My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2010

84%

WISE Score

7.8

IMDb

Pastel ponies teach friendship lessons in a magical land—surprisingly well-crafted, but yes, your kid will want all the toys.

7.8/10

8.2

→

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic

show

TV-Y, 2010

84%

WISE Score

7.8

IMDb

Pastel ponies teach friendship lessons in a magical land—surprisingly well-crafted, but yes, your kid will want all the toys.

7.8

8.2

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7.8/10

8.2

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Screenwise Verdict

MLP:FiM is the gold standard of what a prosocial kids' show should be—genuinely thoughtful about teaching emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and friendship skills. The characters are well-developed, the world is imaginative, and the lessons are explicit without being completely insufferable.

That said, it IS very earnest and wholesome in a way that can feel dated or saccharine, especially compared to faster-paced modern shows. The animation from 2010 holds up reasonably well but isn't Pixar-level. And yes, it's absolutely designed to sell toys.

The show's cultural legacy is interesting—it unexpectedly attracted a massive adult fandom, which is mostly a testament to its quality but also occasionally weird. For your purposes, though, it's a solid choice for elementary-age kids who need screen time that won't rot their brains. Just prepare for pony obsession and the inevitable toy requests.

Age Fit

Best for ages 4-10, though some kids will stay interested longer out of nostalgia or genuine love for the characters. Preschoolers can handle it but might miss the friendship nuances; tweens might find it babyish unless they're already fans.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Explicitly centers friendship lessons in every episode with characters modeling cooperation, empathy, and conflict resolution. Emotionally healthy tone with age-appropriate humor. Pacing is balanced—not frenetic—and characters demonstrate genuine growth and accountability when they make mistakes.

Imaginative

The fantasy world of Equestria is richly developed with distinct regions, magical systems, and creative creature designs. Episodes explore diverse scenarios from time travel to alternate dimensions. The show inspired massive creative output in its fanbase (art, music, stories), suggesting it genuinely sparks imagination, though the episodic format can be somewhat formulaic.

Safe

Extremely safe content with no gore, sexuality, or inappropriate material. Conflicts are mild and resolved positively. Occasional fantasy peril (villains, monsters) but always age-appropriate and not genuinely scary. Kids mode available on platforms. Very occasional 'scary' villain moments might startle sensitive younger viewers but nothing traumatic.

Enriching

Each episode explicitly teaches social-emotional lessons about friendship, honesty, loyalty, kindness, generosity, and laughter. Characters face ethical dilemmas and learn from consequences. However, the didactic 'friendship lesson' structure can feel heavy-handed, and entertainment sometimes takes a backseat to moralizing. Still, it does genuinely build empathy and emotional vocabulary.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Every episode explicitly teaches social-emotional skills like empathy, honesty, and conflict resolution—it's basically a feelings curriculum wrapped in sparkles
Characters have distinct personalities and genuine flaws, so kids see that everyone messes up and can make amends
The world-building is legitimately creative with fun fantasy elements that invite imaginative play
Strong female characters with different strengths (athletic, bookish, artistic, shy) offer diverse role models
Surprisingly high-quality animation and voice acting for a kids' show from this era

⚠

What to Watch For

The explicit 'friendship lesson' at the end of episodes can feel preachy—some kids will tune out the moralizing
Occasional mild fantasy villains and peril that might spook very sensitive preschoolers (think shadowy creatures, magic battles)
It's a toy franchise at heart, so expect relentless requests for ponies, playsets, and accessories
The show's unexpected adult fandom ('bronies') became a cultural phenomenon—mostly harmless but worth being aware of if your kid starts Googling

Conversation Starters

"Which pony do you think you're most like? What makes you say that?"
"Twilight really messed up when she didn't trust her friends—have you ever had a time when you should have asked for help?"
"The ponies all have different 'special talents.' What do you think your special talent might be?"
"How do you think Fluttershy feels when she has to be brave even though she's scared?"
"If you could have a cutie mark that showed what you're good at, what would it be?"

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