My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is an animated television series produced by Hasbro Studios in the United States (for scripts) and a DHX Media's studio located in Vancouver (for animation; formerly known as Studio B Productions), which is based on Hasbro, Inc's My Little Pony line of toys and animated works. The series premiered on October 10, 2010, on The Hub, an American pay television channel partly owned by Hasbro. As of April 2012, the show has completed its second season in the United States, and is broadcasting internationally in dozens of countries in over ten languages. This show is rated TV-Y.
Hasbro selected animator Lauren Faust as the creative director and executive producer for the show. Faust sought to challenge the established "girly" nature of the existing My Little Pony line, creating more in-depth characters and adventurous settings, incorporating Hasbro's suggestions for E/I ("educational and informational") content and marketing of the toy line. Faust stepped down after the first season, but remains as consulting producer. Jayson Thiessen, the show's supervising director, became the showrunner starting with season two.
The show follows a studious unicorn pony named Twilight Sparkle as her mentor Princess Celestia guides her to learn about friendship in the town of Ponyville. Twilight becomes close friends with five other ponies: Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. Each represents a different face of friendship, and discovers herself to be a key part of the "Elements of Harmony". Twilight being magic, Pinkie Pie being laughter, Rarity being generosity, Rainbow Dash being loyalty, Fluttershy being kindness, and Applejack being honesty. The ponies share adventures and help out other residents of Ponyville, while working out the troublesome moments in their own friendships.
The show has been critically praised for its humor and moral outlook. Despite the target demographic of young girls, Friendship Is Magic has gained a large following of older viewers, predominately teenagers and young adults, largely male, who call themselves "bronies". Reasons for this unintended appreciation include Faust and her team's creative writing and characterization, the expressive Flash-based animation style, themes that older audiences can appreciate, and a reciprocal relationship between Hasbro, the creators, and the fans. Elements of the show have become part of the remix culture and have formed the basis for a variety of Internet memes.
On January 26, 2013, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (along with fellow show, Mane 6: The Talk Show) discontinued airing due to Bullet Francisco's leave from SCP Studios and Sonic News Network, the show however continues to air on The Hub.
Season one[]
Episodes of season one premiered on Fridays at 1:30 PM Eastern Time, with the exception of the "sneak preview" of the season premiere, which aired on the same day The Hub network debuted.
Template:H:title | Title | Writer | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|
01 (01) | Friendship is Magic, part 1 | Lauren Faust | 2010-10-10 |
02 (02) | Friendship is Magic, part 2 | Lauren Faust | 2010-10-22 |
03 (03) | The Ticket Master | Amy Keating Rogers & Lauren Faust |
2010-10-29 |
04 (04) | Applebuck Season | Amy Keating Rogers | 2010-11-05 |
05 (05) | Griffon the Brush Off | Cindy Morrow | 2010-11-12 |
06 (06) | Boast Busters | Chris Savino | 2010-11-19 |
07 (07) | Dragonshy | Meghan McCarthy | 2010-11-26 |
08 (08) | Look Before You Sleep | Charlotte Fullerton | 2010-12-03 |
09 (09) | Bridle Gossip | Amy Keating Rogers | 2010-12-10 |
10 (10) | Swarm of the Century | M. A. Larson | 2010-12-17 |
11 (11) | Winter Wrap Up | Cindy Morrow | 2010-12-24 |
12 (12) | Call of the Cutie | Meghan McCarthy | 2011-01-07 |
13 (13) | Fall Weather Friends | Amy Keating Rogers | 2011-01-28 |
14 (14) | Suited For Success | Charlotte Fullerton | 2011-02-04 |
15 (15) | Feeling Pinkie Keen | Dave Polsky | 2011-02-11 |
16 (16) | Sonic Rainboom | M. A. Larson | 2011-02-18 |
17 (17) | Stare Master | Chris Savino | 2011-02-25 |
18 (18) | The Show Stoppers | Cindy Morrow | 2011-03-04 |
19 (19) | A Dog and Pony Show | Amy Keating Rogers | 2011-03-11 |
20 (20) | Green Isn't Your Color | Meghan McCarthy | 2011-03-18 |
21 (21) | Over a Barrel | Dave Polsky | 2011-03-25 |
22 (22) | A Bird in the Hoof | Charlotte Fullerton | 2011-04-08 |
23 (23) | The Cutie Mark Chronicles | M. A. Larson | 2011-04-15 |
24 (24) | Owl's Well That Ends Well | Cindy Morrow | 2011-04-22 |
25 (25) | Party of One | Meghan McCarthy | 2011-04-29 |
26 (26) | The Best Night Ever | Amy Keating Rogers | 2011-05-06 |
Season two[]
Template:H:title | Title | Writer | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|
01 (27) | The Return of Harmony Part 1 | M. A. Larson | 2011-09-17 |
02 (28) | The Return of Harmony Part 2 | M. A. Larson | 2011-09-24 |
03 (29) | Lesson Zero | Meghan McCarthy | 2011-10-15 |
04 (30) | Luna Eclipsed | M. A. Larson | 2011-10-22 |
05 (31) | Sisterhooves Social | Cindy Morrow | 2011-11-05 |
06 (32) | The Cutie Pox | Amy Keating Rogers | 2011-11-12 |
07 (33) | May the Best Pet Win! | Charlotte Fullerton | 2011-11-19 |
08 (34) | The Mysterious Mare Do Well | Merriwether Williams | 2011-11-26 |
09 (35) | Sweet and Elite | Meghan McCarthy | 2011-12-03 |
10 (36) | Secret of My Excess | M. A. Larson | 2011-12-10 |
11 (37) | Hearth's Warming Eve | Merriwether Williams | 2011-12-17 |
12 (38) | Family Appreciation Day | Cindy Morrow | 2012-01-07 |
13 (39) | Baby Cakes | Charlotte Fullerton | 2012-01-14 |
14 (40) | The Last Roundup | Amy Keating Rogers | 2012-01-21 |
15 (41) | The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 | M. A. Larson | 2012-01-28 |
16 (42) | Read It and Weep | Cindy Morrow | 2012-02-04 |
17 (43) | Hearts and Hooves Day | Meghan McCarthy | 2012-02-11 |
18 (44) | A Friend in Deed | Amy Keating Rogers | 2012-02-18 |
19 (45) | Putting Your Hoof Down | Merriwether Williams; story by Charlotte Fullerton |
2012-03-03 |
20 (46) | It's About Time | M. A. Larson | 2012-03-10 |
21 (47) | Dragon Quest | Merriwether Williams | 2012-03-17 |
22 (48) | Hurricane Fluttershy | Cindy Morrow | 2012-03-24 |
23 (49) | Ponyville Confidential | M. A. Larson | 2012-03-31 |
24 (50) | MMMystery on the Friendship Express | Amy Keating Rogers | 2012-04-07 |
25 (51) | A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1 | Meghan McCarthy | 2012-04-21 |
26 (52) | A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2 | Meghan McCarthy |
Season three[]
Season three has been announced by The Hub. See the season three section of the show's article.