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{{work}}
[[Shout-Out]]s in ''[[{{TOPLEVELPAGE}}]]'' include:
== Mythology Gag}}s ==▼
* Nightmare Moon is trying to bring about [[The Night That Never Ends]], just like Tirac. However, while Tirac only seemed to be doing it [[For the Evulz]], Nightmare Moon's backstory establishes her as [[The Resenter]].
** Also, according to [[Word of God]], a hint of [[Brainwashed and Crazy]] as well.
* The Elements of Harmony combine to summon the Rainbow of Light. There's even more of a shout out when they're used to beat Discord. Complete with similar music and a [[World
* In the Pilot, the ponies have to cross a raging river and a rickety bridge to get to a castle, just like in Rescue from Midnight Castle.
* Rarity's butterfly wings in "Sonic Rainboom" and the Glimmer Wings toy ponies are a nod to G1 and G3 winged ponies, the Flutterpony toy line (right down to how they're notorious for having delicate, breakable wings) and the Breezies in particular.
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** Spike sending a photo of the ponies to Princess Celestia at the end of the opening is a reference to the ponies taking a group picture at the end of the G3 and G3.5 openings.
* Heck, the opening starts with a shout out to every MLP commercial and theme song ever written.
* Almost all of the main cast are amalgamations of G1 ponies from years [http://www.ghostofthedoll.co.uk/Toys_MLP_Year2.htm 2] or [http://www.ghostofthedoll.co.uk/Toys_MLP_Year3.htm 3] and [http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/12/24/my-little-non-homophobic-non-racist-non-smart-shaming-pony-a-rebuttal/ based on the personalities] that [[Author Appeal|Lauren Faust]] had given her ponies as a child. Someone put together an influence list [https://web.archive.org/web/20130211062914/http://www.determinismsucks.net/archive/My_Little_pony_Friendship_in_Magic_History-(n1290573491968).jpg referencing both the G1 and G3 ponies] that these were based on.
** Applejack is just a redesigned version of the original. She and Spike are the only copyrights that the creators were interested in using that Hasbro retained from the 80s.
*** Applejack being a cowgirl may come from Megan, the human protagonist from G1 who started off as a [[Badass Normal]] cowgirl (though she didn't have an accent or a hat and traded the orange/brown cowgirl outfit for frilly overalls by the time of the Movie).
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*** Her mother Twilight Velvet, seen in "The Cutie Mark Chronicles" and "A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2" as well as in the Wave 4 Blind Bags, is very clearly based on the G1 Twilight, who was intended to be the original main character of ''Friendship is Magic''.
*** Her father resembles [[Bilingual Bonus|Nachtlicht]], a [[No Export for You|German-only]] Pony from G1, a bit too much for comfort. It could be a genderswap [[Mythology Gag]], similar to how Big Mac resembles G3 Applejack.
*** In the first episode Twilight Sparkle gets invited to Moondancer's get-together. This is both a nod to the G1 pony Moondancer and a [[Development Gag]] on the fact that Twilight was going to have a variation of [http://fyre-flye.deviantart.com/art/Star-Gazing-Twilight-255836581 Moondancer's cutie mark]<ref>
*** Twilight Sparkle can teleport. In G1, Unicorns can teleport (they call it "winking in" and "winking out"). The first Unicorn seen to teleport is G1 Twilight, in the opening theme of "Rescue from Midnight Castle".
** Rainbow Dash is a perfect mix of [http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3159/2979803235_39d3cee117_z.jpg Sunlight], [http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhcoovylAV1qeuz19o1_500.png Firefly] and [http://mylittlewiki.org/w/images/4/46/Rainbowdashcartoon.jpeg her Generation 3/3.5 incarnation].
*** Background pony [[All There in
** Fluttershy was originally just SUPPOSED to be [https://web.archive.org/web/20120406053833/http://www.mylittleponynews.com/2010/08/g4-yellow-pegasus-name-revealed.html Posey] but Hasbro had lost the copyright on that name.
*** Her cutie mark however is a shout-out to the G2 Pony Sky Skimmer and her name is based on her Generation 3 incarnation.
** Spike being in love with Rarity may be a shout out to G1's Majesty, with whom the original Spike came with, and Rarity somewhat resembles (although really she's seemingly more of an amalgamation of [http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MdD8lH4Rf9o/TSl3Fwm50JI/AAAAAAAABM0/VqjIjM7VPa0/s1600/40366_140968312601707_128739440491261_258338_5630058_n.jpg Sparkler] and Glory from the G1 line).
*** Background pony [[All There in
*** Twilight's relationship with Spike mirrors Spike's with Majesty back in G1, especially in the British comics.
** Early concept sketches of Pinkie Pie were just straight up [http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6947/mylittleponysurprisebyf.jpg Surprise]. Her wings were passed on to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie was given her G3 color scheme, sans the mane and tail.
*** Pinkie's first word is "surprise".
*** Though it might be unintentional, Pinkie covered in flour in "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
*** Surprise herself may have made a [[Lawyer-Friendly Cameo]] as one of the Wonderbolts in the episodes "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
*** Its worth noting that the [http://ponibooru.413chan.net/post/view/74249 original Surprise]{{Dead link}} had somewhat greenish blonde hair and Pinkie's mother is white with green hair, though she's not a pegasus.
** Twist shares the name with a G1 pony, however it's probably coincidental. G1 Twist was an adult and her Cutie Mark was pretzel related.
** The 3rd tier characters Snips and Snails (himself a shout out to the G1 pony
** The twin ponies working at the spa are directly based on [https://web.archive.org/web/20110830054045/http://ponibooru.413chan.net/post/view/7606 generation 1 twin ponies] that were only available in Europe. They even have an accent to match!
