Lauren Faust
A creative force who reinvigorated a toy franchise with genuine heart and complexity, creating a cultural phenomenon for all ages.
Born 1974 (age 52)·American animator, writer, voice director, and storyboard artist·Birthday: July 25·Generation X
Biography
Lauren Faust didn't just make cartoons; she built worlds that resonated deeply. Cutting her teeth as a writer and storyboard artist on her husband Craig McCracken's shows like *The Powerpuff Girls* and *Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends*, she honed a signature style that balanced sharp humor with emotional sincerity. Her career-defining moment came when Hasbro tasked her with rebooting *My Little Pony*. Instead of creating a simple commercial, Faust injected the project with her own childhood love of fantasy world-building. The result, *My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic*, was a revelation. She crafted distinct, relatable characters, layered storylines, and a tangible sense of place in Equestria. This approach unexpectedly captivated a massive audience beyond young girls, including a large adult male fanbase known as 'bronies.' Though she stepped back from the show after its second season, her foundational vision set the template for its enduring success. Later, she applied similar principles to *DC Super Hero Girls*, offering a fresh, character-driven take on superheroines.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Lauren was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lauren Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Lauren's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Developed and served as the creative force behind the first two seasons of *My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic*.
- Co-created the animated series *DC Super Hero Girls* (2019) for Cartoon Network.
- Was a key writer and storyboard artist on critically acclaimed series like *The Powerpuff Girls* and *Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends*.
- Won multiple awards for her work, including an Emmy for her role on *Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends*.
Did You Know?
She based the personality of the pony Rainbow Dash on her husband, animator Craig McCracken.
Faust originally envisioned the *My Little Pony* reboot as a more action-oriented show titled *The Adventures of My Little Pony*.
She provided the voice for minor characters in *Friendship Is Magic*, including the pony Mrs. Cake.
Before her animation career, she worked as a production assistant on the live-action film *The NeverEnding Story II*.
“I wanted to make a show that little girls could watch and feel empowered by.”
