Why is "Its for kids" being used as a cop out?

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Whenever someone has a somewhat dark or slightly mature idea for an MLP episode, its always shot down with "that won't happen because it's for little girls" or "its a kids show, it won't be real". To which I reply, why use target audience as an excuse. Yes, FiM is a kids show, so I understand there are certain boundaries put in place. But that shouldn't limit the show from tackling more complex or mature issuess (in which it has done before). Plus, you'd be supprised at what you can do in children's programing. Look at Adventure Time, Hey Arnold, Courage the Cowardly Dog, SpongeBob, and Rocko's Modern Life. All of which managed to get some mature stuff past the censors. I'm not asking for FiM to become some dark, gritty war show with guns and violence. But I would like it to embrace some mature topics a bit more.

Edited July 19, 2014 by TheMisterManGuy

[Miles 2,513]

Maybe the guys at Hasbro have not actually even thought about it?  

You say why is it a cop out?  I ask you, do you mean a cop out given by bronies, or one given by Hasbo?

I mean, I'm with you about it possibly taking on some more mature topics, but yet that's a bit vague... be more specific.

[sweetie bloom 44]

Which type of matire humor? Sarcasm, blue or black comedy, s©® jokes, ra©®ist or h,&()+:;"?@ jokes ( I just dont wanna offend anyone. Yes I do like some of those jokes indeed. But Anyway, do u want the HASBRO®© industry to fall down because of jokes like that which means no kids to watch= no toys=no $=no show= less bronies/more bootlegged episodes/ a reference to it on family guy? Ill take the risk but nooo rule 34-64 plz too much for me and gross

Edited July 19, 2014 by sweetie bloom

[Celli 4,341]

Gritty themes, not a chance, but it would be interesting to see the show tackle mature things like dealing with death/coping with the loss of a loved one or depression.

[Zygen 6,066]

I'm not saying that because the show is for kids it isn't going to be tackling any mature topics, but it's just a little less likely that it will. 

 

They can, and have got pretty dark with the show, but it just isn't something they tend to do very often, they try to avoid it so that they don't have to worry about people complaining about the rating being inaccurate or some stupid crap.

 

I'm fine with darker more mature stuff honestly, it's just whether hasbro can do so.

[Banul 3,831]

Because if it becomes too complex or mature, kids aren't going to get it. If the target audience doesn't get it, it's failed. I do believe that kids will understand more than we give them credit for, but some things are going to be beyond them. I think the way MLP operates a right now is a good balance between being complex and being easy to understand.

[Celli 4,341]

Which type of matire humor? Sarcasm, blue or black comedy, s©® jokes, ra©®ist or h,&()+:;"?@ jokes ( I just dont wanna offend anyone. Yes I do like some of those jokes indeed. But Anyway, do u want the HASBRO®© industry to fall down because of jokes like that which means no kids to watch= no toys=no $=no show= less bronies/more bootlegged episodes/ a reference to it on family guy? Ill take the risk but nooo rule 34-64 plz too much for me and gross

Stuff like sex jokes, racist jokes or crap like that aren't mature, they're childish and stupid. TheMisterManGuy was talking about grown-up themes like I mentioned in my last post. There's a difference between "mature" and "for adults".

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

Well, it all depends on how mature it is. If it's say, talks about death of parents, that could work, especially with Applejack. But if someone has an idea with some war with guns and blood everywhere, yeah that wouldn't past. The mature idea would still have to relate to the themes of the show though which is friendship.

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

I just want the show to be entertaining, period.  Which I find it to be, as is.  I don't need them to tackle the likes of drug addiction or child abuse or anything particularly heavy to keep me interested lol.  Not that those are necessarily what you had in mind. xD  Hasbro / the writers, I imagine, are performing a balancing act that they'd no cause to anticipate (or ability to predict) having to perform at the show's start.  They now have to appeal to / not overly upset a young audience (and their not-necessarily-Brony parents) and keep us adult fans watching.  And selling selling selling merch $$$.  And I don't understand why people expect MLP:FIM to change in the proposed manner; there are plenty of shows (you even went so far as to name some cartoons) that seem to provide just what you're asking for.  MLP:FIM doesn't have to follow suit or be anything other than what it is.

[Puddlejumper 1,648]

There are varying degrees of kids shows though, none of the ones you mentioned falls into the same category as FiM. While FiM isn't the girly stereotyped show you'd expect from MLP, it definitely isn't the sexual innuendo filled gritty mess that something like Rocko was. It's also worth noting that censor levels have changed some since Rocko aired, and it's not even on the same playing field as Spongebob for that matter. FiM is more like Lilo & Stitch, Fairly Odd Parents, or something similar.

