Could MLP Eventually Become Dark

[Arctofire 227]

Okay let me just put a bit of background information

 

Batman was a campy cartoon in the 60's, it was made for kids and was really not very good. Bear in mind that MLP is much stronger than the original Batman show was. Now lets just put this in perspective: Batman became extremely popular and was from that day on a household name. MLP hasn't gone quite that far as the bronies unfortunately are considered outcasts and it is one of those things that has tight, specific fan base were your either in or out. But it has been a success.

 

Now the idea of MLP is this: some magical equine beings who love in a fantasy land known as Equestria. If you think about it, this idea is very flexible and is open to many different interpritations. This is further emphasis by Equestria Girls, its evident that these characters are very flexible.

 

Now in 1989 Tim Burton rebooted Batman: a much darker interpretation which was a huge hit, and then it was rebooted again in 2005 with Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins.

 

Just let me use the villains to show how the villains in this show could be used in much darker movies

 

Discord: A master of chaos and extreme intellect. He is maniacal villain who outwits people with his knowledge and thrives off the chaos of the world: fear, hatred, anger, all of these negative emotions.

 

Now you know another villain who was like that: Heath Ledger's Joker. I know he's dead, but imagine if Heath Ledger voiced Discord in a dark MLP reboot. In my opinion it would COMPLETELY work. The Dark Knights Joker and Discord are very similar villains.

 

Nightmare Moon: Imagine if this was used again, but had more time to develop and had more of a tragic setting. Don't get me wrong its quite dark anyway, but that just proves the point that these characters could work in a different tone.

 

Queen Chrisiliss: Again a creepy villain that could be used in a darker movie.

 

Discord

Nightmare Moon

King Sombra

Queen Chrisilis

Sunset Shimmer

Lord Tirek

The Dazzlings

 

My point is ALL of these could work in a darker setting.

 

So what do you think. Do you think in about 30-40 years we could see a dark fantasy approach of MLP similar in tone to Lord Of The Rings and other famous fantasy novels.

Edited December 15, 2014 by Arctofire

[Frostgage 7,976]

No, I couldn't see that happening. You've only noted the similarities between Batman and My Little Pony. I think the differences are much, much greater.

Edited December 15, 2014 by Frostgage

[WindyParadise 59]

I thought we already had a dark-version of MLP in Cupcakes and Rainbow Factory? 

 Besides, the implied things in the show provide enough darkness for those who notice them.

 

Batman and MLP are very different shows and set in very different worlds.

[Arctofire 227]

I thought we already had a dark-version of MLP in Cupcakes and Rainbow Factory? 

 Besides, the implied things in the show provide enough darkness for those who notice them.

 

Batman and MLP are very different shows and set in very different worlds.

 

 

Yeah I know but I was talking about how one has evolved and how one COULD evolve. I'm not dissing the show in anyway. I was saying about how there are a lot of ideas and themes in both of these franchises that could be taken to any certain tone. I know there is darkness in MLP but I was trying to make a point, what could the future of this franchise hold since with the certain franchise I was talking about it went in a completely unexpected direction. I know they are very different and I'm not stupid. Maybe with this post you could understand a little bit better.

 

Cupcakes is irreverent as that was just a plain gory horror story. But take Past Sins, that fanfiction just PROVES that point that it can work without feeling out of place.

Edited December 15, 2014 by Arctofire

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,162]

Well, it depends. If we're talking about the current iteration of the franchise, then I'm going to say no. While we've had some heavy elements in the show, I wouldn't label it as THAT dark yet. Honestly, most of the 'darkness' in FiM has been in the comics, that's likely for the better. You don't want a total tonal shift in the show.

 

If MLP were to do that, it'd likely be a different show. Think of how it was done for Sonic in the early 90s. You had two shows: The light-hearted "Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog" and the dark, epic "Sonic the hedgehog." Really, I couldn't see AoSTH adjusting through a tonal shift, and as such Sonic had to concurrent shows.

 

Likewise, if MLP was to go dark, it'd likely be separate from the series we have. Of course you could use the same characters, but they'd be separate from the FiM incarnations.

[Arctofire 227]

Yeah I was talking about a reboot anyway. I used Batman as an example not to say that they are similar, and the reason for that is because the comics WERE grimdark in a way: offering an alternate interpretation. I will point again to Past Sins and how well that worked.

