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.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumWhile '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
MediumThe 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
MediumMagic 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
MediumThe 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
MediumThe 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.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThe 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.
Parental review outlets explicitly state 'Sexual Content: None'. The narrative prioritizes the development of friendships and the overarching goal of uniting the pony races. Any romantic undertones, such as between Sunny and Hitch, are extremely subtle and not central to the plot or character development.
Profanity
LowThe 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.
Reviewers note that the film's language is clean, with 'a few minor insults such as stupid and maniac' being the extent of objectionable terms. No strong profanity is used by any characters throughout the film.
Substance Use
LowThere is no depiction of substance use, including alcohol, drugs, or smoking, in 'My Little Pony: A New Generation.'
Multiple parental reviews explicitly confirm the absence of any 'Alcohol / Drug Use' in the film. The narrative contains no scenes or references involving characters consuming or being affected by any substances.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowMy 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.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
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.
Additional Notes
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.
Related Reviews
Is My Little Pony: A New Generation right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required