The next generation of My Little Pony is coming to Netflix in a CGI animated film and a television series. My Little Pony is one of Hasbro's most lucrative brands. Debuting in the 80s with a toy line and cartoon, the franchise continued to expand. However, it wasn't until 2010 with the release of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic that the brand reached new heights. The show reintroduced the world of My Little Pony to its usual target audience, while also becoming instantly popular with older viewers.
Although surprising at the time, it's become easy to understand why My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic became a pop culture phenomenon. The show was lauded for its strong writing, voice acting, and animation. For many, the adventures of Twilight Sparkle and friends were a joy to watch every Saturday. Not only were the characters developed in their personalities, but the show featured story arcs across nine seasons. Its popularity online led to much fan content, from artwork to animations. Simply put, the show meant a lot to viewers, even inspiring a successful convention for a number of years. In 2019, the show came to a conclusion after 222 episodes, a couple of specials, and a theatrical film. Although the characters currently star in the short-form My Little Pony: Pony Life, the looming thing on fans' minds is the next generation. Will My Little Pony Generation 5 have the same amount of heart Friendship is Magic had? The answer to that is coming sooner than later.
Hasbro's entertainment studio, Entertainment One, has announced the fifth generation of the My Little Pony franchise. A CGI film serving as its debut is coming to Netflix this fall. The story will introduce Sunny Starscout, Izzy Moonbow, and Hitch Trailblazer in a tale set in Equestria. The film is being directed by Rob Cullen and Jose Ucha. Check out the full plot synopsis below.
"In the new movie, the pony world of Equestria has lost its magic. (GASP!) Friendship and Harmony have been replaced by paranoia and mistrust, and Ponies now live separated by species. Sunny – a feisty and idealistic young Earth Pony – is convinced there’s still hope for this divided world… but her slightly misguided and often hilarious efforts to change hearts and minds have led to her being branded a misfit. When Sunny befriends a lost Unicorn named Izzy, who wanders innocently into the Earth Pony town of Maretime Bay, the town has had enough. Izzy and Sunny must embark on an epic adventure that will include a daring jewel heist, outrageous conspiracy theories, elaborate musical numbers, and the world’s cutest flying Pomeranian. Their adventures will take them to faraway lands and force them to challenge the status quo by facing their fears and making new friends out of old enemies. The world Sunny has dreamed of her entire life could finally become a reality as Sunny and her newfound friends fight to prove that even LITTLE ponies can make a BIG difference."
A CGI series will follow the film on Netflix, although no premiere date was given. Previously, Paramount reportedly planned to release the film in theaters, but ultimately gave it to Netflix. A shared continuity with Friendship is Magic isn't confirmed. Interestingly, figurines of Twilight Sparkle and friends can be seen in the above image. Whether that's just an Easter egg or not remains to be seen. As expected, the new generation will have a wide array of merchandise.
Although it's hard to match Friendship is Magic's emotive flash animation, the CGI for the movie does look impressive. If the series looks close to the film, it should be a treat. The big question, though, is if the cast of characters and writing will be engaging. Friendship is Magic balanced strong character moments and humor. If the film, and subsequently the series, has those likable personalities and genuineness to the writing, it should be a hit. It probably won't be a social media phenomenon like the previous incarnation but, for a lot of people, it will be good to watch new My Little Pony adventures.
Source: Entertainment One