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Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Bekuno on March 11, 2018, 05:33:18 PM

Title: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Bekuno on March 11, 2018, 05:33:18 PM: Hey pony folk! thanks for all your wonderful feedback! Lets kick off these G1 MLP Media discussions :D

Of course, we'll be starting with the very first MLP TV Special: Rescue at Midnight Castle

This special was originally titled as simply "My Little Pony" in 1984. It didn't gain it's current title, "Rescue at Midnight Castle" until 1986 when it was edited and thrown into the My Little Pony n' Friends TV series! It has also been released under the title's "Firefly's Adventure" and "My Little Pony in Dreamland". ^.^

Summary:
The normally peaceful Dream Valley is raided by a creature named Scorpan and his Troadon's who have come to capture ponies to serve his master Tirek as creatures for his chariot. He manages to capture two ponies. A pony named Firefly runs to get help and finds it in a human girl named Megan, who is brought back to Dream Valley. Just as they arrive, another raid begins, as not enough ponies were captured the first time. Two more ponies are taken away, and Megan and a few others decide to find Tirek and rescue them.

They cross a rickety bridge, which Applejack falls through (and Megan goes after), but are rescued by a group of seaponies who bring them to shore and offer an item that will call on them if they need help again. The group continues to the house of Mr. Moochik, who explains that Tirek want's to cast an eternal darkness on the land by using his Rainbow of Darkness. He gives them a small piece of the Rainbow of Light to help them defeat Tirek.

The group arrives at Midnight Castle and cross the waters with the help of the seaponies. They are spotted by a guard, who warns Tirek. Scorpan runs to rescue the ponies and his dragon friend Spike, who Tirek has threatened to behead. Applejack is captured and transformed into a monster, but the others escape only for Tirek to burst from the castle on his chariot. Scorpan attempts to sabotage Tirek but fails. Luckily, Megan and Firefly have it covered! They steal the Rainbow of Darkness and keep it from the guards before Firefly accidentally drops it back into the hands of Tirek. Megan unleashes the Rainbow of Light, and though it is overpowered at first it quickly turns the darkness into a Rainbow. This Rainbow destroys Tirek and returns the transformed ponies to their real forms. Scorpan is revealed to have been a human prince, transformed by Tirek as well. Pony land has returned to peace, with some new friends as well.

This special had four songs. The My Little Pony theme, "Dancing on Air", "Call Upon the Seaponies", and "A Little Piece of Rainbow". The last song is cut from all versions except for the original in order to shorten the run time after it was edited into the MLPnF block.

Ponies Featured: Twilight, Ember, Glory, Bowtie, Medley, Firefly, Applejack, Moondancer, Bubbles, Cotton Candy, the mystery Rainbow pony, Seawinkle, Sealight, Wavedancer (and TJ!)

Other Characters: Scorpan, Spike, The Moochick, Habbit, Tireks' Guards, & Tirek

Humans: Megan

Share your thoughts, memories, trivia, or media about this special! I'll come back and add my thoughts later :)
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Al-1701 on March 11, 2018, 06:07:30 PM: I think this could have stood to be a three or five episode miniseries. That was it's one flaw, it had to move too quickly to really give everything proper justice. However, the politics that led to its creation only allowed for one half-hour special.

Still, what we got was enjoyable in its 80's goodness. Tirac was a beast who knew the importance of presence and subdued menace (unlike the roid ripoff FiM gave us).

Too bad we never at the Rainbow pony special.

When we get to the specials, will we be just covering a whole season or go by story?
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Sunset on March 11, 2018, 06:45:43 PM: This was my favorite growing up and still is. I remember after I started collecting as an adult (actually my late teens) I went to the local video rental place and asked if they still had that video with the intention of buying it. I did eventually find it online. I still have a vcr and pop it in every once and a while. Ahhh, the nostalgia! I really really hope that Basic Fun! takes the suggestion of releasing the uncut version on DVD. I'm very concerned that one day my vcr will eat the tape.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 11, 2018, 07:39:13 PM: It's a good episode, I don't remember watching this on tv, but it was rented on tape for me, along with Escape From Catrina.

I do not think Tirek is a great villain. His voice is all he has going for him. As far as presence goes he's kinda eh. His threat level is so-so. He's totally a generic big bad. People often say he's a BA because he threatened to chop off Spike's head and act shocked by it. Well so did the Queen of Hearts and I found her more threatening then him as a child.

The music is great, the atmosphere is good. It looks good. I like Megan and used to pretend to be her as a kid so nyah to all the naysayers.

:p
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 11, 2018, 07:47:30 PM: Rescue from Midnight Castle is one of my favorites also. I used to watch it all the time at my grandparents house when I stayed with them and I was always disappointed that the reruns on the Disney channel always cut out "Little Piece of Rainbow" as it was my favorite song in the special.

There's a lot of things that I didn't pick up as a child that I noticed as an adult. Even though Scorpan is forced to serve Tirac he still retains his free will. He decides to save Megan from falling and free Spike and Ember.

A lot of the ponies only get one or two lines during the episode. It's a little sad when you realize that Moondancer and Bubbles only got lines like "Oh! Help! and "Let us go!" Cotton Candy got a few more lines than the rest of the captured ponies.

Also just before Applejack is captured you can see the guard's shadow on the wall.

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Was Tirac going to leave Ember in the dungeon while the castle collasped on top of her?

I still find Tirac a scary villian . He has the captured ponies chained so they can't run away from the Rainbow of Darkness.

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Bekuno on March 11, 2018, 07:57:45 PM: Quote from: Al-1701 on March 11, 2018, 06:07:30 PM
Too bad we never at the Rainbow pony special.

When we get to the specials, will we be just covering a whole season or go by story?

Don't remind me of that suffering....

Did you mean the TV episodes? I plan to go by story, but by that point I'll be making two of these a week since it's a lot to cover!
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Safflower on March 11, 2018, 08:05:44 PM: I love RaMC! I love the style it is animated in! I have always wondered why they switched styles between this and then the cartoon.

I just love the ponies being cute, especially the opening scene. The line "Danger is my life, Medley!" will forever be burned into my brain. Sometimes I just randomly think it lol.

The songs are awesome! Shoo bee do, shoop shoop bee do...

I really think Hasbro should have made a Rainbow of Light locket. They could have made a lot of money on that. I've been trying to make one but lockets are hard!

I find it funny how it was renamed soo many times.

Tirac or Tirek or Tirak or Tearak or whatever is a very scary villain, I agree. Megan is one of my favorite characters too!

Anyway, I really loved it. So much pony goodness :heart:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: brightberry on March 11, 2018, 09:52:28 PM: As a kid, I was horrified when the ponies were turned to dragons. I was inexperienced with shows that scary and had no idea if they would turn back. I found the villain completed terrifying and thought the ponies and Megan were very brave.

It’s harder for me to judge as an adult because so many of the lines and songs from the show bring back all the feels. Just like smelling a crayon. It’s still my favorite cartoon of all time.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Strawberry Swirl on March 12, 2018, 01:03:45 AM: Still my favorite pony cartoon ever. Really wish they’d kept the art style for the following specials and cartoon series though! And that more characters returned, esp. Firefly.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Shaz on March 12, 2018, 02:33:50 AM: My all-time favourite pony cartoon! Also the first one I ever watched. The animation in this is so very pretty, I especially love the hooves and wings. Tirek is the classic MLP villain to me, the menace surrounding him is very effective. I think it was a mistake to bring him back in FiM: it's a very different show with a very different aesthetic, and couldn't do justice to his shadowy deep-voiced awesomeness. My gf had this episode on video as a child, and says Tirek scared the living daylights of her - so of course it was one of her favourite episodes! Being scared is fun when there's pastel ponies to save the day.

Other things I like about RaMC:
- Ember. She's cute.
- The opening where the ponies are playing and having fun, and Glory skidding about on roller-skates.
- All the songs! Even though the seapony song always gets stuck in my head.
- Applejack's response to nearly drowning: "That was fun!"
- Megan's outfit. Much better than that weird green thing she wears in MLP n Friends.
- Scorpan <3 Especially that moment when he throws away the door and frees Ember. But I've always been a bit disappointed that he turns into a boring old human prince at the end.
- The battle with the Power of Darkness versus Rainbow of Light.
- Anytime Tirek speaks. "BEHOLD THE POWER OF DARKNESS!"
- The way Midnight Castle and the guards turn into trees, butterflies etc at the end. I don't know why, I just find that a really satisfying conclusion. Like, Tirek was so evil he was able to take pretty things from nature and turn them into ugly, frightening things, but now he's gone the natural order can be restored.

Now I must stop rambling on!
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Minty_Magic on March 12, 2018, 03:43:34 AM: Rescue at Midnight Castle is such a well thought out piece of pony media, it has all the elements that people like about FiM (adventure, menacing villains, interesting characters) but everything in RAMC just feels a little more subtle and nuanced. In my opinion it's nearly the perfect blend of cute ponies and serious adventure without feeling too over the top.
Like others have said, it's really a shame the art style never really got used beyond this special. Escape from Catrina is kinda close, but everything after that is so blobby and not as elegant looking. It has it's charm too, but it I think RAMC has the most professional looking animation for My Little Pony. I have a couple animation cels from tales since they're super common, but I would DIE to own a cell from RAMC!
The songs in this special are pretty adorable too! I'm sure they had to work on a pretty restrained budget but really nothing shows it! Call Upon the Seaponies is a masterpiece of music that can't be topped :P It's hard not to be in a good mood after listening to it!
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 12, 2018, 05:55:19 AM: Tirac makes it very clear that he is willing to do anything to accomplish his goals and if someone gets in his way or doesn't succeed in the task he's given them, he will simply have them or someone they care about executed and move on. He also enjoys forcing innocent bystanders watch him transfrom his captives. I also love how the animators took the time to have each pony react differently to the Rainbow of Darkness.

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I find it amusing that Moondancer lays down and covers her eyes with her hooves.

Quite a while ago someone posted some storyboards from Rescue from Midnight Castle and there was supposed to be a scene after Megan and Applejack were in the water where Firefly and the rest of the ponies followed the air bubbles they were making before Applejack and Megan got stuck in the clamshell. It always looked to me like Applejack and Megan both sank straight down from the bridge

The only thing that I think could have made Rescue from Midnight Castle even better would have been more background on Scorpan and Spike. Where was Scorpan's kingdom, how long had Scorpan been forced to serve Tirek etc.. Also an explanation why Spike suddenly decided to stay in Dream Valley with the ponies instead of returning with prince Scorpan to his former home.

