{{Short description|American screenwriter}} {{distinguish|text = [[Megan McCarthy]], the American soccer player}} {{Infobox person | name = Meghan McCarthy | image = | alt = | caption = Meghan | alma_mater = | occupation = {{hlist|||Writer|producer|lyricist}} | spouse = | children = | awards = | years_active = 2004–present }} '''Meghan McCarthy''' is an American [[screenwriter]], [[lyricist]], film and television [[Film producer|producer]], and creative executive best known as the showrunner of the animated television show ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]''. She is also known for her work on ''[[Class of 3000]]'' and ''[[Fish Hooks]]''.<ref name="variety"/> Since June 2015, she has been the Head of Storytelling for the entire [[My Little Pony]] and [[Littlest Pet Shop]] brands, helping to "create expansive worlds and characters".<ref name="variety"/>
McCarthy was a part of the original ''Friendship Is Magic'' crew, and was promoted as showrunner and story editor during season 2 after the departure of series creator and previous showrunner [[Lauren Faust]]. Overall, she was directly involved in the writing of 35 episodes, and wrote the lyrics of 25 [[List of songs in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|songs featured in the show]]; she also wrote the screenplays and lyrics of the spin-off films ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (film)|My Little Pony: Equestria Girls]]'' and ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks]]'', and ''[[My Little Pony: The Movie (2017 film)|My Little Pony: The Movie]]''.
==Career== In October 2010, she was invited by [[Lauren Faust]], the co-creator and producer for ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]'', to help write on [[Hasbro]]'s television revival of its ''My Little Pony'' franchise. McCarthy, on a writing hiatus at the time, was inspired to accept by Faust's dedication and the strong female characterization she had presented.<ref>{{cite book|last=Snider|first=Brandon T.|title=My Little Pony: The Elements of Harmony: Friendship is Magic: The Official Guidebook|year=2013|publisher=Little, Brown Books for Young Readers|isbn=978-0-316-24754-2}}</ref> In 2011, Faust left the show after the two-part [[The Return of Harmony|season two premiere]], and McCarthy was promoted to co-executive producer for its third season onward; she also served as the show's story editor.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Fourth-Season-of-MY-LITTLE-PONY-FRIENDSHIP-IS-MAGIC-to-Premiere-1123-on-The-Hub-20131023 | title = Fourth Season of MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC to Premiere 11/23 on The Hub | publisher = Broadway World | date = October 23, 2013 | access-date = June 4, 2015 | archive-date = October 20, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141020042546/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Fourth-Season-of-MY-LITTLE-PONY-FRIENDSHIP-IS-MAGIC-to-Premiere-1123-on-The-Hub-20131023 | url-status = live }}</ref> In early June 2015, Hasbro promoted McCarthy to become the company's new "Head of Storytelling" for their brands, ''My Little Pony'' and ''Littlest Pet Shop''; her role will be to help "create expansive worlds and characters" across these brands, according to Hasbro's executive vice president Stephen Davis.<ref name="variety"/>
In addition, McCarthy has written and helped produce the spin-off films, ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (film)|My Little Pony: Equestria Girls]]'' and its [[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks|sequel]]. She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for "Outstanding Original Song - Children's and Animation" for her lyrics in the ''Friendship Is Magic'' episode "Sweet and Elite".<ref name="NATAS 2012 CA Wins">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_1112_creative_arts_winners_v02.pdf |title=The 39th Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Award Winners |publisher=emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |access-date=June 20, 2013 |date=June 14, 2013 |location=New York |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703005239/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_1112_creative_arts_winners_v02.pdf |archive-date=July 3, 2015 }}</ref>
On November 3, 2017, [[Hasbro Studios]] and [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] extended their relationship with an exclusive five year production deal for Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation for original and toy based films. Both Allspark units are newly formed (Allspark Pictures formerly was a financing label) with the film unit head by Greg Mooradian and the animation unit head by Meghan McCarthy. Paramount and Hasbro would also work together on TV series.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lang|first1=Brent|title=Paramount, Hasbro Sign Five-Year Distribution, Production Pact|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/paramount-hasbro-sign-5-year-distribution-production-pact-1202606260/|access-date=November 6, 2017|work=Variety|date=November 3, 2017|archive-date=November 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106095258/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/paramount-hasbro-sign-5-year-distribution-production-pact-1202606260/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following Hasbro’s purchase of [[Entertainment One]] in 2019, though, Allspark would later close down and be absorbed into the newly-acquired production company.
