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1'''''PONIES The Anthology''''' is a series of compilation videos composed of brief [=AMVs=] (or, as they are known in the fandom, [=PMVs=]) of the cartoon series ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. The first one, released in 2011 and running 24 minutes, relied on profane audio clips and songs (examples include the Music/InsaneClownPosse's "Miracles", Ludacris' "Move Bitch", the "You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?" scene from ''Film/HappyGilmore'', and Christian Bale's infamous on-set rant) as well as the occasional absurd joke and extended {{homage}}. It has since been followed by two longer sequels: ''II'' (2012, 82 minutes) and ''III'' (2013, 74 minutes). The humor of ''II'' and ''III'' is derived from large doses of absurdism and {{Literal Minded}}ness, as well as many {{Visual Pun}}s, {{Homage}}s, and instances of fancy editing and flawless lip syncing.
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3Basically? Think WebVideo/AMVHell, but with technicolor ponies instead of anime.
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5''IV'' is only 6 minutes long and contains no [=PMVs=] whatsoever, instead consisting only of a few completely original {{Parody Commercial}}s about Bronycon 2014 and an opening based on ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' that gets more and more ridiculous as it goes on. It ends with a note from the creators that says the stress of doing the project led them to stop production. The very end of the video hints at the release of a fifth installment, which was released in 2015 and runs 65 minutes. At Bronycon 2016, the team premiered a few clips of footage from an upcoming sixth entry in the series, which premiered in 2017 and runs 65 minutes. The seventh entry, running around 78 minutes, premiered at Bronycon 2019 and was announced to be the final one. Following the release of the Generation 5 movie ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyANewGeneration'' in fall 2021, an "Update 7.05" entry was made for that year's Ciderfest, running 15 minutes. An "Update 7.20" entry premiered at Ciderfest in fall 2022, running 42 minutes, followed by a 61-minute "Update 7.314" at the 2023 event.
6
7They can be found as follows:
8
9* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F48i03uUTB4 I]]''[[note]]The original video has been blocked by WMG.[[/note]]
10* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay_1IZGxMaA II]]''
11* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPW9ki-IfZ8 III]]''
12* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-FLjd_LkcU IV]]'' (such as it is)
13* ''[[http://unlistedvideos.com/v/youtube-4QLdT-Cqok0.html V]]''[[note]]The original video has also been blocked by WMG.[[/note]]
14* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIMLs5KsO60 VI]]''
15* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3N8NkabUl4&t VII]]''
16* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4iOwfSntIg 7.05]]''
17* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnzuFoY9O8Q&t=339s 7.20]]''
18* ''[[https://youtu.be/IKOYexkzGX8?si=Mu6DWFyAZ7YTaXni 7.314]]''
19
20----
21
22!! The ''PONIES The Anthology'' series contains the following tropes:
23
24* AbhorrentAdmirer: The brony from the "A Heart for Sweetie Belle" segment of ''Anthology V''.
25* AdventureGame: ''[[VideoGame/KingsQuest Pony Quest I]]''
26* AffectionateParody: Contains parodies of among other things Music/KanyeWest's "Power", a segment from ''AMV Hell 5'', the Epic Sax Guy, and the ''Beavis and Butt-Head'' intro. And that's just ''Anthology I!''
27* Music/AlsoSprachZarathustra: Used in the ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'' parody, naturally.
28* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: "The Rainbow Connection" is rated PG-13 for "Crude Humor, Language, [[ShoutOut And A]] [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark Rob Schneider Reference]]".
29* ArtShift: A few shorts are done in the style of the work they're parodying, such as "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJFGkrgIH3Y Not Your Buddy Guy!]]", having Gilda and the ponies as ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' Canadians.
30** The two stills "Friendship is GAR!" told of the beginning and end of the commercial break. These were done in the style of ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''.
31** The "Worker and Parasite" segment parodies (and is named after) another ArtShift [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubckx7X2Nd4 sequence]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
32** ''Anthology II'' has 2 clips featuring a [[TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects CG]] Princess Celestia.
33** ''Anthology III'' has a clip from the intro to ''[[VideoGame/DragonsLair Dragon's Mare]]'', done in Creator/DonBluth's style, and even including a ROM check sequence.
34** Three skits have been made using General Zoi's Pony Creator: The WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} joke in ''Anthology II'' showing a pony dying from boneitis, and two bits in ''Anthology III'' where [[StylisticSuck deliberately terrible]] [=OCs=] of the contributors partake in parodying Series/TheOC.
