My Little Pony 2017 (Spoiler Free)

My Little Pony the Movie 2017 Review

Now before I begin this little review, I’m going to explain a little how I got into the show.

I didn’t fully immerse with the MLP fandom until say around the time S2 began I think. My first episode was in Season 2 and then the episode where Rainbow Dash and Rarity enters a flying contest in which Celestia and the Wonderbolts were scheduled to attend (if my memory serves). I was still in high school so I was - shall we say a little hesitant to begin a show about ponies. I never watched the original or any of the previous incarnations beforehand so I went in expecting the show to be like its previous incarnation. But when I saw Rainbow Dash saving Rarity and the other competitors and Twilight freaking out a future possible disaster in Ponyville. I was hooked in an instant, and it took me a while to confess to my family I was watching a show like My Little Pony (a show intended for children).

I don’t think anyone expected a show full of colorful pastel ponies made sorely for kids to become such a hit with grown adults and teenagers. I know I certainly didn’t when I first stepped foot into the fandom after discovering about it through. Though the show had it’s ups and downs with not just the show but the fandom in general. It has wonderful lessons to be learned (and though some may not be directed that great in a certain episode, it’s something that not only kids can learn (but everyone can learn as well).

When the news broke out a film was being made, there was a lot of hype. Right now the film currently holds a whopping 12.7 million. Though I can’t help but ponder if it had been made earlier into the series, it would have garnered more of a success.

I won’t spoil much for those who have seen it. But I will say this, there are a lot of cameos from in show characters even a couple balloon Discord cameos. Cheese Sandwich makes a silent re-appearance in the beginning, you’d have to have a pretty good eye to see your favorite background and secondary characters. And yes, Starlight with Trixie also makes a cameo but they’re both non speaking. It's a blink and miss if you want to see your favorite characters.

-Cons-

-I think to fully enjoy this movie you would need to be familiarized with the prime characters. Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Spike, Applejack and Fluttershy. Alongside this generation of My Little Pony, if you are not familiar with the show or My Little Pony in general, you will be completely lost. However out of all the seven main characters that actually have lines both Fluttershy and Applejack gets the least amount of lines whereas Pinkie Pie actually is bearable in this film for a change and gets among the most lines aside from Twilight. And as for Spike?..well he manages to do some shit in the action scenes, but he’s mostly there for comedic effect and moral support he doesn’t do much.

-No guards. Uhhh Shining Armor? You know your wife and baby sister is probably is in serious danger right? Where the hell were you and your guards when the four princesses of Equestria were attacked? Stuck babysitting Flurry Heart or something? Did all of your guards have babysitting duties? What’s the pony term for being drunk? Do ponies even get drunk? Or are the guards really that easy to capture?

-You’d probably have to be familiar with the newer characters like Captain Celaeneo, Capper, Tempest Shadow and the Storm King by reading the prequel book, (if you could understand what was going on with their pasts - great) and how they got to be where they are in the films.

-A lot of people (and myself included) have rather disliked Twilight’s rather..out of character traits she is shown to be in this movie. Unlike how she’s presented in the seven seasons and the Equestria Girls spin-off, here she’s shown to revert back to her Season 1 self. However, I personally like Silver Quill’s explanation on his brief review of the MLP movie - even if I’m still rather mixed on how it was presented. Although, there will be spoilers in that review, (skip to 6:00 mark for his thoughts on Twilight's actions in the film).

- The villain song, (while one of the film’s best songs) - the choreographic could have been a little better.

-Michael Peña’s character Grubber while very funny in the movie. I felt like he could have been left out of the movie. He wasn’t annoying per-say (though to others he may be.) He was basically there for what Spike was - comedic support. (While having supporting comedic characters - good and bad, isn’t bad per-say it’s just how they’re handled in the films or tv shows that can end up either good or bad.) If he was left out, I feel like there could’ve been done more with the movie but that’s just me.

-Pros-

-The film’s musical score and the fantastic vocal performances done by the main cast including the voice acting done by Andrea Libman and Tara Strong as well as Pinkie’s singing voice Shannon Chan- Kent. This film is certainly lets them give their all within this movie and more room to explore with their characters. Pinkie Pie is also presented in a MUCH better light than she had been recently.

- The musical songs done by the guest cast makes it even less like a typical MLP episode and more in line with a Broadway musical. However that’s what makes it so good. However, I do wish there was enough time for one more song from the mane six or just one or two of the mane six. (Namely a Twilight song). I’m also rather disappointed we didn’t get the full version of “Ponies Got the Beat”.

- The world building in this movie is an improvement, while we do get a bit of world building with every new episode of MLP. We get it even more here, and it’s more of a steampunk-ish type world. And how they designed the world is honestly very creative (I kinda had a feeling already that this was a steampunkish world but this confirms it). We also get to see new creatures like humanoid parrots, cats, and Sea Ponies.

-The return of 2D animation was simply beautiful in Toon Boom Harmony, and though I enjoy the flash animation in the show, it’s a little better here. It really shines when we are introduced to the Sea Ponies and the song “One Small Thing” begins.

And no; the sea ponies in this film don’t do this.

- Tempest Shadow is ten times better than Starlight Glimmer’s backstory any day. While I’m slowly growing and accepting Starlight’s in the show (despite me rather mixed with how Starlight was handled), Tempest Shadow was far better, and Emily Blunt did a fantastic job voicing her throughout the film.

- The Storm King I love, (I don’t want to give away much) but he reminds me a bit of Hades from Disney’s Hercules.

- Capper was an interesting character, probably one of my favorites next to Tempest, Captain Celaeno and the Storm King.

Favorite songs:

Time To Be Awesome

Open Up Your Eyes

We Got This

One Small Thing

I’m the Friend in Need

Favorite new characters

Tempest Shadow

Captain Celaeno

Capper

The Storm King

Princess Skystar

If I have to give the film an overall grade I’d give it a solid B or a 8.5/10. The film is good though has a quite of obvious flaws that could’ve been improved. But whether you are a fan of this show, or a fan of animated movies in general. It’s a must see. But..it may be better seeing it when the film comes out on DVD instead of going to the theater or watching the leaked version online.