The DVD, which includes five animated sing-along songs complete with the words at the bottom of the screen, is also accessible for the hearing impaired throughout the feature for televisions equipped with closed captioning. Directed by the Emmy award-winning television veteran David Stern, whose resume of experience in filming elaborate stage productions is nearly a mile long, this bright, upbeat, and beautifully digitized transfer invites participation from not only the audience being filmed (with many cuts to happy dancing and smiling children and parents) but also from the kids at home.
From the very start as Ponyville’s friendly Spike takes the stage in search of a misplaced “how to” book given to him by a kindly old troll, viewers are addressed directly as he inquires if they’re not only willing “to have a jolly good time” but also he encourages kids to remember that “if you feel like singing, dancing, or clapping your hands — go right ahead.”
However, as any Pony fan will tell you, Spike’s just the warm-up act and the real show begins when Sweetberry, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and all their friends take the stage. When the ponies decide to hold a huge tea party for their audience full of new friends at Rarity the unicorn’s glittery, sparkling Crystal Rainbow Castle, the group swings into preparation. From learning the proper tea drinking etiquette to striving to create the world’s biggest invitation, and visiting the ever stylish fashionista pony Sew-and-So to make sure they’re all well dressed, it seems like nothing has been left to chance.
Although, amidst all of the singing, dancing, and merriment performed on a highly colorful stage with a curtain made of streamers ready to “razzle and dazzle,” the perpetual worrier Pinkie Pie, who was overly concerned that her friends including the sweet but admittedly accident prone and forgetful pal Minty would neglect their duties, mistakenly forgot one of her very own — namely, bringing the tea. As they decide to “squink” a.k.a. “squeeze and think,” and Pinkie Pie fears that she’ll be shunned, she realizes that in the end everyone makes mistakes and the most important thing in addition to “bounce back ability” is that you always have a great supportive base of empathetic and loving friends to help you solve any problems that may come your way, whether it’s in Ponyville or in the real world.
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