Equestria Girls Dance Magic Review · 4:44pm Jun 24th, 2017
So, we've got the first of three Equestria Girls episodic specials that were originally supposed to just be Netflix Exclusive (and probably were going to be until Discovery Family found out and threatened to break off their deal with Hasbro if they weren't allowed to air the shorts, to which I say Hasbro should've called Discovery's bluff, especially if they're the ones responsible for cutting out the end credits for "Forever Filly". That's even more insulting than Nick rushing the credits across the bottom of the screen during the final scene of an episode), this one penned by G. M. Berrow and picking up where "Legend of Everfree" ended. So, how did the first of these specials pan out? Well, let's find out.
We begin with the girls working a car wash outside Cantelort High, in order to raise money for Camp Everfree (apparently they were able to save it from being foreclosed, but there are still repairs that need to be made and perhaps new equipment and facilities that need to be bought). However, even after washing all the cars, the girls are only halfway to their goal. Not helping matters is that they've also hosted a bake sale, and a doggy day-care, and the fundraising deadline is next week. Fortunately, Rarity claims she has an idea, but when the other girls leave Spike guesses correctly that Rarity doesn't actually have one. She soon does, however, for while visiting the mall, Rarity comes across an advertisement for a "make your own music video" that promises the winner a handsome cash prize.
Just then, Rarity bumps into the students from Crystal Prep (or rather all of them except Indigo Zap who is inexplicably absent, most likely Kelly Sheridan was unavailable for whatever reason), and we learn that Dean Cadence has now been promoted to Principal at Crystal Prep (about time, I guess Principal Cinch's bad behavior finally caught up to her), and has agreed to let the students rent a yact for their upcoming spring dance. But they need money in order to do so, so the Crystal Prep quartet decide they're gonna enter as well, and Rarity foolishly blabs her plan to them even despite knowing that they're going to enter.
Announcing her plan to her friends, Rarity uses all the money raised so far to buy new dresses and work on a music video for her friends, with help from Photo Finish and Vinyl Scratch. But the rehearsal is a disaster, especially when Sunset Shimmer accidentally rips a hole in Rainbow Dash's outfit, forcing Rarity to rush back to the mall for emergency repairs. While there, she spots the Crystal Prep quartet rehearsing a similar music video to her own, and Rarity suffers a bit of a breakdown at her house.
With Sci-Twi's help, Rarity goes to Crystal Prep to confront the students for their plagerism, but they point out that since they're already set to send in the music video, if Rarity does the same it'll look like she's copying them. Now back to square one, Rarity's friends agree to brainstorm for a new music video idea, and we get some creative visual imaginations from Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie, as the girls all interact with their fantasies. But Rarity snaps at them for fooling around and storms off, opting to have some ice cream at a local dinner to take her mind off her troubles.
However, here's where the special takes a bit of an unexpected turn. Turns out the Crystal Prep quartet weren't actually ready to send that music video in, as they were using a Sapphire Shores pop song and they don't have an original song to sync their coreography up to (most likely if they did send in the Sapphire synced video they would be disqualified for illegal use of a licensed song without permission from the original artist, even if they got it from a CD or digital download). Rarity gets an idea, and brings the Crystal Prep students to Canterlot High, giving them a redemption as they apologize for their behavior and claim that Rarity helped them realize that winning isn't worth it if you have to steal and cheat to do so. The Rainbooms are a bit reluctant to forgive them at first (kind of surprised Sunset Shimmer would hold a grudge against them but I think it helps give her character a bit of a flaw), that is until Pinkie Pie gives her approval. And we get the music video "Dance Magic", which is good even though I have to question why they have the Rainbooms ponying up (feels unnecessary). The special ends with both sides getting what they wanted, as their music video is displayed in the mall. And Rarity whispers to Sour Sweet about an offer for The Rainbooms to preform on the yacht at Crystal Prep's Spring dance, to which Sour agrees.
And that's the story, so what do I think of the special? It's good, even though as Dr. Wolf pointed out it does reuse a lot of the same story elements early on as "Rarity Takes Manehattan", though it's not a complete rehash. The humane six get a chance to shine and define themselves away from their usual personalities, though not to the greatest extent. I do like how they show Sci-Twi is still a bit nervous and reluctant to speak up amidst the group, even though she's no longer worried about Midnight Sparkle. Seeing Sour Sweet, Sunny Flare, Sugarcoat, and Lemon Zest is a nice touch, though I really feel like it's weird to see them be featured so prominently with no hints of Indigo Zap anywhere, which just furthers makes the entire decision to bill the Shadowbolts as the anti humane-five seem pointless. If they weren't tightly nit as a group, why make them seem like rivals to The Rainbooms if they really weren't? The story flows pretty well for the most part, though the scene with Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie fantasizing about ideas that aren't music video related do feel like they're just there to pad out the run time. It's actually surprising to see no sign of Flash Sentry anywhere in this special, but I think that works out for the better here as Flash's experience with a guitar would imply some musical talent (most likely he's still struggling to get over the fact that Sci-Twi isn't into him, probably with consueling from human Derpy). In the end, some of the similarities to "Rarity Takes Manehattan" and a few scenes here and there that feel questionable or pointless, do hurt this special a little. But for what is probably the first of three pilot episodes for a hopeful spin-off series, it does pretty well at showing how the franchise could work with a 22 minute slice of life format. So I give it a solid B, it's not nearly as strong as the previous two movies, which despite their flaws had pretty good stories and memorable moments, but it's still a good starting point that will hopefully draw in enough support and backing for a full fledged spin-off show (come on, Hasbro, stop teasing us and make that spin-off show you clearly want so badly).
Now, I don't know when the next two specials will come out, or if they'll be on Discovery Family, or just Netflix as was the original plan (most likely all three would've been released either all at once or within a day to a week of each other). I know that there have been official English versions that have already come out, but unless I say otherwise my policy on those specials is the same as it was for the leaked early episodes of FiM:
I actually noticed those similarities with Rarity Takes Manehatten as well, though I'd rather watch this over that.
However, I still found it kind of dull, with comedy that was okay at best.
It's good, but not as good as the other two specials, nor even as good as the first Equestria Girls movie.
The SONG Dance Magic, however, is in my top 5 EQG songs.
In regards to Indigo Zap's absence, Ishi Rudell said on his Twitter page that she was "on vacation somewhere" during this special. Though from a production standpoint, one could make the argument that Kelly Sheridan was only available to do voice work for one of the EQG specials and the creators just decided to save her for Mirror Magic for obvious reasons. But if they were forced to include Indigo Zap regardless of that little detail, something they could've done was keep her mostly silent while using a few audio clips of her dialogue from Friendship Games for some quick lines. Do you think that could've worked?
I see that Human Rarity is just as dumb as her pony counterpart, telling her secrets when it would have been more beneficial to keep her yap shut.
4581969 It's all speculation, but the fact that they were going to air on Netflix first makes a pretty good indication that Hasbro didn't intend to let Discovery Family air them ahead of their Netflix release. Discovery Family likely learned of the plan and worked out an agreement of some kind to get the shorts early.
4582038 Nah, I think it would've been too noticeable, especially since the rest of the Shadowbolts had a lot of dialogue.