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Strawberry Swirl on March 12, 2018, 07:45:35 AM: Quote from: Ponyfan on March 12, 2018, 05:55:19 AM
The only thing that I think could have made Rescue from Midnight Castle even better would have been more background on Scorpan and Spike. Where was Scorpan's kingdom, how long had Scorpan been forced to serve Tirek etc.. Also an explanation why Spike suddenly decided to stay in Dream Valley with the ponies instead of returning with prince Scorpan to his former home.

That, and Majesty. Whatever happened to her? I've heard of people bringing up the possibility of her being killed, though I wonder if she was just less important in the US than in the UK comics, where she's in pretty much every single issue there is.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on March 12, 2018, 08:22:24 AM: The art style, as everyone else has said, it part of what makes this a standout piece of media. It also works as a nice introduction to Spike. I'm surprised that they didn't make toys of the villains!
Firefly's "hello" when she gets lifted from the well is my favorite line. She's such a fun character in this!
Call Upon the Seaponies is the best song, but Dancing on Air has a charm to it that I can't think of being present in modern day television or movie musicals.
I wish we had this as the story for the movie, it feels more thought out.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Khoufu on March 12, 2018, 11:02:33 AM: I rented this ALLLL the time on VHS as a kid in the early 00s. The VHS was the only mlp cartoon I knew of at the time, so had a hard time finding a copy of it online after the rental shop closed in 2005. I called it the mlp movie, and knew it had dragons. I got a bootleg dvd on ebay that had the dragons on the back, g2 art on the menu, and the ending credits got cut off early, but it was MLP The Movie, not Midnight Castle. I still haven't found a hard copy of it, just on youtube.

The Sea Pony song is my favourite song of alp MLP, mainly because it's so catchy.

I love how the plot suggests that kidnapping is ok for a good cause. Megan is taken by surprise and abducted against her will. During Firefly's flight, Megan is convinced she can help, but she said next to useless against the dragons. Seriously, what was Megan actually useful for, besides having fingers to open the Rainbow of Light?

Also, it seemed to be too scary for girls and too cute for boys, but that's why I loved it as a kid.

As a kid, I had Firefly and my sister had Medley, which seemed fitting.

Quote from: Sapphire Rain on March 12, 2018, 07:45:35 AM
That, and Majesty. Whatever happened to her? I've heard of people bringing up the possibility of her being killed, though I wonder if she was just less important in the US than in the UK comics, where she's in pretty much every single issue there is.
As a kid in the US, when I heard that Majesty came within the castle, I thought it was such a random choice, if not for her name. She seemed rather unimportant in the show.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: nessa16 on March 12, 2018, 11:43:04 AM: This is probably one of the few G1 "episodes" I am able to get through in relation to the series. I ALWAYS watched MLP: The Movie from the video store as a kid. I loved the witches and smooze (which tickles me every time I remember they brought it back in G4 for a time). I guess I do not really remember the other episodes well enough to realize there is an art difference. This one, Escape from Catrina, and Rescue Flutter Valley seem to be the ones I have watched the most.

Quote from: Sapphire Rain on March 12, 2018, 07:45:35 AM
Quote from: Ponyfan on March 12, 2018, 05:55:19 AM
The only thing that I think could have made Rescue from Midnight Castle even better would have been more background on Scorpan and Spike. Where was Scorpan's kingdom, how long had Scorpan been forced to serve Tirek etc.. Also an explanation why Spike suddenly decided to stay in Dream Valley with the ponies instead of returning with prince Scorpan to his former home.

That, and Majesty. Whatever happened to her? I've heard of people bringing up the possibility of her being killed, though I wonder if she was just less important in the US than in the UK comics, where she's in pretty much every single issue there is.
I guess I always thought Majesty was pretty random for the castle also. That and Spike, why he stayed, was Scorpan's real name Prince Scorpan? Where did he come from, how did he get there? Why is Spike with him?

It's interesting that Ember is the first baby for G1 and has no symbol, then we never see her again. I liked seeing Megan's horse TJ in the pony stable too.

I can hear the voice of Tirek in my head, and I love it. Reminds me of the Horned King in The Black Cauldron for some reason. Nothing in cartoons ever scared me as a kid that I can recall.

It would've been cool if Hasbro had made a Rainbow of Light. How did they miss that little golden goose?! Would've been cool if a doll sized one came with Megan, and one you could wear.

Unfortunately, I don't really remember any of the songs except the Sea Pony song. I don't know if I have ever seen the version with the song "A Little Piece of Rainbow".
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Sunset on March 12, 2018, 11:56:42 AM: I have on occasion thought of doing a live stream to watch my VHS copy. But that would require that I figure out how to do a live stream.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 12, 2018, 12:55:52 PM: Quote from: Sapphire Rain on March 12, 2018, 07:45:35 AM
Quote from: Ponyfan on March 12, 2018, 05:55:19 AM
The only thing that I think could have made Rescue from Midnight Castle even better would have been more background on Scorpan and Spike. Where was Scorpan's kingdom, how long had Scorpan been forced to serve Tirek etc.. Also an explanation why Spike suddenly decided to stay in Dream Valley with the ponies instead of returning with prince Scorpan to his former home.

That, and Majesty. Whatever happened to her? I've heard of people bringing up the possibility of her being killed, though I wonder if she was just less important in the US than in the UK comics, where she's in pretty much every single issue there is.

Small exaggeration xD She's really not. But DC was out for a long time here, so she did her share and then came back for occasional reprises.
But that's off topic. Back on topic.

I think that whenever anyone calls G1 about tea parties and stuff, this is the episode that totally smashes the girly stereotype out of the water. I never saw it as a kid I don't think. I had a total of 4 episodes until my sister got a VHS which had it on when I was about 13 or 14? It makes an impression.

I do love the songs. The Sea Ponies. They stick with me <3. They're the balance of the darkness in the rest of the episode.

I don't like Megan. I find her totally useless for most of this episode. She appears, gets almost abducted, has to be saved. Yeah, she gets the rainbow, but I think that's an opposable thumbs thing. I don't think the ponies should have needed Megan to save them, albeit I get the point being that girls watching are meant to identify with Megan. I always hated humans entering the pony world, though, so not for me :)

I did like TJ though. Pity we never saw TJ again.

Firefly is a daredevil but she's not really arrogant or brattish. In the comic she was stubborn at times to the point of idiocy and she did some silly things, but this Firefly is more about saving her companions. I like that aspect. As a kid I always loved Medley more and still do. I wish she had more of a part in RaMC.

I don't understand why this got renamed Firefly's Adventure as it's not just about Firefly. I mind it more because we didn't get the second VHS release either. Sigh. :(

A lot of mysteries floating around this special which may hint at the creative processes still going on at this time. Mystery Pony. Why that Ember? Is there a hint about her symbol or is that just G4 people applying retrospective cutie mark logic? How does Twilight's wishing power really work? I mean, she can't wish the danger away?? Twilight was always a bit mysterious in the comics and UK books too.

Biggest question. Where the heck is Sunbeam in all of this drama??
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Moonstar on March 12, 2018, 02:18:38 PM: I only saw this once when I was very little, up until it was in re-runs I thought I dreamt it (that and the Rainbow Brite Beginning Of Rainbowland movie). I think it was because of this I always had the villains when I played ponies tie up captured ponies as their grand scale evil plan.
Many say how G1 MLP was all sweetness and light, but all the bigger storylines from the cartoon were pretty dark looking back...

I wished that the Rainbow Of Light was given more backstory later on because it was so powerful and a big part of the early cartoons.
Bowtie was my favorite from Midnight Castle, and I like to think Twilight adopted Ember :)
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Wildshadow on March 12, 2018, 03:51:25 PM: I'm going to have to talk more about stuff tomorrow but I just wanted to throw these things in quickly XD

Which is from now on the villainous band is, Tirac and the Stratadons!

Spoiler
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But seriously that's how I'm seeing it now when I think of Tirac XD And I find it funny how it's "My Little Pony I".

and something else in my production stash!

Spoiler
..er well I thought I had it in my Photobucket, but I can't seem to find it now..

It was supposed to be Tony Randal with a Moochick cut out but UGH! it's hidden deep in my photobucket...

I need to find the Sandy Duncan and the Firefly cut out to go with him T.T
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Gator on March 12, 2018, 05:22:12 PM: I agree with Taffeta, where's Sunbeam? They used all the first set of unicorns except her!
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: kestral_kitsune on March 12, 2018, 06:15:28 PM: love love love RaMC i also wish they kept the style for the regular series, but as with all toon of that time it was merely a glorified commercial so quality wasn't much use to them, nor consistency XD

but yes I agree with Taffeta and Gator, why didn't they use SunBeam? Maybe her color scheme was too hard to animate? i have no idea I know that was the possible reason why you didn't see Peachy
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: TJgamer on March 12, 2018, 08:14:51 PM: I kinda wish I could have seen this as a kid. ^.^

It is rather straightforward and does show its age. Particularly with the quick pacing and simple character portrayals. Doesn't help that Megan was brought along to aid them, but ultimately contributes very little. It's obvious that her main purpose was to give the audience someone to connect with.

But what draws me to this is the atmosphere. A great mix of foreboding darkness with spots of mystical wonder, like when they're wandering in a spooky forest and then discover the strange, colorful home of the Moochick.

Tirac's voice alone is amazing. Hearing that along with the echoing 'heartbeat' from his rainbow of darkness is bone chilling. :|
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Khoufu on March 12, 2018, 09:19:40 PM: Let us not forget that Tirac threatened to kill Scorpan. "If you fail, a head will roll - yours!"
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Deep Purple Crystal on March 12, 2018, 11:28:51 PM: Quote from: Khoufu on March 12, 2018, 09:19:40 PM
Let us not forget that Tirac threatened to kill Scorpan. "If you fail, a head will roll - yours!"
Actually, Tirac's actual line was "and if you fail, Scorpan, a head will roll...HIS!" gesturing to Spike. Technically, Tirac was threatening to decapitate Spike and not Scorpan. Admittedly still extremely brutal for a kid's TV special (although this was the 80s, the weird time where censors didn't allow specific violence yet but it was perfectly fine to obviously imply that a demonic centaur was willing to decapitate a baby dragon under specific circumstance.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 12, 2018, 11:54:12 PM: I just watched this again and thought of a couple more things. :)

When Scorpan tries to grab the Rainbow of Darkness from Tirek and falls in the haystack, why is there a random haystack on top of the castle? Is it there for the ponies to eat before Tirek transforms them in to dragons?

I assume that Tirek needed creatures of a certain size and strength to transform into dragons strong enough to pull his chariot instead of using tiny creatures like birds and butterflies he transformed in to Stratadons and guards.

How did Megan think she would be able to swim and carry Applejack back to the surface when she jumped in after her?

Trivia fact: The summary on the back of the package of the View Master Reels for Rescue from Midnight Castle never mentions the ponies being transformed in to dragons.

