My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Twilight and Starlight – Lessons of Friendship and Understanding
June 17th, 2017
Twilight Sparkle is determined to prove that anyone can learn the magic of friendship. So when a reformed Starlight Glimmer wants a fresh start, Twilight is only too happy to take her under her alicorn wing and lend a helping hoof. And though challenges await Starlight as she learns about friendship, Twilight and the rest of the Mane 6 will do whatever it takes to ensure Starlight succeeds!
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Twilight and Starlight
By Imani B.G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Twilight and Starlight is a very positive show. I love how friendship is always the main theme with these magical ponies. I also love how, in each episode, there is a lesson to learn about friendship and how to apply the skills throughout life. Kids will definitely enjoy watching the Equestria girls and learn more about the journey of friendship.
Twilight Sparkle is determined to prove to everyone that making friends is an easy thing to do and how
magical friendship is. A changed Starlight Glimmer visits the land of Equestria, hoping to develop a friendship with any pony. Twilight is ecstatic to help her throughout her journey and is willing to lend a helping hoof. Although Starlight faces various challenges throughout the episodes, Twilight and the Mane 6 will do whatever it takes to make sure that Starlight succeeds in making new friends.
Each episode is purposeful, but my favorite is the third episode when Starlight finally realizes who she is and what she is capable of doing in life. At first, Starlight is scared to return to her old town because she is afraid of what people might think of her and how she may even change back to her old ways. She is then forced to look at herself as a pony when her friends and other civilizations of the world are captured by the naughty changelings. You can obviously tell that Starlight wants to change from her old ways, but is too scared to accept it. I like how, at the end, she learns the true meaning of friendship on her own and that it is okay to change!
The overall message expressed throughout every episode is about dealing with friendship. Twilight continuously tries to show Starlight that it is possible to make friends, even with a bad past. People can be very understanding and tend to give others a chance to explain themselves. That’s exactly what Twilight tries to explain to Starlight. Kids will be able to learn from this DVD how to make new friends and how to reconnect with old ones.
I recommend this fun-filled DVD for ages 4 to 6. I also encourage parents and older siblings to w
atch the episodes with their younger siblings to learn a few things about the magic friendship has to offer. They may even be able to apply some of the skills and lessons they learn from the show. I rate this DVD 5 out of 5 stars due to its vibrant colors, magical storyline, amazing cast, educational lessons and so much more! This lively DVD is available now so, check out. Please enjoy this as much as I did!
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Twilight and Starlight
Reviewed by Rachael V., KIDS FIRST! Juror
As usual, My Little Pony doesn’t disappoint. This particular DVD has 5 episodes, there are two 2-parters and then a standalone episode. Obviously these specific episodes focus heavily on Twilight and Starlight. The animation is fantastic and the voice acting is on point. The songs are very cute and catchy. One episode set focuses on the idea that you can’t force someone to be your friend, which I thought to be quite interesting. I have not seen that topic brought up in a kids program before and, it is definitely a topic that should be addressed. The only complaint that I have about this DVD is that it bounces around multiple seasons of the TV seres. Pretty much all of the DVDs do and I suppose they need to bounce around to gather enough episodes about a specific situation or character, but it gets confusing sometimes. All in all, it is a pleasure to watch. I recommend this for ages 5 to 13 and it probably appeals to girls more than boys. But, then, there are Bronies. I happily grant it 5 out of 5 stars.
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, Twilight and Starlight
By Kamryn B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Twilight and Starlight was very pleasant to watch. The different styles of the various ponies is enjoyable because their personalities really shine. In media, I always look for the humorous side of things which happens throughout the six episodes on this DVD. Every episode also addresses the challenges in finding friendships.
On this DVD, we see Twilight helping a new pony Starlight, who wants to exchange her bad bone for a 
good one. The problem is that she doesn’t have any friends to influence her in making good choices. This is where Twilight comes in, helping her find a friend named Trixie that’s not so bad in the end. Its cool to see how much Starlight grows in her friendships as the shows unfold. That is only some of what happens in the five episodes filled with messages about everlasting friendships.
Starlight Glimmer, the pony who is new to the friendship thing is voice acted by Kelly Sheridan. Her mentor Twilight Sparkle is voice acted by Tara Strong. Kathleen Barr stars as Trixie, a close friend of Starlight’s.
I enjoyed the color, crisp voice acting and the animation. 
There is a delightful twist to the way each pony is designed to make them different from the other ponies. My favorite part is when Twilight is challenged by the deep connection she has with her new friends. She could either explore a path of her own or save her new friends and go on a whole other path. You have to watch the show to catch the details.
The message of this DVD is that friendships can help you in many ways. It’s a great message for any child. I give this DVD 4 out of 5 stars. It is interesting to watch and, you’re a My Little Pony fan, this DVD will be particularly interesting and cool. I recommend it for ages 8 to 12. This DVD is available in stores now, so go check it out.
