• The exaggerated boots/socks. This is actually a good idea because it visually links them to the equine heels of their original forms. It reflects their personalities pretty well.

• I like the red stroke on RD’s hair. It allows more visual balance between that and the rest of her since she has proportionately more hair and several hot-colored accents and gives her a hotblooded, commanding appearance.

• The literal ponytails. I don’t see that too much if at all in humanizations, and it’s a clever idea that links them perfectly.  
• The wings. They match the show.  
• The exaggerated boots/socks. This is actually a good idea because it visually links them to the equine heels of their original forms. It reflects their cutiemarks pretty well.  
• Crucially, their personalities are reflected well. Rarity poses like a model, has large starry eyes and a bright crystal hairband; her uniquely violet lipstick effectively softens her smile. You can tell right off she’s a diva who knows design. Fluttershy tilts back and shares the gentle eyes of her equine counterpart. Twilight proudly beams and smiles brightly as she looks at the audience. Even Applejack stands with one foot forward in a jaunty, able-bodied pose. Rainbow Dash has the most obvious pose, but it gets the point across.  
• And speaking of poses, THEY HAVE ACTUAL BODY LANGUAGE THIS TIME, rather than the copypasta we saw earlier.  
• I like the red stroke on RD’s hair. It allows more visual balance between that and the rest of her since she has proportionately more hair and several hot-colored accents.  
• They kept AJ’s hat.
   
  Possible Issues:  
• The mouths and lipstick on the first four. It makes them look generic.  
• The cutiemarks on the cheeks may be a tad excessive, especially since they appear elsewhere in their vestments. It’s easy to “overbrand” the cutiemarks.  
• The facial structures for Pinkie and Applejack do not fit. I think it could be tweaked, especially the eyes.  
• I think I can see the aesthetic reasons for AJ’s makeup, but it still does not befit her character at all. Furthermore, the freckles should be kept white. The brown freckles are consumbed by the surrounding gamboge.  
• The proportions (tiny hands, etc.) are worryingly close to a “Bratz” look rather than just a manga-like style.
   
  To reiterate, I believe this is a huge improvement, overall. Since stock art often differs from the actual show in small but important ways, I would not be surprised if many or all of these issues are resolved come show time.