** Most of the large stallions have unshorn fetlocks like the G1 Big Brother Ponies. Two of these large stallions are in fact big brothers, Big Macintosh to Applejack & Apple Bloom and Shining Armor to Twilight Sparkle.
* Celestia resembles the G2 Pony design, with a bit of the G1 Beauty Dream Pony thrown in.
* Cheerilee being a teacher is similar to her original unicorn version role in one of the G3 specials, notably ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20121114144300/http://www.hubworld.com/watch/610729115001 Crystal Princess: The Runaway Rainbow]''.
* The plot of "The Ticket Master" is near identical to a ''My Little Pony Tales'' episode (And the Winner is..) where one of the ponies wins a pair of tickets to a concert and has to choose which friend to take.
* "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
** In G3, Spike wakes up from a thousand year nap. In G4, dragons are mentioned to nap for one hundred years.
* "Winter Wrap Up" brings to mind the the opening theme to the the 1986 ''[[My Little Pony]]'' movie:
{{quote|
All in a twinkling spring is here.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
When did all the leaves and grass appear?
Where there were snowdrifts, now there are no drifts,
Nor is the sky overcast.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Winter is over at last! }}
* In one episode of G1, Wind Whistler had her wings tied during a race, like Rainbow Dash in "[
* [[Canon Foreigner|Toy line exclusive pony]] Sweetie Swirl, a [[Palette Swap]] of Rarity, is colored similarly to Rarity's G3 incarnation.
* The foal that Rainbow Dash rescues from the well in "The Mysterious Mare Do Well" has the same body color (and a near-identical voice) as Lickety Split, who had a musical number involving someone else trapped in a well in the original movie.
* "[
* In "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
** Fluttershy's character in the play is name "Pansy", which almost sounds like "Posey", the G1 pony Fluttershy was base on.
* The euphemisms and pony-versions of words characters use come from G1, mainly from European canon. Terms like "Pony feathers!" are the most obvious. Applejack in particular liked to use that term in the British comics, and her G4 [[Expy]] often uses it in G4 to.
* "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
* ''Party Of One''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s plot is unusually similar to a comic in the British G1 comics called "[http://ponibooru.413chan.net/post/view/115775 A Surprise For Surprise]
* Flower Wishes, Daisy's name from the toy line, was also the name of a G3 pony.
* The stunt that causes Rainbow Dash to crash in "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
* Bizarrely, "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
* "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
** One of the dragons, Garble, has the same color scheme as Fiery from G1.
* In "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
* A pony in "Putting Your Hoof" down - dubbed Valley Swirl by fans - has a blue mane, pink fur, lightning bolt earrings, and looks like she came right out of [[The Eighties]]. She seems to be a [[Shout
* "Pinkie Sense" is sort of like Pinkie's "Pinkie Squink" from G3.
* When Fluttershy is cleaning during "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
* Might not be intentional, but Princess Platinum's advisor is Clover the Clever. There was a G2 pony named Clever Clover.
== No Celebrities Were Harmed ==
* Rainbow Dash's idols, the Wonderbolts aerobatic flight team, are named after the [
** Similarly, the Shadowbolts' logo resembles the logo of the [
* Hoity Toity is a clone of German designer Karl Lagerfeld.
* Photo Finish is ''Vogue'' editor Anna Wintour.
* The manly tennis player pony ("Ace") in "Call of the Cutie" and "Luna Eclipsed" is based on Andre Agassi.
* The backstage manager at the Best Young Flyer competition ("Lucy") in "Sonic Rainboom" who later appears as a unicorn with a different cutie mark in "Putting Your Hoof Down" is based on [[I Love Lucy|Lucille Ball]].
* The ponies from [[The Hub]]'s [[Web Games]] ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131027184011/http://www.hubworld.com/my-little-pony/shows/friendship-is-magic/games/mlpfim-ponymaker The Fabulous Ponymaker]'' and/or ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120915112131/http://royalwedding.hosting-hasbro.com/fashion.html Rarity's Bridal Boutique]'' can [http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=330044987044590 look like] [[
* Mulia Mild's name, choice of career, and plummy voice are all based on Julia Child.
* The Royal Wedding of Shining Armor and Princess Cadence is a shout out to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, down to the red shirt and blue sash that Shining Armor wears and the timing of the episode (close to Will and Kate's 1st anniversary).
== Other Outside References ==
===
* Twilight's last name was changed from "Twinkle" to [[Twilight (
* The Cutie Mark Crusaders are suspiciously similar to the "Pre-Teen Sensations" from ''[[Are You There, God?
▲* Twilight's last name was changed from "Twinkle" to [[Twilight (Literature)|"Sparkle"]]. When [[Lauren Faust]] was [http://comments.deviantart.com/4/1603670/2216411631 asked] if the name was an intentional joke, her [http://comments.deviantart.com/4/1603670/2216416237 response] was "It passed legal."
▲* The Cutie Mark Crusaders are suspiciously similar to the "Pre-Teen Sensations" from ''[[Are You There God Its Me Margaret (Literature)|Are You There God Its Me Margaret]]'', even to the point that they are waiting for a physical transformation and are trying all kinds of irrational stuff to make it happen. The entire scene where they are deciding on a name is almost exactly how it happens in the book.
* The first outfit seen in the [[Costume Test Montage]] in episode 1 is very clearly the pony version of the Statue of Liberty. In a later episode, we see the statue proper in Manehattan.
* Pinkie Pie tries to guess who Nightmare Moon is. Her first guess is [[Rocky and Bullwinkle|"Hokey Smokes"]]. (She also guesses [[Black Beauty|"Black Snooty"]].)
** Nightmare Moon's exit from her first appearance in the second episode is a shout out to Maleficent's exit in [[Sleeping Beauty (Disney film)|Sleeping Beauty]].
** Even Applejack holding back Rainbow Dash from charging Nightmare Moon, even though it suits the two of them so well it hasn't been the only time, has a clear parallel in the same scene, with Flora (red fairy) holding back Merryweather (blue).
