Is FiM's potential being limited?

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

There was a recent post on a topic I made a while back called "Why is "Its for kids" being used as a cop out?". It basically said that MLP should remain this innocent Slice-of-Life show designed to sell little girls toys and nothing more. This makes me question, are these people trying to limit the show's overall potential? If Friendship is Magic was your traditional, episodic gag cartoon with no continuity, or character development, like SpongeBob or Ed, Edd n Eddy, then it's fine for it to remain a silly slice-of-life show. But it's not, whether you want to accept it or not, FiM is more like Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, My Life as a Teenage Robot, or Codename: Kids Next Door. A character-driven show that, while episodic, has things in the world that change, characters that evolve and develop, and plot points that come back into play in later episodes. 

 

To say it should not evolve past a Slice-of-life structure, and should remain this safe cartoon to sell toys for it's entire run not only limits it's potential, but it can also turn fans away. Believe it or not, fans in and out of the target audience want the show to grow and change. There can still be Slice-of-Life episodes, but they shouldn't be the only focus. If Season's 4 & 5 are any indication, there's going to be more adventure in the series from now on. So do you think FiM's potential is being held back?

[cuteycindyhoney 13,308]

No, I do not think the show's potential is being held back, If anything, the writers and animators have really pushed the envelope. You have to remember. Bronies make up such a small part of the fanbase, even though they are the most vocal. If they tried to make the show what Bronies demand, they would lose their core audience and the show would tank. In my opinion, they have done a magnificent job in striking a balance.

Edited February 8, 2015 by cuteycindyhoney

[Megas 27,730]

It basically said that MLP should remain this innocent Slice-of-Life

Because that's what it is, and that's why people like it. 

 

While FiM share's some traits with the other shows you listed, it's still by nature different from them. In the end of the day, it's about a bunch of candy-colored horses learning and sharing the magic of friendship, with simple yet complex characters, and it's really good at it's job. (I think it's also worth noting how it's simple and innocent slice-of-life episodes are almost always better received than their grand and epic adventure episodes)

 

The show's potential isn't being limited because

A) It's already pushing it's potential as far as it can and

B ) Whatever it is some people want is something that doesn't apply to FiM

Edited February 8, 2015 by Godot

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Because that's what it is, and that's why people like it. 

 

While FiM share's some traits with the other shows you listed, it's still by nature different from them. In the end of the day, it's about a bunch of candy-colored horses learning and sharing the magic of friendship, with simple yet complex characters, and it's really good at it's job. (I think it's also worth noting how it's simple and innocent slice-of-life episodes are almost always better received than their grand and epic adventure episodes)

 

The show's potential isn't being limited because

A) It's already pushing it's potential as far as it can and

Whatever it is some people want is something that doesn't apply to FiM

Yes, but FiM isn't just a Slice-of-Life show. It's been branching more into fantasy and adventure lately especially with Season 4. If a show takes place in a fantasy world, that aspect should be taken advantage of.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

The show was only ever slice of life part time. It's potential was to always have both.

[Jeric 46,854]

I personally feel that the SOL episodes are where the depth and quality is. It's the meat and potatoes of the show while the adventure stories are the desert. Slice of Life is not what is limiting the show. Honestly, the genius of FiM is that you can approach it from so many angles that it becomes far more than a surface quality show. Whether you are a 8 year old named Jennifer, or a 37 year old man named Jeric. I promise you that Jennifer can see some of the substance beneath the surface.

 

I also love that you see the quality in MLaaTR.

[Megas 27,730]

Yes, but FiM isn't just a Slice-of-Life show. It's been branching more into fantasy and adventure lately especially with Season 4. If a show takes place in a fantasy world, that aspect should be taken advantage of.

While the show does have it's share of fantasy and adventure, but again it's still mainly a slice-of-life show. That's its strong point, and again, that's why people like the show. Just look at the reception of the slice-of-life stories vs whenever they try an action/adventure/fantasy-heavy story in both the show and the comics, SoL is almost always gets the stronger reception

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

I personally feel that the SOL episodes are where the depth and quality is. It's the meat and potatoes of the show while the adventure stories are the desert. Slice of Life is not what is limiting the show. Honestly, the genius of FiM is that you can approach it from so many angles that it becomes far more than a surface quality show. Whether you are a 8 year old named Jennifer, or a 37 year old man named Jeric. I promise you that Jennifer can see some of the substance beneath the surface.

 

I also love that you see the quality in MLaaTR.

Yes, Slice of Life should still be there. But there should be and equal amount of adventure episodes too. Equestria is a vast, and imaginative land, and if they keep confining themselves to just ponyville all the time, then it makes the world just seem bland and uninteresting. And as a result, can make the show seem shallow and too repetitive for it's own good.

 

(And yeah, Teenage Robot is definitely an underrated show that deserved at least 2 more seasons).

While the show does have it's share of fantasy and adventure, but again it's still mainly a slice-of-life show. That's its strong point, and again, that's why people like the show. Just look at the reception of the slice-of-life stories vs whenever they try an action/adventure/fantasy-heavy story in both the show and the comics, SoL is almost always gets the stronger reception

Whether SoL stories get better reception or not is irrelevant. The point is, Lauren Faust intended the show to be equal parts both SoL and adventure, and I feel they should live up to that original idea.

