#nostalgiamare

NOSTALGIAMARE ENTRY 47

NAME: HI-5

COMPANY/FRANCHISE: NINE NETWORK FILMS AND TELEVISION

KIDS LIKE US

SOUTHERN STAR

CATEGORY: MUSIC

TV SERIES (LIVE ACTION)

YEAR: 1999

DESCRIPTION: The name of an Australian children's pop quintet that's pretty much The Wiggles for the Y2K pop group crowd. The group began as an educational TV series, with each episode of the show following a revolving formula that featured the five members of the group performing original songs, acting out stories and teaching preschoolers key learning concepts such as literacy skills, STEM, problem solving, music and exercise. Though starting out small, it quickly grew into one of Australia's most beloved children's music franchises; spanning all the way into the late 2010s with many revivals and even international reiterations of the band.

MOD THOUGHTS

1: Just letting you all know that there was a period of time when I was younger that I loved this show more than the damn WIGGLES. Like, me and my family had so many VHS's that we kept both at ours and our grandparents houses.

I think these were the ones I watched most avidly.

2: If you guys want proof that for a period of time these guys' popularity was on the same level as The Wiggles, they beat the latter's five time winning streak at the ARIA awards for best children's album in 2000 and proceeded to win four more in a row up until 2005. Absolutely legendary.

(This isn't me dissing on The Wiggles by the way, because they are legends in their own right and always will be. I just think we should let them and Hi-5 share the pedestal).

3: He is the introduction to the gremlin archetype for so many kids, fight me.

Also please for the love of god check out the blooper reels for the series, because they are wild; Especially considering how much more of a menace he is in the bloopers than on the show.

LINK TO SOURCES

Ok so just letting you all know, there's a TON of TV and direct-to-video material for this group. If I included it all, this whole entry will be a lot more lengthy than it needs to be. So I'm only going to be including links to the first 12 seasons of the original show. If there's any other material for Hi-5 that you have trouble looking for, just DM me and I can help you find it. Though I can tell you a lot of the stuff I haven't linked is either on Youtube or the Internet Archive.

SEASON 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pki52tO47_Y&list=PLJo8zFq7tv6qobP2NhgmHzhTllVdXJ8uQ

SEASON 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2kdQw0lJu8&list=PLJo8zFq7tv6qpbxXJWDVIdHpAnzflnIIN

SEASON 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqJBm-e1JgM&list=PLJo8zFq7tv6rukqK-x5wX65383WHOEbzp

SEASON 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzK4nFJYErM&list=PLJo8zFq7tv6oP3urzxCZ1jYU-175CF2fY

SEASON 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8U65U3P504&list=PLJo8zFq7tv6qrTOCUQdiHRzpoNpMGSJDB

SEASON 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QuIRDSNLUk&list=PLJo8zFq7tv6paY2upfoiOQN1F2rj4xQmQ

SEASON 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASH6dR-XRAU&list=PLJo8zFq7tv6rKnuio80LbfAtDBePwXvWN&pp=0gcJCWYDOCosWNin

SEASON 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QenNJlwbU-U&list=PLJo8zFq7tv6pwhu3l4ITHkGQvoJtIk0YH

SEASON 9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ8ApnBHMfQ&list=PLJo8zFq7tv6rL_FZ6l5TMzrdBU9Pk_dAr

SEASON 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ORIbclOS1M&list=PLJU5QuCfVQrEeGlfE13XyxJ4wLlyhu7Eb

SEASON 11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7-Rz_Yvk_I&list=PLcVC6ezNUhARmKr7OQHxU91zlpJ9v6yrZ

Remember that weird period between the 2000s up to like the early 2010s when children's media originally targeted for a more androgynous (Or even in some cases a masculine) audience decided out of the blue to try and appeal to the young girly demographic? Totally weird isn't it.

Some notes on some of these examples and the conclusions I made about them in case anyone's confused:

It's been a long while since I did a poll, so whilst I get the next Nostalgiamare entry ready I think it's about time I let you guys once again decide on what I should take a peak at next. I have five random direct-to-video films to choose from, and all you have to do is vote on which one of them will be the 48th entry. Now get ready to pick!

NOSTALGIAMARE ENTRY 46: FLASH FILES EDITION (PART 3)

(Oh my god I was finally able to finish this entry off with this part because I didn't exceed the image limit for once. Before we begin I just want to thank you all for your utmost patience and support as I churn out what is probably the biggest Nostalgiamare entry I've posted thus far. This was a lot of work, which didn't make things much easier since I had to do more than one part. It's going to be a while before I do another Flash Files themed entry again as a result, but when that happens I'll be sure to pick a smaller collection of games. Expect a return to how I usually run this blog soon, and once again thank you all for your support and patience!)