** Nightmare Moon's boasting to Twilight after {{spoiler|shattering the elements}} mirrors a line by Maleficent almost exactly. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYWVnvMTiBE See] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9ZPGVmeerM#t=15m44s for yourself.]
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* Luna is given a wreath of red and white roses, referring to the Tudor crest used to symbolize peace after the War of the Roses.
* "Ticket Master" includes a Benny Hill-style chase scene, right down to [[Suspiciously Similar Song]] version of "Yakkity Sax" playing in the background.
* "[[The Wizard of Oz (
* The bunny stampede from "Applebuck Season" is a shout out to ''[[Night of the Lepus]]'', a 1970's horror movie.
** And the shot of them swarming around the fallen pony is a clear homage to [[The Lion King]].
** And don't forget the line immediately afterward: [[Apocalypse Now|"The horror!]] [[Heart of Darkness|The horror!"]]
** At the start of the episode, Applejack asks Big MacIntosh "are you saying [[Top Gun|my mouth's making promises my legs can't keep?]]"
* In "Griffon the Brush Off", [[Genki Girl|Pinkie Pie's]] relaxed, easygoing hopping in pursuit of mega-fast [[Tomboy|Rainbow Dash]]
** Rainbow Dash's frantic running and facial expression also mirror the escape of the black cat who gets a white stripe painted on her back and Pepe's affection as a result.
* In "Boast Busters", Trixie refers to herself as [[The Adjectival Superhero|The Great and Powerful]], but is revealed to be a fraud, much like [[The Wizard of Oz (
** The same episode includes Snips and Snails making a ''[[Pinky and The Brain]]'' reference, and when Rarity demands for a mirror to see the mess Trixie made to her mane, she is mimicking The Joker's mirror scene from Tim Burton's first ''[[Batman (
** The shout out to Batman is even more powerful when you realize Rarity is wearing a purple dress, her face is white and her hair is, well, green.
** Twilight pacifies the Ursa Minor with a lullaby, created by blowing wind through hollow reeds. This could possibly be a reference to the [[Classic Disney Short]] ''[[The Old Mill]]''.
* In "Dragonshy", the music that plays during the preparation
*** ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' music takes on an especially humorous light seeing as the dragon's design from that episode seems to be based on [[The Hobbit (novel)|Smaug]].
** In just this episode, Fluttershy, and later Rainbow Dash, when startled, fall on their backs while their legs go rigid, while the sound effect of a goat bleating plays, referencing fainting goats.
** Also, [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer|Angel doesn't like Spike.]]
* During Twilight's [[Sanity Slippage]] moment, she suggests [[Blazing Saddles|building a replica of Ponyville in less than a minute]] in order to keep Princess Celestia from seeing the Parasprite carnage. ([[Word of God]] [https://twitter.com/M_A_Larson/status/208088592516513793 confirms] the reference.)
** Pinkie Pie, after she saves the day and hears about another parasprite infestation: "Well, [[Have Gun — Will Travel|have tuba - will travel]]."
* "Winter Wrap Up" has an ice skating scene similar to the one in ''[[
** Speaking of Thumper, that rabbit Spike's trying to take care of in "Dragonshy" might as ''well'' be Thumper; Spike's noggin learned that the hard way.
* "Call of the Cutie":
** Rainbow Dash tells Apple Bloom her cutie mark appeared when she discovered a "[[Top Gun|need for speed]]."
** There's a sequence at the end with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sitting around a table, with the camera mimicking the round-table shots that ''[[That '70s Show]]'' is known for.
** The title is a reference to "[[
*** It could just as well be "[[The Call of the Wild]]".
* Twilight's racing number for the Running of the Leaves in "Fall Weather Friends" is
** Someone on the animation team must have noticed that the combined number of points on all the stars that make up Twilight's cutie mark is 42. In an interesting turn of events, the (supposed) airing date of the first episode of the show, October
*** Hell, Twilight Sparkle seems to BE the number 42 embodied. She has 7 6-pointed stars on her cutie mark, which equals 42 points. Does that make Twilight Sparkle (Magic) the ultimate meaning of life, the universe, and everything?
** One thing that makes Twilight's number stand out is the fact that everypony else in the race has a number consisting entirely of 1's, 0's, and 8's? Why? Probably because they're [[Ambidextrous Sprite|symmetrical]].
* In "Suited for Success", Rarity's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSbXGsysAAk musical number, "Art of the Dress",] is directly based on [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uwV1Wf8tUo "Putting It Together"] from [[Stephen Sondheim]]'s ''[[Sunday in The Park With George]]''.
** "I vant to be alone," one of the lines Rarity shouts after locking herself in her bedroom, is a famous quote from Greta Garbo in [[Grand Hotel]]. She quotes it again (with Spike echoing it, to boot) in "Green Isn't Your Color."
** During the second fashion show, the background music features multiple shout-outs. In the beginning and end, the music takes cues from ''[[
** The opening shot of Rarity's house sure looks a lot like [[
* The entire sequence where Twilight was stalking Pinkie in "Feeling Pinkie Keen" was reminiscent of the old Wile E. Coyote cartoons. Complete with "scientific names" (Pinkius Pieicus), [[Amusing Injuries]], and assorted objects falling on Twilight's head, including an anvil and a piano.
** Early on, Twilight asks Pinkie Pie "What in the wide wide world of Equestria are you up to?", another reference to [[Blazing Saddles]].
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** What happens to Rarity's wings at the end of the episode is a direct reference to the [[Greek Mythology]] of [[Icarus Allusion|Icarus]].
* The "outside" bit is arguable here: in "Stare Master", Sweetie Belle makes the comment "who wants a hammer on their flank anyway". As a matter of fact, the Wreckers, the Autobot subgroup from Hasbro's other major property [[Transformers]], have a hammer over their usual Autobot symbols.
