First off, be sure to check out the reveal for this one and full press release over here!
And check out the meet the voice actress video here.
Equestria Daily was invited to have a little bit of time with the big names from My Little Pony: Forever Friendship! Head Writer Gretchen Mallorie and Series Director Tayhan Mustafa answered a whole bunch of questions for us about the new show, along with how the planning went leading up to it.
My blabbering is a lot less interesting than them though. Head below to read all about the new big wigs behind the future of pony!
Answers from Gretchen Mallorie (Showrunner and Head Writer) and Tayhan Mustafa (Series Director)
1. When you first joined this project, what excited you most about helping shape the next chapter of My Little Pony?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
Firstly, getting to work on a brand that means so much to me personally is an absolute “pinch me” moment. It's such an unbelievable honor. And secondly, getting to explore the characters that have meant so much to all of us, through a new lens has been the most rewarding creative endeavor of my career, thus far. My Little Pony has always had a unique ability to create genuine emotional connections, and that’s something that has always been incredibly inspiring to me.
With My Little Pony: Forever Friendship, Tay and I had an opportunity to find ways to honor what fans have always loved about My Little Pony while exploring new stories through new perspectives. As a storyteller, that felt incredibly exciting. We weren’t looking to start from scratch. Instead, we wanted to celebrate what makes My Little Pony special and create something that would carry it forward for both longtime fans and new audiences.
2. Without giving too much away, what creative vision has guided this new series from the beginning?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
From the very beginning, we knew we wanted the series to be a story about the role that friendship plays in shaping our lives and how it can be such a catalyst in helping us discover who we are. Friendship has always been the heart of My Little Pony, but we were especially interested in diving deeper into how relationships evolve, how they challenge us, and how they can help us become the best versions of ourselves.
At its heart, Forever Friendship is about identity, connection, and finding your place in the world, all wrapped in a Feelings-First fantasy adventure that is deeply character-driven.
3. What kind of experience are you hoping audiences will have when they watch the very first episode?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
More than anything, I hope people are transported into this Forever Friendship world and it becomes a space into which they can escape. For me, that’s what great storytelling does. We see ourselves in the characters. We relate to their trials and triumphs. We learn from their struggles and walk away feeling empowered to face our own. This world means so much to Tay and I, and we know how deeply loved it is by fans, so we have really tried to keep that devotion at the center of everything we created. We wanted to give them a story world that was rich and compelling while honoring the timeless essence of these beloved characters. We also wanted to make sure that it was a world that welcomed new fans – so, it’s been a real balancing act. I guess our truest hope is that whether you've been part of the My Little Pony community for years or you're discovering it for the first time, we want that first episode to feel like the beginning of a journey you want to take alongside these characters.
I hope audiences laugh, cry, connect with the characters, and leave wanting to try to figure out what happens next.
4. Every My Little Pony project brings something new. What opportunities does this series give you that hasn’t been explored before?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
One of the things I loved about this project was the opportunity to create a new tonal space in which we could get to know who these characters are as individuals and collectively We really wanted to explore what makes each one unique – their strengths, their challenges, their perspectives – and then play around with how those differences shape their experience of friendship. Real friendship can be messy, and Tay and I were really inspired by the chance to position that truth as a storytelling north star.
Some of my favorite stories are the ones where characters get something wrong and then have to figure out how to make it right, and this series gives us a lot of room to explore that dynamic.
5. How are you approaching finding the right balance between honoring the franchise's legacy and creating something that feels fresh?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
We approached it with a lot of respect for the creative work that has already been done in the My Little Pony universe and for the fans who have kept My Little Pony close to their hearts for so many years.
The goal was never to recreate something that already exists. Instead, we asked ourselves what has always made My Little Pony so deeply resonate with people, which was friendship, humor, optimism, emotional honesty and the celebration of individuality, and then looked for ways to build on those foundations while creating a series that speaks to our audience.
6. What were some of the biggest creative challenges you encountered while developing a new My Little Pony series?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
The biggest challenge was probably also the biggest privilege: working with characters that mean so much to so many people. Tay and I are fans-first and we very much felt the responsibility of creating something new within such an established, expansive, beloved universe.
Fans have spent years connecting with My Little Pony, and we never lost sight of that. We wanted to honor those connections while still giving ourselves room to tell new stories and explore fresh ideas. Finding that balance was something we thought about every step of the way.
7. Without revealing specific plot details, are there any themes or ideas that became especially important during the writing process?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
We kept coming back to ideas of individuality, belonging, and the power of connection.
