Who's your fave? 2003 Seasonal Celebration and Bonus Promos

[cola]

I think this is our final line up of 2003 Ponies (More about this at the end of the post). This line up of ponies merges the original separate wave aesthetics of Glitter and Rainbow Celebration into one line. Three ponies have multicolor manes, like Rainbow Celebration. The other three have tinsel in their hair, like Glitter Celebration. This mixing of mane rooting styles would be continued after the 2003 releases, for 2004's Perfectly Pony, amongst more lines and sets until G3s end of production.

Winter Snow, Butterscotch, Sweet Summertime, and Spring Fever would all first be released as single ponies in the UK and EU, around June and July of 2003. I only did light looking around for this information- I suspect the other two, Star Swirl and Autumn Skye were released around a similar time. This was Winter Snow's only release.

Butterscotch, Autumn Skye and Star Swirl was spotted in June in two-pack promotional sets. Either Sparkleworks or Minty could be bought with one of the three other ponies as a bonus. Butterscotch was a Wal-mart exclusive in the US, but would later be re-released and reissued along with every other pony in the line-up, with the exception of Winter Snow.

Each pony came with a charm and brush. 


Butterscotch
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Butterscotch loves spending time with her friends, and remembering all the good times they share! She keeps lots of scrapbooks filled with photos and letters and souvenirs. For Butterscotch, every day is a chance to create a wonderful new memory!
 
     Write in my journal.
     Make a birthday card for my friend Razzaroo.
     Go for a hike in Pony Park.

Autumn Skye
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US Backcard

Autumn Skye just loves playing outdoors. She can tell you about every singe tree, flower, and rock in Ponyville! This busy pony brings a breath of fresh air to everything she does!
     Go for a nature walk with Minty and Star Swirl.
     Press pretty flowers in a book.
     Have a picnic lunch at the Rainbowberry Fountain.

Spring Fever
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US Backcard

Spring Fever likes anything new. She’s always the first to try a new recipe, and the first to wear the latest fashions! She loves to see new flowers peeking out from under the snow, and hear baby birds singing in their nests. But most of all, she loves to make new friends!

Note: She has a hair pattern variant between her UK and US releases. The UK release has a small stripe of orange-green-orange in the middle, were the US release is separate and spaced similarly to the other Rainbow Celebration ponies.

Sweet Summertime
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UK Story (From the UK MLP Website)
There is nothing that Sweet Summertime likes more than lazing around in the sun and playing outdoors. At the end of the day you will find Sweet Summertime watching the sunset with her friends.​

Winter Snow
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UK Story (From the UK MLP Website)

All winter long, you can be sure to find Winter Snow in her favorite place—the skating pond. After she practices her fancy flips and jumps, she gives lessons to the younger ponies, so they can put on an ice show to their friends.

Winter Snow Spanish variant with a video
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Star Swirl
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US Backcard

Long after most ponies have gone to bed, Star Swirl is still having fun! She loves to watch rainbow stars travel across the night sky, and make a wish! Day or night, STAR SWIRL is always ready for a new adventure.
     Look at the planets through a telescope.
     Chase fireflies with my friend Autumn Skye.
     Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa before bedtime.


Here's images of the promo packs:
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Note: The promotional variants did not come with any accessories- only Minty and Sparkleworks had accessories. Minty has some variations in this bonus set. Minty (I) has a monotone pink mane variant, a striped mane variant, and both mane versions could have red striped mints instead of the glitter celebration pink striped mint candies. The backcards for Minty and Sparkleworks is the same as their first release.

Amongst all the ponies listed, I get the impression Sweet Summertime is a very disliked pony unfortunately. I don't particularly like her either- but, it's really the pose this time around. I like her concept, and colors, but the pose with the symbol looks... just okay. I want to like her, but I think I prefer her for completion and accessories, rather than her own merit. I hope the fans of her have a lot of sweet memories playing with her.

Spring Parade has seemingly been equally unpopular, but I will stand by my previous thoughts of her- I really like her mane and symbol! We are definitely in the "too much pink" categories again, when it comes to G3.

Star Swirl I have a soft spot for. I have a bias for white and pink ponies- even the previous two mentioned ponies, two ponies I don't prefer, I can enjoy for being pink at the very least. I don't know if this is THE Star Swirl release, she has a few more to go. She's cute!

When it comes down to Winter Snow, Butterscotch and Autumn Skye, things get spicy for me. I love these ponies, I truly don't know how I could chose just one. I have a lot of good memories re-reading the Perfect Pumpkin as a child, one of the books Autumn Skye is in. Although not for my age range (I think I was either in or starting preschool), I still read the book with my mother regardless of what was recommended. I guess MLP helped me learn to read! Maybe I should share some scans of that book later? I know Heck yeah pony scans has them somewhere. Winter Snow is an all time favourite of mine, Butterscotch not far behind. I think I have to go with one of my most desired ponies this time. I'm sure Winter Snow can win without my vote, but my heart belongs to Autumn Skye.

Let's touch back on the beginning before I forget! There's just a few more releases in 2003 left to talk about- but I think I will save them for a later time. The Limited Editions, Free Video, Dazzle Surprise, and Licensing Show Pinkie might be best saved for different polls, out of yearly release. This is why I wanna consider this poll to be the last of 2003. Dazzle Surprise is a mail order pony, she would be best left for the Mail Order poll. The remaining ponies are all re-releases.

Perhaps in the Summer, we should revisit the Free Video line for A Charming Birthday's anniversary. Silverfall's Ponytopia lists the video was spotted in August, but I'm hopeful I might uncover evidence of it being released sooner than August. Licensing Show Pinkie might need to wait for a different poll, not sure which one.

A final note, I'm thinking I keep as many ponies in a poll as I can moving forward. The next waves of ponies get...extensive. Anywhere from 4-13 ponies in a line. I may not properly capture all of the releases for the line in a year. For example, the super long hair wave actually released in December of 2003- but we consider it a 2004 line still. If it's an consolidation, I won't be combining separate waves, just...including all the relevant ponies. If the releases are particularly small, like this poll or the Valentine's day poll, then I'll combine the waves of appropriate ponies.

I'll try to keep a lot of the details, and do my research- but always feel free to add or correct my posts in reply!

Info/Image sources: MLW, Silverfall's Ponytopia, MLP Merch, Etsy, Ebay, Strawberry Reef, MLPTP

[Leave a Whisper]

I love Autumn Skye, Butterscotch, Sweet Summertime, and Winter Snow. I own 2 of them. Since I voted for Autumn recently, I'll vote for Winter Snow today because she is gorgeous, but I can never have her.

[Ragamuffin]

I think all the Seasonal ponies are great! Spring Fever was a childhood favourite of mine but I have the most GORGEOUS Sweet Summertime now! I liked her before but mine specifically has the THICKEST mane, she looks like a supermodel!! Summer is my favourite season so she speaks to me the most obviously. Pink-green-yellow are quintessential "spring" colours for me so I think Spring Fever is perfect.

Winter Snow is the fan favourite of the set I think but she's a little lacking? I think it's because she looks so similar to (diva) Minty and especially Crystal Crown. Her CM is very pretty and delicate. Autumn Skye is nice but I feel like she doesn't need another person saying what everyone agrees on.

I really like Butterscotch. I recently got a Euro version and she's quite different! Her colours are cooler and there's more contrast in the linework in her CM. I think I prefer the American version in the end, I like the warm colours and the less saturated CM. The fact she's a "seasonal" pony is funny, what is she supposed to represent? She has autumn-y colours I guess, but we already have Autumn Skye. She *is* the scrapbooker, that's the best idea I have. She represents the whole year, maybe? Even though her design doesn't really convey that.

I think Star Swirl is soooo cool too, but I wish her hair was more of a red than that dark pink colour. But this is only because "white body, dark pink hair" is sooooo overdone in MLP: G3 itself had Star Swirl, Strawberry Swirl, and Blossomforth released in the same year with the same colours! And let's not forget all the copy-paste birthflowers in G1. Still, I think Star Swirl's design is strong even if she's samey, the fact she has silver eyes makes her really different. But... imagine a pony whose colours are silver and red...!!!!

[BlackCurtains]

I really like Butterscotch but I had to vote for Autumn Sky. She's so pretty

[Heart Of Midnight]

Winter Snow 

[Leave a Whisper]

I think all the Seasonal ponies are great! Spring Fever was a childhood favourite of mine but I have the most GORGEOUS Sweet Summertime now! I liked her before but mine specifically has the THICKEST mane, she looks like a supermodel!! Summer is my favourite season so she speaks to me the most obviously. Pink-green-yellow are quintessential "spring" colours for me so I think Spring Fever is perfect.

Winter Snow is the fan favourite of the set I think but she's a little lacking? I think it's because she looks so similar to (diva) Minty and especially Crystal Crown. Her CM is very pretty and delicate. Autumn Skye is nice but I feel like she doesn't need another person saying what everyone agrees on.

I really like Butterscotch. I recently got a Euro version and she's quite different! Her colours are cooler and there's more contrast in the linework in her CM. I think I prefer the American version in the end, I like the warm colours and the less saturated CM. The fact she's a "seasonal" pony is funny, what is she supposed to represent? She has autumn-y colours I guess, but we already have Autumn Skye. She *is* the scrapbooker, that's the best idea I have. She represents the whole year, maybe? Even though her design doesn't really convey that.

I think Star Swirl is soooo cool too, but I wish her hair was more of a red than that dark pink colour. But this is only because "white body, dark pink hair" is sooooo overdone in MLP: G3 itself had Star Swirl, Strawberry Swirl, and Blossomforth released in the same year with the same colours! And let's not forget all the copy-paste birthflowers in G1. Still, I think Star Swirl's design is strong even if she's samey, the fact she has silver eyes makes her really different. But... imagine a pony whose colours are silver and red...!!!!

Summertime does have a very thick mane. And vivid colors, pictures never do her justice.

[cola]

I really like Butterscotch. I recently got a Euro version and she's quite different! Her colours are cooler and there's more contrast in the linework in her CM. I think I prefer the American version in the end, I like the warm colours and the less saturated CM. The fact she's a "seasonal" pony is funny, what is she supposed to represent? She has autumn-y colours I guess, but we already have Autumn Skye. She *is* the scrapbooker, that's the best idea I have. She represents the whole year, maybe? Even though her design doesn't really convey that.

I think Butterscotch is a common flavor during Fall and Winter! Similar to something like apple cider, eggnog, mint etc etc. I suppose anything that could be a caramel or dulce de leches could be butterscotch adjacent- as a comparison. Scrap booking is definitely an all year type of activity, I love that she does this. I like to think her and Fluttershy are close Since Fluttershy likes to take pictures

I really love that you have an attachment to this wave of ponies- even Sweet Summertime! White and pink, well white and any color seem to be pretty popular, but you make a good point. A lot of pink and white this year hah

[lovesbabysquirmy]

I didn't like Spring Fever but I liked the rest

[starbritesprinkles]

Autumn Skye is my favorite with Sweet Summertime second. They have the best colors of the group. Winter Snow is pretty, but she's nearly identical to Crystal Crown.

[Griffin]

Oh no, I'm torn between Butterscotch and Autumn Skye! I'm going to go with Autumn Skye, her contrasting colours are really pretty and autumn is my favourite season. G1 Butterscotch is an army pony and I like the G3 incarnation, too. I was never a fan of her tinsel, though.

[FernMariposa919]

I don't have any nostalgia attached to any of these ponies because I was only into G1. However, I did want to participate in the poll so I looked at all my options. I voted for Autumn Skye because I love fall and the pretty leaves that change color. If I'm being honest, I don't know if I would have made her blue. I do like the colors for her mane and tail, just not sure what color would be best for her body.

I was really struck with Star Swirl and almost voted for her, but don't know why she's part of a seasonal celebration line. She kinda reminds me of Galaxy. In fact, I thought she was a light pink, but according to the MLP wiki, she's white.

[cola]

I don't have any nostalgia attached to any of these ponies because I was only into G1. However, I did want to participate in the poll so I looked at all my options. I voted for Autumn Skye because I love fall and the pretty leaves that change color. If I'm being honest, I don't know if I would have made her blue. I do like the colors for her mane and tail, just to sure what color would be best for her body.

I was really struck with Star Swirl and almost voted for her, but don't know why she's part of a seasonal celebration line. She kinda reminds me of Galaxy. In fact, I thought she was a light pink, but according to the MLP wiki, she's white.

I thought the same thing about Star Swirl! I like both quite a bit too In person, she is white! I promise

Star Swirl, without the weird pink thing going on in the stock photo
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Another of Autumn Skye
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I think Autumn Skye is a pretty blue, but next to other ponies, she can look almost grey. My bias for her and Star Swirl is showing I think 

Img sources: Ebay, Toysisters

[Ponybookworm]

Absolute fave of these is Autumn Skye, not only for being blue, but for her entire colour scheme being spot on!!! She's perfection in a Pony!!!
I also love Butterscotch & Winter Snow. I don't hate the other three, but I do prefer the top three