Dammit! All that talk at the bottom and somebody had already beaten me to the punch with a much simpler set of words, conveying much of what I felt with far less pomp and circumstance.

I was about to be so (pointlessly, I know but still) angry. I hadn't really paid attention to the picture or the words other than "Moon Dancer wins" despite having last looked at the results being in favor of Starlight Glimmer and Coloratura. Starlight, despite her questionably simple origin story and altogether-too-soon redemption montage (Sunset Shimmer needs an additional film and this pony only needs 3 minutes; gross), was nonetheless a fun and unique antagonist character, a villain who really didn't think she was the villain. Though I suppose the season finale was her shot at the "vengeance return," I think it would have been more fun to see her return as a character even more bitter about past events...then again, someone like her being allowed to go that far down the wrong path would be somewhat inconsistent with the show's main theme, so maybe redemption was the right answer, despite how ridiculously quick and unearned it was. As far as Coloratura is concerned, it's probably unfair for me to enjoy her more as her glitzy self, but that's truly where I find her appeal. The "honest, true Coloratura" is nice but if the character ever returned I want SO BAD for her to keep the razzle-dazzle of the Countess persona, just under better management.

But Moon Dancer...ugh.

Maybe it's callous of me to dislike "Amending Fences" and its central character the way I do, but I'm pretty sure I can sum up the reason easy enough, which has less to do with the episode or even the character (which are actually okay in and of themselves) and more with those fawning over them. Identifying so hard with the shut-in character is just another bad look for the fandom to me. It yet again highlights bronies as a group of socially incompetent people that can only "shine" on the Internet; moreover, the way she's "saved" at the end leads me to believe all those who relate are looking for that same sort of exterior interference to save them from their friendlessness as opposed to the harder, truer road of overcoming your own obstacles.

Again, people who read this might find that sort of thinking to be a tad unfair, but that would be exactly the word I have a problem with. Life is hopelessly unfair sometimes, and when faced with such situations strong human beings either learn to cope or overcome; weak ones simply complain, often having the gall to view their useless words as "fighting back" and selfishly expecting someone or something other than themselves to save them.

See though, this level of rant (once again on a days-old topic), short as it was this time around, is the reason I so often back out of the comments box. Is any of this really going to change anyone's opinion? Is it of any use at all or is it just a giant waste of my time? Eh. I dunno'. Sometimes you just start writing and find yourself at the end being all "wow, I could've been doing something else instead of pointlessly blabbing about something on the Internet." I'ma actually just say screw it and hit "Submit" this time, though. Maybe a few of ya'll will get a kick out of it one way or another, if anyone reads at all. I wouldn't blame anyone if they didn't.

You win, since you're the first one to make the only point anybody who came to the comments section should have made.

Every comment that isn't a direct reply to this, either to agree or disagree (but really, how on earth could you disagree), is unnecessary.

I usually find there to be a significant cringe factor in OCs, since they never seem to "work" stylistically and end up being hastily assembled mish-mashes of colors and manestyles (more often than not). I tried it myself even, and what I came up with after a significant amount of tweaking was still pretty garbagey; I don't intend on letting it see the light of day.

THAT SAID. Something about both Blank Canvas and Mane Event just works. Both those OCs have that certain, undefinable "something" to me that makes them pop on a page or screen. Their designs definitely promote their respective Bronycon aspects (and the con as a whole) quite well visually.

Sadly the same can't be said about Hoof Beatz, who feels like just another dime-a-dozen design. I kind of get that impression from most male OCs, unforunately...hell, even Big Mac would rub me the wrong way (from an aesthetic perspective) if I hadn't first been introduced to him as a canon show character. Those bold body colors just don't look right a lot of the time.

Agreed. Unfortunately, and not to suggest doom and gloom on this (but personally I kind of hope it's true since I think it would be great for the movie to be the final closeout), if S6 does turn out to be the last TV season of FiM I wouldn't want to see it be COMPLETELY awash in celebrity cameos. I'd imagine it would be hard to really nail down worthwhile stories or establish solid continuity if multiple episodes had to revolve around introducing special guest characters.

It's hard not to want a comeback, and I'd certainly be down so long as they can write a good enough episode to justify it. "Pinkie Pride" was pretty solid for being the first full-musical episode after the ever-questionable and awkwardly-paced MMC.

The entire episode was submitted for a Best Musical Direction in a Children's Animated Series nomination. Could be that AKR and DI are looking to score multiple awards this year as a lyrics/music duo.

...and I just realized you already asked Daniel Ingram that on Twitter already; prolly knew before me...

^_^;

Let's wish them the best of luck anyways!

I'm...assuming it's because of the Heavy Rain meme? Maybe?? O_o;

Press "X" to "NUAHS!"

...or to "JASON!"

Gotta' say, they really nailed the HR-style of humor and dialogue. The HR cast impersonations were actually pretty good too, with the notable exception of Bubs. Definitely nailed it for Poopsmith and Pom-Pom, though (wuh-ink ^_~). Pony voices were pretty meh, but that's to be expected. The only one that was especially jarring was Apple Bloom, who sounded like some awful cross between herself and Babs Seed. Conversely, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were some of the closest.

Actual animation-wise, the HR-style seems to be a good fit for amateurs, as it doesn't require quite as much in the way of character movement. It even sorta' makes the cop-out, South-Park-shuffle for the ponies work. I also didn't have any problems with the length. It just felt more like a feature toon than a SBemail as a result.

All in all, this made my late-morning. It's one of the neatest things I've seen from fandom animators in quite some time.

I think I'm FINALLY starting to get used to their cutie marks. I loved the concept but couldn't help thinking they just look slapped on. Gotta' wonder how long it took for the studio execs to be give the greenlight on this one.

Artwork like this definitely helps, though
.