My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Difference between revisions
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{{about|the television series|the series' pilot episode|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (season 1)#Episodes{{!}}''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' (season 1)|the comic book|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (comic book){{!}}''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' (comic book)|the video game|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (video game){{!}}''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' (video game)}} |
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{{Infobox television |
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| show_name = My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic |
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| production_website = {{URL|http://www.hasbrostudios.com/shows/page/title/my-little-pony}} |
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'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' is a<!-- Discuss in the Talk Page about the country origins of this series, since the series is co-developed between the United States and Canada --> [[family]]/[[high fantasy]] [[Cartoon series|animated television series]] produced by [[Hasbro Studios]] in the United States (for scripts) and at [[DHX Media]]'s studio located in Vancouver (for animation; formerly known as [[DHX Media#Studio B Productions|Studio B Productions]]). The series, which is based on [[Hasbro]]'s [[My Little Pony]] line of toys and animated works, is intended for girls age 2 to 11 and considered to be the fourth generation (G4) of the My Little Pony franchise, following earlier lines and television show tie-ins in the 1980s and 1990s. The series premiered on October 10, 2010, on The Hub, now known as [[Hub Network]], an [[United States|American]] [[pay television]] channel partly owned by Hasbro. {{As of|2014|April}}, the show is in [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (season 4)|its fourth season]], which premiered on November 23, 2013, and a fifth season is planned for the 2015 television season. The show broadcasts internationally in dozens of countries in more than twenty languages. A feature film, ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls]]'', was released in movie theaters on June 16, 2013, and later broadcast on the Hub Network on September 1, 2013. |
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Hasbro selected animator [[Lauren Faust]] as the creative director and executive producer for the show. Faust sought to challenge the established nature of the existing My Little Pony line, creating more in-depth characters and adventurous settings, incorporating Hasbro's suggestions for [[E/I|E/I ("educational and informational")]] content and marketing of the toy line. Faust left the show during the production of the second season, but is credited as a consulting producer. Jayson Thiessen, the show's supervising director, became the [[showrunner]] starting with season two. |
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The show follows a studious unicorn pony named Twilight Sparkle as her mentor Princess Celestia guides her to learn about friendship in the town of Ponyville. Twilight becomes close friends with five other ponies: Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. Each represents a different face of friendship, and Twilight discovers herself to be a key part of the magical artifacts known as the "Elements of Harmony". The ponies share adventures and help out other residents of Ponyville, while working out the troublesome moments in their own friendships. |
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The show has been critically praised for its humor and moral outlook. Despite the target demographic of young girls, ''Friendship Is Magic'' has also gained a large following of older viewers, mainly young and middle-aged men, who call themselves "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom|bronies]]". Reasons for this unintended appreciation include Faust and her team's creative writing and characterization, the expressive [[Adobe Flash|Flash]]-based animation style, themes that older audiences can appreciate, and a reciprocal relationship between Hasbro, the creators, and the fans. Portions of the show have become part of the [[remix culture]], and have formed the basis for a variety of [[Internet memes]]. As a result, in part, of this unexpected cross-demographic audience interest, the series has become a major commercial success, becoming the most highly-rated original production in the Hub Network's broadcast history and leading to new merchandising opportunities for Hasbro, including books, clothing, collectible trading cards, and comics. |
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==Origin== |
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Hasbro, Inc. has produced several generations of toys and entertainment related to the My Little Pony franchise, often labeled by collectors as Generations 1 through 3.<ref>{{Cite news | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3633908/Pony-tale.html | title = Pony tale | first = Rebecca | last = Tyrrel | date= 2004-12-24 | accessdate = 2011-11-04 | work = [[The Daily Telegraph#Website|The Telegraph]] }}</ref><ref name="collectorsweekly">{{cite web | url = http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/my-little-pony-smackdown-girls-vs-bronies/ | title = My Little Pony Smackdown: Girls vs. Bronies | date = 2012-06-28 | accessdate = 2012-06-28 | work = [[Collectors Weekly]] | first = Lisa | last = Hix }}</ref> The animated series ''[[My Little Pony Tales]]'', premiered in 1992, was the toy line's most recent television series before ''Friendship Is Magic'', and it featured the pony designs of the first generation.<ref>{{cite book|last= Hayes |first= Summer |title= The My Little Pony G1 Collector's Inventory |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=Zcc5nh6XrbMC |publisher= Priced Nostalgia Press |date= 2008-05-01 |isbn= 978-0-9786063-1-2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | first = Hal | last = Erickson | isbn = 0-7864-2256-4 | publisher = McFarland & Company | pages = 575–576 |date= 2005-06-30 | title = Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949–2003, The Shows M-Z|volume=2}}</ref> It was followed by various [[direct-to-video]] releases, which featured later designs up to the third generation.<ref>{{cite book|last= Hayes |first= Summer |title= The My Little Pony G3 Collector's Inventory |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=RQwezXjBJaUC |publisher= Priced Nostalgia Press |date= 2007-06-15 |isbn= 978-0-9786063-5-0}}</ref> Just as [[Michael Bay]]'s [[Transformers (film)|film]] had helped to boost the new ''[[Transformers]]'' toy line, Hasbro wanted to retool the My Little Pony franchise and update it to better suit the current generation of young girls.<ref name="eqd faust interview">{{cite web|url= http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/09/exclusive-season-1-retrospective.html |title= Exclusive Season 1 Retrospective Interview with Lauren Faust |author= "Tekaramity" |date= 2011-09-15 |accessdate= 2011-09-16 |work= [[Equestria Daily]]}}</ref> According to Margaret Loesch, CEO of Hub Network, revisiting properties that had worked in the past was an important programming decision, influenced to an extent by the opinions of the network's programming executives, a number of whom were once fans of such shows.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903918104576500460858469994.html |title= Never Too Old For "ThunderCats"? |work =[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date= 2011-08-12 |accessdate= 2011-08-12 |first= Monika |last= Anderson }}</ref> Senior Vice President Linda Steiner also stated that they "intended to have the show appeal to a larger [[demographic]]", with the concept of "co-viewing" of parents with their children being a central theme of the Hub Network's programming.<ref name="steiner interview">{{cite web | url = http://www.danielnyegriffiths.org/2011/09/friendship-is-money-ponies-internet.html | title = Friendship is Massive – Ponies, Internet phenomena and crossover audiences | first = Daniel Nye | last = Griffiths | date = 2011-09-27 | accessdate = 2012-01-19 | publisher = Daniel Nye Griffiths }}</ref><!-- Daniel Nye writes for Wired UK/Forbes - consider reliable)--> Central themes that Hasbro sought for the show included friendships and working together, factors they determined from market research in how girls played with their toys.<ref name="businessweek 2014 toys"/> |
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[[File:Lauren Faust.jpg|upright|thumb|left|[[Lauren Faust]], developer and initial showrunner of ''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'']] |
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Animator and writer Lauren Faust approached Hasbro, seeking to develop her girls' toys property "Galaxy Girls" into an animated series.<ref name="awn">{{cite web | url = http://www.awn.com/blogs/miscweant/ponies-and-bronies | title = Of Ponies and Bronies | first= Joe | last = Strike | date = 2011-07-05 | accessdate = 2011-07-06 | work = [[Animation World Network]]}}</ref> Faust, who had previously worked on ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' and ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]'', had been pitching original animation aimed at girls for years, but had always been rejected by studios and networks because cartoons for girls were considered unsuccessful.<ref name="ms faust">{{cite journal | url = http://msmagazine.com/blog/2010/12/24/my-little-non-homophobic-non-racist-non-smart-shaming-pony-a-rebuttal/ | title = My Little NON-Homophobic, NON-Racist, NON-Smart-Shaming Pony: A Rebuttal | first = Lauren | last = Faust | authorlink = Lauren Faust | date = 2010-12-24 | accessdate = 2011-07-06 | work = [[Ms. (magazine)|Ms.]]}}</ref> When she pitched to Lisa Licht of Hasbro Studios, Licht showed Faust one of their recent My Little Pony animated works, ''[[My Little Pony: The Princess Promenade|Princess Promenade]]'', "completely on the fly". Licht considered that Faust's style was well suited to that line, and asked her to consider "some ideas where to take a new version of the franchise".<ref name="eqd faust interview"/><ref name="awn"/> |
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Faust was initially hired by Hasbro to create a [[Bible (writing)|pitch bible]] for the show, allowing her to get additional help with conceptualization.<ref name="eqd faust interview"/> Faust said she was "extremely skeptical" about taking the job at first because she had always found shows based on girls' toys to be boring and unrelatable.<ref name="ms faust"/> My Little Pony was one of her favorite childhood toys,<ref name="awn"/> but she was disappointed that her imagination at the time was nothing like the animated shows, in which the characters, according to Faust, "just had endless tea parties, giggled over nothing and defeated villains by either sharing with them or crying". With the chance to work on ''My Little Pony'', she hoped to prove that "cartoons for girls don't have to be a puddle of smooshy, cutesy-wootsy, goody-two-shoeness".<ref name="ms faust"/> To do this, she incorporated into the design of the characters and the show many elements that contradicted idealized stereotypes of girls, such as diverse personalities, the message that friends can be different and can get into arguments but still be friends, and the idea that girls should not be limited by what others say they can or cannot do.<ref name="ms faust"/> Elements of the characters' personalities and the show's settings were based on her own childhood imagination of the ponies' adventures, in part inspired by the animated shows that her brothers would watch while growing up, such as ''[[The Transformers (TV series)|Transformers]]'' and ''[[G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1985 TV series)|G.I. Joe]]''.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://blogs.laweekly.com/arts/2012/05/lauren_faust_cartoons_for_girl.php | title = Lauren Faust on Her Favorite Childhood Toy and Pitching Animated Shows for Girls | first = Liz | last = Ohanesian | date = 2012-05-21 | accessdate =2012-05-21 | work = [[LA Weekly]] }}</ref> Faust still aimed for the characters to be "relatable" characters, using stereotypical "icons of girliness" (such as the waif or the bookworm), as to broaden the appeal of the characters for the young female audience.<ref name="slate">{{cite journal | url = http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/07/03/bronycon_men_who_love_my_little_pony_.html | title = Why do These Grown Men Love "My Little Pony?" | first = Melody | last = Wilson | date = 2012-07-03 | accessdate= 2012-07-03 | publisher = [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] }}</ref> |
