This episode was the best Hearth's Warming episode for me so far, it captures the spirit and magic of Christmas perfectly and it chooses to retell A Christmas Carol by the eyes of Starlight, which definitely made things interesting. It is a musical episode, but the songs fit in the story and don't hurt the pacing, plus they're awesome, principally the This Day Aria lookalike that Starlight sang while making the spell and Luna's one. There is an obvious lead here; but except for Fluttershy and Rarity, all of the characters have their moment to shine and, while not revolutionary, this is a really well made "feel good" episode.
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (TV Series)
A Hearth's Warming Tail (2016)
User Reviews
Review this title5 Reviews
Much better than the last one!
ericstevenson14 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I know what you're thinking. "A Christmas Carol" adaptation has been done too many times to list, but they actually do something different here. It's actually Twilight reading a story to Starlit Glimmer that shows the Christmas Carol story. It's great how they use the actual holiday for themselves, Hearth's Warming Eve. I will admit that it's pretty weird how they aired this in May. It's nowhere near Christmas! This is still certainly worth checking out. I am quite surprised Twilight didn't appear as the Ghost Of Christmas Yet To Come, or in the story at all! It was a true delight when Princess Luna appeared in probably one of her best roles yet.
I was disappointed that there was no Marley character in this. It's still a faithful retelling. There were some comics that were done like this. It was retellings of stories with the Mane 6 in the roles. The setup is great and the animation is as wonderful as ever. It's great to see all the characters singing in the first two minutes. Really early Christmas present? ***1/2 out of ****.
I was disappointed that there was no Marley character in this. It's still a faithful retelling. There were some comics that were done like this. It was retellings of stories with the Mane 6 in the roles. The setup is great and the animation is as wonderful as ever. It's great to see all the characters singing in the first two minutes. Really early Christmas present? ***1/2 out of ****.
Charles Dickens 'My Little Pony' style
TheLittleSongbird11 March 2021
Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' is a timeless festive classic that has been adapted a number of times with mostly good success (only don't care for two). It has been condensed in just over 20 minutes more than once in animation, prime examples being Disney's 'Mickey's Christmas Carol' (a childhood favourite) and the underrated 'Peter Pan and the Pirates' episode "Hook's Christmas" and very well in both cases. Was very interested in what this show would do with the story.
'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' on the most part adapts and condenses this amazing story incredibly well, in what is by far the best holiday themed episode of the show and one of the high points of the inconsistent Season 6 by quite some way. Also a huge improvement over the disappointing "Newbie Dash". Is there much new to it? No, as the premise is an old one. This is a case of that not mattering, considering how fully investable it is emotionally (in my view) and its entertainment value.
"A Hearth's Warming Tail" does get a little rushed towards the end with how much content there was and a little more time could have been dedicated to the resolution.
However, "A Hearth's Warming Tail" is one of the season's best looking episodes. Possibly either a close second to "Gauntlet of Fire" or a tie between those two, not just because of the vibrant colours and the backgrounding but also the imaginative visuals on the spirits and how the ponies look in their Victorian period garb. The music, in the first "musical" episode of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' episode since Season 5's "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" is also amazing, with "Luna's Future" being a very strong contender for the best song of the season (a mixed bag when it came to its songs).
The writing has humour (and tasteful and amusing humour this time, not what was seen in "Newbie Dash"), poignant emotion (without being too sentimental which it could easily have been) and intrigue. Spike, Season 6 has done a great job with him so far (while this season overall was one of the show's weakest, it was also one of Spike's stronger seasons characterisation wise), even has a great line when he reminds Starlight of her actions before her reform. Anything with a telling stories within a story structure immediately intrigues, and "A Hearth's Warming Tail" does such a great job having enough of the story's primary details, keeping true to the spirit of both 'A Christmas Carol' and of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' and being cohesive despite being condensed. There is a lot of charm here and the emotion is also present, while it's rushed towards the end the ending is also quite touching and heart-warming.
