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My Little Pony (TV series) facts for kids

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My Little Pony
My Little Pony (TV series) title card.jpg
Written by
  • Michael Reaves
  • George Arthur Bloom
  • David Wise
  • Michael Charles Hill
  • Carla Conway
  • Gerry Conway
  • Tracy Mann Hill
  • Gordon Kent
  • Barbara Petty
  • Rebecca Parr
  • Martin Pasko
  • Linda Woolverton
Creative director(s) Jay Bacal
Voices of
Composer(s) Robert J. Walsh
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 65
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Joe Bacal
  • David H. DePatie (Rescue at Midnight Castle)
  • Margaret Loesch (Escape from Catrina, Series 1 and 2)
  • Tom Griffin
Producer(s)
  • Mike Joens
  • Jeff Hall
  • Roger Slifer
Running time 10 minutes per episode
Production company(s)
  • Hasbro
  • Toei Animation
  • AKOM
  • Sunbow Productions
  • Marvel Productions
Distributor Claster Television
Release
Original network Syndication
Audio format Stereo
Original release September 15, 1986 (1986-09-15) – September 25, 1987 (1987-09-25)
Chronology
Related shows

My Little Pony is a 1986-1987 American animated television series produced by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions and animated by Toei Animation and AKOM based on the My Little Pony toys released by Hasbro. The series featured as the first segment of a program called My Little Pony 'n Friends. The second segment would be an unrelated cartoon based on another Hasbro franchise – including The Glo Friends, MoonDreamers and the Potato Head Kids. The series debuted on September 15, 1986, nearly three months after the release of My Little Pony: The Movie (which had introduced the Paradise Estate and many of the series' main characters), and ended on September 25, 1987. Two previous television specials were edited into segments of My Little Pony 'n Friends: Rescue at Midnight Castle and Escape from Catrina. The complete series of My Little Pony segments has been released on DVD in Regions 1 and 4. Other sections have been released on DVD such as "My Little Pony: The Glo Friends" as of 2013.

Synopsis

Ponyland is a mystical land, home to all kinds of magical creatures. The Little Ponies make their home in Paradise Estate, living a peaceful life filled with song and games. However, not all of the creatures of Ponyland are so peaceful, and the Ponies often find themselves having to fight for survival against witches, trolls, goblins and all the other beasts that would love to see the Little Ponies destroyed, enslaved or otherwise harmed.

Cast

  • Bettina Bush as Megan
  • Charlie Adler as Spike
  • Susan Blu as Buttons, Paradise
  • Nancy Cartwright as Gusty, Baby Heart Throb, Baby Cuddles, Posey, Truly, Honeysuckle, Surf Rider
  • Jeannie Elias as Whizzer, Masquerade, Baby Lickety-Split, Magic Star, Sweet Stuff, Sun Shower
  • Ellen Gerstell as Lofty, Locket, Mimic, Scoops
  • Skip Hinnant as narrator
  • Keri Houlihan as Molly
  • Katie Leigh as Fizzy, Heart Throb, Lickety-Split, Ribbon, Baby Shady, Baby Gusty, Baby Tiddley-Winks, Water Lily
  • Sherry Lynn as Galaxy, Gingerbread, Cherries Jubilee, Baby Half-Note, Baby Ribbon, Baby Sundance
  • Scott Menville as Danny
  • Sarah Partridge as Wind Whistler
  • Russi Taylor as Cupcake, Rosedust, Morning Glory
  • B. J. Ward as Surprise, North Star, Peach Blossom, Forget-Me-Not
  • Jill Wayne as Baby Lofty, Shady

Additional voices by Michael Bell, Joey Camen, Melanie Gaffin, Tress MacNeille, and Frank Welker

Characters

  • Earth Ponies are like normal horses, but brightly colored as many creatures in Ponyland are.
  • Pegasus Ponies are agile winged horses who can fly in the skies of Ponyland and even go beyond the rainbow to our world.
  • Unicorn Ponies possess a single horn on their forehead; all are able to 'wink in' and 'wink out' (short range teleport) and possess a unique individual ability (e.g. telepathy, telekinesis, aerokinesis, hydrokinesis, and intuition).
  • Flutter Ponies are shy but powerful creatures with magic in their gossamer wings, granting them flight as well as various undefined abilities. They live in an area of Ponyland known as Flutter Valley.
  • Sea Ponies are brightly colored seahorse-like creatures who dwell in the rivers and lakes of Ponyland.
  • The Bushwoolies, a joyful species of furballs with a hive mind mentality, causing them to usually think alike and in agreement. They seem to be led by a blue Bushwoolie named Hugster.
  • The Furbobs, cousins of the Bushwoolies. They primarily walk on four legs as opposed to Bushwoolies who seem to walk on the equivalent of two legs. Unlike the Bushwoolies, they constantly disagree with each other. Any agreement between them usually signals an emergency situation.
  • Stonebacks, ferocious looking armadillo-like creatures. They were enemies of the Furbobs until Megan helped the Furbobs realize that the two species can overcome their hostilities through friendship and understanding.
  • The Grundles, a small race of creatures ruled by the Grundle King. They used to live in Grundleland before it was smoozed (in My Little Pony: The Movie); they now live in Dream Castle.
  • Three human children, siblings Megan, Danny, and Molly, often fly across the Rainbow to join the Little Ponies.
  • The characters often seek advice on magical matters from the Moochick, a wise but eccentric gnome who lives in the nearby Mushromp with his rabbit assistant, Habbit.

