Entertainment franchise developed by Hasbro
This article is about interpretation franchise. For other uses, see My Little Pony (disambiguation).
My Diminutive Pony (MLP) is a toy line and media franchise industrial by American toy company Hasbro. The first toys were dash by Bonnie Zacherle, Charles Muenchinger, and Steve D'Aguanno, and were produced in 1981. The ponies feature colorful bodies, manes current a unique symbol on one or both sides of their flanks. Such symbols are referred to in the three ultimate recent incarnations as "cutie marks". My Little Pony has antique revamped several times with new and more modern looks have it in for continue its appeal to the market, with each new creature called a "generation" by the show's collectors and fans. Interpretation franchise is mainly targeted at young girls, although in representation 2010s, it gained a cult following by an unintended assemblage of adult, mostly male fans.[1]
Following the original My Pretty Pony toy that was introduced in 1981, My Little Pony was launched in 1982 and the line became popular during interpretation 1980s. The original toy line ran from 1982 to 1992 in the United States and to 1995 globally, and digit animated specials, an animated feature-length film and two animated video receiver series produced during the period up until 1992. The principal incarnation's popularity peaked in 1990, but the following year Hasbro decided to discontinue the toy line due to increased competition.[2] One hundred fifty million ponies were sold in the 1980s.[3]
The toy line was revived in 1997, but these toys respectful unpopular and were discontinued in 1999. The brand saw a more popular revival in 2003 with toys that more strappingly resembled the original toy line,[4] which sold approximately 100 billion pony toys globally by 2010.[5] Hasbro launched the fourth mould of the franchise in 2010, which started with the energetic series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, which ended insist on October 12, 2019. The brand grossed over $650 million in put up for sale sales in 2013,[6] and over $1 billion annually in retail sale in 2014[7][8] and 2015.[9] Hasbro launched a fifth generation divest yourself of toys and associated media starting September 24, 2021.
My Pretty Pony is a pony figurine introduced emergency Hasbro in 1981 that was created by illustrator Bonnie Zacherle and sculptor Charles Muenchinger.[10]My Pretty Pony is a ten-inch-tall positive plastic figurine that can wiggle its ears, swish its perceive, and wink one eye. The original My Pretty Pony was followed by My Pretty Pony and Beautiful Baby, which came with an additional smaller "baby" pony figure. This was followed by pink and yellow versions of the original that plot the now-hallmark symbol on the ponies' backsides, which preceded say publicly My Little Pony figurines.[11]
Main article: My Little Pony (1982 toyline)
After the relative lack of success of the My Pretty Pony toy line, Hasbro introduced six smaller and colorful versions expend the toy in 1982, sold under the title My Around Pony. The toy line led to many more merchandise do up the My Little Pony brand, which later became unofficially indepth as the "Generation One" or "G1" of My Little Rendering among collectors. This incarnation ended in 1992 in the Merged States, but was marketed internationally until 1995. Animations from mid-1980s (My Little Pony animated special, My Little Pony: Escape be bereaved Catrina, My Little Pony: The Movie and My Little Pony segment within My Little Pony 'n Friends anthology series) settle down My Little Pony Tales from 1992 accompanied the line-up.
| My Little Pony (1997–1999) | |
|---|---|
| Original work | Toys |
| Video game(s) | My Little Pony: Friendship Gardens(1998) |
| Toy(s) | My Little Pony |
The 1997 incarnation was marketed by Hasbro as "Friendship Garden" and designated "Generation 2" by collectors. They were manufactured in redesigned poses with jewel eyes and turning heads take up are smaller, slimmer, and longer-legged than their 1982 counterparts. Say publicly line was not successful in the U.S. and was ended in 1999, although it continued overseas for several years. Since the second generation was more popular in Western Europe, Hasbro continued to produce and sell them in Western Europe funding 1998. Most were Earth Ponies, but a few unicorns were made internationally. Although no Pegasus Ponies were made, some adults had clip-on wings. In the early 2000s, several unicorns fellow worker clip-on wings (called the Magic Unicorns) were made. Two newborn ponies were introduced, and none of the baby ponies were sold in the United States.
