Friendship is Card Games: Summertime Shorts, Part 1 · 11:50am Nov 5th, 2017
Welcome to the hiatus, folks, or as I like to think of it, the time when fan work gets a chance to breathe. Normally, I’d be cardifying the IDW comics to fill the time, but at the moment, I do still have a video backlog. Namely, the Equestria Girls Summertime Shorts.
For those who don’t remember or were never aware of them, these originally aired on Discovery Family a few months ago to fill time between edited-for-TV movies before moving to YouTube. There are sixteen of them, so I’ll be doing them in two batches of eight.
Also important to note is that while the music videos were done by DHX, the other shorts were done by Dublin-based Boulder Media Limited, which is why the animation and models may seem a bit off at times. Apparently, at least some of those are based on comics from the UK pony magazine.
All that being said, let’s begin.
The really interesting thing about the first three shorts is that they’re basically the companion shorts that the first movie never had. (The trio of episode-length specials are arguably Legend of Everfree’s companions, given how the first two at least tangentially work Camp Everfree into the plot.) The opening yearbook… er, opening gives a nice sense of turning back the clock.
It’s always a delight to hear Tabitha St. Germain beat-scoff.
I have to be amused at how gung-ho Dash is about makeup. The others make sense—Pinkie’s enthusiastic, Fluttershy’s offering gentle suggestions, and Twilight sees no harm is these strange ape cosmetics—but Dash? I can only assume she sees it as a personal challenge, AJ pushing her boundaries into further awesomeness. Or, depending on how you’ve calibrated your shipping goggles, she just wants Applejack to look hot.
The POV shot is by turns adorable and disturbing. The intensifying music is excellent, as is the silence during the most fabulous tea break. And said tea break in general.
I… think you overdid it, Rarity.
Interesting to see that when Rarity rubs off some makeup, the handkerchief turns the color of Applejack’s skin rather than any of the cosmetics Rarity’s rubbing off. I suppose that’s the foundation.
As a side note, imagine cosmetics in a world where people come in every color imaginable. It’d be like the paint department at a hardware store.
Apparently wiping off makeup undoes a fancy hairstyle. Who knew?
So yeah, amusing bit of fluff to start us off.
Judging by the lights leaking out of the windows, the Fall Formal may not be safe for people with epilepsy.
Also, judging by the intact entrance to the school and the marked lack of horse mutations, this takes place before the final confrontation between Twilight and Sunset.
Interesting to note how cutie mark lapel pins seem to be a standard for the guys. (Look, I started an entire AU based on the question of why and how humans have cutie marks; I’m going to pay attention to the details there.)
So… were the Crusaders hoping to get their marks in modeling, or are they just disappointed by Photo’s condemnation of their lack of style?
Also, nice cornucopia backdrop for the Fall Formal. Very appropriate.
“No, no, NEIN!” Seriously, how can you not enjoy Photo Finish? You know, provided you’re not one of her lackeys. Then you have a very good reason.
Let’s go left to right on the first round of props: We have AJ with a lion mask, Pinkie with a “Spike at Your Service”-grade mustache (er, the visual gag, not the overall quality of the episode,) Rarity with a tiara, Twilight with heart-shaped sunglasses, Fluttershy with an angel halo, and Dash with… I’m not sure if that’s meant to be a Transformer or Ultraman.
Heh. Echoes of “MMMysetry on the Friendship Express.”
No matter the time, place, or species, Applejack always has a lasso.
“Ah. Hydrate!” Seriously, Photo is amazing as long as you don’t work for her.
And now we go for a “Sonic Rainboom” callback. I can only imagine what Twilight thinks of the events of home recapitulating themselves here.
I assume Pixel Pizazz will be taking pictures for the rest of the Formal.
It’s certainly interesting to see events echo between the worlds like this. And “echo” is the key word here; similar, but distorted and lessened. Even before magic came to this world, the causal link was building, either by the nature of parallel timelines, the presence of the equine Twilight Sparkle, or even more esoteric effects.
