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TV series -- 2010 -- Netflix
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Twilight Sparkle is a unicorn who would rather read than make friends. Princess Celestia, who raises the sun, sends her to Ponyville with Spike, a baby dragon who writes her letters. This two-part opening: a Summer Sun Celebration, five new ponies, and a dark-winged figure named Nightmare Moon who wants night to last forever. Bright, funny, and the villain is in episode one.
Notes are based on public reviews and published descriptions. Timestamps are approximate. Not yet checked against Netflix AU.
Age
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
- Not suitable
- Parental guidance
- Ok
GentleGuide scale for sensitive kids. Not an ACCM or Classification Board rating.
About this title
- Classification
- G
- Length
- About 22 min per episode
Not affiliated with Netflix, Disney+, Stan, or ABC iView.
Before you press play
Nobody wants to hear that night might never end. Twilight Sparkle would rather stay in the library with Spike, a baby dragon with a quill. Princess Celestia sends her to Ponyville anyway, to check the Summer Sun Celebration and make friends. She meets Applejack on a farm, Rainbow Dash who flies through her mane, Rarity who restyles her, Fluttershy who stares at Spike, and Pinkie Pie who throws a surprise party in the dark. Then Celestia does not appear. Nightmare Moon, a winged pony from an old moon story, says the night will last forever.
- Being sent away to make friends
- A surprise party in the dark
- The sun not coming up
- A forest with a cliff and a manticore
- A villain who was someone's sister
What may feel big
A pony-shape on the moon goes blank. Pinkie jumps out in the library. At the celebration Celestia is gone and Nightmare Moon takes her place. In the Everfree Forest a cliff gives way and Twilight has to drop so her friends can catch her. A manticore with a thorn. Trees that look like faces. Nightmare Moon grabs Twilight and smashes the Elements of Harmony. A rainbow blast turns her back into Princess Luna, Celestia's sister. Later seasons get darker than this.
4-6. Four is below this scale. Five and six need you for Nightmare Moon, the forest, and the cliff. The colours are candy. The moon villain is still a moon villain.
7-9. A fair try with someone beside them. Pause for the celebration swap and the smash. The jokes help; eternal night is still the plot.
10-12. They can take a cartoon villain. The sister who was locked on the moon is the talk if you have one. Fine to skip later-season finales if this opening already felt like a lot.
Triggers in this guide
Counts are how often that theme shows up in the notes -- not when it happens.
- Separation 1
- Scary Imagery 4
- Peril 2
If you have not watched it yet
Should I sit with them?
We would not put this on for a child under 5 and leave the room. Plan to sit with them at least until 7. After that, many families can watch with a grown-up nearby rather than on the couch. The notes above say what happens. You know your child. This is not medical advice.