The future of MLP after the show ends.

[Flash_Freeze 6]

As a relatively new Brony, I am ashamed to have just discovered this amazing show. Needless to say I've already watched all of the original series too many times to count and its only been 3 months. I've got to say that I don't see MLP ever being something that I will stop being a part of, but what happens to the universe when the show stops running.

 

There seems to be some consensus that the fandom will shrink, but continue to exist. Personally, I feel that the diehard fans will end up creating a ridiculously complex headcannon. And I honestly hope that it becomes an integrated part of the larger related fandoms (personally, as a furry, I would love to see the two groups end their discrepancies and realize how incredibly close they are, but I'm gonna throw up the hater heater on that one.) What do you think will happen when the show ends? Will the fandom survive, be absorbed, fade into obscurity???

[Blue Moon 6,341]

Hi!

 

This thread appears to be related to the My Little Pony franchise and/or the Bronydom in general. Thus, it has been sentenced to Sugarcube Corner.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

I think just the opposite will happen. The show will end when the fandom dies down. As long as the fandom exists, and it's only growing and becoming more accepted, the show will still exist.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@GuyNamedEarl does have a point. As long as we're pumping out our stuff...the show will keep on going. 

[Flash_Freeze 6]

Hi!

 

This thread appears to be related to the My Little Pony franchise and/or the Bronydom in general. Thus, it has been sentenced to Sugarcube Corner.

Oh my! I'm so sorry. I'll move it.

I think just the opposite will happen. The show will end when the fandom dies down. As long as the fandom exists, and it's only growing and becoming more accepted, the show will still exist.

I really hope that is true. Personally, I'd love for that to happen. Just thought it would be an interesting question to pose. Money does drive the show production. Do you think there will be a point where the topical quality will decrease enough that there will no longer be Brony interest? Personally, the animation is enough for me, but its a possibility.

@GuyNamedEarl does have a point. As long as we're pumping out our stuff...the show will keep on going.

Totally agree. There is so much going on, even with this deadly hiatus. It feels like I joined this fandom as its going downhill, but hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[~Sassy Dashie~ 712]

Well...I'm not quite sure it will end. At least for a long while.

 

Unlike Anime and TV shows like Wayward Pines and the Walkking Dead, MLP is more of a kids cartoon. Usually, those don't just end.

 

If it ever does, I believe the fandom will still live on.

[White 189]

Most fans will continue their normal lives and get excited when generation 5 begins,

Edited August 15, 2015 by White

[Xeltor23 704]

I wonder how G5 will be actually, the graphics, if it's related to the current one, etc.

[[NULL] 906]

MLP is more of a kids cartoon. Usually, those don't just end.

 

They usually don't end, unless the creators still have artistic integrity.

Edited August 15, 2015 by SpaceOnion

[Steve Piranha 29,429]

As a relatively new Brony, I am ashamed to have just discovered this amazing show. Needless to say I've already watched all of the original series too many times to count and its only been 3 months. I've got to say that I don't see MLP ever being something that I will stop being a part of, but what happens to the universe when the show stops running.

 

There seems to be some consensus that the fandom will shrink, but continue to exist. Personally, I feel that the diehard fans will end up creating a ridiculously complex headcannon. And I honestly hope that it becomes an integrated part of the larger related fandoms (personally, as a furry, I would love to see the two groups end their discrepancies and realize how incredibly close they are, but I'm gonna throw up the hater heater on that one.) What do you think will happen when the show ends? Will the fandom survive, be absorbed, fade into obscurity???

I understand your concern. I was worried about the same thing when I joined, back at mid season 3, and the fact that the finale felt like the final episode of the series didn't helped either  . Oh well, you can chill out, ponies will last to 2017 at least, with the upcoming pony movie and all 

[Guest]

This is how I feel personally but to each their own though as they say. I honestly think the show has done wonderfully all the way up to season 5 some may disagree with me on that however. Some may say the show lost it's flair after season 2 but as I said before. I felt as if the Equestria Girl's spin-off was rather bland and cliche especially story wise. The character designs were quite horrid just in my opinion though. I felt as if the main MLP series could have done without Equestria Girls. The comics however I thought were amazing! 

 

I certainly do not want to keep continuing on the show if it is just going to be lackluster or diminish as time goes on. It's been a wonderful show all the way up to season 5 I believe but I don't think it would be wise to keep making episodes because we have all seen what happens to shows that stay on for *too long*. Not every show can retain it's quality after sometime. I do believe this show still has a lot of life left for it to grow story wise but for how much longer or how many seasons should it last is a great question in itself. I would hate to see this show having a large decrease in quality though just because they want to "keep it alive". 

[superdogz1999 551]

When the show ends, which would be in 2017 or 2018, Hasbro would has probably been in the works for either a spin off or a whole new generation of MLP. As the show was originally designed to sell toys and G4 I think was the most popular generation of MLP in the history of the franchise.