* In "The Show Stoppers", Scootaloo's failure to find a decent rhyme, frustrated "NEVER, NEVER!", and piano head-desking are lifted straight from Don Music in ''[[
** The outfits worn by the Cutie Mark Crusaders for the talent show make them look like the Misfits from ''[[Jem]]'' (another famous girls' cartoon from [[The Eighties]]).
*** The [[So Bad It's Good]] style of the CMC's [[Theme Song]] is also a shout out to the Misfits' musical style, that is off-key screaming metal of the 80s, a la KISS.
Line 150 ⟶ 147:
** The episode's plot seems similar to the short story [http://www.online-literature.com/donne/1041/ The Ransom of Red Chief].
** The name "Diamond Dogs" has got to be a shout out to the [[David Bowie]] album. The title song from that album contains the line "The diamond dogs are poachers, and they hide behind trees". When we first see the dogs, they are hiding in a tree and planning to steal the gems Rarity and Spike are collecting.
** In the cold open, the music is reminiscent of ''[[
** The music that plays when the girls try to get into the rapidly filling holes takes a few cues from the [[Rite of Spring]].
** Rover, leader of the Diamond Dogs, wears a red vest just like the Grundle King's from the 1986 movie.
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* In "Over a Barrel", when Spike walks off in a huff because the girls keep interrupting his sleep, Fluttershy calls him "[[Puff the Magic Dragon|Huffy the Magic Dragon]]".
** Made all the more bizarre by the fact that Fluttershy says it as if she's deliberately making the reference, and Twilight seems to get the joke.
** This is immediately followed by a gag used in ''[[The Emperor's New Groove
** The climactic slapstick pie fight near the end of the episode is almost certainly a ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'' reference, and Pinkie's dancing-girl outfit makes her look kinda like Lili von Shtupp.
*** Using pies in place of guns is also reminiscent of [[Bugsy Malone]].
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** Pinkie Pie's show girl get-up brought back fond memories of American Tail: Feivel Goes West, when Feivel's sister sings "The Girl You Left Behind".
** The climax beginning at high noon is a pretty standard trope for Westerns, but is possibly specifically a shout-out to ''[[High Noon]].''
* "A Bird in the Hoof" has Angel running around with a watch, and Fluttershy eventually remarks [[Alice in Wonderland (Disney film)|"I'm late! For a very important date!"]]
** It also has another "Yakkety Sax" chase-scene, with a ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' [[Scooby
** The scene where Fluttershy tries to get the bird to take the pill. The tactic of dumping birdseed over it, its manner of eating, and even Fluttershy's [[Breaking the Fourth Wall|smug fourth-wall-breaking look]] are all reminiscent of [[Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner
** There are a few moments in this episode inspired by [[Ren and Stimpy]], including a [[Gross Up Close
** The overall plot of the episode is reminiscent of the scene in ''[[Harry Potter and
*** Drilled in when Princess Celestia cheerfully states "lovely, isn't she?" and is still quite cheerful when everyone else is horrified, and is clearly enjoying [[
*** She even urges on {{spoiler|Philomeena to quit milking the melodrama and rebirth already, just like Dumbledore.}}
** And during Celestia's brunch at the Sugarcube Corner, right when she announces that she must leave because royal duty is calling, the scene looks very similar to "The Last Supper" from [[Leonardo
** The little green hummingbird Fluttershy brings in as a friend for Philomeena is [[Ernest Hemingway|"Hummingway"]].
** Pinkie Pie's introduction has her saying [[The Wizard of Oz|"Cupcakes and candies and pies, oh my!"]]
* In "Green Isn't Your Color", one of the photos of Fluttershy shows her in [[Winnie the Pooh|Eeyore]]'s signature slump.
** Pinkie Pie silently popping up from the apple vendor stand and sternly watching Twilight before eating an apple is a reference to [[Death Note
* "The Cutie Mark Chronicles" had a scene where Filly Applejack watches a pony version of the Statue of Liberty (linking back to Twilight's outfit in the pilot).
** Filly Rarity also (literally) bumps into a rock that resembles the black monolith from [[
*** This part also brings to mind the scene in ''[[The Road to El Dorado]]'' in which the main duo also come before a great big rock (Rarity's complaints about it have a similar tone to Julio's) after thinking that it led to their main goal (which in both cases, turns out to be true).
** Filly Twilight Sparkle tries to get accepted into "Princess Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns" and during the admission exam her magical power violently awakens, turning her into a huge danger for everyone and herself, until Princess Celestia herself manages to calm her down and offers herself as her guide so she could learn how to control her immense magical power. The entire scene is a shout out to [[X-Men]], with Twilight as Jean Grey, Celestia as Charles Xavier and the school itself a shout-out to "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters".
*** When Filly Twilight accidentally unleashes the full force of her power, her eyes go solid white, similar to the [[Avatar: The Last Airbender
** "There was no talking. There was no smiling. There were only rocks." Think that type of dystopian narration sounds [[Nineteen Eighty-Four|a bit familiar]]?
*** Also reminiscent of [[Gorillaz|Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head]].
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*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KbHprWiU7g Not just the princess movies.]
** The scene in which filly Applejack starts talking about farm life in her "proper" accent seems to be a shout-out to a similar scene in ''Pygmalion.''
* Spike spends a good portion of "Owl's Well That Ends Well" channeling classic [[Large Ham|comedically over-the-top]] [[Dastardly Whiplash|cartoon villains]], such as [[Dudley Do
** When Spike's looking for a new quill, one of the places he looks is in the shower, where Owlowiscious happens to be bathing. This is likely a reference to the [[Jean Craighead George]] book ''There's an Owl in the Shower''.
