#one heart feels like a 2010s broadway villain song

[millipedish]

It pleases me to no end to see people come to the fraggle fandom via the 2022 show and explore the 1986 show after. It's so lovely.

[magiesheartlove]

The Greatest Show (a love letter to MLP:FiM

Okay, so I was planing on writing this down sometime after the season ended but, I’m just feeling a lot of...feels, at the moment that, I just needed to get this written down.

I’m going to be frank, I am sad MLP is ending but, at the same time, I’m glad it won’t become one of those series that just keeps going and going to the point at which it overstayed it’s welcome. I have long since accepted that season 9 would be the end of MLP. When a show ends, I always accept it. If it ends on a high note, even better.

Out of all the shows I have watched in the early 2010s, MLP was one I never, in a millions years, would have imagined would gain not only such a huge and devoted following that stretched far from its intended demographic, but also was a series that, in my eyes, reflected everything I loved about storytelling and why I wanted to tell stories to begin with.

I will never forget the first time I was introduced to the series. I was watching television on an ordinary Saturday, and one day on the Hub Channel in the channel guide I read My Little Pony was on. I simply shrugged and decided to just watch a little snippet of my childhood, so “what the heck”.

I had since grown out of the MLP phase, and while I still love magically colorful equines, the cutesy, baby talking cartoon horses didn’t appeal to a high school senior like myself. Instead of seeing either some old nineties rerun of an old episode, or something meant for a pre-school audience, I saw... cute, funny, not-cheesy, modernized ponies in a stylized flash animation...and they were taking on a flipping DRAGON!

It was the episode “Dragonshy”, and when I saw Fluttershy stand up to that dragon, no joke, my jaw dropped. I’ve seen the typical “shy person gets over their fear” plot done before, but the way it was handled, and the way they portrayed the ponies (including Rainbow Dash, who I remembered being a fashionable pony who said “darling” every other word), as a rough and tumble tomboy was awesome! It had a fashionista unicorn with sass, a Pinkie Pie who was actually funny, a country pony with muscle, and a unicorn who took charge.

This... this wasn’t the MLP I grew up with. This was... modern and, updated and stylized and, thought out more.... and... I... was.... HOOKED! I couldn’t stop gushing about it to my Mom, and she was staring at me like “it’s My Little Pony”, and I was all “I know!”

Of course, when I watched “Winter Wrap up” and I saw that they were about to sing, I thought, “Oh, a cutesy song. Okay.” And then the song played.... it wasn’t annoying, the lyrics weren’t babyish, and the ponies sounded.... good. Like, star quality, Broadway good. The music, the animation, the way the song fit into the episode it.... it was..... I loved it. My jaw was to the floor at how it completely blew away my expectations. This was definitely NOT the my little pony I remember, and I just fell harder and harder for it.

I fell for the characters in a heartbeat, the world building was colorful and beautiful, and the morals. Let me tell ya, the morals sold it for me. While I had seen other educational shows that practically shove the message in your face, this one did it in a way that was tailored into each episode without feeling like it was bashing you over the head with it. Sure, there were a few times near the end, but they were minor nitpicks in my opinion.

This, this was the kind of show, the kind of story, the kind of world, the kind of characters I always dreamed of making myself. Stories about love, and friendship, and family, characters with bonds that you could feel radiating off of the screen, a world so vast and endless you wished you could enter it and live every day exploring the horizons and uncovering new mysteries within it, and all alongside the ones who would wrestle a hydra or jump from a crystal palace for you.

As I grew older, finding good quality shows I could enjoy was difficult. Shows now a days either try to be “edgy” or “mature” that they just came across as trying too hard. As much as I adore overarching stories, it was refreshing to go back to that slice of life, villain of the week format that is feels like it’s being rejected now a days in animation. Again, I don’t have a problem with overarching plots, but slice of life stories can be just as fun, and open up a lot of doors for character interactions and enough wiggle room for the morals to shine through more.

MLP continued to surprise me over the years. As I grew, so did the show. I mean, Twilight went from an awkward student who didn’t care about friends, into the flipping PRINCESS of Friendship! Rarity expanded her business, Rainbow Dash learned humility and became a Wonder Bolt. Fluttershy became more and more confident, Applejack learned to ask for help, and Pinkie Pie had her ups and down, but at the end of the day, all she really cared about was making her friends happy. Even the Cutie Mark Crusaders finally found their calling, and it completely blew me away. Like a lot of people, I cried.

