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MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC
MY LITTLE PONY, FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC - new series
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Original title: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic |
Author:
Lauren Faust Regia: Jayson Thiessen, James Wootton Production: DHX Media Vancouver, Hasbro Studios Country: United States Year: 10 October 2010 Broadcast in Italy: 29 August 2011 Gender: Fantasy Episodes: 117 mm Duration: 22 minutes Recommended age: Children from 0 to 6 years old |
In January on Cartoon: MY LITTLE PONY - FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC, the new series dedicated to the famous toy launched in the 80s and which has become a real cult. The series consists of 26 episodes with simple graphics but capable of giving expression to the characters, highlighting all their facets. Each episode focuses on one of the various aspects of friendship, explained from time to time through the daily problems of the protagonists. A series full of positive values that will involve not only baby viewers but also their mothers!
The series is set in the magical world of Equestria, a kingdom populated by colorful ponies that cause the sun to rise, rain, grow plants and fall leaves from trees in autumn. The protagonist is Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn pony, favorite pupil of Princess Celestia, the ruler of the kingdom. Seeing her always with her face on the books, the princess instructs Twilight to study a new form of magic, friendship, and to put it into practice. So he decides to send her along with assistant Spike, a young dragon, to Ponyville. It is here that the pony will meet other specimens, including Rainbow Dash, the tomboy of the group, Rarity, a lover of fashion, Applejack, a tireless worker, Fluttershy, shy and with a passion for animals, and finally Pinkie Pie, the queen of parties. Together, the group will experience several adventures within the town that will give the ponies the opportunity to increase their friendship. They will even discover that they were predestined to meet before they even knew each other. Twilight will be able to learn something new every day, while realizing that the bond that matters most is that of friendship.
MY LITTLE PONY - FLY MY MINI PONY |
Original title: My Little Pony 'n Friends | Author:
Bonnie Zacherle Regia: Jay Bacal Production: Hasbro, Sunbow Productions Country: United States Year: April 14 1984 Broadcast in Italy: 1988 Gender: Fantasy Episodes: 61 mm Duration: 22 minutes Recommended age: Children from 0 to 6 years old |
History
Ponyland, or as it is translated in the Italian version Ponilandia (also called the Valley of Happiness) is an enchanted land, home to numerous magical creatures, although not all as peaceful and loving as ponies. In the villa del paradiso the magical ponies live in joy and carefree, spending their days between games and music. However, witches, goblins, trolls or other monsters who unfortunately inhabit the Valley of Happiness are always ready to ruin this peace. Their intent is to eliminate all ponies, or at least to make them their personal slaves. The magical protagonists of this series are not alone in fighting this threat. In fact, next to them there is the little girl Megan, the only one who is allowed to enter the fairy world of Ponyland. Very often Megan lets herself be helped by her little brother Danny and her little sister Molly, who live on a farm across the rainbow. In addition to the three small children, the other protagonists, especially among the ponies, are: Stella Magica, Gustavo, Dolcina, Fiocco, Ombretta, Gustavo, Tobia, Pallina, the Batuffoli, Dragoberto, Stella Polare and Schizzo. All together they will find themselves facing fantastic adventures, such as the witches of the Volcano of Melancholy whose plan was to eliminate the Sunstone. This is of vital importance for the ponies and for the whole valley, since all of them derive life from it. To these are added monkeys, marine creatures, Porcellina (a pig whose intent is to transform the whole world into glass), flowers that become monsters, evil dogs, dragons and many others.
My Little Pony movies
In addition to the TV series, a feature film and two medium-length films were also produced. The first was released in theaters the year in which the series was broadcast for the first time in Italy, the other two were born before the TV series, but aired on Italian TV only at the end of the second season. Since these two medium-length films were set in a time prior to the animated series, it was decided to show them as a kind of prequel. The difference from the version that all the children knew, however, was clear, in fact the various characters showed quite different physical characteristics.
The toys
The whole "My mini pony" project was born from an idea of the market: Hasbro in fact had produced these little colored and glittered ponies, aimed at a medium-low range of public. In 1981 the commercialization was made official, and the sales boom that was recorded exceeded all expectations on the part of the manufacturer. For a certain period, in fact, the toys "my mini pony" even managed to surpass the sales numbers of the barbie, a real giant of children's toys in the world. The launch of the line, with the name of "My Little Pony" took place in 1982. A year later the toy line was distributed by DAG which, together with Hasbro itself, gave the reins in the hands of Co. Mark. P of Sapienza. The new marketing reinterpretation work led to the creation of a new name: "my mini pony".
