History Trivia / JourneyOfTheSpark

* CreatorBreakdown: Imaishi ceased production of the film due to stress and health issues, in part caused by malicious rumors spread about the crew's legal entanglements with Hasbro. Repeated brushes with the show's FanDumb over the film's cancellation only further alienated Imaishi from the fandom and the show itself, to the point where she effectively disowned the project. It was later placed in the hands of the film's voice director David Doyle, who is expected to release the project as an episodic audio drama instead.

* TheOtherMarty: Several actors have signed on and dropped out of the project mid-production, most notably Jenny Nicholson of ''WebVideo/FriendshipIsWitchcraft'' fame, who was replaced by ''WebAnimation/DoubleRainboom'''s Emily Koch as Rainbow Dash.

* CreatorBreakdown: Imaishi ceased production of the movie due to stress and health issues, in part caused by malicious rumors spread about the crew's legal entanglements with Hasbro. It was later placed in the hands of the movie's voice director David Doyle, who will be releasing the movie as an episodic audio drama instead.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: ''Journey of the Spark'' was most notably intended as a feature-length animated FanFilm, with several storyboards, concept artwork, and even completed animation made public. However, [[CreatorBreakdown Imaishi broke down]] late in production and left it in the hands of the rest of the creative team, who intend to keep the story alive as an audio drama. However, the potential doesn't end there:

** The film was planned to be its own GrandFinale to the show based on the first two seasons in order to attract more than just the PeripheryDemographic of the show. The team later felt that doing so would confuse newcomers freshly going into the series, and thus placed the film between seasons 2 and 3 to strike a better balance between newcomers and old fans.

*** Trixie would have made an appearance, along with two original Changeling characters, Shryll and Kryl.

** The film was planned to be its own GrandFinale to the show based on the first two seasons in order attract more than just the PeripheryDemographic of the show. The team later felt that doing so would confuse newcomers freshly going into the series, and thus placed the film between seasons 2 and 3 to strike a better balance between newcomers and old fans.

* BasedOnADream: Ridenour first conceived the story after having a dream of Twilight's friends, Spike, and Princess Luna[[note]][[WhatCouldHaveBeen who was once planned to be a main character]][[/note]] walking on a log over a gushing waterfall. One of the film's concept artists drew up [[http://ellybethe.deviantart.com/art/Journey-of-the-Spark-Concept-Art-313501221 a picture]] of it.
* CreatorBreakdown: Ridenour ceased production of the movie due to stress and health issues, in part caused by malicious rumors spread about the crew's legal entanglements with Hasbro. It was later placed in the hands of the movie's voice director David Doyle, who will be releasing the movie as an episodic audio drama instead.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: ''Journey of the Spark'' was most notably intended as a feature-length animated FanFilm, with several storyboards, concept artwork, and even completed animation made public. However, [[CreatorBreakdown Ridenour broke down]] late in production and left it in the hands of the rest of the creative team, who intend to keep the story alive as an audio drama. However, the potential doesn't end there:
** The story actually had its roots as part of Ridenour's improvisational parody series, ''My Little Pony: [[TheAbridgedSeries The Brony Edition]]'', as a goofy three-act musical.

*** Discord was originally written to be [[AdaptationalVillainy more villainous]], and in fact was planned to be ([[NeverFoundTheBody presumably]]) KilledOffForReal in one of the earliest drafts of the script. Negative fan reaction led to him being written closer to his lighthearted depiction in the show, albeit with a slightly [[DarkerAndEdgier darker edge]] and a hint of his HeelFaceTurn in [[Recap/KeepCalmAndFlutterOn season 3]] very much a possibility.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** The film actually had its roots as part of Ridenour's improvisational parody series, ''My Little Pony: [[TheAbridgedSeries The Brony Edition]]'', as a goofy three-act musical.

*** Princess Luna was to accompany the Mane Cast on their journey to find Twilight, while also battling Nightmare Moon as a JekyllAndHyde persona that would manifest whenever Luna felt intense jealousy towards Twilight's relationship with Celestia. This would have then lead to Discord manipulating Luna into becoming Nightmare Moon once more as a last resort for when all his other plans fell through.

* TheOtherMarty: Several actors have signed on and dropped out of the project, most notably Jenny Nicholson of ''WebVideo/FriendshipIsWitchcraft'' fame, who was replaced by ''WebAnimation/DoubleRainboom'''s Emily Koch as Rainbow Dash.

