Did the shows target audience change?

[Zoraxe 546]

No, I'm not asking if Bronies are now the true demographic targeted, and yes, I know that the show is meant to be enjoyed by anybody who watches it. But I mean the target demographic.

 

I was reading a conversation on an other site and sombody said that the show seemed like it was most targeted to to '5-7' year olds initially, but at this point it seems more like its for '8-10' year olds.

 

I'm not sure what to think, things have gotten a bit more complex since season 1. But the show wasn't barney and friends in season 1 either, what with the Hydra and things. Maybe its just that the show simply got better as time went on so the target age group never changed, and that the age group is for kids of all ages rather than young kids VS older kids.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Zoraxe

[Silver Letter 1,832]

Maybe the show will shift to a slightly older group of children if it hasn't been doing so. It might be a good thing.

[Slimeh 35]

To Be Honest I Think Both, The Target Could Have Changes Cuz If I Watched Season 1 Compared To Season 4 Season 4 Is Better And In Season 4 They Knew Bronze Watched But In Season 1 They Did Not But They Could Just Be Progressing So IDK

[Discordian 6,015]

To Be Honest I Think Both, The Target Could Have Changes Cuz If I Watched Season 1 Compared To Season 4 Season 4 Is Better And In Season 4 They Knew Bronze Watched But In Season 1 They Did Not But They Could Just Be Progressing So IDK

y u capitalize every word you type?

 

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It wouldn't be the first time a show's demographic has changed as it's initial fans grew up a bit. I wouldn't say it's changed so much as it's expanded some. Maybe not even intentionally considering that the series just keeps getting better and better in more ways than one.

[NavelColt 22,879]

The show has started including more and more dark themes, which kinda started in s3, and really became prevalent in S4. The entire Chimera sequence from 'Somepony to Watch Over Me', pretty much every moment Tirek was on screen in the finale, etc. The target audience has not changed, but I do believe DHX and Hasbro have begun to see that the initial demographic they had in mind is not their only demographic. They have two very large demographics now, with varying ages. I think they're trying to keep things relatively the same, while throwing in darker themes and imagery than we ever saw in S1 and S2, to encompass more of their other significant target audience(s).

 

* That second audience isn't just bronies; parents are the other main demographic asides from younger kids.

[Slimeh 35]

y u capitalize every word you type?

 

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It wouldn't be the first time a show's demographic has changed as it's initial fans grew up a bit. I wouldn't say it's changed so much as it's expanded some. Maybe not even intentionally considering that the series just keeps getting better and better in more ways than one.

I Capatalize Every Word I Type Cuz I Fell Like It And It Looks Cooler XD

[MysticShine 529]

y u capitalize every word you type?

 

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It wouldn't be the first time a show's demographic has changed as it's initial fans grew up a bit. I wouldn't say it's changed so much as it's expanded some. Maybe not even intentionally considering that the series just keeps getting better and better in more ways than one.

Give him a break Discordian, he's new.

 

Anyways, I'd say it seems like the demographic is changing due to the fact that they are trying to cater to the brony demographic in certain aspects. (ei Power Ponies and the Twilight vs. Tirek fight)

[Shanks 10,816]

Yes and no, they are still targeting the really young kids with G3 specials being aired more and more and certain toylines. But there are also appeals to older children with the Equestria Girls spin off movies and some darker and more mature themes in the show. The "target demographic" hasn't changed so much as it has expanded, dramatically.

[Slimeh 35]

Also I Think That Discordian Is Right And The Fans Could Be The Same Ones Just Grown Up But Just A Theory

[Dulset Tarn 441]

Things have gotten a bit more complex since season 1.

How do you mean? What's more complex?

[Gearbox10mm 794]

The final magic battle at the end of season 4 would have been almost unimaginable at the end of season 1. The show is maturing quickly, thanks in part to the older fan base. It has always had that certain hint of edginess that felt out of place in a young childrens show. It seems to me that the show is increasingly headed towards having an "Early Spongbob" type of feel and audience.

 

The show will never abandon it's original target audience but I feel in the future it will continue to cater more and more to the teen and young adult side of it's viewers.  

[Dulset Tarn 441]

The final magic battle at the end of season 4 would have been almost unimaginable at the end of season 1.

Why is it more imaginable now?

[Drunk Cheerilee 130]

Every time i see the term 'target audience' it makes me think Hasbro has a giant cannon that they are aiming at poor little girls who think that ponies are cool. I believe the target audience has always been anypony who wishes to view the show, and recognize that it is absolute awesomeness in its purest form.

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

Eh.... Maybe?......  More action happen, and heavier themes are being used, but the target audience is still watching...... Little girls still eat it up.... And crappy sub-par toys are still made.

