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With Hasbro’s animated series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic gaining an almost cult-like following on The Hub, it was only a matter of time before the show got its very own full-length feature. My Little Pony: Equestria Girls received a brief limited release back in June—but, if it didn’t play in a theater near you, you can now bring home a copy on Blu-ray.
Equestria Girls finds Twilight Sparkle (voiced by Tara Strong) struggling with her new role as a princess. Before she can fret too much about her qualifications as a leader in Equestria, though, her crown is stolen by Sunset Shimmer (Rebecca Shoichet), a former student of Princess Celestia (Nicole Oliver).
To get her crown back, Twilight Sparkle travels through a magic mirror to a strange new world—the human world—where she’s transformed into a teenage girl. There, at Canterlot High, she makes some strangely familiar friends while facing off against Sunset Shimmer for the title of fall formal princess.
The setting for this feature-length animated adventure may be different, but the themes are the same. Twilight and the human forms of her pony pals must overcome their differences and work together to stand up to Sunset Shimmer, who’s determined to break up their friendships and keep everyone at Canterlot High separated into cliques. As in the series, the message here is one of friendship—of embracing each other’s differences while realizing that, deep down, we’re not all that different after all. It’s a sweet message—one that’s important to remember, no matter what your age.
The characters, meanwhile, are as unique and as lovable as ever. Each one has her own personality—whether she’s interested in fashion or food or parties or pets—and, together, the characters find themselves battling a villain who’s all too familiar: the mean girl. Sunset Shimmer isn’t a fire-breathing dragon or an evil wizard; she’s just another kid—one who hurts other people not by casting dark spells but by lying and manipulating and humiliating others. She’s a formidable villain—one who’s sometimes even more terrifying than a magical beast—and the way that Twilight and her friends handle the situation will show viewers how they can stand up to bullies, too.
While the movie is animated in the same bright, colorful style as the series, the longer format gives the filmmakers the opportunity to play around a bit—not just with the new characters and their vibrant new setting but also with things like music. And the result is just what you’d want the feature-length version of a beloved animated series to be: it’s true to the tone and style of the series while adding some fun new twists.
In the end, My Little Pony: Equestria Girls may not be as flashy, as fancy, or as sophisticated as some other animated theatrical releases, but it’s a fun and fluffy adventure with an important message—making it a worthwhile addition to your little one’s Blu-ray collection.
Blu-ray Review:
The two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo release of My Little Pony: Equestria Girls offers a glimpse of the making of this full-length adventure in a three-part feature called Through the Mirror. It focuses on things like the story, the animation, and the songs while introducing fans to the team responsible for the film—from director Jayson Thiessen to Tara Strong, who voices Twilight Sparkle.
The release also features a few other small extras, including a printable movie poster and karaoke versions of a couple of the film’s songs. None of these features are required viewing—especially for younger fans. But if you’re interested in the series—and the creation of its first full-length feature—you might enjoy the behind-the-scenes look of Through the Mirror.
