MLP: The Early Years. 1980's and 1990's

[Kobuk]

Figured the "bronies" could use a thread for discussion of the early times of MLP when it got started in the 1980's and 1990's.
MLP history:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Little_Pony

[Kay Alett]

My views on the earlier MLP shows: *facepalm* Its all just a rushed to screen comercial...

My view on Friendship is Magic: "Effort! Honest to God effort!" *tears of joy*

[Old Rabbit]

Personally I like the early design of the ponies..The new design is fine
though. I imagine they did some kid testing and found it more attractive
to the little kiddies..

I agree the writing for the new show is much better. The early ones didn't
have a great story line. This new series is well thought out with fine voice
actors..

[Kay Alett]

Personally I like the early design of the ponies..The new design is fine
though. I imagine they did some kid testing and found it more attractive
to the little kiddies..

There is nothing inherantly wrong with the design. Its just that when you watch thee episodes they are so quick to show and name the different places they visit and describe them in such a way that if you heard a pony tack a price into their line it honestly wouldn't feel out of place.

"This is the dream dancer castle where we have our pony parties and grand balls! It has a ballroom and swimming pool and balconies! Only $48.99."

I was watching the My Little Pony movie last night and I just had to shake my head at some of the stuff I felt was such obvious product dropping/advertising. I know the show was made to be a extended comercial but Transformers never felt that way. G.I. Joe didn't feel that way. I just get the impression that the early generations were too much of a comercial for the toys. The new one seems to take the route that Transformers and G.I. Joe took all along. Show these characters in exciting situations with well written stories and don't try so dang hard to sell product.

[Old Rabbit]

Personally I like the early design of the ponies..The new design is fine
though. I imagine they did some kid testing and found it more attractive
to the little kiddies..

There is nothing inherantly wrong with the design. Its just that when you watch thee episodes they are so quick to show and name the different places they visit and describe them in such a way that if you heard a pony tack a price into their line it honestly wouldn't feel out of place.

"This is the dream dancer castle where we have our pony parties and grand balls! It has a ballroom and swimming pool and balconies! Only $48.99."

I was watching the My Little Pony movie last night and I just had to shake my head at some of the stuff I felt was such obvious product dropping/advertising. I know the show was made to be a extended comercial but Transformers never felt that way. G.I. Joe didn't feel that way. I just get the impression that the early generations were too much of a comercial for the toys. The new one seems to take the route that Transformers and G.I. Joe took all along. Show these characters in exciting situations with well written stories and don't try so dang hard to sell product.

The two commercial products you mentioned were aimed at boys. One wonders
if the fact that the ponies were aimed at the girl market didn't have a effect on
how the earlier shows were produced. 

Hopefully this is something that is going away. Women are just as smart
as men. At least this new version of MLP shows females as being as good
as males even though they may like different things.

[Ziel]

The two commercial products you mentioned were aimed at boys. One wonders
if the fact that the ponies were aimed at the girl market didn't have a effect on
how the earlier shows were produced. 

Hopefully this is something that is going away. Women are just as smart
as men. At least this new version of MLP shows females as being as good
as males even though they may like different things.

You might be interested in reading Faust's interview with EQD. Challenging some of the 'girly show' stereotypes was part of her goal from the start. Hence not drowning you out with pink.

[Kay Alett]

Yeah I don't get the whole oversaturation of pink... I mean there are lots of other good colors out there that can be just as "girly" if you try. I love how FiM uses lots of natural colors, blues, browns, greens, golds and reds. It gives the show a good "earthy" feel and makes the world more believable. Plus the colors are vibrant but not over stated so things blend naturally like they should while still remaining colorful.

[Shim]

Applejack, the best pony, has been around since generation 1!