‘My Little Pony Guardians Of Harmony’ Toy Line Coming This Fall!

by Rio McCarthyFebruary 10, 2016

This Fall Hasbro will be launching some My Little Pony toys that are a bit different than what we’re used to seeing. This new line is called Guardians of Harmony, and it’s intense! The first image I saw of the line was Shining Armor riding a giant transformed-into-full-dragon Spike, who has armor of his own. What?! That’s so cool!

There are many more than just that, and you’ll be able to get your first look at them in person if you’re at the New York Toy Fair this weekend. Samatha Lomow, the senior vice president of Hasbro Brands, said that after talking to fans and consumers who had asked for new ways to play with the core ponies, “They just wanted the characters brought to life in a whole new way.”

That’s definitely exciting for an older fan, like myself, that’s been with the series as a whole since she was little, and Friendship Is Magic since it started. Speaking of, you’ll get to see characters in this line that we haven’t seen for a little bit, such as the Cockatrice, Queen Chrysalis and the Changelings, and the Shadowbolts. It’s also nice to see some variation, as these are NOT the average brushable ponies they usually release with each new season.

Single figures will run around $9.99, “Figure and Friend” assortments will be $14.99 and include two characters from the same set, such as Princess Twilight and the Changeling, or Queen Chrysalis with Spike the Dragon. The set of Princesses Celestia and Luna will be $19.99, and the 13-inch dragon Spike will be $39.99 and comes with removable armor, fireball projectiles and a saddle so ponies can hop on for a ride. Keep your eyes peeled to the stores later this year when they start to arrive in Fall.

[via USA Today]

Geekscape Reviews: ‘My Little Pony: Adventures Of The Cutie Mark Crusaders’ DVD

by Shane O'HareFebruary 20, 2015

We’re back with another incredible My Little Pony collection from Shout! Factory Kids. This time around we’ve got five episodes all about those fancy tattoos called cutie marks!

I love these DVDs from Shout! Factory Kids because they are the perfect package FOR a younger fan of the show. These series of DVDs all have their own cohesive theme that I believe are great for a kid to enjoy in nice long binge sesh. Like Netflix for kids but without the bandwidth overages from Comcast!

Adventures of The Cutie Mark Crusaders centers around, well the Cutie Mark Crusaders (and the amazing Cheese Sandwich episode)! You get on disc:

The Cutie Mark Chronicles

The Cutie Pox

Flight To The Finish

Pinkie Pride

Twilight Time

Now I don’t want to get into reviewing each of these episodes. Frankly we don’t have enough time in the WEEK for me to coherently deconstruct each episode. I just want to give you an opinion on the entire package.

The episode selection is top notch with this release. I feel they curated a great series of episodes from all four seasons that all center around, what appears to be, the never ending journey of the CMC getting their cutie marks.

Bonuses include one of the genuinely fun Sing Alongs (hey, I’m a sucker for ridiculously sweet things OKAY!), a collection of surprisingly well done wallpapers and a printable coloring sheet.

Final Thoughts

All and all Adventures of The Cutie Mark Crusaders collection is a great product, just like all of these collections from Shout! Factory.

I give it a definite buy for a younger fan. As an older fan of the show, I don’t think it would appeal to the Brony/hardcore collector.

You can get your hands on Adventures of The Cutie Mark Crusaders February 24th!

Score: 3.5/5

MLP_FIM_AOTCMC_3D Box Art — Keep and eye out for THIS DVD case!

Geekscape Reviews: Equestria Girls ‘Rainbow Rocks’ Blu-Ray

by Shane O'HareOctober 25, 2014

Hot off the presses from Shout!Factory is the next in the Equestria Girls franchise. The full title. “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks”, was how you say, a bit long to put in the title of this review.

In case you aren’t in the know, “Equestria Girls” is a spin-off film series of the now HUGELY popular “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”. In these films there exists and alternate dimension similar to that of MLP’s Canterlot. This is not a dimension of sight or sound, but of hands and feet! That’s right, Ponies are People too!

