My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (season 4)
The fourth season of the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic,
developed by Lauren Faust, is currently airing on the Hub Network in the United States. The
series is considered to be the fourth generation of the My Little Pony franchise, following
earlier lines and television show tie-ins in the 1980s and 1990s. Season 4 of the series
premiered on November 23, 2013, on the Hub Network, an American pay television channel
partly owned by Hasbro. The show follows Princess Twilight Sparkle,
a studious alicorn (a pony with both horn and wings; in previous seasons, Twilight was
a unicorn) pony as her mentor Princess Celestia guides her to learn about friendship in the
town of Ponyville. Twilight continues to learn with her close friends Applejack, Rarity,
Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. Each represents a different face of friendship,
and Twilight discovers herself to be a key part of the magical artifacts, the "Elements
of Harmony". The ponies share adventures and help out other residents of Ponyville, while
working out the troublesome moments in their own friendships.
Hasbro selected animator Lauren Faust as the creative director and executive producer for
the show. Faust sought to challenge the established "girly" nature of the existing My Little Pony
line, creating more in-depth characters and adventurous settings, incorporating Hasbro's
suggestions for marketing of the toy line. Development
Concept Season 4 continues from the events of the
third season finale, "Magical Mystery Cure", where Twilight, shown to have come to hone
her magic skills while learning the value of friendship, has been crowned as Equestria's
newest princess, becoming an alicorn in the process. Some elements of the season focus
on Twilight coming to terms with her new status; lead writer Meghan McCarthy stated that "What
we didn't want to do was change who is as a character, because she's certainly someone
that everyone's proud to know and love", while Tara Strong, the voice actress for Twilight,
claimed that the episode is "a birth of a new era for Twilight, but not the end of what
makes the show so wonderful". In addition, with the directive of the letters to Princess
Celestia no longer in force, the six main characters also resolve to keep a collective
journal of their formative experiences for posterity's sake. According to a Twitter post
from McCarthy, the season also includes a story arc that features the ponies on the
hunt to find keys to open a mysterious six locked chest.
Production Investment documents for DHX Media's 2012
financial year indicate that production for a fourth season had been financed. Before
the season premiered, aspects of it were discussed by Meghan McCarthy, Tara Strong and other
writers and voice actors at various fan conventions. Hasbro's vice president for international
distribution, Finn Arnesen, had stated that My Little Pony is a "top-priority" brand for
the company and expects the series to continue beyond the fourth season. The fourth season
of the series premiered on November 23, 2013. This season marks the first time storyboard
artist Jim Miller will be co-directing alongside Jayson Thiessen. This season also marks the
first time to be executive produced by Meghan McCarthy and Jayson Thiessen.
At the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2013, the writers and voice actors
talked about the upcoming season. It is expected to have between 15 and 20 songs, even though
the writers had envisioned more, and will include a musical episode centered around
Pinkie Pie. Rarity will have her own episode, and Pinkie will have a visit from one of her
sisters. The season will also include a return of Nightmare Moon, the evil version of Princess
Luna. The writers have stated that they will include references and darker tones aimed
for its adult audience, and will also include more appearances by the fan-named character
Derpy Hooves. Cast
Main Tara Strong as Twilight Sparkle
Tabitha St. Germain as Rarity
Kazumi Evans as Rarity (singing voice) Kazumi Evans as Rarity (singing voice)
Ashleigh Ball as Applejack and Rainbow Dash Andrea Libman as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie
Shannon Chan-Kent as Pinkie Pie (singing voice); Libman occasionally
Cathy Weseluck as Spike Supporting
Nicole Oliver as Princess Celestia and Cheerilee Tabitha St. Germain as Princess Luna
The Cutie Mark Crusaders
Claire Corlett as Sweetie Belle Michelle Creber as Apple Bloom
Madeleine Peters as Scootaloo Claire Corlett as Sweetie Belle
Michelle Creber as Apple Bloom Madeleine Peters as Scootaloo
Minor Tabitha St. Germain as Granny Smith and Mrs.
Cake Brenda Crichlow as Zecora
Chantal Strand as Diamond Tiara Shannon Chan-Kent as Silver Spoon
Brian Drummond as Mr. Cake Lee Tockar as Snips
Richard Ian Cox as Snails Peter New as Big McIntosh
John de Lancie as Discord Britt McKillip as Princess Cadance
Guest stars Chiara Zanni as Daring Do/A.K. Yearling
Brian Drummond as Ahuizotl and Seabreeze Michael Dobson as Dr. Caballeron and Bulk
Biceps Veena Sood as Ms. Harshwhinny
Ellen Kennedy as the Mane-iac and the Chimera Ashleigh Ball as Prim Hemline and Crystal
Chalice Stand Pony Tabitha St. Germain as Suri Polomare
Cathy Weseluck as Coco Pommel and Torch Song
Jerrica Santos as Torch Song (singing voice) Jerrica Santos as Torch Song (singing voice)
Peter New as Goldie Delicious Trevor Devall as Thunderlane
Kelly Metzger as Spitfire and Blossomforth Matt Hill as Soarin'
Andrea Libman as Fleetfoot "Weird Al" Yankovic as Cheese Sandwich
Doron Bell as Trenderhoof Alvin Sanders as Flutterguy
Marcus Mosley as Flutterguy (singing voice) Marcus Mosley as Flutterguy (singing voice)
Danny Balkwill as Toe-Tapper Graham Verchere as Pipsqueak
Ingrid Nilson as Maud Pie Rena Anakwe as Sapphire Shores
The Flim Flam Brothers
Samuel Vincent as Flim Scott McNeil as Flam
Ian James Corlett as Silver Shill Saffron Henderson as Daring Do Collector
Michael Daingerfield as Ancient Beast Dealer and Antique Chicken Stand Pony
Sylvain LeVasseur Portelance as Stellar Eclipse Andrew Francis as Shining Armor
Songs Song notes
^ a b Pinkie's singing voice by Andrea Libman. ^ Song not orchestrated by Steffan Andrews.
^ Music by William Anderson. ^ Background singers voiced by Jayson Thiessen
and Jim Miller. Notes
^ Not seen, but is credited in the closing credits of "Rainbow Falls"; Metzger voiced
a similar-looking character. ^ a b Information about the directors and
writers are taken from the episodes' opening credits.
^ The episode miscredited Meghan McCarthy as the writer in initial airings, but was
later corrected in reruns. ^ Within the episode, the title is spelled
as "Pinky Apple Pie".