** The whole episode may be a reference to the 1970 ''[[The Pink Panther]]'' short ''Muff The Magic Dragon''.
** When Spike first sees him, Owlowiscious is looking outside and to look at Spike, [[The Exorcist
* In "Party of One" during her [[Sanity Slippage
** Not to mention that it "calls" Rainbow Dash "Chump!".
** The sequence may be a nod to the ''[[Ren and Stimpy]]'' episode "Hermit Ren", right down to the splotchy paint backgrounds.
** At the end of the episode, we can see Spike dance like [[John Travolta
* The opening of "The Best Night Ever" has Twilight channeling [[Cinderella (
** Of course, {{spoiler|after seeing how much of a douche her dream prince actually is, she [[Defied Trope|destroys the slipper]], not wanting him to find her.}}
** "I love to [[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney film)|whistle while I work!]]"
** The big song is a reference to "Ever After" from ''[[Into the Woods]]'' [[Fridge Brilliance|which is sung in the play right before everything goes south.]]
** During "At the Gala", Pinkie's fellow can-can dancers seem a little [[Michael Jackson|zombiesque]] and after Princess Celestia flies over Canterlot, it looks distinctively like [[Walt Disney|another company's logo.]]
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Kmct7PlyY#t=1m20s Fluttershy's bird-call] is lifted note-for-note from [[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney film)|Snow White]]'s song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j6HI_dno_U#t=1m22s "I'm Wishing"].
** Fluttershy's maniacal laughing and mentions of "my pretties" are a direct reference to the [[The Wizard of Oz (
=== Season 2 ===
* "Return of Harmony, Part 1" features a "[[Tay Zonday|chocolate rain]]".
** The rabbits suddenly growing disproportionately long legs seems to be a reference to the works of [[Salvador Dali]], such as "Elephants on Stilts" and "The Temptation of St. Anthony".
*** They're also quite similar to the Landstriders in [[The Dark Crystal]].
** Discord [[Actor Allusion|is pretty much Q as a]] [[Buffy-Speak|dragon-pony... thing]]. He even has [[Star Trek:
*** He also may be a bit of a homage to [[Powerpuff Girls|Him]]. A "silly" looking villain who excels psychological torture via [[Reality Warper|reality warping powers]] and mind games. Considering [[Lauren Faust]] worked on that show as well, it's a big possibility.
*** A possibility? He turns into a butterfly retaining his face to trick the yellow-haired/furred nice girl with a [[Speaks Fluent Animal|thing for animals]] into doing something evil!
***
*** The director [http://www.mlponies.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=179&p=71982#p71982 confirms] the reference. Apparently, Lauren Faust wrote the character of Discord shortly after a Star Trek [[Archive Binge|binge]].
** And towards the end of the episode, an enraged Rainbow Dash makes [[Donald Duck|threatening gestures]] towards Discord.
*** Her "Put'em up!" boxing gesture also resembles the one used many a time by [[Scooby Doo|Scrappy-Doo]].
** Discord dancing on Twilight's head in the stained-glass window: either he's doing the Running Man, everyday he's shufflin', he's a fan of [[
*** everyday he's shufflin' is unlikely, as the show was produced before the music video was released. Not impossible, however, it could have been a late addition.
** Rainbow Dash's {{spoiler|temptation to go "home" during a quest after seeing it in ruins is similar to the same situation with Samwise in [[The Lord of the Rings]]}}
*** It could be actually interpreted in another way too. She abandons what she should do to fly off to a city... in the clouds... where she knows her friends are in danger. Sounds [[The Empire Strikes Back|familiar]].
** Discord's [[Hypnotic Eyes]] are on loan from [[The Jungle Book (Disney film)|Kaa]].
** After the first signs of Discord emerge, Twilight has a spell that will [[Idiocracy|fix EVERYTHING]].
** Discord saying "Arrivederci" was [https://twitter.com/M_A_Larson/status/208432260335144960 inspired] by a line from ''[[Pee
* "Return of Harmony, Part 2" ends with an [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4wh4FnwiAg almost shot-for-shot] homage to the ending of ''[[Star Wars a New Hope]]'', complete with a [[Suspiciously Similar Song]] version of the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5N6_NWtVxY Throne Room] [[Tropes Are Not Bad|music]].
** The same episode features a musical homage to [[The Empire Strikes Back]]: Compare [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFp3E_Nz1iY&t=16m57s this] to [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaVz5djS26c&t=5m23s this].
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** One background pony making her debut in this episode has [[Visual Pun|a screw and a baseball]] for a cutie mark. This possibly hearkens back to the flag [[Daffy Duck]], drawn as a [[Mix and Match Critter]], carries in "[[Duck Amuck]]".
*** The whole of Discorded Ponyville, especially during Twilight's sorrowful walk back to the library {{spoiler|after being Discorded herself}}, seems to be an homage to [[Looney Tunes|Wackyland.]]
** "The Return of Harmony" as a whole [http://comments.deviantart.com/4/1603670/2209565004 is similar to] ''[[
* In "Lesson Zero", Twilight suffers from [[Sanity Slippage]] and starts [[The Lord of the Rings (
** When Twilight enchants her Smartypants doll, the Cutie Mark Crusaders say that "I want it," "I need it," and "I really like her mane." An [[Elvis Presley]] song is "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You".
** The skyline shots of Ponyville indicating the passage of time are accompanied by a loudly-ticking clock sound effect - possibly a reference to ''[[
*** Fans have also compared it to the ticking sun in ''[[The Legend of Zelda:
** "If I can't ''find'' a friendship problem... I'll ''make one'' instead!" sounds like a nod to the classic Christmas tale ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (
** One of the tunes late in the episode, when Celestia is talking, comes from [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s80vveaXhH4 The Kings Speech].
** Celestia's intervention right when her student's magic has gotten ''really'' out of control is ''awfully'' reminiscent of Yen Sid's saving Mickey from the enchanted brooms in "[[Fantasia|The Sorcerer's Apprentice]]".
