Toon4Thought

That's kind of why I firmly think EqG should just become a 22 minute series already, specifically so we could get both magical antics and more mundane conflicts. Those 2017 specials proved it could work, and I think this special and Rollercoaster would've been better at 22 minutes each anyway. They could've freed up the resources to make two additional 22-minute stories, but nope. It always upsets me to know how fantastic EqG could be but it just isn't allowed to be.

While many are assuming this gen of Equestria Girls will last past the series for some time, I think it's safe to say it will go away by the time G5 premieres. That being said, I think it would make sense for G5 to have an EqG of its own, and I personally think that if done right, it could easily exceed G4. So I want to ask, how would you handle it? Honestly, I probably would introduce the new Humane 6 and show them in slice of life adventures before we get our first crossover with the pony world. This would basically mean Sunset’s backstory would be kept secret for a while, possibly with the occasional hint. She would go through the same basic redemption arc, which is when the magic starts happening. But there would be more pathos to her before this point, allowing us to more want to see her turn sides. After which, play the same basic beats as G4 – they get magical powers, some leaks contaminate their environment and a few inhabitants – but pace it in a manner that makes it seem more gradual. Don’t make everything happen at once. And, most importantly, get a good length format going. Simply said, neither 2 minutes nor 44 is sufficient.

I sure hope Equestria Girls does get a grand finale that addresses this as others suggested, because I think there's just so many things in EqG that deserve finality, this being one of them. I even have an idea in mind that I'm probably going to turn into a fanfic. You can thank @cmarston1for originally thinking up the basics of it.

After watching Spring Breakdown (which I thought was fine for what it was), I've realized that my main issue with EqG right now is that we just don't get enough full-length stories with them. Like, something like Breakdown isn't something we should only get twice a year. I get why the shorts are there, and they serve their own purpose. It's just... imagine if Breakdown and Rollercoaster were each 22 minutes, and they used the leftover time to tell additional 22-minute stories. But anyway, onto the topic. If EqG were to make more specials (be it 22 or 44), what do you think they should be about? Try to keep it realistic to what you think the series would cover.

Yeah, I've noticed that virtually every gag, scene, and conversation just didn't know when to end, and thus often overstayed their welcome. That tonal clash was probably the worst example. It seems Forgotten Friendship has so far been the only 44-minute special to really take full advantage of the runtime. No matter what you feel about the other two, I think most of us can agree that both of them could've been done in 22. Imagine if 22 min eps was the norm for this series...

The thing about this special is that I can't quite call it bad in any sense. The characters are all used decently well, the conflict was reasonable, and the whole Equestria part made for an interesting third-act twist. However, this is probably the most obvious case of EqG being held back from its true potential. It always comes so close to giving the fans what they want to see, but rarely do they manage to land. And just from watching this special, it becomes clear that Hasbro holds EqG on a far tighter creative leash than FiM, where they're essentially only able to do what the heads want and really nothing else. This kind of makes me realize that so many of the things I so very much want to see in EqG probably won't happen, and all it does is make me wish more than ever that this could actually become a full 22-minute series, with arcs as fully realized and stories as properly fleshed out. Seriously, imagine how much better EqG would be if they just got the right format and direction. I guarantee this story, written as is, would be much more accepted if that was a thing. I could pick apart a few problems that are actually in the special, like the overabundance of gags, scenes, and conversations that just didn't know when to freaking end (especially in the first half), but the mood it indirectly left on me honestly overshadowed all those in my mind anyway. Again, not really the special's fault, but it's really reminded me to keep my hopes and expectations in check for future installments.

I blame the fact she's only had hands for a few years. Can't expect her to have the same level of coordination as most humans. But yeah, more shorts like this one please.

If the way FiM is currently run isn't confusing to kids and parents, I doubt this would be. Especially assuming this mostly remains with YouTube in mind. And yes, 11 minutes would fit their advertising format as well as Discovery Family's (as irrelevant as the latter may be) - look at Hanazuki. In fact, they use an 11-minute format for the specials, which IMO makes it more frustrating because it's like, they could make proper length stories if they wanted to, and they just don't. I agree them being mixed with shorts would be best, I just wish they weren't 80% of the material, because it feels like being stuck to that format is simply holding them back. Personally, I think if they kept on the level of the specials quality-wise (both the 44 and 22 min ones) and were just able to regularly have a good runtime for it all, I think it would easily exceed the main series IMO. To be frank, I think it would be best off becoming full-on serialized, with some shorter story arcs going on alongside the already-existing overarching ones. So many pieces are there, just waiting to be taken advantage of, and I think this format is the best way to at least mostly guarantee that they do. As long as it remembers to remain character-driven, I think it could not only work, but make it stand out in a unique and beneficial manner.

Kind of odd to bump this topic, but this has just been flowing even stronger in my mind as of late, especially since they're starting to give FiM their own YouTube shorts (which I think is a smart idea since it helps keep the characters and world of that series fresh). It just makes me think, why not go in the other direction? 20 eps FiM and 10 eps EqG a year alongside some shorts for both would be awesome. I think the reason I harp on about this as much as I do is because I feel EqG has massive and unique potential that it almost never gets to actually explore. While it's not quite entirely because of this (I really want to see more of Starlight being cute with Sunset, and a short or two could easily scratch that itch), it does take up a large part of it. It's sad to think about TBH.