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Wildshadow on March 13, 2018, 01:08:00 PM: I FINALLY FOUND IT! What I meant so show in my last post.

Tony Randall with Moochick cut out:

Spoiler
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I thought it was a fake when I got it because there was printed red numbers on it that I didn't see in the auction, but when I finally got the other Escape From Catrina packet, they had info about the first special and had a photo of the same thing in it! (But I still think I got a copy of the photo anyway =P ) I've got lots to share with Catrina when we get to it XD

OKAY back in time for me, I got to rent this from Blockbuster in the early 90's, the only MLP tape I ever had was the Magic Horseshoes with Mimic. Besides the ones taped as a kid, but I wouldn't find those until later. Anyway, so I watched it and I was so excited and I watched it again and again. I ended up kind of tired of it after watching it for two days but I still loved it. I think by that time I thought to start memorizing it and such =P

I love Moochick's song a LOT. I get tickled every time he goes "UGH A BUG!" Pure magic for me XD And EVERY TIME I ask my mom 'Whatcha looking for?" I have the urge to go 'Mr. Moochick?" =P

I also remember singing 'Dancing On Air' into a fan to hear the weirdness in it X D

Um what else.... I do like the dark elements and the animation is very awesome. Now I got to watch it again in full! I haven't in awhile, but I guess I'll have to watch the Moochick part on youtube =P

Ugh still feels like I'm missing something to say about it... Anyway, the writer's guide calls him 'centaur-like wizard TIRAC' = D
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: MoonShadow on March 13, 2018, 01:58:03 PM: I 100% blame Rescue At Midnight Castle (and the preschool teacher who showed it to the class) for my pony obsession. >_< It's still my favorite MLP Animation. Those ponies went on an epic, musical adventure and battled against some ridiculously intimidating monsters... Looking back, it was pretty dark for a kids show which is probably why it appealed to me and why my parents allowed me (as a male) to have the toys.

I did not know any of the ponies featured in the special actually existed until the Internet became a thing. I thought Firefly was the only one as she came with the video that I promptly lobbied for my parents to buy. Hasbro marketing at its finest! lol
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Shatyr on March 13, 2018, 07:34:01 PM: Rescue At Midnight Castle remains my favorite of the G1 animated franchise. I love the animation. I love the story line. I love the Moochick's song. I love that my brothers will live the rest of their lives with the Seapony song memorized. (Seriously, they bring it up during D&D sessions.)

I've always through Megan's outfit made much more sense in RaMC. The later outfits were so floofy. You're flying over a rainbow to a world filled with magical talking ponies to help fight off evil wizards and creatures of darkness. Jeans and boots are so much more sensible than frilly cotton overalls and slip-on loafers.

Where DID that haystack come from? I mean, yes, clearly from convenient writing, but it makes no logistical sense. He's not going to feed the ponies hay, he's turning them into dragons and will feed them darkness. Or other ponies. If it's bedding, then it would be in the cells or in a storage room, not stored on a castle where the wind can blow it away.

I was always disappointed to find versions with A Little Piece Of Rainbow cut out. It's my favorite of the pony songs. The line, "I put it in the flower bed. It's how I am, I plan ahead," amuses me every time. I can sing the whole thing without music. I always feel so bad for the rabbit, he tries so hard to get the Moochick's attention.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Moonstar on March 13, 2018, 07:54:46 PM: Maybe Tirek eats hay? He is part horse-like at least XD
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Wildshadow on March 14, 2018, 08:11:59 AM: Quote from: MoonShadow on March 13, 2018, 01:58:03 PM
I did not know any of the ponies featured in the special actually existed until the Internet became a thing. I thought Firefly was the only one as she came with the video that I promptly lobbied for my parents to buy. Hasbro marketing at its finest! lol

Every time I see that package, I reprimand myself because I could of had it when Children's Palace was going out of business, but NO I had to get a Donatello Plush instead D=

Quote from: Shatyr on March 13, 2018, 07:34:01 PM

I've always through Megan's outfit made much more sense in RaMC. The later outfits were so floofy. You're flying over a rainbow to a world filled with magical talking ponies to help fight off evil wizards and creatures of darkness. Jeans and boots are so much more sensible than frilly cotton overalls and slip-on loafers.

I was always disappointed to find versions with A Little Piece Of Rainbow cut out. It's my favorite of the pony songs. The line, "I put it in the flower bed. It's how I am, I plan ahead," amuses me every time. I can sing the whole thing without music. I always feel so bad for the rabbit, he tries so hard to get the Moochick's attention.

Megan's outfit could have been like this XD

Spoiler
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I love the song too! When I don't watch the animation I try to imagine what Tony Randall was doing when he recorded it when I listen do it X D and I love how they have him kind of skipping his way to the 'garden'

Yeah poor Habit, and I wonder why they went with those clothes for him, heh. but then he does look cute in them. I also love the visual gag of the Moochick taking off his hat and having normal ears under it.

I wish I could meet George Arthur Bloom, then to ask who came up with all the characters and if he had to approve some of them if he created them and just everything x.X

Also I remember an old pony person having found a Scorpan colored cel model of him. I have the picture saved somewhere on my many cd's of memories. Not sure which one it's on ^^"" been ages since I looked thru them...maybe it's a time to start XD
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Khoufu on March 14, 2018, 09:38:50 AM: Why don't we have toys of Scorpan, Tirek, Moochick, or Habit? I would have loved a Habit plush as a kid. I guess only huge franchises like Star Wars can have toys of absolutely all the characters. Then again, most ponies were never in an episode, especially later ponies. They could have had Habit as a pony pal or friend.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 14, 2018, 09:50:04 AM: Quote from: Khoufu on March 12, 2018, 11:02:33 AM
I rented this ALLLL the time on VHS as a kid in the early 00s. The VHS was the only mlp cartoon I knew of at the time, so had a hard time finding a copy of it online after the rental shop closed in 2005. I called it the mlp movie, and knew it had dragons. I got a bootleg dvd on ebay that had the dragons on the back, g2 art on the menu, and the ending credits got cut off early, but it was MLP The Movie, not Midnight Castle. I still haven't found a hard copy of it, just on youtube.

The Sea Pony song is my favourite song of alp MLP, mainly because it's so catchy.

I love how the plot suggests that kidnapping is ok for a good cause. Megan is taken by surprise and abducted against her will. During Firefly's flight, Megan is convinced she can help, but she said next to useless against the dragons. Seriously, what was Megan actually useful for, besides having fingers to open the Rainbow of Light?

Also, it seemed to be too scary for girls and too cute for boys, but that's why I loved it as a kid.

As a kid, I had Firefly and my sister had Medley, which seemed fitting.

Quote from: Sapphire Rain on March 12, 2018, 07:45:35 AM
That, and Majesty. Whatever happened to her? I've heard of people bringing up the possibility of her being killed, though I wonder if she was just less important in the US than in the UK comics, where she's in pretty much every single issue there is.
As a kid in the US, when I heard that Majesty came within the castle, I thought it was such a random choice, if not for her name. She seemed rather unimportant in the show.

I like that about Megan. She starts off as next to useless because

1) She's a kid.
2) She's in a strange world up against creatures she's only read about in fairy tales.

Heroes don't start off being these great and powerful beings that kick everybody's butt right from the get-go. They stumble, they're afraid, they make mistakes, they learn.

I love Dancing on Air. It's one of the best pony songs of all time.

Post Merge: March 14, 2018, 09:53:50 AM

Quote from: Wildshadow on March 13, 2018, 01:08:00 PM
I FINALLY FOUND IT! What I meant so show in my last post.

Tony Randall with Moochick cut out:

Spoiler
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I thought it was a fake when I got it because there was printed red numbers on it that I didn't see in the auction, but when I finally got the other Escape From Catrina packet, they had info about the first special and had a photo of the same thing in it! (But I still think I got a copy of the photo anyway =P ) I've got lots to share with Catrina when we get to it XD

OKAY back in time for me, I got to rent this from Blockbuster in the early 90's, the only MLP tape I ever had was the Magic Horseshoes with Mimic. Besides the ones taped as a kid, but I wouldn't find those until later. Anyway, so I watched it and I was so excited and I watched it again and again. I ended up kind of tired of it after watching it for two days but I still loved it. I think by that time I thought to start memorizing it and such =P

I love Moochick's song a LOT. I get tickled every time he goes "UGH A BUG!" Pure magic for me XD And EVERY TIME I ask my mom 'Whatcha looking for?" I have the urge to go 'Mr. Moochick?" =P

I also remember singing 'Dancing On Air' into a fan to hear the weirdness in it X D

Um what else.... I do like the dark elements and the animation is very awesome. Now I got to watch it again in full! I haven't in awhile, but I guess I'll have to watch the Moochick part on youtube =P

Ugh still feels like I'm missing something to say about it... Anyway, the writer's guide calls him 'centaur-like wizard TIRAC' = D

That is seriously cool.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 14, 2018, 09:57:57 AM: Quote from: Wildshadow on March 13, 2018, 01:08:00 PM

I love Moochick's song a LOT. I get tickled every time he goes "UGH A BUG!" Pure magic for me XD And EVERY TIME I ask my mom 'Whatcha looking for?" I have the urge to go 'Mr. Moochick?" =P

That was my favorite part growing up also. It made me laugh every time he opened the cupboard and found the bug. :lol: :lol:

I really love the entire song, the rhymes are funny and watching Mr. Moochick search his house while trying to find the Rainbow really helps establish him as a helpful. but eccentric wizard.

I also love the line "Wait a moment. Beg your pardon. Silly me. Come and see, it's in the Garden!" :lol:

Here's the song on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ0Q_oG6zL0

Great picture of Tony Randall with the Moochick cutout, Wildshadow.

I totally agree on Megan's outfit. It's much more suitable for adventures in Ponyland and looks appropriate for a girl that was literally swept away from her farm/ranch by a talking, flying pony. I also like Megan's lack of self confidence when Firefly takes her to Ponyland and her reaction to the 2nd attack is reasonable considering she was just grabbed by a dragon, flown incredible high, dropped, almost fell to her death and then saved by a mysterious creature all in less than 5 minutes after she arrived.

Quote from: Shatyr on March 13, 2018, 07:34:01 PM

Where DID that haystack come from? I mean, yes, clearly from convenient writing, but it makes no logistical sense. He's not going to feed the ponies hay, he's turning them into dragons and will feed them darkness. Or other ponies. If it's bedding, then it would be in the cells or in a storage room, not stored on a castle where the wind can blow it away.

It's a mysterious haystack. :lol: I rewatched a couple of scenes this morning and as far as I could tell there's no bedding or straw in the dungeon cells. We know Tirek was going behead Spike if he didn't get another pony but what was he going to do with Ember?