We all spend a lot time trying to figure out who we are and where we belong, and friendship plays a huge role in that journey. We were interested in exploring how people grow both individually and together and how feeling safe and connected to the ponies (or people) around us often helps us see things in ourselves that we might have never discovered alone. Friendship is an incredible catalyst for growth, and I think that is an idea we really tried to give these characters space to explore.
8. Will the writing be more focused on slice-of-life, small adventures, or a big overarching plot that will develop as episodes are released?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
One of the things I love about the format is that it lets us do both. The series is serialized, so character relationships, plot lines and emotional arcs build and twist over time, but it's also very focused on the day-to-day experiences that help those relationships grow. We wanted to give fans a long arc to follow, dissect and get excited about while still delivering accessible storytelling to our younger, newer fans.
The real throughline is the journey of our core cast and how their friendships develop as they get to know one another better. We’ve also added compelling new characters with very different perspectives that play beautifully against that backdrop
9. Can you tell us a little about the visual direction? What made you choose this particular art style for the next generation of pony? Were there any artistic influences outside of previous My Little Pony series that helped shape the look and feel of the project?
Answer: Tayhan Mustafa
Our goal was to create a visual style that feels fresh and expressive, with a sprinkle of sparkle, fantasy, and magical-girl-inspired wonder, while still honoring the warmth and charm people associate with My Little Pony. We wanted the design language to support the characters and their emotional journeys – feelings-first, full of magic and heart, and rooted in the friendship that makes My Little Pony feel like My Little Pony.
The series was developed by Hasbro's creative team in close partnership with Lil Critter Workshop, with a focus on building a visual language that feels inviting, vibrant, and full of personality. We wanted the world and characters to feel immediately recognizable to longtime fans, while still giving this new generation of My Little Pony its own energy, texture, and point of view.
The show also sits within the broader My Little Pony brand world. Artist Nicholas Kole created key artwork that helped inform the wider visual direction of the brand, forming part of the broader creative landscape that the series belongs to. But ultimately, we wanted Equestria to feel like a fantasy land audiences would enjoy spending time in. A version of the world that still feels alive with heart, discovery, and friendship.
10. How much does fan expectation factor into your creative decisions during development?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
Fan expectations matter enormously because My Little Pony has one of the most passionate and dedicated communities in entertainment. The love that fans have for these characters and stories is a HUGE part of what has kept My Little Pony thriving for generations, and it was important to us to find creative ways to honor that loyalty. .
We spend a lot of time listening, whether it's through online communities, social media, conventions, or conversations with fans, to better understand what resonates most. Their passion, creativity, and long-standing connection to My Little Pony have helped shape how we think about character development, relationships, and storytelling. Tay and I are also FANS, so we are constantly returning to our own love for this brand, these characters and the My Little Pony plots that inspire us as creators.
At the same time, part of honoring that legacy is allowing My Little Pony to grow and evolve. Our goal isn't to recreate what came before, but to build on it and expand on the emotional authenticity, strong friendships, and character-driven storytelling that fans love, while creating a new experience and story road that feels meaningful for today's audience. Ultimately, we see fans as active participants in My Little Pony's journey, and their connection to the franchise continues to inform our decisions as we shape this next generation.
11. Can you share what the casting process was like and what qualities you were looking for in the new voice performers for such iconic characters?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
First of all, casting these iconic characters was totally surreal, but what really stood out during the process was how naturally these performers connected with the emotional core of each character. They each brought something unique to their roles while still feeling like they belonged together as an ensemble.
Jenna, Kaya, Ava, and Kayla all bring an incredible combination of talent, warmth, and emotional honesty to their performances. What impressed us most wasn't that they were trying to imitate characters fans already know. It was how instinctively they understood who these characters are at their core. Each actor brings their own energy and perspective to the role while remaining true to the personalities that have made these characters so enduring and beloved over the years.
As we started hearing scenes come together, it became easy to believe in the friendships between these characters. There was a natural chemistry that made the relationships feel genuine, and watching those bonds come to life was one of the most rewarding parts of the process. I think fans are really going to enjoy the fresh but still utterly timeless performances that each of these performers brings to the world of My Little Pony: Forever Friendship. They have the most adorable, genuine chemistry as characters (and as people), and I can’t wait for everypony to hear it!
12. Looking back at development so far, is there a particular moment where the project really started to feel like its own unique My Little Pony series?
Answer: Tayhan Mustafa
There are so many things I can’t wait for fans to discover about Forever Friendship and the journey we’re about to go on. But one moment in particular that will stay with me is seeing the first animatic. Gretchen and I had spent so much time carefully shaping the tone, philosophy, world, character dynamics, and mythology of the series, and seeing the performances come together with Gretchen’s writing was where I could really feel all those elements starting to come to life on screen.
