The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: MJNSEIFER on February 17, 2024, 02:35:37 PM
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Hi. :)
I realize that this is real shot in the dark, but does anybody have any information about the apparently scrapped G1 Special that was supposed to be about the Rainbow Ponies (assuming there actually was one, and it's not just bronies mistaking a G1 commercial for lost cartoon footage)?
Like is there any information on what the storyline would have been, specifically (I have already heard that it would have supposedly included some of the Rescue at Midnight Castle ponies, though I don't know who, as well as the Rainbow Ponies, and would have apparently introduced Danny.)
Sorry if this isn't an actual episode in the end.
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I found this Youtube clip with the advertisement for the "next adventure" starting at 3:44
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-M2D5B0nO4
I know most of it was used in the Rainbow ponies commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDzsHC-HFf0
I don't know if it was intended to be the next special or not. Maybe Carrehz or Wildshadow can shed some more light on subject?
Ponyfan
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I wish more specials/shows would’ve been made in this animation style. I have always loved this rainbow pony animation😁
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I think there are always more questions than answers, but I'm wondering if it was simply that by the time they got around to doing another animated special, the toy line had moved on. Or maybe they just used animation they had for the rainbow ponies commercial as a prequel, thinking they would be the line focus. I think I am right that only Starflower (?) is in the Escape from Catrina special.
The big flourish in that clip with the mane does seem more "from a commercial" than an actual tv series "look at her HAIR!".
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I don't know if it was intended to be the next special or not. Maybe Carrehz or Wildshadow can shed some more light on subject?
Haha I'm honoured to be thought of so highly!
All I really know is that the animation comes from the Rainbow Ponies TV commercial.
But my opinion is that there is no long lost "Rainbow Ponies special" and it's just a rumour spawned from misremembering old VHS tapes/from only having half the story, so to speak (i.e. people having copies of the video but no access or information on the original commercial and not realizing the animation isn't exclusive to the RaMC ad).
I think it's just a generic "stay tuned for the next adventure" sort of spiel and they just happened to use that animation. Might have been that it was the most current ad they had at the time so they used it, or maybe they wanted to promote the Rainbow ponies at the time? There is the theory that that's why this girl exists:
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- because Hasbro wanted some Rainbow pony rep in the special.... who knows. Sounds plausible to me. Between that and the usage of the Rainbow ad animation, it definitely seems like Hasbro were focusing on the Rainbows at that point?
But I 100% think the animation was created for the toy advert FIRST and just reused for RaMC for whatever reason. (Or well, they were probably animated concurrently, I mean, the one shot is near identical to the opening shot of Medley and Firefly sliding down the rainbow in RaMC, right?)
MJNSeifer, you mentioned Danny, I think you're thinking of the concept art floating around for Catrina? Lemme see if I can find it...
Okay lessee. The MLP n Friends press pack has what I was thinking of - from Greeby's site (https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/mp-5201-my-little-pony-1984-1986-sunbow.html) (hope it's okay for me to direct link to the pdf!):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yuujZZV340joWWyKPN_RJ_d5-R4NEVtw/view
I think that's what you're referring to? It has the art w/ blonde Danny and winged Spike, etc.
That art was also used for the original US VHS release of Escape from Catrina:
https://vhscollector.com/movie/my-little-pony-escape-catrina
No idea what's up with that one. Early concept art, I guess. Heck maybe there isn't a story behind it and they were just noodling around with ideas, who knows.
fake edit: Taffeta ninja'd me again xD
The only Rainbow ponies that appeared in the cartoons were the RaMC one *points upwards*,
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Skydancer
and
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Starflower
the press kit does have Flutterbye though, so I guess they were toying with including her at some point too?
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I know most of it was used in the Rainbow ponies commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDzsHC-HFf0
I'm almost 40, why is this commercial still so effective on me
Immediate urge to find and purchase Rainbow ponies, brb heading to ebay
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Thanks for answering, everybody. :)
I think there are always more questions than answers, but I'm wondering if it was simply that by the time they got around to doing a
nother animated special, the toy line had moved on. Or maybe they just used animation they had for the rainbow ponies commercial as a prequel, thinking they would be the line focus. I think I am right that only Starflower (?) is in the Escape from Catrina special.
The big flourish in that clip with the mane does seem more "from a commercial" than an actual tv series "look at her HAIR!".
The first thing you say is possible, thinking about it, seeing (at the time?) G1 based its animated cast on the toys being promoted, right? So it is plausible that they planned on a Rainbow Pony cartoon, but they were no longer the toys they were promoting...