35** Several bits from ''III'', ''V'', ''VI'', and ''VII'' were made in Source Filmmaker.
36** The ponified versions of The Dead Alewives' "Dungeons and Dragons" sketch and the Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt credits are done in a somewhat chibi style.
37** A couple segments from ''Anthology V'' are done in the style of WebComic/SweetBroAndHellaJeff.
38** Another segment in ''Anthology V'' features the Equestria Girls in the style of WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil.
39* BaitAndSwitch: In ''VII'', a skit has someone requesting for pictures of the characters with their mouths open. Someone questions if this is just for lewd art before the request explains that they want to photoshop microphones to make it look like they're singing.
40* BlackComedy: The "Unicorns are falling from the sky" segment in ''Anthology III''.
41* {{Bowdlerization}}:
42** Along with the uncut version, the original ''Ponies: The Anthology'' had a "con friendly" version that doesn't include the segments that feature cursing.
43** Generally, when anthologies are premiered at conventions, heavy swears and suggestive scenes are censored, while the version found online is uncut. ''VII'' had a few of its scenes omitted from it's Bronycon premiere due to this.
44* CallBack: In ''Anthology'', Fluttershy is shown staring at the viewer in black and white, to Film/{{Koyaanisqatsi}}. In ''Anthology III'', she still is...and [[CameraAbuse crashes into the camera]].
45** At the end of the bit showing Crackle singing Music/AndreaBocelli's "Time to Say Goodbye" in ''III'', the duck who was shown singing "Figaro's Aria" from Theatre/TheBarberOfSeville in ''II'' pops out of his mouth. The duck also shows up later during the second set of closing credits. In ''V'', the duck appears again, this time singing [[Music/DeathGrips Guillotine]] instead of the usual opera.
46* CameraAbuse: In ''Anthology II'', when "Rarity Wrecks the Camera":
47--> '''Rarity:''' Of all the worst things that could happen, this is the worst. Possible. *Crash*\
48'''Twilight:''' Are you all right?!
49** In ''Anthology III'', Fluttershy's Film/{{Koyaanisqatsi}} stare from the first is continued with a slow zoom in on her until the camera runs into her and breaks.
50** In ''Anthology VI'', Scootaloo crashes into the camera while launching herself up to Cloudsdale.
51* DancingTheme: Pinkie Pie dances to the Fast Food Song.
52* EarthShatteringKaboom: [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes The trope namer]] gets directly referenced in ''Anthology III''.
53* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first anthology had both a unedited version and a clean version for conventions. Later antholodies would have only one version, with audiences being warned the content in the videos being PG-13.
54* EndOfSeriesAwareness: ''VII'', has a number of skits aimed at the fact that it was coming out right at the end of ''Friendship is Magic'' and being premiered at the last Bronycon.
55* EpicFail: In ''Anthology III'', Scootaloo tries to look cool. She promptly trips on a a log, flies up the side of a tree, and lands so hard she causes [[Manga/{{Nichijou}} a giant nuclear explosion]].
56** She does it again in ''VI'', but this time she tumbles into the bowling alley of the Nintendo game ''Wii Sports'' and gets a strike.
57** In ''V'', Celestia attempts to do a "Stayin' Alive" strut only to walk straight into a pole.
58* FanVid
59* FunnyBackgroundEvent: During the ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' segment with Luna, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1yX6_8LRz4 The Moon Rules]]", Lauren Faust's Alicorn avatar can be seen in a window in the background.
60** In the segment immediately before that, Rainbow Dash singing Music/JonLajoie's "Very Super Famous", a baby carriage in the background rolls offscreen and explodes.
61** In ''Anthology III'', at the very end of the bit with Twilight and Spike reenacting the "I am WesternAnimation/KimPossible" vine, [[spoiler:[[Film/{{Insidious}} the Lipstick-Faced Demon]]]] randomly appears in Twilight's open door. Doubles as a CallBack, seeing how an earlier bit involved it randomly appearing and scaring Spike, and triples as a FreezeFrameBonus.
62* HaveANiceDeath: Parodied with the ''Pony Quest'' clip.
63-->If you had been paying attention to Pinkie's tail 20 screens ago you would have seen this coming. Oh well.\
64Thank you for playing Pony Quest I. We are very sorry that you are not smart enough to beat our game.\
65Now go read a book or something.
