Dr. Donna's Review

About the Film

This month’s Kidtoon feature presentation opens with three ponies excitedly on their way to the Ponyville library for Story Club. They talk about how much fun it is to visit with Storybelle and they wonder what stories she will tell them today. When they arrive, Storybelle invites them to climb up to the story loft where her helper, Gossamer the dragonfly, finds the books and takes them down from the shelves.

Storybelle tells three favorite stories with three important themes. In the first story, best friends Starflight and Heartbright always have fun playing their favorite games but they both wish for something different – they wished they could fly. They try many techniques but eventually they fall asleep and in their dreams, they are able to fly. Flying seems like fun at first but then they wish to just be themselves and do the things they used to do. When they awake, they are both glad to “just be me” and they celebrate their friendship and the enjoyment of doing ordinary things together.

As the ponies talk about how they loved the story about Starflight and Heartbright, Storybelle announces that she has another one ready. She tells about the time that the birthday book landed on Minty with the page open to Pinky Pie causing Minty to conclude that it must be Pinky Pie’s birthday. Minty announces to everyone that there must be a surprise party for Pinky Pie. Everyone gets busy planning and decorating for the party. The ponies have a hard time keeping the surprise from Pinky Pie but finally, everything is ready and Pinky Pie enters the town square to hear everyone yell “Surprise.” Pinky Pie is surprised indeed because it’s not her birthday until tomorrow. Minty made a mistake. Instead of being upset by the mistake, the ponies that have learned the joy of sharing and doing things for others, decide to make it a two-day party!

As Storybelle finishes this story, the ponies exclaim that this is the “favorite.” Storybelle tells them there is still time for her to tell the story of Lily the unicorn with the special horn. Lily’s horn is different from everyone else’s because whenever she gets the giggles her horn lights up. Lily is embarrassed and ashamed when this happens. She thinks the other unicorns will laugh at her because she is different. She runs away to hide in the forest where she meets Firefly. Firefly helps her understand that being different makes her special. When the other unicorns find Lily they all have their horns lighted as a way to show Lily that they find her beautiful and special. That night when the unicorns celebrate the Rainbow Light Party, Lily proudly lets her horn shine as she is proclaimed Princess of all that Twinkles and Glows.

About the Kids
This film’s primary appeal is to younger children, especially girls, up the age of 5. Some younger boys may enjoy it also. The film may continue to appeal to older girls up to the age of nine. Those children who have collected and played with the “My Little Pony” characters will be pleased to see many familiar Pony personalities and to meet some new characters.

All children will be able to relate to the themes that are developed through the stories that Storybelle tells. The themes deal with issues that are relevant and important to children in the viewing age group.

Film content and features
“A Very Pony Place” is a unique feature in that it takes children to a familiar storytelling setting and allows them to share the experience of Story Club with familiar pony characters. The thematic content of “A Very Pony Place” is accessible by children across the recommended viewing ages. The film is moved along by several charming songs that underscore the messages. The film features the classic pinks, purples, greens and other soft but lush colors that are part of the My Little Pony mystique.

Things to talk about
The film opens the door for discussion of several important themes with children. The first level of discussion is simply about the importance of coming together to listen to stories and then to talk about the content. It is important to help children understand that stories not only give us pleasure but that they also teach us important lessons. Talking with children about the fact that they are learning from story content helps children develop an important first step toward “media literacy” i.e. that all media contains content and information and that it is worthwhile to take the time to figure out what messages the creator of the content is giving us.

Then, there are several “content” messages to discuss. Here are some suggestions:

• Starflight and Heartbright are best friends. What does it mean to be “best friends”? Ask children to talk about their own best friend. What makes that friend special?

• Ask children to tell you why Starflight and Hearbright wished they could fly. (They thought flying would be fun and they felt bored with all the other things they did together.) When they got their wish in their dreams, they found that flying wasn’t so great for them after all. Why not? (Sometimes the wings got in the way and they missed doing ordinary things.)

• Ask children if they have ever wished for something special – like being able to fly. Talk with them about their wishes. Encourage them to express their wildest dreams.

• The ponies worked together to put on a surprise party for Pinky Pie. Why did they want to surprise her? Why do people like surprise parties?

• Pinky Pie kept coming around and the ponies were afraid she would discover the surprise. What did they do to keep her from knowing about the surprise? (They had Puzzlement tell her the ponies were doing a Puzzle Hunt and that she could do a hunt also. Sending Pinky Pie on a Puzzle Hunt kept her so busy that she didn’t have time to discover the party planning.) Ask the children if they think this was a good way to keep the surprise. Ask if they have any other ideas for keeping the secret.

• The ponies made everything in Ponyville “positively pink.” Why? (Encourage children to understand that they did this to honor Pinky Pie.) Did they have fun? How could you tell?

• It turned out that Minty made a mistake about the date of Pinky Pie’s birthday. Did the other ponies get mad at her for making a mistake? (No, they just decided to celebrate on two days instead of one.)

• Ask the children if they have ever made a mistake that turned out OK. Ask if they have ever made a mistake that didn’t turn out OK.

• Ask children to remember what it was about Lily the unicorn that made her different from the other unicorns. Did the other unicorns laugh at her special difference? Did the other unicorns learn to accept Lily’s special difference? How did they show her that they accepted her?

• Ask the children to talk about what Lily learned about herself by the end of the story.

• Have children draw a picture of their favorite scene from “A Very Pony Place.”

• Have children draw a picture of their favorite character from “A Very Pony Place.”