My Little Pony: A New Generation

Name: My Little Pony: A New Generation - Christian Parent's Review
Item: My Little Pony: A New Generation
Rating: 3
Author: StoryScanner

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General Review

Parent's Guide to My Little Pony: A New Generation

My Little Pony: A New Generation is a 2021 animated adventure comedy film distributed by Netflix, marking the beginning of the fifth generation of the beloved My Little Pony franchise. Set many years after the events of "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic," the movie takes place in a magic-less Equestria where Earth ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns live apart, fueled by prejudice and paranoia. The story follows Sunny Starscout, an adventurous Earth pony, who embarks on a quest to reunite all pony kinds and restore magic to their divided world, befriending a quirky unicorn named Izzy Moonbow along the way. The film, with a runtime of 91 minutes, is rated PG for mild themes and scary scenes, aiming to deliver messages of friendship, unity, and overcoming misinformation to a target audience of young children, while also incorporating humor for adults.

Things to Consider

Medium5

LGBTQ & Gender IdentityViolenceWitchcraft & OccultScary & Intense ContentDisrespect & Rebellion

Low4

Romance and Sexual ContentProfanitySubstance UseAnti-Christian Themes

Medium5

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

While 'My Little Pony: A New Generation' does not feature explicitly confirmed LGBTQ+ characters or relationships, some audience members and critics have perceived 'queer energy' among the main characters, particularly between Izzy Moonbow and Pipp Petals, leading to discussions of 'queerbaiting' in fan communities. The broader My Little Pony franchise has included explicit LGBTQ+ representation in previous installments.

Some viewers have noted 'queer energy' in characters like Izzy Moonbow and Pipp Petals, with fan discussions highlighting close interactions that are interpreted as implicitly romantic. A fan review explicitly states, 'Come on. They literally look like they're about to kiss. You can't tell me they're not about to kiss; I won't believe you. They're about to kiss! What do you MEAN they're not gay???'. Additionally, discussions within fan communities mention 'queerbaiting' where creators hint at queer relationships without officially confirming them, often in reference to the close friendship between main female characters. Although not in 'A New Generation,' Michael Vogel, a writer/producer for the My Little Pony series, is openly gay and has discussed introducing an LGBTQ couple in 'My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'.

Violence

The movie contains mild animated violence, including slapstick, chase scenes, and threatening situations. Key elements involve an angry mob led by the antagonist Sprout and his use of a large, destructive war machine, but without graphic depiction of blood, gore, or severe injuries.

Sprout rallies an 'angry mob' that engages in destructive behavior in town and marches, eventually commanding a robotic attack vehicle. This machine is shown 'pummel[ing] residents, smash[ing] scenery and rip[ping] apart Sunny's lighthouse home'. During one sequence, Izzy is 'thrown out a window and nearly falls from a great height' as a building crumbles, leaving ponies in rubble, though no one is explicitly injured. Hitch and Zipp attempt to stop Sprout's machine and are 'nearly hurt by its moving parts'.

Witchcraft & Occult

Magic is a central fantasy element driving the plot of 'My Little Pony: A New Generation,' revolving around the restoration of lost magic to Equestria, manifested through powerful crystals and Sunny's alicorn transformation. While the movie itself presents magic in a broadly fantastical context, subsequent content in the Generation 5 franchise, such as companion series and comics, introduces more specific 'occult-like' practices like aura reading, talking to spirits of ancestors, and crystal readings through characters like Izzy Moonbow. Fan discussions in online communities also highlight more overt occult symbols, such as pentagrams and Ouija boards, appearing in related G5 media.

The core plot of the film is Sunny Starscout's quest to 'restore magic to the land' that has disappeared from Equestria, culminating in her transformation into an alicorn with newfound magical abilities. In later Generation 5 content (specifically in 'My Little Pony: Make Your Mark' and related comics), the character Izzy Moonbow is depicted as having powers such as 'read[ing] auras, talk[ing] to the spirits of her ancestors, and do[ing] readings with crystals'. Fan discussions further point out specific comic covers within the G5 continuity that feature 'pentagram' and 'Ouija board' imagery, explicitly connecting these to occult themes.

Scary & Intense Content

The film contains several scenes that may be considered frightening or intense for younger viewers, particularly children under 8. These include threatening situations, the presence of an angry and manipulated mob, and a large, destructive war machine operated by an antagonist, creating moments of peril for the main characters.