[Megas 27,730]

Yes, Slice of Life should still be there. But there should be and equal amount of adventure episodes too. Equestria is a vast, and imaginative land, and if they keep confining themselves to just ponyville all the time, then it makes the world just seem bland and uninteresting. And as a result, can make the show seem shallow and too repetitive for it's own good.

 

(And yeah, Teenage Robot is definitely an underrated show that deserved at least 2 more seasons).

Whether SoL stories get better reception or not is irrelevant. The point is, Lauren Faust intended the show to be equal parts both SoL and adventure, and I feel they should live up to that original idea.

Thing is, it might have been originally intended for both Adventure and SoL, but the end result since S1 was a heavy focus of SoL with some adventure here and there. Also just because it's SoL doesn't mean they aren't allowed to travel to other places, especially when some of the strongest episodes have taken place outside of Ponyville, like Wonderbolts Academy, Rarity Takes Manehattan, Sweet & Elite, and etc.

 

I'm not saying adventure isn't allowed or that it doesn't have a place or anything, I actually enjoy adventure episodes. I'm just saying the show is fine the way it is and doesn't need to break away from SoL

Edited February 8, 2015 by Godot

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Thing is, it might have been originally intended for both Adventure and SoL, but the end result since S1 was a heavy focus of SoL with some adventure here and there. Also just because it's SoL doesn't mean they aren't allowed to travel to other places, especially when some of the strongest episodes have taken place outside of Ponyville, like Wonderbolts Academy, Rarity Takes Manehattan, Sweet & Elite, and etc.

 

I'm not saying adventure isn't allowed or that it doesn't have a place or anything, I actually enjoy adventure episodes. I'm just saying the show is fine the way it is and doesn't need to break away from SoL

And I'm not suggesting the show should drop SoL either, it too has a place. But Adventure should still play a major part in the show, and not be treated as an afterthought like in the first 2 seasons. And if you noticed lately, FiM has been incorporating much more adventure elements lately, especially in Season 4. What I'm asking for, is an equal balance of silly SoL episodes, and plot focused adventure episodes, and even mix the two aproaches occasionaly like in Pinkie Apple Pie or Three's a Crowd. It shouldn't be just a SoL cartoon, nor should it be just an Adventure cartoon, it should be an equal mix of both, that way everyone is happy.

[Dulset Tarn 441]

This is a rather strange conflation you have. Being a show for little kids and remaining a charming slice of life show are completely unrelated.

 

Personally, I believe that the target demographic actually is limiting the show's potential and it would do much better with an older target audience. However, I also think that migrating from the original tone of the show is the worst thing that it could do, and the charming slice of life is what got us all here in the first place.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Dulset Tarn

[Plonkett 345]

I guess the best way to put it is that it's a stripped down version of what it could possibly be. I guarantee you that if it didn't have such a young target demographic, it'd be a bit different altogether.

[VitalSpark 1,830]

I personally feel that the SOL episodes are where the depth and quality is. It's the meat and potatoes of the show while the adventure stories are the desert. Slice of Life is not what is limiting the show.

Adventures where a bunch of random characters go off and save the world are a little dull. They're more exciting if you've gotten to know the characters first, if you know their strengths and weaknesses.

 

It's the SOL episodes where we get to know the ponies, and that makes the adventure parts more exciting and more emotional.

 

I guarantee you that if it didn't have such a young target demographic, it'd be a bit different altogether.

 

To begin with, it probably wouldn't have ponies in it!

Edited February 8, 2015 by VitalTwilightSparkle

[Mesme Rize 15,685]

Why shouldn't it remain an innocent slice-of-life Show? If it wasn't anymore, i don't know if i would want to continue to watch the show.

I learned to love this show, because of it's cute characters and their everyday struggles that they have to face, not because Rainbow Dash is fighting a bunch of orcs, like she was suddenly in a LOTR setting and while things like the fight between Twilight and Tirek in the season finale where a nice treat, i don't want this to be a standard.

Also, Hasbro is a business. If they would starting to cater to us bronies, they would lose millions of dollars. You're delusional if you think that we make them the most money, while most bronies buy fanstuff anyways.

 

In short, no. It's not held back.

[Meanlucario 131]

Were the show lacks, the fandom will make up for it. Don't believe me, take a look at some of the better fanfics.

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Why shouldn't it remain an innocent slice-of-life Show? If it wasn't anymore, i don't know if i would want to continue to watch the show.

I learned to love this show, because of it's cute characters and their everyday struggles that they have to face, not because Rainbow Dash is fighting a bunch of orcs, like she was suddenly in a LOTR setting and while things like the fight between Twilight and Tirek in the season finale where a nice treat, i don't want this to be a standard.

Also, Hasbro is a business. If they would starting to cater to us bronies, they would lose millions of dollars. You're delusional if you think that we make them the most money, while most bronies buy fanstuff anyways.

