What makes MLP FiM a "kids show"?

[ManaMinori 4,145]

I don't get why people, fans and non-fans aalike, are quick to label MLPFIM as a "kids show", even after 5 years. What makes it a kid's show? The fact that it's animated? The Simpsons, Family guy, Golan the insatiable, Beavis and Butthead, Ren & Stimpy, and King of the Hill aare also animated, but they're not kid shows. That just shows that adults can also enjoy animated series. (If we haven't caught on from the older fans of anime, yet)

 

Is it the rating of the show that makes it a "kid show"? Are adults only expected to like things with parental guidance or higher ratings, because they display more adult themes? Which not all adults enjoy, btw)

 

What makes MLP FiM a kid show?

[碇 シンジン 27,432]

I think kids shows are shows where the characters ask questions from the audience and then couple seconds for them time to answer and then they show the answer.

 

MLP FiM doesn't fit into that category I think, The quality and the morals of the episodes are well planned out and the show is interesting to look at =)<3 Characters relatable and deep  very good show overall =)=)=)

 

A show that I would call All family show, not just a kids show

[Sunwalker 981]

It is the fact that it does not exclude kids from its audience, I presume. But the show can be watched by other people too, so I would say that "all ages show" is a more appropriate term .

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

A big factor is definitely the fact that it's based off a brand of little girl toys and the fact that it was originally created to market those toys to little girls. It can get pretty complex and heavy at times but at the end of the day it is still a little kid's show, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

[Love//Hack 819]

Besides being animated, I think it's due to the good morals and lessons children can learn from, the concept of the series, and that it's a fourth reboot generation of the My Little Pony franchise intended for little girls and other children.

 

I personally agree with @ooBrony though that "Family show" is a better term but in some ways it's safe to call it a kids' show.

But the show can appeal to both older and younger people. (Like all it's adult jokes for example. To quote Pinkie: "The punch is SPIKED!")

After all, the show's high quality of entertaining all ages who watch it and how it's not over-the-top girly for a lot of fans, adults, and children makes it very enjoyable and the characters are all well developed and quite engaging for a lot of us. And a lot of the Mane Six make good role models too for a lot of children and people alike. But despite it's fun and friendly atosphreme, the show also has many grand adventures and excitement or great moments in many episodes like specials or premieres and finales or explore certain themes in it's normal slice of life episodes anyone can learn from.

 

However I don't blame people thinking it's just for children, with the lessons and concept about friendship and cute, candy colored ponies and a lot of it's slice of life episodes with the lessons.

[ManaMinori 4,145]

A big factor is definitely the fact that it's based off a brand of little girl toys and the fact that it was originally created to market those toys to little girls. It can get pretty complex and heavy at times but at the end of the day it is still a little kid's show, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

so were Transformers. So was G.I. Joe

 

Having a show promote a toyline doesn't mean that the show is for kids

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

so were Transformers. So was G.I. Joe

 

Having a show promote a toyline doesn't mean that the show is for kids

Alright where is the live, action-packed movie for MLP? What's MLP's rating? TV-Y

[ManaMinori 4,145]

Besides being animated, I think it's due to the good morals and lessons children can learn from, the concept of the series, and that it's a fourth reboot generation of the My Little Pony franchise intended for little girls and other children.

I personally agree with @ooBrony though that "Family show" is a better term but in some ways it's safe to call it a kids' show.

But the show can appeal to both older and younger people. (Like all it's adult jokes for example. To quote Pinkie: "The punch is SPIKED!")

After all, the show's high quality of entertaining all ages who watch it and how it's not over-the-top girly for a lot of fans, adults, and children makes it very enjoyable and the characters are all well developed and quite engaging for a lot of us. And a lot of the Mane Six make good role models too for a lot of children and people alike. But despite it's fun and friendly atosphreme, the show also has many grand adventures and excitement or great moments in many episodes like specials or premieres and finales or explore certain themes in it's normal slice of life episodes anyone can learn from.

However I don't blame people thinking it's just for children, with the lessons and concept about friendship and cute, candy colored ponies and a lot of it's slice of life episodes with the lessons.

so the good morals, reminders, wholesome characters and such isn't something that adults should be watching, by those people's logic?

How Flippin backwards is that?

 

So I gueess what makes something suited for adults are shows and movies with sex, explosions, killing, swearing, and all that disgusting stuff. Ok.

[Love//Hack 819]

so the good morals, reminders, wholesome characters and such isn't something that adults should be watching, by those people's logic?

How Flippin backwards is that?

So I gueess what makes something suited for adults are shows and movies with sex, explosions, killing, swearing, and all that disgusting stuff. Ok.

You just summed up my thoughts on this in a nutshell.

And don't blame me, this is the logic of every kid at my Jr high. (*sighs* It's hard to be in a fandom like this or any fandom in middle school.)

Edited August 5, 2015 by 5NightsAtFazbear

[ManaMinori 4,145]

Alright where is the live, action-packed movie for MLP? What's MLP's rating? TV-Y

both of those had, and still have animated series. Ratings don't mean squat, because you can't argue that those series that were made for a toyline, and still are, are for kids. So why should MLP e?