Sprout's transformation into a 'dictator-like leader' and his successful incitement of an 'angry mob' against other pony races through fear and propaganda can be intense. The 'war machine' Sprout constructs is used to actively 'attack the other pony races' and causes significant property damage, including 'ripping apart Sunny's lighthouse home'. Additionally, scenes where ponies 'nearly fall off cliffs or out of tall buildings' and characters are almost hurt by the machine's moving parts add to the suspense and potential fright.

Disrespect & Rebellion

The movie features elements of both positive and negative rebellion. Sunny Starscout positively rebels against societal prejudice to achieve unity, while the antagonist Sprout displays negative rebellion by usurping authority and manipulating an angry mob, leading to destructive consequences.

Sunny Starscout is portrayed as an 'activist' who defies the deeply ingrained prejudices and segregation among the pony races, actively working against the established fearful order to foster unity. On the other hand, Sprout, initially a deputy, 'names himself sheriff and eventually becomes a dictator-like leader' when Hitch leaves, actively rebelling against and usurping legitimate authority. He incites the town into an 'angry mob' and encourages them to 'follow my orders brainlessly,' exhibiting a dangerous form of defiance and disrespect for peaceful resolution.

Low4

Romance and Sexual Content

The film contains no explicit sexual content, graphic nudity, or suggestive material. Romantic elements are minimal, limited to very mild implied affection or flirtation consistent with a children's PG rating, focusing primarily on themes of friendship and unity.

Profanity

The movie has very low instances of profanity. Any objectionable language is limited to minor insults and does not include strong curse words or offensive terms.

Substance Use

There is no depiction of substance use, including alcohol, drugs, or smoking, in 'My Little Pony: A New Generation.'

Anti-Christian Themes

My Little Pony: A New Generation does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes. The movie promotes universal values such as friendship, unity, kindness, and overcoming prejudice, which are broadly compatible with Christian teachings. There are no direct criticisms, mockeries, or negative portrayals of Christian beliefs, symbols, or figures within the film.

The film's central messages emphasize 'unity and the need for a new generation to band together against misinformation and rabble rousing,' advocating to 'choose friendship over fear'. These themes resonate with positive ethical values and do not present any content that is overtly anti-Christian. The magical elements are presented as fantasy world mechanics and are not linked to real-world anti-Christian spiritual practices within the movie's narrative.

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My Little Pony: A New Generation presents several core themes and messages that largely align with biblical values, emphasizing friendship, unity, kindness, and overcoming prejudice and misinformation. The narrative champions the idea of choosing friendship over fear and actively working to bridge divides, which resonates with Christian calls for love of neighbor and reconciliation. Characters like Sunny Starscout are rewarded for their virtue in pursuing unity and truth, while the negative consequences of fear-mongering and division are clearly shown through characters like Sprout. The film advocates for compassion and understanding, portraying clear moral accountability where characters' positive actions lead to the restoration of harmony and magic. The worldview presented leans towards a transcendent view of life and meaning, where an unseen "magic" (symbolizing love and friendship) is ultimately the key to restoring their world, rather than a purely materialistic or relativistic outlook. While not explicitly Christian, this concept of an underlying, benevolent force that responds to virtuous actions can be seen as broadly compatible with a spiritual understanding of the world. Redemption themes are prominent, particularly in the journey to restore friendship and magic to Equestria. The movie highlights forgiveness and grace as essential components for healing past divisions, with characters moving beyond inherited prejudices to embrace reconciliation. Sunny's sacrifice of challenging the status quo and her unwavering belief in unity serves as a catalyst for change. Family values are portrayed positively through Sunny's relationship with her father, who instilled in her the belief that all ponies were meant to be friends, underscoring the influence of parental teaching and encouragement in shaping a child's worldview and actions. The protagonists work together as a new generation to mend societal fractures, demonstrating a positive view of collaborative effort and shared responsibility. Faith representation in the film is absent in terms of specific Christian beliefs or symbols. However, the universal values promoted are compatible with Christian ethics, and the magical elements are presented as fantasy world mechanics rather than real-world anti-Christian spiritual practices, ensuring the film does not contain overtly anti-Christian themes or portray faith negatively.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

5+ with Parental Guidance. The film is officially rated PG, and review outlets suggest it is not suitable for children under 5 due to some scary scenes, but generally acceptable for children aged 5-8 with guidance, and fine for those over 8.

Good to Know

Parents should be aware that while the movie itself is a relatively gentle introduction to Generation 5, subsequent series and comic books within the 'My Little Pony: A New Generation' franchise may delve further into themes of magic and potential LGBTQ+ representation. Fan discussions indicate that later installments explore more specific 'occult-like' practices and hint at character dynamics that viewers interpret as LGBTQ+, which may be a consideration for some families.

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