It's full of ponies.
September 16, 2011 10:39 PM Subscribe
On the eve of the show's second season debut, My Little Ponies creative director and former showrunner Lauren Faust was kind enough to grant a retrospective interview looking back at season 1.
(Previously, previously and previously.)
I think it's because we all understand that Friendship really is Magic, and there really needs to be a bastion of pop culture reminding us of that in the face of all those forces in the world that push us towards despair and cynicism.
posted by kaibutsu at 11:06 PM on September 16, 2011 [16 favorites]
posted by kaibutsu at 11:06 PM on September 16, 2011 [16 favorites]
homunculus: It's worth mentioning for context, the horse head dude is just brushing the schoolgirls hair into a ponytail.
Creepy as all hell, yes, but not as bad as one might expect from a Japanese cartoon where a girl in a schoolgirl outfit is jumped by a strange man in a mask.
posted by Grimgrin at 11:29 PM on September 16, 2011
Creepy as all hell, yes, but not as bad as one might expect from a Japanese cartoon where a girl in a schoolgirl outfit is jumped by a strange man in a mask.
posted by Grimgrin at 11:29 PM on September 16, 2011
Grown men watch this show and have arguments about who is the best pony.
I've seen them do it.
posted by schwa at 12:00 AM on September 17, 2011 [10 favorites]
I've seen them do it.
posted by schwa at 12:00 AM on September 17, 2011 [10 favorites]
Sooooooo played.
posted by ShutterBun at 12:10 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by ShutterBun at 12:10 AM on September 17, 2011
In case your meter is broken, I'll point out that it seems you may have a bit of an irony deficiency.
posted by ODiV at 12:50 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by ODiV at 12:50 AM on September 17, 2011
Yes, Horselover Phattie, you may have irony-poor blood.
posted by Malor at 12:54 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Malor at 12:54 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
i see this and i have to go reread The Road to feel like a man again
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 1:04 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 1:04 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
I suggest upping your intake of irony rich foods, such as carrot cake or avocado.
posted by ODiV at 1:04 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ODiV at 1:04 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Horselover Phattie: "If I was a touch more paranoid, I'd be convinced that this whole MLP revival business was some kind of conspiracy to break my irony meter."
My irony meter broke when I realised that grown men really did have arguments over which of the 22 men on the pitch kicked the inflatable ball the best.
who will think of the GROWN MEN
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:06 AM on September 17, 2011 [15 favorites]
My irony meter broke when I realised that grown men really did have arguments over which of the 22 men on the pitch kicked the inflatable ball the best.
who will think of the GROWN MEN
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:06 AM on September 17, 2011 [15 favorites]
On topic, this is a fascinating look behind the scenes of modern cartoon production, largely because of what Faust was able to keep in from her original ideas:
The lesson taken from this by the industry, I suspect, will probably not be "let your creatives have more control" but "more tomboys! more horses in cowboy hats!" much as it was with, say, Zim.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:20 AM on September 17, 2011 [9 favorites]
The characterizations of Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were a worry to some as well. It was thought that Rainbow was too boyish and our target audience wouldn’t relate to her, and it was also thought that Pinkie Pie would be irritating and off-putting. There was even a lot of debate and concern over Applejack’s accent. I spent a lot of time trying to reassure everyone that they would be lovable characters. In the case of Pinkie, once everyone was finally comfortable that she wasn’t annoying, we got to make her as zany as I had always envisioned her as the season went on. It’s a testament to Hasbro that they put their faith in us as they did.Imagining MLP with these characterisations watered down pretty much gives you any number of bland kids' cartoons which didn't achieve the crossover appeal of FIM.
The lesson taken from this by the industry, I suspect, will probably not be "let your creatives have more control" but "more tomboys! more horses in cowboy hats!" much as it was with, say, Zim.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:20 AM on September 17, 2011 [9 favorites]
Tomboy character, unusual accent, and zany behavior allowed to appear in children's cartoon. This is truly uncharted territory.
posted by ShutterBun at 1:23 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by ShutterBun at 1:23 AM on September 17, 2011
@shutterbun want to come to my The Road reading
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 1:27 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 1:27 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
ShutterBun: "Tomboy character, unusual accent, and zany behavior allowed to appear in children's cartoon. This is truly uncharted territory."