Unknown to the world, Thomas Edison built a secret lab where he invented a virtual version of himself and a steampunk robot named Von Bolt. Years later, Angie, a twelve-year-old science prodigy, discovers the lab. While visiting one of Kent’s relatives, the kids come up with a great idea for attracting more tourists to his restaurant – the only catch is that it also attracts a very big shark with very big teeth! What will the Secret Lab Kids do? Guided by fun-loving Edison, Angie and friends will show just how fun science can be. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Jolleen M. comments, “I love all of the puns and the jokes. I thought that they were very funny. I also thought that it was awesome that everything tied in with learning, so that you could enjoy watching the movie while learning new things about science.” Carla P. adds, “The show has cool features that I’ve rarely seen on a TV show. At the end of every episode, they have a music video recapping what they learned in that episode.” KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror, Rachael V. wraps it up with, “This collection is called “It’s Always Sharkest” because it features an episode regarding a shark’s sense of smell. Thinking about subjects such as DNA and radioactive decay doesn’t seem to be very appealing to younger kids, but these episodes change that. It gives a very hands on, kid friendly approach to not just learning about these subjects, but enjoying the adventure along the way.” See their full reviews below.
very funny. I also thought that it was awesome that everything ties in with learning, so that you can enjoy watching the movie while learning new things about science.
The animation in this movie is not that good. When they talk, their mouths mostly just move up and down. The arm movements they do are also really repetitive. Overall, the movements for the characters and scenery are not very life like. But, I don’t think a young child will mind. This movie is made for younger audiences, but the science they teaching is suitable for older kids.
pollination. It looks really cool to see how pollination works, when you are super small actually see the inside of the flower and bee hive.
he animation reminds me somewhat of the TV show The Fairly Odd Parents. Both have similar animation styles. They both look sort of like paper cutouts. Furthermore, I like how the robot’s actions are animated. In the first episode, one of the robots is almost eaten by a shark so he spins out of control to try to get away from the shark’s mouth. I thought that was hilarious, seeing him spin out of control.
kid I always loved science class, but I know that not everyone did. There were lessons that appealed to me less than others and I was lucky enough to have shows such as Bill Nye the Science Guy and The Magic School Bus to inspire me. This collection is called “It’s Always Sharkest” because it features an episode regarding a shark’s sense of smell. Thinking about subjects such as DNA and radioactive decay doesn’t seem to be very appealing to younger kids, but these episodes change that. It gives a very hands on, kid frie
ndly approach to not just learning about these subjects, but enjoying the adventure along the way. One of my favorite things about this program is meeting the creators take on other scientists like Darwin and Watson. The animation is phenomenal and the lessons learned are even better. I recommend this to kids ages 5 to 12, but make no mistake, I greatly enjoyed learning new things and relearning things I had long forgotten. If I could rate this higher than 5 stars I would, but since I can’t, I give it 5 out of 5 stars!
From the mind of Gwen Stefani comes the world of Kuu Kuu Harajuku! Say hello to HJ5! A super cool band made of five super cool girls! Love, Angel, Music, Baby and their inspirational leader G love to sing, dance and sport the latest kawaii fashions (Kawaii is “cute ” in Harajuku speak)! With help from their loveably incompetent manager Rudie, HJ5 travels all over to put on shows for their fans! Although they are totally talented, every time they start a gig, something wild and crazy happens before they finish the first bar! I mean, it’s not easy performing while you are being attacked by space aliens, adorable (and ravenous) monster pets OR hunger (you don’t want to mess with Baby when she’s hangry). No m
atter what challenges come their way, they always work together to save the day! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Morgan B. comments, “The perfect animation colors and style make this concoction a work of art that is pure genius. This is an adorable fun world full of fashion, original songs and five smart girls with problem solving skills and teamwork.” Kamryn B. adds, “Kuu Kuu Harajuku is a jamming new TV series that is now available on DVD. This show is filled with humor and adventurous episodes. The vibrant colors make the show even more “Kawaii,” the Japanese term for cute.” KIDS FIRST! Juror Rachael V. wraps it up with, “This program was co-created by Gwen Stephani (No Doubt) and you can really tell. It’s extremely girly and stylistic and the music is fantastic.” See their full reviews below. 
Stefani is the executive producer and along with her, many other wonderful actresses are a part of this crew. Lessons to be learned from the show are inspirational and helpful. HJ5 helps kids learn to be themselves and accept who they are. That is what makes this show so special. People are all different and have a unique quality about them. The world would be boring if everyone was the same. We should accept each other’s differences. It is okay to be different. Embrace our differences and have fun with it. That is what makes you who you are and what makes you special and unique.
humor and adventurous episodes. The vibrant colors make the show even more “Kawaii,” the Japanese term for cute. The characters Music, Baby, Love, Angel and G experience different puzzling situations together as they sing to their accumulating fan base. Their unorganized manager Rudie and General No Fun are always trying to ruin the band’s plans.
purple and pink that would make any girl squeal. The characters are all quite unique and well defined. G, the leader of the band, helps the group focus on the task at hand. Whenever General No Fun gets in the way of fun, she helps figure out a way to have fun despite his intentions. Since their manager Rudie isn’t much help, G has an important role to play. Baby is childish and knows what’s cute and what isn’t. Love has all the smarts to create a formula of success. Angel is the fashionista who wears all the newest looks and styles. And Music is my favorite character because of her sense of humor and a hint of sass.
Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician with her own plan to win, inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet, and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage! Benjamin P. comments, “The animation in Cars 3 is great. No other film succeeds in making everyday objects feel truly human as well as this franchise does. This gives it a sense of realism and puts me more in tune with characters’ emotions and makes me care more about them in the process.” Jolleen M. adds, “This film is really unique and well made! I really enjoyed watching it. The storyline is well thought out and original. I also love the animation which is very detailed.” Lucia F. wraps it up with, “As a teenage girl who did not see the first two Cars films, I had serious doubts about this movie. Imagine my surprise when I found myself enjoying Cars 3 from beginning to end.” See their full reviews below.
it still is the best Cars film yet.
not going down without a fight.
well as this franchise does. This gives it a sense of realism and puts me more in tune with characters’ emotions and makes me care more about them in the process. The backgrounds in this film are gorgeous. They’re detailed, picturesque and really reflect the quality of Pixar’s animation. The total effect makes me envy the characters and wish I could visit them in their rich, colorful world.
and original. I also love the animation which is very detailed. I especially love the facial expressions of the cars which show a lot of emotions.
makes McQueen sound desperate, frustrated and on the edge of breaking at times, but can make him also sound determined and hopeful. Armie Hammer, the voice of Jackson Storm, voices Jackson as an arrogant character. The voice fits very well because Storm always makes fun of Lightning McQueen.
former racer Doc Hudson. McQueen sees all of the letters that Hudson sent back home about him. McQueen starts feeling emotional and begins to really miss Hudson. I really like this scene because it warmed my heart to see McQueen realize that he made Hudson happy till his last days. Lightning McQueen was like a son to Doc Hudson.
my surprise when I found myself enjoying Cars 3 from beginning to end. Although this movie is clearly an action movie, it is also hilarious! I am a huge Larry the Cable Guy fan and, as Mater the Tow Truck, he provides plenty of comic relief. I also love how loyal and heartwarming Mater is as a friend to the protagonist, Lightning McQueen. Of course, his is not the only remarkable performance. Owen Wilson, as Lightning McQueen, is a very effective leading man. His performance is pure genius.
competition to our hero, Lightning McQueen. Unfortunately, Storm steals Lightning’s thunder (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Viewers will find the many racing sequences extremely exciting. I actually jumped during the nighttime race through the forest with no headlights. Parents should know that there is another scene that might be disturbing to younger viewers which occurs during the Crazy 8’s demolition derby race at Thunder Hollow. Since all the characters are cars, the destruction could be considered quite violent.
Lightning’s female trainer provides a completely unexpected result. Another message is to value and honor the old-timers who succeeded before you and paved the way for your success. We see this when an older lady racer talks about the days when she was not allowed to have a number, so she stole one. The third message, which provides yet another surprise, is that those who support actual heroes are indeed, heroes themselves.
are of two types – absolutely breathtaking scenery, such as the trip to the Rusteeze Racing Center, and the appealing, animated car characters. It is also very interesting that Lightning McQueen keeps changing his look throughout the film .
Alisa Knows What to Do! is based on the extremely popular Russian science-fiction novels by famous Russian author Kir Bulychiov about a young girl from the future, Alisa Salazar. This animated series weaves a tale about the adventures of a group of teenagers living at the end of the 21st century. The world has changed yet the burning questions that occupied people at the beginning of the century are still pertinent today. Alisa and her friends not only battle evil and injustice but they are also concerned with global problems like the natural balance, both on the planet and in space. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Lucia F. comments, “I like the animation because the special effects are very cool. Young children will enjoy this because it is filled with adventure and action.” Gerry O. adds, “There are not many animated kid shows that can teach important life lessons, entertain and spark the viewer’s imagination. Alisa Knows What to Do: Season One accomplishes all of this and more.” Calista B. wraps it up with, “This series is really enjoyable. I was honestly surprised by how much I was invested in the story and the characters. It is surprisingly solid.” See their full reviews below.
English.
e surprise endings. I also love the interesting perspective of the future. It feels possible but still makes you dream about endless possibilities. The animation itself is a quite different style than what is generally seen on TV, due to being produced in Moscow. One small issue that is very apparent throughout the show is the dubbing. Due to being converted from Russian to English, there are many times when the characters’ lips do not match the audio perfectly. The problem isn’t too noticeable most of the time, but there are scenes where it is distracting.
galaxy opens on Pluto. The top scientists, including Alisa’s father, attend the opening. Disaster strikes when an eclipse by a Pluto moon causes the release of “Zye” waves, which turns people into statues. Luckily Alisa and her friend find out about this and destroy a crystal to rescue the people. The animation of the museum and the dwarf planet is beautiful and the plot has unexpected and entertaining twists.
isn’t a bad thing, because they switch the spotlight to the other kids every once in a while. And they try to develop the characters of the other kids, which I like. In terms of personality, the characters are pretty stereotyped. There’s The Jock, The Nerd, The Girly Girl who only cares about her looks and similar. As much as I disapprove of stereotyping in general, these are probably some of the best stereotypes I’ve seen. However, I will say that I found the girls way more likeable than the boys.
