The Harmony Unleashed Saga

***The Harmony Unleashed Saga*** (or the Harmony Unleashed Cinematic & Television Universe) is a comic science fantasy mixed-media franchise that is set on a fictional franchise-built universe since the YouTube Poop: TV Series. The series is a co-operation between Hasbro and Montalvo Media Group.

It is mostly based on the My Little Pony franchise by Hasbro, mainly Friendship Is Magic and Equestria Girls, and the YouTube Poop television series, which ended in 2013. It is an alternate non-canon metaverse spin-off of the My Little Pony G4 series. The film and television franchise is a satire of superhero action films with a mixture of comedy and action, and a combination of live-action and animation, revolving the themes of bonds with human and animal characters and the whole "Boy and his Pony" dynamic.

## Background

### First Harmony Unleashed

On the launch/rebrand from Toonami to NaruIchi97 Television, the relaunch was celebrated with a full hour special event called Harmony Unleashed for YouTube Poop: The Series, acting as a two-parter special event.

### Expansion from the Episode

At first, during the time YouTube Poop: The Series was still running, Lionsgate Television announced a telefilm called "Harmony Unleashed: Evolution" set for a Summer 2012 release.
The films started in 2012 after the production and development of Evolution, which, it was a successor to a scrapped YouTube Poop TV series special event, that was supposed to be its second installment. As of 2013, Aaron Montalvo was inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, X-Men film series, and the DC Extended Universe as in having spin-off installments that connect to the films' continuity and Dave Polsky will be the story consultant alongside Montalvo and Koichi Sakamoto as the film will consist of different directors for its spin-offs while Sakamoto helms the main course until Somber Awakening, with Chris Weitz, Mike Mitchell, Ridd Sorensen, and Aaron Montalvo set to direct future main course films.

### Crew

The set of producers who remain unchanged were Montalvo and Japanese director Koichi Sakamoto (Power Rangers, Kamen Rider) and Hasbro's Brian Goldner (G.I. Joe, Battleship), Stephen Davis (Equestria Girls) remained producers for the Guardians of Equestria arc from 2012 to 2021.

From 2012 to 2017, the first set of producers who worked with Montalvo were Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci, who previously worked on Hasbro-related media such as the Transformers films and Transformers: Prime.

Since their split, they have been replaced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay of Gary Sanchez Productions, which the latter was inspired by the visuals of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. They have lasted from 2018 to 2019, where they have gone their separate ways. However, despite this and the fact that McKay and Messick have made a deal with Paramount Pictures under Hyperobject Industries, McKay will remain as a producer, with Messick promoted to the main producer, but Ferrell won't produce despite being part of the cast as Night Light Sparkle.

Voice actress Tara Strong, who voiced Twilight Sparkle, will be involved in the producer's stable through her Taralicious Enterprises banner starting with Harmony Unleashed: Foreverlasting and Guardians of Equestria: Lasting Resort. Her husband Craig Strong and Modern Family writer Danny Zuker will join the franchise as executive producers.

Amid Hasbro's acquisition and usage of Entertainment One, and his interest in the franchise, Mark Gordon, as part of an extended deal with eOne through his (currently funded by eOne) The Mark Gordon Company production banner, will join the producers for the franchise starting with Harmony Unleashed: Between Light and Darkness and Bright + Butter.

On October 12, 2021, Goldner passed away due to cancer, two days after leaving Hasbro due to health reasons amid his cancer treatment. The last Guardians of Equestria film, Between Light and Darkness Part 2 - Harmonical Ascension will dedicate the film to Goldner. And Prince and Princess Harmony Jaeger will give Goldner a posthumous producing credit as he had involvement prior to his death. And starting with the Future Force Arc, Mark Gordon and former Allspark Pictures president Greg Mooradian will join Strong, Montalvo, Sakamoto, McKay and Messick under both deals with Hasbro's Entertainment One. New Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks will be the executive producer.

However, starting in future films, amid Hasbro's eOne being sold to Lionsgate and launching a new entertainment division under Hasbro Entertainment, Gordon leaves the producers team, replaced by Zev Foreman, who is joining Montalvo, Sakamoto, Strong, McKay, Messick and Mooradian.

Amid Hasbro's confirmation that Generation 5 of My Little Pony is a sequel to Friendship Is Magic, set to take years after the events of the series, Montalvo reorganizes its franchise into 3 story arcs of films and shows, originally meant for two arcs, a third arc is set to be "a priority" once the crew is borderline to the end of the Future Force Arc, confirming that the third story arc will be based on Generation 5.