Well, it kind of is for My Little Pony. Of course, since you just want to rag on this I'll get out of your way.
woo mefi
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:29 AM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
Well, it kind of is for My Little Pony. Of course, since you just want to rag on this I'll get out of your way.
woo mefi
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:29 AM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
I have to wonder if Lauren Faust is aware of the truly staggering amount of porn this show has managed to generate in it's short run, and if so, what her thoughts on it are.
posted by Grimgrin at 1:44 AM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Grimgrin at 1:44 AM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
The most irony-rich food you can eat right now is Horse Meat. Of course, if you're also a Muppets fan (and aren't we all?) try some Frog Legs and Bacon.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:47 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:47 AM on September 17, 2011
Appreciate the leeway.
woo mefi
Gasp...someone in your favorite web community doesn't love what you love. How will you handle such a thing?
posted by ShutterBun at 1:48 AM on September 17, 2011
woo mefi
Gasp...someone in your favorite web community doesn't love what you love. How will you handle such a thing?
posted by ShutterBun at 1:48 AM on September 17, 2011
ShutterBun: "Gasp...someone in your favorite web community doesn't love what you love. How will you handle such a thing?"
Metatalk.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 2:29 AM on September 17, 2011 [7 favorites]
Metatalk.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 2:29 AM on September 17, 2011 [7 favorites]
This is one of those things that I only know people are into via the internet, kinda like pokemon, but fuck it, bring on the posts. I'm sure someday soon I will be addicted and spend days straight catching up, so thank god for the Internet for telling me about stuff I never knew about.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:31 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by Ad hominem at 2:31 AM on September 17, 2011
I have to wonder if Lauren Faust is aware of the truly staggering amount of porn this show has managed to generate in it's short run, and if so, what her thoughts on it are.
She admits to reading ponychan and equestria daily. She KNOWS what the bronies clop to.
posted by strixus at 2:34 AM on September 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
She admits to reading ponychan and equestria daily. She KNOWS what the bronies clop to.
posted by strixus at 2:34 AM on September 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
Grown men watch this show and have arguments about who is the best pony.
I've seen them do it.
Ugh. It's just so ridiculous that grown men are wasting their time on this kind of stupid, childish argument when it's obviously Rainbow Dash.
posted by running order squabble fest at 3:28 AM on September 17, 2011 [25 favorites]
I've seen them do it.
Ugh. It's just so ridiculous that grown men are wasting their time on this kind of stupid, childish argument when it's obviously Rainbow Dash.
posted by running order squabble fest at 3:28 AM on September 17, 2011 [25 favorites]
Hate detected.
Rainbow Dash? Please, Pinkie pony best pony.
As the parent of a girl, it's nice to have another choice for something better than Pixar for my daughter to watch. You know, entertainment where female characters are the *centre* of the show, not grudgingly-added sidekicks or nonexistant. And where the pricipal character is notable for her smarts. And the fact it's got a male audience is a nice stake through the heart of the argument studios can't have girl-focused kids entertainment because boys won't watch it, but girls will watch boy-focused entertainment, so we get, well, Pixar, who a lauded for having gender representation that would make Walt-era Disney look regressive.
Of course, nothing's perfect, and FiM does have its creepy ascpects.
She KNOWS what the bronies clop to.
hurf-durf. But seriously, she interacts a lot and stuff like DJ Pon3 and Dr Whooves are nice touches for the adult side-audience. As long as it doesn't take over the show, it's a nice extra layer.
posted by rodgerd at 3:47 AM on September 17, 2011 [10 favorites]
Rainbow Dash? Please, Pinkie pony best pony.
As the parent of a girl, it's nice to have another choice for something better than Pixar for my daughter to watch. You know, entertainment where female characters are the *centre* of the show, not grudgingly-added sidekicks or nonexistant. And where the pricipal character is notable for her smarts. And the fact it's got a male audience is a nice stake through the heart of the argument studios can't have girl-focused kids entertainment because boys won't watch it, but girls will watch boy-focused entertainment, so we get, well, Pixar, who a lauded for having gender representation that would make Walt-era Disney look regressive.
Of course, nothing's perfect, and FiM does have its creepy ascpects.
She KNOWS what the bronies clop to.
hurf-durf. But seriously, she interacts a lot and stuff like DJ Pon3 and Dr Whooves are nice touches for the adult side-audience. As long as it doesn't take over the show, it's a nice extra layer.
posted by rodgerd at 3:47 AM on September 17, 2011 [10 favorites]
>>I have to wonder if Lauren Faust is aware of the truly staggering amount of porn this show has managed to generate in it's short run, and if so, what her thoughts on it are.
>She admits to reading ponychan and equestria daily. She KNOWS what the bronies clop to.
I go to the pony fan sites once in a while, and I'd say, though it's difficult to control for, there is probably less porn for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic than the average, relative to the show's popularity and the time it's been out, than, say, Sonic the Literally Fucking Hedgehog. What there is a lot of, however, is "shipping," the posing of romantic relationships between characters, which is similar but not the same thing. Fanfic is mostly off my personal list though (excluding fairly well done Michael Bay crossovers) so it's not like I've performed a survey of this stuff.
My guess is that there is something "Pokemon" flavored about the characters[...]
Oh I'm so glad there's not.
woo mefi
Sigh. Look, I like the new My Little Pony as much as anyone, but even I know it's simply asking too much to expect everyone else to like it too. It's things like this that the Orbital Friendship Cannon is for, so go get behind the sights and start aiming and tolerating.
Tomboy character, unusual accent, and zany behavior allowed to appear in children's cartoon.
It's not the characters, it's how character is expressed.
posted by JHarris at 3:51 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
>She admits to reading ponychan and equestria daily. She KNOWS what the bronies clop to.
I go to the pony fan sites once in a while, and I'd say, though it's difficult to control for, there is probably less porn for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic than the average, relative to the show's popularity and the time it's been out, than, say, Sonic the Literally Fucking Hedgehog. What there is a lot of, however, is "shipping," the posing of romantic relationships between characters, which is similar but not the same thing. Fanfic is mostly off my personal list though (excluding fairly well done Michael Bay crossovers) so it's not like I've performed a survey of this stuff.
My guess is that there is something "Pokemon" flavored about the characters[...]
Oh I'm so glad there's not.
woo mefi
Sigh. Look, I like the new My Little Pony as much as anyone, but even I know it's simply asking too much to expect everyone else to like it too. It's things like this that the Orbital Friendship Cannon is for, so go get behind the sights and start aiming and tolerating.
Tomboy character, unusual accent, and zany behavior allowed to appear in children's cartoon.
It's not the characters, it's how character is expressed.
posted by JHarris at 3:51 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Sonic the Literally Fucking Hedgehog
Always worth glimage searching for "[x] the hedgehog" if you're bored and want to see something horrifying.
JHarris: "Sigh. Look, I like the new My Little Pony as much as anyone, but even I know it's simply asking too much to expect everyone else to like it too."
Absolutely. I do sort of expect people who don't appear to want to express any of kind of substantive, conversational criticism to lay off the "yeah, this sucks," vapourchat, especially when there are people who might actually want to talk about it in the thread. All covered in that metatalk post though, I guess.
rodgerd: "As the parent of a girl, it's nice to have another choice for something better than Pixar for my daughter to watch"
The one gender-swapped episode of Adventure Time has developed a huge following among AT fans, with many -- including me -- finding it one of the most charming and enjoyable episodes of the show. I'm always surprised that more stuff like MLP and Fionna and Cake isn't made, given that there is clearly an enormous appetite out there for girl stuff that isn't, say, Bratz.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 3:58 AM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
Always worth glimage searching for "[x] the hedgehog" if you're bored and want to see something horrifying.
JHarris: "Sigh. Look, I like the new My Little Pony as much as anyone, but even I know it's simply asking too much to expect everyone else to like it too."
Absolutely. I do sort of expect people who don't appear to want to express any of kind of substantive, conversational criticism to lay off the "yeah, this sucks," vapourchat, especially when there are people who might actually want to talk about it in the thread. All covered in that metatalk post though, I guess.
rodgerd: "As the parent of a girl, it's nice to have another choice for something better than Pixar for my daughter to watch"
The one gender-swapped episode of Adventure Time has developed a huge following among AT fans, with many -- including me -- finding it one of the most charming and enjoyable episodes of the show. I'm always surprised that more stuff like MLP and Fionna and Cake isn't made, given that there is clearly an enormous appetite out there for girl stuff that isn't, say, Bratz.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 3:58 AM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
She KNOWS what the bronies clop to.
This just made my day.
posted by flippant at 4:01 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
This just made my day.
posted by flippant at 4:01 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Rainbow Dash is awesome. It's so good to see positive gay role models on children's programming.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:43 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:43 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
rodgerd : Pinkie pie certainly has some interesting alternate character interpretations (NSFW).
And you're both wrong, the best pony is Fluttershy.
posted by Grimgrin at 5:07 AM on September 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
And you're both wrong, the best pony is Fluttershy.
posted by Grimgrin at 5:07 AM on September 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
I'm always surprised that more stuff like MLP and Fionna and Cake isn't made, given that there is clearly an enormous appetite out there for girl stuff that isn't, say, Bratz.
