What would YOU do as Franchise Creative Lead of My little pony

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Inspired by the Unlikablepony's topic about this, I've been thinking about the fact that the Franchise Creative lead of the franchise we all like is now open. The question I pose is, What would YOU do as the lead?

 

http://jobs.hasbro.com/job/Pawtucket-Franchise-Creative-Lead-My-Little-Pony-Job-RI-02860/245808200/

 

This job is not just about the show itself, this is about Movies, spin-offs, possibly Gen 5, anything that can push the brand of my little pony forward in a positive direction. The Ideas you come up with must be in line with the merchandising aspect of the brand and integrate the merchandise into the Narrative of the show as seemlessly as possible.

 

You wouldn't be doing this on your own either, you would be working with the writers and animators, encouraging them in specific directions and acting as the overseer of all that goes on, as well as pushing new ideas and ways for the IP to grow.

 

And of course, as the Franchise creative lead, you are held responsible if the decisions you make end up hurting the franchise instead of helping it, so doing that controversial m rated series you've been dreaming about may not be the best call. 

 

So what direction would you steer the My little pony franchise? What ideas would you bring to the table? How would you expand the IP? Would you shoot for Video game tie-ins, Movies, spin offs, new generations, and things like that? How? What kind of stories would you like to tell that would fit with the merchandising aspect of the IP? What would be your managing and delegating strategies? How will you avoid having poor reception for the things you bring to the table and make sure the IP's name is made even better and stronger over time? 

 

[Megas 27,787]

Only thing I'd do was give the rights to make a video game to a competent developer.

 

EDIT: Oh yeah, I'd also put some quality control on the IDW comics and get good Rainbow Dash Micro comic made to make up for the one we wound up getting 

Edited August 2, 2015 by Lemon Zest

[Phosphorous 136]

I'd have it have more mature themes, and be targetted to adults. It would be drama, but with magical ponies. Every season, a character would go, kinda like GoT (I don't watch it). 

[Unlikeable Pony 2,698]

Well, this is a very difficult question.

Honestly, I'd like to wait till the end of G4, then launch a Seperate G5 and a smaller, internet aimed Reboot of FIM that had more action and a slightly more mature aim.
Basically, like how they had the transformers rescue bots line and the Transformers line going on for both really young kids and older fans, I'd want to make a G5 series for 3-7 children and a reboot of FIM for 7+ and adult fans. Nothing overly gory or grimdark, but kind of more in line with some of the comics that fans make, and a more magical girlish approach to things.
Make the reboot composed of online comics and an official web series while the g5 would be on discovery kids.

 

At the same time, take a few more risks with the reboot, with a few collector toys of the mane six or other characters in armor like the IDW comic covers like to do and fans like to do fanart of. (I bet if they made a collectors toy of Rainbow dash in commander hurricane's armor right NOW it'd probably sell enough to justify it like the shadowbolt rainbow dash doll does)

[Moony the Cat 3,703]

I would make a cgi Quadrilogy of Movies, the first would be based around the cult of Silent Hill and one of the ponys would try to gain power, by giving her hate for the world to the god of silent hill ( which grows from hate ) to create a new world. The Story would be centered around a young filly, who loses her mother to a sickness and then gets told by a demon of silent hill, that they would give her her mother back, if she would do certain things like opening a portal to equestria, sending the main 6 away and so on. ( the story would be kinda similar to pokemon 3 actually )

 

Of course it would just be based a little bit about it. It would be like silent hill, but not direct. In the second movie i would have a story arc with arianne and her army, trying to make the world equal by setting a war against pretty much everything. Since her sister was born with the wrong color, she was sent away and ariannes father told her, that her sister simply died.As the movie progresses , arianne would find her sister back and would finally realize, that the war they are having is just gruesome and wrong and that it doesnt madder what color you have or what species you are. She acts against her father and trys together with the main 6 to destroy the army.

 

In the third Movie it would be more centered around Chrysalis, i dont know exactly what i would do, but in the movie they would be a situation where Celestia and Luna would need the power of Chrysalis to destroy a much greater enemy than ever before. By the end Chrysalis would actually end up, being the queen of Equestria. And the Changeling army would be part of equestria then.