### Distribution

#### Lionsgate Era (2012-2017)

The first film and the seventh-and-a-half/season premiere film of Alicorn Alter were distributed by Lionsgate Television. From 2012 to 2017, the films were distributed by Lionsgate, with spin-offs co-distributed by its subsidiaries such as Summit Entertainment (CDF, Humanitarian) and Pantelion Films (Harmony Jaeger). Lionsgate Premiere released the Guardians of Equestria Season 3 (Alicorn Alter) special event as a feature film for a limited theatrical and on-demand/streaming services on November 2015 after the television and home video release.

#### 20th Century Fox/20th Century Studios Era (2018-2021)

After the underperformance of Power Rangers and My Little Pony: The Movie, as well as their algorithm of 2D-only releases that made it financial failures (such as Hellboy 2019 and Kin), Montalvo decided to cut ties with Lionsgate as a distributor for Future Harmony Unleashed films, and later on, they plan to have Paramount Pictures distribute future films.
However, as Disney seems unstoppable box-office wise with 3D releases of tentpole films and buyout of Fox, Montalvo made a deal with 20th Century Fox to distribute the films under both the distribution of Fox and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, starting with Humanitarian Combat.

By surprise, with co-distribution by Fox, Netflix co-distributes the holiday special film of 2018.

#### Montalvo Releasing's Co-operative Distribution with Disney's Fox Studio (2019-2022)

In Fall 2019, After HolCom's film subsidiary HolCom Films is now rebranded into Montalvo Releasing and Disney's sudden change with the Fox division, it has been announced that they will make a deal with Disney to co-distribute films with Fox as well as being the main North American distributor while Fox and Disney's Buena Vista International label will distribute the film in Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia (except Japan, which the distribution rights will go to Toei Company and Bandai Namco Arts co-operating with Fox and Montalvo Releasing). Since 2020, as Disney rebranded Fox as 20th Century Studios, Montalvo and Disney still retain their dual distribution deal.

Amid Hasbro's acquisition of Entertainment One, starting with Cartoon Wars, eOne and Buena Vista International started a joint deal to work with Montalvo Releasing on distributing the film worldwide. eOne will co-finance the film alongside Disney's partner TSG Entertainment with Allspark as his aid. Later in October 2020, eOne and Montalvo Corporation strikes a multi-year deal to co-produce and distribute content from Hasbro-related and non-Hasbro related content produced by the latter company while bolstering its original content. For the franchise, the former company will continue co-financing and producing future films and TV shows, with joint distribution with BVI.

#### Montalvo Releasing's co-operative distribution with Disney and eOne (2021-2023)

After Between Light and Darkness, It has been announced that Fox will no longer work with the production committee as their co-distributor and their deal will end after the release of Part 2 or at the beginning of 2022. The distribution will shift to eOne in Canada, Spain, and the United Kingdom and Montalvo Releasing will still distribute while finding a new co-distributor for the US and overseas.

However, on January of 2021, it has been announced that Disney will continue it's co-financing (alongside eOne), home video distribution and international distribution deal with Montalvo Media Group alongside eOne. In a new deal, Montalvo Releasing will distribute the film in North America, while Buena Vista International releases the film worldwide, Toei Company releases it in Japan and eOne will distribute future films in the United Kingdom and Spain alongside Disney's BVI. It also continues Buena Vista's home video distribution deal with Montalvo Media Group (except for the Humanoidverse, which will now be handled by Universal Home Entertainment amid their deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and eOne).

In Summer 2023, amid Hasbro sold eOne's film and TV business to former film series distributor Lionsgate, distribution rights for future films in the UK and Spain will be transferred to Disney through BVI. However, despite the creator's pessimistic future towards the franchise amid Hasbro selling eOne, Hasbro launched a new entertainment division, reviving Hasbro Entertainment, and will be involved in the series with Zev Foreman joining the producers team, while for MontalVerse Productions, former Hasbro Studios president Stephen Davis will be producer for both Humanoidverse and Harmony Unleashed Saga and becomes an executive producer alongside HE president Olivier Dumont.