66** CurseCutShort / AtomicFBomb: The player's response. 'FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU', then the end of the clip before C.
67* GrandFinale: ''VII'' has been announce to be the final one. Indeed, the ending credits emphasize having to say goodbye, and the first {{Stinger}} is the line [[spoiler: Anthology is Dead.]]
68* {{Homage}}: All over the place, but most notably the first ''Anthology'' opens with a shot-for-shot ([[TheOner sort of]]) remake of the music video of Music/KanyeWest's "Power". Other examples include:
69** The second of the Film/{{Koyaanisqatsi}} segments bears an uncanny resemblance to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pYs9IP7aWY this clip from AMV Hell 5]], with Fluttershy taking [[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya Haruhi's]] place.
70** A redux of the ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead'' opening sequence with two of the bullies from [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E16SonicRainboom Sonic Rainboom]].
71** ''Anthology II'' recreates several television [[TitleSequence Title Sequences]] with MLP characters, including ''Series/{{Monk}}'' [[note]]("Twilight")[[/note]], ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' [[note]]("The Trotting Dead")[[/note]] and ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}.'' [[note]](with Applejack in the title role)[[/note]]
72** The last clip before the end credits of ''Anthology II'' is a ten-minute-long, almost shot-for-shot ponified remake of some of the most iconic scenes from ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'', in loving detail. It's also available as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fFOoIo-kMk standalone video]].
73** The first part of the credits to ''Anthology II'' mimics the credits of ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'', using similar effects and Jonsí's "Sticks and Stones".
74** The start of the Mitternacht segment in ''Anthology II'' (with the fade outs in beat to the song) is an homage to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPDahFDchDw this AMV]], which sets the song to ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'', ''[[Literature/VampireHunterD Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust]]'', and ''Anime/BloodTheLastVampire''.
75* InTheStyleOf: ''Anthology I's'' end theme and ''Anthology II's'' game screen rework the songs "Winter Wrap Up" and "Smile, Smile, Smile" in 8-bit style.
76** The end of ''Anthology II'' used, in addition to Jonsí's "Sticks and Stones", an orchestral version of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qabiEXQEEhw Smile, Smile, Smile]]".
77* LeeroyJenkins: "Twilight Jenkins".
78* LighterAndSofter: Where the first Anthology had a content warning and a separate clean version, the second and third were specifically designed to stay PG-13.
79** They even bleeped a few instances of curse words. Rather strange considering, although there are no uncensored swears in dialogue, a bit in ''Anthology III'' spoofing ''WebAnimation/InfernoCop'' that contains Shining Armor saying in subtitles "Who the hell do you think I am? I am the motherfucking law you piece of shit!".
80* LongList: In ''II'', a commercial on how to make Dortios comes with a list of nonsensical ingredients.
81* MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds: The third anthology features a scene where Alicorn Twilight bumps into Canterlot Castle. The top then falls off and lands on Ponyville.
82* MindScrew: Dog Spike's face shrinking accompanied by the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyAdventure'' mini-boss music.
83* MondegreenGag: One segment in ''Anthology V'' depicts the Cutie Mark Crusaders as having "[[ToiletHumor Farts Strong as Horses]]".
84* MoodWhiplash: Going directly from a creepy montage using the ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'' theme to Pinkie laughing like WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker.
85* NoodleImplements: The credits of Anthology II feature such responsibilities as Hip-Hop Specialist, Executive Mad Scientist, Speech Therapist, and Executive Inspector of D'awww.
86* OffscreenCrash: Rainbow Dash's thrown horseshoe in ''III'' causes, in order: glass breaking, the [[StockScream Wilhelm Scream]], a thudding noise, a slide whistle, ThatPoorCat, a crashing sound, an old-timey car horn, more glass breaking, [[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants "My leg!"]], an air raid siren, and a nuclear explosion.
87* OldShame: The [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends G1 cartoon]] in-universe as of ''Anthology II,'' appearing in the "Ponies React To" segment and also when Applebloom sees a video of G1 Applejack.
88** ''Anthology III'' continues it with a bit where the Cutie Mark Crusaders are swimming away from the Sea Ponies.
89* OverlyLongGag: The "Fallin' in Love" montage in ''Anthology II'' goes through [[Music/TomPetty six]] [[Music/BarenakedLadies different]] [[Music/TheOffspring reiterations]] [[Music/TheKinks until]] the whole cast of ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' [[LampshadeHanging tells them to get on with it]].
