Do background ponies have any characterization outside of fan-made personalities

[ManaMinori 4,146]

Do you guys think that the show goes far enough to even develop what background characters they have, based off the pony's actions and lines (if any)? Does the characterization that the show provides to these background ponies in line with the fandom's portrayal of the character?

 

Foe example, a video done by Sparkle Chord takes a look at Derpy, analyzes her lines and actions, and is able to give a rather in-depth and accurate characterization for her that DHX has given her, though she's hardly as relevant a character as the Spike, the Mane 6, or CMC.

 

What CANON characterization can you find out from the actions and or lines of other background characters in MLP?

[colt_following 169]

I recently have been wondering about Colgate/Minuette. I notice her a LOT in the crowds (that fact itself gives her some specific character traits).

Also the creme-colored mare with pink and blue mane. Don't know her name, unfortunately, but (EDIT: Sweetie Drops!) she seems to be in an actual majority of the episodes in the series.

Edited June 10, 2015 by colt_following

[Grepper 3,193]

I don't know if the writers intentionally give background ponies any characterization at all.

[221BTardisSt 101]

Though I can't say a lot about specific background ponies, I do think we will see more character development of some of them in episode 100. Because we've seen Vinyl Scratch a lot, and we have seen her interact with the Mane Six, yet she hasn't spoken, it's pretty evident that she prefers her music to interacting with other ponies. Add to this her constant wearing of headphones, and we get a rather introverted pony. I see her as a pony who likes to be at the party, but involved in the organizing and music, not on the dance floor, ya know?

 

I'm not saying she's antisocial; just that she prefers to listen to her music than talk to anyone. 

Edited June 10, 2015 by 221BTardisSt

[Batbrony 16,057]

Given what we know the 100th episode will be about, I feel like this topic would best be saved for after its airing.  Not saying that in other seasons this wouldn't be a relevant question, nor is it not relevant now, it's just that everything that DHX has done to date with the background characters is about to completely change after the 100th episode airs.

 

Now, as for what they've done to date, I will just say that they've certainly given the fandom enough in the show that we've been able to take what we know of background characters, at least certain ones, and expand upon it.  Little character traits, such as Derpy's one line about muffins which has blown up to be a defining one of hers, or more obvious ones like Octavia and Vinyl's position as musicians, these have given the fandom good material to work with.  So I guess to answer your question before episode 100 airs, I'll say that some of the most prominent background characters are quite evidently not just there for the sake of taking space.  They are genuine characters in their own way, very similar to, say, some of the citizens of Townsville that you'd frequently see in The Powerpuff Girls, for example.  That's just going to become much more apparent after this weekend, at least with some of them.

[colt_following 169]

They are genuine characters in their own way, very similar to, say, some of the citizens of Townsville that you'd frequently see in The Powerpuff Girls, for example.  That's just going to become much more apparent after this weekend, at least with some of them.

 

 

This is something I thought about yesterday... to us, they DO just sort of fill the space. But heck , each of them is designed and characterized in SOME way, and rather particularly in some cases, so it's tough to just brush them off when they actually are almost as recurrent as the Mane 6 sometimes.

[ManaMinori 4,146]

This is something I thought about yesterday... to us, they DO just sort of fill the space. But heck , each of them is designed and characterized in SOME way, and rather particularly in some cases, so it's tough to just brush them off when they actually are almost as recurrent as the Mane 6 sometimes.

the thing is, though, simply having a character design doesn't give them canon characterization. Putting the designed character in a group of othe r designed characters without havng them do anything to do that shows what kind of person they might be, through actions or dialogue isn't canon characterization, but only breeds fanon characterization

[MAIKUN 262]

Think I like it when the characters has their own fan character personalites like Button Mash as a game fanatic and Vinyl is loud mouthed!

[ManaMinori 4,146]

Given what we know the 100th episode will be about, I feel like this topic would best be saved for after its airing.  Not saying that in other seasons this wouldn't be a relevant question, nor is it not relevant now, it's just that everything that DHX has done to date with the background characters is about to completely change after the 100th episode airs.

 

Now, as for what they've done to date, I will just say that they've certainly given the fandom enough in the show that we've been able to take what we know of background characters, at least certain ones, and expand upon it.  Little character traits, such as Derpy's one line about muffins which has blown up to be a defining one of hers, or more obvious ones like Octavia and Vinyl's position as musicians, these have given the fandom good material to work with.  So I guess to answer your question before episode 100 airs, I'll say that some of the most prominent background characters are quite evidently not just there for the sake of taking space.  They are genuine characters in their own way, very similar to, say, some of the citizens of Townsville that you'd frequently see in The Powerpuff Girls, for example.  That's just going to become much more apparent after this weekend, at least with some of them.

I felt it better to ask this before the 100th episode, actually, since the episode itself will  very likely lean too heavily toward what characterization the fandom gave to the background ponies through the years, instead of the writers own characterization. Because, as you've said, the little character traits that fans pick up on are blown to massive proportions for that character, and you can tell that it's more fanon than canon. (Derpy's one "muffin" line leading her to have an extreme obsessions with muffins, rather than her simply, say, having a taste for muffins that one day. Yet one one ever comments or seems to notice her pigging out on the chocolate fondue fountain in "Pinkie's Pride") The majority of fans also portray her as stupid, whereas the writers gave her a personality- as seen in the video in my op- where you can deduce from her lines and actions- that she's naive, sweet, caring, optimistic, helpful, responsible, kind, able to laugh at her mistakes, and have optimistic and positive in tough times. (all seen from "The Last Roundup") And she's compassionate, enthusiastic when she goes into something, loyal, diligent, and unoffended when something she initially invested time in doesn't go as planned, all as seen from "Rainbow Falls") That's a LOT of characterization for a background pony.