### Cable & Streaming Deals

The cable rights were helmed by Montalvo Television Networks (fka AM-Networks and HolCom Networks) under licenses from Lionsgate as if he feels like the universe won't be consistently connected with other channels such as HBO and Epix, who has both Summit and Lionsgate separated from each other through the network's deals. The rights are still in Montalvo Television Networks indefinitely for the time being, but the cable rights will be set to air as second-run on channels such as Showtime, HBO, FX, TNT, AMC, etc.

In 2019, In the wake of the streaming wars, Montalvo, HolCom Networks, and Netflix approached into a deal to purchase the first-run streaming rights to the franchise's television shows and upcoming films, as well as having exclusive streaming rights to past films expanding the deal for future HU films to be in HCN Premium while all films will be streaming on HCN+ and Netflix.

In the wake of NBCUniversal's theatrical and on-demand distribution announcement and the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney and Montalvo Releasing announce the Premium video-on-demand release for a Harmony Unleashed film two weeks after a theatrical release with Harmony Unleashed: Foreverlasting, set for an April 3rd release on iTunes, Prime Video and other on-demand platforms. And later, on May 15 on Netflix and HCN+.

As a boost for financial gain due to theatres still closed due to COVID-19, MontalVue will release ​Harmony Unleashed (ft. Any Cartoon Involved): Cartoon Wars with a premium fee as part of its VIP-OD brand (as a 90-day premium rental) on September 18, 2020 until December 6, 2020, which it's now free for all MontalVue subscribers. It followed by The Harmony Unleashed Saga, now released in the same day in both theatres and MontalVue VIP-OD, and will be free for all tiers in April of 2021. Next one, under a new deal similar to Warner Bros. releasing their film slate in both theatres and HBO Max, Harmony Unleashed: Between Light and Darkness, the final film of the saga, will be having both parts be released in theatres and simultaneously on Montalvo VIP-OD.

In 2022, amid the international distribution rights going to DIsney in partnership with Montalvo (and literal acquisitions), Disney Streaming is set to have the films under a pay-2 window after it leaves Netflix. In addition to the films, starting with the Future Force arc, Disney Streaming will assume international distribution rights with Hasbro's eOne for MontalVue Originals, including Harmony Unleashed: Future Force and "Production" limited event series, as well as set to co-produce sister shows for Disney+ and Star+. With the deal, Montalvo Originals will go for the Miniseries, Sister Shows (in the United States and Canada only) and Mainline series, Disney+ and Star+ will go to the live-action sister series outside of North America and Netflix will handle the animated series with Guardians of Equestria Re-Animated and a future Ivanna/Flurry Heart anime companion series worldwide.

Starting with the Future Force Arc, the films will have an exclusive theatrical release for 2 and a half months, followed by a release on MontalVue, and then a streaming release on Netflix, DIsney+ and Hulu.

In Latin America, The Harmony Unleashed Saga is streaming through Netflix and later in 2020, MontalVue. In 2021, Disney has signed a deal with Montalvo Media Group and Hasbro to bring the Harmony Unleashed Saga (films and series) to Star+ prior to launch amid Disney buying non-Disney rights to films and shows such as Ted, Saw, Outlander, Deadly Class and SWAT. In most parts of the world, the first-run streaming rights for the film is owned by Netflix and MontalVue, one of Montalvo's media partners and later, Hulu in the United States, Disney+ worldwide and Star+ in Latin America for the second-run rights.

## YouTube Poop: The Series Special Episodes

 2
 3

## Film Slate

### Feature Films

*Main article: List of Harmony Unleashed Saga films*

## Other Media

### Aftershow

Since 2014, a live talk aftershow named "Harmony Unleashed: Guardians' Aftermath" is airing on HCNPlay (since 2014 as AMStream) and HCN+ (since 2019), as similar to AMC's Talking Dead and WWE's After Total Divas. The show is hosted by Tara Strong, known for Twilight Sparkle's voice and she discuss episodes of Guardians of Equestria, as well as future episodes of future seasons and Netflix shows with guests. Strong, Craig Strong, Danny Zuker, Brian Goldner, Stephen Davis, Aaron Montalvo, and Koichi Sakamoto are set as the executive producers of the show.

### Equestria Strikers

A manga adaptation named "Equestria Strikers" illustrated by Kana Ishida and written by Riku Sanjo is published by Shueisha's Jump Square on March 2015 and Aaron Montalvo is set as story supervisor and executive producer. The manga is published by Hollowfox Book Media and Yen Press in cooperation with Hasbro. The manga series is considered canon to the films and shows but in a separate continuity.