However, your second point about the moment with the mane looking more like a commercial makes more sense - I don't know why I didn't think of this, but it does look like a strange thing to do in an actual episode (even taking things like "Maybe she's a pony who takes pride in her mane?" into account), but in an advert, it fits in more, I guess.
All I really know is that the animation comes from the Rainbow Ponies TV commercial.
But my opinion is that there is no long lost "Rainbow Ponies special" and it's just a rumour spawned from misremembering old VHS tapes/from only having half the story, so to speak (i.e. people having copies of the video but no access or information on the original commercial and not realizing the animation isn't exclusive to the RaMC ad).
I think it's just a generic "stay tuned for the next adventure" sort of spiel and they just happened to use that animation. Might have been that it was the most current ad they had at the time so they used it, or maybe they wanted to promote the Rainbow ponies at the time? There is the theory that that's why this girl exists:
visitors can't see pics , please register or login
- because Hasbro wanted some Rainbow pony rep in the special.... who knows. Sounds plausible to me. Between that and the usage of the Rainbow ad animation, it definitely seems like Hasbro were focusing on the Rainbows at that point?
But I 100% think the animation was created for the toy advert FIRST and just reused for RaMC for whatever reason. (Or well, they were probably animated concurrently, I mean, the one shot is near identical to the opening shot of Medley and Firefly sliding down the rainbow in RaMC, right?)
Yeah, that's very likely the case. That people probably took what they had, and made assumptions based on lack of, and unintentionally misleading information (such as using footage from a commercial out of context in a "Check out the next adventure!" style promo) as you essentially said. The thing is, I'm sure I remember correcting people who thought it was a cartoon, that it was just a commercial back in the day, or at the very least saw these comments, and was sure they were wrong, but I got so wrapped up in "What if?" and how much it inspired me, that I ended up hoping.
And yeah, I too noticed the similarities between both animations (such as the waterfall scene), as though they're reusing from each other, or something.
MJNSeifer, you mentioned Danny, I think you're thinking of the concept art floating around for Catrina? Lemme see if I can find it...
Okay lessee. The MLP n Friends press pack has what I was thinking of - from Greeby's site (https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/mp-5201-my-little-pony-1984-1986-sunbow.html) (hope it's okay for me to direct link to the pdf!):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yuujZZV340joWWyKPN_RJ_d5-R4NEVtw/view
I think that's what you're referring to? It has the art w/ blonde Danny and winged Spike, etc.
That art was also used for the original US VHS release of Escape from Catrina:
https://vhscollector.com/movie/my-little-pony-escape-catrina
No idea what's up with that one. Early concept art, I guess. Heck maybe there isn't a story behind it and they were just noodling around with ideas, who knows.
fake edit: Taffeta ninja'd me again xD
The only Rainbow ponies that appeared in the cartoons were the RaMC one *points upwards*,
visitors can't see pics , please register or login
Skydancer
and
visitors can't see pics , please register or login
Starflower
the press kit does have Flutterbye though, so I guess they were toying with including her at some point too?
Yeah, that's pretty much what I'd seen, like people seemed to be using the fact that the cover for Escape From Catrina not only had Danny appearing too early, but also featured two of the Midnight Castle ponies (and another Catrina VHS cover showing at least one Rainbow pony) as "evidence" that there was a lost Special - as though the (presumably non-existent) Special was scrapped before they could change the VHS art or something?
So yeah, it's probably the case that there was no lost Special in the end, which is a shame, but thanks to all who answered me (I'm toying with writing a G1 story or something of how it could have gone, though...)
It is indeed something how the press pack talks about Flutterbye as though she's an animated character, so yeah, maybe there was a plan to include her? As a bonus, thanks for linking to it - I love looking at pre-animation and behind the scenes stuff like that.
Also, regarding the press pack, does anybody know who the light purple pony on the Midnight Castle picture is supposed to be?
Thanks. :)
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as though the (presumably non-existent) Special was scrapped before they could change the VHS art or something?
Eh, they've never really cared about MLP VHS/DVD art making sense or representing what's actually on the tape ^^; Half the DVDs have stock G2 art on 'em, the Shout Factory release has stock retro G1 art of ponies that were never in the cartoon (June Rose etc)... don't even get me started on the video tapes ^^;
No idea who the blue pegasus in the concept art is meant to be. My first thought was maybe prototype Sprinkles? That or a miscoloured Medley, maybe. It's hard to say since there's so many other odd things going on, like the army of gargoyle dudes and Habit looking completely different to how he did in RaMC (to be fair he did end up having three different designs in the end, so I guess this was just the start of that?).