 

Also I feel like it has already started, unless Hasbro realizes, doesn't like it, and pulls the plug. The franchise is slowly getting darker. Just think about Twilight's Kingdom .

Edited December 15, 2014 by Arctofire

[Zhortac 1,475]

The only way for MLP to hit a "dark" level, is to bring back Sombra, since he's the only villain that could pull that roll off. The others, are either goofy, or just not as menacing. 

[Arctofire 227]

 

 

The only way for MLP to hit a "dark" level, is to bring back Sombra, since he's the only villain that could pull that roll off. The others, are either goofy, or just not as menacing. 

 

Lord Tirek.

 

Also I need to explain again about DIFFERENT interpretations. One may SEEM goofy, but if the character is kept the same but re imagined they can be edgy.

 

Also FIM I feel is kind of the halfway point between G1,2, and 3 and a possible future incarnation. 

[CC_Maud_Pie 6,431]

It can get dark if there are episodes that talk about the Mane 6's dark sides. Like what happened to Applejack's parents as an example. But I can see this show staying the way it is since the Mane 6's friendship helps them get over their dark sides.

[Zhortac 1,475]

Lord Tirek.

 

I'm sorry, but no. Tirek isn't even close to being dark, he's a DBZ villain, which is all show and flashy lights.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,162]

Yeah I was talking about a reboot anyway. I used Batman as an example not to say that they are similar, and the reason for that is because the comics WERE grimdark in a way: offering an alternate interpretation. I will point again to Past Sins and how well that worked.

 

Also I feel like it has already started, unless Hasbro realizes, doesn't like it, and pulls the plug. The franchise is slowly getting darker. Just think about Twilight's Kingdom .

 

I have to disagree with that. While "Twilight's Kingdom" was fairly epic, it was FAR from being dark. If anything, "The Crystal Empire" was darker largely due to the atmopshere and the threat posed by Sombra.

 

Tirek, while dangerous, never really had that threatening presence that Sombra or even Chrysalis had, IMO. Granted he was probably the strongest of the lot, but that alone doesn't make an episode dark.

[Jammo 986]

Dark? Some episodes have been thematically dark. Chrysalis, Tirek and Sombra are all very dark villains with very little humour. Chrysalis is a manipulative sadist, Sombra is a tyrant, Tirek is a cruel, violent brute. I don't expect, nor want it get get "dark", but I am in support of episodes with very high stakes. Dark doesn't inherently mean "meaningful" or "mature". This show tells mature messages well without it.

Edited December 15, 2014 by Jammo

[Arctofire 227]

I'm posting this on my 3ds so I can't use quotes. I'm going to try to reply to everyones posts.

 

For starters I'm kind of embarrased that I used Batman as an example as the franchises are so different. Also I am begining to to think that this shows future will be closer to that of Star Treks. With lots of world building rather than constant rebooting.

 

I don't know if its just me, but I feel that some people are offended by what I said. For those people I want to tell you that I love this show, i'm on these forums so its kind of obvious.

 

The last thing is that I always dream about a Past Sins movie adaptation: fanmade, made myself, Hasbro made, I don't care. I use Batman as hope that one day this could happen as it has changed so much over the years.

[VitalSpark 1,830]

 Batman was a campy cartoon in the 60's, it was made for kids and was really not very good.

 

But it didn't start that way.

 

Batman was first published as a comic in 1939, and was pretty dark to begin with. In the 1940s they introduced Robin, and that was the beginning of the softening of Batman's image.

 

The 60s TV series (and it was live action not a cartoon, starring Adam West - i.e. the mayor in Family Guy) was incredibly camp, and incredibly awful. And for the period while it was being broadcast, the comics followed suit. But that really only lasted 2 or 3 years. After the TV series was axed, the comics became darker again.

 

The fourth film Batman and Robin was almost as camp as the TV series. One wonders whether Joel Schumacher primarily researched the franchise by watching the 60s series rather than reading the comics. About the only good thing about that film was Alicia Silverstone in a skin-tight rubber outfit.

 

some magical equine beings who love in a fantasy land known as Equestria

 

I assume "love" was a typographical error for "live". (But it makes sense either way.) 

