Short thoughts on: The MLP movie [spoilers] · 7:47pm Oct 8th, 2017

First off, whatever I say here, you should still see the movie. You'll enjoy it.

The Animation-
It's different. It's different from the show, and from what you're used to, and there are times when something like that can put a dent in how you perceive things. That said, the updated animation style used really makes the difference between watching a tv show,and watching a special feature. I was very happy with with how everything looked, it looked like a major animated film. They still do the funny face gags, and all the small bits that keep the show charming and entertaining.
The ponies themselves do look a bit different, as you might have seen from the trailers and other promo material, especially in the face. But it's not a distraction, at least it wasn't for me, I think it was just how the style translated to the new software.

The New Characters-
Honestly, a mixed bag.
The new characters that felt like they belonged the most, were the seaponies. Their dynamic complemented the established canon very well. They also looked great, with clear discernment between the males and females, but not getting too complicated with design. The royal palace is upside-down, and I thought that was a really cool idea for an underwater city. Princess Skystar was a very bubbly personality, and pretty enjoyable, perfectly in keeping with the show, and I actually hope we get to see her again someday.
Queen Novo, eh. Makes for an interesting contrast with Celestia, and foil for Skystar, other than that...
Capper- A smooth-talking con-artist, who gets a slight redemption arc. Honestly, he was just kinda unnecessary. He served as a device to transition our main characters from one plot point to another. And quite frankly, the whole society he lives in, with the upright fish and ocean creature beings, they really seemed like they belonged in another movie all together. Upright, talking, clothes wearing creatures of different species.
Same with the sky pirates, perfectly fine concept in itself, just felt like they came from another property, and this was some kind of franchise crossover.
Tempest Storm- Voiced by Emily Blunt, this one really seemed like the other main character of the story. I thought she had a great look, with the broken horn providing a really interesting feature of her character. Quite frankly, she looked like a whole different breed of pony, like she comes from a tribe elsewhere in the world. Which I liked. She is really the main focus of the antagonist forces, and does a great job of just being interesting and entertaining. Couldn't ask for more.
- Storm minions. I thought they were cool looking, and provided the goofy henchmen bit, but I was really curious as to what the hell they were. Are they yeti creatures? Big cats? I like'em though.

The Storm King- I feel shortchanged. I feel like he's a much more interesting and entertaining character than we get to see in his relatively brief appearances. He has a GREAT look, great personality, all the tools for a successful and returnable villain. His scheme to merchandise himself is kinda out-of-place, but, ok, he's quirky like that. But we just don;t see enough of him in the movie to make him feel the danger he's supposed to represent. On top of that, we don't know why he's so powerful and feared. I read a few of the movie prequel comics, but those kind of expositions should have been in the move. In short, fantastic character, too little time.

Sia- I literally had never even heard of her before the information for the movie was coming out, so I had no clue what kind of music she was going to bring. But I did end up liking the "Rainbow" song she does, so, plus+? Also, she's got a cute design to her.

Surprise for me- Was how strong a character Pinkie Pie is in this movie. Throughout the story Pinkie is pretty prominent, and really the moral center of it all. I was surprised by just how much she and Twilight played off each other. There's a scene on a beach, just after Twilight fucks things up for them with the Seaponies where they have an argument and a falling out, and it really was the emotional summit of the film. Twilight actually yells at her, not in frustration but genuine anger. Not only was I as shocked by this as the other characters, but I really felt the emotional blow to the solarplexis. And of course it ends up with Twilight bawling her eyes out, which I found almost as surprising that they would include.

The Music-
Like I said, the Sia song was pretty good, stuck in my head at the moment. Tempest's song, was my second favorite. And my third, I think was the Pinkie/Skystar song.

The Plot-
I think with a little reworking, this could have been 10x better. Capper and sky pirates I think were just not needed and could have been saved for the show. Streamline the plot a bit more, have them spend more time underwater, AND FOR THE LOVE OF FUCK explore the interpersonal dynamic between our main characters more. I think Fluttershy had about 20 seconds worth of lines in the whole thing, if that.
The other princesses being taken off the board right away we kinda see coming, I mean, what were we really expecting? Celestia to save the day?
The movie could have been improved a lot if the writers had focused more on the characters. But I do understand the probably had a mandate from the corporate masters at Hasbro to integrate new characters from them to merchandise. Which, sucks, but it's the nature of having a franchise built off a toy company, and not, you know, a story-telling company.
Which runs into my stance, is that from good story telling comes all else. Give the customers a reason to want to but the dolls and figures, don't just invent them for a quick cash grab.
Oh, and Storm King should have started out with his powers.

But I came away at the end of this movie feeling optimistic for the franchise.

Overall-
I thought this was a genuine effort to create the big spectacle that we were expecting. The animation looks like it truly belongs on the big screen, the furtherance of Twilight and Pinkie Pie's personal dynamic gives us something we'd never see in the show. Tempest and Storm King are great, if underused antagonists.
Since I heard that the events of the movie take place between seasons 7 and 8, I hope that we get to see Tempest, Storm King, and Skystar again. Perhaps even explore something with the hippogryph kingdom.

So go see his movie, you'll enjoy it for a great first attempt, and hopefully next time they put more focus on the story aspect.