In February 2014, I joined Hasbro Studios, initially expecting a six-month assignment after years of feature cuts. My task was to create original short-form content from Hasbro’s legendary library, including Transformers, G.I. Joe, and the shows I eagerly watched after school in the 1980s. Nostalgia was fully engaged.
However, my focus shifted to My Little Pony. The 13-year-old version of me was bewildered, but the 40-year-old version watched one episode, instantly recognizing its intelligence and craftsmanship. It began recommending it to every man I had ever worked with. One of them finally listened, and months later, he became the story editor for the feature film.
I transitioned from Strange Magic to Friendship Is Magic, and My Little Pony became one of my most proud projects. At Hasbro, we produced animated shorts for YouTube that significantly expanded the fandom. Some shorts garnered over 20 million views and introduced a whole new generation (and more than a few skeptical adults) to the franchise.
What was initially planned as a six-month gig turned into a five-year run. Hasbro proved to be an excellent workplace, especially for someone who grew up on Transformers and G.I. Joe. Below are a few of the shorts I helped create, spanning My Little Pony, Equestria Girls, and The Littlest Pet Shop …favorites of mine, and, happily, of the fans as well.
