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All About the Original 1980s My Little Pony TV Series and Movies

In the 1980s, there was one My Little Pony movie and two TV series. Let's take a look at the different characters, stories, and MLP G1 toys.
All About the Original 1980s My Little Pony TV Series and Movies

In 1986, the My Little Pony franchise expanded its animated offerings with the release of My Little Pony: The Movie and the television series My Little Pony ‘n Friends. These 1986 releases played a significant role in cementing My Little Pony‘s place in 1980s pop culture, contributing to the franchise’s enduring popularity!

Let’s take a look at the different MLP series and movies from the 1980s, the stories they told, and the characters that appeared in them. 

The My Little Pony Special (AKA Rescue at Midnight Castle) (1984)

The very first My Little Pony cartoon premiered on television in 1984, simply titled My Little Pony. This was likely because Hasbro did not anticipate the brand having further TV appearances!

In 1986, it was re-aired as part of the My Little Pony and Friends TV series, now titled Rescue at Midnight Castle. However, a scene featuring the song “Little Piece of Rainbow” was edited out. The special was later released as Firefly’s Adventure alongside a special edition Firefly figure.

1984 MLP Movie Synopsis

The ponies of Ponyland are enjoying a peaceful day when their tranquility is shattered by a sudden storm and a raid by dragons led by Scorpan. Cotton Candy and Moondancer are captured and taken to the sinister Midnight Castle, where the evil Tirrac plans to use them, along with two more ponies, to pull his Chariot of Midnight and unleash eternal darkness.

Firefly seeks help from Megan, a girl from Earth, and together they return to Ponyland. Despite initial doubts, Megan proves courageous, helping the ponies evade another attack from Scorpan and his dragons. The group seeks assistance from the Moochick, a forgetful wizard, who provides them with a magical “Rainbow of Light” contained in a locket.

At Midnight Castle, Tirrac transforms captured ponies into dragons and prepares to complete his dark plan. Megan and the ponies infiltrate the castle, but Tirrac’s power seems overwhelming. In a final confrontation, Megan unleashes the Rainbow of Light, which battles and ultimately overcomes Tirrac’s Rainbow of Darkness. Tirrac is defeated, the ponies return to their original forms, and Scorpan is revealed to be a prince freed from Tirrac’s curse. Peace is restored to Ponyland.

Rescue at Midnight Castle Movie Characters

You can watch the original The My Little Pony: Rescue at Midnight Castle movie on YouTube:

The My Little Pony: Escape From Catrina Special (1985)

My Little Pony: Escape From Catrina originally aired in the U.S. on March 23, 1985. It was one of two standalone specials later edited into the My Little Pony ‘n Friends series. This special was re-broadcast as a two-part episode at the end of My Little Pony ‘n Friends Season 2 (1987) (see below). For this version, the opening and closing credits were replaced with the standard series credits, which misspelled the original title, and the song “Those Good (Before You Turned Bad) Old Days” was removed.

1985 MLP Movie Synopsis

The story begins with the ponies preparing for Megan’s visit. Sundance accidentally ruins a welcome poster and upsets Baby Moondancer, who falls into a lake but is saved by the Sea Ponies. While playing, their ball rolls into a cave where the enslaved Bushwoolies are working for the witch Catrina, who uses a substance called Witch Weed. When the Bushwoolies try to escape, Catrina punishes them, but her assistant Rep saves one from falling into water.

As the ponies continue their preparations, Catrina and Rep decide to use the ponies as new slaves after the Bushwoolies escape. Catrina creates a snowstorm to capture them, but one pony breaks free and alerts Megan. Using the Rainbow of Light, Megan defeats Catrina and frees the ponies.

Later, Sundance feels left out but is comforted by Megan. During the parade preparations, Baby Moondancer is given the Rainbow of Light, but Rep and Catrina attempt to steal it. Catrina kidnaps Baby Moondancer and the Rainbow, leading Megan and the ponies to rescue them. At Catrina’s lair, she threatens to harm Baby Moondancer unless the ponies become her slaves. Rep turns against her, saving the day as Megan retrieves the Rainbow and Sundance rescues Baby Moondancer. Catrina promises to change and destroys the Witch Weed machine.

The story ends with a celebratory parade for Megan, accompanied by a song from the Sea Ponies.

Escape From Catrina Characters

You can watch the original The My Little Pony: Escape From Catrina Special on YouTube:

The My Little Pony: The Movie (1986)

In their first big-screen adventure, the Little Ponies face a dire threat as the wicked witch Hydia and her clumsy daughters, Reeka and Draggle, unleash a destructive purple ooze known as “the Smooze” to engulf Dream Valley. To protect their home, the ponies join forces with the kind-hearted Grundles and the powerful Flutter Ponies. But can their combined efforts stop the Smooze and save Ponyland?

