustrations. Kuzumi has publicly praised Itō for his encyclopedic knowledge of horse racing, his exceptional communication skills, and his overwhelming passion and drive. In a joint interview, Itō explained the meaning behind the manga's title, Cinderella Gray, noting that the real-life rise of the horse Oguri Cap from regional to central racing was a true Cinderella story. He added that the word Gray refers both to Oguri Cap's coat color and the nickname Gray Phantom of her grandfather, the famous racehorse Native Dancer.
Before his work on Cinderella Gray, Itō was affiliated with TOHO animation, a major Japanese film and production company. In 2018, he announced the launch of his own anime production company called QROUT. His background also includes serving as a producer for the Umamusume: Pretty Derby anime, demonstrating his longstanding involvement in the franchise's development across different media. Regarding his approach to storytelling within the Umamusume universe, Itō has stated that he is careful not to contradict real-life historical events involving the actual racehorses that inspire the characters, while still incorporating what-if scenarios to enhance the drama and narrative.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview