Voices of Tara Strong, Ashleigh Ball, Andrea Libman, and Tabitha St. Germain
Directed by Jayson Thiessen and Ishi Rudell
Music by Daniel Ingram; Lyrics by Daniel Ingram and Megan McCarthy
Let's head to Canterlot High for this unique spin-off of the wildly popular My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. This is actually the second movie in this series, but it's the most musical. In this alternate universe, the Friendship Is Magic characters are played as Technicolor teenagers with more realistic problems whose encounters with Equestrian magic leave them changed, in more ways than one. How does this stack up against the original show? Let's begin at Canterlot High, as their Music Showcase is announced, and find out...
The Story: Sunset Shimmer (Rebecca Shoichet) is frustrated because, after being a bully controlled by Equestrian magic in the first movie, no one trusts her. Her only friends are sweet Fluttershy (Libman), stylish Rarity (St. Germain), tomboy Rainbow Dash (Ball), down-home Applejack (Ball), and energetic Pinkie Pie (Libman). Sunset is hoping to impress the three newest students, a group called The Dazzlings, by showing them around school. Not only are they not impressed, but they insist on turning the musical showcase into a Battle of the Bands. The girls are suspicious, especially after Principal Celestia (Nicole Oliver) too readily agrees to the change. Sunset Shimmer uses a magical book to write to Twilight Sparkle (Strong) for help.
Twilight does arrive, only to find that their usual magic doesn't work with the Dazzlings. She suggests writing a counter-spell into their music and joining the Battle of the Bands. Unfortunately, Twilight is neither a singer, nor a writer, and feels like a failure when she can't think of a good counter-spell. Fluttershy can't get her music heard. Rarity is upset when Applejack belittles her costumes. Rainbow Dash wants to hog the spotlight for herself, and Pinkie's worried that none of this is much fun anymore. Despite them fumbling through semi-finals, they do manage to get to he finals of the Battle of the Bands. Not only do the Dazzlings turn out to be taking their negative energy, but magician Trixie (Kathleen Barr) wants them out of the competition. It'll take help from the school's resident DJ to finally prove that the power of friendship is greater than any negative sirens.
The Animation: Pretty much the same as Friendship Is Magic, with more human-like characters. We get an equal wealth of expression. The backgrounds probably could be more detailed, but that might go along with it being Flash animation.
The Song and Dance: Unique take on Friendship Is Magic for slightly older girls. Sunset Shimmer's story as she tries to be accepted after being the villain in the previous film is the stand-out. You really do feel for her. She only wants to be friends, but people keep seeing her for what she did under the spell of Equestria magic. Ball does equally well with blunt Applejack and take-charge Rainbow Dash, while Libman is especially good as gentle Fluttershy. Kazumi Evans makes a wonderfully hissable head of the Dazzlings.
The Numbers: We open over the credits with the title song "Rainbow Rocks." The Rainbooms claim they're "Better Than Ever" as we see their first rehearsal. The Dazzlings' arrival leaves the entire school "Under My Spell." They're the ones insisting on a "Battle" with the other students. Twilight's "Bad Counter Spell" is off-key vocally and emotionally. Trixie and the Illusions have "Tricks Up My Sleeve" at the Battle of the Bands finals. Rainbow's "Awesome as I Want to Be" showcases her guitar...and pushes the others to the background. Everyone is singing "Welcome to the Show" as the Battle begins, then "Let's Have a Battle of the Bands." The Rainbooms' big finale number that finally defeats the Dazzlings is "Shine Like Rainbows."
What I Don't Like: Um...if you don't know anything about the previous film in this series or Friendship Is Magic, you're going to be seriously confused here. This basically plays on the world-building in both. Also, this is a TV production. The songs are cute but nothing special, the animation even more so. We're not getting Disney-level theatrics here.
The Big Finale: Enjoyable enough way to pass an hour on a summer's afternoon if you're already a fan of Equestria Girls or the Friendship Is Magic series.
Home Media: Easily found in all formats, including currently free on Tubi with commercials.
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