From the start, we knew this had to feel like its own unique chapter – a version of My Little Pony with its own voice, its own emotional journey, and its own place within the wider world of Equestria. Those are carefully built, so seeing the show come to life has been exciting – because it does absolutely feel new, while still feeling unmistakably My Little Pony.
13. What do you hope longtime fans will recognize in the series, even as it takes its own creative path?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
I hope that longtime fans will see that the heart of My Little Pony – its relentless hope, honesty and commitment to the philosophy that we are “better together” - remains unchanged.
The world may evolve and the stories may take new directions, but the things that have always connected people to My Little Pony – friendship, optimism, humor, compassion, and personal growth – are still very much the beating heart of Forever Friendship.
If longtime fans come away feeling that same sense of connection they felt when they first fell in love with My Little Pony, Tay and I will be incredibly happy.
14. Generation 5 skipped a lot of the side races fans loved from G4. Will we be seeing any of those make a return, such as kirin, bat ponies, hippogriffs, or other creatures?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
One of the things that makes My Little Pony so special is how rich and expansive the world of Equestria has become over the years. We know fans have formed deep connections not only with the ponies, but with many of the creatures, characters, and corners of the world they've discovered along the way.
Right now, we're focused on introducing our core cast and the world of My Little Pony: Forever Friendship. Equestria is a big place, though, and that's part of what makes it such an exciting world to tell stories in. For now, we'd encourage fans to come on the journey with us and see where it leads.
15. Will we be seeing the return of any fan-favorite G4 characters outside of the mane cast?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
We know there are so many characters from Friendship Is Magic that fans continue to love and celebrate, and Tay and I are always trying to find ways to honor that passion.
For this chapter, we've intentionally chosen to focus on Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy so we can really explore their personalities, friendships, and individual journeys. We are starting with a clear focus on these four poniesand the dynamic that is developing between them, but trust me, we are always looking to expand the world in ways that we hope will delight our fans. As the series unfolds, we'd encourage viewers to keep an eye out for more exciting Easter eggs and cameos to come.
16. What kind of audience are you mainly targeting with this generation of pony? Will it be filled with references that adults will love like G4 was, or will it be completely grounded in its own identity?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
The audience is intentionally multi-generational because that's always been one of the things that makes My Little Pony so special. We want longtime fans to recognize the heart of My Little Pony they’ve loved for years, while also creating an experience that feels welcoming and accessible for a new generation discovering these characters for the first time.
Our priority has been telling emotionally authentic stories expressed through friendship, humor, growth, and self-discovery, but this show has absolutely been written with fans in mind. There are Easter eggs, deep lore and wider myth, as well as long arc twists and turns aplenty. Though we’ve been very intentional about staying true to the warmth, optimism, and character-driven storytelling that fans have always connected with, we have also taken some big creative swings that allow Forever Friendship to establish its own tone and identity. Our hope is that whether you've been part of the My Little Pony community for years or are just meeting these characters now, you will discover something within this show that resonates, inspires and makes everypony want to keep watching.
17. What kind of technology will the ponies have access to in this new world? Are we going to see modern-day phones and social media, or a more G4-style low-tech world?
Answer: Gretchen Mallorie
We're keeping some of those details under wraps for now, but I will say that every world-building decision was made intentionally and with an eye to how those decisions would allow us to enrich the world and build stories that keep character at the center.
As audiences spend more time in this version of Equestria, they'll gradually discover how the world has been designed and how it keeps friendship, adventure, and personal growth at the center of the series.
18. Finally, when the series is eventually released online, what are you most looking forward to seeing from the fan community's reaction?
Answer: Tayhan Mustafa
One of the most special things about My Little Pony is that it means so much to so many people in so many different ways. It truly is a world people don’t just watch – they spend time in it, imagine within it, create around it, and carry pieces of it with them every day. That kind of connection is incredibly special.
For me, that’s what makes sharing Forever Friendship feel so surreal and special. We’ve thought so carefully about this version of Equestria – the characters, the logic of the world, the sense of possibility that makes My Little Pony feel so enduring.
What I'm most excited about is seeing what resonates with people. Whether it's a character they connect with, a friendship dynamic they relate to, or an emotional moment that stays with them. And, of course, I’m especially excited to see which pieces of the show spark deeper theories, creativity, and conversation within the fan community.
More than anything, I hope longtime fans and new viewers alike can feel the care in the series and find something personally meaningful within it. We’re excited to share this new chapter and see how the community makes it their own.
