Luna's Mane

[Kivil 1,721]

Ok, if you noticed when Luna came back from being Nightmare Moon in season one her mane wasn't all starry and night like it was a light blue kind of color. Was it because she was power deprived? Or was she younger? She couldn't have been younger because there was a brief flashback of Luna and Celestia in the Crystal Empire and Luna's mane was all starry and stuff not like this mane. Also she couldn't have been younger because there has been no sign of the princesses becoming younger at any point in time. It could have been the art crew changing up her character and that would explain why this happened. Also, her coat got darker as well. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER?!

 

(Luna's weird mane)

(Flashback from the Crystal Empire)

[PROJECT: Simon 3,955]

Maybe she got more power <3 

[-Octavia- 1,176]

It is in relation to the Alicorn's power level. Notice that in the S4 finale, Twilight earned a similar mane after receiving the other three Alicorns' magic.

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

After being released from her Nightmare Moon persona, she was temporarily depowered by the Elements of Harmony, and only later regained her power as Princess of the Night. There's also an arc in the comics that deals with the issue.

[JetGamma 9]

When did the flashback occur? If it was in a near episode, it probably WAS power level like most said.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

I agree with Wubtavia. When NMM was hit with the Element's magic beam she "shattered" - meaning her magical power dispersed. It's only natural that her defeat stripped Princess Luna form her own power, with fuelled NMM. With time she regenerated her alicorn power thus transforming back to her royal form. I recall an interview with Lauren Faust in witch she said the so. Unfortunately I don't have a link, so let's say It's unconfirmed.

[Sazama Ichida 2,367]

I thought the writers had simply decided to change her design after that episode.

[BPCannon 193]

 I think it makes most sense if due to the fact that at the time she returned Celestia was still responsible for raising and lowering the moon, and ruler of the night as well as the day. When Luna got her night duties back - or the power/responsibility required to perform them, the mane would have been part of the process

Edited October 24, 2015 by BPCannon

[J. Brony 313]

The subject of the sister's manes/tails gives me an icecream headache.

 

The storybook images of Celestia from the pilot episode clearly shows that she used to have a pink mane.  And yet she was said to be in charge of raising the sun at this time.  Luna also appeared to have a monochrome mane in those pics and was already the princess of the night.  So I dunno...

 

I'm just going to chalk that bit up to being artistry in a book, shrug my shoulders and sweep the matter under the rug.  

[cmarston1 5,959]

I am pretty sure it was just a retcon in Luna's design or something.

And personally I like the new one way more than the old one.

[Shimmer Down 668]

Gotta go with the Alicorn power level on this one, and her being depowered by the Elements.

 

I also have to point out that it's probably one of VERY MANY animation inconsistencies. The show's great, but man is it easy to spot screw ups.

[Unlikeable Pony 2,699]

Alicorns are like saiyans, the more powerful they get the bigger and SpikierMore ethereal their hair gets.

[cider float 2,538]

She got recharged during Nightmare Moon

[Failboy4 13]

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/10/lauren-fausts-explanation-on-lunas-new.html

Luna has been depowered 

[Number62 1,258]

As a few others have said, it's a retcon. I do find that old design very intriguing since it's quite different from Celestia's, and that new design was obviously made to more closely match her sister's. I don't know if the comics are in continuity with the show (and I doubt it since the comic book writers and the producers of the show aren't communicating with each other), but I would've like some exploration behind that look in the show (and the Nightmare Rarity comics still didn't explain that much). It's just one of many pities that the show doesn't peel back its own mythology.

[Malinter 3,064]

its luna's depowered state. When we first see her Celestia says "it has been 1000 years since I last saw you like this" being it was her form before she took on her nightmare moon persona.

 

Even her redesign can be explained in canon. Alicorns can shape shift and take on any form they wish. If you look at it it shares traits with a few things. Its taller and more regal, like her sister is. But its also darker and more foreboding like Nightmare Moon was and thats what Luna belives the "Princess of the Night" should be (minus the wanting to cause eternal night ofc).

 

In the comics, she temporariliy gets turned back into her original form when her power is decreased and her self doubts are strong enough. She gets better. XD

[Shimmer Down 668]

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/10/lauren-fausts-explanation-on-lunas-new.html

Luna has been depowered 

I love that her little schpiel ends with "but that's just off the top of my head. IDK what went on over there."

[cider float 2,538]

I wonder if Celestia has a depowered state. 

[Wardaddy 470]

I made a similar thread a long time ago. It was confirmed (I think by Meghan McCarthy) that Luna as we see her now was the same Luna before she became Nightmare Moon. However, after she was sapped of her powers by the Elements of Harmony, she was left severely drained. But after taking the time before Luna Eclipsed to recover, Luna regained her powers, and with them, her pre-NMM form.

[J. Brony 313]

I wonder if Celestia has a depowered state. 

 

I would guess that her hair would turn pink like it was when she was a filly.

[Arrowstormen 62]

I think it was just an art upgrade. Although this discussion reminds me of Order of the Stick.