Click the link here to check out the previous part to this entry: https://nostalgiamare.tumblr.com/post/809212163640229888/nostalgiamare-entry-46-flash-files-edition-part

NAME: MY LITTLE PONY: GENERATION 3

COMPANY/FRANCHISE: HASBRO

MY LITTLE PONY

CATEGORY: GAME (FLASH/WEB BROWSER)

YEAR: 2003 - 2010

DESCRIPTION: A collection of multiple promotional Flash browser games that were available on the old Generation 3 edition of the My Little Pony website. All of these games utilised Adobe Flash and were only playable up until the toy brand’s transition into the Generation 4/Friendship Is Magic era in late 2010. Each one has been archived, but can now only be accessible by visiting the site with either a Flash emulator or a browser that still supports Flash (Ruffle and Pale Moon) after Adobe Flash Player’s discontinuation in 2021. The games can also be playable via Flashpoint and/or other third party sites like Numuki. 

GAME 10: PARTY IN PONYVILLE

Oh boy, now THIS is a big one. In fact, I don't even know if I can just call this a game. When it came out in celebration of the franchise's 25th anniversary in 2008, it was advertised as one. But it feels more like a microsite that so happens to have a game in it. Something else I do know however is that Party In Ponyville (I don't think it actually had a name on the original website but Party In Ponyville is what Numuki calls it and ngl it sounds much nicer than calling it just "Ponyville") is the final Flash game that uses the original G3 art style, as all other games after that transitioned over to the G3.5 look the same time as the brand.

Party In Ponyville is a large variety game with three different places to explore and multiple things to do. The screenshot above showcases the first area of the game as well as it's opening page; The town centre. Here, you get to meet the Core 7 ponies and learn more about their interests as well as where they live.

When you double click on one of the ponies, you will be taken straight to a room inside their house (Bedroom, living room, etc). Outside of being able to click three voice lines of the pony in the corner of the screen, Each room has six clickable objects. Five of which are unique items that make the pony talk more about their personality, whilst the sixth object is one that can be found in all of the ponies' rooms; That being a picture frame. By double clicking on it, the frame displays one of the shorts from the Meet The Ponies DVD.

Four others parts of a room will turn the mouse into a magic wand. Clicking on these parts with the wand activated let you choose customisable options for the room's interior design, such as the walls, flooring and furniture.

The next area of the game is the Popcorn Theatre. Not much to say here except that the inside of the theatre is just basically a video hub for the same separate Meet The Ponies shorts as well as some karaoke videos of MLP G3 songs.

The last area of Ponyville is Party Place, where the real game begins.

A pony's birthday has arrived. We don't know whose birthday it is yet, but we need to get everything on the list ready before the party starts.

Step one is to dress up Rainbow Dash, because we all know Rainbow Dash always dresses in style. Using the three left and right arrows next to the wardrobe, you are to choose a combination of hats, clothes and shoes for Rainbow Dash to wear. When you've finished dressing her up, you can either print out the look, start over with a new outfit or go back to getting ready for the party.

Little side note but if you click on the radio next to Rainbow Dash in the left screen cap above, it plays the MLP G3 theme which I find to be a pretty cute addition to this mini game.

Step two on the list is to help Cheerilee bake a cake, requiring you to choose a cake shape and flavour, a design for the cake, colouring it in with whatever frosting you want and decorating it with drawing tool icings and sprinkles. Each step gives you the option to go back and redo a step if there's something with and/or on the cake that you don't want.

Once again you can either print out the cake design, start over or move onto the rest of the party planning.

Did I mention how delicious this cake is by the way?

So now that we've checked everything off the list, it's time to start the party. Here, you get to customise your party room with different decorations, play music on the radio, look for three presents hidden around the room and find out who the birthday pony is as each one arrives; Including Minty, who was allowed to come despite this being a Core 7 event (Which begs the question regarding why the Core 7 wasn't made into the Core 8 and she was excluded like for real Hasbro Minty was the best pony-).

Each play through of the game gives you a different birthday pony. For me, the birthday pony was Starsong.

You even get to blow out the candles on the cake with her!

(If you're wondering why the cake looks a little different, the game has a tendency to crash at random points and only start up again if you refresh it. This meant I had to reload the game and make the cake again in order to begin the party.)