 

I wanted to see if anyone can pick out that kind of characterization from other background ponies, before the 100th episode aired.

[Batbrony 16,057]

I felt it better to ask this before the 100th episode, actually, since the episode itself will  very likely lean too heavily toward what characterization the fandom gave to the background ponies through the years, instead of the writers own characterization. Because, as you've said, the little character traits that fans pick up on are blown to massive proportions for that character, and you can tell that it's more fanon than canon. (Derpy's one "muffin" line leading her to have an extreme obsessions with muffins, rather than her simply, say, having a taste for muffins that one day. Yet one one ever comments or seems to notice her pigging out on the chocolate fondue fountain in "Pinkie's Pride") The majority of fans also portray her as stupid, whereas the writers gave her a personality- as seen in the video in my op- where you can deduce from her lines and actions- that she's naive, sweet, caring, optimistic, helpful, responsible, kind, able to laugh at her mistakes, and have optimistic and positive in tough times. (all seen from "The Last Roundup") And she's compassionate, enthusiastic when she goes into something, loyal, diligent, and unoffended when something she initially invested time in doesn't go as planned, all as seen from "Rainbow Falls") That's a LOT of characterization for a background pony.

 

I wanted to see if anyone can pick out that kind of characterization from other background ponies, before the 100th episode aired.

 

I hear ya, though I think you might misread what most fans think of Derpy.  Only the ones who haven't put thought into it actually think she's just a clutz; most of us just like to joke about that the same way we joke about, say, Twilight being an egghead or Rainbow Dash being a showoff.  I think most really do have affection for her because they realize that beneath the silly traits we've seen there is an interesting character to be explored.  Heck, that's why I picked her for the one fanfic I've written and am still writing, because I thought it'd be interesting trying to further flesh out her character (well that and she's my favorite pony  ).

[AmberDust 1,118]

"slice of Life' leads me to believe that, no, they don't have any personalities outside of fan-made ones. And this upsets me.

[The Awesome One 1,315]

They just made the fan-made personalities of the background ponies canon right? At least as far as Doctor Whooves is concerned. Bonbon being a secret agent was something the fandom never came up with, the creators of the show did that.

[Justin_Case001 4,910]

Little character traits, such as Derpy's one line about muffins which has blown up to be a defining one of hers

What line about muffins?  She only spoke in The Last Roundup, right?  She didn't say anything about muffins.  And now, of course, she offered a muffin to Cranky, but she didn't speak any other time besides these two episodes, right?  Did I miss something?  Is my whole world about to be turned upside down again?

 

To answer the original question, obviously the background characters have some defining traits.  We knew Octavia was a musician before Slice of LIfe, for example.  But I doubt the writers would have bothered exanding on any of their personalities if not for the fan created stuff.  I don't think they would have had a reason to.  I'm one of the few, it seems, who really gets a kick out of the fan/creator relationship we have.  I think amazing and honoring.

[manic 121]

Given Appleloosa's Most Wanted, Braeburn is a bit of a klutz.... and all the more adorable for it  !! 

[Thunderlane 550]

Well, we can see quite a bit of characterization from Doctor Whooves now, as I think he was one of the main parts of "Slice of Life". We can see an obvious personality about him now.

[Batbrony 16,057]

What line about muffins?  She only spoke in The Last Roundup, right?  She didn't say anything about muffins.  And now, of course, she offered a muffin to Cranky, but she didn't speak any other time besides these two episodes, right?  Did I miss something?  Is my whole world about to be turned upside down again?

 

It's easy to miss.  It's in Season 1 in "Applebuck Season".  After Applejack and Pinkie Pie bake those nasty, worm-filled muffins, Derpy and a bunch of other ponies are gathered around to get some.  They're all excited, but in the crowd you can hear Derpy (voiced by some random VA) say "Muffins!" excitedly.  And yes, that one line is literally where ALL of the fanon "Derpy-loves-muffins" material comes from, I'm not even joking. 

 

[Justin_Case001 4,910]

It's easy to miss.  It's in Season 1 in "Applebuck Season".  After Applejack and Pinkie Pie bake those nasty, worm-filled muffins, Derpy and a bunch of other ponies are gathered around to get some.  They're all excited, but in the crowd you can hear Derpy (voiced by some random VA) say "Muffins!" excitedly.  And yes, that one line is literally where ALL of the fanon "Derpy-loves-muffins" material comes from, I'm not even joking. 

Wow, you weren't kidding, that is easy to miss!  Never would have spotted that in a million years.  And wow, that really is a nothing, throw-away line to base all that fanon around.  Pretty funny.

[Sectus 246]

Wow, you weren't kidding, that is easy to miss!  Never would have spotted that in a million years.  And wow, that really is a nothing, throw-away line to base all that fanon around.  Pretty funny.

 

Steven Magnet's name was based off of a translating error on Youtube. This fandom is based heavily off of minor things and mistakes.

[Justin_Case001 4,910]

This fandom is based heavily off of minor things and mistakes.

Y'know, to be fair, the whole world is heavily based off of mistakes.  So many things were invented by mistake, or came about serendipitously due to some mistake.