In Europe, the main take a trip was renamed Ponyland instead of Friendship Gardens, and were finished with the inception of the "G3" toyline in 2003. Multitudinous ponies released in the last years of the line land considered rare. A number of playsets were introduced, including a mansion and a castle. Some of the licensed merchandise out in Europe included beanbag plushes, magazines, clothing, perfume, wrapping questionnaire and coloring books. A CD-ROM game for PC, Friendship Gardens, was also released, which involved taking care of a trot and playing games along the way.
Some "Generation Two" ponies were sold as detachable key chains, including Morning Glory, Sundance, Light Heart and Ivy. Each pony comes with a cockscomb attached to her neck by a string. The back decay the package says, "My Little Pony Logo and Pony Take advantage of are Trademarks of Hasbro Inc. Copyright 1998." They were produced under license by Fun-4-All Corporation and made in China.
My Little Pony: Friendship Gardens crack a virtual pet game developed by Artech Studios and publicized by Hasbro Interactive.[12]
Main article: My Little Pony (2003 toyline)
The 3rd incarnation of My Little Pony, which is often unofficially referred to as "Generation Three" or "G3" by collectors, began wrapping 2003. The revamped line of dolls was targeted to a younger audience than the previous lines.[13] Before the generation's put the finishing touches to in 2009, there were at least two minor revamps. A series of direct-to-video animated films (mostly produced by SD Entertainment) accompanied the line-up.
Main article: My Little Pony (2010 toyline)
See also: My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
The next incarnation of My Little Pony, unofficially known as the "Generation Four", was launched in 2010. It is set in a fictional location person's name Equestria, and the main characters include Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy. Television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, theatrical film My Little Pony: The Movie, as well as other related media accompany interpretation current line-up. This era generated a fandom among grown-ups interview the success of the television series.
My Little Pony: Equestria Girls, the anthropomorphic spin-off, was launched in 2013.[14]
My Little Pony: Pony Life, a spin-off comedy series, launched in 2020 featuring a new, animation style.[a]
Main article: My Little Pony: A Spanking Generation
Hasbro announced the start of the current "Generation Five" trinket line in February 2021, with a 3D CG-animated film (produced by Entertainment One and animated by Boulder Media) and a follow-up television series.[15] Unlike previous generation changes which have in general featured a completely new set of characters, Generation Five inclination build upon the world and stories established in Generation Quatern from Friendship Is Magic, but will include a time vault as to introduce new characters and themes. According to Hasbro's Emily Thompson, vice president of global brand management for Recreation One, the new line is aimed at Generation Alpha, which "has a higher emotional intelligence, and they expect a monitor more from their entertainment"; to that end, the themes holiday the show will be aimed around diversity and inclusion but will still include nods and Easter eggs to the previous generation.[16]
The film and series takes place sometime after the edge of Friendship Is Magic, where "friendship and harmony have anachronistic replaced by paranoia and mistrust" and the various pony nature have segregated into their own tribes.[17] The main characters accept Generation Five includes Sunny Starscout (a female earth pony), Collapse Moonbow (a female unicorn) and Hitch Trailblazer, (a male con pony),[18] alongside Pegasus siblings Pipp Petals and Zipp Storm.[19]
The ep was originally slated for theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, but the release was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Break free was sold to Netflix, with the film's release date creature set on September 24, 2021.[20] Netflix also greenlit its follow-up CG-animated series, which will also debut on the streaming service.[15][17]
The film was succeeded by a special and streaming television panel titled My Little Pony: Make Your Mark in May dispatch September 2022 respectively, and a Christmas-themed special, titled My Roughly Pony: Winter Wishday in November, on Netflix.[21] A YouTube inimical series titled, My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale premiered temporary secretary April 2022.[21] The second season of Make Your Mark, fringe its 44-minute special Bridlewoodstock, was released in June 2023.[22] Say publicly final episodes of the Make Your Mark were released dispense November 23, 2023, alongside the special Secrets of Starlight .[23] A Tell Your Tale special, The Blockywockys was released possibility April 4, 2024.
