Allsparkle General Discussion

[Caldwin]

I'm not sure how this is going to go. I'm just kinda going through a stream of thought here seeing where I land. So I'm not sure how long this is going to be or how worth it it'll be to read. But this is kind of where I am when it comes to MLP.

It's been a while since I've really been in here, so I'm not sure who, if anyone, is new here, or who hasn't been here for a while like me. So let me do a quick recap.

I came into MLP actually hating it. How could grown ass men watch a cartoon made for little girls? Well then I actually started watching Friendship is Magic and, well, I was hooked. The thing is, I saw something in MLP that was worth watching that was missing in a lot of media at the time (and today if I'm to be honest). It had heart. It had characters that, yes of course I know the Flash created pastel ponies aren't real, but they actually were characters you could believe. They weren't just pictures reading lines. They had depth.

So I got into it big time. I did fan art. I did fan fic. I was part of the RP here on the board. I even went back and watched older generations.

But then something happened. After countless seasons of FiM, it just wasn't fun anymore. The show was lasting far longer than it should. It was growing stale. And finally it ended.

Yay! We're getting a new generation. Something new! Except it wasn't new. I don't know how it wound up going because, honestly, I dropped out very near the beginning. But I dropped out because the movie connected G5 firmly to G4. The comics were so squarely connected that FiM actually felt like it was getting the lions share of focus in the G5 comic. Issue1 took things back to the ruins of Canterlot. Issues 2 and 5 honestly brought back Discord. However big or little of a role he had, it was obvious to me the G5 was firmly in the shadow of G4 and Hasbro and IDW were simply not ready to let go.

It was more of the same and I simply lost interest long before I actually stopped collecting.

SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE ME NOW?

I honestly don't know. I recently got a gift package with a couple Minty toys and some stickers. I loved getting them. I've had the G3 song "Wish You Were Here" playing several times over the past few weeks. I still RP Static and Hazy over in the Mayhem Bar every once in a while.

So in a way, it feels like there's been a crack in the MLP fatigue lately. I even watched a couple old Youtube vids I hadn't seen in a long time.

At the same time, It was just last year I sold a LOT of my MLP stuff away. Like...a lot a lot. I have no desire getting more toys. I know they'll go directly into a bin...wasted money. I know that Gen 5 has now finished up, and I have no desire to go back to see more of the generation that finally had me call it quits.

Honestly, I think I'm at the point where I could maybe, probationally get back into the fandom. But I'd really need something to pique my interest...and now during the dead space between generations probably isn't going to be the time where I find it.

It's like, I have no interest...but I kind of want to have an interest? Does that make any sense?

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I think I get it. I have a long list of things I'm not interested in at the moment but I kinda want to get back into, but I don't, but I do, but I don't, but oops the whole day is over and I didn't get back into it but I kinda wish I did.

I feel like my brain does old fashioned task switching, not true multitasking. I don't have multiple things going just a little bit at the same time. I have multiple things in rotation but only one can be in the foreground at a time because each thing wants 100%. So to get back into something I have to ask if I feel prepared to give it 100%, and if I'm not interested enough to give it 100% then I can't give it anything. But if I could just give it a little bit then I would because I want to. My interest isn't 0%. I have some interest and some energy but not as much interest and energy as I feel like the thing wants from me.

Does this sound similar?

 

[Caldwin]

That feels like you hit it on the head. And even further, the thing that I'm giving 100% to at the moment just doesn't want to give any of it up.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

It's a valid brain option. The need to give things 100% can be a drawback, but the ability to give something 100% is useful at times. Imagine being able to give a bunch of things less then 100%, but not being able to give something 100% if you wanted to.

 

[wonko the sane?]

My dude; as long as you aren't unhappy in what you do: there isn't a problem. You either come back, or don't. Whatever comes next isn't due to drop until some time next year (assuming it's not delayed.), so you got time to mull it over... or just not think about it.

And yes, executive disfunction sucks regardless of what level it applies at.

 

[ZakuConvoy]

Yeah, I understand that feeling. Fandom interests tend to wax and wane over time.

I suppose if you really want to try and get back into MLP, you could always try and pick up something from G4 that you never gave a chance to the first time around?

Maybe pick up a volume of the G4 IDW comics and see where that goes? Maybe try the manga, if you never picked that up, since you can just get a omnibus version of it in one volume? Maybe try some of the better chapter books, like the Ponyville Mysteries series? Maybe try to track down some particular trading cards with some nice artwork, which might either be really cheap right now or very expensive, I'm not sure? Something you might have skipped over originally, that might be fun to revisit now that you're a little less overwhelmed by everything coming out all at the same time.

Maybe just rewatching some of your favorite episodes of the show would be enough to reignite a bit of the passion you used to have?

It is kind of a shame that we're in the doldrums of the franchise, right now, with no clear end in sight. We might get some "Anniversary" or "PonyVerse" stuff down the line. But, no other major pushes. I don't know. MLP is in a weird spot right now.

But, yeah, don't feel the need to push yourself. You have time. Look over a few things from the past and see what appeals to you. If you find something that sparks something, embrace it. But, otherwise, if there's just nothing that appeals to you right now, don't feel the need to force yourself. It'll come in time. But, Hasbro's in no rush to get any new MLP stuff out there. So, don't feel too much of a rush to try to get back into things. It's hard to feel too much hype for something, when there's nothing in the present to get hyped up about.

 

[Caldwin]

There's very little of G4 that I didn't have my hands in. So finding something new may not be too fruitful. On the other hand, that does mean I have a lot of old stuff already and wouldn't necessarily be looking at any kind of financial investment.

I just hope that G6 can finally break free totally from G4. Too much baggage I think is also a big thing. The whole Brony movement, while probably pivotal in getting me into the franchise, also had its more problematic side. I just recently saw a video about "how bronies ruined the franchise" and found it difficult to argue any particular point other than "we weren't all like that."

I may try a couple episodes later though just to see.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

G4 is currently printing money in China for some reason, so it's probably going to have a presence in whatever Hasbro does next.

 

[Guardian Prime]

It's the 15th Anniversary of G4.

 

[wonko the sane?]

And they're still making art of it. It's been a hell of a ride.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

The ride never ends.

I'm gonna watch it again Wait, wrong gen.

 

[Caldwin]

It's the 15th Anniversary of G4.

I can't believe it's been that long!

Oh my aching bones! Darn whippersnappers. Why, back in my day. Where's my prune juice? Should've been in bed hours ago. Get off my lawn!

And they're still making art of it. It's been a hell of a ride.

Thing is, that's a big part of why I'm having such a hard time getting back into things. Like, G5 has come and gone and yet companies and fans alike can't seem to break free of G4.

Like, I like G4. It's what got me into the franchise in the first place.

But honestly? G4 fatigue feels like a very real thing that I was feeling before G4 even ended. G5 comes and goes and things are still very dominantly G4.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I on the other hand have reboot fatigue. You will never make me care about a new version of Bumblebee or whoever. I'm done. I hit my limit. So I've found it nice to have something that isn't doing that.

Also my life has changed in so many ways over the last 15 years, mostly in bad ways. I think the only constants in my entire life over that time are that I'm still living in the same crumbling house, and G4 is eternal. For me, it's been comfy to have this steady thing.

 

[Caldwin]

I can understand having reboot fatigue. Like Mortal Kombat did a reboot, and after three games, they rebooted it again. Batman seems like it does a reboot every three movies.

But FiM had like, 9 seasons...and I was getting fatigue back at four or five. I was actually excited to finally get a Gen 5...only for it to be a distant future sequel to FiM and the fandom (as far as I can tell) still doing vastly more FiMart than Gen 5.

I mean, don't get me wrong. I don't want to bash FiM at all. I really don't. I really owe a lot to FiM. It's not an exaggeration to say it changed my life in a lot of ways. It's just...I'm so far past being ready to move on.

 

[ZakuConvoy]

You know, I'll admit, I really don't know what I want them to do for Generation 6.

They really did try with G5, I'll give them that. It just didn't work out, for a number of reasons. So, I could see them going back to G4's characters at least, because that's the safer option right now. I couldn't blame them for that, with all of the everything going on.

First of all, I wouldn't mind it if Hasbro have us a actual, official ending to G5. If only because it deserves one. But, then again, I feel like Equestria Girls also deserved a more proper ending than it got. And that ship has fully sailed by this point. Sometimes, Hasbro just abandons stories that aren't going exactly how they want them to.

And I feel like Wild Manes, ironic as it is to say, has actually limited what the next MLP generation can do. Because Wild Manes is already doing the "slice of life" thing. So, if MLP decides it wants to go in a less magical direction next, it might feel like it's just copying Wild Manes, since it came out so recently.



But, I do think I'd prefer something new. Something different. Something we haven't seen before. Maybe something in it's own timeline. Even though, Hasbro seems to be on a kick of making ALL the MLP generations be a part of the same timeline, whether that actually works or not. So, I don't know. I feel like it is more likely that G6 will take place in some sort of future of G5. If only because, Hasbro wants to pretend like Gens 1-3 all happened in the G4 and 5 world, too.

I know it's been a joke for a long time now, but I think at this point, "Ponies in Space" might just be the way to go. Go full on Star Trek with it all. Do alien ponies from different worlds. It could be fun.

Or failing that...I don't know. Opaline and Chrysalis and Catrina waking up in a post-apocalyptic "Mad Max" style future where magic has fully broken down, and these two former villains are somehow the only ones who can fix it?

If we MUST redo G4's characters again...maybe just make them straight-up reincarnations? Working "past lives" into the actual plot? That's a fun enough fantasy concept that you could do something with.

Okay, I'm getting too serious with these idea. How about..."Golden Girls" but with ponies? We've followed baby ponies before with Newborn Cuties. And teenage ponies with Tales. And adult ponies with the other generations. How about old lady ponies going on adventures and proving they still have the stuff?

Maybe just follow Transformers' lead from the 2000s? We had our classic series (G4/Beast Wars), and then a direct follow up (G5/Beast Machines). So, how about giving the franchise over to Japan for a few seasons? MLP is pretty big in Japan and China. Just make a official MLP Anime for a few years, as this franchise's version of RID and the Armadaverse.

Maybe we need something more gimmicky. Maybe we have some sort of magical mishap happen, which swaps the powers of the three main tribes. So now, Earth Ponies are the ones with all the magic, Unicorns have the power of flight, and Pegasi have the plant powers. With different designs to reflect the change in abilities. And the story is about trying to fix this to how it was before.

Um...maybe instead of going "futuristic" with the next Gen, we dive more into the past, instead? MLP "factions" based on knights and kings from England. And the pharaohs of Egypt. And Greece and Rome. And Norse Vikings. Instead of the "factions" being based on what type of pony they are, they focus on which society they come from? Make the franchise a little more global, and give it more of a globe-hopping feel?

...Robot Ponies? Just embrace the whole "AI" discourse, and have the Ponies deal with artificial "golem" ponies being created and trying to find a place in the world? Following the robot ponies trying to figure out if they're even "alive" or not?

Maybe instead of focusing on "friendship", they focus more on "Love"? Make MLP a full-on romantic series, like a Shojo anime. Just all about dates, and relationship drama. It'd be...different, at least.

Maybe just steal from anime in a different way. There's been a lot of "cosplay" themed anime coming out recently. That sort of thing seems perfect for MLP. A entire generation who's theme is cosplay and dress-up culture. It could even have a few fun crossovers with other franchises. Ponies who are cosplayers online.

...Okay, I am CLEARLY the wrong person to head this franchise. But, it is a little hard to imagine doing something that we haven't done before, and walks the line between being for kids and adults.

 

[Videomaster21XX]

You know what I wouldn't mind seeing? Do something like Avatar the Last Airbender, but with ponies.

Like a great evil has taken over most of the planet, and a new Element of Magic awakens and realizes she has to find the other elements to form a team that is destined to save the world.

We start with just the one pony, maybe they have their own Spike by their side, and we don't meet every pony else just yet. They have to go on a trip around the world, fleeing from the bad guys. We could add a few more elements like Courage and forgiveness.

Make it so we have a nice big team we have to amass, and we can have the normal unicorn, pegases, and earth pony, but then have a few elements be other races. Maybe their Spike is one. A Kirin, a yak, a changling. Just make sure that each of them have a well written out personality and backstory that ties into the over all plot.

I mean honestly why not? I think it could be cool.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I doubt Hasbro would be willing to take so long to assemble the new Mane 6 or whatever the number will be. But it would be interesting. I imagine I would be happy with something like this if it somehow happened.

Then again, G3 of all things took an extraordinarily long time to have the three tribes meet. So this kind of approach is not unthinkable. It's just hard to reconcile it with the urge they'll have to get to the big names quickly. Admittedly, I have not seen Avatar (I've been told many times that I'd probably like it) so this formula may already have an obvious solution that I'm just not aware of.

 

[wonko the sane?]

Okay, everyone shut up.

You have not watched avatar?

You need to fix that, right now.

 

[Caldwin]

I absolutely loved Avatar. I really just couldn't get through Korra , though. I tried. I really did. But it had such a different feel than Avatar and I just couldn't get into it.

 

[wonko the sane?]

I'm generally a fan of the whole "lopsided super science" trope and genre so I rather enjoyed korra. No, it was not as good as TLA, but it was pretty good on it's own. Plus it was really interesting to see how the world as a whole developed after the the fire nation war and the 100 years of technical development.