# M. A. Larson > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/M._A._Larson > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/M._A._Larson.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._A._Larson > Source revision: 1356786124 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American screenwriter and author Mitch Larson Larson at BronyCon in 2019 Born Mitchell Aaron Larson (1976-08-03) August 3, 1976 (age 49) Burnsville, Minnesota, U.S.[1] Pen name M. A. Larson Mitchell Larson Occupation Author, screenwriter, lyricist, story editor Years active 2005–present Notable works My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic **Mitchell Aaron Larson** (born August 3, 1976 in [Burnsville, Minnesota](/source/Burnsville%2C_Minnesota)) is an American screenwriter and author.[1] Larson has written for several animated series, including *[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends](/source/Foster's_Home_for_Imaginary_Friends)*, *[My Gym Partner's a Monkey](/source/My_Gym_Partner's_a_Monkey)*, *[Growing Up Creepie](/source/Growing_Up_Creepie)*, *[Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil](/source/Kick_Buttowski%3A_Suburban_Daredevil)*, *[Gravity Falls](/source/Gravity_Falls)*, *[Littlest Pet Shop](/source/Littlest_Pet_Shop_(2012_TV_series))*, *[SuperKitties](/source/SuperKitties)*, and most notably *[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic](/source/My_Little_Pony%3A_Friendship_Is_Magic)*. Depending on which series he is working on, he is credited as either **Mitch Larson**, **M. A. Larson** (in *My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic* and *DC Super Hero Girls*), and **Mitchell Larson** (rarely). Larson had become interested in *My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic* from previously working with [Lauren Faust](/source/Lauren_Faust), the series' original showrunner, on *Foster's Home*; he was surprised by her characterization of the main characters and started writing for the show.[2] Larson became a popular figure within the latter show's adult and teenage fanbase of ["bronies"](/source/My_Little_Pony%3A_Friendship_Is_Magic_fandom) and has become a frequent guest at various [conventions](/source/Fan_convention).[1] He also wrote lyrics of a few songs on both *Friendship Is Magic* and *Littlest Pet Shop*, and acted as story editor during the [fifth season of *Friendship Is Magic*](/source/My_Little_Pony%3A_Friendship_Is_Magic_season_5). He is credited with writing various notable episodes on the show, including "[The Cutie Mark Chronicles](/source/The_Cutie_Mark_Chronicles)", "[The Return of Harmony](/source/The_Return_of_Harmony)", "[Magic Duel](/source/Magic_Duel)", "[Magical Mystery Cure](/source/Magical_Mystery_Cure)", "[The Cutie Map](/source/The_Cutie_Map)", "[Slice of Life](/source/Slice_of_Life_(My_Little_Pony%3A_Friendship_Is_Magic))", and "[Amending Fences](/source/Amending_Fences)".[3] In November 2014, Larson's first novel, *Pennyroyal Academy*, was published under his M. A. Larson moniker. ## Work on *My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic* M. A. Larson is most well-known for his work on *My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic*, an [animated television series](/source/Animated_series) that ran from 2010–2019 and served as the primary television adaptation of the [fourth incarnation](/source/My_Little_Pony_(2010_toyline)) of [Hasbro](/source/Hasbro)'s *[My Little Pony](/source/My_Little_Pony)* toyline. The show's developer, Lauren Faust, had previously worked with Larson on *Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends* and Larson subsequently became involved with *Friendship Is Magic*.[2] He worked on the show until 2016, though the last episode written under his name aired in 2017. ### List of episodes written by M. A. Larson Larson is credited as the writer for the following episodes of *Friendship Is Magic*: - "[Swarm of the Century](/source/Swarm_of_the_Century)" - "[Sonic Rainboom](/source/Sonic_Rainboom)" - "[The Cutie Mark Chronicles](/source/The_Cutie_Mark_Chronicles)" - "[The Return of Harmony](/source/The_Return_of_Harmony)" - "[Luna Eclipsed](/source/Luna_Eclipsed)" - "[Secret of My Excess](/source/Secret_of_My_Excess)" - "[The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000](/source/The_Super_Speedy_Cider_Squeezy_6000)" - "[It's About Time](/source/It's_About_Time_(My_Little_Pony%3A_Friendship_Is_Magic))" - "[Ponyville Confidential](/source/Ponyville_Confidential)" - "[Magic Duel](/source/Magic_Duel)" - "[Magical Mystery Cure](/source/Magical_Mystery_Cure)" - "[The Cutie Map](/source/The_Cutie_Map)" - "[Slice of Life](/source/Slice_of_Life_(My_Little_Pony%3A_Friendship_Is_Magic))" - "[Amending Fences](/source/Amending_Fences)" - "[Fame and Misfortune](/source/List_of_My_Little_Pony%3A_Friendship_is_Magic_episodes#Season_7_(2017))" Additionally, Larson is credited for the story of "[Rarity Investigates!](/source/Rarity_Investigates!)". ## *Pennyroyal Academy* Larson wrote *Pennyroyal Academy* which was published in November 2014 by [Putnam](/source/G._P._Putnam's_Sons). Larson was influenced by what he called "princess fatigue" in the popular culture during his time writing for [Cartoon Network](/source/Cartoon_Network) shows.