 

And the last movie will be centered about a girl called Elizabeth, who is actually a adoptive daughter of luna. Since luna was sent away for thousand years by Celestia, Elizabeth was left behind in lunas castle. Since luna was banished, and her castle would also be under a spell, since celestia doesnt know that a girl called elizabeth even exists, elizabeth is unable to leave and thinks that luna has forget about her and was stuck in the castle for many years.

 

The demon from the first movie trys again, to use the hatred of the pony, to gain power and to destroy everything of equestria. The main 6 then have to fight the final battle against Elizabeth and the heart of darkness to save ponyville once and for all.

 

Or something like that. I know, stupid ideas, would be way to much for a kids movie and doesnt make much sense. Thats why im probably never going to be working at hasbro 

[Goat-kun 2,530]

I’d use the cover of the remaining seasons to assemble a team of staunch nerds and finally do the holy Grimoire of all things pony. We need a detailed world map, internal guidelines and rulebooks for everything magic and whimsical, defined history and creation myths, defined interactions between various creatures and characters … in other words: everything that would help other teams come up with good stories and product ideas. Due to the fast and competitive environment, we’d have to do things in chunks, jumping in and out of Equestria with each other arc to keep people entertained and intrigued.

 

We’d probably start with something very simple but fabulous like the city of Canterlot and its underground crystal caverns. We’d b defining all the landmarks, important and interesting pony characters, Solar and Lunar Guard, and make toy department cry tears of joy with all the new possibilities for toy set designs. If things turn out great, I’d probably use that to do something bolder and slightly more male oriented like the Badlands or Everfree.

 

I’d also merge the toy and online stuff together as is the norm these days and enable toy owners to explore these things through games. Of course, we’d have to launch a specific line for this … How does the IPone sound? Like a lawsuit? Sigh.

 

As for the series, I’d keep those guys on a long leash as long as they obey the Grimoire and run the overarching plotlines through me. They’re formidable at slicing life. Let’s keep it that way at least for another season.

[MAIKUN 262]

If I were a franchise creative lead on G4, I would establish a studio to focus on future G4 content like the CMC spin-off.

[Guest]

Honestly? In all seriousness? I would end Gen 4 and move as far away from bronies as possible. I would focus the new gen on just the original target audience, as that would be the smartest long term move. Nothing personal, guys.

[Princess Lona 382]

I would go back to the roots of G4 and what made adults so attracted to the show in the first place. The original reason that I fell in love with this show is that despite being a toy seller, it is also a healthy influence for the target audience in a culture that, while making progress, still lacks in positive role models and stories for young girls. The reason older fans even noticed the show is that it is well written with engaging, nuanced characters and "morals" writing that isn't overly simplified. That wonderful show that we all fell in love with was always intended for 3-7 year old girls. And I think it's still a great show for them, but I worry with all of the fan service this season (and a little bit in season three) the franchise is focusing too much on bronies. In a very selfish way, I love the fan service and I do think the more subtle of it could remain without getting in the way, but the thing that excites me most about this show is dreaming of a world twenty years from now, when all the seven year olds watching it have grown up and are starting to take leadership roles. If the show keeps on catering to bronies the way it has recently, it will have to cut time devoted to teaching kids about friendship.

 

For G5 I would keep much of the themes and feeling of G4, but I would add some male main characters. This show is too good to not share with all the kids. That being said, I would not change anything about the style or stories to make it "more marketable to boys". MLP has already shown that it can cause older fans to question gender stereotypes, I think the next generation should work to break down those barriers even further. Make a show about love, friendship, and vulnerability and stick some guys in there too, so that little boys can learn that they too can be kind, honest, generous, optimistic, loyal, and friendly.

 

For EQG I would revamp the doll line with more of a focus on activities and less on fashion. Fashion could still be there, but it need not take centre stage.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

Only thing I'd do was give the rights to make a video game to a competent developer.

 

EDIT: Oh yeah, I'd also put some quality control on the IDW comics and get good Rainbow Dash Micro comic made to make up for the one we wound up getting

Yes! They really need to get to making a video game