** In September 2013, the decision was made to completely overhaul the movie's script when the writers realized how bloated the story had become, clocking in at nearly ''three hours''. The result was many characters and subplots being either diminished or cut entirely, including:
*** Discord was originally written to be [[AdaptationalVillainy more villainous]], and in fact was planned to be ([[NeverFoundTheBody presumably]]) KilledOffForReal in one of the earliest drafts of the script. Negative fan reaction led to him being written closer to his lighthearted depiction in the show, albeit with a slightly darker edge and a hint of his HeelFaceTurn in [[Recap/KeepCalmAndFlutterOn season 3]] very much a possibility.
*** Princess Luna was to accompany the Mane Cast on their journey to find Twilight, while also battling Nightmare Moon as a JekyllAndHyde persona that would manifest whenever Luna felt intense jealousy towards Twilight's relationship with Celestia. This would have then lead to Discord manipulating Luna into becoming Nightmare Moon once more as a last resort once all his other plans fell through.

* BasedOnADream: Ridenour first conceived the story after having a dream of Twilight's friends, Spike, and Princess Luna ([[WhatCouldHaveBeen who was once planned to be a main character]]) walking on a log over a gushing waterfall. One of the film's concept artists drew up [[http://ellybethe.deviantart.com/art/Journey-of-the-Spark-Concept-Art-313501221 a picture]] of it.

* BasedOnADream: Ridenour first conceived the story after having a dream of the Mane Six (minus Twilight), Spike, and Princess Luna walking on a log over a gushing waterfall. One of the film's concept artists drew up [[http://ellybethe.deviantart.com/art/Journey-of-the-Spark-Concept-Art-313501221 a picture]] of it.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The film actually had its roots as part of Ridenour's improvisational parody series, ''My Little Pony: [[TheAbridgedSeries The Brony Edition]]'', as a goofy three-act musical.

** The movie's script underwent a complete overhaul in September 2013 when the writers realized how bloated the plot had become, resulting in many characters and subplots being either diminished or cut entirely. These include:

*** The Cutie Mark Crusaders had a much larger role in which they would stumble into the Canterlot dungeons a la ''Film/TheGoonies'' and learn of Discord's true plans for Twilight. This would have tied into yet another subplot involving Princess Cadance (to have been voiced by KiraBuckland) and Shining Armor, who were trapped in the dungeon and freed by the CMC so they could help search for Twilight.
*** Trixie would have made an appearance, along with two original Changeling characters Shryll and Kryl.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The film was planned to be its own GrandFinale to the show based on the first two seasons in order attract more than just the PeripheryDemographic of the show. The team later felt that doing so would confuse newcomers freshly going into the series, and thus placed the film between seasons 2 and 3 to strike a better balance between newcomers and old fans.

*** Discord was originally written to be [[AdaptationalVillainy more villainous]], and in fact would have been ([[NeverFoundTheBody presumably]]) KilledOffForReal in one of the earliest drafts of the script. Negative fan reaction led to him being written closer to his lighthearted depiction in the show, albeit with a slightly darker edge and a hint of his HeelFaceTurn in [[Recap/KeepCalmAndFlutterOn season 3]] very much a possibility.

*** Princess Luna was to accompany the Mane Cast on their journey to find Twilight, while also battling Nightmare Moon as a JekyllAndHyde persona that would manifest whenever Luna felt intense jealousy towards Twilight's relationship with Celestia. This would then lead to Discord manipulating Luna into becoming Nightmare Moon once more as a last resort once all his other plans fall through.

* TheOtherMarty: Several actors have signed on and dropped out of the project:
** Jenny Nicholson of ''WebVideo/FriendshipIsWitchcraft'' fame was replaced by ''WebAnimation/DoubleRainboom'''s Emily Koch as Rainbow Dash.

*** Discord was originally written to be [[AdaptationalVillainy more villainous]], and in fact would have been ([[NeverFoundTheBody presumably]]) KilledOffForReal in one of the earliest drafts of the script. Negative fan reaction led to him being written closer to his lighthearted depiction in the show, albeit with a slightly darker edge and a hint of [[spoiler:his HeelFaceTurn in [[Recap/KeepCalmAndFlutterOn season 3]]]] very much a possibility.

* HeyItsThatVoice: Subverted; KiraBuckland, who is no stranger to voicing pony cartoons (namely as [[WebAnimation/DoubleRainboom Twilight]] [[WebAnimation/PonyDotMov Sparkle]]), [[WhatCouldHaveBeen was set to voice Princess Cadance]] before she was cut from the movie.