Speaking of tears, I know the whole villains reforming thing has caused some controversy over the years, and while I do empathize with a lot of the criticism, I can’t not love seeing these villains change for the better. Call me a compete and total sap, but if a man who persecuted and murdered people for believing in a Savior, only to have the most earth shattering revelation and transform into a messenger of the Gospel, even at the risk of his own life, and if a man from my Church can go from a man with the heart of a murder, into a devoted and kindhearted man who sung songs to The Lord every Sunday, then yes. If someone is willing, if they WANT it enough, I believe a heart of stone can become a heart of flesh. I know, a lot of people don’t believe it, and I understand why. But like Jesus, I want those lost lambs to find their way back.

As a President Lincoln once said: If I make my enemy my friend, have I not defeated my enemy?

I love when a villain changes for the better. Even if, story wise, it can be rushed, the meaning is still there. For me, that’s enough. I know not everybody changes, but that doesn’t mean nobody will. We live in a fallen world, but there is a Light that chases away the dark, gives us His hand, and shows us there is a better way. Just like Twilight did for Sunset Shimmer, and Sunset Shimmer did for Human Twilight.

Aside from introducing me to an amazing fandom, meeting so many wonderful people, and even being the show that coaxed me into the fanfiction world which led me to discover my love fo writing, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has and will forever be my all time favorite show, surpassing all others from my childhood. It came during my transition from a child to an adult. It sparked my imagination, made me smile, made me laugh and made me cry.

This series, this world, and its characters carried something that made it stand out amongst so many other shows in my eyes, and in my heart I always knew why. To quote the minister of Shady Oak ministries on YouTube; “They took the love of God, and put it on ponies.” Yes, when I watched MLP, when I heard the messages and witnessed the strong relationships, I saw Jesus manifested in each of them. I wasn’t even trying to find it, I just... felt it in my heart.

The Magic Of Friendship brought out the best in the Mane Six, brought out the best in those around them, and came through for them even when it seemed as if all was lost. And, it didn’t just go by the motions. The characters grew and learned, but that spark, that special little something that made them who they were, it didn’t fade, it only became stronger. They became the best versions of themselves, and though they still tumble and fall, they keep getting back up, because one way or another, there will ways be somepony there to reach out their hoof and help them back up.

I am so grateful for this show, and for all the wonderful things that came with it. The good, the bad, the weird, the funny, all of it.

Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Spike, Celestia, Luna, Sunset Shimmer, Discord, everypony, Thank you all for these wonderful nine years, and for teaching us that Friendship truly is the most powerful magic of all. But most importantly, Thank You Jesus, for having revealed this series to me, and for speaking to me through these ponies, reminding me of Your love, Your mercy, and most of all, Your friendship.

Nothing stays the same for long, but when it changes doesn't mean it's gone. Things may come and things may go. Some go fast and some go slow. Few things last, that's all I know. But Friendship, carries on through the ages.

[dalia1784]

My thoughts on all the Disney Live Action Remakes so far!

Fair warning: This is strictly my opinion, if you have conflicting opinions on it feel free to post. Just don’t be a jerk about it.

1. Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (1994)

Though it doesn't stay as faithful to the Kipling classic and in someways the animated classic, it's a pretty solid action film with a pretty impressive cast. The action was amazing, interestingly the animals don't talk (except in it's 1998 prequel The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story) but the body language spoke for itself. Personally This is one I recommend.

2. 101 Dalmatians (1996)

Glen Close was the perfect Cruella De Vil! Unlike the animated classic, the animals do not communicate but their actions speak louder with some pretty humorous and down right adorable moments with the puppies. The odd change that stuck out was Rodger's job, in the animated film he was a musician struggling to write a hit song but in this one he's a game designer struggling to create a good game. There were some pretty sweet and even funny moments but then again this was written by John Hughes (Home Alone, Uncle Buck, National Lampoons Vacation).

3. 102 Dalmatians (2000)

With the director of A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, and Enchanted at the helm this one was a fun film. The idea of a rehabilitated Cruella was an interesting take but when she lapses back to her old ways it's pretty funny. Of course there's a lot more puppies this time around and the introduction to a spotless dalmatian named Oddball who stole the show alongside Glen Close and a very talkative parrot named Waddlesworth. I adored how they show how self conscious Oddball is about being spotless and the antics she gets into trying to get spots like her siblings. An enjoyable sequel with some adorable humor.

4. Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Director Tim Burton gives his spin on the tale of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland. Though surprisingly it takes place after the events of the original novel as Alice is now an adult who must return to Wonderland to end The Red Queen's reign. This one is visual candy from beginning to end with some pretty frightening moments, I enjoyed a lot of the acting and Johnny Depp was a treat to watch. The soundtrack admittingly is the best I've heard from Danny Elfman next to Edward Scissorhands.

