Exclusive: 'Weird Al' Yankovic graces 'My Little Pony'

There's a new pony in town, and he's a little bit weird.

If you've never checked out the Hub Network's hit animated series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, next month might be good time to start when "Weird Al" Yankovic drops by Ponyville for a special appearance.

The Feb. 1 ep, titled "Pinkie Pride," features Yankovic voicing a pony named Cheese Sandwich, an expert party planner and rival to regular character Pinkie Pie.

The appearance is particularly notable because it's happening on a show that isn't particularly known for featuring guest voices. Co-executive producer Jayson Thiessen, who directed the episode, told me the whole thing came together on Twitter.

"He tweeted a link to a video that some fans had made putting his music on clips of My Little Pony," Thiessen says. "Then I tweeted back to him, 'Weird Al and My LIttle Pony seem to go together really well. Would you ever do a voice gig on the show?'"

He adds, "That kind of got a big fan response. A year later, I got a direct message from him (saying), 'If you want me to come on the show, I'd love to do it.'"

Above you can see an exclusive image and clip from the episode, which Thiessen says should appeal to longtime fans and new viewers alike.

"(The episode) doesn't require too much prior knowledge, and it's got a lot of great songs," he says. "We went all out with the animation, and there's a couple special things that we've never done before."

As for whether Yankovic could return, Thiessen doesn't have any answers ... yet.

"Well, anything's possible, right? I think the role could be revisited for sure, but we'll have to see what the future holds."

The special "Weird Al" episode of My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic airs Feb. 1 at 10:30 a.m. ET on the Hub Network. Below is the official synopsis:

An elated Pinkie Pie is planning the biggest and best birthday party ever for Rainbow Dash, but when a strange new party planning pony named Cheese Sandwich rides into town, plans change. Soon, everyone is so excited about Cheese Sandwich's party that they forget about Pinkie Pie, causing her to question her own talents and abilities; however, Pinkie Pie's pride won't let her go down without an amazing, daring duel.