I also really like how the audience is led to believe that Scorpan is a heartless monster at first but then you see subtle glimpses that he's not all bad when he's trying to protect Spike and saves Megan from falling after the Stradon dropped her.

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Shaz on March 15, 2018, 03:12:05 AM: Quote from: Khoufu on March 14, 2018, 09:38:50 AM
Why don't we have toys of Scorpan, Tirek, Moochick, or Habit? I would have loved a Habit plush as a kid. I guess only huge franchises like Star Wars can have toys of absolutely all the characters. Then again, most ponies were never in an episode, especially later ponies. They could have had Habit as a pony pal or friend.

I would totally want a Moochick toy! I imagine him as a little vinyl figure about the size of G1 Spike, maybe a little taller. And he was in several other episodes and the movie. I think Hasbro missed a trick by not making a Rainbow of Light locket too.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Shatyr on March 15, 2018, 06:47:42 AM: Quote from: Shaz on March 15, 2018, 03:12:05 AM
Quote from: Khoufu on March 14, 2018, 09:38:50 AM
Why don't we have toys of Scorpan, Tirek, Moochick, or Habit? I would have loved a Habit plush as a kid. I guess only huge franchises like Star Wars can have toys of absolutely all the characters. Then again, most ponies were never in an episode, especially later ponies. They could have had Habit as a pony pal or friend.

I would totally want a Moochick toy! I imagine him as a little vinyl figure about the size of G1 Spike, maybe a little taller. And he was in several other episodes and the movie. I think Hasbro missed a trick by not making a Rainbow of Light locket too.

I could see him as about the size of the PVC Care Bears, with poseable arms, legs and head. Habit could be his "accessory".
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Wildshadow on March 15, 2018, 07:28:53 AM: Quote from: Shatyr on March 15, 2018, 06:47:42 AM
Quote from: Shaz on March 15, 2018, 03:12:05 AM
Quote from: Khoufu on March 14, 2018, 09:38:50 AM
Why don't we have toys of Scorpan, Tirek, Moochick, or Habit? I would have loved a Habit plush as a kid. I guess only huge franchises like Star Wars can have toys of absolutely all the characters. Then again, most ponies were never in an episode, especially later ponies. They could have had Habit as a pony pal or friend.

I would totally want a Moochick toy! I imagine him as a little vinyl figure about the size of G1 Spike, maybe a little taller. And he was in several other episodes and the movie. I think Hasbro missed a trick by not making a Rainbow of Light locket too.

I could see him as about the size of the PVC Care Bears, with poseable arms, legs and head. Habit could be his "accessory".

Now I can't stop thinking of the Care Bears Cloudkeeper XD I want to think he could be made into Moochick, but I looked him up and maybe not =P but yeah I wish they made him T.T

They had a heart shaped necklace in a 10th anniversary pack with bracelets and such and I called it the Rainbow of Light even though it wasn't really a locket or red, heh. And now I have a Tupperware red heart keychain thing that opens up (might be pill thing?) and I have worn it on a necklace with a rainbow ribbon on it for my own Rainbow Of Light =D
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 15, 2018, 08:46:23 AM: I wanted a Rainbow of Light locket too. I can see why Tirek and Scorpan were never made in to toys but Mr. Moochick, the Rainbow of Light and Habbit all had multiple appearances.

If there had been Tirek and Scorpan toys maybe the advertisement would have been something like this...

Relive all the excitement as you help the ponies escape from Midnight Castle and it’s evil ruler Tirek who wants to bring the night that never ends. Throw the ponies in the dungeon or pretend to have Tirek turn them in to dragons. Help Scorpan fight against Tirek.

Midnight Castle playset comes with Tirek, Scorpan and 4 dragon figures. Other My Little Pony items sold separately. :lol:

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 15, 2018, 10:19:40 AM: I think I'm a minority here, maybe enough so to even qualify for the unpopular opinion thread, but I actually am glad they didn't make other toys like the Moochick etc.

I didn't like Megan. I mean, I could have had Megan and Sundance as a kid and I actively made a point of saying nope, don't want Megan, so I never had Sundance. That was enough for me. I wanted ponies. Not weird supporting cast figures.

Maybe that was partly because most of the animation characters weren't really in the UK in the same way as they were the US. I don't remember MLP being on TV, only on VHS, until I was in my teens in the nineties and they were doing reruns on cable. But thinking about it, I don't think I would have wanted Wizard Wantall or the Weather Witch or Junk It or any of these individuals from the comics either. They were fine, I liked them, but I didn't really need them in my ponyland.

I only really liked Spike, the dragons, Twinkles and Brandy. I never saw Duck Soup till I was older :/

To be honest, I;m not sure how I would have even reacted to pony friends back then. I love several of them NOW, but...*shrug*. Maybe that's why the UK didn't get them. Germany had the pretty pal set, but we didn't get any of the animal friends at all. Maybe Hasbro felt that they wouldn't sell here. I am slightly convinced that movie characters and characters from the TV show possibly also would have failed here. Though some UK folk may disagree with that :) I'm probably also influenced by not being a huge fan of poseable carebears and figures in general. I loved the Moondreamers and the Turtles but never had any of the toys for either because I didn't like dolls and didn't like poseable figures :/ and I only had one Care Bear cousin poseable.

So yeah. I also don't remember the Rainbow of Light ever solving any problem in the UK comic or the storybooks, or even necessarily existing. But I also don't remember Megan ever doing anything meaningful in the same spaces either. The ponies solved their own problems when I was a kid. I liked it better that way ;) I never wanted or needed a Rainbow of Light and I still don't really need or want one now...

*dodges fakies*
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Wildshadow on March 15, 2018, 10:56:03 AM: Quote from: Ponyfan on March 15, 2018, 08:46:23 AM
I wanted a Rainbow of Light locket too. I can see why Tirek and Scorpan were never made in to toys but Mr. Moochick, the Rainbow of Light and Habbit all had multiple appearances.

If there had been Tirek and Scorpan toys maybe the advertisement would have been something like this...

Relive all the excitement as you help the ponies escape from Midnight Castle and it’s evil ruler Tirek who wants to bring the night that never ends. Throw the ponies in the dungeon or pretend to have Tirek turn them in to dragons. Help Scorpan fight against Tirek.

Midnight Castle playset comes with Tirek, Scorpan and 4 dragon figures. Other My Little Pony items sold separately. :lol:

Ponyfan

I would have been ecstatic for that, er well probably as a kid, that was my favorite thing as a kid was all the villains taking hostages and the good characters going to save them XD Not sure why that was a thing for me but yeah, now that I think about how I played things in the past, that was a huge hit with me. Making capturing stories with my toys was a theme with most of my toys, a few times using shoe laces for chains XD but during my later growing up years, one of my cousins had Barbie's and I wanted to fit in the 'mother/house keeper/daily human life' thing my sister and her was playing D=

Taffeta, I'd probably be the same way if I didn't have the animation available. My dad/mom would tape the show from the TV so I could watch it when I got off of school. and then I found some of the tapes and we had The Disney Channel and they started playing it in the early 90's, which when I found out from the channel, I couldn't stop being excited and talking about it and it was around summer so I would sing the sea ponies song at the pool XD I watched the show so much and memorized the episodes... but yeah I don't think I'd be that much into ponies throughout my life if I didn't have the show o.O Not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing now XD Like would I have had a better time at school, more friends in school? =P
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Shatyr on March 15, 2018, 11:06:30 AM: Oh, I absolutely agree with the no need for Megan/Molly dolls. They really didn't do much. Moochick was always my favorite of the 'humanoid' characters and I would have absolutely had stories with him in it, and Megan's off back at home with TJ and school and not in Ponyland at all.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Majesty on March 15, 2018, 11:40:57 AM: I didn't see this until much later when it was out. I didn't have it on VHS either. I have it and Escape from Catrina on DVD. I think it's my favorite art style as far as the eyes go. I never understood why Ember never had a Mom. She would have had to have a Mom to exist because isn't that how baby ponies were made, through the magic mirror? I guess everyone was her Mom.

As others have mentioned, it really bothered me how we never saw Majesty. They showed Dream Castle and Spike quite a few times but no Majesty. That's weird, because that was her home. She must have just been a comic book thing or something but why make a playset if she never appears on screen?!
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Al-1701 on March 15, 2018, 01:49:15 PM: I would have liked to see the Weather Witch in toy form. But, I'm a weather geek (need to eventually get around to start collecting weather ponies).
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Khoufu on March 15, 2018, 02:32:19 PM: RaMC was my only MLP cartoon experience until I was about 10 and we got a DVD player. The only remembered firefly, medley, ember, and Applejack from it, and only had Firefly of those 4 until recently.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 15, 2018, 03:33:14 PM: The Rainbow of Light doesn't appear in the comics? That's very interesting. Now that I've thought about it I'm not sure that the Rainbow of Light appears in the US storybooks and tapes either.

I do wish that Hasbro would have given us a little more info on Ember and what they planned to do with her. It seems like Hasbro was going for a "baby ponies aren't born with symbols" thing based on the conversation Twilight and Ember have before the Stratadons attack but they seemed to drop that idea after making Ember as all babies afterwards had symbols.

Was Scorpan just waiting for the right moment to free Spike and Ember and when the guard distracted Tirek to tell him that more ponies were in the castle he took his chance?

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Khoufu on March 15, 2018, 04:18:24 PM: I'm sure G4 fans will love that. "See? Originally they DID have to earn their symbols! They were supposed to work that way all along!"
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 15, 2018, 05:40:49 PM: Quote from: Khoufu on March 15, 2018, 04:18:24 PM
I'm sure G4 fans will love that. "See? Originally they DID have to earn their symbols! They were supposed to work that way all along!"

Not really. Nothing is ever said to that extent. I wonder whether we think about that now as a possible interpretation ONLY because G4 has rammed it down our throats. I certainly never thought about when I saw the show originally. Twilight says she'll grow up to be her own special little pony. Not that she'll get a tattoo that contains the meaning of life xD. I imagine it influenced the concept into G4, but assuming that was the original intention is anachronistic unless there's some original notes or something suggesting it's the case. I wonder much more if Ember is like the club baby - a pony you could symbol for yourself. These were the first baby ponies, so why not?

@ Ponyfan - I don't remember it ever being. I don't remember anything from the US animation being in the comic if it wasn't sold as a playset (and then we lacked the Satin Slipper, so that was never there, nor Scoops, either). Megan was in it but she didn't play the same role - Majesty was much more important though Megan's presence is still felt in some of the club and other leaflets. The only exception I can think of is a weird MLP & Friends edition where the smooze attacks and I just remember Majesty and all the ponies sleeping, covered in the smooze...and Megan is on the cover...with the smooze...and a bunch of ponies that weren't out yet when the movie happened...

