My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (Season 10) (Johnsonverse)

The tenth and final season of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic began airing on October 13, 2019 with the episode "New Problems, Same Old Adventures: Part 1", and ended with the two-part finale "The Future Awaits" on May 1, 2020.

This season, which is set after the ninth season finale "The Last Problem", saw some changes, such as a new intro sequence reflecting Twilight having become the new ruler of Equestria. Sunset Shimmer from the Equestria Girls series was introduced to the show as a main character (it's explained that Canterlot High School in the human world is on summer vacation in this season). Characters that had been reduced to background roles or even retired such as Babs Seed and Diamond Tiara returned as recurring characters, alongside characters introduced in the 2017 film, notably Tempest Shadow, with their respective actors reprising their roles. Many of these changes were due to the season having a higher budget than previous seasons.

In addition, between Seasons 9 and 10, there was a series of clip shows under the subtitle Friendship is Forever, which aired throughout the summer of 2019 and take place before "The Last Problem".

Finally, due to this season having a much higher budget, the animation style was changed to the one used in the 2017 film and the 2019 special Rainbow Roadtrip, in a similar vein to how fellow Hasbro series The Transformers changed its art style to that of the movie once production moved from Sunbow to Johnson in 1987, albeit animated in ToonBoom Harmony. Production also moved from CinarDHX Media to Boulder Media in Dublin, Ireland, though CinarDHX still did additional work on the season.

Opening
The new opening sequence starts with Twilight and Spike on the balloon as in the older intros. Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts clear out the clouds like in the Season 8 intro, though it reveals Canterlot instead of the School of Friendship. Twilight, Starlight, and Sunset all run to the palace while many side characters appear in the background, before Twilight sees her friends and Spike at the door. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy's animations are unchanged from the Season 8 intro outside of the animation style, before the Student Six, Spike, and many other side and background characters take a picture in front of Canterlot Castle. Spike uses his fire breath to send the picture to the castle, where the Mane Six, Starlight, Sunset, Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, and Flurry Heart all look at it.

Episodes

 * 1) New Problems, Same Old Adventures: Part 1 (written by Tim Johnson) - Having just become the ruler of Equestria, Twilight must face a new challenge with villains new and old. Meanwhile, a familiar face returns to Equestria to assist her.
 * 2) New Problems, Same Old Adventures: Part 2 (written by Tim Johnson) - After Sunset Shimmer returns from the human world due to summer vacation, she, the Mane Six, Spike, and Starlight must save Equestria from the real King Sombra, who is none too happy about Discord having impersonated him.
 * 3) The Greatest Game (written by Tim Johnson) - Rainbow Dash wants to keep her competitive streak intact when a new challenger, Speed Demon (voiced by Tony Stewart), starts besting her in various competitions.
 * 4) Potion Hut (written by TBA) - A pony named Potion Nova
 * 5) Babs Comes Back (written by TBA) - Babs decides to visit Ponyville again after
 * 6) Zebras and Apples (written by TBA) -
 * 7) Scootaloo's Parents
 * 8) The Wedding of Fluttershy and Discord
 * 9) Return of Some Old Enemies (written by Meghan McCarthy) - An unknown being frees Grogar, Queen Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow from their stone prison, and the Mane Six must stop them before it's too late. During the ultimate battle between them and the Mane Six, Grogar sacrifices himself.

Reception
This season was critically acclaimed.