The first film had our lead character, Twilight Sparkle, traveling through to this alternate dimension to stop the plans of an evil doer. Rainbow Rocks pretty much starts out the same, but this time there are THREE bad guys!

The story, much like the first one, is what it is. A nice feel good story with valuable lessons for the young crowd. For the older crowd, such as myself, it’s more of an elaborate fan service. Seeing all of our favorite characters human counterparts put a huge smile on my face throughout the entire film. The “adult” references throughout were always met with an audible laugh.

Equestria Grils Rainbow Rocks Daft Punk Rarity — This was hands down my favorite shot from the film.

The entire goal for our protagonists in “Rainbow Rocks” was to sing a song that would counter the evil magic from the films villains, The Dazzlings.

Hands down the best part of “Rainbow Rocks” was the amazing soundtrack. The entire plot revolves around a Battle of The Bands. The show’s composer, Daniel Ingram, freaking killed it. 10 all new original recordings from Daniel really stole the show (how many stage puns do you think I can get into this review?).

The Blu-Ray edition comes with both the Blu-Ray and DVD copy, as well as a code for the digital download version. The bonus features are a tad slim, but it is to be expected for a childrens release. The one feature I was extremely grateful for was the audio commentary. A gaggle of the films crew were present. Writers, producers, editors, animators. The entire crew was well represented. I really appreciated that it was obviously a group of people that loved their job, it wasn’t “dumbed down” for a younger audience. They pointed out small minute animation details that you wouldn’t normally have caught. It was a joy listening to it.

Final Thoughts

“Rainbow Rocks” was a must see for me this year. After the surprise that was the first Equestria Girls movie (it really superseded all my expectations), I knew that the sequel would have only improved on everything. Boy was I right.

The bonus features are lacking. Besides the audio commentary you get three sing alongs and the eight prequel shorts. The audio commentary and the fact that you get what amounts to three copies of the film more than makes up for it.

This is a must have for any MLP fan, young OR old.

You can get your hands on your own copy of “Rainbow Rocks” NEXT WEEK! It hits store shelves October 28th. There are some retailer specific bonuses too! If you get the DVD version at Target, Walmart or KMART you will get a Rainbow Rocks bracelet, Music CD or A Backstage Pass respectively.

SCORE: 4/5

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Gets A New Poster & More Theaters!

by Shane O'HareAugust 4, 2014

Having the second longest title in movie history (only behind The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies), Rainbow Rocks is the second film in the Equestria Girls series. Hasbro’s surprisingly successful attempt at sliding into the doll market, became a quick hit with MLP fans of all ages.

Today we got our hands on the newest poster for the film, along with the amazing announcement that the film is coming to MORE theaters! Still, no Alaska though 🙁

MY LITTLE PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS: RAINBOW ROCKS the movie finds Canterlot High (CHS) hosting a musical showcase, and Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy are going to be performing with their new band, The Rainbooms. But when The Dazzlings, a new girl group, arrive at CHS and convince everyone to turn the friendly showcase into a Battle of the Bands, tensions mount between the competing musical acts. A now-reformed Sunset Shimmer realizes that the Dazzlings may not be ordinary girls and are after something far more sinister than just being named Best Band at Canterlot High. The Rainbooms call on Princess Twilight to restore harmony to their world to help them perform a musical counter-spell so that they can win a battle that now determines the fate of the entire school!

I am so freaking excited for this, the last Equestria Girls film really surprised me. All of the charm from the show was brought over to the new story and setting. The characters remained true to their Pony counterparts, and Daniel Ingram really knocked it out of the park with the music. Unfortunately, living up here in Alaska, I have to wait for it to hit DVD. I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait.

To find a theater near you playing Rainbow Rocks click HERE.

Be sure to check out our friends over at Shout! Kids, and the official Equestria Girls website for more information.