I probably have a picture.

Otherwise the comic had all its own supporting cast. I mentioned a couple - Wizard Wantall, Weather Witch, Question Mark, Junk It, The Sandman, King Neptune, Miranda the mermaid, Kelpie...anyone think of any others? Oh, the Wizard in Misty Mountain, Thundercloud's great friend. Then some individual ponies had special friends, like Shaggy had Untidy Ted and Squirmy had Solomon the snail and Wiggles Mr Caterpillar? I think Braided Beauty had Sally Starfish as well? I am digging now but yeah. Aside that one comic issue, I don't remember anything animation-y in our stories. And that comic came out well after the movie. Of course, the Movie Star ponies have the most movie centric backcards ever. But for the comic it was like the movie never happened...

Ah yes. The comic I'm thinking of has Beachball as an alicorn, Ice Crystal, Wigwam and Megan on the front, with the Smooze in the background, as well as Hydia, Draggle and Reeka. It's the only time I remember this happening. Slightly OT for this thread but as it came up:

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Sorry for the rough condition, it's from my childhood ;)
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Khoufu on March 15, 2018, 06:26:49 PM: So that's what the comics look like, eh? I kept hearings about them, and to look up readings on youtube, but those were all single page type comics, like pamphlets. Mow I know what to look for.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 15, 2018, 06:29:40 PM: Quote from: Khoufu on March 15, 2018, 04:18:24 PM
I'm sure G4 fans will love that. "See? Originally they DID have to earn their symbols! They were supposed to work that way all along!"

How do you figure that? Nowhere did it mention a pony having to earn their symbol. She just said you'll grow up to be your own special pony in regards to her not being able to wink or fly.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 15, 2018, 06:32:24 PM: Quote from: Khoufu on March 15, 2018, 06:26:49 PM
So that's what the comics look like, eh? I kept hearings about them, and to look up readings on youtube, but those were all single page type comics, like pamphlets. Mow I know what to look for.

Not really. I mean, that's a later comic cover, the art is later style which is not so particular as some of the earlier ones. But they are all about that size and about 20ish pages, maybe more per issue (more in MLP&Friends or Specials). The ones on Youtube are from the earlier comics. There are panel comic stories and full page text comic stories. Also 2 and 3 parters across issues. They ran from 1985 to 1993 so there were many changes in cast and art style, layout etc. There are also a lot more errors in features of ponies brought back from the past into a later comic. Sometimes TE ponies lacked their twinkle eyes in later callback stories. I am not sure what happened with Beachball in this image but you can see Ice Crystal is missing his streak...this comic is probably from around 1990.

Going way off topic now but another interesting thing is how much the comic iterations of many characters strongly resemble the prototypes that appear in Hasbro booklets, many of which are for the US release. Which is why Baby Splashes has purple hair and Baby Sunribbon has her hair crimped...among other things.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 15, 2018, 07:35:17 PM: Thanks Taffeta. :) The more I learn about the comics, the more I wish that the US had them also. I love that winged unicorn Beach Ball.

I think Ember was kind of an experiment for Hasbro when they were still trying to figure out what they wanted to do with baby ponies. I was just wondering myself if Hasbro meant for Ember's owners to decide what her symbol would be/look like instead of giving her one. I just realized that purple Ember might have been chosen for Rescue at Midnight Castle due to her colors (there's already a few pink ponies but Ember is the only purple one)

I would love to know how parents and children reacted to Rescue at Midnight Castle as Catrina is a much less instense villain than Tirek.

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Khoufu on March 15, 2018, 10:19:23 PM: Quote from: Leave a Whisper on March 15, 2018, 06:29:40 PM
Quote from: Khoufu on March 15, 2018, 04:18:24 PM
I'm sure G4 fans will love that. "See? Originally they DID have to earn their symbols! They were supposed to work that way all along!"

How do you figure that? Nowhere did it mention a pony having to earn their symbol. She just said you'll grow up to be your own special pony in regards to her not being able to wink or fly.
Someone suggested that it was supposed to be that way, where you earn your mark, but that was later dismissed. That comment was a guess, and mine was a lighthearted response.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 02:52:52 AM: Not to deviate further, but Tirek was an out and out bad guy. Catrina is actually a bit more tricky because it's clearly a message against drugs.

But I dare say we'll be discussing that soon enough in its own thread :)

Back to purple Ember - I dunno, blue Ember could have worked too? I just wonder whether she was picked out because she was the first design and they built on it from there?
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: starstrider on March 16, 2018, 05:22:27 AM: "Somewhere there's a little piece of rainbow,
I saved it for a rainy day!
It's either underneath the rug, or in the cupboard - UGH, BUG!
But have no fear I'll find it right away!

Wait until you see this piece of rainbow -
It's brighter than a peacock's plume!
It's ocean blue and sunrise pink, I left it by the sink I think...
Or was it in the closet with the broom?
Perhaps we ought to try the other room!

They may have cut it out of the DVD version, but thankfully I still have a digital file with the full uncut version! Well, somewhere on my hard drive :P I always loved that song as a child, I had it completely memorised from a young age. I loved Rescue at Midnight Castle, the Stratadons and Tirek scared me (I was such a wimpy child!), but it was a movie I still watched over and over again. Still love it today.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 16, 2018, 06:50:32 AM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 02:52:52 AM
Not to deviate further, but Tirek was an out and out bad guy. Catrina is actually a bit more tricky because it's clearly a message against drugs.

But I dare say we'll be discussing that soon enough in its own thread :)

Back to purple Ember - I dunno, blue Ember could have worked too? I just wonder whether she was picked out because she was the first design and they built on it from there?

Most and probably only subtle Drugs are Bad PSA toon ever. Because I never caught onto that until I came onto the arena and heard you guys talking about it.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 16, 2018, 06:58:20 AM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 02:52:52 AM
Not to deviate further, but Tirek was an out and out bad guy. Catrina is actually a bit more tricky because it's clearly a message against drugs.

The first time I saw Rescue at Midnight Castle as an adult after not having watched it for many years, I still found Tirek scary. He such a ruthless villian and there's no comic reflief in any of the Tirek/Midnight Castle scenes. When Tirek transforms the 3 ponies in to dragons, it's very clear that he's enjoying them begging to be let go, ignoring their pleas and watching them transform from innocent ponies I think he even enjoyed trying to send Scorpan to his death from the fall when Scorpan tried to take the Rainbow of Darkness from Tirek. He enjoys forcing Scorpan to serve him.

I also never thought of the Witchweed potion as a message agaisnt drugs either but I can see how it can be intepereted that way.

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Lilja on March 16, 2018, 07:08:55 AM: This was my first pony cartoon, as well as one of the earliest cartoons I can remember watching (along with Escape from Catrina). As such, it holds great importance to me, and unlike most other G1 cartoons it's something I can still bear to watch and appreciate as an adult.

It's not the greatest thing ever, but for a cartoon made to advertise a toyline, I think it's pretty good. Some argue that it's rushed and that it could be made longer to flesh out some parts (Scorpan's backstory, Megan adjusting to her new surroundings, getting to know more of the ponies' personalities etc.). But in my opinion I think its short runtime works in its favor. It never gets boring, and all those things that are left unexplained are probably more interesting to think about yourself, rather than if the writers had taken the time to explain them in the special. I think the movie and "The End of Flutter Valley" show that making the ponies' adventures longer doesn't necessarily make them better. I wonder what it would've been like if they had kept this format. One 30 minutes special every year, rather than a movie and TV series. I know the latter is a better advertising tool though.

I think a lot of people forget that at this point in the franchise there was much that hadn't been established yet. When it entered production there wasn't even a set drawing style (just check out some of the earliest commercials), which is why the ponies look so different compared to later cartoons. Ember was the only baby pony at the time, and for all we know baby ponies might not have been planned to have symbols, until they got the idea to make babies that were the offspring of specific adult ponies.

This special definitely sets up a lot of things that will play a big part in later cartoons, but that pretty much only goes for the cartoon. The books, the backcard stories and the UK comics all exist in their own separate worlds. Unless there was a toy made of it, they disregard pretty much anything that the cartoon makes up (and vice versa). In fact, the earliest G1 story books show the ponies living in a stable in our world and interacting with random human children, which is pretty different from any stories that came after.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 07:36:59 AM: Backcards, books and comics here largely intersected but yeah, the cartoon world was totally separate.

I didn't twig witchweed as a drug message until I was an adult, either. But maybe that was after seeing Alone Again from the Jem series which goes really hard at outlining the dangers of (specifically hallucinogenic) drugs. It possibly then dawned on me that maybe Katrina had had a similar message as well. It is well buried though.

I think Tirek is the right level of bad guy to put in context with other shows at the time. Maybe not Skeletor, because let's face it, he was hilarious but not that scary - but I think that Thundercats went for it a bit with MummRah. Now you might think that this is gender divide territory, but I think that RaMC competes pretty well as a scary kid's tv show that isn't actually gendered one way or the other. As I said way earlier in the thread, it's the ultimate proof that G1 MLP didn't have time for tea parties. They were too busy saving existance from eternal darkness and being enslaved and stuff.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Lilja on March 16, 2018, 08:32:28 AM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 07:36:59 AM
Backcards, books and comics here largely intersected but yeah, the cartoon world was totally separate.

That's true! Or at least there wasn't anything in them that contradicted the others. :) I know UK pony lore takes a lot from US backcard stories, even straight up adapting some parts of them, as well as making up plenty of their own. Some US books also have Majesty play a similar role to what she did in the UK lore, but the US books are as stated really inconsistent with each other.

When I watched the cartoons as child, I didn't even think they all took place in the same world since the characters changed completely between them (I also didn't see the movie until much later, so I didn't know about the transition from Dream Castle to Paradise Estate). I also had a few UK comics as well as US books, so trying to piece all this together into a single continuity was an impossible task for child-me. When Tales debuted a few years later that didn't make it easier. :lol:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Wildshadow on March 16, 2018, 08:34:04 AM: A bunch of the production stuff and ads I have for the specials and the tv show is marketed towards family, never specifically for girls, which I enjoy seeing that =D

Now I want to talk about EVERYTHING, but this is for the RaMC =P Like the coloring books have their own stories too just like the back cards and books and comics. I love all that stuff T.T I love it more than the plastic ponies most times ^.~

The coloring books have humans galore in them, boys and girls and adults! Scott Sullivan has some of the weirdest human expressions in the two he illustrated X D

Er anyway, you can tell how badly I want to talk about so many things ^^" like I cant' WAIT to talk about Catrina stuff =P

Something extra cause it kind of fits in with RaMC:

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Spoiler
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I'm exploding on the inside...

