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Description
Something inspired me to start drawing MLPs again...I'm not really sure what it was, though. Maybe something I saw on the Internet.

Anyway, anyone who's watched the original specials and TV series may notice how new types of ponies were introduced at various points. The rainbow and baby ponies were introduced in "Escape from Catrina", the twinkle-eyed and flutter ponies were introduced in the movie, and many different varieties were introduced during the "My Little Pony and Friends" TV series. These introductions, of course, were there to advertize the cartoons' toy counterparts, which were released around the same time as the special/movie/cartoon was aired.

However, there were a lot of ponies that never made a movie or TV appearance -- in fact, in many cases an entire variety didn't appear in the cartoons. Though I can see how impossible it would be fitting all of the ponies into the TV show, I can't help but remember how some pony designs started getting pretty unconventional towards the end of Generation 1's run...so unconventional that the writers might just as well have said, "Sorry -- there's no way we could make that work as a cartoon."

So here's a short list of just a few varieties of ponies that didn't make it to the cartoon.*

(And here's a short guide for all you young'ns who didn't grow up with these strange little critters...)

Precious Pocket Ponies: These ponies have raised symbols that form a little "pocket" attached to their side, and a tiny item is hidden inside it (attached to the pocket by a short length of string). They're innocent-looking enough in toy form, but if they were portrayed as living creatures...well, I'd think some of the ponies in the series would be a bit weirded out. (Secret Blossom, Strawberry Surprise)

Dance 'n Prance Ponies: These ponies have a flower-shaped knob (excuse me, brooch) on their chests. When you wind it, the tail whirls around, making them "dance" across a flat surface. My imagination may be pretty dried up, because I can't really see how the whole "huge knob sticking out of chest" element would make the transition from toy to cartoon. (Baby Noddins, Baby Cuddles, Songster)

Twice as Fancy Ponies: Ponies with symbols that cover their entire sides. There are actually a lot of ponies like this, but not all of them fall under the Twice as Fancy label (the yellow pony is a Sunshine Pony -- these ponies have hair that changes color in sunlight). (Sand Digger, Merriweather)

Secret Surprise Ponies: Larger-than-average ponies with a hidden compartment in their backs.** When you "unlock" them by turning the key in the lock on their chests (again with the chests!), the blanket-shaped lid on their backs will pop open, revealing the compartment. Even the backcard story (which describes the Secret Surprise Ponies enjoying a day at the beach) straight-up says that they have "hidden compartments" under their blankets. In other words, they're ponies with a huge freaking hole in their backs. How would that work? (Baby Yo-Yo, Baby Shaggy, Pretty Puff, Powder)

Cutesaurus: A Pony Friend -- a non-pony that still has the same look and symbols as a pony. There was a llama, a camel, a zebra, a giraffe...and a dinosaur named Cutesaurus. It makes me think that when the designers were working on these toys, they eventually just threw up their hands and said, "Ah, what the heck -- just throw a dinosaur in there! The kids won't care -- they love dinosaurs, don't they?" (Cutesaurus, Paradise***)

*All the ponies except Secret Blossom and Cutesaurus were ones I had as a kid.

**They also have tiny hearts in their eyes. Way to rip off your predecessors, G3...

***And when Ponyland's foremost authority on all things legendary and esoteric (as Paradise was portrayed in the original show) thinks that there's no rational explanation for something like Cutesaurus, you know you've gone too far.

Description
Something inspired me to start drawing MLPs again...I'm not really sure what it was, though. Maybe something I saw on the Internet.

Anyway, anyone who's watched the original specials and TV series may notice how new types of ponies were introduced at various points. The rainbow and baby ponies were introduced in "Escape from Catrina", the twinkle-eyed and flutter ponies were introduced in the movie, and many different varieties were introduced during the "My Little Pony and Friends" TV series. These introductions, of course, were there to advertize the cartoons' toy counterparts, which were released around the same time as the special/movie/cartoon was aired.

However, there were a lot of ponies that never made a movie or TV appearance -- in fact, in many cases an entire variety didn't appear in the cartoons. Though I can see how impossible it would be fitting all of the ponies into the TV show, I can't help but remember how some pony designs started getting pretty unconventional towards the end of Generation 1's run...so unconventional that the writers might just as well have said, "Sorry -- there's no way we could make that work as a cartoon."

So here's a short list of just a few varieties of ponies that didn't make it to the cartoon.*

(And here's a short guide for all you young'ns who didn't grow up with these strange little critters...)

Precious Pocket Ponies: These ponies have raised symbols that form a little "pocket" attached to their side, and a tiny item is hidden inside it (attached to the pocket by a short length of string). They're innocent-looking enough in toy form, but if they were portrayed as living creatures...well, I'd think some of the ponies in the series would be a bit weirded out. (Secret Blossom, Strawberry Surprise)

Dance 'n Prance Ponies: These ponies have a flower-shaped knob (excuse me, brooch) on their chests. When you wind it, the tail whirls around, making them "dance" across a flat surface. My imagination may be pretty dried up, because I can't really see how the whole "huge knob sticking out of chest" element would make the transition from toy to cartoon. (Baby Noddins, Baby Cuddles, Songster)

Twice as Fancy Ponies: Ponies with symbols that cover their entire sides. There are actually a lot of ponies like this, but not all of them fall under the Twice as Fancy label (the yellow pony is a Sunshine Pony -- these ponies have hair that changes color in sunlight). (Sand Digger, Merriweather)

Secret Surprise Ponies: Larger-than-average ponies with a hidden compartment in their backs.** When you "unlock" them by turning the key in the lock on their chests (again with the chests!), the blanket-shaped lid on their backs will pop open, revealing the compartment. Even the backcard story (which describes the Secret Surprise Ponies enjoying a day at the beach) straight-up says that they have "hidden compartments" under their blankets. In other words, they're ponies with a huge freaking hole in their backs. How would that work? (Baby Yo-Yo, Baby Shaggy, Pretty Puff, Powder)

Cutesaurus: A Pony Friend -- a non-pony that still has the same look and symbols as a pony. There was a llama, a camel, a zebra, a giraffe...and a dinosaur named Cutesaurus. It makes me think that when the designers were working on these toys, they eventually just threw up their hands and said, "Ah, what the heck -- just throw a dinosaur in there! The kids won't care -- they love dinosaurs, don't they?" (Cutesaurus, Paradise***)

*All the ponies except Secret Blossom and Cutesaurus were ones I had as a kid.

**They also have tiny hearts in their eyes. Way to rip off your predecessors, G3...

***And when Ponyland's foremost authority on all things legendary and esoteric (as Paradise was portrayed in the original show) thinks that there's no rational explanation for something like Cutesaurus, you know you've gone too far.