My Little Pony: The Movie

My Little Pony: The Movie is a 2017 animated musical fantasy adventure produced by Hasbro's Allspark Pictures and animated by DHX Media's Vancouver studio. It expands the world of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic from television into a feature-length quest, following Twilight Sparkle and her five closest friends—Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy—along with Spike, as they attempt to save Equestria from the invading Storm King. The film begins during preparations for Equestria's first Friendship Festival in Canterlot. The celebration is attacked by the Storm King's forces, led by Tempest Shadow, a unicorn whose damaged horn has left her embittered and vulnerable to the Storm King's promise of restoration. Twilight and her friends escape and travel beyond Equestria in search of the hippogriffs, whose magical resources might help defeat the invaders. Their journey takes them through the desert trading city of Klugetown, onto a pirate-operated airship, and eventually to the underwater kingdom of Seaquestria. Along the way, they encounter Capper, Captain Celaeno and her crew, Princess Skystar and Queen Novo, each of whom becomes connected to the larger conflict. The story places the franchise's central friendship theme under pressure. Twilight becomes increasingly anxious about failing to protect Equestria and eventually attempts to take the hippogriffs' magic pearl without permission. Her actions cause a serious dispute with her friends, but the group later reunites to rescue her and confront the Storm King. Tempest, whose own childhood experience of rejection shaped her allegiance to the villain, ultimately turns against him. The conclusion restores the princesses' magic, defeats the Storm King and brings the Friendship Festival back to life, with Tempest accepted into the group. Directed by Jayson Thiessen, the film was written by Meghan McCarthy, Joe Ballarini, Michael Vogel and Rita Hsiao, with McCarthy and Vogel also serving as executive producers. The project was developed as a larger-scale story than a regular television episode and was designed to remain separate from the Equestria Girls spin-off. Its production used Toon Boom Harmony and retained the visual identity and principal voice performers of Friendship Is Magic while adding prominent film and music performers, including Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Peña, Taye Diggs, Uzo Aduba, Zoe Saldaña and Sia. The film premiered in New York City on September 24, 2017, and was released in the United States on October 6, 2017, by Lionsgate. Critics gave it mixed reviews, but its commercial performance was strong relative to its reported production cost. It grossed approximately $61.3 million worldwide against a reported $6.5 million budget and became Lionsgate's highest-grossing animated feature at the time. As a franchise product, it combined theatrical entertainment with My Little Pony's established character, music, licensing and toy ecosystem.

The film developed out of the success of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, an animated television series that had built a substantial audience and an extensive character world. In 2012, series head writer Meghan McCarthy discussed the possibility of a feature adaptation, although a film was not yet confirmed. Hasbro formally announced the project in October 2014, identifying it as one of the early productions associated with Allspark Pictures, the company's film label. The creative team was assembled from the television series and the wider Hasbro Studios production operation. Joe Ballarini was initially announced as screenwriter, while McCarthy moved from her regular television responsibilities to develop the feature. Jayson Thiessen, who had served as the series' supervising director, became the film's director. Michael Vogel joined McCarthy as a co-executive producer, and later writing credits included Rita Hsiao and Ballarini. Hasbro executives Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis were attached as producers. The project was intended to tell a broader story than the television format permitted rather than simply function as an extended episode. McCarthy also stated that the film would be separate from the Equestria Girls spin-off continuity. The story sends Twilight Sparkle and the other members of the Mane Six outside Equestria after the Storm King attacks Canterlot during the Friendship Festival. The quest structure allowed the production to introduce new locations, species and supporting characters, including the inhabitants of Klugetown, the pirate crew led by Captain Celaeno, and the hippogriffs who live as seaponies in Seaquestria. The screenplay also introduced Tempest Shadow, whose damaged horn and history of rejection provide a more personal counterpart to the heroes. Her eventual redemption reinforces the franchise's emphasis on empathy, reconciliation and friendship. Concept art and additional story information were presented at PonyRadioCon in Moscow in April 2016. Casting announcements expanded the established television ensemble with film and music performers. The regular voices of Twilight and her friends returned, while Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Peña, Taye Diggs, Uzo Aduba and Zoe Saldaña joined as new characters. Sia was announced as Songbird Serenade and contributed to the film's musical identity. Recording for the songs was underway by June 2016. Animation was primarily produced at DHX Media's Vancouver division, the studio associated with Friendship Is Magic. The production used Toon Boom Harmony and retained the franchise's stylized 2D appearance while scaling the presentation for theatrical exhibition. The film premiered in New York City on September 24, 2017, before its United States release through Lionsgate on October 6. It received mixed critical reviews, with commentary divided between appreciation for its colorful design, songs and continuity with the television show and criticism of its story and conventional family-film structure. Commercially, the film performed strongly relative to its reported production budget. Its worldwide gross was approximately $61.3 million against a reported budget of $6.5 million, and it was described as Lionsgate's highest-grossing animated feature to that point. The theatrical release extended the My Little Pony brand into feature-film entertainment while supporting the broader franchise's established licensing, music and merchandise activities.

