My Little Pony: A Amizade é Mágica

Hasbro has captured lightning in a bottle with a cartoon revelation so pure and enchanting, it has captured the attention of even guys who wouldn't normally like My Little Pony. The pilot episode became one of the biggest animation related events since the release of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Lauren Faust has taken her unique character design style and warm-hearted characterizations and breathed new life into My Little Pony. The result is a new spin on the franchise that's super cute but not saccharine with just enough added snark and outrageous humor.

But it should not be looked at as another My Little Pony cartoon. Instead, it should be looked at as a good show that just happens to have characters from the franchise. But instead of being girly or cheesy, the show has winning humor and wonderful characters. The kingdom feels like it has real places with real neighborhoods. The families have brothers and sisters and older ponies. Magic returns to the ponies and feels real instead of tacked on. There are not too many villains in this show but there are a couple monsters. However the real conflict and drive of the show, and what makes it so interesting, is in seeing how different and varied the personalities of the characters are and how they often act like real friends, complete with disagreements. This is the most educational version of My Little Pony yet. However, unlike preschool cartoons, the lessons don't feel forced or pandering.

This is one of the most remarkable cartoons yet. Truly it is a great achievement.

We've watched this since about 2015, although not recently at all in the past year (writing in 12/2020). Sienna suggested a 7-star rating, but that doesn't reflect the era of its greatest draw for her: a few years ago, both kiddos were so into it that we were worried when it was uncertain if Netflix would renew the series. Along with Sofia, this is the first show that both kiddos enjoyed watching together. Also, they watched it almost exclusively in Spanish for a long time. Sebastian loved the dragon sidekick Spike. For me, it was interesting to see another reboot from the 1980s, in this case a "girls" franchise that had passed me by (a bit like "Shee-ra," but in this case there was no "boys" equivalent), but not so heavily marked for gender, at least officially, in its reincarnation.

What this show has, that this world lacks is an emphasis on on friendship. Yes, magic is mixed in and it can be unrealistic, but don't focus on that. Focus on the friendship aspect. It's so nice to see so much of that and "people" working together and nice things happening for a change.

It's supposed to be a show for little girls! This is actually what the fans of the show say, who find themselves enraptured with whatever episode they decide to make their first. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is aimed for a target demographic of young girls 5 to 10, yet an older male demographic (who call themselves "bronies") are also finding themselves heavily invested with everything going on in the new series. News of "bronies" following the show has met with both positive and negative feedback. But I like to take the optimistic side - quality is quality. Transformers has always meant to be a show for young boys yet costume shops sell Transformers costumes meant for women every year.

The anime; Sailor Moon was also another show meant for younger girls, yet it's unprecedented popularity saw it receive mention from bands like The Bare Naked Ladies and get covers done by the Osaka Popstar's

I don't think I even need to get into how SpongeBob Squarepants dominated the first decade of the newest century. Odds are five people you know can finish the sentence, "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?".

Friendship is Magic is like discovering Looney Tunes for the first time or laughing at the family dynamics of The Simpsons. Think those are some lofty comparisons? Tough, get off your high horse *snicker* because this show has honestly earned it. I hope to see several more seasons, I hope to see a movie one day on the big screen, I want to see the Japanese create a new opening theme, and see what other memes the fandom can create that will become part of the show's canon. So much more I can't even fit in this box is possible. Some cartoons are good, fewer still are even great, but it's rare ones like these that are actually magic.

It frustrates me how good this show is. I'm 46 and three of my children have been watching this show. The My Little Pony universe has rules and logic and they follow them. They don't just invent something new get themselves out of some plot hole. Star Trek never cared about consistency, whether the transporters worked with the shields up or not, is there money in the 24th century.... Then there is time travel. How many shows even bother caring about possible paradoxes with time travel and if they do how many actually have a realistic out come?

Most action shows that take place in our world ignore physics, biology and chemistry whenever they feel like it. Marvel..no let's not even go there. The 100? I doubt a single writer of that show passed grade nine science. The Expanse - OK there is one hard science fiction that is compatible to a show aimed at 5 and 6 year olds.

I fear that My Little Pony will set the bar for logical plots to high and my little girls won't be able to enjoy any shows in the future. It has certainly ruined it for me.