 

I could see them touching on the subject of death or something similar, but they'd do so in a light hearted way. It wouldn't even be as dark as Lion King.

 

Honestly though, if it isn't broke, don't "fix" it. The current method is working great.

[Deathstroke 1,564]

Cuz its a kids show! Said no one ever 

[Hovershy 3,815]

I like the show the way it is to be honest. If I want to watch something dark or disturbing, I guess,   , I would watch something else. I like My Little Pony because it makes me happy. I don't want to feel depressed watching it.

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Gritty themes, not a chance, but it would be interesting to see the show tackle mature things like dealing with death/coping with the loss of a loved one or depression.

This is what I mean. I don't want a "Call of Pony: Equestria Warfare" but I would like themes like death to be explored more.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

Why is "it's for kids" being used as a cop out?

 

Why do spiders have 8 legs?

 

Why do Americans love fast food?

 

This excuse is used all the time and it's nothing new. That said, it's still unacceptable in my opinion and has to end, due to the fact that children are impressionable and very heavily influenced by the media they watch.

 

MLP is unique in that it is torn two ways. You have the show staffers and some fans who want the show to explore tougher themes, and then you have Hasbro marketers and another subset of fans who want the show to stay safe and avoid putting itself where it would have trouble. It's really a more complex issue than we'd like to think it is. In that case, these videos come in handy because they can explain it much better than I can:

 

 

This topic comes up so often that this is probably the fourth time I've used that DrWolf video. This stuff never gets old.

[Celli 4,341]

This is what I mean. I don't want a "Call of Pony: Equestria Warfare" but I would like themes like death to be explored more.

Yeah. I don't think kids are that simple-minded to not understand death and coping.

[pony.colin 156]

Gritty themes, not a chance, but it would be interesting to see the show tackle mature things like dealing with death/coping with the loss of a loved one or depression.

 

Well, it all depends on how mature it is. If it's say, talks about death of parents, that could work, especially with Applejack. But if someone has an idea with some war with guns and blood everywhere, yeah that wouldn't past. The mature idea would still have to relate to the themes of the show though which is friendship.

 

 

This, which mature themes are you specifically wanting to see be tackled in the show OP? Bloody stuff, haha, not going to happen.  Death of a loved one? Really astronomically rare (if at that), be specific OP.

 

 

 

There are varying degrees of kids shows though, none of the ones you mentioned falls into the same category as FiM. While FiM isn't the girly stereotyped show you'd expect from MLP, it definitely isn't the sexual innuendo filled gritty mess that something like Rocko was. It's also worth noting that censor levels have changed some since Rocko aired, and it's not even on the same playing field as Spongebob for that matter. FiM is more like Lilo & Stitch, Fairly Odd Parents, or something similar.

 

I could see them touching on the subject of death or something similar, but they'd do so in a light hearted way. It wouldn't even be as dark as Lion King.

 

Honestly though, if it isn't broke, don't "fix" it. The current method is working great.

 

This as well, if they ever try to do it, they have to do the elaborate "Never Say "Die" dance (Refer to tvtropes).  But it's still this ridiculous thing that I can't see getting past (or getting past very easily), refer to Derpygate incident. 

 

Some other pony, (I can't remember who) made the argument that Hasbro would never try it because they have nowhere near the status that Disney has (or formerly had according to some) of being completely trusted as family friendly.  Disney could get away with death in children's cartoons because it was trusted by families and that those families believed that Disney could teach about death in a tasteful and appropriate manner that was not senseless or complete violence.  Hasbro doesn't have that kind of reputation (not sure if it would ever try to) but Hasbro seems to be the 'play it safe' type (in terms of mature things being passed). Nothing wrong with that, I just don't see them ever thinking about taking too much of a chance on those types of things. 

 

 

Why is "it's for kids" being used as a cop out?

 

Why do spiders have 8 legs?

 

Why do Americans love fast food?

 

This excuse is used all the time and it's nothing new. That said, it's still unacceptable in my opinion and has to end, due to the fact that children are impressionable and very heavily influenced by the media they watch.

 

MLP is unique in that it is torn two ways. You have the show staffers and some fans who want the show to explore tougher themes, and then you have Hasbro marketers and another subset of fans who want the show to stay safe and avoid putting itself where it would have trouble. It's really a more complex issue than we'd like to think it is. In that case, these videos come in handy because they can explain it much better than I can:

 

 

This topic comes up so often that this is probably the fourth time I've used that DrWolf video. This stuff never gets old.