Or I’m overthinking things, which is always a possibility. Moving on.
Firstly, I’d just like to say that this is easily the best title out of all sixteen shorts. What else do you call a dance-off involving Applejack?
Those are definitely attempts at dancing. Also, I can’t help but amused by how the background humans never stop dancing, even between songs.
Yeah, the Crusaders don’t get to speak much in today’s batch of shorts.
For Scootaloo, this was the greatest moment of her life. For Rainbow Dash, it was Friday.
… I admit it, I feel genuinely embarrassed for Dash and Scootaloo right now. The breakdancing is impressive. The rest… isn’t. At all.
Pinkie’s just happy to be here. And to have an excuse to use her emergency epic dance-off trophy.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash doesn’t understand this alien concept of “non-competitive.”
Yeah, not nearly as much to dig into with this one. Though I do have to wonder where Sweetie Belle is in all of this. Next!
I really like the lighting when the soccer ball passes in front of the sun. Nice touch.
Interesting that CHS has a Cheering Club rather than a cheerleading team. Usually that’s handled more like a sport in its own right. And has more than two members. Ah well, narrative expediency.
I know this scene is mostly Andrea Libman talking to herself, but I do have to love how Fluttershy says “Oomph.”
By the same token, the whole short is basically an extension of the opening of “Sonic Rainboom,” but that doesn’t make Fluttershy’s utter failure to shout any less funny.
Hmm. It’s unclear if Canterlot beating Crystal Prep marks this as post-Friendship Games or just a anomalous underdog upset. No sign of Sunset, so that’s no help.
The Wondertones do amuse me… but Big Mac still being a student at CHS raises a number of questions regarding how much older he is than AJ and just when the Humane Seven will graduate.
We get a brief moment of gazing into the pink abyss on that last “PLAAAAAAAY!”
Ha. A good twist on the original. Even if spectator-level competitive high school chess club is more than a little absurd.
Ah, the first music video, and with it the full “(Noun) Magic” intro. Also, Sci-Twi fully embracing her SRMD. I gotta love it… despite the implicit Timberlight. Yecch.
Ugh. Compiler errors. Keep at it, Twilight, you’ll find that missing semicolon.
I’m going to assume that Twilight wouldn’t literally throw around delicate, volatile electronics if she were better rested.
You know, it just struck me that this is basically Rick Sanchez’s garage, only the mad genius is an adorable teenage girl who has yet to have her ideals crushed by experience and the overwhelming infinity of the multiverse. Let’s hope Twilight never ends up that bad.
For the record, the line is “I think I’m gonna pinch myself,” but they still could’ve found something that didn’t make it sound like Twilight was so excited that she was on the verge of losing bladder control.
When asked how much power is required, Twilight Sparkle always answers “more.”
Animation error even I can’t miss: That rainbow power meter gets reflected twice in a matter of seconds, going from red-left to blue-left and back again.
So, human Twilight managed to create what appears to be a fully self-aware AI… so her dog could have a girlfriend.
Yeah, sounds about right.
Again, aside from the Timberlight, great stuff. This girl’s going to change the world one day, with or without magic.
Ah, our first glimpse of Sunset’s canon living conditions. It seems right for her. Some secondhand stuff, exposed pipes, self-made shelves… We don’t know what she’s doing for cash, and it’s possible she hasn’t been doing it since she changed her ways. She’s not going to pay a premium for furniture.
Also, kind of funny to see Celestia’s former student isn’t a morning person.
I do love how Sunset owns her bedhead.
Wow. I’m pretty sure that bus stopped for less than a second. If at all. Very professional.
I also love how Twilight brought two umbrellas on a day that looked perfectly clear. Purplesmart comes prepared.
Wow. Either that sidewalk has a three-foot deep hole in it, or that puddle extends into an exotic dimension.