1986 MLP Movie Synopsis

The ponies prepare for a spring festival, but Baby Lickety-Split upsets the show with an unplanned dance routine, leading to criticism and her running away with Spike. Meanwhile, Hydia and her daughters, Reeka and Draggle, concoct the Smooze, a destructive purple ooze, to ruin Dream Valley. The Smooze engulfs the land, trapping Baby Lickety-Split and Spike in a cave while the ponies seek help from Megan and the Moochick.

Megan retrieves the Rainbow of Light, but it initially fails against the Smooze. The Moochick advises the ponies to seek aid from the Flutter Ponies, who are initially reluctant to help until convinced by Morning Glory, a Flutter Pony rescued by Baby Lickety-Split and the Grundles. The Flutter Ponies ultimately defeat the Smooze, freeing Dream Valley and restoring the Rainbow of Light.

The ponies gift Dream Castle to the Grundles, and Baby Lickety-Split is entrusted with the Rainbow of Light as they celebrate their victory.

My Little Pony: The Movie Characters

You can watch the original The My Little Pony: The Movie on YouTube:

The My Little Pony: The TV Series

My Little Pony ‘n Friends was an animated anthology series that aired from 1986 to 1987 (it had two seasons). Each episode featured a segment dedicated to My Little Pony, paired with a segment from another Hasbro cartoon, rotating between Potato Head Kids, Glo Friends, and Moondreamers.

MLP 'n Friends Episode Synopses

  1. The End of Flutter Valley (Parts 1–10): The witches from the Volcano of Gloom plot to destroy Flutter Valley by stealing the Sunstone, leading the ponies and Flutter Ponies on a quest to retrieve it and save their home.
  2. The Ghost of Paradise Estate (Parts 1–4): A shape-shifting bird named Pluma seeks the ponies’ help to recover the Flashstone and save her grandfather, revealing a plot that threatens Paradise Estate.
  3. The Great Rainbow Caper: A pair of monkeys called Gizmonks take Danny and Surprise prisoner, demanding the Rainbow of Light as ransom.
  4. The Glass Princess (Parts 1–4): A self-obsessed witch named Porcina plans to turn the world into glass using captured ponies, prompting Megan and her friends to intervene.
  5. Pony Puppy: The ponies find a giant puppy named Dina and decide to keep her, but eventually realize she belongs with her family.
  6. Bright Lights (Parts 1–4): Rock star Knight Shade deceives the baby ponies to steal their shadows for his dark master, leading to a rescue mission.
  7. Sweet Stuff and the Treasure Hunt: Feeling left out, Sweet Stuff joins a treasure hunt and surprises everyone with her problem-solving skills.
  8. The Return of Tambelon (Parts 1–4): The ancient city of Tambelon reappears, and the unicorns mysteriously vanish, prompting the ponies to investigate.
  9. Little Piece of Magic: The baby ponies use their imagination to play a game of make-believe with a magical red ball.
  10. The Magic Coins (Parts 1–4): The ponies discover a treasure chest of magic coins, but a wish to stop the rain causes a drought in Ponyland.
  11. Mish Mash Melee: After a magical mishap, Fizzy, Shady, Wind Whistler, and Gusty must live each other’s lives until they can restore the balance of nature.
  12. Woe Is Me: The ponies provide shelter to Woebegone, a wandering hobo who brings bad luck wherever he goes.
  13. Fugitive Flowers (Parts 1–2): Posey offers shelter to sentient flowers, unaware of their plan to drain the life from Dream Valley.
  14. Would Be Dragonslayer: Spike is harassed by a young boy aspiring to be a knight, and the ponies help him find a noble deed that doesn’t involve slaying their friend.
  15. Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Parts 1–2): The ponies are delighted by summer snow, not realizing it’s a plot by the Penguin King to freeze Ponyland.
  16. Crunch the Rockdog (Parts 1–2): A vicious dog carved from rock turns everything to stone, while Wind Whistler faces criticism for her lack of emotion.
  17. The Revolt of Paradise Estate (Parts 1–2): A magic spell brings Paradise Estate to life, and its furniture declares war on the ponies.
  18. Through the Door (Parts 1–2): A door to the world of fairy tales opens, and the ponies meet legendary characters like Robin Hood and Hercules.
  19. Rescue at Midnight Castle: The first My Little Pony TV special from 1984, where the ponies must stop the evil Tirrac from using them to pull his Chariot of Midnight.
  20. The Quest of the Princess Ponies (Parts 1–4): Lavan, a lava demon, kidnaps the princess ponies and steals their magic wands, causing chaos in Ponyland.
  21. Spike’s Search: Spike searches for other dragons to learn about his heritage but is disappointed by their selfish behavior.
  22. The Golden Horseshoes (Parts 1–2): When Mimic becomes ill, Megan and the ponies embark on adventures to find four golden horseshoes with healing powers.
  23. Flight to Cloud Castle (Parts 1–2): Heart Throb, Locket, and Twilight help a young elf rescue his true love from an enchanted castle.
  24. The Ice Cream Wars: The First Tooth baby ponies must reunite feuding ice cream makers to restore Ponyland’s ice cream supply.
  25. Somnambula (Parts 1–2): An old witch named Somnambula puts the adult ponies into a trance, forcing them to perform in a circus as she drains their youth.
  26. The Prince and the Ponies: The ponies aid two wronged royals, and the First Tooth Baby Ponies learn to be careful what they wish for.
  27. Escape from Catrina: The second My Little Pony TV special from 1985, where a sorceress enslaves bushwoolies to produce witch weed potion and kidnaps a baby pony.