Looking back we can well analyze the development of this phenomenon, divided into three generations of ponies. The first generation consisted of 6 ponies. The physical characteristics of these animals were designed to give them a human aspect as much as possible. In this way the children (especially girls to tell the truth) would see "my mini pony" not only as animals, on the contrary, they would approach them almost as if they were superheroes halfway between themselves and a fantastic animal fruit of the imagination. Physically their body was somewhat rounded, with very large eyes, placed on a face that, as mentioned, clearly recalled the human one. However, what most attracted the young buyers were the bright colors that characterized each pony. Colors that in addition to the body also expanded to the tail and mane. In addition, each animal was distinguished from the other above all by a unique symbol placed on the animal. Included in the box of the little pony, Hasbro also offered a comb, so as to always keep the hair of your mini friend in order. Soon, however, also following the television broadcast, it was decided to sell other characters from the cartoon. A winning idea given the sales statistics, and so unicorns, seahorses and pegasi made their appearance on the shelves of shops all over Italy.
Baby pony
Next to this line, already enriched by the newcomers, the new one of the Baby ponies was developed. In practice they were the same ponies already known, only this time their dimensions were really small, accompanied by numerous accessories, often sold separately. All ponies were part of this new line, starting with the first comers, the terrestrials, up to those with wings (the pegasi). This parallel production lasted for ten years (from 1982 to 1992), certainly not reaching the levels of the basic line, but giving more and more popularity to the series and in any case guaranteeing excellent income, facilitated by the sale of further related toys, in particular the various environments, such as the stable.
The second series
The second generation of "my mini pony" began in 1997. In America its name is "Friendship Garden Ponies" while in Europe it is known as "Ponyland". In the United States, the sale is a real flop and is stopped as early as 1999, even if the first generation had reported comforting results. In Europe, on the other hand, the second generation surpasses the first in sales and success. The new characteristics of the little ponies are longer and slender legs than in the past, moving heads (to give the possibility, albeit minimal, of an interaction between child and toy) and above all bright eyes which, together with the bright colors of the bodies of these little horses, they attracted the public as if they were made of sugar. As mentioned, the sales figures remained high, even if in the long run they turned out to be fluctuating. A recovery, however, occurred when it was decided to intervene decisively with a series of merchandising that went beyond simple puppets. So she found herself invaded by notebooks, perfumes, video games, teen magazines, T-shirts, hats and glasses. A real expanding market.
The third series
The third and last generation starts in 2003, and a small step back in the design of the bodies seems to have been taken. In fact, it seems to have wanted to recall the slightly more rounded image of the early 80s, while maintaining the characteristic of glittery and shiny bodies, also adding a small magnet in one of the four hooves of the pony. This served to attract the various accessories sold (separately) by Hasbro. But soon this addition was eliminated from the new productions, since there were malfunction problems, caused by the magnets, by the electronic equipment. An important market strategy was that of the points to be collected inside each box of "my mini pony". In fact, once the necessary points were collected, it was possible to receive exclusive ponies, not present on the market. This tactic allowed us to recover more than good results also in the United States, where the sale had started at the same time as Europe. Co. Mark does not pay at all. P, also in collaboration with Hasbro, publishes "Collection Pony", a publication also sold in America and Europe, even if the version of the old continent is much modified compared to the original stars and stripes. Given the great success of this initiative, a monthly magazine entitled "The newspaper of happiness of My Mini Pony" is also given to the press (it had a circulation of more than 100000 copies). To accompany the children at any time of the day, school diaries could not be missing. Thus "My Mini Pony Happiness Journal" was put up for sale.
The animated TV series is very simple in its architecture, in fact given the short duration of each episode, everything revolves around a powerful enemy that undermines the serenity of this equine Arcadia, and has an obviously happy and happy ending for each character, not forgetting to disseminate good advice and the right morale throughout the adventure. A more than discreet entertainment program for children, but to which the sale of puppets and gadgets is linked, whose success very often depends on the duration of the series itself.
Other My Little Pony links
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All My Little Pony names, images and trademarks are copyright © Hasbro, Co. Mark. , SunBow Production and are used here for cognitive and informative purposes.
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