It’s very cute to see Sunset stop to pet the kitty… but I can’t help but think that doing that with strays is generally a dangerous prospect.
Sunset’s >:I face is amazing and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
Now there’s ship teasing I can get behind. 
Also, looks like they’ve rebuilt the school statue.
I like to think Sunset’s telling Twilight about how much more convenient it is in a world where the weather’s scheduled, rather than striking at the worst possible moment.
There are some stories behind the rest of the main cast’s trips to school, that much is clear. Rarity’s curlers, Fluttershy’s head-nest… I’m surprised we haven’t done more with it.
Also, Dash can apparently walk off impacts that leave a Looney Tunes-grade, inches-deep crater in a row of lockers when she’s using her super speed. Good to know.
That’s hardly fair, Pinkie. Your hair sprang up just before the picture. Of course, it also blocks Applejack’s fuzzy slippers, so there we are.
I really like the font on the title card for this one. Not sure why, but I do.
And so we see the first of the Humane Seven’s summer jobs, Fluttershy in the pet salon. Which actually raises some interesting questions about letting animals into said mall. In my experience, they usually only allow service animals.
Also, white shirt for washing pets. I don’t think whoever designed this work uniform thought it through very carefully.
FOOMP. Sorry, I just love the “hair poofs up after blow drying” gag.
Interesting to see the pet parallels between the two worlds. I especially wonder how human Dash settled on Tank. I suppose falcons and eagles weren’t as readily available, though neither are magically powered helicopter rotors.
And neither are alligators. Do you think anyone’s tried to tell Pinkie that Gummy’s a stuffed animal? I don’t see that ending well. Especially not if this Gummy has the same degree of mobility as Boulder.
“Everypet.” Everypet. I’m giving this a pass because it’s Fluttershy, but only the once.
I do love how smug Spike is throughout all of this. (Though this does raise the question of how he interacts with Winona. And the whole him being purple while she’s conventionally collie-colored thing.)
And speaking of “May the Best Pet Win”…
Fluttershy can teleport to the animal shelter at will. It just rarely comes up.
I like to think that that grumpy fish is the reincarnation of all the antagonism and anger that got blasted out of Sunset at the Fall Formal
Sunset’s reaction to Ray rather resembles mine the first time I saw Derpy.
Ray is an interesting choice for Sunset, as is her taste leaning towards reptiles in general. I suppose mammals in general could be a bit odd for someone who remembers what it’s like having a full coat herself, but she doesn’t want the sacrifice of physical intimacy that comes with fish. And birds… Well, feathered wings carry some baggage for Sunset. I suppose this does make sense.
Seeing Principal Celestia walk is just plain surreal. One’s center of mass should not be just above one’s knees.
Hmm. A bit of history for Principal Celestia. Seems she’s been in education for a while.
Celestia delegating to Twilight. The more things change…
That said, Twilight apparently didn’t do crap. She could’ve at least started the geology lesson. Indeed, I’m kind of disappointed Celestia doesn’t come back to find her midlecture. Granted, I’m not sure if they even got Tara Strong for this short, so there we are.
Dare I ask what the cafeteria crisis entailed?
Silly Celestia. You can’t just unattach Equipment.
I get the feeling that both Celestias gets these “urge to kill rising” moments far more often than we think. The human one just has less experience in hiding them.
I assume Dash has first-period study hall. I certainly hope she does. If she’s skipping class for this… Well, let’s just say it’s a good thing she’s part of the planet’s only line of supernatural defense.
That phone wasn’t there earlier. That may explain some of Celestia’s shock.
“You’re sure Vice Principal Luna can’t handle it?” I do wonder what the response to that was, especially since it convinced Celestia without further argument.
This was no “A Royal Problem,” but it’s still the most we’ve gotten on human Celestia out of anything even resembling canon. I can only wonder what Luna was doing during all of this. Maybe she took the day off; that would certainly explain why Celestia had to handle every crisis in the school.