*** Dash and the others don't see what the big deal is with Twilight...in other words, they think she should [[Memetic Mutation|deal with it]].
* In "Luna Eclipsed", Mr. and Mrs. Cake are dressed as the pony versions of Raggedy Ann and Andy for Nightmare Night.
** Background pony [[Fan Nickname|Sir Colton Vines III]]'s costume might be a nod to [http://ponibooru.413chan.net/post/view/74663?search=Jaws Jaws]{{Dead link}}
** The eye-shaped Nightmare Night decorations (such as [http://www.hasbro.com/common/assets/Flash/Creative/dad2af6e1c4311ddbd0b0800200c9a66/0f6b55af5056900b1013cd724a8d4018/assets/props/MLP_PropH_SauronBalloon.swf this balloon]) seen throughout Ponyville seem to be based on not only Nightmare Moon's eyes, but also [[The Lord of the Rings|the Eye of Sauron]] and possibly the eye of supervising director Jayson Thiessen's [http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenrusset/3363513218/in/photostream/ Golden]{{Dead link}} [http://goldenrusset.deviantart.com/art/GO-POTATO-261025936 Russet]{{Dead link}} potato character.
*** Heck, the .swf file for that balloon is even named "MLP_PropH_'''SauronBalloon'''.swf"!
*** The designs could also be based on [http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/706/ppgthemaneeventeye.png this guy] from [[The Powerpuff Girls]] episode "The Mane Event"
** While most likely a coincidence due to their similar moon themes, another [http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/File:Nightmare_Night_Symbol.jpg Nightmare Night decoration]{{Dead link}} bears quite a resemblance to [[Pokémon|Cresselia's]]
** Pipsqueak, a colt with a British accent (albeit a strangely sporadic one), is a possible reference to the character of Pip in [[Charles Dickens
*** Most likely unintentional but Zecora does call him [[Fallout Equestria|Littlepip]] at one point.
*** Also, being a newish, young character with a British accent dressed as a pirate and experiencing his first Hallowe'en-like event, he may be a shout out to the character Lumpy from Winnie the Pooh's Heffalump Hallowe'en.
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*** Twilight's costume also resembles the Sorcerer in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XChxLGnIwCU ''The Sorcerer's Apprentice.''] Apparently, someone at Studio B likes ''Fantasia.''
** Nearly the end of the episode, Luna comes out of a cauldron filled with green goo. Does this remind you of [[The Nightmare Before Christmas|anything?]]
*** Speaking of fanon [[Shout
** Pipsqueak saying that Luna and Nightmare Night are "Scary...but fun!" calls to mind [[Memetic Molester]] [[Pound Puppies|Niblet,]] of "Secret butt fun!" fame.
* "Sisterhooves Social" includes a line that parodies [[Gone
** Which doubles as a [[Shout
** Rarity and Sweetie Belle's parents are rather reminiscent of [[Recess|Spinelli's parents]].
** After Applejack and Applebloom drive sheep into a corral, one of the sheep says "You could have just asked" which is a reference to how [[Babe]] just asked sheep to go where they were supposed to, and they complied.
* In the bowling alley scene at the start of "The Cutie Pox", you can see pony versions of several characters from ''[[The Big Lebowski]]'', including Jesus Quintana, Walter Sobchak, Donny, and the Dude.
** One shot inside the Apple family's house features a painting in the background that looks like a pony version of Grant Wood's ''[[American Gothic Couple|American Gothic]]''.
** The statue that Applebloom carve is a direct reference to the Renaissance Italian painting [[
** After a chess-playing cutie mark appears on her, Apple Bloom plays, and beats, a chess-playing pony who looks an awful lot like the titular character of [[Pixar Shorts|Geri's Game]].
** Applebloom first discovers she's forced to use the talents the Cutie Pox gives her with a tap dancing mark, referring to the Hans Christian Anderson story "The Red Shoes."
** The part where Applebloom is diagnosed is awfully reminiscent of a typical ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'' scene, team and everything.
** The entire concept of ponies unable to control their cutie mark talents and one pony exclaiming Applebloom was "cursed" might very well have been a [[Shout
* In "May The Best Pet Win!", Rainbow Dash's wing becoming trapped beneath a bolder in a canyon is reminiscent of hiker Aron Ralston, who was trapped in a canyon for five days when a falling bolder pinned his arm. Thankfully, any similarities between the two stories [[Life or Limb Decision|end there.]]
** [http://www.fimfiction.net/images/story_images/9386.jpg Fans have noticed.]{{Dead link}}
** After first failing to supply Dash's need for an awesome pet [[Comically Missing the Point|with a bunny]], the next thing she brings out is a [[Looney Tunes|"puddy tat".]] Bonus points for being a yellow flyer, just like Tweety Bird.
** The musical number is [http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83445&view=findpost&p=1953006 inspired] [http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83445&view=findpost&p=1953008 by] the ''[[Doctor Dolittle]]'' song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10AMqdJUcFY "Fabulous Places"].
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** [[Batman]]'s Spoiler probably would like the rest of her costume, including her face mask, back.
** Alternately, Mare-Do-Well is a Ponified [[Cybersix]]! Spike's VA played the titular character.
** And the signs a few of the ponies are waving at the parade have the MMDW in silhoutte with a red
** Also music during chase scene right after bears resemblence to the opening theme of the [[Batman:
** Another Batman reference: The central plot of "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" is basically a ponified ''[[Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman]].''
** During the Rainbow Dash fan club scene, there's a poster in the background that shows Rainbow flying with a starry background and a rainbow streaming out behind her. [[Memetic Mutation|Nyan Cat]] reference?
