I Wanna See Pigs Fly (Finally Saw the G5 Film)

So, I finally got around to watching the G5 film… and…

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… wait for it …

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I really liked it! You most likely guessed it already, since I wouldn’t be making art for a film I didn’t like. Or would I do it just to mess with you?

Even though I adore 2D animation (and, as a side note, stop-motion animation as well), I love the graphics they went for here. Coupled with some of the characters’ quirks, I felt like watching a Disney/Pixar movie; a few spots made me immediately think of Brave and Tangled. I have to admit I went in more or less blind, since I watched only a trailer or two, saw the occasional fanart, and also read some tidbits about people really liking the songs. Also, the new winged fluffy fauna is great, though I have one major complaint. You make winged dogs and winged mice, and yet you cannot include a single pigasus in the film? 

Come on, I wanna see a cute fluffy flying pig! Just take a cartoonish Mangalica and slap wings on it. Is that too much to ask?

Seriously now, the film was really enjoyable. I think I might do a rewatch soon, just to hunt for all the easter eggs and amazing details they included in the background. The humour was great as well; pretty much all the jokes worked as they should and were paced well. The film also featured a lot of stuff that I didn’t truly expect. The discount kirin-like unicorn settlement was a bit odd and, to be frank, didn’t make much sense to me, but the social media-addicted pegasi were hilarious. I admit I was also a bit wary when it came to Zipp and Izzy. I saw Zipp only in some teaser/trailer, and she seemed simply odd for some reason. Izzy was clearly shown to be the random chatterbox kind of character and pretty much a replacement of Pinkie Pie. However, I was pleasantly surprised when both turned out to be their own characters with likeable personalities that weren’t obnoxious or too farfetched. The songs that many praised weren’t bad, but compared to the songs from the show, they just didn’t click with me as I hoped they would. Unicorn butts are great though.

As for the plot as a whole, I’d say the story stumbled here and there, but it wasn’t bad. In fact, given that a large portion of it was pretty good, the weaker spots stood out a bit more than they would if the whole plot was sort of average. The twist was pretty obvious to anyone who’s watched the show, and I have a hunch the same might be the case even for those unfamiliar with the show. The Sprout subplot would probably do a bit better if the film was longer and more screen time went into setting it up. I reckon the ending would benefit from that as well, since it felt quite lacking in certain regards. (Also, is that change permanent or was it just some weird magic effect? I’m not sure what to think about that one.) 

I’d also appreciate seeing at least some hints of what happened to Equestria, since it feels strange that the three tribes live only in three very different settlements that don’t seem to be too far from each other. That, and one has to wonder why Sunny and her father are seen as being the only open-minded ponies when there are a few spots where some background ponies seemed to be easily convinced that the other tribes may not be so bad. I understand the need to save something for the show and/or other films, and I know I cannot expect Fallout: Equestria kind of in-depth exploration, but some hints would be really nice. 

To summarise, yes, there were a few rough spots, but all in all, I don’t regret investing my time into watching this. I cannot say that it was free time, since I was watching it while sifting through endless rows of genomic data anyway. Yay for endless workloads...

I’ve heard it’s popular to do blog reviews on G5 upon watching it, so here it is. I’ve also heard it’s popular to finish one’s stories, so I’ll try to work on that.

~Ever

*Slams the door, opens them again, and rights a picture on the wall*

Comments

[armid]

*picture falls off anyway*

[ShadowStar_IMHP]

It has been confirmed that the "Change" to Sunny is temporary. It might be a hint to the plot of the show, but for the movie, it was just because she was the key to unlocking the magic.

*mumbles about finishing stories* I need to work on that.

[EverfreePony]

5618664
Ah, good to know.

It might be a hint to the plot of the show, but for the movie, it was just because she was the key to unlocking the magic.

Plus it allows them to sell more toys...

[Etyco Filly]

I feel the same about the animation. I'm usually wary of 3D animation since it's very hit or miss. Here it looked stunning.
I also agree on the Zipp part. From the trailers I was expecting to really dislike her. If not for her design and discount rainbow dash vibe, then for her voice actress.
Now she's my second favourite of the M5. She's a total bro and I'd love to crack a few cold ones with her.
While I'd love to see hints to the history of Equestria, I wouldn't want any extra depth. Mostly because it might be a fine line to explain it without trampling over G4 (or making G5 a direct sequel)

[bkc56]

I really enjoyed the movie and have over a dozen viewings on my score card. There's a lot of fun details to see as one re-watches it and making liberal use of the pause button (especially in Zephyr Heights).

I think it's biggest problem was the pacing. A run-time of 91 minutes (minus prologue and credits) just wasn't enough time to cover the story. I found this most bothersome at the end which felt rushed, and totally skipping any consequences for the antagonist.

The short runtime also leaves a pile of unanswered questions floating around. What happened to magic? What happened to the alicorns? What happened to all the other races in Equestria? The hope is that the writers will begin to address all these questions with the specials and then the series next year.

[Cinder Vel]

Happy that you had a pleasant experience. I find your experience and summary relatable.

I’ve also heard it’s popular to finish one’s stories, so I’ll try to work on that.

Lies, nothing but lies! I need to get back to writing

[Test4Echo]

It definitely was an enjoyable romp, and I agree about the movie needing another ten or fifteen minutes of runtime. But still, we have five (maybe six? Depends what happens to Sprout) likeable characters for the show, and a good hook into figuring out what happened to Equestria. Always a chance a few cameos from G4 will show up, too. I'm waiting for that 3D Discord.

[Adventuring Editor]

Hey Ever! So you finally saw it!

I agree the run time needed to be a little longer. There were spots that were rushed, scenes and characters that needed more development, among other things. Overall, I didn't think it was bad as it was being made out to be. I think it could have been better, but it wasn't a waste of my time.

Yay for endless workloads...

At least where you're standing it's cleaner than where I'm standing. Oh, and don't forget the smell.

[EverfreePony]

5619423
Yep. I'd say that all in all, children would really enjoy it and most parents wouldn't feel uncomfortable watching it with them.

At least where you're standing it's cleaner than where I'm standing. Oh, and don't forget the smell.

Most of the time, anyway. Gotta love my colleagues and their drinking binges in our office/workroom. Gotta wade waist-deep through empty beer bottles and smell it all. Now they bought their very own tap and a bunch of barrels.

[Adventuring Editor]

5619425

Gotta wade waist-deep through empty beer bottles and smell it all. Now they bought their very own tap and a bunch of barrels.

Awesome! Just hook it to the sink and add a third setting. Hot, cold, and beer!

Oh, and how rude of me to forget. Awesome drawing.

[EverfreePony]

5619441
Oh, thank you.

Awesome! Just hook it to the sink and add a third setting. Hot, cold, and beer!

Funny thing is, a similar thing has already happened in the scanning electron microscopy lab. The old microscope needed some extra external cooling, and so they connected it to the sink. The lab technicians then cooled their beer in the pool of used water.