Ep 5: My Little Pony Tutorial

 Ep 5: My Little Pony Tutorial

Topic: My Little Pony

 

This week we discuss the history of My Little Pony and the most current incarnation, "Friendship is Magic", en-route to a future discussion on 'Bronies' and why an older demographic fell in love with a show about colorful horses meant for a younger, female audience. 

 

History:

 

1981 My Pretty Pony

• 10 inch tall, very large by comparison
• Didn’t sell very well

 

1982 – 1992 My Little Pony (Gen 1)

• More iconic version from the 80s/90s
• Smaller
• First incarnation of symbol on backside/cutie mark.
• Animated series in 1986 & 1987, various movies
• Very collectable

 

1997 – 1999 (Gen 2)

• Slimmer, turning heads
• Not as popular in west, popular in Europe

 

2003 – 2009 (Gen 3)

• A re-launch
• Childish, aimed as a much younger audience
• Many of the hallmarks from 1986/1987 animation

 

2010+ Friendship is Magic

• Created by Lauren Faust
• Desire for more complex/in-depth characters, Adventurous settings
• Stories resolve around friendship/relations, with some adventurous/action elements

 

Characters

• “Mane Six Ponies”
  • Twilight Sparkle (Purple Unicorn, Magical Bookworm)
    • Spike (Pet Dragon)
  • Rainbow Dash (Blue Pegasus, Rebellious Tomboy)
  • Rarity (White Unicorn, Glamorous/Fashion)
    • Sweetie Bell (Little Sister)
  • Fluttershy (Pale Yellow Pegasus, Shy/timid)
  • Pinkie Pie (Pink Earth Pony, hyperactive/social)
  • Applejack (Orange Earth Pony, hard working Tomboy)
    • Apple Bloom(Little Sister)
    • Scootaloo (Friend)
  • Princess Celestia (White Alicorn, unicorn + Wings) & Sister Princess Luna (Black Alicorn)
  • 200+ minor background characters
  • Derpy (Fan favorite Grey Pegasus, named such for an accident with her eyes)

 

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls

• Spin off from “Friendship is Magic”
• All characters are humans, but colored like original counterparts
• Takes place in a Highschool
• Meant for older girls, while original for younger

 

Review Material

Netflix or The Hub

Season 1:

Episodes 1 & 2

Episode 6

Episode 13

Episode 25