...You know what, that's actually a really good pick. Memorable personality, does not get much representation in FiM despite frequently being in the background... it's very much in line with the characters we do get human versions of.

Interesting at face value, but honestly a large part of the appeal of EqG to me is seeing the familiar characters play out in a human environment and lifestyle.

I think the human CMCs could very strongly benefit from having more spotlight time. It doesn't help that one of the CYOE shorts directly contradicted the acronym mentioned in "The Canterlot Movie Club". That actually bothered me a lot, because I thought that was a really clever angle to take, since the human world doesn't have cutie marks and Equestria doesn't seem to have big blockbuster movies. But the fact it was in a Boulder Media short means it's not in the official bible, so yeah, a clever idea completely put to waste. I guess she just really loves human technology and how much more mundane it is compared to Equestria, as well as how friendly and intimate Canterlot High is. I agree there should be a future character arc where she becomes homesick, but being a wizard isn't all that special in a world where magic is commonplace.

Keyword being "villain". Plus, it's a little less grounded when you consider it centers around a rescue society of mice.

I assume by that, you mean one for each character, followed by an ensemble music video? I think that could easily work as well.

Bumping after long inactivity, partly because "The Best Gift Ever" special is fresh on most people's minds and partly because I think I finally got a good idea all figured out. This is the synopsis: "As Christmas approaches, the Humane 6 notices Sunset seems unusually depressed and lonely during the season. Thus, they devise plans to give Sunset the best Christmas ever. However, after thinking up many ideas of their own that fall flat and even asking Princess Twilight to help them connect with Sunset through Hearth’s Warming traditions, they realize that maybe a perfect Christmas doesn’t need to be extravagant, and that something meaningful can lie within the small things." In terms of structure, think of something like "Castle Sweet Castle" except with the girls in more constant communication. What do you think?

Even with that in mind, why can't they just give her a cameo as a portrait or something? It's not like those who don't watch EqG would need to know anything, since it'd be just a little extra for those who do know about her.

They could just give her a cameo in the form of a portrait or something. That wouldn't require any outside knowledge and would just be a bonus to those who do know. I don't know why they can't give her at least that. But honestly, I think it's a neat idea for Sunset's human version to be living in Equestria all this time, for reasons very similar to why pony Sunset moved to the human world. I don't know how they would do this, but it'd be cool to see.

It probably was part of season 1 TBH, and that we're currently on a little hiatus that more likely than not will end before the year is over anyway. Regardless though, it's nice to have a central place to discuss the shorts.

That's a pretty good way of looking at it, actually. Personally, I would prefer they more regularly have 11 or 22-minute stories, since the majority of the season 1 shorts felt like they weren't able to be fleshed out enough to be anything substantial (Overpowered and Last Day of School are two good examples). Yeah, there are specials, but it feels like going from one extreme to another. Forgotten Friendship used the run-time near perfectly, but Rollercoaster of Friendship was basically a 22-minute plot with random shorts thrown in, which really showed in that special's pacing. However, the way you praise the short format does make me look at them more positively. Maybe they should have just as many 11-minute stories as shorts, with them essentially alternating between the two, along with the occasional special? The slice of life stuff tends to be what drags me into EqG as well, since it allows them to really show how different the Mane Six's lives would be as humans. Though I do want Sunset's ties to Equestria to be explored more in the future; I still argue it's not too late to do a story with her possibly becoming homesick. Surely she ends up like that at some point with how vastly different her new life is compared to her old one.

I feel like Sunset shouldn't count because, even in two different forms, it's still the same character.

They did, but they all appeared on Discovery Family Go first (or, in Road Tripped's case, the MLP Movie DVD of all places). Not the case here.

Unlike season 1, it seems like the shorts are actually debuting on YouTube one per week this time, so I figured it's best we simply have one thread cover the shorts for this year. We're starting this off with a music video that's very much waifu fuel. If you love human Rarity, safe to say this is for you. The song itself isn't the best lyrically, but the visuals and rhythm are just so imaginative and neat. Great start to season 2, I'd say. FiM should really consider using John Boyd (he did this one) or Mason Rather as well; I love Daniel Ingram and all, but his work has honestly gotten a little same-y in recent years.

I prefer human Rarity on the grounds of her sense of fashion being put to better use in that kind of body, as well as her being in a more challenging situation due to her being a high school student. I also agree with what cmarston1 said about Applejack.

Honestly, EqG has extremely few male characters in general, let alone ones of any prominence. The biggest example was probably Flash Sentry, but even his role was kind of downplayed, and is currently on the same tier as Timber Spruce and Micro Chips. So it's really no wonder we haven't had a male antagonist in there. Even then, he's more a corporate jerk than an actual antagonist.

Everyone saying this will come out in Spring, but the fact this is fully animated while the Best Gift Ever clip (which I still stand should've gone to an EqG holiday special) to me says it has to be sometime this year.