Monday, March 25, 2019

Episode 5: My Little Pony Tutorial

Topic: My Little Pony

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

History:
1981 My Pretty Pony
  • 10 inch tall, very large by comparison
  • Didn’t sell very well
  


1982 – 1992 My Little Pony (Gen 1)
  • More iconic version from the 80s/90s
  • Smaller
  • First incarnation of symbol on backside/cutie mark.
  • Animated series in 1986 & 1987, various movies
  • Very collectable

1997 – 1999 (Gen 2)
  • Slimmer, turning heads
  • Not as popular in west, popular in Europe

2003 – 2009 (Gen 3)
  • A re-launch
  • Childish, aimed as a much younger audience
  • Many of the hallmarks from 1986/1987 animation


2010+ Friendship is Magic
  • Created by Lauren Faust
  • Desire for more complex/in-depth characters, Adventurous settings
  • Stories resolve around friendship/relations, with some adventurous/action elements

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

    • Derpy (Fan favorite Grey Pegasus, named such for an accident with her eyes)


My Little Pony: Equestria Girls

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

Review Material
Netflix or The Hub
Season 1:
  • Episodes 1 & 2
  • Episode 6
  • Episode 13
  • Episode 25

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