 

 

And finally this too (welp everypony can answer their responses for me)

Edited July 19, 2014 by pony.colin

[Invincible 2,092]

There are right and wrong ways to go about this. Addressing mature topics on the show isn't impossible, but you have to work with the constraints you were given, which is what i think the writers struggle with when bringing such topics into consideration for episode ideas.

[RavenholmZombie 1,330]

In my humble opinion, I think it would be beneficial if FiM were to cover topics like death or loss. 

 

Now, before you get up in arms, please allow me to explain why I have formulated this opinion.

 

Let's look back at one of Cartoon Network's older shows. Courage the Cowardly Dog.

 

Courage the Cowardly Dog had an episode (the mask) that tackled the extremely sensitive topic of abusive relationships and domestic abuse while keeping it "kid friendly". That episode didn't cost the show its TV-Y7 rating,. They've also covered prejudice and discrimination in the episode about the hunchback who came to stay with the Bagg's.

 

Now, I don't doubt the MLP staff in any way. They could make an episode that covers loss or death while still keeping it within the restraints set forth by the show's TV rating.. It's been done before in other cartoons / children's programming.

[Luna 831 466]

It is for kids and Hasbro owns it beside I love r 34 but at the end of the day Hasbro wants money.

[Malinter 3,064]

While they could use MLP to cover darker subjects, it risks damaging the image of the show for its original audience. Heck, people debileratly go looking in between the lines or subjects even when the writers haven't done anything such as Rainbow's hair. Its a design decision. Not a shout out to the LGBT.

Edited July 19, 2014 by Shire Pony Malinter

[Frosty Flurry 173]

If the show could cover more mature topics like the death of a loved that may actually not be breaking the its for kids rule.

Actually that would benefit the children and be some mature topics for us. But yes I agree. I'd like MLP maybe to adress the brony side of the fandom with some more mature topics. I think we are most of the audience anyway

[Luna 831 466]

It will not happene Hasbro pays the money not the other way.

[Bubbles~ 1]

Oh you don't know how I hate that : This for little girls, this is for little boys, this is for these, this is for others... ...SHUT UP!

I'm 29 and I have a wife and soon I'll have a kid, but in that time I have a huge PPG collection, also I like cartoons, animes and etc.  I have a big doujins collection and many many more things that connects me with the cartoon shows that I like.

Yes I hear that line so many times realy SOOOO MANY TIMES, but I don't care about these limited persons, they're stupid and lives in a dark and gray world where all must be weared in black or dark blue or some other dark color, womens must be bitches with tones of makeup on them and huge boobs... (Ok I like the last one too teehee. )

...I can't live in such a awful world, and I'm thankfull that I have such a great wife and friends who understand me.

So as somepony said : Live your life, and don't mind the stupids!

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Why is "it's for kids" being used as a cop out?

 

Why do spiders have 8 legs?

 

Why do Americans love fast food?

 

This excuse is used all the time and it's nothing new. That said, it's still unacceptable in my opinion and has to end, due to the fact that children are impressionable and very heavily influenced by the media they watch.

 

MLP is unique in that it is torn two ways. You have the show staffers and some fans who want the show to explore tougher themes, and then you have Hasbro marketers and another subset of fans who want the show to stay safe and avoid putting itself where it would have trouble. It's really a more complex issue than we'd like to think it is. In that case, these videos come in handy because they can explain it much better than I can:

 

http://youtu.be/gUDlTUlF5GE

Then by Dr. Wolf's logic, Hasbro has to be the biggest hypocrites on the planet. They don't want tackle themes like death, yet they have the Autobots running around killing Decepticons in Transformers Prime. I'm not asking for MLP to become Transformers, but if a 22 minute adaptation of a boys toy can tackle death, there is no excuse as to why girls are not allowed to be exposed to death as well. 

Edited July 19, 2014 by TheMisterManGuy

[Megas 27,876]

Most people use "it's for kids" because in a lot of cases a lot of the stuff bronies ask for to see in this show is either unnecessary, or just don't work for the show.

 

I'm not against seeing some topics like death(since plenty of kid's shows have done it in the past) or the topic of homosexuality(not many shows do this, but I think kid's need to be aware of it as long as it's taken seriously. The only show I can think of that does take it seriously is Sailor Moon, and whether that's a kid's show or not is debatable).However a lot of things some people in the fandom has a knack for just sounds very out of place for the show, usually things they want only to fulfill their sick shipping fantasies, or complex themes that are honestly just unfit for the show