Brony Breakdown: MLP Season 4 Premiere!

by Shane O'HareNovember 25, 2013

If you’re a fan of MLP like we at Geekscape are, then you were more than elated when Season 4 of our beloved cartoon premiered this Saturday. We were greeted with two wondrous, BACK TO BACK episodes, kicking off the newest season with a bang! There be SPOILERS here on out so if you haven’t watched it then GO DO IT!

We’re greeted with a lovely scene of the Mane Six, trying to teach the newly winged Twilight how to fly. See, if you didn’t remember, she became a PRINCESS! A Unicorn with wings is an Alicorn (or Peggacorn, viewers may choose their mythical animal naming convention on their own accord). Her friends are more than excited to help her with her Royal Duties, and all bow and praise her as the new Princess of Ponyville. This is when we are reminded of this show’s very positive qualities. Twilight is a very humble individual and doesn’t feel that she deserves to be worshiped. Her friends bowing to her just doesn’t feel right. We can see that even though she has changed physically (dem wings baby), she hasn’t gotten up to the level of Princess emotionally or mentally. Yeah, I am getting next level on the deconstruction of this cartoon horse.

We are soon thrust quickly into the plot. Our dear Twilight has to get things ready for the Summer Sun Celebration. Yeah, we’re getting some season one call backs here. The Mane Six all pack up and head to Canterlot to help their friend with the preparations. Here we get a few glimpses of some evil afoot. Black, devilish looking vines come cropping up out of the ground. They seem to have an objective. An EVIL objective, but that is for later on. While the entire city is getting all hyped up for the Summer Sun Celebration, Twilight’s friends decide they need to go back to Ponyville to get their town’s own party ready. This is when Twilight is faced with another new daunting change in her life as Princess. Isolation; her friends all seem to eagerly leave her in the city. In reality they’re excited and happy for Twilight and just want to celebrate with her.

On the eve of the celebration, Twilight wakes up in the middle of the night to something very out of the ordinary. The Moon and the Sun are both in the sky, like together. So of course the citizens of the city begin to flip their proverbial Horse Apples. We are quickly informed that Princess Celestia and Luna are both MIA, thus explaining the Moon/Sun issue. When it is decided for Twilight that she is in charge, due to the fact she is the only Princess around. I mean, they COULD go get Cadence, but she is written off as being “too busy” running the Crystal Empire. I’m sure she’d find the time to rescue the two horses in charge of controlling the day night cycle, but whatever. Twilight, the President pro tempore of the Senate, quickly jumps to action. This is where I start to get impressed with the show’s writing again. Her timid, shyness is quickly replaced with a fast-acting plan-making pony. She orders the citizens of Canterlot to bunker up and wait while she goes to Ponyville to get the show’s Deus Ex Machina. The Elements of Harmony, which are stored in her library back at home.

MLP S4E01 (2) — Is it really a good idea to keep the most powerful defensive magic items unattended in a library?

She quickly returns to Ponyville to see it overrun with mischievous happenings and the evil vines from before. The Mane Six are soon reunited and they gear up with the Elements of Harmony. All the “pranking” magic that is plaguing the town gives Twilight an idea of who is the culprit. She summons up some heavy looking magic and who of all people shows up but Discord! Voice amazingly by the one and only John de Lancie. After a back and forth, we’ve come to the conclusion that he is NOT the cause of the evil goings on! What ever will the Mane Six do? The vines all seem to be coming from the Everfree Forest, so the team gets all Fellowship of The Ring on us and gets ready to go adventuring, but not before they run into Zecora, the voodoo witch doctor Zebra that lives in the woods. She produces a potion that only an Alicorn can activate, and once activated will grant the user the ability to find the source of the evil goings ons. Of course Twilight zaps it and doses up with the magical stuff. What follows is a series of narrative plot points dumped in our laps. We are shown, through Twilight’s eyes, three major events in the Equestria Timeline. Starting with the more recent, turning of Princess Luna into Nightmare Moon and following banishment. Then the first defeat of Discord, and finishing it all up with where Celestia first found the Elements of Harmony.