[AlbaTross 1,586]

It sounds to me like the audience has just gotten a little older. It's not so much a shift in the audience so much as those 5-7 year olds now being 8-10. Perhaps Hasbro was aware of that, and has taken steps to ensure that those fans still watch the show. Bronies can never truly be the target audience because that would mean losing the younger demographic by implementing too many dark and mature themes, but shifting to ages 8-10 as the target audience can at least allow for certain boundaries to be moved a tiny bit with fewer consequences.

[Justin_Case001 4,881]

I agree with Discordian that it has expanded more than changed.  I think the show has grown to appeal even more to a wider age range, but I don't think Hasbro would ever shift their entire target demographic and risk alienating any of their fans.

[Lisa 5,553]

It's hard to say, because the show sometimes gets really innocent, and then other times it gets fairly serious. 

[Pastel 7,630]

I don't think it targets only bronies now, to me it's still for girls too.

But I agree the show is darker and more mature than it used to be, so yeah I think the target audience changed over the years.

[Zoraxe 546]

I don't think it targets only bronies now, to me it's still for girls too.

 

Nobody in their right mind should think the show isn't for little girls. The target audience will always be girls, although Bronies watching is a good incentive not to aim too young, like how G3 is obviously for a younger audience than G1 and G4 is.

 

Why is it more imaginable now?

 

Season 1 just has this vibe to it that makes Tirak or Chrysalis seem unlikely to exist, except perhaps if they defeated them with a pie fight.

 

How do you mean? What's more complex?

 

The moral lessons are certainly getting more mature as time goes on.

[Poetic Stone 1,040]

Well after watching the show for some time I have asked myself this same question. Has the show changed, perhaps if you watch the show, from season one all the way though it does seem to target a different group. I personally love the show, and it just gets better as time goes on so I mind not, but has it changed I think it has, is this bad I don't think so. Whatever the case just enjoy the show, and everything that comes with it.

 

              

[Po-Nonimous 583]

No, I'm not asking if Bronies are now the true demographic targeted, and yes, I know that the show is meant to be enjoyed by anybody who watches it. But I mean the target demographic.

 

I was reading a conversation on an other site and sombody said that the show seemed like it was most targeted to to '5-7' year olds initially, but at this point it seems more like its for '8-10' year olds.

 

I'm not sure what to think, things have gotten a bit more complex since season 1. But the show wasn't barney and friends in season 1 either, what with the Hydra and things. Maybe its just that the show simply got better as time went on so the target age group never changed, and that the age group is for kids of all ages rather than young kids VS older kids.

 

I think a little older but if they decide to pick a target-age audience between the ages of 12 and 25 I'm all for that! I mean, look at Gravity Falls. That's an awesome show and they have the right target audience age group, I think.

[gamecubeguy214 2,512]

I think it's more 13+ of a show. Most of the stuff they do isn't PG-13, but sometimes on episodes starting new seasons, they morbidly kill the villains, and also appeared that on the first two episodes of Discord's appearances, Fluttershy was found murdering flowers, just to name a few of the PG-13 stuff they've done.

[Freewave 1,145]

Seeing as how they are launching a toddler toy line for MLP now I would say the answer is no.   Stuff like Tirek fight did seem like something targetted towards Bronies but those are few and very far between. Season 2 with the Discord 2 parter and with Chrysalis seemed like a much more mature and darker themes for those episodes. The ending 2 parter for season 4 seemed like it was pulling its punches until the end and not terribly complex a plot. I would love it if the show matures with its target audience but I think to Hasbro that means investing more into Equestria Girls to go after those tweens who are now into Monster High and Ever After toy lines than making its main franchise more "epic".

 

I am very glad that Hasbro abandoned its original goal not to have a chronological series. The fact they had ongoing plotlines in season 3+4 that came to conclusions in the finales are something that does require a steady fanbase that they have.

 

The morales are only getting more complex because they've gone through several seasons already. Can't repeat the ones of the past. 

[Dulset Tarn 441]

Season 1 just has this vibe to it that makes Tirak or Chrysalis seem unlikely to exist, except perhaps if they defeated them with a pie fight.

What do you base this on?

 

The moral lessons are certainly getting more mature as time goes on.

I have yet to see any evidence of this.

[Dark Qiviut 22,383]

Why is it more imaginable now?

I think it's more to do with content rating than demographics. Season one was confined to the E/I rating, which is much more restrictive than the TV-Y rating it carries. Visible violence (especially if there's a lack of education involved) like the brawl in A Canterlot Wedding, the violence in both Daring Don't and Power Ponies, and the Twilight/Tirek fight aren't allowed under that rating.