### Manga adaptations of Films

Shueisha and Hollowfox, in partnership with Bandai and Hasbro, were commissioning manga adaptations of the feature films since 2017. Montalvo is supervising the series, Akira Amano and Akira Himekawa are set to be character designers while the translation from the films will be provided by Riku Sanjo and Yuichiro Kido and the designs illustrated and adapted by Natsuo Sai.

Viz Media publishes the adaptations worldwide.

### Crossovers

#### CrossMore vs. Harmony Unleashed: Multiversal Siege

An intercompany crossover anime miniseries event between the CrossMore Universe and The Harmony Unleashed Saga is in the works for 2023, commemorating the 40th Anniversary of My Little Pony, the 100th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company and the CrossMore Universe's 5th Anniversary.

The series is set to stream between Disney+ and Crunchyroll, as a co-production between Disney, Crunchyroll, Montalvo Media Group, Hasbro's Entertainment One and Toei Animation, with animation developed by Wit Studio and Toei Animation. The anime's title will be "Multiversal Siege" with direction by Masashi Koizuka and Ryota Nakamura.

It will also have side story and prequel comics by IDW Publishing and a collaboration with mobile game CrossMore D3.

### Games

#### Harmony Unleashed Saga: Harmonical Fighters

Bandai Namco Entertainment announced that a videogame from the franchise is in development with Bandai Namco Entertainment are set as publishers, Hasbro Gaming and A.M. Games as distributors and Bandai Namco Studios and CyberConnect2 as developers (with additional development from Eighting). It is intended to be an 3D fighting game in the style of Tekken, Marvel vs. Capcom, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle and Dissidia Final Fantasy.

It is released in the arcades (through the Namco System 357 arcade board) in 2017 with a home release (PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam) released later that year. A remastered "complete" version for the game is released for PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X and S around November of 2020.

#### Harmony Unleashed: Guardian Impact

In 2019, Bandai Namco Entertainment and Hollowfox Entertainment (through its gaming subsidiary Midoringo Enterprises), alongside Hasbro, announced a new action game for the Harmony Unleashed Saga developed by PlatinumGames Inc. and Bandai Namco Studios with game direction by Makoto Okazaki, character designs by Akira Himekawa and Matt Boismier and story written by Aaron Montalvo, Michael Waldron, Ian Flynn, G.M. Berrow and Dave Polsky with additional Japanese writers Shiro Maekawa and Etsu Tamari, It is set to be an action/adventure beat-em-up/hack and slash game that tells a story within the Harmony Unleashed saga with a new story taking place before the events of Between Light and Darkness. (although there will be some flashbacks in the game and future story campaigns yet to come after launch)

It will be set to be on next-gen consoles through PlayStation 4 & 5, Nintendo Switch, XBOX Series X/Series S and XBOX One as well as PC, Mac and Linux (through services such as Steam, GOG and Epic Games Store) and through gaming streaming services such as Google Stadia, PlayStation Now and XBOX/PC Game Pass. It is confirmed for a Holiday 2022 release (as shown on the Game Awards), later set for a December 21, 2022 release.

#### Harmony Unleashed: A Guardian's Fight

A fighting game has been announced and shown on "Summer Game Fest", being a separate entity from Harmonical Fighters and being set as a 2.5 fighting game developed by Arc System Works (through the gameplay and graphic style of Battle Fantasia instead of Guilty Gear Xrd/Strive and Dragon Ball FighterZ) and Eighting and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

It is set to release on consoles for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, XBOX Series X, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Stadia in May 2022.

##### Harmony Unleashed: The Guardianspective Journey

At the Game Awards 2021, a surprise reveal during the "Guardian Project" reveal of A Guardian's Fight and Guardian Impact is confirmed to be a 2D sprite-styled beat-em-up/platforming action adventure game developed by WayForward and Inti Creates and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It will be a retelling of the Guardians of Equestria Saga through a platformer style beat-em-up brawler game with separate stories such as the Boy and Pony/Guardians Story, The Humanitarian Story, The Dark Team Story, and the Pegasister Rangers Story, as similar to Sonic Heroes.

It will be released on consoles for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, XBOX One/Series X and S as well as computer platforms through Steam and Epic Games Store (for Windows, Linux and Mac OS) and cloud gaming streaming services such as Stadia, GeForce, PlayStation Now and XBOX Cloud Gaming in July 2022.