Characters are spot on, Starlight was a great choice for the Scrooge of the tale because it mirrors what she was like in Season 5 and her development to how she is in this season onwards. It took me time to get used to and accept her 180 personality when the reform was so rushed in Season 5's finale, but she started to grow on me here and it was great to see some sign of her old self (if not as evil). Twilight is compassionate and well-intentioned, truer to character than she was in "No Second Prances" and the episode handles the spirits imaginatively. The character interaction all round is spot on. As is the voice acting.
In summary, a great episode and one of the season's best by quite some way. 9/10
'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' on the most part adapts and condenses this amazing story incredibly well, in what is by far the best holiday themed episode of the show and one of the high points of the inconsistent Season 6 by quite some way. Also a huge improvement over the disappointing "Newbie Dash". Is there much new to it? No, as the premise is an old one. This is a case of that not mattering, considering how fully investable it is emotionally (in my view) and its entertainment value.
"A Hearth's Warming Tail" does get a little rushed towards the end with how much content there was and a little more time could have been dedicated to the resolution.
However, "A Hearth's Warming Tail" is one of the season's best looking episodes. Possibly either a close second to "Gauntlet of Fire" or a tie between those two, not just because of the vibrant colours and the backgrounding but also the imaginative visuals on the spirits and how the ponies look in their Victorian period garb. The music, in the first "musical" episode of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' episode since Season 5's "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" is also amazing, with "Luna's Future" being a very strong contender for the best song of the season (a mixed bag when it came to its songs).
The writing has humour (and tasteful and amusing humour this time, not what was seen in "Newbie Dash"), poignant emotion (without being too sentimental which it could easily have been) and intrigue. Spike, Season 6 has done a great job with him so far (while this season overall was one of the show's weakest, it was also one of Spike's stronger seasons characterisation wise), even has a great line when he reminds Starlight of her actions before her reform. Anything with a telling stories within a story structure immediately intrigues, and "A Hearth's Warming Tail" does such a great job having enough of the story's primary details, keeping true to the spirit of both 'A Christmas Carol' and of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' and being cohesive despite being condensed. There is a lot of charm here and the emotion is also present, while it's rushed towards the end the ending is also quite touching and heart-warming.
Characters are spot on, Starlight was a great choice for the Scrooge of the tale because it mirrors what she was like in Season 5 and her development to how she is in this season onwards. It took me time to get used to and accept her 180 personality when the reform was so rushed in Season 5's finale, but she started to grow on me here and it was great to see some sign of her old self (if not as evil). Twilight is compassionate and well-intentioned, truer to character than she was in "No Second Prances" and the episode handles the spirits imaginatively. The character interaction all round is spot on. As is the voice acting.
In summary, a great episode and one of the season's best by quite some way. 9/10
My Little Pony Adaptation Of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
rebeccaajclarke5 November 2022
I find A Hearth's Warming Tail (2016) is very good, Because it is a My Little Pony Adapation of A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens, It is about the miserable miser called Snowfall Frost, Who is portrayed by Starlight Glimmer and it is a Pony equivalent to Ebenezer Scrooge, Who is visiting by three spirits, The Spirit of Hearth's Warming Past, Who is Portrayed By Applejack, The Spirit of Hearth's Warming Present, Who is Portrayed By Pinkie Pie, and The Spirit Of Hearth's Warming Yet To Come, Who is Portrayed By Princess Luna to change her selfish ways, and She became a pleasant mare at Hearth's Warming, I'm giving this Pony version of Charles Dickens' Classic a 10/10 and Merry Christmas.
Only one Thing ... TOO MUTCH Starlighrt...
baronmlp15 May 2016
i watch the show sice 2010 and well it was great to season 5 but now.. in season 6 you become stalight pressed on the face, and there is one problem and this is S 6 E 1-2 Starlight S6 E5-6 Starligt S6 E 8 Starlight Sorry if this remain i stop watching the series that to Mutch! Well hope somebody understand me its the same when the mostly hated Pony Rarity have a season for herself And thats not nice because you have important questions like Scootaloo Parants Applejack Parrents etc but the s*** in my face with starlight. thats way to mutch and for all who don't see that hasbro kills the Show give it a like Not againt starlight but from 8 Episodes she is Main at 4 that makes 5ß% and thats Way To mutch to have fun by Watching that siries the old season i will watch but the new ar S***
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