[1][2] Brainstorming from this, he considered a children's work where many different princesses would be together in one place, dealing with having to live together. He originally called it *Princess Boot Camp*, where the princess characters would undergo rigorous training in a parody of a military-like [boot camp](/source/Recruit_training) approach.[2] As he began developing the book, he had read *[The Uses of Enchantment](/source/The_Uses_of_Enchantment)* by [Bruno Bettelheim](/source/Bruno_Bettelheim), which analyzed works like [Grimm's Fairy Tales](/source/Grimm's_Fairy_Tales) using [Freudian psychology](/source/Sigmund_Freud) and concluded that the darker elements of these stories enable children to help develop their emotions. Inspired by this analysis, Larson revamped his work over a six-year period to target a slightly older audience with scarier elements and with less humor.[2] The resulting book became *Pennyroyal Academy*, which centers on school for budding princesses and knights that train to fight approaching armies led by evil witches.[4] Larson noted that his experience with the characters of *Friendship Is Magic* resonated in his approach with *Pennyroyal Academy*.[2] *Pennyroyal Academy* was well received by critics; the *New York Times*'s Julie Klam called the work a "breathtakingly exciting novel", and despite the comparison to *[Harry Potter](/source/Harry_Potter)*, felt the work stood on its own.[4] Prior to publication, the work was picked up by [Reese Witherspoon](/source/Reese_Witherspoon)'s production company, Pacific Standard, for a film adaption.[5] Witherspoon, in her decision to pick up the work, stated that "there is a princess story that reflects the values young women truly want to embody … These princesses are strong, independent and fierce, and the knights are their match. In telling their story, Larson has created a magical universe that everyone will love to get lost in."[6] Larson has since written two sequels, *The Shadow Cadets of Pennyroyal Academy* (2016) and *The Warrior Princess of Pennyroyal Academy* (2017). ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-star_tribune_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-star_tribune_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-star_tribune_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-star_tribune_1-3) Ode, Kim (February 25, 2015). ["Brony king M.A. Larson visits hometown Burnsville with new novel"](http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/books/294072051.html). *[Minnesota Star Tribune](/source/Minnesota_Star_Tribune)*. Retrieved February 25, 2015.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-vice_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-vice_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-vice_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-vice_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-vice_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-vice_2-5) Ryan, Hugh (November 8, 2014). ["Brony King M.A. Larson Wrote a Novel About 'Pink Princess Culture'"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/brony-king-ma-larson-wrote-a-satirical-novel-about-pink-princess-culture-678/). *[Vice](/source/Vice_(magazine))*. Retrieved February 25, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["M.A. Larson | Writer, Script and Continuity Department, Producer"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1910191/). *IMDb*. Retrieved 2024-06-21. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nytimes_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nytimes_4-1) Klam, Julie (November 7, 2014). ["'Pennyroyal Academy' and 'The Princess in Black'"](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/books/review/pennyroyal-academy-and-the-princess-in-black.html?_r=0). *[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)*. Retrieved February 25, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Goldberg, Lesley (November 25, 2012). ["Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman to Star in David E. Kelley Limited Series"](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/reese-witherspoon-nicole-kidman-star-752316). *[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter)*. Retrieved February 25, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Kroll, Justin (March 21, 2012). ["Witherspoon banner developing 'Princess' pic"](https://variety.com/2012/film/news/witherspoon-banner-developing-princess-pic-1118051733/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. Retrieved February 25, 2015. ## External links - [Children's literature portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Children%27s_literature) - [M. A. Larson](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1910191/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [M. A. Larson](https://x.com/M_A_Larson) on [X](/source/X_(social_network)) Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States Czech Republic Poland Artists MusicBrainz Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [M. A. Larson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._A._Larson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._A._Larson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.