There's not much to commentate on for the DVD audio commentaries so I'll just list interesting stuff that's discussed. Some stuff, the full context isn't explained and sometimes I can't tell if they're joking so some stuff may be partially or just completely incorrect.
Friendship is Magic Part 1
- Spike was originally more baby-like and became older as time went on in development.
- They mention how they didn't know how to handle magic auras in the beginning.
- Twilight's dorm background was more detailed and was simplified due to being unable to see the action.
- They talk about Pinkie's original design Surprise.
- Apparently there were debates of whether Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie was faster.
- The flying chariot ponies running in the air are inspired by Santa's reindeer.
- The amount of Apple family had to be cut down due to being unable to trademark their names.
- First episodes were made first which apparently isn't standard.
- The characters' personalities were made to be shown through their actions, not them stating their personality.
- The show was written so well, it wasn't much harder to voice act despite VAs not being in the same building.
- Flash animation skill has been refined from previous series.
Friendship is Magic Part 2
- Steven Magnet was partially designed in Adobe Illustrator then ported to Flash to animate.
- Each episode takes 3 weeks to animate, 5 weeks to storyboard, and layout is 3 weeks.
- Lauren didn't want Twilight to be an expert at magic in the beginning and instead learn magic as the show goes on.
- It's talked about how the feminine element of the show comes through the fact that the ponies saved the day together and its emphasis of togetherness and mentions how in a boys show, it would be a single hero.
Winter Wrap Up
- They talk about how they use pictures instead of words since it can be used internationally and pictures register in the mind faster so they can condense animation.
- They mention Twilight's original design.
- Animal noises are sometimes voiced by people.
- There were discussions whether animals could speak.
- They decided to make the snow white because snow is white in real life.
- Daniel had like 8 chorus versions in mind when he started making the Winter Wrap Up song.
- Twilight doesn't know how to whistle.
- The Winter Wrap Up instrumental in the montage has audio issues apparently with what they say is headphone bleed. I tried listening myself but I'm not audiophilic enough to find what they're talking about.
- The storyboard artists have to worldbuild when writers don't give enough details.
- The flocks of birds were animated exploiting Flash glitches.
Suited For Success
- They mention DeviantArt.
- They talk about the gala continuity.
- In season 1, Daniel had very little input on the lyrics of the songs.
- They animate up to 3-4 frames before sound on songs because on-frame animation feels late.
- They have to match beats to frames and use an algorithm for that.
- The Rarity drawing in this episode is Lauren's.
- Characters have outlines and backgrounds don't which helps characters stand out.
- Exploiting Flash glitches is brought up again.
The Show Stoppers
- Sweetie's VA didn't want to sing.
- Sweetie's VA was a grammar nazi with the scripts.
- Scootaloo's mane has a floating pixel in season 1. I can confirm that this is visible even at 480p.
- Scootaloo's VA practiced so much for the song only to have to sing badly on purpose.
- Songs are written and recorded half a year before animation.
- They had to detune the song.
The Best Night Ever
- They used the Cinderella ripoff as a storyboard test for potential hires.
- They bring up the cyclops pony animation glitch.
- They mention Twitter.
- They mention that male ponies are "subservient".
- Gala song was the biggest of the season.
- They got a choir for free to work on the gala song.
- They didn't name Octavia.
- They diss the British.
- Pinkie Pokey was limited to instruments shown.
- They use music from other stuff in the animatics frequently.
Written 2024-10-18 Published 2024-11-1