5. The Sorcerer's Apprentice [Based on the segment from Fantasia (1940)] (2010)

I was pretty mixed on this on one hand Nicholas Cage's performance wasn't too bad I'd personally call it decent. But I felt personally that it was an underwhelming film. It had potential but so very little of it was shown. The iconic scene of the broom coming to life was a bit disappointing.

6. Maleficent (2014)

Angelina Jolie is extremely gorgeous and was the perfect choice for this movie. The action and the visuals were very dreamy, Lana Del Rey's cover of Once Upon a Dream is very haunting, and I adored that they tried to establish a bond between Aurora and Maleficent. The way the faeries were portrayed left me bewildered but it was something I was willing to overlook.

7. Cinderella (2015)

This one had the most gorgeous costume designs to put to film. Lily Tomlin was a doll in the role and her rendition of A Dream is a Wish (Your Heart Makes) is beautiful. The villains are well written and Helena Bonham Carter was an interesting choice as The Fairy Godmother. My major nitpick was with two certain scenes: The first was when Cinderella's original gown is torn, I felt it was way more stronger in the animated classic as not only do they tear it to shreds they curse and verbally (possibly physically) abuse her to the breaking point. The other is when Cinderella is locked in her room, many complained that she did nothing in the animated one but wait to get her out which isn't exactly true. She tries to get out even when the mice go through the effort to get the key to unlock the door. In the live action version she literally does what everyone had initially criticized and yet they claimed she was a feminist role model for doing so? I don't know I may be reading into this But I will give it this they do establish a relationship with Cinderella and the Prince in the beginning.

8. The Jungle Book (2016)

This movie deserved it's Oscar. The cast was spot on, Neel Sethi was perfect in the role of Mowgli. The action scenes were a fantastic especially in IMAX 3D, the emotional scenes were very powerful and I loved how they incorporated the songs and score cues from the animated classic. For the record I died laughing at Christopher Walken as King Louie, I did not expect to hear him sing at all.

9. Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)

A pretty mixed sequel, I loved a lot of the actors including Sacha Baron Cohen as Time. However the movie left me with way more questions and even more confused as to why certain events in the movie happened. I have nothing else to say but it's not bad, it's not great, it's just.. okay...

10. Pete's Dragon (2016)

This is my highly recommended of the remakes as it lives up to the original and then some. Elliot is one of the most uniquely designed dragons since Toothless and Falkor and this movie allowed him to shine. What I loved about this movie was the core focus on the movie which was the relationship between Elliot and Pete. This was one the most enduring and emotional films I've seen to date.

11. Beauty and the Beast (2017)

One of my all time animated films and this remake was a genuine mix of "I love this but dammit there's a lot I hate too!" For starters I absolutely hate the design of Belle's gown, for me it looked like a prom dress and sadly I've seen the Broadway show, the parks, and even cosplayers do a much better job of the gown's design. Dan Stevens as the Beast had me sold and nearly fooled me for Robbie Benson. I love the scenery design of the castle, the casting of the enchanted objects was actually really good though they did very little for Audra McDonald. Emma Watson's singing is extremely mixed when listening to the performances done by Paige O'hara and Susan Egan. Honestly I wished this was mixture of both the Broadway and the animated. The major positive I have is the soundtrack the songs are great and I was happy Alan Menken returned for the score (thanks for incorporating Home from the Broadway). Out of the new songs mine personally were Josh Groban's rendition of Evermore, Celine Dion's rendition of How Does a Moment Last Forever, and Days in the Sun as a decent replacement for Human Again. Ariana Grande and John Legend's rendition of the song is okay, it felt more like they were just trying to up Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson's rendition. Oh for the record the whole Lefou being gay was pretty solid I mean I caught on just by listening to his dialogue but it felt like it was tacked on to get more ticket sales because of it. A major mix bag it's worth a watch on Netflix.

12. Christopher Robin [Based off The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh(1977)] (2018)

Once again I was reduced to crying, this is personally one of my favorite Winnie the Pooh films to date next to The Tigger Movie and 2011's Winnie the Pooh. This was a genuine roller coaster of feels and breath of fresh air for the Hundred Acre Wood, the effects for our favorites so perfect and so life-like. Hearing Jim Cummings reprise his roles was overwhelming and a welcoming call, Ewan McGregor's performance is enduring and emotional. The movie itself gives off the stunning whimsical vibes like 1991's Hook, showcasing the idea of Christopher Robin as an adult. This is a pure gem to watch.