The reason there isn't is the same reason there's so much crap on TV, that most video games fall into the same categories of FPS, RPG or sports, and that braindead action movies dominate Hollywood. It's that the processes that rule the entertainment media are extremely conservative, not in the political sense, but in the risk-adverse sense.
When you produce something that requires a lot of money to create, it is natural to try to protect your investment as best you can. The more money spent, the more you protect it. That means not taking risks, doing things that have worked before, and generally trying to cover your ass from accusations that you were stupid/an idiot/obviously asleep at the wheel for trying it, which all tend to be declared after the fact as if foresight had the same clarity as hindsight.
This is the reason there's a burgeoning indie movement in video game development, three things came into alignment there: the costs of A-list game development increased to a tipping point; the executives in charge of development in response reined in their support for risk taking in response; interesting ideas expose in the marketplace slowed to a trickle; frustrated game developers and players together found another, less risky way to explore those ideas.
MLP:FiM was probably allowed to take greater risks due to the reputation of its creator, but even more so because the show was made with Flash (which makes symbol reuse much easier and flexible than traditional and thus greatly cuts down on asset creation) instead of traditional animation, and thus was cheaper to produce than the average show. The production team's facility with Flash helped to smooth over the problems there. There are notes in Faust's interview that there were storyboarded shots she at first rejected as impossible to do in Flash that the team responded, no, we can do this -- and did.
Thus the animators, and their unexpected facility with Flash, are the unsung heroes here. (Even though fans picking through the show frame by frame have found a lot of animation glitches.)
posted by JHarris at 5:21 AM on September 17, 2011 [13 favorites]
The reason there isn't is the same reason there's so much crap on TV, that most video games fall into the same categories of FPS, RPG or sports, and that braindead action movies dominate Hollywood. It's that the processes that rule the entertainment media are extremely conservative, not in the political sense, but in the risk-adverse sense.
When you produce something that requires a lot of money to create, it is natural to try to protect your investment as best you can. The more money spent, the more you protect it. That means not taking risks, doing things that have worked before, and generally trying to cover your ass from accusations that you were stupid/an idiot/obviously asleep at the wheel for trying it, which all tend to be declared after the fact as if foresight had the same clarity as hindsight.
This is the reason there's a burgeoning indie movement in video game development, three things came into alignment there: the costs of A-list game development increased to a tipping point; the executives in charge of development in response reined in their support for risk taking in response; interesting ideas expose in the marketplace slowed to a trickle; frustrated game developers and players together found another, less risky way to explore those ideas.
MLP:FiM was probably allowed to take greater risks due to the reputation of its creator, but even more so because the show was made with Flash (which makes symbol reuse much easier and flexible than traditional and thus greatly cuts down on asset creation) instead of traditional animation, and thus was cheaper to produce than the average show. The production team's facility with Flash helped to smooth over the problems there. There are notes in Faust's interview that there were storyboarded shots she at first rejected as impossible to do in Flash that the team responded, no, we can do this -- and did.
Thus the animators, and their unexpected facility with Flash, are the unsung heroes here. (Even though fans picking through the show frame by frame have found a lot of animation glitches.)
posted by JHarris at 5:21 AM on September 17, 2011 [13 favorites]
This is one of those things I was only vaguely aware because it seems like half of everyone who posts on the internet nowadays has a My Little Pony avatar.
posted by Veritron at 6:14 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by Veritron at 6:14 AM on September 17, 2011
Argh, can't read thread because I'm stuck at work all day and I don't want to be spoiled!
posted by furiousxgeorge at 6:58 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by furiousxgeorge at 6:58 AM on September 17, 2011
FOUR things, FOUR things came into alignment for-- hold on, I'll start again.
posted by JHarris at 7:01 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 7:01 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Grown men watch this show and have arguments about who is the best pony.
Fluffernutter's the best one.
posted by scalefree at 7:31 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fluffernutter's the best one.
posted by scalefree at 7:31 AM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fluffernutter is a pretty porny name.
posted by hippybear at 7:34 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 7:34 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Fluffernutter is not prepared for every dining possibility. Twilight Sporkle is better.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 8:34 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 8:34 AM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
What the fuck is wrong with you people--Applejack is obviously the best Pony.
posted by PinkMoose at 8:41 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by PinkMoose at 8:41 AM on September 17, 2011
That was actually a really fun episode. The guest star was perfectly chosen
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 9:59 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 9:59 AM on September 17, 2011
So I just started playing Goat Up, the iOS game Jeff Minter (of Llamasoft, Tempest 2000, Attack of the Mutant Camels and Minotron fame) released today. I collected a powerup and heard the game utter a subtle, feminine "yay".
I thought, could it be? Nah.
Then a bit later I heard "woo-hoo!" and "you rock!"
DAMMIT NOW THIS SHOW IS FOLLOWING ME AROUND.
posted by JHarris at 11:02 AM on September 17, 2011
I thought, could it be? Nah.
Then a bit later I heard "woo-hoo!" and "you rock!"
DAMMIT NOW THIS SHOW IS FOLLOWING ME AROUND.
posted by JHarris at 11:02 AM on September 17, 2011
I was wondering if there would be a Mefi thread come the new season... Very pleased with the quality of the first episode. A lot of people were worried that once Hasbro became aware of the periphery demographic, they'd start pandering, or that the new episodes couldn't possible live up to the hype that's been building up these past months - but so far, so good.
Fluttershy is best pony
posted by Gordafarin at 11:10 AM on September 17, 2011
Fluttershy is best pony
posted by Gordafarin at 11:10 AM on September 17, 2011
JHarris: is Goat Up any good? I wasn't going to bother after I was disappointed by his last iOS game.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 11:13 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 11:13 AM on September 17, 2011
First episode is up on YouTube! It's really good! It's the first part of a two parter but it still feels like a complete episode! They do a good job of explaining the backstory without getting too bogged down by bring people up to speed (I does mean the main action doesn't begin until halfway through the episode, but they meter in some really good gags along the way). Go watch!
posted by The Devil Tesla at 11:42 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by The Devil Tesla at 11:42 AM on September 17, 2011
Wait Wait Don't Tell Me asks Bill Clinton about MLP.
posted by Evilspork at 11:52 AM on September 17, 2011
posted by Evilspork at 11:52 AM on September 17, 2011
What the fuck is wrong with you people--Applejack is obviously the best Pony.
That's certainly what my daughter thinks.
posted by rodgerd at 12:25 PM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
That's certainly what my daughter thinks.
posted by rodgerd at 12:25 PM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Annd we have have a AMV style youtubery already.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 12:32 PM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by The Devil Tesla at 12:32 PM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Devil Tesla: "First episode is up on YouTube!"
SPOILER: I knew the fucking CMCs would be the ones to cause the end of the world. Especially Scootaloo.
also I love the Q flashes for everything Discord does, although I kept expecting him to say, "Mon Capitan."
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:09 PM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
SPOILER: I knew the fucking CMCs would be the ones to cause the end of the world. Especially Scootaloo.
also I love the Q flashes for everything Discord does, although I kept expecting him to say, "Mon Capitan."
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:09 PM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
Yay, a place to tell this story.
Ok, so we went to the movie a few weeks ago, and I was standing in the popcorn line. The guy at the counter was sporting MLP buttons on his sash. I complimented him on them, and swear to God, his eyes teared up.
"You noticed! You watch the show?" Yes, I said, it's a good show. He turns to the guy next to him, rolling his eyes. "I TOLD you someone would notice!!" Turning to me, "You totally made my day! Oh my god!"
Oh and Rainbow Dash is the best pony, sheesh.
posted by emjaybee at 1:10 PM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
Ok, so we went to the movie a few weeks ago, and I was standing in the popcorn line. The guy at the counter was sporting MLP buttons on his sash. I complimented him on them, and swear to God, his eyes teared up.
"You noticed! You watch the show?" Yes, I said, it's a good show. He turns to the guy next to him, rolling his eyes. "I TOLD you someone would notice!!" Turning to me, "You totally made my day! Oh my god!"
Oh and Rainbow Dash is the best pony, sheesh.
posted by emjaybee at 1:10 PM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
emjaybee: "Oh and Rainbow Dash is the best pony, sheesh."
I have updated my gender and occupation better to reflect Best Pony.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:16 PM on September 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
I have updated my gender and occupation better to reflect Best Pony.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:16 PM on September 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
God, further in GoatUp is a level called the "Pinkie Pie Factory."
posted by JHarris at 2:28 PM on September 17, 2011
posted by JHarris at 2:28 PM on September 17, 2011
(The creepiest thing about My Little Pony? The ham sandwiches.)
posted by rodgerd at 2:48 PM on September 17, 2011
posted by rodgerd at 2:48 PM on September 17, 2011
"I finally got my cutie mark! It's a... little pictogram of the apocalypse starting. My special talent!"
posted by Wolfdog at 2:50 PM on September 17, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 2:50 PM on September 17, 2011 [7 favorites]
Rainbow Dash is awesome. It's so good to see positive gay role models on children's programming.
Lauren Faust has stated that (paraphrasing) she is not gay, and you should be ashamed for assuming that when any of them could be.
My money is on Applejack.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 3:26 PM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Lauren Faust has stated that (paraphrasing) she is not gay, and you should be ashamed for assuming that when any of them could be.
My money is on Applejack.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 3:26 PM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Wolfdog: ""I finally got my cutie mark! It's a... little pictogram of the apocalypse starting. My special talent!""
"What would the cutie mark of a pony whose special talent is regicide look like anyway?"
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 3:28 PM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
"What would the cutie mark of a pony whose special talent is regicide look like anyway?"
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 3:28 PM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Rarity is the best pony and she knows where you live.
posted by ursus_comiter at 3:39 PM on September 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by ursus_comiter at 3:39 PM on September 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
The show is great; this live-action whatever-thingy, not so much. Shudder.
posted by emjaybee at 3:44 PM on September 17, 2011
posted by emjaybee at 3:44 PM on September 17, 2011
An axe, surely. Or maybe a stone mask.
posted by rodgerd at 3:48 PM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Rarity is the best pony and she knows where you live.
Fluttershy is best pony, and she has The Stare.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 3:57 PM on September 17, 2011
Fluttershy is best pony, and she has The Stare.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 3:57 PM on September 17, 2011
Pinkie Pie is the best pony, and she's a manifestation of Nyarlathotep.
posted by JHarris at 3:58 PM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 3:58 PM on September 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
John de Lancie was BORN to play malevolent trickster Gods.
ArmyOfKittens: This maybe?
posted by Grimgrin at 5:02 PM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
ArmyOfKittens: This maybe?
posted by Grimgrin at 5:02 PM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Fuck all y'all. Twilight Sparkle is the best pony. Also, I have no interest in ATW Finn and Jake but would watch the hell out of ATW Fiona and Cake. That episode was great.
posted by nooneyouknow at 5:22 PM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by nooneyouknow at 5:22 PM on September 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
So when ponies receive their cutie marks (the pictures on their flanks), it's considered their "coming-of-age" and they hold a "cute-ceañera" party to celebrate it.
I just died of squee.
posted by flex at 7:52 PM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
I just died of squee.
posted by flex at 7:52 PM on September 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
i continue to be disappointed by the error of mefis ways
posted by PinkMoose at 8:37 PM on September 17, 2011
posted by PinkMoose at 8:37 PM on September 17, 2011
I asked my almost-five-year-old which pony is the best pony, and she looked at me like I was as dumb as cheese and said "Princess Celestia, OF COURSE."
Then she said "But apart from her? Rainbow Dash."
posted by KathrynT at 10:30 PM on September 17, 2011
Then she said "But apart from her? Rainbow Dash."
posted by KathrynT at 10:30 PM on September 17, 2011
emjaybee: "The show is great; this live-action whatever-thingy, not so much. Shudder."
I dunno, the whole thing was worth it for 12:34. The rest of it though…
On the other hand, the kids in the crowd seemed to like it and, like the show itself, it made me wish I wasn't so bitter, jaded, and angry so that I could like it too.
posted by ob1quixote at 11:44 PM on September 17, 2011
I dunno, the whole thing was worth it for 12:34. The rest of it though…
What?
On the other hand, the kids in the crowd seemed to like it and, like the show itself, it made me wish I wasn't so bitter, jaded, and angry so that I could like it too.
posted by ob1quixote at 11:44 PM on September 17, 2011
Anyway, to address something from the interview, rather than general MLP squee: it's interesting that Faust has so much trouble getting adventure stories green-lit because of fears over the effect on the viewers. The only time my 4 year old has freaked the fuck out over MLP was the episode where Spike is competing with the owl for Twilight's affection, and starts trying to sabotage the owl.
About the time he stole the fake mouse and started ripping it up, my daughter started rocking back and forward, keening "no, no, he mustn't" and things went south from there, getting even more upset about the running away from home sequence. *None* of the adventures have upset her.
posted by rodgerd at 12:52 AM on September 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
About the time he stole the fake mouse and started ripping it up, my daughter started rocking back and forward, keening "no, no, he mustn't" and things went south from there, getting even more upset about the running away from home sequence. *None* of the adventures have upset her.
posted by rodgerd at 12:52 AM on September 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'll point out that Fluttershy was the only one who couldn't be manipulated and had to be straight up jacked. Also, she's way ahead on both Dragons, Basilisks, AND Gryphons subdued.
Best. Pony.
posted by Grimgrin at 2:44 AM on September 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
Best. Pony.
posted by Grimgrin at 2:44 AM on September 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
Wait... that was a Chimera wasn't it? Damn. Still point stands.
posted by Grimgrin at 2:44 AM on September 18, 2011
posted by Grimgrin at 2:44 AM on September 18, 2011
Cockatrice. It was a cockatrice. My 4 year old has been explaining what a cockatrice is to people ever since that episode. Mostly along the lines of "...and this is how we place the cockatrice game".
posted by rodgerd at 3:12 AM on September 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rodgerd at 3:12 AM on September 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Rodgerd, that sounds more awesome than words
ase
posted by PinkMoose at 3:54 AM on September 18, 2011
ase
posted by PinkMoose at 3:54 AM on September 18, 2011
I like MLP, but this thread is really hard to read as a casual watcher. It reads like polari in here.
posted by frecklefaerie at 7:01 AM on September 18, 2011
posted by frecklefaerie at 7:01 AM on September 18, 2011
frecklefaerie, maybe you could specify what it is you don't understand, and we could explain?
posted by JHarris at 2:43 PM on September 18, 2011
posted by JHarris at 2:43 PM on September 18, 2011
Finally got around to watching the episode, my reaction: Excellent.
Totally was not expecting a Q episode, or a cliffhanger, but I'm sure Captain Twilight will get everything straightened out next week.
PinkiePie is the best pony.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 3:14 PM on September 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Totally was not expecting a Q episode, or a cliffhanger, but I'm sure Captain Twilight will get everything straightened out next week.
PinkiePie is the best pony.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 3:14 PM on September 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
I hear the producers of Bum Fights are now traveling the country video taping fist fights that breakout during heated discussions of which pony is best.
Laugh now, while you can.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:20 PM on September 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Laugh now, while you can.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:20 PM on September 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would just like to say screw you MetaFilter, because I really needed to spend this entire weekend working on lectures and creating a new course, and I spent it half doing that and half watching twelve episodes of a children's cartoon about ponies. I feel like Derpy Hooves.
(ps: no actually thank you A+ would regress again)
(pps: Twilight Sparkle is clearly the best, because if I had magic I would use it to bring me more books too.)
posted by ilana at 5:03 PM on September 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
(ps: no actually thank you A+ would regress again)
(pps: Twilight Sparkle is clearly the best, because if I had magic I would use it to bring me more books too.)
posted by ilana at 5:03 PM on September 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
I am assuming yr hatred of Applejack is a classist hatred of America.
posted by PinkMoose at 8:05 PM on September 18, 2011
posted by PinkMoose at 8:05 PM on September 18, 2011
I would just like to say screw you MetaFilter, because I really needed to spend this entire weekend working on lectures and creating a new course, and I spent it half doing that and half watching twelve episodes of a children's cartoon about ponies. I feel like Derpy Hooves.
Can you work MLP into your course?
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:15 PM on September 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Can you work MLP into your course?
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:15 PM on September 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Re: classes being wrecked by My Little Pony, one of these days remind me to introduce you to Nethack.
posted by JHarris at 9:02 PM on September 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 9:02 PM on September 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Can you work MLP into your course?
Actually, it's about analyzing narrative, particularly featuring child protagonists...so...maybe? They're all novels, though. I also promised myself that if I were going to sneak a TV episode into my class, it would be Buffy. Oh...don't give me ideas!
one of these days remind me to introduce you to Nethack.
Uh...maybe after the semester is over? Unless it is a hack for writing lectures. :)
posted by ilana at 9:15 PM on September 18, 2011
Actually, it's about analyzing narrative, particularly featuring child protagonists...so...maybe? They're all novels, though. I also promised myself that if I were going to sneak a TV episode into my class, it would be Buffy. Oh...don't give me ideas!
one of these days remind me to introduce you to Nethack.
Uh...maybe after the semester is over? Unless it is a hack for writing lectures. :)
posted by ilana at 9:15 PM on September 18, 2011
(Let's just say that some people know Nethack by its alternate name, Gradewrecker.)
posted by JHarris at 9:17 PM on September 18, 2011
posted by JHarris at 9:17 PM on September 18, 2011
If you like deep RPGs, and don't particularly care about graphics, but find yourself making up character stories, and constantly thinking "what if I could do X with Y so that Z would happen", NetHack will devour your soul.
I still remember the moment I wiped out a horde of orcs by freezing a path across a lake with a wand of ice, luring them onto the ice, then using a wand of fireball to melt the temporary bridge, causing them all to fall in and drown.
I think failing the class was worth it, on balance.
posted by Grimgrin at 11:36 PM on September 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
I still remember the moment I wiped out a horde of orcs by freezing a path across a lake with a wand of ice, luring them onto the ice, then using a wand of fireball to melt the temporary bridge, causing them all to fall in and drown.
I think failing the class was worth it, on balance.
posted by Grimgrin at 11:36 PM on September 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Pinkie having second thoughts about getting rid of Discord because of chocolate rain was a perfect little zinger.
posted by rodgerd at 2:08 AM on September 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rodgerd at 2:08 AM on September 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Many member of staff are (awesomely) active on Facebook, DevArt, or Twitter. Someone's got to ask them whether the chocolate rain was an in-joke or just a happy coincidence.
posted by Gordafarin at 4:20 AM on September 19, 2011
posted by Gordafarin at 4:20 AM on September 19, 2011
Season 2 has already given us this masterwork: Disco Discord
posted by Wolfdog at 1:07 PM on September 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 1:07 PM on September 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
What was that about My Lovecraftian Ponies?
posted by dragoon at 5:36 PM on September 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dragoon at 5:36 PM on September 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
!! My Little Reanimator! The Ponyknotic Manuscript! The Esoteric Order of Pony!
"'Iä! Iä! Shub-Niggurath!' Shouted Pinkie Pie, shucking her robe and beginning to bounce around the outside circular room."
"'Dashie, don't you see? He looked more like the father than Wilbur did,' said Pinkie, being pulled to a halt mid bounce and falling to the floor."
posted by JHarris at 6:47 PM on September 19, 2011
"'Iä! Iä! Shub-Niggurath!' Shouted Pinkie Pie, shucking her robe and beginning to bounce around the outside circular room."
"'Dashie, don't you see? He looked more like the father than Wilbur did,' said Pinkie, being pulled to a halt mid bounce and falling to the floor."
posted by JHarris at 6:47 PM on September 19, 2011
John de Lancie tweeted yesterday:
"Roddenberry warned me that I had no idea what I was getting into with Star Trek. Someone should have warned me about My Little Pony! Egads!"
posted by JHarris at 7:32 AM on September 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
"Roddenberry warned me that I had no idea what I was getting into with Star Trek. Someone should have warned me about My Little Pony! Egads!"
posted by JHarris at 7:32 AM on September 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
ScrewAttack.com brilliantly overanalyzes the battle we've all been waiting for: Rainbow Dash vs. Starscream.
posted by darksasami at 12:28 AM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by darksasami at 12:28 AM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
I can't believe they topped it off with the Star Wars medal ceremony. You glorious bastards.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:45 PM on September 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:45 PM on September 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Why not? They ended the first two-parter with the Phantom Menace ending.
posted by darksasami at 10:40 PM on September 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by darksasami at 10:40 PM on September 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ummm, did they?
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:27 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:27 PM on September 24, 2011
furiousxgeorge: "I can't believe they topped it off with the Star Wars medal ceremony. You glorious bastards."
I was laughing non-stop for that bit. Such a surprise.
Sort of a semi-interview with the new showrunner here.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 5:39 AM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was laughing non-stop for that bit. Such a surprise.
Sort of a semi-interview with the new showrunner here.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 5:39 AM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
The official target audience in our house gave this high marks, dragging her best friend to watch it, going off and playing games based on the story, and then rewatching it immediately thereafter.
The Star Wars ending.
Once again Fluttershy is pivotal is saving the day. That's the dragon, the manticore, the basilisk, and now out-flying Rainbow Dash. Also keeping it safe, sane, consensual: "Do you mind if I hold you down against your will?"
posted by rodgerd at 11:29 AM on September 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
The Star Wars ending.
Once again Fluttershy is pivotal is saving the day. That's the dragon, the manticore, the basilisk, and now out-flying Rainbow Dash. Also keeping it safe, sane, consensual: "Do you mind if I hold you down against your will?"
posted by rodgerd at 11:29 AM on September 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
I can't believe they topped it off with the Star Wars medal ceremony. You glorious bastards.
So I have watched part 2 about a zillion times now - 4 year old daughter loves it but doesn't like part 1 so we don't watch that - and every time it bugs me that they don't do that marching-in-step about face thing when the ponies are halfway down the aisle.
posted by Artw at 6:38 PM on September 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
So I have watched part 2 about a zillion times now - 4 year old daughter loves it but doesn't like part 1 so we don't watch that - and every time it bugs me that they don't do that marching-in-step about face thing when the ponies are halfway down the aisle.
posted by Artw at 6:38 PM on September 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Yeah, needed a nice, big, coordinated group *CLOP!*
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:41 PM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:41 PM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by Brocktoon at 11:00 PM on September 16, 2011