(God I love those gargoyle-looking dudes, though. The amount of detail in this art just blows me away.)
Vaguely-related aside: The narrator for the RaMC rainbow ad cracks me up. They sound so bored :lol:
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I just checked my VHS tape of Catrina and it has a copyright date of 1986 for the special. RaMC has a date of 1984 for the special and 1985 for the VHS tape. I don't know when the Rainbow ponies came out, but maybe that helps a little bit? I've heard not all VHS copies of RaMC have the advertisement at the end. I don't know if that's true though as mine has it and I can't remember if copy my grandparents had at their house had it or not.
Medley is featured on the back of the VHS case for Catrina, even though she doesn't appear in that.
It looks like Megan might be riding Flutterbye in the art?
Ponyfan
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It is Flutterbye, one of the pics in the press pack confirms it ;)
I would be interested in knowing which releases of RaMC have the ad, just for curiosity's sake. I've got two copies, the UK Dreamland tape with RaMC and Catrina (no ads) and this (http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/File:G1pony-movie.jpg) US tape which I believe is the original release? And that does have it.
Honestly I wouldn't put much stock into the art used on the VHS boxes. Look at this collection of home video art:
http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/Audio_and_Video
Sometimes they have something to do with the episodes, other times they just went "Eh, it's a pony, that'll do" and slapped whatever art onto it :silly:
(Although I do sort of wonder about this (http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/File:Video_Great_rainbow_caper.JPG) VHS.... the back of it it has descriptions of each ep and it claims the Party Ponies [TAFs] are in "The Great Rainbow Caper". which obviously isn't true, but you have to wonder where they got that idea from...)
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My DVD copy of season one MLP&F which contains RaMC has G2 ponies on the cover and inside art. Definitely confusing!
Most likely Hasbro made some artwork available to Rhino and they just went with it.
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My favourites are the ones that actually put effort in and drew the G1 characters in G2 style. I saw one once with a G2-style Morning Glory (complete with flutter wings!) that was just darling.
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I miss when ponies looked like that
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My favourites are the ones that actually put effort in and drew the G1 characters in G2 style. I saw one once with a G2-style Morning Glory (complete with flutter wings!) that was just darling.
I was going to say, I know I have pony DVDs somewhere where the art is all G2-style. :)
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My DVD copy of season one MLP&F which contains RaMC has G2 ponies on the cover and inside art. Definitely confusing!
Most likely Hasbro made some artwork available to Rhino and they just went with it.
Rhino also released some Jem DVDs. On the back of at least one of the sets Synergy is spelled Cynergi and the artwork while recognizable as the characters they portray is a little offf on all the designs.
I would be interested in knowing which releases of RaMC have the ad, just for curiosity's sake. I've got two copies, the UK Dreamland tape with RaMC and Catrina (no ads) and this (http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/File:G1pony-movie.jpg) US tape which I believe is the original release? And that does have it.
Honestly I wouldn't put much stock into the art used on the VHS boxes. Look at this collection of home video art:
http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/Audio_and_Video
Sometimes they have something to do with the episodes, other times they just went "Eh, it's a pony, that'll do" and slapped whatever art onto it :silly:
(Although I do sort of wonder about this (http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/File:Video_Great_rainbow_caper.JPG) VHS.... the back of it it has descriptions of each ep and it claims the Party Ponies [TAFs] are in "The Great Rainbow Caper". which obviously isn't true, but you have to wonder where they got that idea from...)
My VHS copy of RaMC is in the slipcase instead of the clamshell case.
That is a little odd about the Party Poines/TAF ponies being mentioned in the Great Rainbow Caper. It reminds me a little of the descriptions for the RaMC Viewmaster reels. There's some stuff in there that looks like the person who wrote either had an early draft with some of the ideas that were eventually cut or wasn't really paying attention to plot of the special.
Ponyfan
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There's one UK release VHS which has a commercial for the Crimp & Curl Hair Salon (with Fifi) on it, I wish I could remember which. That might;ve added to confusion on other discs. The party pony commercial here is the same video and song as the US except for the lyrics changing (party ponies) - but it is in a similar style and from the same time as the CCHS. Though it may be there's a vhs out there with that commercial as well.
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I just checked my videos and this (http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/File:Video10.JPG) one (Tambelon/SS Treasure/Pony Puppy) has the Crimp 'n' Curl salon ad, followed by a competition advert to win either that or a MLP video :) The Somnambula tape doesn't have any adverts on it.