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Faust stated that as she provided Hasbro with more of her ideas for the show, she was inspired by their positive response to the non-traditional elements. Faust had initially pitched the show to include "adventure stories" in a similar proportion to "relationship stories", but recognizing the younger target audience, as well as the difficulty of writing complex plots around the adventure elements, she trimmed back this content, focusing more on exchanges between the characters. The show still incorporates episodic creatures intended to be frightening to children, such as [[dragon]]s and [[Lernaean Hydra|hydras]], but it places more emphasis on the friendships among the characters, displayed with a comedic tone. By the time the show was approved, Faust had developed three full scripts for the series.<ref name="eqd faust interview"/> |
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Faust began to work out concept sketches, several of which appeared on her [[deviantArt]] page, including ponies from the first generation (Twilight, Applejack, Firefly, Surprise, Posey and Sparkler), which would later build on the core for the main cast of the show.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://fyre-flye.deviantart.com/journal/MLP-News-TOY-FAIR-PICS-228142095| title=MLP News- TOY FAIR PICS!!!| first=Lauren |last=Faust| date= 2010-12-05|accessdate=2011-10-07|publisher=[[deviantArt]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url = http://io9.com/lauren-faust-shares-her-childhood-my-little-pony-collec-1473997423 | title = Lauren Faust shares her childhood My Little Pony collection on Twitter | first = Lauren | last = Davis | date = 2013-12-02 | accessdate = 2013-12-02 | publisher = [[io9]] }}</ref> Hasbro approved the show with Faust as Executive Producer<ref name="Goldner">{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704869304574596150227117662.html|title=Hasbro Chief Spins Toys to Hollywood Tales|first=Willa|last=Plank|first2=Joseph|last2=Pereira |date=2009-12-22|accessdate=2011-10-07|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> and asked her to complete the pitch bible. In order to do so, Faust brought in Martin Ansolabehere and [[Paul Rudish]], who had worked on other animated shows with her. Faust credits Rudish for the inspiration of the pegasus ponies controlling the weather in Equestria, as well as the character of Nightmare Moon during this period. Faust also consulted her husband, [[Craig McCracken]], a fellow animator and creator of ''The Powerpuff Girls'' and ''Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends''. After seeing the initial version of the pitch bible, Hasbro requested more character designs from Faust's team; subsequently, Faust brought aboard Dave Dunnet and Lynne Naylor to further refine the background and character styles.<ref name="eqd faust interview"/> |
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On completion of the pitch bible, Hasbro and Faust began looking at studios for the animation. Studio B Productions (renamed to DHX Media on September 8, 2010 after its parent company, along with DHX's other subsidiaries<ref name="DHX Rebrand">{{cite press release |title=DHX Media Rebrands Across Divisions |url=http://www.dhxmedia.com/press-room/19-dhx-media-rebrands-across-divisions-09082010.html |publisher=[[DHX Media]] |date=2010-09-08 |accessdate=March 3, 2012}}</ref><!-- For those asking, "The Return of Harmony" part 2 is the last FIM work the studio was credited as Studio B. -->) had previously worked on Adobe Flash-based animations and on shows that featured a large number of animals, and Faust felt they would be a good selection. Studio B requested that Jayson Thiessen be the director, a choice Faust agreed with. She, Thiessen, and James Wootton led the completion of a two-minute short to pitch the final product to Hasbro, resulting in the company's sanctioning the full production. Faust estimates that from being initially asked to develop the show until this point took roughly one year.<ref name="eqd faust interview"/> |
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==Production== |
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The show is developed at Hasbro Studios in Los Angeles, where most of the writing staff is located, and at DHX Media Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the animation work. |
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{{stack|[[File:Mlp fim storyboard sample.png|thumb|A sample [[storyboard]] from the episode "Call of the Cutie", containing pencil sketches of the main characters, rendered backgrounds to establish settings, and instructions for the Adobe Flash animators, such as the [[panning (camera)|panning]] shot shown in the second panel]]|float=right}} |
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Faust's initial writing staff at Hasbro Studios included several writers who had worked with her on her previous shows and were approved by Hasbro. These included [[Amy Keating Rogers]], Cindy Morrow, Meghan McCarthy, [[Chris Savino]], [[Charlotte Fullerton]], M. A. Larson, and [[Dave Polsky]]. The writing process began with Faust and Renzetti coming up with broad plots for each show. The two would then hold a brainstorming session with each episode's writer, allowing the writer to script out scenes and dialog. Faust and Renzetti then worked with the writer to finalize the scripts and assign some basic storyboard instructions. Hasbro was involved throughout this process and laid down some of the concepts to be incorporated into the show. Examples of Hasbro's influence include having Celestia be a princess rather than a queen, making one of the ponies focused on fashion, and portraying toy sets in relevant places within the story, such as Rarity's boutique.<ref name="eqd faust interview"/><ref name="ms faust"/> In some cases, Hasbro requested that the show include a setting, but allowed Faust and her team to create its visual style, and Hasbro then based the toy set on it; an example is the Ponyville schoolhouse. Faust also had to write to the [[E/I|E/I ("educational and informational")]] standards that Hasbro required of the show, making the crafting of some of the situations she would have normally done on other animated shows more difficult; for example, Faust cited having one character call another an "egghead" as "treading a very delicate line", and having one character cheat in a competition as "worrisome to some".<!-- For those asking, it all refer to the situations happened in "Fall Weather Friends". Rainbow Dash called Twilight Sparkle an "egghead", and Applejack accused Rainbow Dash of cheating in the Iron Pony Competition. --><ref name="eqd faust interview"/> Each show also generally includes a moral or life lesson, but these were chosen to "cross a broad spectrum of personal experiences", and not just to suit children.<ref name="steiner interview"/> Because intellectual property issues had caused Hasbro to lose some of the rights on the original pony names, the show includes a mix of original characters from the toy line and new characters developed for the show.<ref name="awn"/> |
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[[File:Jayson Thiessen and Sethisto at BroNYCon Sept. 2011 cropped.jpg|thumb|left|Jayson Thiessen, supervising director (left), and Shaun Scotellaro ("Sethisto"), the founder of the fansite [[Equestria Daily]], at [[BronyCon|BroNYCon]] 2011]] |
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Completed scripts were sent to Studio B for pre-production and animation using Adobe Flash. Thiessen's production team was also allowed to select key personnel subject to Hasbro's approval; one of those so selected was art director Ridd Sorensen. The Studio B team would storyboard the provided scripts, incorporating any direction and sometimes managing to create scenes that the writers had believed impossible to show in animation. The animators would then prepare the key character poses, layout, background art, and other main elements, and send these versions back to the production team in Los Angeles for review by Hasbro and suggestions from the writers. Thiessen credited much of the technical expertise in the show to Wooton, who created Flash programs to optimize the placement and posing of the pony characters and other elements, simplifying and economizing on the amount of work needed from the other animators.<ref name="eqd thieseen interview"/> For example, the ponies' hair and tails are generally fixed shapes, animated by bending and stretching them in curves in three dimensions and giving them a sense of movement without the high cost of individual animated hairs.<ref name="awn"/> The storyboard artists and animators also need to fill in background characters for otherwise scripted scenes as to populate the world; many of the small nods to the fandom, pop culture references, or other [[easter egg (media)|easter eggs]] would be added at this point by the studio, according to writer Meghan McCarthy.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/07/15/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-interview-sdcc-2012/ | title = "We Love The Bronies": The Cast And Writer Of "My Little Pony" On MLP And Its Fans [SDCC] | first = Chris | last = Sims | date = 2012-07-15 | accessdate = 2012-07-18 | publisher = [[Comics Alliance]] }}</ref> Once the pre-production work was approved and completed, the episode would then be animated. Though Studio B performed the initial animation work, the final steps were passed to Top Draw Animation in the [[Philippines]], an animation studio that Studio B had worked with in the later part of season one and beyond.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://topdrawanimation.com/from_the_top_2010.htm | title=The Year That Was – 2010 | work=Top Draw Animation |accessdate=2012-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://topdrawanimation.com/from_the_top_2011.htm | title=The Year That Was – 2011 | work=Top Draw Animation |accessdate=2012-02-09}}</ref> |
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The voice casting and production is handled by Voicebox Productions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voiceboxproductions.com/|title=Voicebox Productions|work=Voicebox Productions|accessdate=2011-08-02}}</ref> with [[Terry Klassen]] as the series' voice director. Faust, Thiessen, and others participated in selecting voice actors, and Hasbro gave final approval.<ref name="eqd faust interview"/> The voice work is performed prior to the animation, with the animators in the room to help provide direction; according to Libman, this allows herself and the other actors to play the character without certain limitations. Libman noted that for recording her lines as the hyperactive Pinkie Pie, "I learned that I can go as over the top as I want and they [the animators] rarely pull me back."<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/05/21/voicing-pony-magic | title = Voicing pony magic | first= Ellen | last = Keeble | date = 2012-05-21 | accessdate = 2012-05-21 | work = [[Calgary Sun]] }}</ref> |
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[[File:Daniel ingram.png|thumb|right|upright|Daniel Ingram at Everfree Northwest 2012]] |
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The series' background music is composed by William Kevin Anderson, and [[Daniel Ingram]] composes the songs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/06/interview-will-anderson-friendship-is.html|author="Tekaramity"|title=Interview: Will Anderson (Friendship Is Magic score composer)|date=2011-06-29|publisher=Equestria Daily|accessdate=2011-08-02}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone ingram">{{Cite news | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/behind-the-music-of-pop-culture-smash-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-20120420 | title = Behind the Music of Pop Culture Smash "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" | date = 2012-04-20 | accessdate = 2012-04-20 | first = Kevin | last = Rutherford | work = [[Rolling Stone]] }}</ref> which are only included if they would make sense in the episode's script. The production team identifies specific parts of the episode where they want music cues, allowing Anderson to create appropriate music for each.<ref name="eqd faust interview"/> Ingram works alongside Anderson's compositions to create vocal songs that mesh with the background music while filling out the show's fantasy setting.<ref name="sfweekly ingram"/> The composition of the music and songs far proceeds the broadcast of the episode; for example, songs for the show's third season that began airing in November 2012 were composed in 2011.<ref name="sfweekly ingram"/> Ingram considered that songs from the previous generations of My Little Pony were "a little bit dated" and decided to bring more interesting work to the ''Friendship Is Magic'' series.<ref name="ingram comicbook">{{cite web | url = http://comicbook.com/blog/2013/03/01/my-little-ponys-emmy-winning-daniel-ingram-on-scoring-for-kids-of-all-ages/ | title = My Little Pony's Emmy-Winning Daniel Ingram on Scoring for Kids of All Ages | first = Russ | last = Burlingame | date = 2013-03-01 | accessdate = 2013-03-01 | publisher = [[Comicbook.com]]}}</ref> Such changes include making songs with more emotional depth than typical for children's animation, and tending to write songs that can be enjoyed musically outside of the context of the episode.<ref name="ingram comicbook"/> Ingram's songs have "became bigger and more epic, more Broadway and more cinematic over time"<ref name="rollingstone ingram"/> with Hasbro blessing the effort to try "something groundbreaking for daytime television", according to Ingram.