Many years ago the great Princess harvested the Elements from the Tree of Harmony. The only magic powerful enough to defeat Discord, she says that the Tree has enough magic in it to keep things in…harmony. Well it appears that magic has run out! The team now has their objective, find the Tree of Harmony and fix it. Soon into the journey it is decided that this is dangerous work, too dangerous for the likes of Royalty, and Twilight is sent back to the safety of the town. The feeling of abandonment hits Twilight harder than Rob Ford hits an innocent constituent. She finds comfort and personal growth help from the strangest of places, Discord! She soon realizes that splitting up the Deus Ex Machina in the name of royal safety. She braves the bramble once again and joins up with her friends.

The Fellowship soon finds the Tree of Harmony and it is in a bad way. The evil vines have sucked its energy away. The only way to fix things is to return the Elements to the Tree. Sacrificing the writers get out of jail free card for the sake of plot. WHAT A TWIST! Twilight gives the Tree back the Elements and once powered up, it pushes back the evil and Celestia and Luna are returned safely. The Tree then buds a new flower and inside of it is a crystal box with six key holes. Season 4’s plot is then dumped in our laps. No one knows where the keys are but they all know that they must find them, for some reason. Back at town we soon find out that the evil vines were actually planted by Discord way back in his first tussle with Celestia. He just figured it wouldn’t take this long for them to kick in. OH YOU!

MLP S4E01 (1) — The Tree of Harmony in all it’s glory!

Hard cut back to Canterlot for the Summer Sun Celebration. Just as it is wrapping up, the once embarrassed Twilight jumps in to give the ceremony a little bit of Swag, and joins Luna and Celestia on stage, she finally accepted her roll as princess. Credits.

Final Thoughts

First off, this was a long read and if you made it this far I commend you. It being a double episode full of plot and narrative it really was a lot to cover. I was giddy as a schoolgirl when the show started, and had a visible smile on when the end credits rolled. I was a little leery about the direction the show was going; the coronation of Twilight was rumored to be the cause of Hasbro executives wanting to sell more toys (as well as the idea of the Equestria Girls movie). The writers of the show really know how to create something charming together. This premiere was intelligent, funny and really showed Twilight’s growth into the big shoes (or tiara) that a Princess needs to wear. I am very excited to see what happens next week, and you can be sure that I will have plenty to say about it!

Geekscape Interviews Daniel Ingram Composer For My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

by Shane O'HareFebruary 12, 2013

Yesterday I had the great opportunity to interview Daniel Ingram, a two time Emmy nominee for his work on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Being a huge fan of the show, and moreso the music I was so excited to be able to talk to the man behind the tunes. I was even MORE nervous. So about 3:30 my time I started to stammer my way through a very interesting interview.

I’ll have my questions posted in BOLD and Daniels responses will be quoted.

So lets get to it, how did you get started making music for cartoons and how did you end up working on My Little Pony?

I’ve always enjoyed making music, I love to make music. I performed throughout school. When I got out of College I was writing music for various shows. Then I got a job making music for the show Martha Speaks, which was really fun. One day I got a call from the shows producer, Sarah Wall, and she said that she was working on the new My Little Pony with Lauren Faust and that she wanted me to do the music for it. The first song I did was the Pinkies Laugh song from episode two. Then it all kind of grew from there.

I’m a huge fan of the show myself, did you ever think it was going to blow up like it did? And did you ever think it was going to be like by so many different kinds of people?

I never expected it to blow up like it did. I had put Winter Wrap Up on YouTube so that I could show it to somebody, and a few days later I get a call from them saying I was working on something big. That I had a million views on the song. It was crazy.

So last year you were nominated for two Grammies, how was that like?

I was nominated for Emmys, you have to actually have made a soundtrack for Grammies, I WISH I could be nominated for a Grammy.

OH YEAH! Thats right! So how was that like? HAHA! (My nerves had gotten the best of me and I had gotten the two awards mixed up…great.)

It was really awesome. It was really an honor to be nominated. It was fun to go through the whole process.

One of the great things about the Brony fandom for the show is all the music being created around. Do you ever listen to any of the remixes or original songs?

I try to stay away from the original songs, mostly because of conflict of interest. I don’t want to listen to something then a year down the road write something that sounds too familiar. As for the remixes I really like them, it’s exciting to see what some of the fans can produce. Like when Babs Seed came out I was blown away by how many remixes were up so quickly. There is so much out there.

What kind of direction will you be going in Season 4?

Well, I can’t really talk much about Season 4 just yet. I think everyone will like what I have planned.

What do you think about new and emerging genres? There are a lot of Electronic artists in the forefront right now, and are there any new directions you want to go?

Its always exciting to hear new stuff, there is a lot of amazing new music coming out. As for new genres, We have some new things planned for later this year, again I can’t talk about it, but the fans will definitely like it.

Walk me through your recording process, do you work on the tunes first or lyrics? And do you record everything, I guess traditionally or do you use synths and tools like Ableton?

I use a little of both really, first I like to plan out the lyrics. Its good to have something upbeat and happy to start with. So I write the lyrics and then play a piano or play the guitar while I sing them. Then I get with a singer and record a Piano Demo which is just the song in it’s rawest form. That is what we submit and then when it gets the go ahead we record the full piece.

So I guess this is kind of a cliched question, but are there any artists out there that you would love to record with?

Living or dead?

Why not both?!

Haha, well I’d love to play with Gregory Alan Isakov. I really like what he is putting out and it would be fun to play with him. As for someone just to pick their brain I’d have to say Randy Newman. It would be really great to talk to him.

I know the coronation concert is…is it this week or was it last?

It was just this last week.

How was that were you able to go?

Yes! I did get to go, I flew down for a few days. It was awesome. It was really cool to go to the event and be able to hear some of the stuff I wrote performed live. It was a great experience seeing all these kids having fun.

So I think I asked all that I wanted to, I am just a really big fan of your work.

What is your favorite song from the show?

Winter Wrap Up hands down. I was just going along with the show watching a few episodes, and when I heard it I was blown away and hooked. I couldn’t believe something that good was coming from a cartoon.

Haha! Thanks! It’s funny you mentioned that, I was on a plane recently and that was the only song I had on my iPad so I thought “Hey, I wrote this over a year ago why not listen to it”. It was a fun listening to it again after so long.

Do you have a solo career or do you write music outside of shows?

Well, I’m pretty busy right now. The HUB has got me on My Little Pony and Littlest Petshop, so I have a full schedule. I’d love to try something eventually.

After that we had our goodbyes and said farewell. Daniel is a very soft spoken guy and it is obvious from just talking with him that he really loves what he does. Making great music for some of our favorite shows.

Be sure to check out the newest episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is magic this Saturday the 16th at 10:30 AM EST to hear more of Daniel’s work!

Exclusive: Official My Little Pony: FiM Inspirational Posters and Trolley for SDCC

by Shane O'HareJune 29, 2012

The super rad fine folks over at The HUB have clued the Geekscape team in on some of the special things they have planned for this years San Diego Comic Con. They have made eight official “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” inspirational posters that will be part of the decor at their booth and their special Trolley car! Check out the awesome below!

They also let us know that they will have an “MLP:FiM” trolley that runs on the San Diego Trolley lines! It is a special trolley car called The Friendship Express. It starts running on the city trolley tracks this Saturday, June 30th, and runs through the entire month of July!

Also, SDCC released their Friday schedule today and there IS a pony panel going on.

10:00-11:00 Hasbro Studios: My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic— Panelists from Hasbro Studios and The HUB TV Network’s My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic share details of the making of the animated series and how the “friendship” and “magic” are brought to life. Fans won’t want to miss it! Also includes Q&A time. Room 23ABC

So if you are going to be at the convention, make sure you get a ticket to ride with the Mane 6!