While I think this looks pretty fantastic in terms of execution, I can't help but be a little miffed at the thematic elements they seem to want to keep playing on.
EqG1 felt like some kind of 90s throwback with it's drumbeat of "Deep down we're all the same". I guess it was a ballsy statement to make in the middle of the Civil Rights era or something, but our generation got sick of being talked down to with such a flagrant oversimplification of real life that we grew up to make movies like The Incredibles, with themes that directly countered it. "You know what? Some of us
are better than others. Don't brag about it, but celebrate it! Use your gifts to do good in the world!"
Funny that we all just rewatched Boast Busters, which has the exact same theme. "Yeah... I guess I
am the best unicorn in town.

"
And now with EqG it's like stepping back in time. Let's all sing about how alike we all are—not how we all bring unique gifts to the table and get along despite our differences, but rather how we aren't different at all except in superficial ways. As someone who found the Incredibles style of theme to be an intense breath of cool fresh air after the dreck that I grew up with, this feels like a slap in the face not only to me and the audience, but to the premise of FiM itself (more so than making them humans does).
I get that the theme is pretty much a macguffin, just an excuse to create a conflict and allow them to keep exercising the novelty motif of ponies in High School Musical human world. But I
legitimately find myself wanting to relate to the evil team here, because they're at least acknowledging reality. I feel like the Humane 6 are going to end up trying to make us sympathize with Syndrome.
Also could they
please stop making everyone do this friggin' hand gesture? It's driving me up the goddamn wall.

It's like the CalArts freshman model sheet equivalent of