As a reward for your brilliant party planning skills, the ponies gift you with a printable scrapbook that shows off your contributions. Oh and there's also a promotional thing at the bottom right corner for some G3 party supplies.

Ok, that was a mouthful. There is quite a bit to criticise about the game separately, such as the art style's odd switch up in the party game and how the developers didn't bother to remain consistent with the voices (Especially with Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Cheerilee's). But there's also a lot to commend the game on too, especially when it comes to how much variety and effort the developers put into it. On the other hand I suppose they had to given it was released during an important milestone for the franchise.

GAME 11: CURTAINS UP MATCHING

In 2009, the third generation of the franchise underwent one last revamp before transition over to G4 a year later; This being known as the G3.5 era. Whilst keeping the Core 7 group and storyline, G3.5 would see a drastic change in the toy line's art style and continuity. And that takes us into the remainder of the MLP G3 flash games, which were all released around this period.

Just as the name suggests, this is yet another matching game. Only this time instead of matching pictures of ponies, you're matching two similar items. Each pony has two objects on the grass that correlate both with each other and to the pony's personalities and hobbies (Example: Balloons and a party hat. Who could that represent?). Match the ones that go together correctly and you'll find out which pony it is. Rinse and repeat six more times and you win the game as well as some chance to take part in a promotional contest that's probably been over for nearly two decades.

Quick note I think this might be a newer version of the game at hand considering that when I sometimes click on certain item, the voiceover says something different than what they're supposed to say. Guess the game developers didn't want to spend more time fixing it up than they already did.

GAME 12: STARSONG'S DANCE STUDIO

We've already had a more condensed version of the Ponyville Forever and Friendship Ball games with Rainbow Dash's Glamorous Tea Party, so why not have a more condensed version of the Dance Studio game with this one?

Again like Dance Studio, this game has you choreographing a routine with Starsong. You can choose up to three dancers to perform it (Two of them being any other member of the core 7 on both sides of the screen), four dance moves out of six in total to drag to the top of the screen and create a loop of, four customisable backdrops and four CDs of music to choose from. That's all you need to know. But hey, at least they've got some cute matching ballet tutus.

GAME 13: FAMILY SCRAPBOOK

At long last we've reached the final G3 flash game, released shortly before the beginning of the Friendship Is Magic era in 2010. To top off this collection of games, Family Scrapbook gifts us a virtual activity pack with six different things to do inside.

We can colour in and print out three pages with a very limited assortment of colours alongside Toola Roola.

We can decorate a cupcake with three different kinds of frosting, icing outlines, sprinkles and fruit toppings alongside Sweetie Belle.

We can play and listen to a game of mad libs with three different stories to choose from alongside Cheerilee and Scootaloo.

We can have a sing-along/karaoke session with three different MLP G3 songs alongside Starsong (Following the bouncing ball!).

We can dress up Rainbow Dash... Again.

And we can complete three different jigsaw puzzles in three varying difficulties with Pinkie Pie.

It may be pretty mundane stuff, but for the last game of the generation there was certainly more effort and variety than it should've been. It really does make you wonder why the fanbase hated G3 so much for the longest time. (You know, aside from the fact it wasn't Friendship Is Magic...)

CONCLUSION: Well this was certainly quite the ride. Obviously again these are meant to be promotional flash games for young kids so substance and quality would be lacking at points, but compared to the last Flash Files I found there was lots more variety and interesting stuff to point out. Yes it helped that Hasbro published more G3 games than Mattel did with My Scene, but it also helped more that it wasn't just dress up or makeover games a majority of the time (Not that it's a bad thing, but sometimes you need a challenge once in a while). There were mini game collections and a arcade game as well. As I've said before, these are simple 2000s Flash games for young kids (Mainly young girls) for the sole purpose of entertaining and advertising toys. But that doesn't make them any less nostalgic. Not to mention the cute yet uncanny looks of the pony assets in some of these games makes for a bit of a chuckle.

LINKS TO SOURCES

PARTY IN PONYVILLE: https://www.numuki.com/game/party-in-ponyville/

CURTAINS UP MATCHING: http://www.gamekidgame.com/my_little_pony/curtains_up_matching.html

STARSONG'S DANCE STUDIO: https://web.archive.org/web/20100430171502/http://www.hasbro.com/mylittlepony/en_US/play/details.cfm?guid=58287543-19b9-f369-d91a-fd5cf5b33d81