What particularly puzzles me about that video is that they even went out of their way to correct all the terminology to the proper UK terms - Party Ponies not TAF, Adventure Boys not Big Brothers - so it does feel like they were actually putting effort in and not just rushing it out quickly... weird. but it's so hard to imagine the TAFs being in the cartoon, their symbols would be a nightmare to animate xD
That is a little odd about the Party Poines/TAF ponies being mentioned in the Great Rainbow Caper. It reminds me a little of the descriptions for the RaMC Viewmaster reels. There's some stuff in there that looks like the person who wrote either had an early draft with some of the ideas that were eventually cut or wasn't really paying attention to plot of the special.
Oooh, I don't think I've ever seen the Viewmaster reels :O
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Here's the description from the Viewmaster reels package.
"Dark shadows descended over a happy day in Ponyland. A spiadon raid captured two little ponies. At Midnight Castle, the spiadon leader Scorpan presented the captives to evil tyrant Tirek, who demanded two more ponies to pull his chariot.
In the meantime Firefly flew to Earth to get the help of a little girl who loved ponies. Megan wan't sure she was brave enough, but with the help of the friendly Sea Ponies, Megan and her new friends went to Mushroom Land. There Mr. Moocheck gave them a magic charm called the Rainbow of Light.
Back in the castle, Tirek was unhappy with the second spiadon raid. They'd captured ponies who wer too small to pull his chariot as he spread Darkness over the the world. Tirek, through Spike, the baby dragon into prison as a hostage. Scorpan could stand no more evil. He released Spike and the captured ponies just as Megan entered the castle.
Tirek flew out of the castle with the power of Darkness. High above the towers Scorpan tried to stop him, but was thrown to the castle below. Megan on Firefly soared to the mighty chariot. Firefly snatched the Rainbow of Darkness, but it was knocked to the castle floor where a great battle began between the Rainbows of Darkness and Light. The Rainbow of Light destroyed the Darkness and its owner Tirek. Back home, the ponies and Megan discovered that Scorpan had been under a spell. Now he was a prince -happy in Ponyland.
Ponyfan
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(Sorry for the late reply, been out of town for a few days)
Ponyfan - thanks so much for sharing that! I love obscure stuff like this, especially if it's about the best MLP cartoon :lovey:
Interesting that they spelt it "Tirek" here, I don't think I've seen that spelling used on anything official before (for the G1 character, I mean - I know that's how FiM spelt it for their Tirek character). I do wonder if the various differences/oddities were them working off an earlier version of the story or if they just goofed!
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No idea who the blue pegasus in the concept art is meant to be. My first thought was maybe prototype Sprinkles? That or a miscoloured Medley, maybe. It's hard to say since there's so many other odd things going on, like the army of gargoyle dudes and Habit looking completely different to how he did in RaMC (to be fair he did end up having three different designs in the end, so I guess this was just the start of that?).
(God I love those gargoyle-looking dudes, though. The amount of detail in this art just blows me away.)
Sorry I'm late, but yeah, I can see her being Sprinkles, or just another pony (such as Medley, as you said) with incorrect colors - the lack of a symbol makes it hard to tell (kind of tempted to use the design for something, so wanted to see how "canon" she was...)
Agree on the gargoyle characters - especially as they pretty much all look unique from each other in their own way...
Another identification question; is the old looking character on the My Little Pony 'n Friends next to what I think is a dragon (I don't think it's a stratadon) supposed to be anybody specific (including non-pony shows, since they include Glo Friends and The Potato Head Kids here, but I have yet to watch those shows.)
Interesting that they spelt it "Tirek" here, I don't think I've seen that spelling used on anything official before (for the G1 character, I mean - I know that's how FiM spelt it for their Tirek character). I do wonder if the various differences/oddities were them working off an earlier version of the story or if they just goofed!
I was late to the party (started watching G1 in 2012), but I'm seen it spelled "Tirek" before the G4 version existed - I think it went back and forth, and I've seen other lesser known spellings too, I'm sure.
I do feel like I'd already gotten used to the spelling "Tirek" back when he was only a G1 character, despite "Tirac" making more sense phonetically, in hindsight.
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Oh Tirek was in use in the fandom for years, but I don't recall seeing it used anywhere else officially :p
No idea who the dragon and wizard-y looking dude are. (but I like them!)
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It must have been from conversations in the community, but I always imagined it as Tirek *lol* perhaps I'm just odd. The c never looked right to me.
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The back of the RaMC VHS spells it Tirac. Maybe there was some discrepancies in the scripts on how to spell it?
Ponyfan
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I could see that being the case. I've seen Moochick both spelt as that and as "Moochik" in official documents, for example.