** At a couple points in the episode, Rainbow Dash calls herself [[Spider
*** ''And'' she says [[Underdog|"There's no need to fear..."]]
** She also rescues the filly in the well with [[A New Hope|"I'm Rainbow Dash and I'm here to rescue you."]]
** The little filly. [[Lassie (TV series)|Down a well]].
** Rainbow Dash's first attempt to stop the runaway coach resembles Peter Parker's first attempt at stopping the elevated subway in Spiderman 2.
** The crane driver is an earth pony version of the pegasus foreman from "Feeling Pinkie Keen", who might look like [[The Flintstones|Fred Flintstone.]]
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** Twilight's awkward dancing at the Canterlot ponies' party mirrors a scene in [[Seinfeld]].
** The underscore as Rarity soaks Opal in water is a reference to Ravel's famous piece "Bolero".
** The design of the blimp that Rarity helps see off in her musical number evokes [[The Legend of Zelda:
** The overworked bellhop pony seems to be based on the Squeaky Voiced Teen from ''[[The Simpsons]]''.
** While [http://comments.deviantart.com/4/1453017/2307272367 most likely a coincidence], there seems to be an actual reference to [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ifjUihc9mLA/Tt3BrzhFm9I/AAAAAAAAWvQ/UqXbbQQqmsY/s1600/1.jpg various] [[The Nth Doctor|incarnations]] of the Doctor from ''[[
* The music in the cold open of "Secret of My Excess" is inspired by [[Fantasia|The Sorcerer's Apprentice]]. This music recurs several times throughout the episode, including a sequence when Twilight lures Spike back to the library by baiting him with a ''broomstick''. (No word on whether the broomstick was magical.)
** The re-shelving scene seems slightly similiar to [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfahp4J_-_o this scene].
** The scene where a giant Spike peeks into Carousel Boutique and grabs Rarity is heavily based on the famous scene in ''[[King Kong]]'' where Kong snatches Anne from her hotel room.
** The scene where Rarity's tears fly upward as she and Spike free-fall seems reminiscent of ''[[
** Twilight teleporting Spike back to her to clean his cheek. All that's missing are the blue and orange [[Portal (
** Spike's monstrous corruption after greedily demanding extra birthday presents is similar to the fall of [[The Lord of the Rings|Smeagol]].
** Applejack's line "Twilight, get my rope" [https://twitter.com/M_A_Larson/status/206946823976386560 is] [https://twitter.com/M_A_Larson/status/206947977338699776 a] [https://twitter.com/M_A_Larson/status/206948599895040001 reference] [https://twitter.com/M_A_Larson/status/206948801242595328 to] a Pace Picante sauce commercial from the '80s.
* In ''Family Appreciation Day'', Apple Bloom gets called "Half Pint" when wearing a bonnet. The same kind of bonnet [[Little House On the Prairie|Laura Ingalls]] wore- and her nickname was "Half Pint"!
* The scene in "Baby Cakes" where Pinkie suddenly sees Pound Cake walking along the ceiling may be a nod to, of all things, the film version of ''[[Trainspotting]]''.
** While trying stand up to make the babies laugh, Pinkie tells [[Steven Wright]]'s "Spot Remover" joke.
{{quote|
** Pinkie's line about how the crib is only for "sleeping, napping, and on occasion, with permission, a pretend old-timey Western fort!" appears to be a reference to ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "The Last Temptation of Homer."
** Pound Cake's abnormal strength and habit of pounding things seems to be a [[Shout
** The whole ep revolving around [[The Incredibles|a babysitter dealing with babies that sprout random superpowers.]]
* A part of the soundtrack of ''Hearth's Warming Eve'' comes from the opening of the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsmZeo1Tc9A Exodus]'' theme.
** The fire of friendship is a heart that looks similar to the background of the intro of ''[[Powerpuff Girls|The Powerpuff Girls]]''
* At one point in "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
** YMMV on this, but Pinkie's sudden obsession with 'Chimichangas' [[Trademark Favorite Food|might be a nod to]] [[Deadpool|another well-known]] [[Cloudcuckoolander]] [[Motor Mouth]] [[Deadpool|famous for Forth-Wall breaking.]]
** Rainbow Dash asks if Applejack met [
** The music playing through AJ's training sounded an awful lot like [[Bonanza|Bonanza's Opening Theme]]
** And the one during the Mane 6's search for Applejack in Dodge Junction sounds very similar to the Hammer Bros. theme from ''[[
** Everyone got the "Get outta Dodge" gag. U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon would often tell miscreants in ''Gunsmoke'' to "get outta Dodge [City]."
*** In a further reference to ''Gunsmoke,'' Cherry Jubilee looks like Miss Kitty.
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** The Flim-Flam brothers look a bit like Harold Hill from ''[[The Music Man]]'', and their big musical number is reminiscent of the song "Trouble".
*** At the end of the episode one of them even says "It looks like we've got trouble right here in Ponyville."
*** They also share a name with [[The 13 Ghosts of Scooby
** One of the background ponies has a [[Norse Mythology|Mjolnir]] cutie mark.
** Praying to Celestia that it is merely coincidence, but another background pony strongly resembles a certain pony from a certain MLP game that is not suitable for younger audiences.
* In "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
** But instead of leaving behind a bag of sand, Daring then decides to just yoink the idol & walk away, like Weird Al did in the opening scenes of ''[[UHF (
** The scene with Rainbow Dash bouncing the ball off the wall was taken right from [[The Great Escape]]
** Ahuízotl is the name of a Mexica hueitlatoani (emperor), and also a mythological creature from Mexica mythology: a dog-like creature with hands in its front legs and a hand on its tail.
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*** Likely a reference to [[James Bond|Ernst Blofeld]], who inspired Dr. Claw's (not to mention Dr. Evil's) preference for white cats.
** Right before Rainbow hits the ground, Pinkie Pie exclaims "Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi!", a la Alpha 5 of ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]''.