-edited in-

Quote from: Majesty on March 15, 2018, 11:40:57 AM

As others have mentioned, it really bothered me how we never saw Majesty. They showed Dream Castle and Spike quite a few times but no Majesty. That's weird, because that was her home. She must have just been a comic book thing or something but why make a playset if she never appears on screen?!

Her only screen time was the animated commercial for the castle. T.T I want think they made a new commercial with Megan in it but that memory is very vague T.T because I remember seeing a commercial on one of my old 80's tapes in the mid 90's and I was excited over it but then I fear I might have taped over it with something stupid cause I wanted to tape something and thought 'oh I don't need this superhero cartoon! lets tape over it!' not realizing all the commercial potential I was taping over T.T Dumb kid me =P

which I was looking on youtube for commercials and so many of them had GREAT animation T.T

ALSO ABOUT MAJESTY, I wish the Writers Guide still had the omitted/edited pages because they mentioned Majesty but I guess they didn't want to ad her in the show D= I so badly wanted to know what her character sheet was supposed to be...
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Lilja on March 16, 2018, 10:09:21 AM: Quote from: Wildshadow on March 16, 2018, 08:34:04 AM
Quote from: Majesty on March 15, 2018, 11:40:57 AM

As others have mentioned, it really bothered me how we never saw Majesty. They showed Dream Castle and Spike quite a few times but no Majesty. That's weird, because that was her home. She must have just been a comic book thing or something but why make a playset if she never appears on screen?!

Her only screen time was the animated commercial for the castle. T.T I want think they made a new commercial with Megan in it but that memory is very vague T.T because I remember seeing a commercial on one of my old 80's tapes in the mid 90's and I was excited over it but then I fear I might have taped over it with something stupid cause I wanted to tape something and thought 'oh I don't need this superhero cartoon! lets tape over it!' not realizing all the commercial potential I was taping over T.T Dumb kid me =P

which I was looking on youtube for commercials and so many of them had GREAT animation T.T

ALSO ABOUT MAJESTY, I wish the Writers Guide still had the omitted/edited pages because they mentioned Majesty but I guess they didn't want to ad her in the show D= I so badly wanted to know what her character sheet was supposed to be...

I don't know if it was Hasbro or the writers who decided which ponies should be featured in the specials. Either way, I'm pretty sure they knew they had to put the Dream Castle in there, since it was the biggest playset at the time. Majesty they probably saw as just a bonus pony with the castle, so there was no need to put any special emphasis on her when there were so many other ponies they could feature instead (notice that there are no playset ponies in either of the first two specials). I don't know if they used Spike to further advertise the Dream Castle (he is a dragon, so that makes him stick out more than Majesty would), or if they just put him in there because there was a role that fit him. It doesn't make much sense for him to stick around with the ponies afterwards. I guess the only reason he does is because he is a toy character.

As for why the writer's guide indicate that Majesty would appear in the MLP 'n Friends TV series... maybe Hasbro were planning to bring her and the Dream Castle back for another year? In any case they probably scrapped her character when they realized she wasn't being produced any more. The toys really dictate everything when it comes to the G1 cartoon. :biggrin:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 10:42:16 AM: The US release timeline is probably the biggest reason for Majesty's cut out. I mean, we see Twinkles, briefly, but we don't see Peachy (unless unknown pony is Peachy in an early design...)

BUT let's not forget Majesty DID come back as a Mail Order. Was that significantly later than the MLP & Friends ending? I guess it must have been.

Baby Half Note, Baby Tiddly Winks and Scoops all appear in the MLP cartoon so it's not a vendetta against playset ponies.

Majesty was still on sale in Europe up till maybe 1987 or 1988...but America seems to have been very ruthless with playsets. It seems to have been more a case of, this is out this year, done with it now, next. Whereas things ran on and over into other years in other places, it's struck me with G4 as well. When they've reached the end of their shelflife they're clearanced and replaced with other stuff.

So I would think that probably IS the biggest reason Majesty was scrapped. Although I still wonder whether the Queen figure idea didn't really resonate with an American public. In Europe, there are a number of states with monarchies still - that kind of symbol makes more sense in a way in those places. I mean, even if you aren't political about it, if you live in a country where there's a king or queen's head on the currency, it makes sense that your pony castle unicorn is the queen and therefore is nominally in charge. But Dream Castle isn't the White House xD, and the animation already had a surplus of unicorns. I mean, we already commented on the weird lack of Sunbeam in RaMC.

Interesting fact. The comics feature the playset released ponies. All of them, pretty much, except one. Cascade. She appears once in the 1985/yellow annual, but that's it. Sprinkles, on the other hand, appears often. Both of them were available in and around 1984-1985, and it seems like Sprinkles took over from Cascade based on the datestamps in my boxes and the product codes, but that may be wrong.

Sprinkles, of course, is also omitted from Rescue at Midnight Castle. I am actually trying to think whether the Waterfall itself is featured in that animation??
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Lilja on March 16, 2018, 10:59:12 AM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 10:42:16 AM
Baby Half Note, Baby Tiddly Winks and Scoops all appear in the MLP cartoon so it's not a vendetta against playset ponies.

As I said, that only applies to the specials. When they got a TV show they could feature more ponies than when they only did one half hour special a year. They may also have realized by that point that having playset ponies in the cartoon could make kids ask their parents for the playsets just to get those particular ponies.

Information is somewhat scant when it comes to release years for mail order ponies, but I'm fairly sure the playset pony set came after the TV series has ended. That's not to say Hasbro didn't have plans to release Majesty as a mail order at some point, and that could be the reason they wanted to have her on the cartoon.

Quote from: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 10:42:16 AM
Sprinkles, of course, is also omitted from Rescue at Midnight Castle. I am actually trying to think whether the Waterfall itself is featured in that animation??
Well, there were lots of clouds in the animation. Rainbows too. Probably a sun at some point. So... arguably...? :P
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 16, 2018, 12:45:14 PM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 07:36:59 AM
Backcards, books and comics here largely intersected but yeah, the cartoon world was totally separate.

I think Tirek is the right level of bad guy to put in context with other shows at the time. Maybe not Skeletor, because let's face it, he was hilarious but not that scary - but I think that Thundercats went for it a bit with MummRah. Now you might think that this is gender divide territory, but I think that RaMC competes pretty well as a scary kid's tv show that isn't actually gendered one way or the other. As I said way earlier in the thread, it's the ultimate proof that G1 MLP didn't have time for tea parties. They were too busy saving existance from eternal darkness and being enslaved and stuff.

I agree that the backcards, books etc.. are seperate from the cartoons. One thing I really like about the US storybooks is the fact that Moondancer and Baby Moondancer can both glow in the dark. This is never mentioned in the cartoon but is mentioned in at least 2 books.

I also agree that Tirek fits in with other villians from the time ( I still find Mommy Fortuna a little scary in the Last Unicorn) and agree that G1 ponies were much too busy trying to avoid being enslaved or to save their world to really have time to stop and have a party.

WildShadow is that the prototype of First Born in that brochure you posted?
She looks very much like the Mystery Pony.
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Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 12:51:05 PM: I've always thought of Mystery Pony as being First Born, ever since I knew the ceramics existed, but when it came up in the Celestial discussion, the general consensus was that it was a coincidental resemblance. BUT I agree with Ponyfan. That looks a lot like Mystery Pony to me. O.o.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Wildshadow on March 16, 2018, 01:08:40 PM: Quote from: Ponyfan on March 16, 2018, 12:45:14 PM

I agree that the backcards, books etc.. are seperate from the cartoons. One thing I really like about the US storybooks is the fact that Moondancer and Baby Moondancer can both glow in the dark. This is never mentioned in the cartoon but is mentioned in at least 2 books.

WildShadow is that the prototype of First Born in that brochure you posted?
She looks very much like the Mystery Pony.

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Ponyfan

I forgot about Moondancer's glowing =D That is a nice touch!

It could be? I didn't realize the name was over the back on the real ones until I looked it up today XD it was from a order catalog =D

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The ceramics and mugs:

Spoiler
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NEVERMIND the catalog says 1985 and the special was out in 1984, so they maybe made the ceramic like the pony in the special because they had most of the other's as ceramic statues? Hard to say XD
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 01:12:51 PM: More likely she was going to be a pony, never made the production cut because they decided to go with a more traditional rainbow colour scheme for the original rainbow set and then decided to reuse her design for the ceramic offer later.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Wildshadow on March 16, 2018, 01:20:20 PM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 01:12:51 PM
More likely she was going to be a pony, never made the production cut because they decided to go with a more traditional rainbow colour scheme for the original rainbow set and then decided to reuse her design for the ceramic offer later.

OH yeah! There are rainbow ponies XD I got caught up in other trivia and information that it was the furthest from my mind!
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 01:46:54 PM: Given her name (ceramic), you almost have to wonder if she was a very early concept idea...right back when they decided to make the ponies pastel.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Sunset on March 16, 2018, 05:20:09 PM: My personal opinion re: First born's name is that that is the name of the ceramic piece not the character. For example, other ceramics have names for what is happening in the scene, not necessarily the names of the characters depicted. "First born" to me definitly comes across as the little kind of trinket you get for an expectant mom/newborn baby to commemorate the occasion. Along the same lines as ornaments labeled "Baby's First Christmas."
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 16, 2018, 05:55:13 PM: Wildshadow's book suggests more that it might have been the lost leader nature of the ceramic as a giveaway, sort of an encouraging nod in the direction of starting a collection of ceramic ponies. BUT that said, it's a funny name to give something like that. Born suggests concept and idea rather than just purchase.

I don't think there's anything to link it to babies.

Also, I don't think it's the name of the ceramic. I think it's the name of the pony and always have. Ceramic single ponies tend to be known by their names. The tableaux have scene names, but First Born isn't a tableau. I think First Born is her name...but whether it signifies anything more is going to have to stay in the realm of speculation.

Either way, I still think of Mystery Pony as being First Born.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Sunset on March 16, 2018, 06:25:42 PM: To me the entire line looks like the kind of thing meant to decorate a nursery. Especially since it's based on a "new" toy line aimed at young children. (So they can't be relying on nostalgia to sell the line.) And, imo, "first born" doesn't sound at all like an early g1 name. I think it's just as likely that the ceramic company named it if Hasbro didn't.
:shrug:
So, I guess we will have to agree to disagree.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 17, 2018, 02:38:35 PM: I just realized the Stratadon that grabs Megan does so before she has a chance to try to stop them from capturing the ponies. I guees a Stratadon will try to grab anything that moves and not just the ponies?

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Sunset on March 17, 2018, 04:53:51 PM: Well, they started out as birds and butterflies so I'm going to guess that they don't have very high IQs. :P
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Shatyr on March 17, 2018, 05:13:30 PM: Here's something I've always wondered. If Tirek took over Scorpan's kingdom, where is it? Midnight Castle disappeared when the Rainbow whomped Tirek. Did he just up and move everyone on a whim? Did they not have horses in Scorpan's kingdom?