==Filmography== ===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Writer !! Co-executive<br />producer !! Lyricist !! Notes |- | 2004–2006 | ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | |- | 2006–2007 | ''[[Class of 3000]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | Also staff writer and story editor<br />Wrote 6 episodes |- | 2010–2019 | ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Writer from 2010-2016 <br />Showrunner from 2012-2016<br />Story editor from 2012-2015<br />Co-executive producer from 2013-2015 and 2018–2019<br />Wrote 35 episodes, 25 songs |- | 2011–2013 | ''[[Fish Hooks]]'' | {{partial|Story}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | 27 episodes |- | 2017–2019 | ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (web series)|My Little Pony: Equestria Girls]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2018–2019 | ''[[Littlest Pet Shop: A World of Our Own]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | rowspan="3" |2018 | ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Forgotten Friendship]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rollercoaster of Friendship]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | ''[[My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2019–2021 | ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | rowspan="3" |2019 | ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Spring Breakdown]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | ''[[My Little Pony: Rainbow Roadtrip]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Sunset's Backstage Pass]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2021 | ''[[Centaurworld]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} |Story editor<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/netflix-orders-centaurworld-animated-series-1235591 | title = Animated Kids' Series 'Centaurworld' a Go at Netflix | first = Rick | last = Porter | date = September 3, 2019 | access-date = September 4, 2019 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | archive-date = September 26, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200926120236/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/netflix-orders-centaurworld-animated-series-1235591 | url-status = live }}</ref> |- | 2025 | ''[[Bearbrick (TV series)|Bearbrick]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Writer<br />Showrunner<br />executive producer<ref>{{cite web|title=Apple TV+ Tunes Up 'BE@RBRICK' Animated Series with First-Look Images|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/02/apple-tv-tunes-up-berbrick-animated-series-with-first-look-images/|website=[[Animation Magazine]]|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|date=February 18, 2025|access-date=March 7, 2025|archive-date=March 8, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250308013254/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/02/apple-tv-tunes-up-berbrick-animated-series-with-first-look-images/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
==== ''Friendship Is Magic'' detailed writing credits ==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Season ! Episode |- | 2010 | rowspan=4 | 1 | "[[Dragonshy]]" |- | rowspan=5 | 2011 | "[[Call of the Cutie]]" |- | "[[Green Isn't Your Color]]" |- | "[[Party of One]]" |- | rowspan=5 | 2 | "[[Lesson Zero]]" |- | "[[Sweet and Elite]]" |- | rowspan=5 | 2012 | "[[Hearts and Hooves Day]]" |- | "[[A Canterlot Wedding]]" (Part 1) |- | "A Canterlot Wedding" (Part 2) |- | rowspan=2 | 3 | "[[The Crystal Empire]]" (Part 1) |- | "The Crystal Empire" (Part 2) |- | rowspan=3 | 2013 | rowspan=7 | 4 | "[[Princess Twilight Sparkle (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episodes)|Princess Twilight Sparkle]]" (Part 1) |- | "Princess Twilight Sparkle" (Part 2) |- | "[[Power Ponies]]" |- | rowspan=4 | 2014 | "[[Three's a Crowd (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)|Three's a Crowd]]" |- | "[[Inspiration Manifestation]]" |- | "[[Twilight's Kingdom]]" (Part 1) |- | 'Twilight's Kingdom" (Part 2) |- | rowspan=3 | 2015 | rowspan=3 | 5 | "[[The Cutie Map]]" (Part 1) |- | "The Cutie Map" (Part 2) |- | "Rarity Investigates!" |- | rowspan=5 | 2016 | rowspan=5 | 6 | "Flutter Brutter" |- | "28 Pranks Later" |- | "The Fault in Our Cutie Marks" |- | "Where the Apple Lies" |- | "Top Bolt" |}
===Film=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Writer !! Executive<br />producer !! Lyricist !! Notes |- | 2013 | ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (film)|My Little Pony: Equestria Girls]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes|Co-executive producer}} | {{yes}} | Wrote 3 songs |- | 2014 | ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes|Co-executive producer}} | {{yes}} | Wrote 8 songs |- | 2016 | ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Legend of Everfree]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes|Co-executive producer}} | {{no}} | |- | 2017 | ''[[My Little Pony: The Movie (2017 film)|My Little Pony: The Movie]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Wrote the song "Open Up Your Eyes" |- |2021 |''[[My Little Pony: A New Generation]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |}
===''My Little Pony'' lyric credits=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Song !! Episode/film |- | 2010 | "Hop Skip and Jump" | "Dragonshy" |- |rowspan=3|2011 | "Cupcake Song" | "Call of the Cutie" |- | "Pinkie Pie's Singing Telegram" | "Party of One" |- | "Becoming Popular (The Pony Everypony Should Know)" | "Sweet and Elite" |- | rowspan=9|2012 | "The Perfect Stallion" | "[[Hearts and Hooves Day]]" |- | "B.B.B.F.F." | rowspan=5| "[[A Canterlot Wedding]]" |- | "B.B.B.F.F. (Reprise)" |- | "[[This Day Aria]]" |- | "This Day Aria (Reprise)" |- | "Love Is in Bloom" |- | "The Failure Song" | rowspan=3|"[[The Crystal Empire]]" |- | "The Ballad of the Crystal Empire" |- | "The Success Song" |- |rowspan=3|2013 | "Equestria Girls" |rowspan=3|''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (film)|Equestria Girls]]'' |- | "Time to Come Together" |- | "This Is Our Big Night" |- | rowspan=9|2014 | "You'll Play Your Part" | rowspan=2|"[[Twilight's Kingdom]]" |- | "Let the Rainbow Remind You" |- | "Better Than Ever" | rowspan=7|''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks|Rainbow Rocks]]'' |- | "Battle" |- | "Bad Counter Spell" |- | "Under Our Spell" |- | "Tricks Up My Sleeve" |- | "Awesome as I Wanna Be" |- | "Welcome to the Show" |- | 2017 | "Open Up Your Eyes" | ''[[My Little Pony: The Movie (2017 film)|My Little Pony: The Movie]]'' |}
==References== <references> <ref name="variety">{{Cite web | url = https://variety.com/2015/biz/news/hasbro-meghan-mccarthy-head-of-storytelling-1201512550/ | title = Hasbro Ups 'My Little Pony' Writer Meghan McCarthy to Head of Storytelling | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = June 4, 2015 | access-date = June 4, 2015 | first = Reece | last = Ristau | archive-date = June 5, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150605041820/https://variety.com/2015/biz/news/hasbro-meghan-mccarthy-head-of-storytelling-1201512550/ | url-status = live }}</ref> </references>
==External links== * {{Twitter|MMeghanMcCarthy}} * {{IMDb name|id=2436273|name= Meghan McCarthy}} {{My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Meghan}} [[Category:American television producers]] [[Category:American women film producers]] [[Category:American women screenwriters]] [[Category:American women television writers]] [[Category:American television writers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American women television producers]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]