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Since the latest incarnation of My Little Pony made its TV debut, it’s amassed a cult following of more than just little girls (see Michael’s review of Bronies). And while the latest DVD collection My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Cutie Mark Quests will have a certain appeal for young viewers, it may be even more satisfying for the show’s grown-up fans.
This five-episode collection (featuring two two-part stories and one stand-alone episode) finds the ponies fighting for the things that really matter in the land of Equestria: friendship and individuality.
In “The Show Stoppers,” the young ponies known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders search for their own individual talents—a quest that will leave them with their very own cutie marks (those cute little symbols on their hindquarters). While their talents are clear to everyone else, the Crusaders continue to be something they’re not—with comical results.
The first episode in the collection is easily the most kid-friendly. It’s bright and colorful and fun, with likable characters, a silly story, and an important lesson to be learned in the end. The rest of the episodes, however, take a darker, more grown-up turn.
In “The Return of Harmony,” the evil Discord escapes from his prison and sets out to destroy the friendship and harmony among the ponies. The only way to defeat him is to work together—which poses a great challenge, since the bickering friends have all gone their separate ways.
In “Cutie Markless” (originally known as “The Cutie Map”), Twilight Sparkle (Tara Strong) and her friends follow a map that leads them to a strange utopian community, where everyone has the same cutie mark. Though the residents may seem to live together in happiness and equality, it soon becomes clear that there’s something dark and sinister going on.
Both of these two-part stories are smart and often surprisingly sophisticated, with attention-grabbing storylines that will appeal to grown-up viewers. But they’re also pretty scary, with the ponies facing evil forces and sinister plots—which could explain why, after just one viewing, my daughter will no longer watch this DVD.
Still, while these episodes won’t be getting a whole lot of play in my home—at least not until my daughter can watch them without having nightmares—this is probably my favorite My Little Pony collection. The animation is striking, the characters are strong and unique, and the stories are more than just cutesy fluff. At times, it’s reminiscent of old episodes of The Powerpuff Girls: bright and bold and fun.
Cute Mark Quests is sure to be a favorite among grown-up fans of the series. And if you haven’t seen the ponies since you watched the original series in the ‘80s, you’ll be surprised by how much they’ve grown. If you’ve got kids who are old enough to handle the scary parts (but not old enough to think that cartoon ponies are for babies), this is one collection that you’ll be able to enjoy together.
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