 

In short, no. It's not held back.

I'm not talking about random fight scenes and become an Avatar: The Last Air Bender huge scale story arc. I'm talking about having an equal mix of SoL and Adventure. I feel for a type of show like MLP, one shouldn't outweigh the other, both should work together in harmony.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

 

 

Why shouldn't it remain an innocent slice-of-life Show?

It greatly depends on how you define "innocent" and "slice of life".

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I would say no. I mean you could theoretically show a dramatic death of one of the Mane Six and how the characters react to it, but I don't think that's part of FiM's actual potential, just because you can do it doesn't mean it's part of the spirit of the idea. What have we seen on this show?

 

-The status quo changed several times.

 

-Internal continuity and character development.

 

-Grand spectacular conflicts with the forces of evil but all centering around the personal relationships between interesting characters.

 

My point is, to properly surmise if the potential is being used, you have to understand what that potential properly is. (E.g. Is creating a crossover multiverse with portals and dimensions, but only having them cross into cop and hospital dramas a fulfillment or a denial of the potential?)

 

FiM is a kid's show, but that doesn't mean it's easy to make, Hell it can be harder because you have to work within certain restrictions. Even amongst kid's shows, FiM is within an anthropomorphic animal fantasy universe.

 

It falls under the conservation of detail. How much does the audience, in this case the young children, need to understand in order to internalize the story and it's message? The following would fall under such a category.

 

-Matters of state between Equestria and other nations.

 

-The law of causality in relation to time travel.

 

-Exploration's into the deep nitty gritty of cosmic forces and universe wide magical fields that lend power to the native population.

 

One can use those things, even prominently as elements in the show, but only as much as the audience needs to know as they are not the focus.

 

So I would say the writer's no what they are doing.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Sakaki Yuya 7]

I've been actually thinking of them doing a more comedy-based show for juveniles like what cartoon network's doing, just for us older bronies

[Sanctified Absence 126]

I don't think they're actively trying to hold the show back. But as with all franchises, they have to impose somewhat strong limits. These limits won't agree with everyone, but they're put in place to keep the show itself relatively consistent in the audiences it speaks to.

 

So yes, it isn't living up to its full potential, but this is done on purpose because FiM doesn't need to take many more risks than it already has, especially in the light it's still seen in far too often.

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

Code Name KND, hardly has character development (as good as it is).

 

But yeah, it has a very limited scheme, and the season 4 finale just about maxed what they will be able to do givin the restrictions of their "target demographic"........... If you ask me, the show should go into PG territory, where it can stand to gain alot.

[chirox the pony 1,336]

I would say yes, not to the point where it's being pushed down to the level of say G3 but I think Hasbro is a little too protective of it, for example they still won't allow the writers to make an episode talking about Applejack's parents. Not to mention they apparently sued the creators of robot chicken for the "apocalypse ponies" sketch, see what I mean? I think Hasbro needs to be less protective of MLP (or at least the TV show), in fact in general I think Hasbro need less say in the writing of the show, I mean we all saw what happens when Hasbro has full control *cough* magical mystery cure. 

[AlbaTross 1,586]

Well, there are certainly limitations to a series that's technically for little girls, and just because Bronies exist, doesn't mean the intended demographic doesn't still watch the show. However, I do think the show's writers have gone above and beyond and surpassed all expectations for what could be done with the source material, given the circumstances. They've impressed all of us enough that we're all here, haven't they?

 

I get that there are certain things some of us want to see happen, but they need context. Would an episode focusing on the death of Applejack's parents be necessary, and how would they go about it? All I'm saying is that while the writers can in theory tackle more themes than they have, they shouldn't just put out such episodes for the sake of it, or simply to appeal to fans who want to see it. The writing needs to be there to back it up, or it will be worthless.

 

As for whether the series should have more action and adventure, I think it has plenty. I think there's a good balance of action and slice of life. Sure, most episodes are slice of lifey, but most of the big ones are actiony and adventurey. While I enjoy those kinds of episodes, I think there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. The action stuff is better IMHO because it doesn't happen all the time. I actually quite like the songs in the series, but if they happened at least once per story arc like in previous gens they'd get old fast, even with Daniel Ingram behind them. When we do get songs, they're that much better because they don't happen all the time. The slice of life stuff is great too, and I think it works well as the base of the series.

[Jangocoolguy 433]

Not entirely.

 

As others have said, DHX downright pushes the envelope for what goes on in a girls' cartoon. We don't really NEED it to be as dark and dramatic as some people say it needs to be. Even then they should save it for when it's appropriate. Melodrama for melodrama's sake would actually do more harm than good (I should know. I'm a CW fan x_x )

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Not entirely.

 

As others have said, DHX downright pushes the envelope for what goes on in a girls' cartoon. We don't really NEED it to be as dark and dramatic as some people say it needs to be. Even then they should save it for when it's appropriate. Melodrama for melodrama's sake would actually do more harm than good (I should know. I'm a CW fan x_x )

I know, I'm not asking for pointless melodrama all the time, but I do feel dramatic moments in the show can be improved more.