Episodes

My Little Pony 'n Friends, Season 1 (1986)

No. Title Written by Original air date
1-10 "The End of Flutter Valley (Episodes 1–10)" George Arthur Bloom 15–26 September 1986 (15–26 September 1986)
Sequel to My Little Pony: The Movie. The ponies are on their way to Flutter Valley for the "Sun Tuesday" celebration with the Flutter ponies. Meanwhile, the witches from the Volcano of Gloom are busy hatching a plan to destroy Flutter Valley and the ponies, allying with an army of giant bees to get their revenge on the Flutter ponies. The bees steal the precious Sun Stone, and if the Flutter ponies can't get it back, their home will be destroyed.
11-14 "The Ghost of Paradise Estate (Episodes 1–4)" George Arthur Bloom 29 September-2 October 1986 (29 September-2 October 1986)
A ghost comes to Paradise Estate to scare the ponies. However, when it flies away, it becomes tangled in a tree, convincing Megan that it is not really a ghost. She introduces herself as Pluma, a shape-shifting bird. She tells them about a creature who lived in Dream Valley before the Paradise Estate was built and is planning to destroy the ponies' home. Megan and the others decide to help Pluma recover the Flashstone, and save her grandfather.
15 "The Great Rainbow Caper" Diane Duane 3 October 1986 (1986-10-03)
A pair of monkeys called Gizmonks take Danny and Surprise prisoner until Megan turns over the Rainbow of Light to them.
16-19 "The Glass Princess (Episodes 1–4)" Tracey Mann Hall and Michael Charles Hill 6–9 October 1986 (6–9 October 1986)

A self-obsessed witch named Porcina wants to turn the world into glass, to see her reflection everywhere. Three ponies, captured by a trio of Raptorians, are the key to Porcina's plan, and Megan and her friends must stop her using their own magic to destroy their friends. Meanwhile, Shady makes many accusations against herself.

After the first run of Part 4, the song "Hurry" was removed, and the episode got slowed so that it would maintain its length. The scene with the song does not appear on any VHS or DVD release of this story.
20 "Pony Puppy" Carla Joseph Conway and Gerry Conway 10 October 1986 (1986-10-10)
The ponies find a giant puppy and decide to keep her, build her a doghouse, and name her Dina. When the new puppy is reunited with her family the following spring, the ponies are sad to see her go, but they realize that even though friends come and go they will never leave their hearts.
21-24 "Bright Lights (Episodes 1–4)" Barbara Petty 13–16 October 1986 (13–16 October 1986)
The baby ponies are delighted when rock star Knight Shade performs for them - but the concert is a front to steal their shadows and feed his dark master.
25 "Sweet Stuff and the Treasure Hunt" Cherie Dee Wilkerson 17 October 1986 (1986-10-17)
Sweet Stuff wants to play games with everyone else, but feels left out because she is an earth pony and doesn't seem to be good at anything. She ends up surprising everyone (even herself) when she joins a treasure hunt with the pegasi and is the only one able to answer the last riddle and win the game.
26-29 "The Return of Tambelon (Episodes 1–4)" Michael Reaves 20–23 October 1986 (20–23 October 1986)
The ancient city of Tambelon, the Realm of Darkness, disappeared 500 years ago. Now, it returns to Dream Valley and all of the unicorns mysteriously vanish.
30 "Little Piece of Magic" Beth Bornstein 24 October 1986 (1986-10-24)
The baby ponies are bored and want Ribbon and Buttons to play a game with them. Ribbon suggests that they play a game of make believe and runs out to go get them a red ball to use in their game. She explains that the red ball is magical and can be anything they want it to be. While she's gone, they take turns imagining what the red ball will be like.
31-34 "The Magic Coins (Episodes 1–4)" Michael Reaves 27–30 October 1986 (27–30 October 1986)
The ponies are delighted to discover a treasure chest of magic coins. However, Baby Lickety Split wishes for it to stop raining, causing a drought to spread all over Ponyland.
35 "Mish Mash Melee" Bruce Faulk 31 October 1986 (1986-10-31)
After a magical mishap, Fizzy, Shady, Wind Whistler, and Gusty must live each other's lives until they can restore the balance of nature.
36-37 "Woe Is Me (Episodes 1–2)" Gordon Kent 3–4 November 1986 (3–4 November 1986)
The ponies provide shelter to Woebegone, a wandering hobo who brings bad luck and disaster wherever he goes.
38-39 "Fugitive Flowers (Episodes 1–2)" Martin Pasko and Rebecca Parr 5–6 November 1986 (5–6 November 1986)
Posey finds some sentient flowers wandering around her garden and offers them shelter and water, but she has no idea what they have in store for her to repay her kindness. After the Flouries have taken Masquerade hostage, they are on their way to sucking the life out of Dream Valley unless the ponies can stop them.
40 "Would Be Dragonslayer" Carla Joseph Conway and Gerry Conway 7 November 1986 (1986-11-07)
Spike is harassed by a young boy trying to become a knight. The ponies help the boy to find a good deed that doesn't involve slaying their friend.
41-42 "Baby, It's Cold Outside (Episodes 1–2)" Gordon Kent 10–11 November 1986 (10–11 November 1986)
The ponies are delighted as snow falls in summer, not realizing that it's a plot by the Penguin King to freeze Ponyland and destroy those that can't survive the cold.
43-44 "Crunch the Rockdog (Episodes 1–2)" Linda Woolverton 12–13 November 1986 (12–13 November 1986)
A vicious dog carved from rock charges through Ponyland, turning everything it encounters to stone. Meanwhile, Wind Whistler gets her heart stomped on for being too analytical and not showing her emotions.
45-46 "The Revolt of Paradise Estate (Episodes 1–2)" David Wise 14, 17 November 1986 (14, 17 November 1986)
A magic spell brings the Paradise Estate to life, and its furniture declares war on the ponies.
47-48 "Through the Door (Episodes 1–2)" David Wise 18–19 November 1986 (18–19 November 1986)
A door is opened to the world of fairy tales, and the ponies meet legends such as Robin Hood, Aladdin's genie, and Hercules.
49-50 "Rescue from Midnight Castle (Episodes 1–2)" George Arthur Bloom 20–21 November 1986 (20–21 November 1986)
The first My Little Pony TV special from 1984, shortened and retitled "Escape from Midnight Castle".