My Little Pony: The TV Series Characters

You can watch the original The My Little Pony TV series on YouTube:

My Little Pony G1 Essentials

If you want to learn more about ponies and how to restore them, here are two resources that can help. The first is the unofficial MLP G1 guide (which has photos, prices, etc). The second is my own book, Restoring My Little Pony!

Restoring My Little Pony is the result of almost three years of restoring and customizing My Little Pony toys for my channel RetroGeek Crafts. The book contains 86 pages full of detailed step-by-step guides, project features, material and technique comparisons, and much more. The book is mostly focused on My Little Pony Generation 1 (MLP G1). However, these techniques can be applied to all other generations, including MLP G2, G3, G4, and even G5.

This unofficial MLP guide to the first generation of My Little Pony (known as G1) was created by Summer Hayes. The book provides everything a collector needs to identify G1 ponies and their accessories, and understand their value. The guide contains large, full color photos of every pony, playset and accessory released in the US (and in some cases in other countries) in the 1980s and 1990s.

More My Little Pony Articles

More Vintage 'Girl' Toy Lines

Girl toys from the 80s and 90s hold a special place in the hearts of many, capturing the vibrant and imaginative spirit of those decades. These toys weren’t just about play—they were about storytelling, magic, and adventure. Iconic lines like My Little Pony and Strawberry Shortcake enchanted children with their colorful characters and whimsical worlds, while Rainbow Brite and Care Bears brought magic and friendship to life with plush toys and animated specials. With their vibrant colors, catchy themes, and lovable characters, these toys are more than just relics of the past—they are cherished memories of a time when playtime was filled with endless wonder and creativity.

Produced by Hasbro, this gorgeous and extensive line featured colorful ponies with brushable manes and tails, each with unique symbols and names. There are many my Little Pony generations.

Originating from American Greetings, these sweet-scented dolls and their friends lived in a berry-themed world. They became a huge hit, spawning dolls, playsets, and animated specials.

Following the adventures of Usagi Tsukino and her fellow Sailor Scouts, the Sailor Moon series and its merchandise captivated fans with action-packed battles, enchanting transformations, and messages of friendship and bravery.

Launched by American Greetings, these plush bears each had a “belly badge” representing their personality. They became a beloved toy line alongside TV specials and movies.

Produced by Hasbro, this doll line combined fashion and music with a storyline about a rock band, featuring dolls with bold styles, accessories, and playsets inspired by the animated show.

As the sister series to He-Man, this Mattel toy line featured powerful warrior princess She-Ra and her allies, with action figures and playsets appealing to both girls and boys.

Created by Bluebird Toys, these miniature dolls and compact playsets became a sensation in the 90s, offering portable, tiny worlds filled with accessories and themes.

Created by Hallmark and produced by Mattel, Rainbow Brite and her Color Kids brought color and magic to playtime, with a range of dolls, playsets, and animated adventures.

Glo Worm was a beloved toy from the 80s that comforted kids with its gentle glow and soft, cuddly design. Produced by Hasbro, this charming plush worm featured a light-up face that would illuminate when hugged.

Created by Hasbro, Moondreamers featured enchanting dolls who lived in the Dreamland universe and used their powers to ensure children had sweet dreams.