In all, these are enjoyable little glimpses into the human world. Sometimes they’re just goofy. Sometimes they’re surprisingly enlightening. I’ll cover the rest next week. For now, I have more than enough to work with.
Step in Time 1W
Instant
Creatures you control get +0/+2 until end of turn. Untap them.
Coordination and quick feet are important in both war and peace.
Canterlot Cheer Squad 2W
Creature — Human Citizen
1W, T: Another target creature you control gets +1/+1 and gains indestructible until end of turn.
A little encouragement can go a long way.
1/1
Tea Break 2W
Instant
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you this turn. You gain 4 life.
”If there isn’t time for civility, make time for it.”
—Rarity
Royal Detectives 4W
Creature — Human Advisor
When Royal Detectives enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.
Whenever an opponent becomes the monarch, investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with “2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
2/5
Divest UU
Instant
For each permanent attached to target creature, gain control of that permanent and attach it to another permanent it can be attached to.
”And that’s how I learned about one of that society’s taboos.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Devil Betta 1U
Creature — Fish
R: Devil Betta gains menace until end of turn.
Sunset Shimmer’s demonic power was dispersed, but not destroyed. Fragments found purchase in unlikely places throughout Canterlot
2/1
Procedural Tinkerer 1U
Creature — Human Rigger
Assemble 1U (1U: Create a colorless Contraption artifact token. Assemble only as a sorcery.)
Contraptions you control have “T, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card, then discard a card.”
”You learn more from failure than success. I’m learning a lot.”
1/2
A Capella Quartet 2U
Creature — Human Band
Finale — Whenever you sacrifice a Song, you may draw a card. If you do and you have two or more cards in your hand, discard a card.
They work best without accompaniment.
1/4
Prismatic Strobe 2U
Instant
For each color, tap up to one target creature of that color.
”Anyone with sensitive eyes will want to get off the dance floor for this next one.”
—Vinyl Scratch
Segmentation Fault 2UU
Tribal Instant — Rigger
Segmentation Fault costs 2 less to cast if you control a Contraption.
Counter target spell.
”Pony magic follows strict rules and behaviors to perform seeming miracles. Nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”
—Twilight Sparkle
Backup Supplies 3UU
Enchantment
Whenever a nontoken artifact you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, create a token that’s a copy of that artifact.
”Plan for everything, including not having a plan.”
—Twilight Sparkle
Cafeteria Crisis 1B
Enchantment
When Cafeteria Crisis enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Whenever an opponent gains life, that player discards a card.
Anything that gives Granny Smith pause qualifies as that which man was not meant to know.
Fleeting Eclipse 1BB
Instant
Black creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Other creatures get -1/-1 until end of turn.
Some omens come seconds before what they foretell.
Sun Lizard R
Creature — Lizard
Sun Lizard gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains.
Lizards are simple creatures. All they need is somewhere to bask and someone to love.
1/1
Dance-Off 1R
Sorcery
Target creature you control fights target creature you don’t control. You may tap and exert the creature you control. If you do, Dance-Off deals 2 damage to the other creature. (An exerted creature won’t untap during your next untap step.)
Ignite Accessories 1R
Instant
Ignite Accessories deals X damage to target creature, where X is 2 plus twice the number of permanents attached to that creature.
”Oh no, not again.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Repeated Impact 1RR
Sorcery
Repeated Impact deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
At the beginning of your end step, if you attacked with three or more creatures this turn, return Repeated Impact from your graveyard to your hand.
Electrogenesis 2R
Sorcery
Replicate 1R (When you cast this spell, copy it for each time you paid its replicate cost.)
You may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield. That creature gains haste. Sacrifice that creature at the beginning of the next end step.
Ace Forward 3R
Creature — Human Warrior
Battalion — Whenever Ace Forward and at least two other creatures attack, Ace Forward deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
”I may be awesome, but soccer’s still a team sport.”