90** ''Anthology 7.314'' has a gag with Rainbow Dash slowly flying up to Twilight's window, in reference to [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 Adam Warlock's similarly memetic entrance]].
91* ParodyCommercial: A few about halfway through ''Anthology II'' in a short break, all parodying various commercials both real and [[Creator/TomSka from]] [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons other]] [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark works]]. The third also them, some put into a break but others scattered around. Again, they all parody [[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls various]] [[Advertising/TheManYourManCouldSmellLike real and]] [[WebVideo/GameGrumps fictional]] [[UsefulNotes/{{Playstation 4}} commercials]].
92** The majority of ''IV'' is some original commercials about Bronycon, first one for the convention itself, parodying a typical stock scam ad, then a DadaAd for Bronypalooza, and finally "Joey Costa's Panel Emporium", a SeverelySpecializedStore that sells panels for the convention.
93* PunBasedTitle: ''Pinkie Pi''.
94* RapidFireComedy: As in WebVideo/AMVHell, the clips featured are around thirty seconds at the longest.
95* ReactionShot: The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Angel Bunny during the "Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals" bit in ''Ponies the Anthology''; Pound and Pumpkin Cake at the end of the segment spoofing ''Film/TheRoom2003'' in ''Ponies the Anthology II''.
96* RealSongThemeTune:
97** Kanye West's "Power" for the first ''Anthology,'' as mentioned above.
98** ''V'' uses "Moanin'", a jazz composition by Music/CharlesMingus (as recorded by the Mingus Big Band in 1993).
99** ''VI'' uses a cover of "The Man Comes Around" by Music/JohnnyCash.
100** ''VII'' uses "Mallrats (La La La)" by The Orwells for its intro.
101* RealTrailerFakeMovie:
102** ''Anthology I'' has ''Pinkie π'', a DeliberatelyMonochrome trailer that tells the events of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E15FeelingPinkieKeen Feeling Pinkie Keen]] using audio from the trailer for ''Film/{{Pi}}''.
103** The last skit of the commercial break of ''Anthology II'' is one for "[[ShoutOut The]] [[Franchise/TheMuppets Rainbow Connection]]", about Spike, played by Creator/RobSchneider, [[Memes/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic becoming Rainbow Dash]]. The whole thing is a ShoutOut to the parody trailers in the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "The Biggest Douche In The Universe".
104* RedEyesTakeWarning: One segment in ''Anthology VII'' (set to Carpenter Brut's "Good Old Call") shows various nightmarish moments where the eyes of the ponies are glowing red.
105* RummageFail: One segment in ''Anthology III'' features Pinkie Pie accidentally grabbing Rarity's fainting couch, and Rarity subsequently grabbing Pinkie's party cannon by mistake.
106* RunningGag: Characters [[MemeticMutation firing their]] [[BreathWeapon lazor]]. Done with Fluttershy, Pinkie (twice), Spike, and, somehow, ''a letter to Princess Celestia''.
107** ''Anthology II'' has a few:
108*** Princess Celestia punishing the ponies with time in the dungeon a la ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime's'' Lemongrab.
109*** "U2" [[spoiler:(See StealthPun below)]]
110*** Audio clips from Wrestling/TheRock.
111*** {{Dubstep}}/drum n' bass songs starring different members of the "Mane 6", complete with ScreenShake effects.
112*** Gummy's "Bucks Not Given" was ''meant'' to be this, however all but the first segment were cut for time.
113*** In addition, two segments dubbed "Rainbow WMD" in Anthology II were supposed to have several other in effect. These were cut not only for time, but quality control.
114** [[invoked]] ''Anthology III'' has a couple: one involving the [[MemeticMutation "Thanks, M. A. Larson" meme]]; the other involving ''Manga/{{Nichijou}}''.
115** [[invoked]] One series wide one seems to be extending one very short clip of a character to show him/her performing some SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic. There's the duck singing "[[Theatre/TheBarberOfSeville Figaro's Aria]]" in ''II'', Pinkie Pie playing "[[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Can You Feel the Love Tonight]]" on a flugelhorn in ''III'', and Crackle the dragon singing "[[Music/AndreaBocelli Time to Say Goodbye]]" (which calls back to the duck) also in ''III''. The streak continues in ''V'' with Señor Huevos singing "[[Theatre/{{Turandot}} Nessum Dorma]]".
116** [[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls Soos]] makes three appearances in ''Anthology V''.