** The mental patient who sneaks out of a hospital to indulge in the latest hijinks elsewhere. Now, are we talking the barking pony, or [[The A-Team
* Pinkie Pie spends much of "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
** Cranky's snowglobe is clearly based on the one from the infamous final episode of ''[[St. Elsewhere]]''.
** One of Pinkie's guesses as to what the "C" in C.D.D. stands for is [[The Marx Brothers|"Chico"]].
** Pinkie Pie's [[Sesame Street
* The music that accompanies Iron Will's first appearance in "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
** The music that plays when Fluttershy {{spoiler|realizes her assertiveness has gone too far}} is almost exactly like [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d4C1ZQKmw4 The Lonely Man] from the ''[[The Incredible Hulk (TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]''. What is more, it plays as Fluttershy walks down a road slowly, away from the camera.
** Iron Will says "I pity [[Funetik Aksent|da]] [[Just for Pun|foal]]" at one point, a shout out to [[Mr. T]] and his [[Catch Phrase]]
** [[A Load of Bull|Iron Will's]] seminar is in the middle of a corn maze, which is a [[Classical Mythology]] [[Shout
** Fluttershy's way of dealing with Mr. Greenhooves overwatering her petunias just might be a reference to [http://youtu.be/Kd4jSTBhYDw L'Arroseur arrosé], the first comedy film ever made.
** Pinkie's haggling and later her handling of Iron Will when coming to collect his fee from Fluttershy [[
* In "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
** The music playing during her conversation with herself (both in the beginning of the episode, and when the same scene is revisited at the end) is a remix of "I am the Doctor", a piece of ''[[
* "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
** One of the teenage dragons resembles a [[How to Train Your Dragon|Gronkle]].
* In the episode ''Hurricane Fluttershy'', Spike asks Twilight Sparkle what a squirrel says. She says, "[[Sarcasm Mode|Do I look like I speak squirrel?]]". The answer is no, but [[Powerpuff Girls|Bubbles]] could, and [[Tara Strong]] voiced both of them. [[Lauren Faust]] developed both series, at this point the [[Shout
** Might also be a reference to the Emperor's New Groove, what with Yzma and Kronk's squirrel shenanigans.
* In Ponyville Confidential, Rarity asks Sweetie Belle [[Gaius Julius Caesar|"Et tu, Gabby Gums?"]].
* Do I really need to note what [[Sherlock Holmes|the hats Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle shared are a reference to? And let's not forget that pipe, either.]]
** It should be noted that the episode is actually more of an Homage to the [[Hercule Poirot]] novel ''[[Murder
** Donut Joe's antics as Pinkie imagines them are based off the [[James Bond (
* {{spoiler|The Changeling Queen's plot to take over Canterlot is similar to Ursula's plot to take over the sea in [[
** {{spoiler|The end of the fight scene between the Changelings and the Mane 6 resembles that of one of the shows Lauren [[The Powerpuff Girls
** {{spoiler|The False Princess Cadence's [[One-Winged Angel]] transformation into Queen Chrysalis seems to [[Sleeping Beauty (Disney film)|take a few pages out of Maleficent's book.]]}}
** The manner in which {{spoiler|1=the Changelings are defeated seems reminiscent of the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RHPmpOM_V8 Stardust film adaptation]}}.
== Other ==
* Even the ''advertising'' for the show gets in on this.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo This commercial] features "Equestria Girls", a commercial-exclusive Pinkie Pie song, which is a direct riff on [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F57P9C4SAW4 "California Gurls"] by [[Katy Perry]] (ft. [[Snoop Dogg]]). What's more, it ''actually'' makes shout outs to [[Fandom Nickname|Bronies]] and calls the disc-jockey pony from "Suited For Success" [[Fan Nickname|DJ Pon3]].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKjBViIt-y8 This commercial] features part of [[Meatballs|"Are You Ready for the Summer"]] as sung by Pinkie Pie, [[Dan Vs.|Dan]], and [[Transformers Prime|Megatron]].
** There's also [http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=244821235535321 this billboard] [http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/06/pony-billboard-sighted.html in Los Angeles] that is a parody of a billboard advertising ''[[Bridesmaids]]''.
*** That was followed by [http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/10/new-billboard-on-october-3rd.html a new ad on the same billboard] parodying [[Poltergeist (
** And in the vein of older iPhone commercials... [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p50-oWY1pFE There's a pony for that.] It even includes a pony for fan-blog [http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/07/high-quality-theres-pony-for-that-video.html Equestria Daily].
** And now there's a new ad parodying ''[[Mad Men]]'' in the [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lYppZHD4A6M/TwnP5Npti2I/AAAAAAAACTE/_MzEmNBOoOs/s1600/image.jpeg Los Angeles newspaper].
* The [[The Merch|officially licensed shirts and bags]] have a lot of shout outs. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111208185815/http://www.welovefine.com/product.php?id_product=905 This shirt] is inspired by illustrator Hajime Sorayama, and may also be a reference to [[Robot Unicorn Attack|something else]]. It should be noted, however, that the shirts by We Love Fine are not designed in-house by Hasbro, but instead by designers who specialize in pop culture, as well as featuring contest-winning designs submitted by fans.
* Pretty much any town or city mentioned in the show and/or shirts other than Ponyville is a direct reference to some location from mythology or real life. Canterlot is based on Camelot, Fillydelphia on Philadelphia, and so on.
** So that would make Ponyville based on Townsville?
*** Possible, but not likely, as [[My Little Pony G 3|the G3 version]] was also centered around a town named Ponyville. While ''[[The Powerpuff Girls|PPG]]'' is older than MLP G3/3.5, Lauren Faust was working on [[
* In the season 2 finale, Spike is shown playing with wedding cake figures of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. Guess which two ponies are going to be in an upcoming play set together?
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[[Category:Shout Out (Animation)]]
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