Friendship Games
The new film, Friendship Games, finds the teenage
versions of our favorite ponies getting ready for a series of games against
their rival high school. Sunset Shimmer is writing a letter to Twilight Sparkle
in Equestria, when a mysterious character starts investigating the portal
between the two worlds. Sunset loses her, but we’re allowed to follow her back
to the rival school, and we learn she is this reality’s Twilight Sparkle. In
this world, she is some kind of science wizard, but also a loner.
Rarity has some of the best moments in this film. Early
on she says: “I have no interest in another fight against the powers of evil
magic. The wear and tear on my wardrobe is just too much to keep up with.”
Fluttershy soon says, “Not everything has to be magical to be important.”
That’s true. But something unusual is happening with their magic in this world.
Each of the ponies has a touch of magic when getting excited about the thing
she loves doing most, but then is suddenly drained of energy. What’s up? Could
this world’s Twilight Sparkle be responsible?
There are, of course, several songs in the film. Rainbow
Dash sings one to inspire her school before the games. Twilight sings a song
about being ready to move on. And there is a song about competition as the
games get underway. But the best song by far is the one sung by the principal
to Twilight, when she convinces her to unleash magic to win the games. It’s
wonderful. (And perhaps I’m mad, but a section of this reminds me a bit of
“Cell Block Tango” from Chicago.) I’m surprised that the schools in this
reality have Motocross. If yours doesn’t, and you feel bad about it, just
remember the words of Fluttershy: “Holding a bunny always makes me feel
better.” Friendship Games was written by Josh Haber, and directed by
Ishi Rudell.
Special Features
This disc includes a commentary track by Brian Lenard,
Josh Haber, Daniel Ingram, Jayson Thiessen, Ishi Rudell, and Rebecca Dart. They
talk a bit about the change in Sunset Shimmer’s design, and about the cool
creative opening title sequence. There are also several deleted scenes, with
optional commentary. These scenes offer more about Sunset Shimmer and her
desire to return to Equestria, and include an alternate ending. There are also
a few short films related to the feature, including Pinkie Spy, in which
Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash check out the competition for the games. That
includes a cute moment when Pinkie Pie lowers a boom microphone into the shot. All’s
Fair In Love And Friendship Games is about two best friends suddenly
becoming competitive. Photo Finished is about the photographer for the
yearbook, and is delightfully goofy. A Banner Day is about the creation
of a welcome sign for the rival school. And The Science Of Magic is
about Sunset Shimmer working to solve the mystery of how magic works in this
reality. And of course there are three sing-alongs, though sadly my favorite
song is not one of them.
My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
My Little Pony: Equestria Girls is the first of
the three full-length animated feature films, in which Twilight Sparkle has to
pass through a magic mirror into an alternate world in order to retrieve her
magic crown and protect Equestria. Sunset Shimmer sneaks into Twilight’s room
at night and steals her crown and element of harmony, and then disappears with
them through the mirror. Twilight Sparkle must perform the task of regaining
the crown alone, and has limited time. Of course, Spike rushes in after her. In
the alternate world, Spike is a dog, and Twilight Sparkle is a teenage girl,
through still of a purplish hue. She was having trouble getting used to her
wings; now she has to get used to walking on two legs. But perhaps an even
bigger challenge is getting along without magic, as she has no horn.
Soon she meets the alternate versions of Fluttershy,
Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Other characters from
Equestria have their counterparts in this world as well, including Principal
Celestia and Vice Principal Luna. The film has several musical numbers, the
first being about learning to adapt to a new world (like any kid going to a new
school). Twilight sings, “Everything’s confusing when it seems so new.”
Later the girls perform a musical number in the school cafeteria as they try to
unite everyone behind Twilight. And the theme of the magic of friendship is
addressed. In this one, Twilight sings, “I’m gonna be myself no matter what
I do/And if we’re different, then I want you to be true to you.” A good
message. Later there’s actually a musical montage of the girls getting the gym
ready for the formal dance, and then a musical montage of the girls getting
dressed. Wow, the film uses not one but both of the major 1980s montage themes.
Special Features
This DVD has a few special features, including Through
The Mirror, which is a making-of feature. It is divided into three parts.
The first part is about the story and the concept of this film, as well as some
similarities to The Wizard Of Oz, and about the new character, Sunset
Shimmer. The second part is about the design of the film. There are interviews
with Ridd Sorensen (art director), Mike Vogel, Jayson Thiessen, Tara Strong,
Meghan McCarthy and Kora Kosicka (a character designer). The third part
features an interview with song writer Daniel Ingram, who talks about giving
the songs a more modern feel than those in the television series. The bonus
features also include two karaoke songs: “Cafeteria Song” and “Friends For
Life.” The vocals are taken out, so you can add your own. There is also something
called “Ponify Yourself,” but I actually have no idea what this one-minute
snippet is supposed to be.
My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks
In Rainbow Rocks, the students of Canterlot High
School are planning a musical showcase to raise money to help fund after-school
programs. The girls have a band, and sing about being friends, and magic
happens when they play; they gain some of the properties of their parallel pony
selves. The girls are now friends with Sunset Shimmer, though when Sunset Shimmer
says, “The old me really was just awful, wasn’t she,” all the girls
agree. And I especially love Pinkie Pie’s joyous, “Yup!”
The three sirens want their true equestrian magic back,
and they change the musical showcase to a battle of the bands, turning the
event into a competition and breeding animosity among classmates, which then
fuels their own power. They cast a spell on all the students and even the
faculty of Canterlot High – with the exceptions of our heroes, who soon realize
something is wrong. There are some really nice moments in this film.
Pinkie Pie’s antics make me laugh, like when she explains Twilight’s idea of
creating another portal to the human world. The girls realize they have to
combat the sirens’ spell with a musical spell of their own, leading to a great
moment when Pinkie Pie tries to get Twilight to play the theremin. But the
climactic battle of the bands sequence goes on for a long time, and doesn’t
have as much charm as the other scenes. (Also, it reminds of that awful battle
of the bands sequence from Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.)
Special Features
The DVD includes a commentary track by Michael Vogel (VP
of development at Hasbro Studios), Brian Lenard (executive director at Hasbro
Studios), Meghan McCarthy (screenwriter of Rainbow Rocks), Jayson
Thiessen (supervising director of Rainbow Rocks) and Ishi Rudell
(co-director of Rainbow Rocks). There are also eight shorts that act as
prequels to the film. Three of them are seriously good. A Case For The Bass is
a cute and funny short in which Apple Jack tries to get her bass back after
Granny accidentally sells it to the owners of a second-hand shop. Hamstocalypse
Now is probably my favorite. In this one, Rarity attempts to help
Fluttershy with hamsters, and we all learn that hamsters like the tambourine.
The third one that I really like is Pinkie On The One, in which Pinkie
Pie helps Rainbow Dash find a drummer for the band. It’s absolutely adorable.
Of the others, three are basically music videos. The special features also
include three sing-alongs, to the songs “Better Than Ever,” “Battle” and
“Rainbooms Battle,” with the lyrics at the bottom of the screen.
The My Little Pony Equestria Girls box set
released on October 13, 2015 through Shout! Factory.
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