[Flash_Freeze 6]

Gone Airbourne. Comprehensive comment. I think you're right in that it shouldn't continue just to continue, but I could last quite awhile. This is more a question of what do you think will happen to the fandom. Some cons are dying out, the overall number of watchers is pretty constant lately, it just makes me wonder where we are headed. On one hand, I'm excited to see, on the other, I hope it lives for as long as it deserves to and no longer than that.

https://mlpforums.com/user/33728-superdogz1999/, the licence is currently renewed for two more seasons. Doesn't mean there won't be more. While I'm excited to see what Hasbro has in store for G5, I'm attached to this generation in the way that comic book readers are attached to silver or golden age models of their favorite characrures. A new generation is a lot of new and different charcture development to invest in and for now, I love the characrures that we have. I would however, like to see a lot more Spike development in a way that doesn't consistently make him look like he can never learn from his past mistakes or overcome his dragon nature, though it does pose an interesting commentary on the nature vs. nurture status of at least one characrure. May be a valuable thing for them to explore... The fact that we are suceptable to the influences of our nature is an awefully heady topic to be attempting to explain. I think that is why so many people hate Spike episodes, its just a very unpopular topic.

https://mlpforums.com/user/33728-superdogz1999/, the licence is currently renewed for two more seasons. Doesn't mean there won't be more. While I'm excited to see what Hasbro has in store for G5, I'm attached to this generation in the way that comic book readers are attached to silver or golden age models of their favorite characrures. A new generation is a lot of new and different charcture development to invest in and for now, I love the characrures that we have. I would however, like to see a lot more Spike development in a way that doesn't consistently make him look like he can never learn from his past mistakes or overcome his dragon nature, though it does pose an interesting commentary on the nature vs. nurture status of at least one characrure. May be a valuable thing for them to explore... The fact that we are suceptable to the influences of our nature is an awefully heady topic to be attempting to explain. I think that is why so many people hate Spike episodes, its just a very unpopular topic.

[frecklesareblooming 225]

I imagine a new generation will appear, or maybe that's just me having high hopes. Either way, Hasbro cares about one thing - money. If bronies continue to buy merchandise and give the show a spotlight, they'll most likely continue it because it's one of their most well-known and most viewed shows.

[chirox the pony 1,336]

Well the future of the fandom all depends on whether or not G5 is good. If it is good then I'm sure plenty of fans will watch that and probably make videos, memes, and comparisons of it with G4. If it's not then the fanbase will likely start to die off as people will start complaining about how much better G4 was (thus pushing people away), people will move on with their lives, and future generations will likely forget about it.

[Unlikeable Pony 2,698]

I think it all depends on the direction hasbro decides to take.
FIM fans are fans of the world, the characters and the concepts: this is like how transformers fans are fans of the core characters (megs, optimus, starscream, ect.) and the premise of the show, not just giant robots.


As such, if they decide to make a new generation that's only really related to FIM by the concept of "magical ponies in a magical world", even if its good, I expect bronies to have their interest be very lukewarm, and the fandom to shrink.
On the other hand, if they decide that FIM is essentially what MLP is now, and make G5 a reboot of FIM (in a similiar manner to EQG being an alternate continuity to FIM), and each "generation" of MLP is like how transformers reboots G1, then I expect interest to remain high and to have long term fan interest.

[[NULL] 906]

When it ends, it ends. I don't really care about what comes next. However, that doesn't mean FIM will be erased from existence or memory.

Edited August 16, 2015 by SpaceOnion

[Guest]

The fanbase will slow down a bit and eventually kind of become more niche I'd imagine. Always being there but being smaller scale is all.

[ChikaChan 7,324]

When it ends,the fanbase of it will started to fall,dropped until there will be so fewer numbers of bronies that it would be soon forgotten forever

[Sunset's Shimmer 394]

I guess it would depend...

 

To me, I'd give G5 a chance. To be honest though I can't say whether I'd continue to be a fan or not.

 

A good example on where the fandom may go is, the Trekkies. The fandom lasted for decades, and while each iteration of the show ended, the fanbase grew, some liked the newer shows, and some didn't.

 

On the other hand, you have shows like Teen Titans. Typically, people either hate the original and love Teen Titans go! Or hate Go! and love the original.

 

Either way, I think the people that like the current gen, always will.  Regardless, to be sure as @White said, people will go on with their normal lives.

[EquestriaGuy 1,074]

 

^This is what awaits us when we're finally free from this ride

[Makazi 317]

All I can say is that G5 has a lot to live up to.

[cider float 2,538]

If the fans create a massive headcanon I would probably ignore it because it would be just about background ponies. *gag*

[TomatoSprout 15]

I'm very new to this fandom as well, and I've been wondering about this a lot! I think that as the fandom grows, so will the show. I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually launched a spin off or something, like what's happening to the Walking Dead right now. And even when it does end eventually, I don't think fans will fade very much. I've never loved a show like I love MLP. I can't explain it, but before I found this show my anxiety was crazy out of control, and now just listening to Smile calms me right down. There's something about this show that all the fans get. That won't go away when the show ends, I think!

[Steve Piranha 29,429]

Not sure, I think G4 will be kept alive for a year at least with Equestria Girls, as it's shown to have sold more toys than poneh