1. 2017Theatrical release

   The film premiered in New York City on September 24 and opened in the United States on October 6 through Lionsgate.

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2. 2016Concept material revealed

   Concept artwork and story details, including the characters' transformation into seaponies, were shown at PonyRadioCon in Moscow.

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3. 2015Creative direction clarified

   The production team said the film would be independent of Equestria Girls and would pursue a larger feature-scale story.

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4. 2014Film formally announced

   Hasbro announced a theatrical My Little Pony film, with Joe Ballarini attached as a screenwriter and McCarthy as a co-executive producer.

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5. 2012Feature-film possibility discussed

   Meghan McCarthy publicly discussed the possibility of a feature film based on Friendship Is Magic.

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A theatrical expansion of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic television franchise, positioned as a colorful, music-driven fantasy adventure for children, families and established fans of the series.

• My Little Pony: The MovieAnimated feature film2017

  The core product is a 2017 animated musical fantasy film following Twilight Sparkle and the Mane Six on an international journey through Equestria and beyond. It introduces a large ensemble of new characters and locations while preserving the television series' themes, character relationships and visual language.

• My Little Pony: The Movie soundtrackFilm soundtrack2017

  The film's musical component supports its theatrical positioning and includes songs performed by members of the voice cast and guest performer Sia. Music is integrated into the adventure narrative and the Friendship Festival setting.

• My Little Pony: The Movie licensed merchandiseLicensed merchandise2017

  The feature supplied characters, costumes and settings for franchise licensing and merchandise activity, including products connected with Twilight Sparkle, Tempest Shadow, Songbird Serenade and the film's other new characters. Specific product ranges are not detailed in the supplied sources.

• 2017Theatrical launch campaign

  United States · Canada · International

  The film was promoted as a theatrical continuation of Friendship Is Magic, emphasizing the returning Mane Six, new celebrity voices, original music and a larger fantasy adventure.

  Outcome. The release generated a worldwide gross of approximately $61.3 million.

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• 2016PonyRadioCon concept-art presentation

  Russia

  The production presented concept artwork and additional story information at PonyRadioCon in Moscow, giving fans an early look at the film's expanded world and seapony storyline.

  Outcome. Provided promotional visibility and franchise-fan engagement before release.

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• 2017Launch the feature theatricallyProduct launch

  The film was designed to broaden the My Little Pony entertainment franchise beyond television and direct-to-video animation.

  What changed. Lionsgate released the film theatrically in the United States on October 6, following a New York premiere.

  Aftermath. The film received mixed reviews but delivered a strong commercial result relative to its reported budget.

  Worldwide box office gross. $61.3 million (2017)

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• 2015Separate the film from Equestria GirlsStrategy

  The franchise already had an Equestria Girls spin-off, creating a need to distinguish the theatrical project's continuity and scope.

  What changed. The creative team stated that the film would not be part of the Equestria Girls storyline and would be developed as a broader feature adventure.

  Aftermath. The film centered on the core pony setting of Equestria and introduced new fantasy locations rather than adapting the human-world spin-off format.

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• 2014Use Allspark Pictures for the featureStrategy

  Hasbro sought to extend the My Little Pony television property into theatrical entertainment and identify a larger story that could not fit the regular television format.

  What changed. The company developed the film through Allspark Pictures, its self-financing film label at the time.

  Aftermath. The project became one of the early film productions associated with Hasbro's expanded screen-entertainment strategy.

  Reported production budget and worldwide gross. $61.3 million worldwide gross against a reported $6.5 million production budget (2017 theatrical release)

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• 2017My Little Pony: The Movie opens in the United States

  Lionsgate released the animated feature theatrically in the United States on October 6, following its New York premiere in September.

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• 2017The film becomes Lionsgate's highest-grossing animated feature at the time

  The movie earned approximately $61.3 million worldwide against a reported $6.5 million production budget, making it a notable theatrical result for Lionsgate's animated-film slate.

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• 2016Emily Blunt joins the voice cast

  Emily Blunt was announced as the voice of Tempest Shadow, a new major character and the film's principal antagonist before her eventual change of allegiance.

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• 2016Sia announced as Songbird Serenade

  Singer Sia joined the cast as Songbird Serenade, a famous pop-star pony whose design was influenced by Sia's public image.

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• 2014My Little Pony: The Movie announced as a theatrical feature

  Hasbro announced a feature film based on the Friendship Is Magic television property, with Allspark Pictures attached as the production label.

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1. My Little Pony: The Movie (2017 film)
2. Official My Little Pony: The Movie website