—Rainbow Dash
2/2
Gussy Up 2G
Instant
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature, then proliferate. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there.)
Too much is never enough.
Implement of Instability 1
Artifact
R, Sacrifice Implement of Instability: Add RR to your mana pool.
When Implement of Instability is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, draw a card.
An explosion is still a result.
Stained Apron 2
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature has lifelink.
As long as equipped creature is a Human, it gets +1/+1.
Equip 1
Some battle scars never wash out.
Twilight’s Blueprints 3
Artifact
As Twilight’s Blueprints enters the battlefield, choose a card type.
2, T: Look at the top card of your library. You may reveal that card. If a card of the chosen type is revealed this way, put it into your hand. Otherwise, you may put that card on the bottom of your library.
Twilight’s Masterpiece 3
Artifact Creature — Contraption Hound
Twilight’s Masterpiece’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of Contraptions you control.
With her artificial soul hypothesis confirmed, Twilight then turned her attention to Project Gamma.
*/*
“Monday Blues” UB
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on “Monday Blues”.
UB, Sacrifice “Monday Blues”: If “Monday Blues” has a verse counter on it, each opponent reveals cards from the top of his or her library until he or she reveals X land cards, then puts all cards revealed this way into his or her graveyard, where X is the number of verse counters on “Monday Blues”.
“Mad Twience” 1(ur)
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on “Mad Twience”.
(ur), Sacrifice “Mad Twience”: Create X colorless Contraption artifact tokens, where X is the number of verse counters on “Mad Twience”.
”I needed a few extra samoflanges.”
—Twilight Sparkle
Thunderstorm 2UR
Instant
Thunderstorm deals 3 damage to target creature. Tap all other creatures that creature’s controller controls.
No one wants to go out in this kind of weather. Especially not after someone gets struck by lightning.
It's funny, I was just reading through transcripts of all of these this morning. :)
Not a whole lot to say about these shorts. I'm not the most knowledgeable judge of dancing, but most of AJ's and Dash's moves failed to impress me. But I agree that “Raise This Roof” is an awesome title.
Bwahaha! I didn't even hear that, but now I can't unhear it.
Also, the melody reminds me a little of Republica's “Ready to Go.”
Well most malls I know have pet stores so I have to think it's fine as long as they are kept in carriers.
I enjoyed these shorts and am looking forward to the new ones even though discovery is kind of jumping the gun with uploading them (as of writing this they've already uploaded another 3 to the Discovery Go website)
Ace Forward 3R
Creature — Human Warrior
Battalion — Whenever Ace Forward at at least two <---- Star Wars in a Magic game, whats the world coming to.
On Sunset going all "squeeee!" over Ray, let's not forget that in the comics, My Tiny Gecko is a thing.
derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/10/31/461186.jpg
If filly Sunset was a fan, this is the fulfillment of her foalhood dreams!
"Step in Time" G
Enchantment - Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on "Step in Time".
1G, Sacrifice "Step in Time": Creatures you control become Chimneysweeps and get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of verse counters on "Step in Time"
Speaking of songs, shouldn't "Mad Twience" assemble the contraptions, or is that something only Riggers can do?
4717707
I'm in the same boat when it comes to "I'm gonna pinch myself." I heard it clearly at first, but after someone pointed it out, I can't unhear the sibilant.
4717746
I'm not sure about the scale of AT-ATs, but they might make good impromptu soccer pitches. (The narrower gaps between legs are the goals.)
Also, fixed.
4717775
You know what? Headcanon accepted.
4718352
My take on assemble is that it's an activated ability. Non-assemble sources of Contraptions create them as normal.
Not every short is exactly gold, but I'm glad they make these. We don't really have anything like them for the regular show, and they're nice to tide us over when there's nothing else coming out.
You're getting a bit of a jump on contraptions, aren't you?
4720119
More like a last hurrah for my take on it before Unstable josses it.
4720241
Fair enough.