** The movie's script underwent a complete overhaul in September 2013 when the writers realized the plot was becoming too complicated, resulting in many characters and subplots being either diminished or cut entirely. These include:
*** Discord was originally written to be [[AdaptationalVillainy more villainous]], and in fact would have been ([[NeverFoundTheBody presumably]]) KilledOffForReal in one of the earliest drafts of the script. Negative fan reaction to his portrayal in the concept trailer led to him being written closer to his depiction in the show, with a hint of [[spoiler:[[Recap/KeepCalmAndFlutterOn his reformation in season 3]]]] very much a possibility.
*** Princess Luna was to accompany the Mane Cast on their journey to find Twilight, while also struggling with Nightmare Moon as a JekyllAndHyde persona, who would manifest whenever Luna believed that Celestia saw Twilight as her replacement. This would then lead to Discord manipulating Luna into becoming Nightmare Moon once more as a last resort.
*** The Cutie Mark Crusaders had a much larger role in which they would stumble into the Canterlot dungeons a la ''Film/TheGoonies'' and learn of Discord's true plans for Twilight. This would have tied into yet another subplot involving Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, who were trapped in the dungeon and released by the CMC so they could help search for Twilight.

** The movie's script underwent a complete overhaul in September 2013 when the writers realized it was becoming too complicated, resulting in many characters and subplots being either diminished or cut entirely. These include:

*** Discord was originally written to be [[AdaptationalVillainy more villainous]], and in fact would have been ([[NeverFoundTheBody presumably]]) KilledOffForReal in one of the earliest drafts of the script. However, negative fan reaction to his portrayal in the concept trailer led to him being written closer to his depiction in the show, with a hint of [[spoiler:[[Recap/KeepCalmAndFlutterOn his reformation in season 3]]]] very much a possibility.

*** Shining Armor and Cadance (who are present in the concept trailer) were removed, as were two original changeling characters Shryll and Kryl, and then-secret characters Trixie and Nightmare Moon. The CMC also would've had their own subplot, but were reduced to a cameo.

** The movie's script underwent a complete overhaul in September 2013, resulting in many characters and subplots being either diminished or cut entirely. These include:
*** Discord was originally written to be [[AdaptationalVillainy more villainous]], and in fact would have been ([[NeverFoundTheBody presumably]]) KilledOffForReal in one of the earliest drafts of the script. However, negative fan reaction led to him being written closer to his depiction in the show, with a hint of [[spoiler:[[Recap/KeepCalmAndFlutterOn his reformation in season 3]]]] very much a possibility.
*** Celestia and Luna had an entire major subplot removed since it would have detracted from the main story. Traces of Celestia's role will still remain in the final cut, though.

* HeyItsThatVoice: KiraBuckland, who is no stranger to voicing pony cartoons (namely as [[WebAnimation/DoubleRainboom Twilight]] [[WebAnimation/PonyDotMov Sparkle]]), will be voicing Princess Cadance.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The film was planned to ignore everything after season 2 to attract more than just the PeripheryDemographic of the show, based on [[WordOfGod Eric]]'s initial ideas of what a GrandFinale based on Lauren Faust's contributions to the show would be like. The team later felt that doing so would confuse newcomers going into the series fresh, and thus placed the film between seasons 2 and 3 to strike a better balance between newcomers and old fans.

*** Discord was originally written to be [[AdaptationalVillainy more villainous]], and in fact would have been ([[NeverFoundTheBody presumably]]) KilledOffForReal in one of the earliest drafts of the script. However, negative fan reaction led to him being written closer to his depiction in the show.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The film was planned to ignore everything after season 2 to attract more than just the PeripheryDemographic of the show, based on [[WordOfGod Eric]]'s initial ideas of what a GrandFinale based on Lauren Faust's contributions to the show would be like. The team later felt that doing so would confuse newcomers going into the series fresh, and thus placed the film between seasons 2 and 3 to strike a better balance between newcomers and old fans.

* TheOtherMarty: Several actors have signed on and dropped out of the project.

* HeyItsThatVoice: KiraBuckland, who is no stranger to voicing pony cartoons (namely [[WebAnimation/DoubleRainboom Twilight]] [[WebAnimation/PonyDotMov Sparkle]]), will be voicing Princess Cadance.