Ep 5: My Little Pony Tutorial
Topic: My Little Pony
This week we discuss the history of My Little Pony and the most current incarnation, "Friendship is Magic", en-route to a future discussion on 'Bronies' and why an older demographic fell in love with a show about colorful horses meant for a younger, female audience.
History:
1981 My Pretty Pony
- 10 inch tall, very large by comparison
- Didn’t sell very well
1982 – 1992 My Little Pony (Gen 1)
- More iconic version from the 80s/90s
- Smaller
- First incarnation of symbol on backside/cutie mark.
- Animated series in 1986 & 1987, various movies
- Very collectable
1997 – 1999 (Gen 2)
- Slimmer, turning heads
- Not as popular in west, popular in Europe
2003 – 2009 (Gen 3)
- A re-launch
- Childish, aimed as a much younger audience
- Many of the hallmarks from 1986/1987 animation
2010+ Friendship is Magic
- Created by Lauren Faust
- Desire for more complex/in-depth characters, Adventurous settings
- Stories resolve around friendship/relations, with some adventurous/action elements
Characters
- “Mane Six Ponies”
- Twilight Sparkle (Purple Unicorn, Magical Bookworm)
- 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