My Little Pony 'n Friends, Season 2 (1987)

# Title Director Writer U.S. Original airdate
51-54 "The Quest of the Princess Ponies (Episodes 1–4)" TBA Michael Reaves 7–10 September 1987 (7–10 September 1987)
Lavan, a lava demon, kidnaps the princess ponies and steals their magic wands. As Lavan grows in power, Ponyland's magic is thrown into chaos. Can he be stopped before everything is destroyed?
55 "Spike's Search" TBA Michael Charles Hill 11 September 1987 (1987-09-11)
Spike goes in search of his roots and joins a dragon horde, but finds he does not agree with their bullying ways.
56-57 "The Golden Horseshoes (Episodes 1–2)" TBA Carla Joseph Conway and Gerry Conway 14–15 September 1987 (14–15 September 1987)
When Mimic becomes afflicted with a mysterious illness, Megan and the ponies embark on a series of odd adventures to find the four golden horseshoes with the power to heal the ailing unicorn.
58-59 "Flight to Cloud Castle (Episodes 1–2)" TBA Michael Reaves 16–17 September 1987 (16–17 September 1987)
Heart Throb, Locket, and Twilight help a young elf called Garf rescue his true love Ariel from an enchanted castle, while facing many dangers on the way.
60 "The Ice Cream Wars" TBA David Wise 18 September 1987 (1987-09-18)
The First Tooth baby ponies are put in charge of the Newborn Twins: Sniffles & Snookums and Milkweed & Tumbleweed. The unruly twins are temporarily subdued with the promise of ice cream, but first the First Tooth baby ponies must reunite the feuding ice cream makers Rocky Ripple and Fudgy McSwain, who have cut off Ponyland's ice cream supply.
61-62 "Somnambula (Episodes 1–2)" TBA David Wise 21–22 September 1987 (21–22 September 1987)
The ponies prepare a surprise Welcome Home party for the Big Brother ponies who have been racing around the world. However, before the Big Brothers arrive, an old witch named Somnambula puts the adult ponies into a trance, then forces them to play in a circus as she drains the youth from them. The Big Brothers set out to rescue the ponies.
63 "The Prince and the Ponies" TBA David Wise 23 September 1987 (1987-09-23)
The ponies come to the aid of two wronged royals when they attend an exclusive party at the Palace de Branforr. Meanwhile, the First Tooth Baby Ponies learn to be careful what they wish for.
64-65 "Escape from Katrina (Episodes 1–2)" TBA George Arthur Bloom 24–25 September 1987 (24–25 September 1987)
The second My Little Pony TV special from 1985, shortened and retitled. A sorceress has grown dependent on witch weed potion and has enslaved dozens of bushwoolies to produce it for her. When she kidnaps a baby pony, Megan and the ponies have to confront her.

Broadcast United Kingdom

Networks
United Kingdom
CITV (1987–1989)
TCC (1988–1997) (Next Along With Jem On TCC in 1994)
Sky One (1989–1997) (Sky One's Fun Factory, Sky One's The DJ Kat Show and Sky One) (Along With The Transformers On Sky One And Sky One's Fun Factory In 1988 until 1995 and Jem On Sky One's Fun Factory and Sky One's The DJ Kat Show in 1987 until 1990)
Tiny Pop (2007–2008)

Broadcast UK history

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: My Little Pony (serie de televisión) para niños

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