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

so the good morals, reminders, wholesome characters and such isn't something that adults should be watching, by those people's logic?

How Flippin backwards is that?

 

So I gueess what makes something suited for adults are shows and movies with sex, explosions, killing, swearing, and all that disgusting stuff. Ok.

Well all that is damn sure not suited for kids!

Also by the time you're an adult you should have a grasp on all these concepts they're teaching kids.

 

both of those had, and still have animated series. Ratings don't mean squat, because you can't argue that those series that were made for a toyline, and still are, are for kids. So why should MLP e?

yes it does. it has a rating for kids. But did you forget the part where I said that doesn't mean it's a bad thing?

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

The toys and colorful animations, bit the writing and music make it appeal to adults as well.

[silvadel 1,393]

Well, it is a kids show because the rating among the kids demographic is what they look at to get it renewed as opposed to say a primetime show where it is the 18-34s that count.

[Nit Pick 247]

If only more people knew that the Looney Tunes and Disney characters was in propaganda and racist cartoons. Those were targeted at adults in the past.

 

Right?

[Silver Letter 1,832]

There's nothing inherent about it. Adults can learn a lot of the pure message contained in a so-called "kid's show." Of course, ratings might be taken into account by some but it doesn't really mean much.

[Ruddboy Olaf 10,628]

For me,it's the humor,the morals,and the plots. 

[Spikey-Wikey 378]

Because it's a show about cute colourful ponies that are magical and can fly.

Edited August 5, 2015 by Filly Lyra

[GeekySonic 1,150]

It's a cartoon based on a toy line about talking colorful ponies that go through adventures to learn lessons about friendship. The whole theme of it is meant to be aimed at children. It is produced in a much higher quality than most kid shows, which explains why people of all ages can enjoy it, but it is still a kids' show.

 

Mature audiences are expected to enjoy more mature themes these days. I'm not saying it's right, I'm not saying it's 100% true. But that's the way the world spins.

 

People need to understand that. The whole reason Bronies were ever an Internet sensation was because it was a fandom dedicated to a kids' show (largely misinterpreted as a girls' show). But we can't just stop and make up excuses for why it's not a kids' show. It is.

 

It's just a very excellent kids' show with all the right key components that make it enjoyable for everyone. That's not a bad thing. That's what made it unique in the first place.

[[NULL] 906]

How isn't it a kid's show? The writers have said time and time again that it's a kid's show. The target audience is children after all. And since when was something being a kid's show a bad thing?

Edited August 5, 2015 by SpaceOnion

[Mesme Rize 15,685]

Why shouldn't it be a kids show? I mean sure, i would consider it a Family show. But i wouldn't be ashamed of it, if it was a kids show. I am not considering anything griddy or dark, by watching MLP.

 

Besides, the morals are something that i as a 25 year old should have already learned.

[Phosphorous 136]

I hate the term kid's show. Unless it's Barney the Dinosaur, Blues Clues, or Dora, that always requests viewers to count the number of shoes on the screen, its not a kid's show. I once knew a 19 year girl that watched Blues Clues because she had a crush on Steve.

 

 

Even boobah isn't a kid's show. If you show it to one, they will be permanently brain damaged.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfDA3z_VXxQ

[Guest]

It's a kids show, through and through. If it wasn't, it wouldn't spend its time teaching morals that a grown adult would already know. Besides, "kids show" isn't a derogatory term, so I don't know what all the fuss is about.

 

The show is good, isn't it? So why care what it's being labelled as. lol

Edited August 5, 2015 by Guest

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

I think there's been a misunderstanding that being a kids show is a bad thing. No, it's not a bad thing to be a kids show. Adults can still watch it if it's a bad thing. It really just means it's appropriate for kids to watch. It's not trying under the excuse of being a kids show that's bad.

[Sugar Cube 4,843]

Although I'm sure I'm guilty of using the term, I'm not necessarily a fan of saying "kid's show" because there's a wide spectrum of different kinds of kid's shows intended for very different audiences (kid's show can imply something educational, or it could imply something that's just really juvenile in its humor, etc). Calling it a kid's show doesn't do anything to describe MLP other than imply that it's something G-rated.

 

In the case of FiM, it is considered a kid's show because it has a target demographic of children. Its content is suitable for all ages, and is heavily marketed towards a younger crowd. And while it is great to see such an outstanding series really set the bar for kid-friendly programming and transcend the intended crowd, it is still at the end of the day, a series that has all of the hallmarks of child appeal. Just look at the name of the show, the cute characters, the emphasis on friendship and teamwork, the mere content of it just screams "kid show," but especially to people who have no firsthand knowledge on the series.

 

I am by no means backing up the "kid's show" label, however, I'm just pointing out why it's used so much. Anything entertaining will appeal to a wide audience of people of varying ages, backgrounds, etc. That goes without saying, and there's certainly no harm in enjoying something that's innocent enough to appeal to a child. I don't think it's that offensive to call MLP a kid's show since the intended audience has nothing to do with the quality of the product.

[SteveMorison 404]

I'd call it more a family show, but the bright and colourful animation, the focus on teaching morals and friendship and the low-key humour would fit it under the definition of kids show. Very good kids show mind probably better than the majority.