Catrina, at least, was given options and decided she wanted "those little ponies" and who can blame her? We've spent the last 35 years trying to get "those little ponies" ourselves. But Tirek? The guy was The Big Bad, with Stratadons and Lizard Guards and coming within a pony hair of actually succeeding.

Also, they kept visiting Megan, but no one ever visited Scorpan? Not even Spike?
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 17, 2018, 05:54:01 PM: Quote from: Sunset on March 17, 2018, 04:53:51 PM
Well, they started out as birds and butterflies so I'm going to guess that they don't have very high IQs. :P

I am sure that in bird and insect societies that comment would be taken as highly prejudicial ;)

...Ok, being sensible now.

@Shatyr - that is a good point. Unless maybe the darkness entirely destroyed Scorpan's kingdom and Tirek kept him as a slave - or it was far away and used as some kind of ransom to keep Scorpan from misbehaving? Maybe Tirek knew that the Rainbow of Light was his nemesis and that he needed to destroy it before the ponies worked out how to use it (by summoning a human with opposable thumbs able to open the locket)? Ok, reaching a bit now, but...still?

But this is a castle with a random pile of hay for people to fall into conveniently. So anything is possible.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Shatyr on March 17, 2018, 06:10:41 PM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 17, 2018, 05:54:01 PM
... Maybe Tirek knew that the Rainbow of Light was his nemesis and that he needed to destroy it before the ponies worked out how to use it (by summoning a human with opposable thumbs able to open the locket)? Ok, reaching a bit now, but...still?...

Maybe it was one of those self-defeating prophecies.

Tirek: "Tell me what I want to know, soothsayer, or a head will roll. Your caretaker's!"

Soothsayer (understandably peeved): "Your eternal night will only come about if you have four Little Ponies, turned into draft-dragons, to pull your Chariot of Midnight. Oh, and take Scorpan with you. And make sure there's a pile of hay on the roof."

Tirek: "A pile... of..."

Soothsayer: "DARE YOU QUESTION THE WISDOM OF ONE WHO CAN SEE THE FUTURE?! And don't let the door hit you on the way out."
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Bekuno on March 17, 2018, 09:32:19 PM: Escape from Katrina post going up tomorrow, I was out all day today!
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 17, 2018, 10:57:58 PM: Quote from: Shatyr on March 17, 2018, 06:10:41 PM
Quote from: Taffeta on March 17, 2018, 05:54:01 PM
... Maybe Tirek knew that the Rainbow of Light was his nemesis and that he needed to destroy it before the ponies worked out how to use it (by summoning a human with opposable thumbs able to open the locket)? Ok, reaching a bit now, but...still?...

Maybe it was one of those self-defeating prophecies.

Tirek: "Tell me what I want to know, soothsayer, or a head will roll. Your caretaker's!"

Soothsayer (understandably peeved): "Your eternal night will only come about if you have four Little Ponies, turned into draft-dragons, to pull your Chariot of Midnight. Oh, and take Scorpan with you. And make sure there's a pile of hay on the roof."

Tirek: "A pile... of..."

Soothsayer: "DARE YOU QUESTION THE WISDOM OF ONE WHO CAN SEE THE FUTURE?! And don't let the door hit you on the way out."

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 18, 2018, 03:07:40 AM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 17, 2018, 05:54:01 PM
Quote from: Sunset on March 17, 2018, 04:53:51 PM
Well, they started out as birds and butterflies so I'm going to guess that they don't have very high IQs. :P

I am sure that in bird and insect societies that comment would be taken as highly prejudicial ;)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I really like the idea that Tirek is using Scorpan's kingdom to make sure Scorpan is forced to follow his commands and be Tirek's personal slave.

I think this is also why Tirek allowed Spike to stay in Midnight Castle without transforming him using the Rainbow of Darkness. Knowing that Tirek can order Spike to be imprisoned or killed at any time is probably also a strong motivator to make sure Scorpan follows Tirek's orders.

I think Scorpan's kingdom is not in Ponyland/Dream Valley. The ViewMaster reels based on Rescue at Midnight Castle suggest that Scorpan stayed in Dream Valley after Tirek was defeated and he regained his true form but since Scopran is never seen or mentioned again I don't think he stayed.

I wonder sometimes if Rescue at Midnight Castle was meant to be the only My Little Pony cartoon at the time it was being written/produced as there are several things in Escape from Catrina that don't seem to add up when you view it as the sequel to Rescue at Midnight Castle (more on those when we dicuss Catrina. :) )

You would think at least Spike would visit Scopran since they seemed to know each other before Tirek took over Scorpan's kindgom (since Spike knew that Scorpan was acutally a human)

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Lilja on March 18, 2018, 04:09:23 AM: I'm pretty sure when they were writing this, they weren't planning on a sequel that would follow up on it. The story is very stand alone. If Hasbro hadn't made Megan into a doll the following year, I don't think we would have seen her again. However, they clearly did take this special into account when writing the movie and the TV series, since they reuse a lot of (non-pony) characters and plot points from it. Even the plot structure gets reused many times, the ponies being captured (or otherwise inconvenienced), them bringing Megan to help them and going to the Moochick for advice. Honestly it would probably have been better if they had started from a clean slate rather than keep rehashing this formula. It feels a bit lazy.

It also makes me wonder, how much sense would the movie have made to you if you hadn't watched this special beforehand?

Quote from: Ponyfan on March 18, 2018, 03:07:40 AM
You would think at least Spike would visit Scopran since they seemed to know each other before Tirek took over Scorpan's kindgom (since Spike knew that Scorpan was acutally a human)

I used to think this is well, but rewatching it now, I'm not so sure. Their relationship is really vague. It's not clear if Spike's "He's really a prince!" is meant as an explanation or an exclamation of surprise.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 18, 2018, 04:28:10 AM: Let's not forget that somewhere in all of this we potentially have a Rainbow Pony episode that didn't happen...

Some of these things may have been explained there. Or maybe not...
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Lilja on March 18, 2018, 04:48:10 AM: Ah, yeah. I do wonder about that. The animation featuring the rainbow ponies seems like promotional footage (very similar to the animation used in commercials for the toys), and there's no indication there was any story to it. However, the voiceover for that ad does say Firefly, Megan and the Moochick will be back for the next adventure (But Megan was the only one to return). So if that implies a different plan for the sequel... it's hard to say.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 18, 2018, 04:52:18 AM: Maybe it was all very fluid. I sort of agree about the Rainbow Pony animation, but maybe they were still working out what angle to take next. Also, by introducing a very new cast in Catrina, there's already a lack of continuity. You sort of have to imagine a whole lot of time has elapsed between RaMC and Catrina because Megan apparently knows all these new ponies but never asks what happened to the ones she met before...

Mysterious that.

So yeah. I guess continuity wasn't huge on the agenda. I don't suppose it really was in any of the episodes, except movie/End of FV.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Al-1701 on March 18, 2018, 05:10:20 AM: The problem was David DePattie. He was the head of Marvel Studios at the time, and Rescue at Midnight Castle was something to do that did not involve Marvel Comics. He hated Marvel Comics and the fact his animation company had their name slapped on it in place of his and were expected to adapt those comics to animation. When they signed on with Hasbro, they also to adapt the G.I. Joe comic, but there were other Hasbro properties to work on as well once the ban of shows based on toys was lifted.

However, as they were preparing for the launch of the Transformers, there was a change at Marvel Studios. The company was still losing money (why they had to sell to Cadence in the first place) and Cadence promoted Margret Loach to CEO of the Marvel Studio who reversed DePattie's policy towards linking Marvel Studios with Marvel Comics. And, supposedly, DePattie was brought in to meet with the upper echelons of Sunbow (who wanted to force Marvel Studios to get their marching orders second hand through them), Hasbro, and Marvel Comics and he exploded insulting everyone in the room and storming out. At that point, any plans he had for future My Little Pony projects died. Loach would take up My Little Pony, but she had her own ideas.

Also, remember this was 1984. Everything was about Transformers. This was Hasbro's big new project and it would be entering the market with direct competition on both store shelves and airwaves from Tonka's Go-Bots. They were going to be the priority.

So, everything conspired against the Rainbow Ponies.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Lilja on March 18, 2018, 05:37:22 AM: That's really interesting! I wonder how far they had gotten in production before the change in direction. There are these video covers which are in a style sort of in between Rescue at Midnight Castle and Escape from Catrina, and feature among other things a Danny-looking boy riding an adult winged Spike. (And Firefly, Megan and Moochick are all there!)

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These do imply there was some sort of story behind them. Possibly concept art for the special that would follow Rescue at Midnight Castle?
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 18, 2018, 05:43:32 AM: More interesting is that Flutterbye appears to be on both covers o.o.
Mind you, we have some weird covers here too. I've got a couple from Finland as well which are a bit non-specific. But we have some DVDs here with G2 art, so..?
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 18, 2018, 07:20:21 AM: I never thought of Scorpan and Spike not knowing each other until they were both captives of Tirek but that could be possible. Spike told Ember that Scorpan was his friend so I’ve always assumed that they were captured together.

Medley is featured on the Rescue at Midnight Castle box art.

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Lilja on March 18, 2018, 08:39:11 AM: Quote from: Ponyfan on March 18, 2018, 07:20:21 AM
I never thought of Scorpan and Spike not knowing each other until they were both captives of Tirek but that could be possible. Spike told Ember that Scorpan was his friend so I’ve always assumed that they were captured together.

I think that deduction makes sense. Since why else does Spike stick around at Midnight Castle, and why does Tirek allow him there if not for the purpose of blackmailing Scorpan into following his commands. Then again, it's never stated, so there could be a completely different backstory. Maybe Spike just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

On the other hand, if he didn't know Scorpan before his transformation, it makes more sense that he would stay with the ponies in Dream Valley, rather than returning with the prince to his kingdom. Maybe Dream Valley was the area he lived in in the first place, even if he hadn't met the ponies before. (And how rude was Twilight to him, honestly, "Aren't you going to change back too?" Come on! :lol:)

I think it was fine to leave it open-ended, but it's fun to speculate about.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Al-1701 on March 18, 2018, 09:46:23 AM: I think she just assumed Spike had been altered by Tirac since literally everything else had been.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Prince_Sunbeam on March 18, 2018, 05:33:04 PM: Quote from: Sunset on March 11, 2018, 06:45:43 PM
This was my favorite growing up and still is. I remember after I started collecting as an adult (actually my late teens) I went to the local video rental place and asked if they still had that video with the intention of buying it. I did eventually find it online. I still have a vcr and pop it in every once and a while. Ahhh, the nostalgia! I really really hope that Basic Fun! takes the suggestion of releasing the uncut version on DVD. I'm very concerned that one day my vcr will eat the tape.