<ref name="sfweekly ingram">{{cite news | url = http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2012/11/daniel_ingram_interview_my_little_pony.php | title = Interview: Daniel Ingram, Songwriter for My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic | work = [[SF Weekly]] | first = Sherilyn | last = Connelly | date = 2012-11-09 | accessdate = 2012-11-09 }}</ref> Lyrics and overall musical themes may be suggested by the writers; two examples include songs written by Amy Keating Rogers, who is a self-professed [[Stephen Sondheim]] fan.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/07/14/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-comic-con-panel-twilightlicious/ | title = "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" Comic-Con panel: Twilightlicious! | first = Annie | last = Barnett | date = 2012-07-14 | accessdate = 2012-07-16 | work = [[Entertainment Weekly]] }}</ref> The song "The Art of the Dress" in the first season episode "Suited for Success" is inspired by "Putting it Together" from the musical ''[[Sunday in the Park with George]]'', while the season one finale's song, "At The Gala", is based on Sondheim's ''[[Into the Woods]]''.<ref name="rollingstone ingram"/><ref name="wired uk">{{cite news | work = [[Wired UK]] | date = 2011-08-15 | first = Daniel Nye | last = Griffiths | title = Colt Success | url = http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2011/09/play/colt-success | accessdate= 2011-10-10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/07/ponies-do-sondheim/ | title = Ponies Do Sondheim | first = Jaime | last = Weinman | date = 2011-09-07 | accessdate = 2011-09-08 | work = [[Maclean's]] }}</ref> A large musical number in the episode "The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000" paid homage to the song "[[Ya Got Trouble]]" from Meredith Willson's musical, ''[[The Music Man]]''.<ref name="rollingstone ingram"/><ref name="cliqueclack">{{cite web | url = http://cliqueclack.com/tv/2012/01/28/cartoonclack-my-little-pony-music-man/ | title = Harold Hill comes to My Little Pony | date = 2012-01-28 | first = Katie | last = Schenkel | accessdate = 2012-01-31}}</ref> |
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Before the show was approved, Hasbro and Faust had planned for episodes to be 11 minutes long, to which Faust conformed in her first full-length script, "The Ticket Master", which was part of the pitch bible. However, Faust preferred more traditional 22-minute episodes, and Hasbro eventually agreed to this. The initial production stages were very tight, requiring a schedule twice as fast as Faust had previously experienced, and frequent remote communication between the Los Angeles writing offices and the animation studio in Vancouver. At times, the two teams would hold "writer's summits" to propose new ideas for characters and situations, at which the animation team would provide suggestions on visuals, body language, and characterization. Faust estimates that the time to complete one episode was one year; at one point, the team was simultaneously working on various stages of all 26 episodes of the first season, and when the second season was approved, that number rose temporarily to 32. Episodes then aired about a month after completion.<ref name="eqd faust interview"/> Thiessen explained that they had pushed to start work on the second season as soon as the first was completed, to prevent staff turnover.<ref name="eqd thieseen interview">{{cite web | url = http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/09/exclusive-season-2-audio-interview-with.html | title = Exclusive Season 2 audio interview with Jayson Thiessen | author = 'Tekaramity' | date =2011-09-13 | accessdate = 2011-09-16 | publisher = Equestria Daily }}</ref> |
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After the airing of the first season's finale, Faust announced that she had left the show, and would be credited in the future as Consulting Producer. Her involvement in the second season consists mainly of story conception and scripts, and the involvement ceased after the second season. Despite leaving, she still has high hopes for the staff members, stating that "the gaps I have left are being filled by the same amazing artists, writers, and directors who brought you Season 1. I'm certain the show will be as entertaining as ever".<ref name="dalaurenthankyou">{{cite web|url=http://fyre-flye.deviantart.com/journal/THANK-YOU-218911691|date=2011-05-08|title=THANK YOU!!!|last=Faust|first=Lauren|publisher=[[deviantArt]]|accessdate=2011-08-02}}</ref> According to her husband McCracken, Faust's departure was due to the fact that as a toy company-driven show, "there were things she wanted to do with that series that she just wasn't able to do", and that there is "still some frustration with" not being able to bring some of her ideas to screen.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.thegridto.com/life/parenting/people-are-kids-too/ | title = People are kids, too | date = 2013-10-22 | accessdate = 2013-10-24 | work = [[The Grid (newspaper)|The Grid]] | first = Joshua | last = Ostroff }}</ref> |
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==Premise== |
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''Friendship Is Magic'' takes place in the land of Equestria, populated by varieties of ponies (including variants of [[Pegasus]] and [[unicorn]]), along with numbers of other sentient and non-sentient creatures. The central character is Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn mare sent by her mentor Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria, to the town of Ponyville to study the magic of friendship. In the show's opening episodes, Twilight resents this assignment, as she is more concerned about the foretold appearance of Nightmare Moon. When Nightmare Moon does appear, vowing everlasting night and causing Celestia to disappear, Twilight sets off with five other ponies—Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity—to obtain the Elements of Harmony and defeat Nightmare Moon. Before Twilight can activate the Elements, Nightmare Moon appears and shatters them. In a flash of inspiration, Twilight realizes that each of her new friends represents one of the Elements of Harmony, and that she herself is the final piece, Magic. The magical power of the ponies' friendship reverts Nightmare Moon to a repentant Princess Luna. Celestia reappears, reunites with her sister Princess Luna, and decrees that Twilight shall stay in Ponyville to continue studying the magic of friendship, much to the happiness of Twilight and her new friends.<ref name="MeetThePonies">{{cite web|url=http://www.hasbro.com/mylittlepony/en_US/play/details.cfm?guid=1b03b79b-19b9-f369-10e8-d2d56309c| title=Meet The Ponies – My Little Pony| publisher=Hasbro| accessdate=2011-03-18}}</ref> |
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Later episodes follow Twilight and her friends dealing with various problems around Ponyville, including interpersonal problems between friends and family, as well as more adventurous stories involving creatures like dragons and hydras. At the end of each episode, Twilight sends a report back to Celestia explaining what she learned about friendship from these adventures. This part of the formula is abandoned in "Lesson Zero", the second season episode in which Twilight is convinced to be less rigid in her perceived duties; after this, all the principals contribute reports, although the formality is disregarded when appropriate. In the fourth season, with the request for reports no longer applicable, the six resolve to keep a collective personal journal in which they record their thoughts about life for posterity. |
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There is a loose continuity in these episodes; a theme throughout the first season, for example, is the ponies' preparation for the Grand Galloping Gala that occurs in the final episode of that season. In the third season, Twilight Sparkle is shown to be tasked on a journey to test her abilities, ultimately ending up being crowned Princess Twilight and transformed into an "alicorn" — a [[winged unicorn]].<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://family-room.ew.com/2013/01/29/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-exclusive-twilight-princess/ | title = 'My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic' exclusive: Twilight's becoming a princess! | first = Hiliary | last = Busis | date = 2013-01-29 | accessdate = 2013-01-29 | work = [[Entertainment Weekly]] }}</ref> The fourth season has a loose story arc in which Twilight Sparkle accepts the challenge of finding the keys to a mysterious box revealed after the six relinquish the Elements of Harmony to their original source, the Tree of Harmony, to save Equestria. Episodes are otherwise designed to stand alone, though callbacks to previous episodes are included to reward those that have followed the show, according to Thiessen. The show is developed to give a "timeless" feel, limiting the world's technology to simpler devices, such as record players and filmstrip projectors.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.toonzone.net/2012/10/nycc-2012-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-panel-report/#.UHkeOU3A_z4 | title =NYCC 2012: "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" Panel Report | publisher = [[Toon Zone]] | date = 2012-10-13 | accessdate = 2012-10-13 }}</ref> However, there are occasional sophisticated items of technology shown or at least referenced to such as [[electrocardiography]] monitors, [[arcade video game]]s and [[laser fence]]s. |
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A central theme of the show is "cutie marks", iconic symbols that magically appear on a pony's flank once they have discovered their special talent in life.<ref name="AVClub"/> While physically young adults, the six main characters are envisioned as similar in maturity to humans between twelve and eighteen years old.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://comments.deviantart.com/5/35510074/1770555388| title=Comment on My Little Pony Premiere—Watch It Now!| first=Lauren |last=Faust |publisher=[[deviantArt]]| date= 2010-12-05|accessdate=2011-10-07}}</ref> One episode, "[[The Cutie Mark Chronicles]]", highlights how each main character received her cutie mark as a younger filly.<ref name="AVClub"/> Several episodes focus on the exploits of a much younger trio of pony characters, related to the main cast, that call themselves the "Cutie Mark Crusaders", who have yet to receive their cutie marks and are teased by other young ponies as "blank flanks". In response, they desperately hurry to try to discover their talents and receive their own cutie marks, often doing so in comical fashions.<ref name="AVClub"/> |
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==Cast and characters== |
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{{main|List of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic characters|l1=List of ''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' characters}} |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;" |
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|- |
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! colspan=9 | Main cast members |
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|- |
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| [[File:Tara Strong Portrait.jpg|110x110px|Tara Strong]] |
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| [[File:Ashleigh Ball.jpg|110x110px|Ashleigh Ball]] |
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| [[File:Andrea libman bronycon summer 2012.png|110x110px|Andrea Libman]] |
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| [[File:Tabitha St. Germain.png|110x110px|Tabitha St. Germain]] |
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| [[File:Cathy weseluck bronycon summer 2012 cropped.png|110x110px|Cathy Weseluck]] |
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| [[File:Nicole oliver bronycon summer 2012.png|110x110px|Nicole Oliver]] |
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| [[File:Michelle Creber.jpg|110x110px|Michelle Creber]] |
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| [[File:Madeleine peters.png|110x110px|Madeleine Peters]] |
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| [[File:Clairecorletteverfreenw2012.jpg|110x110px|Claire Corlett]] |
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|- |
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| [[Tara Strong]] |
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| [[Ashleigh Ball (voice actress)|Ashleigh Ball]] |
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| [[Andrea Libman]] |
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| [[Tabitha St. Germain]] |
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| [[Cathy Weseluck]] |
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| [[Nicole Oliver]] |
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| [[Michelle Creber]] |
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| [[Madeleine Peters]] |
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| [[Claire Corlett]] |
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|- |
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| Twilight Sparkle |
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| Applejack, Rainbow Dash, others |
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| Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, others |
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| Rarity, Princess Luna, Granny Smith, others |
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| Spike, Mayor Mare, others |
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| Princess Celestia, Cheerilee, others |
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| Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle (singing voice, seasons 1–3) |
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| Scootaloo |
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| Sweetie Belle |
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|} |
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[[File:My little pony friendship is magic group shot r.png|thumb|right|The cast of ''Friendship Is Magic'', presented as a poster at the 2011 [[San Diego Comic-Con International|San Diego Comic-Con]]. Major characters include (mid-front row, starting sixth from left) Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Spike and Rarity. The poster also includes minor characters and those named by the fandom, including "Derpy Hooves", "DJ PON-3", and "Doctor Whooves".]] |
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The show revolves around the adventures and daily life of the unicorn pony Twilight Sparkle (voiced by [[Tara Strong]], singing voice by [[Rebecca Shoichet]]), her baby dragon assistant Spike (voiced by [[Cathy Weseluck]]), and her friends in Ponyville (collequally referred to as the "Mane 6"): |
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* Rainbow Dash, a tomboyish pegasus pony who helps control the weather, and aspires to be a Wonderbolt (voiced by [[Ashleigh Ball (voice actress)|Ashleigh Ball]]); |
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* Rarity, a glamorous unicorn with a flair for fashion design (voiced by [[Tabitha St. Germain]], singing voice by Kazumi Evans); |
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* Fluttershy, a shy and timid pegasus pony who is fond of nature and takes care of animals (voiced by [[Andrea Libman]]); |
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* Pinkie Pie, a hyperactive pony who loves throwing parties (voiced by Andrea Libman, singing voice by [[Shannon Chan-Kent]] for most songs and Andrea Libman on occasion<ref>{{cite web | title = ''Untitled'' | url = https://www.facebook.com/dannyimusic/posts/393780643968617?comment_id=5593819&offset=0&total_comments=45 | first = Daniel | last = Ingram | date = 2012-02-19 | accessdate = 2012-07-18 | publisher = Daniel Ingram's Facebook page}}</ref>); |
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* Applejack, a hard-working pony who works on her family's apple farm (voiced by Ashleigh Ball). |
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The younger Cutie Mark Crusaders include Apple Bloom, Applejack's younger sister (voiced by [[Michelle Creber]]); Sweetie Belle, Rarity's younger sister (voiced by [[Claire Corlett]], singing voice by Michelle Creber); and Scootaloo, a pegasus filly that idolizes Rainbow Dash (voiced by [[Madeleine Peters]]). |
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The show takes place in the fictional land of Equestria, which is ruled by Twilight's teacher Princess Celestia (voiced by [[Nicole Oliver]]) and her sister Princess Luna (voiced by St. Germain). Another princess, Princess Cadance (voiced by [[Britt McKillip]]), is introduced within season two, who is wed to Twilight's older brother, Shining Armor (voiced by [[Andrew Francis]]), and together oversee the nearby Crystal Empire. |
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Many friends, family members, and other residents of Ponyville appear frequently, including the local schoolteacher Cheerilee (Oliver), the town's mayor Mayor Mare (Weseluck), Applejack's older brother Big Macintosh ([[Peter New]]) and grandmother Granny Smith (St. Germain), and the eccentric zebra Zecora (Brenda Crichlow<ref>{{cite web | title = ''Untitled'' | url = https://twitter.com/#!/AndreaLibman/status/139005174147579905 | first = Andrea | last = Libman | date = 2011-11-22 | accessdate = 2011-11-26 | publisher = Andrea Libman's official Twitter }}</ref>), who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and dabbles in herbal medicine. A former villain, the [[chimera (mythology)|draconequus]] Discord ([[John de Lancie]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Watch Star Trek's John de Lancie playing a godlike entity on My Little Pony | url = http://io9.com/5839538/watch-star-treks-john-de-lancie-playing-a-godlike-entity-on-my-little-pony | first = Charlie Jane | last = Anders | date = 2011-09-12 | accessdate = 2011-09-27 | publisher = [[io9]] }}</ref><ref name="jayson bronycon">{{cite web | title = Massive Jayson Thiessen Q&A From Bronycon | url = http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/09/massive-jayson-thiessen-q-from-bronycon.html | author = 'Cereal Velocity' | publisher = Equestria Daily | date =2011-09-25 | accessdate = 2011-09-27 }}</ref>) introduced in "[[The Return of Harmony]]", has since become reformed and lives with the ponies. Other antagonists include the corrupted form of Princess Luna, Nightmare Moon (St. Germain) from "Friendship Is Magic" (the first two episodes), the Changeling Queen Chrysalis ([[Kathleen Barr]]) from "[[A Canterlot Wedding]]", King Sombra ('Big' Jim Miller) from "[[The Crystal Empire]]" and Lord Tirek ([[Mark Acheson]]) from "[[Twilight's Kingdom]]". |
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==Episodes== |
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{{main|List of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episodes|l1=List of ''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' episodes}} |
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In total, 91 episodes have been produced and broadcast. The fourth season premiered on November 23, 2013.<ref name="s4 premiere">{{cite journal | url = http://family-room.ew.com/2013/07/25/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-season-4-premiere/ | title = "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" Season 4 premieres on...' | author = Hillary Busis | work = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = 2013-07-25 | accessdate = 2013-07-25}}</ref> Hasbro Studios president Stephen Davis stated in an interview in January 2014 that they are presently working on a fifth season of the show.<ref>{{Cite web | url = |
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http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/2014-1-10-kid-hasbro-studios-stephen-davis | title = Q&A With Hasbro Studios Stephen Davis | date = 2014-01-10 | accessdate = 2014-01-10 | publisher = Worldscreen | first = Anna | last = Carugati | archiveurl = https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldscreen.com%2Farticles%2Fdisplay%2F2014-1-10-kid-hasbro-studios-stephen-davis | archivedate = 2014-01-10 }}</ref> The 26-episode season is expected to premiere in the 2015 television season.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/my-little-pony-renewed-1201174457/ | title = ‘My Little Pony Friendship is Magic’ to Return for Fifth Season | publisher = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2014-05-07 | accessdate = 2014-05-07 | first = Andrea | last = Seikaly }}</ref> |
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===Series overview=== |
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{{:List of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episodes}} |
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==Distribution== |
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===United States=== |
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''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' is one of several animated shows used to premiere The Hub, a retooling of the [[Discovery Kids]] channel of [[Discovery Communications]] in United States markets. The block of programming is a joint development of Hasbro and Discovery, designed to compete with similar family-friendly programming blocks on other networks such as the [[Disney Channel]] and [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]].<ref name="nytimes hub">{{cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/business/media/11adco.html | title =A Children's Channel Retools | first = Brian | last = Stelter | date = 2010-10-10 | accessdate = 2010-10-10 | work = [[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The first episode of ''Friendship Is Magic'' premiered on the first Hub broadcast, on October 10, 2010.<ref name="nytimes hub"/> In March 2011, the show was renewed for a second season to air in 2011–12.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/the-hub-orders-9-new-series-renews-10-shows-acquires-5th-grader/|title=The Hub Orders 9 New Series, Renews 10 Shows, Acquires "5th Grader"|date=2011-03-24|accessdate=2011-07-18|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|work=[[Deadline.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|date=2011-03-24|publisher=[[Discovery Communications]]|title=The Hub Television Network Unveils Robust 2011–12 Program Schedule, Building on Success as Destination for Kids and Their Families|accessdate=2011-08-22|url=http://press.discovery.com/us/hub/press-releases/2011/hub-television-network-unveils-robust-2011-12-1206/}}</ref> The season two premiere on September 17, 2011,<ref>{{cite journal | url =http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/09/my-little-pony-season-two-clip/ | title = Exclusive Clip: My Little Pony Back for Season Two | first = Angela | last = Watercutter | date = 2011-09-12 | accessdate = 2011-09-12 | work = [[Wired (website)|Wired]] }}</ref> had 339,000 viewers,<ref name="s2_premier_ratings">{{cite web|title=Saturday, September 17, 2011 Broadcast & Cable Final Ratings|publisher=The Voice of TV|date=2011-09-21|url=http://www.webcitation.org/624fpw2ly|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/624fpw2ly|archivedate=2011-09-29|deadurl=no}}</ref> and Hasbro reported that the second season finale, "[[A Canterlot Wedding]]", produced the best ratings of the history of the network in its core and other demographics, with an estimated 1,032,400 viewers.<ref>{{cite press release|last=Kern|first=Mark J.|title=Hub TV Network Scores Record High Audience With Outstanding Performance of Special Royal Wedding of the Year on "My Little Pony Friendship is Magic"|url=http://investor.hasbro.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=666931|publisher=Hasbro|accessdate=25 April 2012}}</ref> |
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The series is rated TV-Y (designed for ages 2 and up). The first season was produced and broadcast to "E/I" ("educational and informational") standards, but Hasbro allowed the standard to be dropped in the second season. |
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===International=== |
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''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has been distributed to international markets, including [[Treehouse TV]] for the English-speaking audience in Canada, [[Boomerang (UK & Ireland)|Boomerang]] in the United Kingdom until 2012 and on [[Tiny Pop]] from September 2013,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tinypop.com/Videos/View/My-Little-Pony-Meet-Rainbow-Dash-1932 | title = My Little Pony: Meet Rainbow Dash | accessdate= 2013-09-17 }}</ref> [[Okto]] in Singapore,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://kidscreen.com/2011/09/07/hasbro-studios-series-head-to-asia/ | title = Hasbro Studios series head to Asia | first = Wendy Goldman | last = Getzler | date = 2011-09-07 | accessdate = 2011-09-21 | publisher = Kidscreen }}</ref> [[Cartoon Network (Australia)|Cartoon Network]] and later [[Boomerang (Australian TV channel)|Boomerang]] in Australia, [[ntv7]] in Malaysia, [[Tooniverse]] in South Korea, and [[TV Tokyo]] in Japan.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.screenings.com.my/2012/sites/ntv7.htm | title = Screenings 2012 - Media Prima Berhad | accessdate = 2014-03-25 }}</ref> Some of these international broadcasts, including language translations, were arranged with [[Turner Broadcasting System]], which had broadcast ''Friendship Is Magic'' and other Hasbro shows on many of their European and Middle Eastern channels.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://investor.hasbro.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=586472 | title = Hasbro Studios, Turner Broadcasting Seal Deal for 'Transformers Prime,' 'Chuck and Friends,' 'My Little Pony' and 'Pound Puppies' | publisher = Hasbro | date= 2010-12-13 | accessdate = 2011-07-09 }}</ref> The Japanese broadcast of the show has two audio tracks, the original English language audio track (available via SAP) and a Japanese language audio track. According to Hasbro Studio's CEO Stephen Davis, they have marketed the show to over 140 territories around the world.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.c21media.net/archives/75820 | title = Brand building | publisher = [[C21 Media]] | date = 2012-01-31 | accessdate= 2012-01-31 | first = Andrew | last = McDonald }}</ref> |
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===Home media=== |
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{{main|List of My Little Pony DVD releases|l1=List of ''My Little Pony'' DVD releases}} |
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In the United States, episodes of ''Friendship Is Magic'' are available for [[Online distribution|digital download]] through the [[iTunes Store]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hasbro.com/shop/details.cfm?guid=922E9158-5056-900B-107D-D92774728E56 | title = MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC, Season 1 (HD) | publisher = [[Hasbro]] | accessdate = 2011-10-11 }}</ref> The show's episodes, along with several other Hasbro properties, were added to the [[Netflix]] video streaming service on April 1, 2012.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hasbro-studios-signs-multi-year-deal-with-netflix-to-provide-its-award-winning-content-across-multiple-platforms-in-the-us-2012-04-05?reflink=MW_news_stmp | title = Hasbro Studios Signs Multi-Year Deal with Netflix to Provide Its Award-Winning Content across Multiple Platforms in the U.S. | date = 2012-04-05 | accessdate = 2012-04-05 | publisher = [[Hasbro]] }}</ref> A two-episode [[DVD]], "Celebration at Canterlot", was offered to [[Target Corporation]] stores as an exclusive, packaged with certain toys from the franchise.<ref name="geekdad DVD"/> |
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[[Shout! Factory]] has the DVD publishing rights for the series within [[DVD region code|Region 1]]. Seven 5-episode DVDs have been released to date, with a seven-episode DVD set for a July 29, 2014 release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shoutfactory.com/product/my-little-pony-friendship-magic-keys-friendship|title=My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: The Keys Of Friendship|work=Shout! Factory|accessdate=2014-04-07}}</ref> All three seasons of the series has been released in complete DVD box sets.<ref name="shout season 1 dvd"/><ref name="shout season 2 dvd"/> United Kingdom-based Clear Vision has rights for the first two seasons through Region 2, including most of Western Europe and the Middle East.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.licensing.biz/news/11158/Hasbro-inks-home-entertainment-deal-with-Clear-Vision | title = Hasbro inks home entertainment deal with Clear Vision | first = Dominic Sacco | date = 2013-04-18 | accessdate = 2013-04-18 | publisher = [[Licensing.biz]] }}</ref> However, not long after, Clear Vision had abruptly entered [[Administration (law)|administration]] since December 2013,<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0319/572348/clearvision-uk-dvd-partner-of-tna-and-the-ufc-files-for/ | title = TNA's UK DVD Partner Files For Bankruptcy | date = 2014-03-19 | accessdate = 2014-04-25 | publisher = Wresting Inc. | first = Robert | last = Tilton }}</ref> and they managed to only release 3 or 4 ''My Little Pony'' DVD volume sets as of April 2014, leaving the fate of future Region 2 releases up into the air for the time being. [[Madman Entertainment]] has the license for publishing the series in DVD and digital downloads in Region 4.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/madman-entertainment-secures-new-distribution-deal-with-hasbro-studios/24457/ | title = Madman Entertainment Secures New Distribution Deal with Hasbro Studios | date = 2012-04-02 | accessdate = 2013-02-14 | publisher = [[Madman Entertainment]] }}</ref> |
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{|class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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! style="width:15%;"| Title |
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! style="width:10%;"| Region 1 Release Date |
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! style="width:35%;"| Episodes |
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!Additional Features |
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|- |
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|''The Friendship Express''<ref name="geekdad DVD">{{cite journal | url = http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/02/friendship-express/ | title = Everypony Come Aboard The Friendship Express | author = Z | work = [[Wired (website)|Wired]] | date = 2012-02-09 | accessdate = 2012-02-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic-Ponyville-Chronicle/16181 | title = My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic – The Hub Network's New Series Comes to DVD from Shout! Factory | publisher = [[TV Shows on DVD]] | date = 2011-11-07 | accessdate = 2011-11-07 | first = David | last = Lambert }}</ref> |
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|February 28, 2012 |
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| |
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* "Friendship Is Magic" (season 1, episodes 1 and 2) |
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* "Over a Barrel" (season 1, episode 21) |
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* "Hearth's Warming Eve" (season 2, episode 11) |
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* "The Last Roundup" (season 2, episode 14) |
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| Biographical sketches of main characters<br />[[Karaoke]] sing-along (Full two-minute theme song)<br />''[[Pound Puppies (2010 TV series)|Pound Puppies]]'' [[List of Pound Puppies (2010 TV series) episodes|episode]] ("The Yipper Caper", S1E1)<br>Coloring pages |
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|- |
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| ''Royal Pony Wedding''<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.toonzone.net/2012/05/pr-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-royal-pony-wedding-available-august-7-2012-from-shout-factory/ | title = PR: "My Little Pony – Friendship is Magic: Royal Pony Wedding" Available August 7, 2012, from Shout! Factory | publisher = [[Shout! Factory]] | date = 2012-05-07 | accessdate = 2012-05-07 }}</ref> |
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| August 7, 2012 |
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| |
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* "[[A Canterlot Wedding]]" (season 2, episodes 25 and 26) |
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* "[[Hearts and Hooves Day]]" (season 2, episode 17) |
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* "Sweet and Elite" (season 2, episode 9) |
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* "The Best Night Ever" (season 1, episode 26) |
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| Extended "Love Is In Bloom" sing-along<br>"The Perfect Stallion" sing-along<br />Printable coloring sheets |
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|- |
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| ''Adventures in the Crystal Empire''<ref name="shout season 1 dvd">{{cite web | url = http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic-Adventures-in-the-Crystal-Empire-and-Season-1/17463 | title = My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic – 'Adventures In The Crystal Empire' and 'Season 1' DVDs | first = David | last = Lambert | date = 2012-09-07 | accessdate = 2012-09-07 | publisher = [[TV Shows on DVD]] }}</ref> |
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| December 4, 2012 |
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| |
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* "[[The Crystal Empire]]" (season 3, episodes 1 and 2) |
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* "It's About Time" (season 2, episode 20) |
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* "Luna Eclipsed" (season 2, episode 4) |
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* "Sonic Rainboom" (season 1, episode 16) |
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| Sing-Along ("The Ballad of the Crystal Empire")<br>Coloring Sheet<ref>http://www.shoutfactory.com/?q=node/215697</ref> |
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|- |
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| Season 1 DVD set<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic-Adventures-in-the-Crystal-Empire-and-Season-1/17463 | title = My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - "Adventures In The Crystal Empire" and "Season 1" DVDs | date = 2012-09-07 | accessdate = 2013-02-15 | publisher = [[TV Shows on DVD]] | first = David | last = Lambert }}</ref> |
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| December 4, 2012 |
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| [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (season 1)|All Season 1 episodes]] |
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| Sing-Along song videos (Extended theme song and "At the Gala")<br>Printable coloring sheets<br>Audio commentaries with cast and crew ("Friendship Is Magic", "Winter Wrap Up", "Suited for Success", "The Show Stoppers", "The Best Night Ever") |
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|- |
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| ''Pinkie Pie Party''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.toonzone.net/2013/01/new-clips-released-from-little-pony-friendship-magic-pinkie-pie-party-dvd/ | title = New Clips Released from "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic – Pinkie Pie Party" DVD | first = Ed | last = Liu | date = 2013-01-28 | accessdate = 2013-02-15 | publisher = [[Toon Zone]] }}</ref> |
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| January 29, 2013 |
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| |
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* "Feeling Pinkie Keen" (season 1, episode 15) |
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* "Party of One" (season 1, episode 25) |
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* "Baby Cakes" (season 2, episode 13) |
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* "A Friend In Deed" (season 2, episode 18) |
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* "Too Many Pinkie Pies" (season 3, episode 3) |
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| Sing-Along ("Smile Song (Smile, Smile, Smile)")<br />Party activity kit |
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|- |
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| ''Princess Twilight Sparkle''<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic-Princess-Twilight-Sparkle/18168 | title = My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Princess Twilight Sparkle | date = 2013-03-08 | accessdate = 2013-03-08 | publisher = [[Shout! Factory]] }}</ref> |
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| April 30, 2013 |
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| |
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* "[[Magical Mystery Cure]]" (season 3, episode 13) |
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* "Games Ponies Play" (season 3, episode 12) |
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* "Magic Duel" (season 3, episode 5) |
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* "MMMystery on the Friendship Express" (season 2, episode 24) |
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* "Lesson Zero" (season 2, episode 3) |
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| Sing-Along ("A True, True Friend")<br />Coloring sheet |
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|- |
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| Season 2 DVD set<ref name="shout season 2 dvd">{{cite web | url = http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic-Season-2/18246 | title = My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Shout! Press Release Announces "Season 2" DVDs | first= David | last = Lambert | date = 2013-03-27 | accessdate = 2013-03-27 | publisher = [[TV Shows on DVD]] }}</ref> |
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| May 14, 2013 |
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| [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (season 2)|All Season 2 episodes]] |
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| Live stage reading from the My Little Pony Project 2012 event<br />Recording of the 2012 [[San Diego Comic-Con International|San Diego Comic Con]] Pony Panel<br />Sing-Alongs ("The Perfect Stallion", "Love Is In Bloom", "Smile Song", and "Becoming Popular")<br />Printable coloring sheets |
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|- |
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| ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls]]''<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=11588 | title = My Little Pony: Equestria Girls Blu-ray | publisher = [[Blu-ray.com]] | date = 2013-07-08 | accessdate = 2013-07-14 }}</ref> |
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| August 6, 2013 |
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| Feature Film |
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| Through The Mirror Of Equestria Girls<br />Karaoke Songs<br />Pony-fy Yourself<br />Printable Movie Poster |
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|- |
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| ''A Pony For Every Season''<ref>http://www.amazon.com/My-Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic/dp/B00EALTVY6</ref> |
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| November 19, 2013 |
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| |
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* "Look Before You Sleep" (season 1, episode 8) |
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* "Winter Wrap Up" (season 1, episode 11) |
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* "Too Many Pinkie Pies" (season 3, episode 3) |
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* "Wonderbolts Academy" (season 3, episode 7) |
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* "Apple Family Reunion" (season 3, episode 8) |
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* "Keep Calm and Flutter On" (season 3, episode 10) |
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| N/A |
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|- |
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| Season 3 DVD set<ref>http://www.amazon.com/My-Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic/dp/B00GJ7CTSE</ref> |
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| February 4, 2014 |
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| [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (season 3)|All Season 3 episodes]] |
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| Recording of the 2013 San Diego Comic Con Pony Panel<br />Sing-Alongs |
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|- |
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| ''A Dash Of Awesome''<ref>http://www.amazon.com/My-Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic/dp/B00H3T4MOQ</ref> |
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| March 25, 2014 |
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| |
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* "May the Best Pet Win!" (season 2, episode 7) |
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* "The Mysterious Mare Do Well" (season 2, episode 8) |
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* "Read It and Weep" (season 2, episode 16) |
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* "Daring Don't" (season 4, episode 4) |
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* "Rainbow Falls" (season 4, episode 10) |
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| N/A |
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|- |
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| ''The Keys Of Friendship''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic-Keys-Of-Friendship/19706 | title = My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Shout!'s Press Release Announces "The Keys Of Friendship" | publisher = [[TV Shows on DVD]] | date = 2014-04-17 | accessdate = 2014-04-17 }}</ref> |
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| July 29, 2014 |
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| |
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* "Rarity Takes Manehattan" (season 4, episode 8) |
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* "Pinkie Apple Pie" (season 4, episode 9) |
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* "It Ain't Easy Being Breezies" (season 4, episode 16) |
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* "Twilight's Kingdom" (season 4, episodes 25 and 26) |
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| N/A |
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|} |
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Hasbro has also signed a deal with [[Leapfrog Enterprises]] to release episodes of the show for the [[LeapPad|Leapfrog Explorer tablet]] system.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9RPJGQ81.htm | title = LeapFrog inks deal to license Hasbro shows | publisher = Associated Press | date = 2011-12-22 | accessdate= 2011-12-23 }}</ref> |
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A twelve-track soundtrack, ''My Little Pony - Songs of Friendship and Magic (Music from the Original TV Series)'', was released on iTunes on December 6, 2013, featuring select songs from the first and second seasons of the show.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-little-pony-songs-friendship/id775347062 | title = My Little Pony - Songs of Friendship and Magic (Music from the Original TV Series) | publisher = [[iTunes Music Store]] | date = 2013-12-06 | accessdate = 2013-12-06 }}</ref> |
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An eleven-track soundtrack, ''My Little Pony - Songs of Ponyville (Music from the Original TV Series)'', was released on iTunes on April 21, 2014, featuring select songs from the third and fourth seasons of the show.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-little-pony-songs-ponyville/id866105915 | title = My Little Pony - Songs of Ponyville (Music from the Original TV Series) | publisher = [[iTunes Music Store]] | date = 2014-04-21 | accessdate = 2014-04-22 }}</ref> |
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==Merchandise and other media== |
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===''Equestria Girls''=== |
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{{Main|My Little Pony: Equestria Girls|l1=''My Little Pony: Equestria Girls''}} |
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A companion film, titled ''My Little Pony: Equestria Girls'', premiered on the FamilyDay of the [[Los Angeles Film Festival]] on June 15, 2013, followed by limited release in theaters across the United States starting the following day.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-my-little-pony-la-film-festival-20130521,0,18832.story | title = New "My Little Pony" film to premiere at L.A. Film Festival | first = Susan | last = King | date = 2013-05-21 | accessdate = 2013-05-21 | work = [[Los Angeles Times]] }}</ref> This film was released as part of the brand's 30th anniversary. Taking place after the season three finale, the film follows Twilight Sparkle on a mission through a magic mirror to recover her stolen crown. She ends up in a world populated by humans while being transformed into a teenage girl herself, and must overcome the difficulties of her new body and interacting with students of the nearby school as she looks for the culprit. While there, she discovers and befriends similar human counterparts to other characters from Ponyville. The film was produced by Hasbro Studios and is designed to extend the toy line. To maintain continuity with the show, Hasbro used the same writing staff as the show, including the series' current lead writer Meghan McCarthy, who considered the story to be "an extension of our mythology". DHX Studios animated the work, and the primary voice cast reprised their respective roles. The movie was made available on DVD in the latter part of the year along with the television premiere on [[Hub Network]] a few months later.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/13/business/equestria-girls-a-my-little-pony-offshoot-in-its-movie-debut.html | title = Equestria Girls, a My Little Pony Offshoot, in Its Movie Debut | work = [[New York Times]] | date = 2013-05-12 | accessdate = 2013-05-13 | first = Gregory | last = Schmidt }}</ref> A sequel, ''My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks'', is planned for a theatrical release sometime in September 2014.<ref>{{Cite journal | url = http://family-room.ew.com/2014/02/13/my-little-pony-equestria-girls-rainbow-rocks/ | title = "My Little Pony Equestria Girls": Yes, there will be a sequel. And we've got a clip! EXCLUSIVE | work = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = 2014-02-13 | accessdate = 2014-02-13 | first = Hillary | last = Busis }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/cinemas/e3i749e64c6d1d37b4cfb7c303070391f13 | title = Screenvision expands alternative-content offerings | publisher = [[Film Journal]] | date = 2014-04-21 | accessdate = 2014-05-19 }}</ref> |
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===Comics and manga=== |
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{{main|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (comic book)|l1=''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' (comic book)}} |
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[[IDW Publishing]] and Hasbro have licensed the use of the show for a comic book series, drawn and written by [[Katie Cook (writer)|Katie Cook]] and [[Andy Price (comics)|Andy Price]], which began publication in November 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/07/12/idw-announces-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-comic-by-kat/ | title = IDW Announces "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" Comic By Katie Cook and Andy Price [SDCC] | first = Chris | last = Sims | publisher = [[Comics Alliance]] | date = 2012-07-12 | accessdate = 2012-07-12 }}</ref> The first issue, by early October, had already gained over 90,000 pre-orders, making it a better seller than other comics for that month.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/11/my-little-pony-1-sells-over-90000-copies/ | title = My Little Pony #1 Sells Over 90,000 Copies | publisher = [[Bleeding Cool]] | date = 2012-10-11 | accessdate = 2012-10-12 | first = Rich | last= Johnston }}</ref> By early November, the title had exceeded 100,000 pre-orders, and IDW committed to a second run of the issue to meet the additional demand.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/11/08/my-little-pony-1-cracks-the-100000-barrier-for-first-print-goes-to-second-print/ | title = My Little Pony #1 Cracks The 100,000 Barrier For First Print, Goes To Second Print | first = Rich | last = Johnson | date = 2012-11-07 | accessdate = 2012-11-08 | publisher = [[Bleeding Cool]] }}</ref> The first issue features 19 different covers, most exclusive to specific comic book shops and chains and only available in limited numbers.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/30/eighteen-of-the-nineteen-covers-for-my-little-pony-1/ | title = Eighteen Of The Nineteen Covers For My Little Pony #1 | first = Rich | last = Johnson | date = 2012-10-30 | accessdate = 2012-11-01 | publisher = [[Bleeding Cool]] }}</ref> The comic, through its first eight issues, remains IDW's most successful title, and along with ''[[The Walking Dead (comic book)|The Walking Dead]]'', remain one of the few non-[[DC Comics|DC]], non-[[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] comics to regularly break the top 100 comics sold each month.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/57946-new-and-old-mix-at-licensing-expo-2013.html | title = New and Old Mix at Licensing Expo 2013 | work = [[Publishers Weekly]] | first= Karen | last = Raugust | date = 2013-06-22 | accessdate = 2013-06-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/26031.html | title = IDW's Ted Adams on the State of the Industry | date = 2013-06-21 | accessdate = 2013-06-24 | publisher = [[ICV2]] }}</ref> The success of the comic has led to a secondary "micro-series" featuring one-issue stories dedicated to specific characters,<ref name="zahler">{{cite web | url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=43713 | title = Zahler Trots Out "My Little Pony: Twilight Sparkle" | first = Karl | last = Keily | date = 2013-02-12 | accessdate = 2013-02-12 | publisher = [[Comic Book Resources]] }}</ref> and stories based on the ''Equestria Girls'' film.<ref>{{Cite press release | url = http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/06/20/correcting-and-replacing-hasbro-builds-on-my-littl/ | title = Hasbro Builds on MY LITTLE PONY Brand Growth Catering to Fans Worldwide | date = 2013-06-20 | accessdate = 2013-06-24 | publisher = [[Hasbro]] }}</ref> |
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Tying in with the [[Japan]]ese broadcast of the series in April 2013,<ref name="dubcast">{{cite news | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.co.uk/interest/2013-03-18/more-my-little-pony-dub-cast-announced | title = More Japanese My Little Pony Dub Cast Announced | first = Sarah | last = Nelkin | publisher = Anime News Network | date = 2013-03-18 | accessdate = 2014-04-05 }}</ref> a [[manga]] adaptation by [[Akira Himekawa]] began serialization in [[Shogakukan]]'s ''Pucchigumi'' magazine in Japan on August 12, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.co.uk/news/2013-03-26/my-little-pony/friendship-is-magic-has-manga-in-the-works|title=Friendship is Magic Has Manga in the Works|publisher=Anime News Network}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.co.uk/news/2013-07-14/zelda-akira-himekawa-to-draw-my-little-pony-manga | title = Zelda's Akira Himekawa to Draw My Little Pony Manga | date = 2013-07-14 | accessdate = 2014-04-05 }}</ref> The first manga adaptation completed its serialization in February 2014, and as a result, the IDW comics were translated into that language. It is unknown if a second manga adaptation will be developed. |
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===Others=== |
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{{Main|My Little Pony}} |
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''Friendship Is Magic'' is associated with the 2010 relaunch of My Little Pony toy line, having figurines and playsets based on it.<ref name="wsj">{{cite news | url = http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203707504577012141105109140.html | title = Hey, Bro, That's My Little Pony! Guys' Interest Mounts in Girly TV Show | work = [[Wall Street Journal]] | date = 2011-11-04 | accessdate = 2011-11-04 | first = Vauhini | last = Vara | first2 = Ann | last2 = Zimmerman | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/63cE1QPev | archivedate = 2011-12-01 }}</ref> A section of the Hasbro website gives information about ''Friendship Is Magic'' for children and their parents, including character backgrounds, videos, and interactive games and media. In part to the older fans, Hasbro has come to see My Little Pony as a "lifestyle" brand, with over 200 licenses in 15 categories of products, including clothing, houseware, and digital media. In April 2013, Hasbro and [[Build-A-Bear Workshop]] began offering ''Friendship Is Magic''-based plush toys for customization.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2013/04/01/17518995-hasbro-aims-for-winners-circle-as-build-a-bear-adds-my-little-ponies-to-its-stable?lite | title = Hasbro aims for winner's circle as Build-A-Bear adds My Little Ponies to its stable | publisher = [[NBC Today]] | date = 2013-04-01 | accessdate = 2013-04-01 | first = Martha C. | last = White }}</ref> Sales of My Little Pony toys have tripled in 2013 compared to 2003 due to the debut of the television show, and have helped Hasbro to promote other lines of toys aimed at girls.<ref name="businessweek 2014 toys">{{Cite journal | url = http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-27/at-hasbro-girls-toys-become-a-big-market | title = At Hasbro, Girls Toys Become a Big Market | first = Matt | last = Townshend | work = [[BusinessWeek]] | date =2014-02-27 | accessdate = 2014-03-25 }}</ref> |
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Hasbro has partnered with [[Little, Brown and Company]] to publish several children's books aimed at different reading levels involving the ''Friendship Is Magic'' franchise, including an official series guidebook, starting in April 2013.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/little-brown-books-for-young-readers-to-publish-transformers-and-my-little-pony-books/26230/ | title = Little, Brown Books for Young Readers to publish Transformers and My Little Pony books | date = 2012-11-20 | accessdate = 2013-03-09 | publisher = [[Little, Brown and Company]]}}</ref> In conjunction with Ruckus Media, Hasbro released an [[iOS]] application ''[[My Little Pony: Twilight Sparkle, Teacher for a Day|Twilight Sparkle, Teacher for a Day]]'' in October 2011. It gives children practice in reading, incorporating mini-games.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/10/my-little-pony-app/ | title = My Little Pony Gets Interactive: An App Review and Giveaway | author = 'Z' | date = 2011-10-27 | accessdate = 2011-10-27 | work = [[Wired (website)|Wired]] }}</ref> Several [[eBook]]s based on ''Friendship Is Magic'', including story versions of the Ruckus applications, have been released for the [[Barnes & Noble Nook]], in partnership with Hasbro.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/53728-barnes--noble-debuts-my-little-pony-collection-for-nook.html | title = Barnes & Noble Debuts My Little Pony Collection for Nook | first = Karen | last = Raugust | date = 2012-08-28 | accessdate = 2012-08-28 | work = [[Publishers Weekly]] }}</ref> |
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Hasbro has licensed [[Gameloft]] to create ''Friendship Is Magic'' video games for mobile devices, with the first game, ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (video game)|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'', reaching the market on November 8, 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/5920282/official-my-little-pony-games-bringing-friendship-and-magic-to-mobile-devices | title = Official My Little Pony Games Bringing Friendship and Magic to Mobile Devices | first = Mike | last = Fahey | date = 2012-06-21 | accessdate = 2012-06-21 | publisher = Kotaku }}</ref> The first game is a village-building game, featuring action-based mini-games for iOS and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/5951995/the-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-video-game-screenshots-are-here | title = The My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Video Game Screenshots are Here! | first = Mike | last = Fahey | date = 2012-10-15 | accessdate = 2012-10-15 | publisher = Kotaku }}</ref> Though the game is aimed at younger players, Gameloft's Barnabé Anglade stated that there are nods to the show's brony fandom, such as the inclusion of fan-favorite characters and popular background ponies.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/games/my_little_pony/b/ios/archive/2012/10/25/welcome-to-ponyville.aspx | title = My Little Pony | first = O'Dell | last = Harmon | date = 2012-10-25 | accessdate = 2012-10-26 | work = [[Game Informer]] }}</ref> |
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Enterplay, LLC has been licensed to create [[trading card]]s based on ''Friendship Is Magic'', with a first set released in early 2012 and a second set to be published in 2013. In addition to the base cards, Enterplay has offered limited edition cards at various fan conventions, which have since become of card collector's value.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cardboardconnection.com/2012-enterplay-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-trading-cards |title = 2012 Enterplay My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Trading Cards | first = Ryan | last = Cracknel | year = 2012 | accessdate = 2012-11-09 | publisher = The Cardboard Connection }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.wtvy.com/news/headlines/A-Look-at-My-Little-Pony-Trading-Cards-196801961.html | title = A Look at My Little Pony Trading Cards | first = Sean | last = Sporman | publisher = [[WTVY (TV)|WTVY]] | date = 2013-03-10 | accessdate = 2013-03-11 }}</ref> A ''Friendship Is Magic''-themed [[collectible card game]] by Enterplay was released in November 2013.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.enter-play.com/news/index.html | title = Enterplay Reveals plans to fans for new MLP: CCG | publisher = [[Enterplay]] | date = 2013-08-03 | accessdate = 2013-08-03 }}</ref> The card game has been considered successful by Enterplay, helping them to boost their sales within the hobby game sector,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/27632.html | title = "MLP CCG" Trending in Hobby | publisher = [[ICV2]] | date = 2014-01-15 | accessdate = 2014-01-27 }}</ref> and have announced a first expansion to the game, entitled "Canterlot Nights", for April 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://icv2.com/articles/news/27719.html | title = "Canterlot Nights," The 1st Expansion for the "MLP CCG" | date = 2014-01-26 | accessdate = 2014-01-27 | publisher = [[ICV2]] }}</ref> |
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On April 16, 2013, World Trade Jewelers signed a deal with Hasbro to make ''Friendship Is Magic'' jewelry. The collection was released for consumer release in October 2013.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://investor.hasbro.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=756835 | title = Hasbro Plays Serious with World Trade Jewelers | publisher = Hasbro | date = 2013-04-16 | accessdate = 2013-04-16}}</ref> |
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==Reception== |
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===Critical reception=== |
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The series has received positive reviews from critics. Todd VanDerWerff of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' favorably noted its "sheer and utter joyfulness" and lack of [[Cynicism (contemporary)|cynicism]], unlike many other shows that garnered a cult following of parents and adults. He complimented the characters' stylized appearance, the stories' relative complexity for children's television, and the solid jokes which make the show enjoyable for parents as well as children. He gave the series a ''B+''.<ref name="AVClub">{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic,55168/|title=My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic|first=Todd|last=VanDerWerff|date=2011-04-29|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|accessdate=2011-04-30}}</ref> Genevieve Koski of ''The A.V. Club'' later commented that ''Friendship Is Magic'' is an example of a show that, while considered "girly", has been able to tap into the nerd culture to allow it to gain wider acceptance than other comparable forms.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.avclub.com/articles/why-should-grown-women-be-ashamed-of-holding-onto,58423/ | title = Why should grown women be ashamed of holding onto their adolescent passions? | first = Genevieve | last = Koski | date = 2011-07-05 | accessdate = 2011-07-05 | work = The A.V. Club }}</ref> Emily Ashby of [[Common Sense Media]], an organization focusing on the parenting aspect of children's media, gave the show a rating of four out of five stars, emphasizing its messages of friendship, tolerance and respect, but advised parents to be wary of the "influence the characters might have on their kids' desires, since it's rooted in a well-known product line of books, toys, and just about everything in between."<ref name="CommonSenseMedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/my-little-pony-friendship-magic|title=My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic – Television Review|publisher=[[Common Sense Media]]|first=Emily |last=Ashby|date=2011-01-30|accessdate=2011-05-09}}</ref> Liz Ohanesian, for ''[[L.A. Weekly]]'', said that the show is "absolutely genuine in its messages about friendship but never takes itself too seriously".<ref>{{Cite news | url = http://blogs.laweekly.com/arts/2012/05/my_little_pony_brony_art.php | title = My Little Pony Project Brings Bronies and Pegasisters to Toy Art Gallery | first = Liz | last = Ohanesian | date = 2012-05-07 | accessdate = 2012-05-07 | work = [[L.A. Weekly]] }}</ref> Matt Morgan, writing for ''[[Wired (website)|Wired]]''{{'}}s "[[GeekDad]]" column, praised the show for having "rebooted the long-time Hasbro property while managing to lace it with geeky undertones" and being one of the few "girl-focused shows that a geeky dad can appreciate with his daughter".<ref name="geekdad">{{cite journal | url =http://archive.wired.com/geekdad/2011/09/could-my-little-pony-be-raising-the-next-generation-of-geeks/ | title = Could My Little Pony Be Raising the Next Generation of Geeks? | first = Matt | last = Morgan | date = 2011-09-17 | accessdate = 2011-09-17 | work = [[Wired (website)|Wired]] }}</ref> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' critic Robert Lloyd called the show "smarter and sassier and more aesthetically sophisticated" than any of the previous My Little Pony cartoons, and praised its ability to appeal to both children and their parents, in that it is "smart and sprightly and well-staged, and never horribly cute".<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-tv-picks-my-little-pony-sondheim-improv-doc-martin-20131205,0,1696291.story | title = TV Picks: "My Little Pony," Sondheim, Improv comics, "Doc Martin" | work = [[Los Angeles Times]] | date = 2013-12-05 | accessdate = 2013-12-06 | first = Robert | last = Lloyd }}</ref> ''[[TV Guide]]'' listed ''Friendship Is Magic'' as one of the top sixty animated shows of all time in a September 2013 list.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.tvguide.com/News/Greatest-Cartoons-TV-Guide-Magazine-1071203.aspx | title = TV Guide Magazine's 60 Greatest Cartoons of All Time | first = Rich | last = Sands | date = 2013-09-24 | accessdate = 2013-09-24 | work = [[TV Guide]] }}</ref> |
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Kathleen Richter of ''[[Ms. (magazine)|Ms.]]'' believed that ''Friendship Is Magic'' did little to change the nature of older animations for girls, which she considered "so sexist and racist and [[Heteronormativity|heteronormative]]." For example, she suggested that, through the character of Rainbow Dash, the show was promoting the stereotype that "all feminists are angry, tomboyish lesbians." She also considered that the only darker-colored ponies shown to date were in positions of servitude towards the "white pony overlord."<ref name="ms richter">{{cite journal | url = http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/12/09/my-little-homophobic-racist-smarts-shaming-pony/ | title = My Little Homophobic, Racist, Smart-Shaming Pony | first = Kathleen | last = Richter | date = 2010-12-09 | accessdate = 2011-07-07 | work = [[Ms. (magazine)|Ms.]] }}</ref> Lauren Faust responded to these claims by stating that while Rainbow Dash was a tomboy, "nowhere in the show is her sexual orientation ever referenced" and "assuming [tomboys] are lesbians is extremely unfair to both straight and lesbian tomboys", and further stating that "Color has never, ever been depicted as a race indicator for the ponies."<ref name="ms faust"/> Amid Amidi, writing for the animation website Cartoon Brew, was more critical of the concept of the show, calling it a sign of "the end of the creator-driven era in TV animation". Amidi's essay expressed concern that assigning a talent like Faust to a toy-centric show was part of a trend towards a focus on profitable genres of animation, such as toy tie-ins, to deal with a fragmented viewing audience, and overall "an admission of defeat for the entire movement, a [[White flag#Flag of temporary truce in order to parley (negotiate)|white flag]]-waving moment for the TV animation industry."<ref name="cartoon brew"/> |
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===Ratings=== |
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''Friendship Is Magic'' originally premiered with an average viewership of 1.4 million per month, but expanded to 4 million per month by the end of the first season,<ref name="oregonian">{{cite news | url = http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2011/09/seriously_my_little_pony_grown.html | title = Meet "bronies" – grown men who are fans of My Little Pony | first= Kelly | last = House | work = [[The Oregonian]] | date = 2011-09-17 | accessdate = 2011-09-17 }}</ref> making it the highest-rated of any Hasbro offering at the time.<ref name="geekdad"/> ''[[Advertising Age]]'' reports that the viewership doubled between the first and the second season.<ref name="ad age">{{cite journal | url = http://adage.com/article/special-report-americas-hottest-brands/america-s-hottest-brands-pony-friendship-magic/231166/ | title = "My Little Pony: The Friendship Is Magic" Gains Unexpected Audience – Adults | first = Judann | last = Pollack | date = 2011-11-28 | accessdate = 2011-11-28 | publisher = [[Ad Age]] }}</ref> The Hub Network reported that "[[Hearts and Hooves Day]]", an episode on the theme of Valentine's Day, which aired on February 11, 2012, in the middle of the second season, was the show's most-viewed episode ever, and the second highest of any program of the Hub network; its viewership exceeded 150% of that of the previous year.<ref>{{Cite press release | url = http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/16/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-fan-favorite-mare-a-thon-boosts-the-hub/120230/ | title = Stellar Performance of My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic Fan-Favorite Marathon Powers The Hub to Strong Audience Gains | publisher = [[Hub Network|The Hub]] | date = 2012-02-14 | accessdate = 2012-02-16 }}</ref> This was surpassed by the two-part season two finale, "[[A Canterlot Wedding]]", airing in April 2012, marking the broadcast as the highest viewership for the Hub Network to that date.<ref name="ratings">{{cite press release | date = 24 April 2012 | accessdate = 24 April 2012 | publisher = [[Hasbro]] | title = Hub TV Network Scores Record High Audience With Outstanding Performance of Special Royal Wedding of the Year on "My Little Pony Friendship is Magic" | url = http://investor.hasbro.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=666931 }}</ref> |
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===Awards and nominations=== |
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''Friendship Is Magic'' was nominated for three British Columbia [[Leo Awards]] for Animation, "Best Program", "Best Direction", and "Best Overall Sound".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://leoawards.com/2012/nominees_by_program_2012.html | title = Leo Awards – Nominees by Program | date = 2012-05-02 | accessdate = 2012-05-02 | work = [[Leo Awards]] | publisher = Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia }}</ref> Additionally, the songs "Becoming Popular (The Pony Everypony Should Know)" (from season 2 episode 9, "Sweet and Elite") and "Find A Pet Song" (from season 2 episode 7, "May the Best Pet Win!"), both written by [[Daniel Ingram]], were nominated, but did not win, for "Outstanding Original Song – Children's and Animation" at the [[39th Daytime Emmy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_39th_nominations.html | title = 39th Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards Nominations | publisher = [[National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]] | date = 2012-05-09 | accessdate = 2012-05-09 }}</ref> The show was named the best animated show for the 2011–12 television season in a user poll on the website [[Television Without Pity]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-is-the-best-animated-show-on-tv-according-to-the-tubeys/2012/09/17/c2b3027e-00d9-11e2-b257-e1c2b3548a4a_blog.html | title = 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' is the best animated show on TV, according to the Tubeys | work = [[Washington Post]] | first = Jen | last = Chaney | date = 2012-09-17 | accessdate = 2012-09-17 }}</ref> Marcel Duperreault, Todd Araki, Jason Fredrickson, and Adam McGhie received a 2014 Leo Award for their work on "Power Ponies" for "Best Overall Sound in an Animation Program or Series" on June 1, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leoawards.com/2014/winners_saturday/|title=Leo Awards, Saturday Winners 2014|work=[[Leo Awards]]|publisher=Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia|accessdate=2014-06-01}}</ref> |
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===Fandom=== |
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{{main|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom|l1=''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' fandom}} |
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Despite the target demographic of young girls and their parents,<ref name="wsj"/><ref name="tvguide defense">{{Cite journal | url = http://www.tvguide.com/News/Bronies-My-Little-Pony-Friendship-Magic-1068692.aspx | title = Give Bronies a Break! In Defense of Adult My Little Pony Fans | first = Sadie | last = Gennis | date = 2013-08-01 | accessdate = 2013-08-01 | work = [[TV Guide]] }}</ref> ''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has become an Internet phenomenon, with many male fans between 13 and 35.<ref name="wired brony"/> The response from the Internet has been traced to cartoon and animation fans on the Internet board [[4chan]],<ref name="wsj"/> responding to Amidi's negative essay regarding the show and current trends in animation.<ref name="cartoon brew">{{cite web | url = http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ideas-commentary/the-end-of-the-creator-driven-era.html | title = The End of the Creator-Driven Era in TV Animation | publisher = Cartoon Brew | last = Amidi | first = Amid | date = 2010-10-19 | accessdate = 2011-06-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/weve-created-a-bronster.html | title = We've Created A Bronster! | first= Jerry | last= Beck | date =2011-09-24 | accessdate = 2011-09-25 | publisher = Cartoon Brew }}</ref> As a result of the discussion on 4chan, interest in the show spread throughout other parts of the Internet, creating a large fanbase representing a form of [[New Sincerity]] and a multitude of creative works, fan sites, and conventions.<ref name="wired brony"/> The fanbase has adopted the name "brony" (a [[portmanteau]] of "bro" and "pony") to describe themselves.<ref name=bnet>{{cite news | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-49640313/my-little-pony-the-hip-new-trend-among-the-geekerati/ | title = My Little Pony: the Hip, New Trend Among the Geekerati | first = Constantine | last = von Hoffman | date =2011-05-31 | accessdate = 2011-05-31 | publisher = [[BNET]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2011/12/02/secret-language-bros/kd1q6tKQxO15hxMYWQSirO/story.html | title = The secret language of bros | first = Erin | last = McKean | date = 2011-12-02 | accessdate = 2011-12-02 | work = [[The Boston Globe]] }}</ref> The older fanbase had come as a surprise to Hasbro, Faust, and others involved with the show.<ref name="rollingstone ingram"/><ref name="wired brony">{{cite web | url = http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/06/bronies-my-little-ponys/ | title = My Little Pony Corrals Unlikely Fanboys Known as 'Bronies' | first= Angela | last = Watercutter | date = 2011-06-09 | accessdate = 2011-06-09 | work = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref><ref name="national post">{{cite news | url = http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/08/03/all-ages-show-hipsters-love-childrens-programming/ | title = All-ages show: Hipsters love children's programming | first = Joshua | last =Ostroff | date = 2011-08-03 | accessdate = 2011-08-03 | work = [[National Post]] }}</ref><ref name="csm">{{Cite news | url = http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/TV/2012/0320/Is-TV-paying-too-much-attention-to-fans | title = Is TV paying too much attention to fans? | work = [[Christian Science Monitor]] | date =2012-03-20 | accessdate = 2012-03-20 | first = James | last = Turner }}</ref> They have appreciated and embraced the fandom, adding subtle nods to the fans within the show and the toys,<ref name="awn"/> while, early on, allowing the creative elements of the fandom to flourish without legal interference.<ref name="sopa">{{cite journal | url = http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegriffiths/2012/01/19/skyrim-ponies-sopa/ | title = SOPA, Skyrim and My Little Pony – Infringement is Magic? | work = [[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]] | first = Daniel Nye | last = Griffiths | date = 2012-01-19 | accessdate = 2012-01-19 }}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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* [[My Little Pony]] |
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* [[Hasbro Studios]] |
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{{Wikiquotes}} |
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{{Portal|Animation|Television in the United States|Canada}} |
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{{Clear}} |
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==References== |
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* {{cite book|last=Snider|first=Brandon T.|title=My Little Pony: The Elements of Harmony: Friendship is Magic: The Official Guidebook|year=2013|publisher=Little, Brown Books for Young Readers|isbn=978-0-316-24754-2}} |
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{{Reflist |colwidth=30em |refs=}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.hasbrostudios.com/shows/page/title/my-little-pony ''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''] at [[Hasbro Studios]] |
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* {{Official website|http://www.hubnetwork.com/my-little-pony/shows/friendship-is-magic}} at [[Hub Network]] |
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* {{Official website|http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/mylittle-pony/}} at [[TV Tokyo]] |
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* {{IMDb title|1751105}} |
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* {{bcdb |Other_Studios/S/Studio_B_Productions/My_Little_Pony__Friendship_Is_Magic/|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic}} |
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{{My Little Pony}} |
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{{Hasbro Studios}} |
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{{Hub Network programs}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic}} |
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[[Category:2010 American television series debuts]] |
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[[Category:2010s American animated television series]] |
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[[Category:Flash television shows]] |
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[[Category:Internet memes]] |
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[[Category:Hub Network shows]] |
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[[Category:Television series by Hasbro Studios]] |
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[[Category:Television series by DHX Media]] |
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[[Category:My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic| ]] |
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[[Category:Television programs featuring anthropomorphic characters]] |
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[[Category:Works based on Hasbro toys]] |
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Revision as of 17:18, 4 June 2014
| My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic | |
|---|---|
| File:My Little Pony Friendship is Magic logo.svg | |
| Genre | |
| Based on | The My Little Pony toy product invented by Bonnie Zacherle |
| Developed by | Lauren Faust |
| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Creative director | Lauren Faust (season 1) |
| Voices of | |
| Theme music composer | Daniel Ingram |
| Opening theme | "Friendship Is Magic", performed by Rebecca Shoichet and four others Lyrics by Lauren Faust[1] |
| Ending theme | "Friendship Is Magic" (instrumental) |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 (season 5 in production) |
| No. of episodes | 117 (91 aired) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Hub Network |
| Release | October 10, 2010 – present |
| Related | |
| |
- ^ Ingram, Daniel [Dannyimusic] (2012-01-24). "Jordan Olling ▶ Daniel Ingram - Composer/Songwriter". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-01-25.