117* SoundEffectBleep: In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pqmB4sKKl4 Fluttery Tate]], using Fluttershy's [[VocalDissonance Yay]].
118** Fluttershy's squee is used five times in Anthology III, for bits parodying ''Film/EndOfDays'', ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', WebVideo/JonTron's reviews of ''VideoGame/{{Nightshade}}'' and ''VideoGame/KingsQuestV'', and the "Don't Jinx My Sneeze" vine.
119* SoundtrackDissonance
120* SpeakingSimlish: What happens when you mix Rarity with Captain and Tenille's "Muskrat Love" in ''Anthology III''.
121* StealthPun:
122** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RUz1mVcj3k Not U2]]."
123** Perhaps also "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uer3jc7t3OA Applejack is Stubborn]]", given that [[Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar the tree is already dead]].
124** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay_1IZGxMaA&t=35m20s Mr. Sparkle]]
125** [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Shinji's rant]] is done [[spoiler:by [[Creator/SpikeSpencer Spike]]]].
126** A parody of ''Literature/TheRing'' featuring Applejack in ''Anthology III'' is a pun in the sense that the Japanese word for "apple" is "ringo."
127* TheStinger: ''Anthology I'' has a sort of [[spoiler:ScreamerPrank]], while ''Anthology II'' has one more PMV set to ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'' theme song.
128** ''Anthology III'' contains two stingers. The first is the regular credits to Friendship is Magic done in the style of ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt'', while the second involves [[spoiler: Applejack in a picture depicting [[Film/TheShining Bronycon 1921]].]]
129** ''Anthology V'' has Spike declaring that he hates everyone and congratulating the Crusaders on finishing ''V''.
130** ''Anthology VI'' ends with a ponified version of [[Creator/LeslieNielsen Leslie Nielsen]]'s character from the movie ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' delivering his (slightly edited) RunningGag line: "I just want to tell you good luck. We're all counting on you."[[note]]The word "both" has been cut out.[[/note]]
131** ''Anthology VII'' has two: Ponies dancing while the words [[spoiler:Anthology Is Dead]] are superimposed over it, and the crew of Anthology VI celebrating the end of VI, with one of them saying that this celebration should be a short in Anthology VII if it ever gets made.
132--->''ANTHOLOGY 7 HAPPENED FUCK YOU''
133* TakeThat: ''Anthology III'' features a lot of jabs at [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks the drama over]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E13MagicalMysteryCure "Twilicorn"]], including the event mentioned under MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds, Manga/{{Akira}} characters and Pinkie Pie being terrified of it, and ''M.A. Larson'' himself undoing it.
134** There's also one to WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls ([[PoesLaw or at least the average fan reaction, it's hard to tell]]), using a scene from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
135-->'''Applejack''': Son of a bitch. They also stole my sense of wonder. ''[[[CutawayGag Cut]] to Applejack looking at the movie's logo, then towards the camera]'' Nope.
136** And one to the C&D of VideoGame/MyLittlePonyFightingIsMagic via a ParodyCommercial for the Platform/Playstation4. In the commercial, Applejack and Twilight play the game on an Platform/XboxOne. The console then reports it for copyright, causing the library to explode.
137** Contributor Dr. Dinosaur has been confirmed to hate Rarity. As a result, he [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOJ3JAmrg3I put this bit]] in ''III'' showing her falling from a great height and splattering on the ground while [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEXlpCN1bKQ this obscure YouTube song]] that goes "Unicorns are falling from the sky, they won't survive, I'll let them die." plays.
138** There's a non-pony one in a FreezeFrameBonus on the ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' parody, with Trixie's Winner screen.
139---> A Real Fighter cheats to win
140---> It works for investment bankers
141---> All the time, Barry Bonds used steroids
142---> And look how stinking rich he is
143* TestosteronePoisoning: Any segment with Iron Will. From ''II'', he is dubbed over by Dwayne Wrestling/TheRock Johnson, and in ''III'', he is Macho Man Wrestling/RandySavage and [[VideoGame/Borderlands2 Mister Torque]].
144* VisualPun: There's a lot.
145** In ''VI'', Applebloom has to tell her friends to pretend they're "apples". So they pretend they're Apple products like an [=iPhone=] or [=iPad=].
146* WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties: PlayedForLaughs as a transition from one clip to the next, and always involving Derpy Hooves in some way (except for ''7.20'').
147

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