With more than 30 years of rich storytelling founded in the values of kindness and acceptance, the MY LITTLE PONY franchise from Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) continues to illustrate the power of friendship and fun that resonates with fans around the world. To celebrate this year’s International Day of Friendship on July 30^th, the MY LITTLE PONY franchise is kicking off a global social movement with the release of two beautiful video montages and on-ground events around the world that focus on the socially relevant message of friendship.

In collaboration with digital media company SoulPancake, Hasbro released a video online today titled ‘Friendship Across the Globe,’ which highlights people of diverse ages and backgrounds around the world retelling the moments they realized they’d made a friend for life and what makes their friend so special to them. In the video, viewers are invited to explore how friendship is something unique that we each experience through our own distinct lenses. The video can be viewed on SoulPancake’s YouTube page, found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZqBtPGdBho&feature=youtu.be

In addition to the SoulPancake collaboration, Hasbro is thrilled to be presenting its first brand anthem for MY LITTLE PONY, created in collaboration with Grey New York titled, ‘Through the Eyes of a Friend,’ a unique social experiment that invited parents to hear how their child was doing in school; and surprised them with a report card from their child’s best friend. In this piece, parents are captivated by the true and honest perspective that these children have about their friends, and how important they are to one another. The video can be viewed on the MY LITTLE PONY YouTube page, found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S_cBtb57cc

“Friendship transcends age, gender, geography and background,” said Tyla Bucher, VP Franchise Lead, My Little Pony, Hasbro. “As we work to celebrate friendship across every aspect of the MY LITTLE PONY brand, we’re proud to continue to support and celebrate the International Day of Friendship. We hope this program brings people together as they are reminded of how special and important friendship is to everyone around the globe.”

Launching on July 30^th in the U.S., Hasbro will support a weeklong custom Snapchat Lens that brings the Mane 6 right to the Snapchat community. Lenses offer Snapchatters the ability to apply real-time effects and sounds to their selfies – the Mane 6 will become part of the communication on Snapchat in an interactive, fun, and personal way. In this case, Hasbro is supporting an interactive World Lens – when users flip their camera away from their face to the rear-facing lens, the Ponies’ homeland of Equestria appears. Users can move their camera around to see their favorite characters brought to life on their device.

Making the most of International Day of Friendship, the MY LITTLE PONY brand is also hosting friendship day events around the world in 12 different markets including the United States, Italy, Brazil, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Russia, Mexico and Singapore. In the U.S., everypony is invited to the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN to enjoy a “Celebration of Friendship” featuring multiple experiential MY LITTLE PONY themed events. Fans in Italy, Taiwan and Singapore will celebrate friendship with fitness as Friendship Runs are planned in all three markets. In Brazil, everypony will celebrate Dia Da Amizade with an outdoor event and Friendship Bus Tour. Generosity is key in the UK, where fans will give the gift of friendship with a special Buy One, Give one promotion in partnership with a local charity and BFF accessories designers Pop & Suki.

Giving fans even more reasons to celebrate the International Day of Friendship, Hasbro will release its new line MY LITTLE PONY toys that day. Inspired by characters and adventures from Lionsgate’s upcoming MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE, the new line of toys and figures features the beloved Mane Six as well as new characters. In MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE, a new dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane Six – Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity – embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship and save their home. The film opens in theaters on October 6 and features an all-star cast with Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Peña, Taye Diggs, Uzo Aduba, and Zoe Saldana, and Sia who also performs an original song for the movie.

For more information on the International Day of Friendship celebration with MY LITTLE PONY, please visit www.mylittlepony.com.