Edited December 15, 2014 by Vital Sparkle

[Silver Letter 1,832]

I agree that there could be a tonal shift in the franchise overall if a future show does so. But that would not really match the aesthetics of the franchise thus far.

[Arctofire 227]

All of the stuff Vital told me I already knew (still using 3DS so can't use quotes) but thanks anyway. I know that Batman And Robin was awful and was one of the most painful viewing experiences ever, rivalled only by EQG 1. And I know the early show wasn't a cartoon, never said it was.

[Argumedies 1,748]

I've always felt that this show had the potential for portraying a darker image. Heck look no farther then G1 for that.

[Primarch Fulgrim 163]

(Must avoid temptation to make racist reference because of title.)

[The Shadow Stallion 127]

I would like to see a Dark MLP, but it has to be done correctly. And maybe split MLP into two sections. The nice kid-friendly side and the dark, more mature oriented side.

 

I will use a video game example. In the original spyro games, you played as a purple dragon going on a lighthearted mission to collect gems, free dragons, and burn gnorcs or whatever ever other goofy creatures you came across. Lots of humor and a lighthearted story.

 

Now when The Legend of Spyro series came out, it took a dark and serious approach to story. Still relatively kid-friendly but it was more focused on plot elements. For example, it involved the destruction of many dragon eggs, the capture and corruption/torture of a female dragon hatchling, (Spoiler) The reanimation of corpses (Spoiler), and the destruction of the world as well as death and sacrifice. Much darker then the previous mentioned series.

 

Now this is what I think MLP should sort of do. Have a lighthearted series and a Dark series. With the Dark series taking place in a sort of alternative universe using the same characters just in a different sort of setting. For example, I could see the fights with King Sombra and Discord becoming fairly epic, but gruesome. So keep the current fights for the younger audience and give us more mature audience members a real good fight.

 

(Also MORE BACKSTORY ON SOMBRA! He has/had so much potential. Wicked design, epic powers, no real backstory. Give him that!)

[crisahys 149]

For the TV show franchise, I do not think that it is going to get darker with the exception of the opening and ending of the series. However, for the fandom, there's a dark side to that just like every fandom. Therefore, yes and no. 

 

I thought we already had a dark-version of MLP in Cupcakes and Rainbow Factory? 

 Besides, the implied things in the show provide enough darkness for those who notice them.

 

Batman and MLP are very different shows and set in very different worlds.

You are talking about the fandom side of it, not the TV Show side. I to not expect the show to get anymore dark soon, but the fandom is just like what you describe. People could argue that the TV Show is dark in a characteristic manner. For example, on the episode, "Putting your hoof down", the episode is dark because at first, we encourage Fluttershy to be assertive until it got to the point where it crossed the line, by then, she became a horrible pony as a result. 

[Shenron00 366]

Haha! No. Just. No. Now, it may have a few slightly darker tones later on in the future, but making the show dark in general just wouldn't work. It's not like Batman, a guy beating the crap out of criminals. No, this franchise is about cute and colorful ponies who learn valuable lessons of friendship. Not only that, but you gotta remember, the show's still targeted towards little girls.

[Toaster Bot 183]

Well it's not like it hasn't been before, it's not like lighting is a particularly complex topic. MLP gets dark plenty of times, such as... what? We aren't talking about that dark? Aw sheee-

It's highly unlikely that MLP would take a dark turn, when you consider the current direction of the show as well as the source of its periphery demographic appeal (that's us). I can't speak for the masses, but the optimistic and happy atmosphere is quite a draw, I don't necessarily need to delve into the toxic relationship between the Mane Six and the twisted psychopathy of Discord while Spike bleeds out in the corner because the show went full HBO. I wouldn't want to see that, and my niece would definitely not want to see that.

[Arctofire 227]

I wish I had never made this thread because your all right.

 

Sorry

Edited December 16, 2014 by Arctofire

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,673]

I wish I had never made this thread because your all right.

 

Sorry

Please don't take it personally. It happens. 

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,162]

I wish I had never made this thread because your all right.

 

Sorry

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this discussion. It's fine to have differing opinions in regards to the tone of the show.

 

That's the nature of discussion forums, and even though most will probably not agree with you, it's a great subject to have a discussion on.