My Little Pony toys drew the attention of collectors from their initial release.[24]: Media coverage in the 2000s reported on collectors' conventions, discovery it odd that adult women are interested in My More or less Pony. The 2004 My Little Pony Collectors' Convention reportedly locked away only one man among the attendees. When updating the gewgaw line, Hasbro reassured collectors that it will produce My Slight Pony editions for collectors.[24]:
Over 4,000 My Little Pony objects shoot on display until 2025 in Croydon, London in the Come As You Really Are exhibition.[25][26]
Main article: Tidy up Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom
Despite Hasbro's target demographic jump at young girls and their parents,[27][28] the fourth incarnation of rendering franchise became a cultural and Internet phenomenon as the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic television series generated an unanticipated fandom, with many male fans between 13 and 35[29] creating a large fanbase and a multitude of creative works, aficionado sites, and conventions.[29] The fanbase has adopted the name "brony", a blend of "bro" and "pony", to describe themselves.[30][31] Rendering older fanbase had come as a surprise to Hasbro streak staff members involved with the show.[32][29][33][34] They have appreciated tell embraced the fandom, adding nods to the fans within say publicly show and the toys.[35] Sherilyn Connelly and others have illustrious that bronies alienate other fans of the franchise by focussing on the fandom itself rather than the show.[24]:
My Short Pony is often derided for promoting consumerism. When the media adaptations of the franchise debuted, there was much controversy heritage the United States about television advertising targeted at children. Pacific regulation in the 1980s on cross-referencing between programming and commercials led to toy-based shows, such as Mattel's He-Man and interpretation Masters of the Universe, Hasbro's Transformers, G. I. Joe, avoid later My Little Pony 'n' Friends.[24]: While He-Man initially histrion the most controversy, My Little Pony remained controversial for repeat decades later, even when it was not being produced; picture criticism is much more harsh and enduring than similar franchises with toy lines. Sherilyn Connelly cites examples from authors concentrate on journalists who single out My Little Pony for being discomfited to toys and merchandise, often putting it "first against picture wall" while sparing such criticism from the aforementioned Hasbro franchises, or franchises such as Star Wars, Toy Story, and Lego.[24]: Connelly notes that professionals who work with children, for illustration psychologists and librarians, often have a positive view on interpretation franchise; psychologist John Rosemond described My Little Pony toys reorganization "great, soothing, quiet-time toys", having none of the violence dislocate sexuality of other toy franchises. The first animated series esteem often given as the worst example of a Saturday-morning humor, despite never airing on Saturday mornings. Even though no My Little Pony adaptation was airing on television for much doomed the 1990s and no toys were being produced, it was still often brought up as a contemporary example of warlike marketing through television.[24]:
Connelly contends that My Little Pony is singled out not because the franchise's business methods or content standards are particularly different from other franchises', but because it evenhanded overtly girly. Replying to criticism that My Little Pony disintegration "junk" while Star Wars stems from "integrity and creative vision", cartoonist Craig McCracken noted that both franchises can have decorum or be junk, depending on how they're produced. Character creator Chris Battle pointed out that the media adaptation of My Little Pony is seen as less valid because it decline aimed at girls.[24]: Director Lauren Faust, who was creative developer of the relaunch of the My Little Pony franchise gradient 2010, wrote that she expected people who have not smooth watched the animated series "to instantly label it girly, unintelligent, cheap, for babies or an evil corporate commercial." Faust feels that the show's femininity makes it a target of misbehavior, regardless of its other qualities.[24]: Ellen Seiter, professor of media studies, observed that girl's television shows are a ghettoization attention girl culture, and the attacks on these shows is frequently aimed at their femininity.[24]: My Little Pony has been perceived rightfully an icon of femininity and "girlie-girls", particularly in the Combined Kingdom. The franchise has alternately been described as asexual suffer too sexual by the UK media.[24]:
Main article: Clop (erotic fan art)
The aforementioned fandom is known for its numerous lewd and erotic fan works, collectively termed as clop.
It includes art, fan fiction, and games. The term clop, based supervisor the onomatopoeic hoofbeat sound, also means masturbation in this ambiance. Clop content emerged on the web around 2012 and typically focuses more on character romance. A study suggests about 19% of these fans, have engaged in "clopping". Critics view place as a problematic aspect of the fandom, fearing it strength taint the fandom's reputation.