‘My Little Pony’ on the big screen: 5 brony-tastic moments
When My Little Pony: The Movie galloped into theaters over the weekend, there were probably three types of viewers in the audience: kids, their supervising elders and bronies.
The last slice of the (Pinkie) Pie refers to adolescents and adults who enjoy the kids’ program earnestly. It’s a dedicated group that even hosts an annual fan event, BronyCon, which welcomed 7,609 attendees in July in Baltimore, its website says.
The bronies can thank their lucky stars — and perhaps Princess Luna — that enjoyable moments in the movie featuring the voices of Emily Blunt, Sia, Liev Schreiber, Uzo Aduba and more are not a Rarity.
THE FRIENDSHIP-FOCUSED ‘WE GOT THIS TOGETHER’
Princess Twilight Sparkle feels anxious about throwing the Friendship Festival because she feels all the responsibilities fall on her purple, winged shoulders. Through song, her friends Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy remind her that she’s “got this. We got this together.”
FOR THE GROWN-UPS
While Pony appears to be for children, there are references that might whiz by young viewers. The opening is set to a classic: We Got the Beat from The Go- Go’s’ debut album, released in 1981.
At one point, the Mane 6 believe they need to visit the Queen of the Hippos. This lays the groundwork for a reference to Hasbro’s late-’70s game Hungry Hungry Hippos that was met with deep, uproarious laughter.
SIA’S PONY DOPPELGÄNGER SONGBIRD SERENADE
Like Sia, her character Songbird Serenade has a set of powerful pipes and performs in the movie.
Drawing inspiration from the artist’s appearance in real life, the vocally inclined pony sports a two-toned black and blond mane, oversize bow and bangs that shield her eyes.
THE MANE 6’S TRANSFORMATION INTO SEA PONIES
As guests in the underwater kingdom of Queen Novo (Uzo Aduba), the crew morphs to better adapt to their surroundings. While maintaining their front hooves, they grow mermaid-like tails in place of hind legs. It’s a hybrid dream for zealous followers of the unicorn and mermaid trends.
TEMPEST SHADOW’S PONY-LICIOUS REAL NAME
The villainous Tempest (Emily Blunt), who works for the menacing Storm King, lets it be known toward the movie’s end that her given name is much more MLPlike. Cue the “awwws” — it’s Fizzlepop Berrytwist.