Honestly, walking into a theater in late 2017 felt like stepping into a neon-soaked fever dream if you were even tangentially aware of the "Brony" phenomenon. It was a weird time. The show had been running for seven years, and finally, Lionsgate and Allspark Pictures (Hasbro’s film arm) decided it was time for the big screen. But before the first trailer even dropped, we got the My Little Pony movie poster 2017 reveals. They weren't just ads. They were a massive tonal shift that basically told the world, "Hey, we have a budget now, and we're not afraid to use it."
Most people forget how many versions of these posters actually existed. You had the teaser with the simple silhouettes, the massive theatrical one with the whole "Mane 6" looking over a cliff, and then the character-specific one-sheets that featured the new A-list cast. Remember, this wasn't just the TV show cast anymore. We’re talking Emily Blunt, Sia, Zoe Saldana, and Taye Diggs. The marketing team knew they had to sell this to parents who were tired of the "budget" look of the Hub Network episodes.
The Design Shift: Why the My Little Pony Movie Poster 2017 Looked So Different
If you look closely at the My Little Pony movie poster 2017 compared to any promotional art from Friendship is Magic seasons 1 through 7, the difference is jarring. In a good way. The movie moved away from the Flash-based animation of the show and jumped into Toon Boom Harmony. This allowed for more depth, better shading, and lighting that actually felt cinematic.
The posters reflected this perfectly.
Take the main theatrical poster. You have Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and the rest of the gang standing on a cliffside overlooking the city of Canterlot. But it’s not the Canterlot we knew. It was grander. The colors were saturated to an almost aggressive degree. The "Friendship is Magic" subtitle was notably smaller than the "THE MOVIE" text. This was a deliberate branding choice. They wanted to distance the film from the "little kid's show" reputation just enough to invite the general public in.
It worked. Sorta.
I remember seeing the teaser poster at a Cinemark. It was just the silhouettes of the six main ponies against a deep purple, starry background. No title. Just the date and a website URL. It was bold. It treated the property like it was Star Wars or a Marvel flick. For a franchise that started as a way to sell plastic horses in the 80s, that was a huge "we've arrived" moment.
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Character Posters and the Celebrity Factor
Lionsgate went hard on the character posters. They knew the "Mane 6" were already famous within the fandom, so they focused the individual marketing on the newcomers.
- Tempest Shadow (Emily Blunt): This poster was the standout. Deep shadows, a broken horn, and a look that screamed "I’m here to ruin your day." It didn't look like a pony poster; it looked like a gritty reboot.
- Songbird Serenade (Sia): This one was basically just a pony version of Sia’s iconic wig. It was peak 2017 pop culture.
- Capper (Taye Diggs): A bipedal cat in a world of horses? This poster caused so much confusion on Reddit and Twitter back then.
These individual sheets used a high-gloss finish and heavy rim lighting. It made the characters pop off the page. If you're a collector trying to find these now, the Tempest Shadow and Songbird Serenade posters are usually the ones that go for the most on eBay, especially the double-sided "bus shelter" versions.
The International Variations
Interestingly, the My Little Pony movie poster 2017 looked different depending on where you lived. In the UK, the posters leaned heavily into the "Adventure" aspect, using fonts that looked almost like an Indiana Jones ripoff. In Japan, the posters were much more "Kawaii," focusing on the friendship and bright, sparkling eyes of the characters rather than the looming threat of the Storm King.
It’s fascinating how a single movie can be packaged as an epic war drama in one country and a soft-focus friendship tale in another.
Collecting the 2017 Movie Art Today
If you’re looking to snag an original My Little Pony movie poster 2017, you have to be careful. There are a ton of reprints floating around. A real theatrical poster is usually 27x40 inches and "double-sided."
What does that mean?
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It means the image is printed in reverse on the back so that when it’s placed in a theater light box, the colors look deeper and more vibrant. If you buy a poster and the back is plain white, it’s a commercial reprint. It’s still cool to hang on a wall, but it’s not the "real" thing that hung in the halls of AMC or Regal.
The "Mylar" posters are even rarer. These have a metallic sheen to them. They were sent to high-end theaters for the premiere week. Finding one of those without creases is basically like finding a needle in a haystack. Or, well, a needle in a hay burger? Ponies eat weird stuff.
What People Often Get Wrong About the 2017 Marketing
A lot of people think the movie was a flop because the posters didn't lead to a $500 million box office. That's a bit of a stretch. The movie actually did okay, pulling in about $61 million on a $6 million budget. The posters did their job. They signaled a "New Era."
But there’s a misconception that the 2017 movie was meant to replace the show. It wasn't. The posters were designed to be a "side quest." If you look at the fine print on the bottom of the one-sheets, the production credits include DHX Media, which was the studio doing the TV show. It was a bridge.
Spotting a Fake or Low-Quality Print
If you're hunting for a My Little Pony movie poster 2017 online, keep these points in mind:
The official theatrical size is 27x40. Anything 24x36 is usually a poster shop reprint sold at places like Walmart or Target. Authentic posters don't have a glossy, "plasticky" feel. They are printed on a specific weight of paper that is meant to be rolled, not folded. If you see fold marks, it might be an "advance" poster sent to smaller theaters, which is actually kind of cool and adds value for some collectors.
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Check the billing block at the bottom. The text should be crisp. If the names of the producers and the legal jargon look "blurry" or "fuzzy," it’s a low-res scan. Pirates often just blow up a JPEG they found on Google Images. Don't fall for that.
The Legacy of the 2017 Aesthetics
The My Little Pony movie poster 2017 served as a visual blueprint for the end of the "Generation 4" era. It proved that these characters could look "expensive." It set the stage for the 2021 Netflix movie (A New Generation), which went full 3D.
When you look at that 2017 poster now, it feels like a time capsule. It represents the peak of a very specific internet subculture and the moment a toy brand tried to become a cinematic powerhouse. Whether you love the ponies or just appreciate good graphic design, those posters were a masterclass in how to rebrand a "soft" property into something that looked like a genuine adventure.
If you’re planning to buy one, aim for the "Teaser" version. It’s the most artistic of the bunch. It doesn't clutter the space with logos or actor names. It’s just the silhouettes of six friends against the vastness of a purple sky. It captures the essence of the franchise better than any of the "busy" posters ever could.
Finding Value in the Details
The actual credits on the My Little Pony movie poster 2017 are worth a read if you’re a nerd for production history. You’ll see names like Jayson Thiessen (the director) and Meghan McCarthy. These were the architects of the show’s success. Seeing their names on a massive poster next to names like Emily Blunt was a huge "we made it" moment for the crew that had been working on the show since 2010.
It’s easy to dismiss a movie about magic ponies. But the effort put into the visual marketing of the 2017 film shows that Hasbro wasn't just checking a box. They were trying to create a legacy piece. The posters are the most enduring part of that effort. They still look great on a wall today, mostly because the art style was so distinct from the "minions-esque" 3D look that was dominating every other animated movie at the time.
Next Steps for Collectors:
First, check local "antique" malls or stores that sell old movie memorabilia; they often have stacks of 27x40 one-sheets for $20-$30 that haven't been listed online yet. Second, if you buy one, invest in a UV-protected frame. The vibrant magentas and purples on the My Little Pony movie poster 2017 are notoriously prone to fading if they sit in direct sunlight for even a few months. Finally, look for the "International" versions if you want something truly unique—the French and German posters often have slightly different character placements that make them stand out in a collection.