I recently got the VHS and intend to have it professionally put onto DVD (walmart & walgreens supposedly do this for like $25)
Something to look into!
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Sunset on March 18, 2018, 05:44:40 PM: Quote from: Prince_Sunbeam on March 18, 2018, 05:33:04 PM
Quote from: Sunset on March 11, 2018, 06:45:43 PM
This was my favorite growing up and still is. I remember after I started collecting as an adult (actually my late teens) I went to the local video rental place and asked if they still had that video with the intention of buying it. I did eventually find it online. I still have a vcr and pop it in every once and a while. Ahhh, the nostalgia! I really really hope that Basic Fun! takes the suggestion of releasing the uncut version on DVD. I'm very concerned that one day my vcr will eat the tape.

I recently got the VHS and intend to have it professionally put onto DVD (walmart & walgreens supposedly do this for like $25)
Something to look into!

Interesting! I'd only worry that they might refuse since it's not a home video. But if one of them will do it, let us know :)
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 18, 2018, 05:52:58 PM: Quote from: Shatyr on March 17, 2018, 06:10:41 PM
Quote from: Taffeta on March 17, 2018, 05:54:01 PM
... Maybe Tirek knew that the Rainbow of Light was his nemesis and that he needed to destroy it before the ponies worked out how to use it (by summoning a human with opposable thumbs able to open the locket)? Ok, reaching a bit now, but...still?...

Maybe it was one of those self-defeating prophecies.

Tirek: "Tell me what I want to know, soothsayer, or a head will roll. Your caretaker's!"

Soothsayer (understandably peeved): "Your eternal night will only come about if you have four Little Ponies, turned into draft-dragons, to pull your Chariot of Midnight. Oh, and take Scorpan with you. And make sure there's a pile of hay on the roof."

Tirek: "A pile... of..."

Soothsayer: "DARE YOU QUESTION THE WISDOM OF ONE WHO CAN SEE THE FUTURE?! And don't let the door hit you on the way out."

:lmao:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Wildshadow on March 19, 2018, 11:39:01 AM: Quote from: SpikeTheDragon on March 18, 2018, 05:37:22 AM
That's really interesting! I wonder how far they had gotten in production before the change in direction. There are these video covers which are in a style sort of in between Rescue at Midnight Castle and Escape from Catrina, and feature among other things a Danny-looking boy riding an adult winged Spike. (And Firefly, Megan and Moochick are all there!)

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These do imply there was some sort of story behind them. Possibly concept art for the special that would follow Rescue at Midnight Castle?

Would love to know what they were trying to make T.T and Habit's ears look funny. I'm thinking the boy was going to be Danny, because he looks a lot like the one in this production photo I have:

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I bet it would have been amazing D= When I rented the second one, I was disappointed the cover I saw at Blockbuster didn't fit with the story XD
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Zapper on March 20, 2018, 09:25:01 AM: RaMC is still my favorite piece of pony media. It has the 'Dungeons and Dragons' 80s fantasy that I love and think should be in way more media for girls. Seeing colorful MLPs going against literal monsters is such a great look.
Nowadays the monsters need to be as stylized and cutesy as the ponies. Back then the ponies had their own aesthetic and it served as a great opposite to the grim and grimey world around them.
I feel like G4 tried to do this but never really succeeded. Instead FiM made the pony world look more advanced than the rest of its universe :lookround:

And Tirac was such a cool villain. He was flat like most 80s kids show villains but he was so gloomy and threatening. He didn't need to be comical or desperate to make an impression. He was just a shadowy overlord with bad intentions and if done today could be easily given a sophisticated and calculating personality and be a huge threat to the ponies.

Finally,I loved Megan's countrygirl design (hated the frilly crap she had to wear in the later series) and the ponies were done in the best art style. I would jump for joy if G5 brought back the more anatomically proportionate/believable bodies and horsey muzzles.
I always "aww" when I see the RaMC art style. It was cute but not too crazy cartoony.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Taffeta on March 20, 2018, 09:30:15 AM: Quote from: Zapper on March 20, 2018, 09:25:01 AM

Finally,I loved Megan's countrygirl design (hated the frilly crap she had to wear in the later series)

Well, hasbro were trying to sell that frilly crap ;) Pretty sure it's Country Jamboree, the Megan and Sundance outfit...
Also pretty sure that's why our 2nd release of Megan and Sundance came in that outfit release.

I actually like the outfit, but I agree, it's not practical wear for saving the world. A picnic, maybe. But not fighting monsters.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Zapper on March 20, 2018, 10:24:39 AM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 20, 2018, 09:30:15 AM
Quote from: Zapper on March 20, 2018, 09:25:01 AM

Finally,I loved Megan's countrygirl design (hated the frilly crap she had to wear in the later series)

Well, hasbro were trying to sell that frilly crap ;)

Yes, I know that Megan is not a real person and can't choose her own wardrobe :lol:
Still such a weird thing to wear when your best male friend wears normal boy clothes but you - the oldest kid - are stuck in ballerina slippers and a frilly jumpsuit with a big ole heart in front. I know it was the 80s and ribbons/lace was big in girly fashion, but homegirl was dressed like a straight up toddler.
She was the pony mommy so she had to look like a Care Bear instead of an actual horsegirl :P
Also rest in peace, TJ. Megan found new ponies to care for. TJ was probably turned into glue by her parents because they figured she had lost interest :lol: j/k

Fun fact: TJ's German name was F R I T Z
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Al-1701 on March 20, 2018, 04:09:30 PM: Ballet flats were in vogue in the 80's, and are considered active wear. Might be more comfortable on a long walk than stiff, heeled leather boots.

Still can't find any reason for the frilly overalls. Especially since the outfit it was designed after wasn't that frilly.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 20, 2018, 07:41:29 PM: Quote from: Al-1701 on March 20, 2018, 04:09:30 PM
Ballet flats were in vogue in the 80's, and are considered active wear. Might be more comfortable on a long walk than stiff, heeled leather boots.

Still can't find any reason for the frilly overalls. Especially since the outfit it was designed after wasn't that frilly.

Not so comfortable around horses though, sentient or otherwise. The animators must have never been stepped on by one before. They can leave nasty, deep bruises. Boots are good for hiking and riding.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Ponyfan on March 21, 2018, 04:36:33 AM: Quote from: Shatyr on March 17, 2018, 06:10:41 PM
Quote from: Taffeta on March 17, 2018, 05:54:01 PM
... Maybe Tirek knew that the Rainbow of Light was his nemesis and that he needed to destroy it before the ponies worked out how to use it (by summoning a human with opposable thumbs able to open the locket)? Ok, reaching a bit now, but...still?...

Maybe it was one of those self-defeating prophecies.

Tirek: "Tell me what I want to know, soothsayer, or a head will roll. Your caretaker's!"

Soothsayer (understandably peeved): "Your eternal night will only come about if you have four Little Ponies, turned into draft-dragons, to pull your Chariot of Midnight. Oh, and take Scorpan with you. And make sure there's a pile of hay on the roof."

Tirek: "A pile... of..."

Soothsayer: "DARE YOU QUESTION THE WISDOM OF ONE WHO CAN SEE THE FUTURE?! And don't let the door hit you on the way out."

:lol: :lol: :lol:

How close is Midnight Castle to Dream Castle? The Stratdons seemed to be able to return the captured ponies to the castle quickly and the raids Tirek ordered seemed to be carried out swiftly,Plus Megan and the rescue party were able to walk to Midnight Castle.

Also was there a 3rd raid (the scene where Scopran is saying "We tried" and the guard intterupts them to tell Tirek that there are more ponies in the castle)?

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Khoufu on March 21, 2018, 08:36:01 AM: It's probably 5-10 miles away.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Zapper on March 21, 2018, 03:52:44 PM: Quote from: Leave a Whisper on March 20, 2018, 07:41:29 PM
Quote from: Al-1701 on March 20, 2018, 04:09:30 PM
Ballet flats were in vogue in the 80's, and are considered active wear. Might be more comfortable on a long walk than stiff, heeled leather boots.

Still can't find any reason for the frilly overalls. Especially since the outfit it was designed after wasn't that frilly.

Not so comfortable around horses though, sentient or otherwise. The animators must have never been stepped on by one before. They can leave nasty, deep bruises. Boots are good for hiking and riding.

Haha! Nooo I always hike in my active wear ballerinas :lol: I can't stop laughing!
Seriously, Megan's dumb outfit was not designed to be practical. She was supposed to be a fashion doll and that's why.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 21, 2018, 08:12:30 PM: Quote from: Zapper on March 21, 2018, 03:52:44 PM
Quote from: Leave a Whisper on March 20, 2018, 07:41:29 PM
Quote from: Al-1701 on March 20, 2018, 04:09:30 PM
Ballet flats were in vogue in the 80's, and are considered active wear. Might be more comfortable on a long walk than stiff, heeled leather boots.

Still can't find any reason for the frilly overalls. Especially since the outfit it was designed after wasn't that frilly.

Not so comfortable around horses though, sentient or otherwise. The animators must have never been stepped on by one before. They can leave nasty, deep bruises. Boots are good for hiking and riding.

Haha! Nooo I always hike in my active wear ballerinas :lol: I can't stop laughing!
Seriously, Megan's dumb outfit was not designed to be practical. She was supposed to be a fashion doll and that's why.

And yet we never saw that doll in that particular outfit. ^.^ Weird.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Al-1701 on March 22, 2018, 02:57:36 PM: It was one of the pony/Megan wear sets. But, again, the actual outfit was not as bad as what we saw in animated form.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Rescue At Midnight Castle
Post by: Darker on June 21, 2018, 03:25:53 PM: Dang, a shame I missed out on this thread for not being around often enough :blush:

I love this pilot, especially because of Tirac who is one of my all time favourite cartoon villains from the 80s, alongside the likes of Megatron and a few others, as well as of all time because, when I first began watching the original My Little Pony, you betcha I was not expecting it to start with something as dark as Tirac and everything that surrounded him, especially since most properties from Hasbro weren't that dark up until like, the 1986 Transformers movie.

The lack of exposition is something I really like about RaMC, many things are left open to interpretation, which is the only upside to the whole thing being really rushed.

If they ever reboot the series again, I hope they make it more G1 inspired, with humans and dark elements thrown in, and all that stuff. I fear that might not be the case with G4's overwhelming popularity and Hasbro's love for money, and that if Tirac returns, he'll just be Arabus again.

Something I always see from people is the idea that Majesty was killed by Tirac, but... Given how über powerful she was in the UK comics... I find that a little hard to believe. She could probably turn the Rainbow of Darkness into bubbles! :lol: