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Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Bekuno on March 18, 2018, 01:11:29 PM

Title: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Bekuno on March 18, 2018, 01:11:29 PM
Onto the next special! Thanks for those of you joining in on the discussions, lots of great information was learned from the RaMC thread :D

Escape from Catrina is this weeks subject. This is the 2nd My Little Pony special, and aired in 1984. Just like Rescue at Midnight Castle, it was later edited and added to the My Little Pony n' Friends episode lineup. This special has a whole new cast of ponies, but Megan makes her return.

Just like with Rescue at Midnight Castle, the special was split into two episodes, and one of the songs was cut for time constraints along with original end credits. The art style has also changed for this special.

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Summary:

The ponies are preparing for a visit from Megan, and trying to make sure everything goes just right. Sundance accidentally makes a mess while trying to catch a ball, ultimately causing it to knock poor Baby Moondancer in the water and the ball being lost in a cave. But deep in that cave we see something interesting, strange fuzzy creatures are hard at work. These little guys are called Bushwoolies, and they are grinding up Witch Wheat to make a potion for our main villain, Catrina.

Unfortunately the little fuzzballs are clumsy, and they spill what little there is of the potion, enraging Catrina. Rep, Catrina's (INSERT HERE), had already warned them to be careful. The Bushwoolies openly announce they're sick of being slaves, and they're going to escape! Catrina overhears and picks up the purple bushwoolie, planning to toss him into the pit for his insubordination. Rep and the others plead her to stop, but she throws him in anyway. Luckily he is saved by Rep. Enraged, she demands more Witch Wheat Potion before we cut back to our pony pals.

Megan is almost here, but Sundance and Baby Moondancer's clumsy antics cause a few issues. No bother in the end, as Megan arrives safely on the back of Skydancer. The ponies present her with the Rainbow of Light, once again asking her to wear it. The baby ponies are excited to meet and play with Megan, but Posey informs them they need to nap! Megan offers to babysit them, and agrees that the babies shouldn't nap ("Lets Not Take A Nap") and they play instead. It was just a ruse by Megan to wear out the kiddo's, and they quickly fall asleep.

We cut back to Catrina, also asleep, and the Bushwoolies plan to escape again. Rep tries to reason with them, but it fails. They successfully run off, causing Rep and Catrina to go to the surface in order to recapture them. She spots the ponies playing and decides they will make fine replacements. After drinking some of her potion from a small vial, she grows in size and uses magic to create a snowstorm to freeze the ponies. Powder manages to escape, but the other three are left in the snow. Megan comes to action quickly, using the Rainbow of Light to knock over Catrina and Rep and clear the clouds away so the sun can melt the snow. Catrina still insists that they try to capture the ponies to be her new slaves. Rep reminds her things used to not be this way ("The Good Old Days") but it doesn't get through to her, and she is enraged again when she realizes she's completely out of her potion.

We return to Dream Valley were the ponies are getting the last of the decor in order. Sparkler berates Sundance, and the poor pony runs off to cry. Megan comes to comforts her and reminders her that she has other wonderful skills that make her special. Then Megan goes to get the baby ponies dressed up, and helps put together an outfit for Baby Moondancer. Megan even lets her wear the Rainbow of Light! As Baby Moondancer heads for the ball, she's stopped by Rep in a pony disguise who comments on the locket she's wearing. Baby Moondancer refuses to hand it over so Rep returns to his original form and tries to force it away from her. The tough little pony fights him off, but Catrina decides to just take Baby Moondancer as well, and the two escape with the poor pony, just out of Megans grasp.

Megan and the ponies venture to find their kidnapped friends and run into the Bushwoolies in the forest. They show Megan and the ponies the cave they escape to, informing them it was once their home until Catrina came along. They slide inside and come face to face with Catrina and Rep. Catrina asks them to be her slaves, and the ponies refuse. She tries again, and after another refusal she threatens to throw Baby Moondancer into the pit. Rep stops her, tell her she's gone too far, but she kicks him aside. Rep transforms into a bull and knocks Catrina into the pit as the locket and Baby Moondancer go flying. Megan catches the Locket, and Sundance catches Baby Moondancer. Catrina is clinging to the inside of the pit, begging for help, but Rep is hesitant. In exchange for being saved, they ask her to destroy her Witch Wheat machine. At first she refuses, but she knows she will die if she doesn't. Rep brings her the very last drop of Witch Wheat, witch she uses to grow in size and escape the pit. She turns to the ponies at first, but turns again and destroy's the machine as she promised.

As the story comes to a close, we return to Dream Valley. The ponies put on a costume parade for Megan ("Dressed Like A Dream"). Even Rep and Katrina join in. Our story ends with Megan giving Baby Moondancer the locket to wear once again. As the credits roll, the ponies say goodbye to Megan before Skydancer takes her back home.

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Songs:
* My Little Pony Theme
* Let's Not Take A Nap
* The Good Ol' Days (uncut version only)
* Dressed Like A Dream


Ponies used: Baby Moondancer, Sundance, Sparkler, Posey, Powder, Starflower, Lickety-Split, Skydancer, Baby Surprise, Baby Cotton Candy, Baby Glory, Backstroke, Seabreeze, Sand Dollar, White Cap, Sea Mist.

Villains: Catrina & Rep

Other Characters: Spike & Bushwoolies

Humans: Megan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on March 18, 2018, 03:35:15 PM
I enjoy Escape from Catrina very much but I feel like Rescue at Midnight Castle is a better story overall. It's easier for me to notice the plot holes in Catrina and I don't mind the "Good Ol Days"  song being cut as much as I do "Little Piece of Rainbow" from Rescue at Midnight Castle.


Some things I've always wondred about Esacpe from Catrina.

If this is only Megan's 2nd trip to Ponyland why doesn't she ask where Firefly, Cotton Candy, Moondancer and Glory are espeically after she meets the baby ponies?

Why do the ponies explain to Megan about the Rainbow of Light (although I realize this was probably done for children who hadn't seen Rescue at Midnight Castle to know why the ponies needed the Rainbow of Light

If Megan gives back the Rainbow of Light at the end of Catrina (we don't see her wearing it back home) how did she have it in the MLP movie when North Star and Wind Whistler came to get her.

Rep makes a very strange looking pony  :lol:


Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Al-1701 on March 18, 2018, 04:05:33 PM
It's too bad Catrina was a one shot.  Her story really wasn't complete.  We saw her full of bravado when she had the witchweed, but as the saying goes, it was the drugs talking.  Without it, she was timid and unsure.  It would have been nice to see her find that confidence again in herself without the witchweed potion.

Also, does anyone else think Catrina might have started using witchweed potion because she was envious of Rep's powers?  It could explain why he looks back at the "Good ole days" so fondly while she resents them.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Safflower on March 18, 2018, 05:00:56 PM
I really liked this special! I never noticed it was a subtle message about drugs until I came onto the Arena. The Good Ol' Days really shows that people who take drugs can change a lot because of it, and not really for the better. I too would like to see more of Catrina and want her to find her confidence!

Also, the rainbow of light is a funny thing. It can open from the top and from the left side.

Also, how did Moondancer not notice that Rep was not a pony? Yeesh, those colors! :silly:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: kestral_kitsune on March 18, 2018, 05:31:41 PM
I really like this one and I have a theory for why they have to reexplain the rainbow -besides the obvious explaining for those who haven't seen rescue- is that maybe the moochick made her forget some of the things that she's seen. like more, the particulars, she knows there's a land of talking colorful ponies but she doesn't remember names, and who know how differently time passes in pony land vs megan land -lol-. so there wouldn't be any issue of continuity and the 'hey where's moondancer glory and the others' and be told that they died a long time ago
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on March 18, 2018, 05:45:16 PM
I never realized that the Witchweed potion was supposed to be a metaphor for drugs either. I think Catrina was so used to the Witchweed giving her such power that when she didn’t have it she wasn’t sure how to be her true self anymore. It would have been nice to see her again though.

I wonder if there were complaints about how scary Tirek was because Catrina seems like a big step down from Tirek? I do think Catrina’s motivations for wanting the ponies made sense (the Bushwoolies ran away and the ponies were close by and pretty easy to capture for new slaves until the Rainbow of Light was released)

Did anyone else notice that the Moochick isn’t in this? I guess the ponies don’t need the Moochick unless their entire world is in danger?


I love the songs except for the “Good Ol Days”  I also love the costume ball even if it’s mainly to show off Ponywear outfits.  I also like that Megan and Sundance bonded.

I do wonder why the art on the VHS box is so different from anything we see in the special. Maybe it was early concept art before Escape from Catrina became what we have today?

Ponyfan





Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 18, 2018, 05:49:26 PM
As a kid, I rented this a lot.  As an adult, I don't think it's a very good episode.

 Tammy Grimes as Catrina is great.

 You kinda gotta feel for Rep, but on the other hand, he shoulda been strong enough to put his foot down against slavery with the bushwoolies.

My favorite song is Dressed Like a Dream. It's a shame we never saw those characters again. I love how bold and tough Baby Moondancer is.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Bekuno on March 18, 2018, 05:59:04 PM
Can I just say it weirds me the hell out that the nursery has the "My Little Pony" logo on it? Like I know it's marketing for toys, but still XD
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on March 18, 2018, 07:41:41 PM
I really like this one and I have a theory for why they have to reexplain the rainbow -besides the obvious explaining for those who haven't seen rescue- is that maybe the moochick made her forget some of the things that she's seen. like more, the particulars, she knows there's a land of talking colorful ponies but she doesn't remember names, and who know how differently time passes in pony land vs megan land -lol-. so there wouldn't be any issue of continuity and the 'hey where's moondancer glory and the others' and be told that they died a long time ago



That's an interesting theory. I always assumed the ponies have longer life spans compared to humans but that would explain why Megan doesn't seem to miss the original ponies that she met before.   



Can I just say it weirds me the hell out that the nursery has the "My Little Pony" logo on it? Like I know it's marketing for toys, but still XD


I never noticed the logo on the nursery. I guess whoever made the animation decided to include every detail possible from the toy.
As a kid, I rented this a lot.  As an adult, I don't think it's a very good episode.

 Tammy Grimes as Catrina is great.

 You kinda gotta feel for Rep, but on the other hand, he shoulda been strong enough to put his foot down against slavery with the bushwoolies.

My favorite song is Dressed Like a Dream. It's a shame we never saw those characters again. I love how bold and tough Baby Moondancer is.


I love how hard Baby Moondancer fights Rep and Catrina too. If Catrina hadn't stepped in Baby Moondancer probably would have gotten away and ran back to the nursery or Dream Castle.


Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 18, 2018, 08:48:34 PM
Can I just say it weirds me the hell out that the nursery has the "My Little Pony" logo on it? Like I know it's marketing for toys, but still XD

Really? I have never caught that.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: brightberry on March 18, 2018, 10:18:45 PM
I love the episode.  But as a kid, I wondered where all the other ponies were.  It made me a little sad.  Catrina threatening to throw Baby Moondancer into the pit was pretty scary.  I never came around to her side because of that.  Though, I was glad she was better.

“Let’s Not Take a Nap” is one of my favorite songs in My Little Pony. And Baby Moondancer was adorable and feisty.  Love her.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: KarentheUnicorn on March 19, 2018, 07:10:55 AM
Can I just say it weirds me the hell out that the nursery has the "My Little Pony" logo on it? Like I know it's marketing for toys, but still XD

Meh, I never noticed, but I'd suggest that the kids of the 80's (like myself) who are into MLP would have actually noticed if something was missing....as in HAY that doesn't look like my nursery it's missing (insert item here).

The MLP were marketed as collectibles even going back to 1986, I have a letter from the 'my little pony'. It discusses the original 6 'collector ponies', which were being called collector ponies even back then. It's signed Love from, My Little Pony.

So MLP's do a kinda 4th wall break in the 80's universe. (They're like Deadpool and talk to the audience). They know they are My Little Pony, and they're okay with that and so am I.

I've noticed that a lot of people belittle the original cartoon to insist it was made to sell toys, but so is FIM.

I think looking at MLP from my standpoint, I've said this many times but the cartoon was a accessory to the toyline. The cartoon wasn't looked at as being superior to the toys, it was something you could enjoy if you were into MLP but in the 80's the toy line was king, not the cartoon.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: LadyMoondancer on March 19, 2018, 08:21:41 AM
I like this special, but boy was I disappointed by Catrina after she turned good.  Just because she's 'good' doesn't mean she should be simpering and unassertive.

This special is where I started to dislike Megan.  "Everyone goes through a clumsy phase--even I did."  Wow Megan, I wish you had not come back to Ponyland.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Sunset on March 19, 2018, 08:56:22 AM
Can I just say it weirds me the hell out that the nursery has the "My Little Pony" logo on it? Like I know it's marketing for toys, but still XD

Meh, I never noticed, but I'd suggest that the kids of the 80's (like myself) who are into MLP would have actually noticed if something was missing....as in HAY that doesn't look like my nursery it's missing (insert item here).

The MLP were marketed as collectibles even going back to 1986, I have a letter from the 'my little pony'. It discusses the original 6 'collector ponies', which were being called collector ponies even back then. It's signed Love from, My Little Pony.

So MLP's do a kinda 4th wall break in the 80's universe. (They're like Deadpool and talk to the audience). They know they are My Little Pony, and they're okay with that and so am I.

I've noticed that a lot of people belittle the original cartoon to insist it was made to sell toys, but so is FIM.

I think looking at MLP from my standpoint, I've said this many times but the cartoon was a accessory to the toyline. The cartoon wasn't looked at as being superior to the toys, it was something you could enjoy if you were into MLP but in the 80's the toy line was king, not the cartoon.

I totally agree with this and it really annoys me, the hypocrisy, when FiM fans call out previous gens for doing things that FiM is every bit as, if not more, guilty of.  Like throwing parties or having tea or having fashion shows.

I don't have any particular thoughts on this special.  I'm certain I saw it as a kid.  I feel certain I saw it as the video store along with the movie but the first special was always the one I went back to.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: nessa16 on March 19, 2018, 10:42:27 AM
I think this may be the G1 non-MLPT episode I have watched. I love the costume parade at the end showing all the pony wear and Megan wearing her US release dress. That and the baby ponies. Kin of a cheesy storyline but that’s ok. It’s witch weed though, not witch wheat, right?
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Wildshadow on March 19, 2018, 01:13:40 PM
Guess I'll start first at I found this tape with the first one at Blockbuster where I was disappointed that what I saw wasn't what was on the cover but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Part of my headcannon is that Baby Surprise in this show grew up to be the Surprise in tv series =P

A few years ago someone had cels from the show for sale, I was only able to afford one with Catrina and Rep, but I don't have a picture of them and all the saved pictures from the auctions aren't uploaded to my photobucket.

I've been able to get two press kits from Catrina and I found both folders are different x.X so there goes me selling one ^-^""

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The second one I got had the first special information in it, but anyway here are examples of them:

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Firefly is on the back of the folder.

In one of the synopsis it says it was 'Baby Surprise' that gets napped by Catrina and not Moondancer XD

That's it so far, I'll add more later =D
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: TJgamer on March 19, 2018, 03:36:39 PM
I'd say this special is both better and worse than Rescue at Midnight Castle in different ways.
I like it more for its fleshed out antagonists and backstory, but on the other hand I feel like the ponies were of less importance than ever before.
Though I did enjoy Baby Moondancer's arc. It was cute.   ^.^
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on March 19, 2018, 04:11:42 PM
Sparkler is such a mean middle school girl in this, I love it. The baby ponies are pretty cute in this special, too. It's funny that Baby Moondancer wears that chunky BABY necklace in the opening.
I agree that seeing the ponies we saw previously would have been nice, as it seemed strange for them to select Skydancer as the pegasus of transport but not include Starshine anywhere (or at least not call her out by name).
I like Catrina as a villain, she's cool. Can't say this special convinced me to have a soft spot for the bushwoolies, though.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Sunset on March 19, 2018, 05:09:44 PM
So here's a question.  Considering that, from all evidence, the babies are raised communally, how is it that all the other babies had costumes but baby Moondancer doesn't?
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on March 19, 2018, 06:27:37 PM
I’ve wondered about that synopsis that says it was Baby Surprise Catrina captured instead of Baby Moondancer. Was it originally going to be Baby Surprise or is it just a mistake? Also there’s a picture of Medley on the back of the VHS box even though Medley doesn’t appear in it.

If you look closely there are lots of clothes in the nursery surrounding Baby Moondacer when she says she doesn’t have a costume. Maybe she couldn’t decide on one or one of the   other babies took the one she was going to wear.

I feel sorry for Baby Moondancer when Catrina is holding her over the Witchweed pit and threatening to drop her in since the ponies refuse to be her slaves. I’ve always thought it’s kind of silly that Catrina asks them if they’ll be her slaves. Of course the ponies are going to refuse.  :lol:

Ponyfan



Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Lilja on March 20, 2018, 08:36:12 AM
Those press kits have some really interesting artwork!

I’ve wondered about that synopsis that says it was Baby Surprise Catrina captured instead of Baby Moondancer. Was it originally going to be Baby Surprise or is it just a mistake? Also there’s a picture of Medley on the back of the VHS box even though Medley doesn’t appear in it.

If it had been Baby Surprise, that would have changed some of the situations since she is able to fly!  :biggrin:


Setting aside that there might originally have been a different plan for what the second special would be like, I think Escape out from Catrina is pretty good. I like that it's different from Rescue at Midnight Castle. But like the first special, there are a lot of "tropes" introduced here that will be reused several times in the movie and TV show:

*The villains (or guest characters) are way more developed than any of the ponies. This is why I like that first special didn't go too much into Tirek or Scorpan's backstory. Even if Megan was more of the main character in that, Firefly also played a big part. This one is almost completely Catrina and Rep's story. At least I found these two likeable, which can't be said of many other guest characters that took over the show during G1:s run.

*The one pony who is clumsy/awkward or otherwise a social outcast from the rest. Gets chastised by another pony and is sad. This plot point would be reused a lot, and never really done well. Even here with Sundance it feels pretty forced, but I can't help but find the scene between her and Megan kind of sweet. Maybe it's nostalgia. :P

*Bushwoolies. I don't think there was any need to bring these guys back after this special. But they did. A lot. Ah well, I don't remember them being too annoying. Just seemed like they played out their role after this.

About the cast change with the ponies... well, they gotta sell toys. It would've been less jarring if they didn't have Megan return, but since Hasbro made a doll of her she needed to be in there. At the very least they could have made Firefly the pegasus to bring her there instead of Skydancer, but nope they couldn't even give us that much. I also like to point out that Posey and Lickety Split get cloned during the final song, just so they can show off ALL the new pony wear for 1985!

The anti-drug message is nothing I thought of until recently, but it's really obvious when you think about it. It's even called the "Witch WEED potion". I guess it passed me by because Catrina is not the type of character you usually see in these stories. In most cases it's a younger person, who is unsure of themselves until they start taking drugs. Catrina is an adult (cat) woman, and we first get to know her as strong and confident, so it feels more like her real self than the meek, unconfident version (there's some obvious sexism in how this is shown as her ideal state). Also, does the potion actually make her evil or just powerful? If it just gives her powers I don't see anything wrong with taking it as long she doesn't use it to oppress.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on March 21, 2018, 05:14:23 AM
You're right Spike the dragon. If it had been Baby Surprise instead of Baby Moondancer Catrina and Rep would have had to do more (cage/tie her up) to make sure she couldn't get away instead of just maintaining a tight grip on her and also throwing her in the Witch Weed pit wouldn't have been much of an issue since Baby Surprise could just fly out of the pit.


Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 21, 2018, 08:10:51 PM
I don't see her as meek just uncomfortable. What do you say to treating a bunch of people so horribly and who are willing to show you kindness afterwards? That's gotta be pretty awkward.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Al-1701 on March 22, 2018, 02:14:00 AM
Also, the bravado we saw earlier was because of the drugs and the literal power rush they gave her.  Now she has to face the world without them.  Which is a scary proposition.

Again, it would be nice if they had kept her around going forward, but she ended up being a one-shot.  I guess we can assume she went on to find her confidence to be who she is even without the witchweed.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on March 22, 2018, 04:07:24 AM
I think the Withweed potion made Catrina evil along with the powers it gave her. When she has powered by  Witchweed Catrina focuses on ways to get more, even if it means turning innocent creatures in to her slaves.


Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Lilja on March 22, 2018, 11:07:26 AM
I think the Withweed potion made Catrina evil along with the powers it gave her. When she has powered by  Witchweed Catrina focuses on ways to get more, even if it means turning innocent creatures in to her slaves.

That probably makes the most sense. Her desire for power becomes so strong that she loses sight of right and wrong as long as she can get her potion. So in the end it's not worth it, even if the powers are pretty awesome. That's also about right for a drug metaphor. Of course, I'd have much prefered if she had been able to stay powerful, but found a way to use it for good instead of evil. But that clearly wasn't the story they wanted to tell.

It's true we also don't get see a lot of what Catrina's like when she's good, but the little we do see implies she lacks any assertiveness. She's barely able to tell Rep he's standing on her dress. On the other hand, since this is a children's cartoon (with a limited run time) they had to find a way to make it clear her personality completely changed. Still, the implications are unfortunate. Especially with the song "The Good Old Days" having some late 1800s/early 1900s-vibes, and describing the good Catrina as a "cute cuddly kitten sitting on my knee".

Even with all that, I still like this special a lot. And even if a common complaint of mine is that the villains/guest characters get way too much screentime in the G1 cartoon, on the expense of the ponies, I really would have liked to see Catrina return. They could have expanded on her character and portray her in a more positive light.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Wildshadow on March 22, 2018, 01:30:12 PM
I read thru the papers again and it seems both folders have a paper naming Baby Surprise instead of Baby Moondancer...someone at the top messed up who they really animated to be pony napped when sending out the details to whoever was getting the press kits XD

forgot I had this photo, SO MUCH INFORMATION...

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Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Al-1701 on March 22, 2018, 02:41:17 PM
Catrina returning would have been great.  However, since we saw yet another turnover of characters before the series began, she would seem of place.  Especially if she had her own arc.

It's the like the issue with giving Luna mental problems in Friendship is Magic.  A few hugs is not going to cure the more than a few blown fuses that drove her to torment herself with the Tantabus, but getting into the real process of helping her would require multiple episodes of covering a rather dour subject.

I guess there's always fan fiction where we could delve into her recovery and how she find how to have confidence and assertiveness without the witchweed potion.  As well as going back to seeing how it started.  I still think she started using witchweed because she was secretly envious of Rep and his shape shifting powers.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: LadyMoondancer on March 22, 2018, 03:44:26 PM
The disappointing thing about Catrina's becoming unassertive when she became "good" was . . . it kind of makes me think she should keep taking witchweed.  It doesn't take over her personality completely because she's able to choose to blow up the witchweed machine at the very end, when she's all bulked up.  Maybe she'd be assertive but not evil if she took a lower dose?  We don't actually know that the potion is 'bad'.  It could be like Captain America's super-soldier serum.

The other thing that annoys me about her right at the end (besides her wavering voice) is that she needs reassurance from Rep that she's beautiful. Really?  "Hmm, could be awkward going to a party where I tried to enslave everyone, but anyway the most important thing is: am I hot?"  Catrina, I'm begging you, do the drugs.  Do all the drugs.  :P

Don't get me wrong, though, I do like this special.  It's my 2nd favorite (after RaMC).  I do wish Firefly was in it, though.  Her toy actually WAS sold this year (brought back from the previous year with new, curly hair) so I don't really get why she was excluded.  (Moondancer, Glory, Applejack, Bow-Tie, and Medley were also sold this year.)

Baby Moondancer was my favorite as a child so of course I'm happy to see her having a big role.  (Sidenote, wasn't it nice when G1 babies talked normally instead of in baby talk?  Enjoy it while you can . . .)

Posey sounds British?  Is it just me?  Not that she has a lot of lines . . .

Although I generally like the RaMC designs more than the EfC designs, I actually like the sea pony designs better in EfC.  They look a little more . . . natural.  ;)

I don't even mind the "parade of costumes" at the end, even though it was blatantly tacked on to show off the Pony Wear and did nothing to further the plot.  :P  At least it gave us that cute visual of the baby sea pony splashing Baby Surprise.  (And yes, I noticed some ponies got 'repeated' in order to show off all the outfits, lol!)
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Al-1701 on March 22, 2018, 06:43:10 PM
Well, her only other choice was to die in the every flushing pit.  Survival instinct kind of overrides all, including some addictions.  And what she was on the witchweed potion was not healthy.  A complete disregard for life is a little worse than getting the stage jitters.  Maybe a lower dose would work, but she also needs a better outlet for magic than lashing out at whatever offends her at the moment.

Again, she needed an arc of development to get what we want.  And that wasn't going to happen.  So, writers, get writing (I'm off MLP fics at the moment to concentrate on Futagohime).
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Shaz on March 23, 2018, 07:18:37 AM
Reading through this discussion gave me a little mini-story idea that I just had to write down. Hope it's okay to post this here! I've often thought it would be awesome to see more of Catrina's story!

Spoiler
Another idyllic Dream Valley afternoon, the sun shining, the ponies playing. The doors to Dream Castle's throne room were opened, and Majesty lounged contentedly – but majestically, of course – on her golden throne. A light breeze toyed with her blue and white mane as she leaned forward to sip at the cool drink Fizzy had provided her with. Catrina sat at her side, a place she often occupied these days. Since Catrina’s redemption and Majesty's return from wherever it was she wandered when she was not in Ponyland, the two seemed to have struck up quite a friendship.

“It was all about power, really,” said Catrina, gesturing vaguely with her own drink. She wasn't sure how they had come to be talking about the witchweed potion, but Majesty didn’t seem to mind. “I wanted power, to be powerful. I wanted control. I didn't want to be that cute and cuddly kitten, that goody two-shoes, any more. The town where I was brought up....it was very much a place where girls did what they were told.”

“You wanted to rebel,” suggested Majesty.

“Wanted to, yes. But I hadn't the faintest idea how to go about it. I was weak. Especially compared to Rep. I was jealous of his magic abilities. He thinks them so unimportant himself, he wastes them. If I could do the things he can....”

“Magic is a mere accident of birth,” said Majesty, “You are far more important to Rep than his shapeshifting skills; he's devoted to you. Although I notice you haven’t spoken much to him since the costume party.”

Catrina shrugged. “I didn't feel like myself that night, and yet he seemed perfectly happy with who I was. He was glad I was his Catrina again, the one he fell in love with. But I'm not sure I've ever been that Catrina, not really. The witchweed potion showed me a different side to myself. It made me feel good. Strong. As if I could do anything, be anything!”

“At the expense of others, if necessary,” said Majesty, wryly, “It caused you to almost enslave my subjects. You'll forgive me if I don't look too kindly on it.” She sighed. “A lot seems to have happened to them while I was away. I wonder if I dare ever leave them again.”

“But was it really so wrong?” said Catrina, talking almost to herself, “I know I took too much of the stuff, and it clouded my judgement. But if I were to just take a little, I wonder – I mean, hypothetically speaking, of course. Power doesn't have to be evil.”

“I think witchweed potion is something you can’t just take 'a little' of,” said Majesty, “A little quickly becomes a little more. One sip and there’s no turning back. Don't look at me like that, Catrina. I'm not some sheltered princess, I did have a life before I became Queen of the Ponies. I've seen things. Oh, Catrina – I don't know that power is what you think it is. There's a strength in sweetness just as much as in brute force. Do you really need to enhance what nature has given you to be yourself?”

“That’s easy for you to say, you've got the most magical horn in Ponyland. You can blast anyone you want to kingdom come.”

“I could, but I don't. If I blasted everyone I wanted to, this land would probably be empty. One has to have a little self-control.”

Catrina nodded almost eagerly. “That’s what I lacked. If I could do it all again....”

“But self-control is the very thing that potions like the witchweed take away,” said Majesty, gently, “You should go to see the Moochick. He knows more about potions than me, he can explain these things to you.” Majesty looked at her friend perceptively. “He might be able to give you something for the night-terrors and the shaking.”

Catrina shrugged this off. “I’m all right. I had it once before when we ran out of the potion – a long time ago, before we got the Bushwoolies in. It will pass.”

“You have more strength than you know, Catrina. There is a type of power that has nothing to do with controlling lightning bolts and storm clouds, and you have it in plenty.”

Catrina sighed. It was easy for Majesty to say these things: Majesty, who had magic and self-confidence and a kingdom. Majesty most likely did not even know what uncertainty was. Catrina felt uncertain all the time these days: uncertain and weak. The world had made so much more sense when she had had the potion. She always knew exactly what to do, and had the power to do it. If only she could have that feeling again, she would use it properly, use it to make herself the best she could be.

All was not lost. After the first time they had run out of the potion, she had taken to keeping a bottle hidden for a true emergency, a bottle even Rep did not know about. She still had it. Only a small bottle, but a drop would do. Half a drop. If she had the old powers back again, she would not even need to use them. Just knowing she had them would be enough. She would be herself again, not this pale helpless shadow.

Majesty was still talking: dispensing wisdom in that slightly didactic way she had, as if Catrina were one of her little ponies. A foolish way to carry on, when they could be equals. What if she was simply afraid of Catrina being stronger than her?

“All will be well in time, Catrina,” said Majesty, “I know it's a long and dark road. But I think you will come out of it with strengths you didn't even know you possessed. Just give it time.”

Time, yes. There would be time later to sneak away to the place deep in the forest where she had hidden that bottle. No one would think anything of it if she just went for a little walk by herself. And then....

“Yes, Majesty,” said Catrina, and Majesty felt pleased to see such a genuine smile on the catwoman's face, “Yes, you're right. I must just give it time.”
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Dreamer on March 23, 2018, 02:35:23 PM
RaMC is a good introduction to the pony world, an oasis of sunshine amongst fearsome beasts, evil wizards and other horrors. And here we have a wicked cat sorceress who shoots frickin' lightning bolts out of her eyes and enslaves a race of fluffballs so they can extract her...Witch Weed. Incredible, take me to the 80s.

I like Megan's interactions with the ponies (but I agree that giving the Rainbow of Light to Baby Moondancer was a bad idea), Rep's transformation abilities, how Baby Moondancer non-chalantly walks away after kicking him . I also enjoy Catrina's voice: "I WANT you to be my SLAAAVES... If I spare the Rainbow... will you be my SLAAAAVES?
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 23, 2018, 02:47:53 PM
Reading through this discussion gave me a little mini-story idea that I just had to write down. Hope it's okay to post this here! I've often thought it would be awesome to see more of Catrina's story!

Spoiler
Another idyllic Dream Valley afternoon, the sun shining, the ponies playing. The doors to Dream Castle's throne room were opened, and Majesty lounged contentedly – but majestically, of course – on her golden throne. A light breeze toyed with her blue and white mane as she leaned forward to sip at the cool drink Fizzy had provided her with. Catrina sat at her side, a place she often occupied these days. Since Catrina’s redemption and Majesty's return from wherever it was she wandered when she was not in Ponyland, the two seemed to have struck up quite a friendship.

“It was all about power, really,” said Catrina, gesturing vaguely with her own drink. She wasn't sure how they had come to be talking about the witchweed potion, but Majesty didn’t seem to mind. “I wanted power, to be powerful. I wanted control. I didn't want to be that cute and cuddly kitten, that goody two-shoes, any more. The town where I was brought up....it was very much a place where girls did what they were told.”

“You wanted to rebel,” suggested Majesty.

“Wanted to, yes. But I hadn't the faintest idea how to go about it. I was weak. Especially compared to Rep. I was jealous of his magic abilities. He thinks them so unimportant himself, he wastes them. If I could do the things he can....”

“Magic is a mere accident of birth,” said Majesty, “You are far more important to Rep than his shapeshifting skills; he's devoted to you. Although I notice you haven’t spoken much to him since the costume party.”

Catrina shrugged. “I didn't feel like myself that night, and yet he seemed perfectly happy with who I was. He was glad I was his Catrina again, the one he fell in love with. But I'm not sure I've ever been that Catrina, not really. The witchweed potion showed me a different side to myself. It made me feel good. Strong. As if I could do anything, be anything!”

“At the expense of others, if necessary,” said Majesty, wryly, “It caused you to almost enslave my subjects. You'll forgive me if I don't look too kindly on it.” She sighed. “A lot seems to have happened to them while I was away. I wonder if I dare ever leave them again.”

“But was it really so wrong?” said Catrina, talking almost to herself, “I know I took too much of the stuff, and it clouded my judgement. But if I were to just take a little, I wonder – I mean, hypothetically speaking, of course. Power doesn't have to be evil.”

“I think witchweed potion is something you can’t just take 'a little' of,” said Majesty, “A little quickly becomes a little more. One sip and there’s no turning back. Don't look at me like that, Catrina. I'm not some sheltered princess, I did have a life before I became Queen of the Ponies. I've seen things. Oh, Catrina – I don't know that power is what you think it is. There's a strength in sweetness just as much as in brute force. Do you really need to enhance what nature has given you to be yourself?”

“That’s easy for you to say, you've got the most magical horn in Ponyland. You can blast anyone you want to kingdom come.”

“I could, but I don't. If I blasted everyone I wanted to, this land would probably be empty. One has to have a little self-control.”

Catrina nodded almost eagerly. “That’s what I lacked. If I could do it all again....”

“But self-control is the very thing that potions like the witchweed take away,” said Majesty, gently, “You should go to see the Moochick. He knows more about potions than me, he can explain these things to you.” Majesty looked at her friend perceptively. “He might be able to give you something for the night-terrors and the shaking.”

Catrina shrugged this off. “I’m all right. I had it once before when we ran out of the potion – a long time ago, before we got the Bushwoolies in. It will pass.”

“You have more strength than you know, Catrina. There is a type of power that has nothing to do with controlling lightning bolts and storm clouds, and you have it in plenty.”

Catrina sighed. It was easy for Majesty to say these things: Majesty, who had magic and self-confidence and a kingdom. Majesty most likely did not even know what uncertainty was. Catrina felt uncertain all the time these days: uncertain and weak. The world had made so much more sense when she had had the potion. She always knew exactly what to do, and had the power to do it. If only she could have that feeling again, she would use it properly, use it to make herself the best she could be.

All was not lost. After the first time they had run out of the potion, she had taken to keeping a bottle hidden for a true emergency, a bottle even Rep did not know about. She still had it. Only a small bottle, but a drop would do. Half a drop. If she had the old powers back again, she would not even need to use them. Just knowing she had them would be enough. She would be herself again, not this pale helpless shadow.

Majesty was still talking: dispensing wisdom in that slightly didactic way she had, as if Catrina were one of her little ponies. A foolish way to carry on, when they could be equals. What if she was simply afraid of Catrina being stronger than her?

“All will be well in time, Catrina,” said Majesty, “I know it's a long and dark road. But I think you will come out of it with strengths you didn't even know you possessed. Just give it time.”

Time, yes. There would be time later to sneak away to the place deep in the forest where she had hidden that bottle. No one would think anything of it if she just went for a little walk by herself. And then....

“Yes, Majesty,” said Catrina, and Majesty felt pleased to see such a genuine smile on the catwoman's face, “Yes, you're right. I must just give it time.”

That's really good Shaz.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on March 23, 2018, 03:26:41 PM

Great story Shaz. :)

Here's a pic of the back of the VHS box.

Spoiler
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4782/3916visitors can't see pics , please register or login
[


If the nursery and Dream Castle are just steps away from each other, why was only Megan able to hear Baby Moondancer's cries for help?


Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Lilja on March 24, 2018, 02:28:18 AM
The other thing that annoys me about her right at the end (besides her wavering voice) is that she needs reassurance from Rep that she's beautiful. Really?  "Hmm, could be awkward going to a party where I tried to enslave everyone, but anyway the most important thing is: am I hot?"  Catrina, I'm begging you, do the drugs.  Do all the drugs.  :P

This is basically my thoughts as well!  :lol:

I do wish Firefly was in it, though.  Her toy actually WAS sold this year (brought back from the previous year with new, curly hair) so I don't really get why she was excluded.  (Moondancer, Glory, Applejack, Bow-Tie, and Medley were also sold this year.)

And Skydancer wasn't even sold that year, but I guess since the first rainbow set missed their chance of appearing in the previous special, they stuck her in this one. I feel it would have changed very little if they switched Skydancer for Firefly, she barely had any lines anyway. Maybe that was the plan originally, but Hasbro mandated to push as many new toys as possible.

Posey sounds British?  Is it just me?  Not that she has a lot of lines . . .

Yeah, very different portrayal from the TV series. It's kinda maybe(?) implied she's the baby ponies' "nanny", so that could be the rationale behind the british accent?

Spoiler


Nicely written! I feel like Majesty might also have been a little prone to abusing her power at times. She can probably relate.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on March 24, 2018, 02:47:48 PM
At the parade of costumes there are sea ponies in the fountain that look like Bowtie, Firefly, Applejack Medley and Bubbles. Baby Surprise, Baby Glory and Cotton Candy walk down the stairs twice, once right after Sparkler and then again right before Catrina and Rep. Posey wears Lights, Camera, Action and Lickety Split wears Satin n Lace.  But there is another Posey wearing Pony Luv and another Lickety Split  wearing Party Time  :lol:

Tammy Grimes is also the voice of Molly Grue in The Last Unicorn.


Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: LadyMoondancer on March 24, 2018, 04:46:47 PM
And Skydancer wasn't even sold that year

WOW . . . I've watched EfC soooo many times and that never occurred to me, but you're right!  Skydancer is a Year 2 pony!  So it really doesn't make any sense not to have Firefly bringing Megan in . . .

Great story, Shaz!  <3
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Taffeta on March 24, 2018, 05:46:50 PM
Was Skydancer ever part of the mail offer? Although let's not forget that some of this was in production long before it actually came out. She's not one of the rereleased rainbows, is she?

Maybe they just thought she was pretty, or added to the colour palette.

The discussion on Posey's accent - please no. British people don't talk like that. And there's no such thing as a British accent, because Britain is 4 countries, not just England anyway. What you guys really mean is an English accent, but there are a lot of English dialects and none of them sound like Posey. The voice artist overenunciates her syllables, that's all.

The nanny comment was wrong on so many levels that I am not even going to start.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: LadyMoondancer on March 24, 2018, 06:48:16 PM
I had the same thought about rereleased Rainbows, but Skydancer wasn't brought over to Year 3.  (The Rainbow ponies who were moved forward were Starshine, Parasol, and Windy.)
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Lilja on March 25, 2018, 02:21:14 AM
WOW . . . I've watched EfC soooo many times and that never occurred to me, but you're right!  Skydancer is a Year 2 pony!  So it really doesn't make any sense not to have Firefly bringing Megan in . . .

It does bother be on some level (not in a serious way :lol:), since both of these specials follow a pretty clear pattern in which ponies they feature, and Skydancer is the only one who goes against it.

The discussion on Posey's accent - please no. British people don't talk like that. And there's no such thing as a British accent, because Britain is 4 countries, not just England anyway. What you guys really mean is an English accent, but there are a lot of English dialects and none of them sound like Posey. The voice artist overenunciates her syllables, that's all.

The nanny comment was wrong on so many levels that I am not even going to start.

My apologies. I meant to say that could've been the stereotype they were going for, not that there is anything good or valid about the stereotype itself. The American pop culture version of "British" is kind of its own thing, separate from anything that exists in the real world.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Taffeta on March 25, 2018, 02:34:00 AM
Apology accepted. And yes it is, but that doesn't mean it's right to reinforce it,

It's a genuine twitch of mine. I hate the term "British accent", especially when it's blatantly not British at all. Like someone was talking recently about Rarity as being more "British", but she's still not.

The voice itself isn't offensive at all. Nor is Posey. Just the stereotype assumptions that that must be "British", because it denies the different cultures here (both regionally and in terms of each country) and condenses them into some kind of "same".

I hate to think what a British accent would sound like. Even if you mixed the most standard English, Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh accents you'd get something pretty horrendous I think... :pout:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Lilja on March 25, 2018, 09:06:27 AM
I guess I can kind of relate. Since I'm from Sweden, and the "Nordic accent" is also a very specific thing in American pop culture, despite the fact that no one from any nordic country would actually sound like that when speaking English. And all of northern europe tends to be jumbled together when it comes to culture and language, despite being very different in real life. :biggrin:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Al-1701 on March 25, 2018, 09:16:12 AM
It's the "accent" similar to Heat Throb's where syllables are over pronounced.  Though, with Heart Throb there was a point since she was supposed to be over-dramatic.  Posey, I have no idea.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on March 26, 2018, 05:57:33 PM
Another thing I realized The escape mentioned in the title probably refers to the Bushwoolies instead of Megan and the ponies. Baby Moondancer was the only pony kidnapped by Catrina and the other ponies went in the cave to find Baby Moondancer.

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Bekuno on March 26, 2018, 08:31:39 PM
Sorry I'm late with the next discussion, some IRL troubles are getting in the way of me getting a chance to rewatch the film. I'll try to have it up soon!
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 29, 2018, 01:09:13 PM
The disappointing thing about Catrina's becoming unassertive when she became "good" was . . . it kind of makes me think she should keep taking witchweed.  It doesn't take over her personality completely because she's able to choose to blow up the witchweed machine at the very end, when she's all bulked up.  Maybe she'd be assertive but not evil if she took a lower dose?  We don't actually know that the potion is 'bad'.  It could be like Captain America's super-soldier serum.

The other thing that annoys me about her right at the end (besides her wavering voice) is that she needs reassurance from Rep that she's beautiful. Really?  "Hmm, could be awkward going to a party where I tried to enslave everyone, but anyway the most important thing is: am I hot?"  Catrina, I'm begging you, do the drugs.  Do all the drugs.  :P

Don't get me wrong, though, I do like this special.  It's my 2nd favorite (after RaMC).  I do wish Firefly was in it, though.  Her toy actually WAS sold this year (brought back from the previous year with new, curly hair) so I don't really get why she was excluded.  (Moondancer, Glory, Applejack, Bow-Tie, and Medley were also sold this year.)

Baby Moondancer was my favorite as a child so of course I'm happy to see her having a big role.  (Sidenote, wasn't it nice when G1 babies talked normally instead of in baby talk?  Enjoy it while you can . . .)

Posey sounds British?  Is it just me?  Not that she has a lot of lines . . .

Although I generally like the RaMC designs more than the EfC designs, I actually like the sea pony designs better in EfC.  They look a little more . . . natural.  ;)

I don't even mind the "parade of costumes" at the end, even though it was blatantly tacked on to show off the Pony Wear and did nothing to further the plot.  :P  At least it gave us that cute visual of the baby sea pony splashing Baby Surprise.  (And yes, I noticed some ponies got 'repeated' in order to show off all the outfits, lol!)

She can be assertive and confident without treating her closest friend like crud, enslaving others and threatening to chuck a baby into a machine. Don't need witchweed for that.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Shatyr on March 29, 2018, 05:45:13 PM
Honestly, I didn't even make the drug connection until this thread. Watching it as a kid, I figured it was absolute power corrupting absolutely. Watching as an adult, I just chalked it down to "convenient writing".

Animation-wise, this is my second favorite after RaMC. I was always sad that the Moochick didn't make an appearance. I didn't mind that they cut Rep and Catrina's song out. It didn't really do anything for me.

The costumes are so OBVIOUSLY merchandising plants, even more so than the rest of the specials ever were. I loved Megan's song and dance with the baby ponies to get them to take their naps, though Baby Surprise's animation error was something I puzzled over.

These days, I always wonder why Catrina didn't lead off with "If I spare Baby Moondancer, will you be my slaves?" instead of threatening the rainbow. I mean, it doesn't really follow, does it? Threaten the rainbow, they say no, suddenly up the ante by threatening the baby pony you haven't even mentioned but are somehow holding one handed?

Catrina must do some serious weightlifting to be able to pull that off.

The Bushwoolies were at their most articulate here, imo. Actual lines, rebellion, especially for as little screentime as they got. I forget if the purple one actually gave/had a name, but he has always been my favorite bushwoolie. Even after the Princess Ponies special.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Zapper on March 31, 2018, 03:50:01 AM
The other thing that annoys me about her right at the end (besides her wavering voice) is that she needs reassurance from Rep that she's beautiful. Really?  "Hmm, could be awkward going to a party where I tried to enslave everyone, but anyway the most important thing is: am I hot?"  Catrina, I'm begging you, do the drugs.  Do all the drugs.  :P

Hahaha! Yeah that was eyeroll worthy. Just really stereotypical writing. The opposite of loud and dominant is soft-spoken and insecure. Nothing inbetween. She became a "proper lady" again.

My own take-away is that this has got to be the weirdest MLP special of all. Slave labor to produce drugs for the 1%. So weirdly topical even nowadays and they put that into MLP. Who still wants to pretend G1 was all about crying and tea parties? :lol:
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Lilja on March 31, 2018, 04:49:18 AM
Hahaha! Yeah that was eyeroll worthy. Just really stereotypical writing. The opposite of loud and dominant is soft-spoken and insecure. Nothing inbetween. She became a "proper lady" again.

You know, like in The Good Old Days!

(BARF)
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: StarSwirl05 on March 31, 2018, 12:00:13 PM
I never knew there was actually a drug reference in the special. I always thought it was just a rumor, though I never had heard what the potion was called until reading it here. Also didn't notice the MLP logo that was mentioned in this thread either.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Taffeta on April 01, 2018, 08:37:12 AM
The other thing that annoys me about her right at the end (besides her wavering voice) is that she needs reassurance from Rep that she's beautiful. Really?  "Hmm, could be awkward going to a party where I tried to enslave everyone, but anyway the most important thing is: am I hot?"  Catrina, I'm begging you, do the drugs.  Do all the drugs.  :P

Hahaha! Yeah that was eyeroll worthy. Just really stereotypical writing. The opposite of loud and dominant is soft-spoken and insecure. Nothing inbetween. She became a "proper lady" again.

My own take-away is that this has got to be the weirdest MLP special of all. Slave labor to produce drugs for the 1%. So weirdly topical even nowadays and they put that into MLP. Who still wants to pretend G1 was all about crying and tea parties? :lol:

I still think that preconception comes mostly from G3 (which does have an inordinate amount of tea parties from what I remember) and Lauren Faust claiming that G1 had all this stuff even though it didn't. No idea what her motive was except maybe as a rationale to include quite a few such events (parties and fashion boutiques anyway) in G4...

Back on topic...I agree with the personality change in Catrina and the cringey stereotypes for proper ladies that it falls on. Drugs are bad, but being a sap is also bad.

I don't think the drug message is as nailed down as it could be, but it is a younger audience than, say, Jem. Jem's drug message was...quite memorable. Anyone who's not seen it, the episode involves a girl who's ended up at Jerrica's foster home essentially taking hallucinogenics and believing she can fly. Catrina predates Laura's Alone Again experience by a couple of years, but it is the same production company and there's a lot of transition between writing teams, so I don't know whether there was any big drive in this time period to bring drug messages into kid's TV.

I do genuinely think Catrina is about drugs, but I also think it's really not spelt out very well that it is.

Slave labour happened in RaMC as well, to pull the chariot of darkness. And maybe even the Grundles in the movie as well. Themes of social oppression feature strongly in early MLP. Somewhat a contrast to the arrogance of Pinkie and Dash lecturing the Griffins about how their society needs friendship more than some ancient cultural trinket...or is it?
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: MJNSEIFER on April 01, 2018, 02:06:58 PM
In my opinion, the jury is still out on whether or not Lauren said that G1 had tea parties or not (the only quotation of her saying that is pretty unclear, in my mind whether she was referring to G1 or not), and even if she was, she's allowed to get things wrong.  In actual fact, none of the generations had tea parties that much at all.

On with the subject; I like this special.  It had a interesting storyline, and I like the design of the ponies.  I enjoyed the storyline with Sundance and her clumsiness (this is pretty much how I headcanon the "Muffin Pony" from G4 - a pony who knows she's clumsy, and feels bad about it, and tries to do the right thing), and I actually thought of the drugs comparison from the beginning (though I was an adult when I watched it first, if that helps.)

The episode is good, but they could have maybe done Catrina's reforming a bit better.  It was basically "I'm about to die, so I promise to be good!"  I know she was genuine, but wouldn't most of us promise to be good if we thought we were going to die?  Catrina could have just as easily have tried to attack them again once they saved her...

I also didn't mind the "Dressed Like a Dream" sequence, because I think it was mentioned before it happened.  I'm sure it was to advertise ponywear, but didn't they say that they were going to have a costume ball earlier?  I'll have to rewatch, but it seems like much less blatant advertising than the Flower Filly CMC and Heart-Throb randomly wearing a costume for no reason in "Through the Door".
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Taffeta on April 01, 2018, 03:14:46 PM
I like Dressed Like a Dream, even if it is a commercial for ponywear. After the Glitter and Gold Jem ep which is literally the most blatant clothing advertising in animation ever made, Catrina is really mild. But it is hard to advertise ponywear in a way because they don't normally wear them. And if they are wearing it, it asks questions about the times they aren;t.

Reminds me of the infamous birthday suit advert for ponywear in the UK...where one of the Groom & Style Ponies forgot that someone's birthday party was a costume party...

Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Ponyfan on April 01, 2018, 03:23:22 PM
I like to think that ponies only wear clothes for special occasions like the costume ball or a dance recital and the rest of the time they don’t mind not wearing clothes.

Ponyfan
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: MJNSEIFER on April 01, 2018, 04:13:16 PM
I like to think that ponies only wear clothes for special occasions like the costume ball or a dance recital and the rest of the time they don’t mind not wearing clothes.

Ponyfan
Makes sense.  It's like how they have things like the Grand Galloping Gala in G4.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Leave a Whisper on April 01, 2018, 06:07:04 PM
I like Dressed Like a Dream, even if it is a commercial for ponywear. After the Glitter and Gold Jem ep which is literally the most blatant clothing advertising in animation ever made, Catrina is really mild. But it is hard to advertise ponywear in a way because they don't normally wear them. And if they are wearing it, it asks questions about the times they aren;t.

Reminds me of the infamous birthday suit advert for ponywear in the UK...where one of the Groom & Style Ponies forgot that someone's birthday party was a costume party...

That sounds really funny.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Taffeta on April 02, 2018, 05:10:19 AM
I like Dressed Like a Dream, even if it is a commercial for ponywear. After the Glitter and Gold Jem ep which is literally the most blatant clothing advertising in animation ever made, Catrina is really mild. But it is hard to advertise ponywear in a way because they don't normally wear them. And if they are wearing it, it asks questions about the times they aren;t.

Reminds me of the infamous birthday suit advert for ponywear in the UK...where one of the Groom & Style Ponies forgot that someone's birthday party was a costume party...

That sounds really funny.

http://www.etherella.com/scrapbook2/1985media.htm
At the bottom of the page is a sound clip ;)

The actual advert is from 1985 but it more recently aired in a BBC special I love 1983 about 10 years ago. It comes up at about 35 mins in but I can't post the link as the documentary contains strong language. But it is a cute advert.
Title: Re: G1 Media Retrospective: Escape From Catrina
Post by: Leave a Whisper on April 02, 2018, 09:29:47 AM
That's pretty cute.
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