If FiM was animated in G3 style, would it still be as successful?

[SteveMorison 407]

Ok let's say the characters and plots remained the same but the Ponies in FiM were animated in the style of G3. I think the animation for FiM is beautiful so much so that even a picture of a pony can brighten my mood. In contrast, while the animation for G3 isn't awful and that series has much worse problems, it does come across as overly juvinile and personally speaking not very appealing at all. I guess what I'm asking is how important is FiM's animation to it's sucess?

Edited March 19, 2016 by DashBandicoot

[Denim&Venöm 19,747]

Not very. WHile yes, some will be turned away, there have been shows with sub par or odd animations that still gained big followings, among them Rugrats & Simpsons. The G3 style is still aesthetically pleasing and only improved with time. If you kept the same talented cast, character driven stories & broad lessons, the show woudl still be popular and there woudl still be Bronies. . 

[Grepper 3,193]

I don't think I would have ever watched the show if it was done in G3's art style. Especially if it was in the Newborn Cuties style.

[AtomicStone 724]

I honestly don't think it would be as popular as it has been, especially with the brony fandom if the style wasn't changed. The animation has been a fairly big part in making it what it is!

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

tbh I wouldn't have even given the show a chance. One of the main things that got me interested in checking out the show was seeing pictures of the ponies making funny faces.

 

 

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/c/cb/Rainbow_laughing_S1E13.png/revision/20130203091753

 

[BastementSparkle 20,334]

I kind of doubt it, the animation would probably have ended up turning a lot of people away, it really wouldn't help with the show's image.

 

 That said, even with that kind of animation, with every other element of the show remaining the same in quality, it'd still pick up a fanbase, though likely not as strong as it is now. I'd probably still enjoy the show too, for all the other elements, even if I wouldn't like the animation as much. But I'm super happy we've got the style we do.

[ManaMinori 4,146]

While g3 style is cute (Toola Roola and Star Catcher ftw!), I wonder more if FiM would be successful in the style of the oft much more underappreciated g2 (Friendship Gardens. NOT Pony Tales) the ponies looked the most like actual ponies

[Megas 27,919]

I don't think so. Some may find the G3 style cute, but there's something about G4's that made it special

[Dark Qiviut 22,510]

I don't think so.

1. G3's animation is one of its VERY few good things, but it's a little dated now because it's a little too slow and clunky. FIM's flash animation is very clean, feels very natural, and has improved every season.
2. G4 was a chance to start fresh. That meant a new style in its characters, building construction, and better use of computer animation techniques. FIM's ponies are simple, cute, and aesthetically pleasing. There's a charm into the FIM style, and it works VERY well.

Edited March 19, 2016 by Dark Qiviut

[ElectronicGamerBrony 18]

The art style and animation is very important, even if everything else was good it should be at least enjoyable to watch since it also counts into the presentation value. If people don't like what they see when they first watch it, it'll be hard to adjust to if its always that way.

 

I really like how G4 looks and although I know barely anything about G3 (I'd honestly rather not know about it) I doubt it would be as successful if any success if they didn't make an effort to make it different than the past generations.

Edited March 19, 2016 by ElectronicGamerBrony

[Luminance 2,187]

G4 has that anime-esque style eyes that made me love the show.

[DaringDo-While 47]

I don't know, but I don't think it would be as popular at it is now. The animation in G3 isn't bad, it's actually good, but I don't find the ponies in G3 to be as expressful as in G4. One of the biggest reason I became a fan of FiM is actually because of the beautiful, clean and crisp flash animation. 

[Concerned Bystander 2,904]

It is the whole package of FiM that has created its appeal, not just any one single characteristic of the show, but the whole thing working together in synergy, and the animation style is a big part of that.

 

Applejack explains it best, https://youtu.be/9WPiatO3OAo?t=22

Edited March 19, 2016 by Concerned Bystander

[Lexamena 391]

The thing that kills me about previous gens is the voice acting. I get it that some of the same people are still doing the voices, but there's just something about that older voice acting that is like nails on a chalkboard for me. Personally, as a fan from all the way back in the 80s, the current art and voice styling are much better altho in the 80s it was all we had, so it was great then. I wouldn't be watching if the art style hadn't changed. It's part of what drew my curiosity and the style is visually pleasing, so thats why I continue to watch. Over and over and over haha. And the voices are so much more normal and dont sound like toddler voices. Makes a huge difference for me.

Edited March 19, 2016 by Lexamena

[Cleverclover 1,526]

I sincerely doubt it. Not only do the pony designs in G3 make me want to hurl, the style of the animation does as well. Too many flashy colors, with pink and purple standing out especially. It's just not appealing to look at. 

[Aurora Storm 83]

I wouldn't watch it, that's for sure. Even with the story lines and music being the same, I couldn't tolerate it!

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

I used to see the appeal of past gen ponies, but I was wowed when I saw the G4 ponies for the first time.  Take from that what you will.

[Sunny Shimmer 259]

They were scary looking back then. I probably would have stayed as far as I could away from it.

 

So I don't think it would have exploded across the internet, if G3 style was in place. The show needed new direction in all areas or it would have died and faded away like most unsuccessful shows do. I'd be willing to bet that it wouldn't had made it to season 6 if G3 style was in place.

Edited March 21, 2016 by RainbowDarth

[ponylaces 1,870]

GROSS, NO.

 

In all seriousness, the G4 animation style actually looks visually appealing. It's one of the reasons why people like watching the show so much. If FiM had G3's style, I would have never tried watching it (and I'm sure I speak for other people too).

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

The art style of G3 really epitomizes all of the stereotypes associated with MLP and cheap girls' entertainment; extreme pastel colors, "sleepy" eyes, etc. G4's design aesthetic is much more slick, and while still not lacking in cuteness, does not go so far as to be off-putting. It's also very well-suited to the current animation technologies the show is made with, although its translation to the toy world has been contentious.

 

With animation being a visual medium and myself being very interested in it, I find the art style to be one of the most important things about a show. When looking for a job, it's said that you have ten seconds to make a first impression. The same ground rules should apply to animated TV, and to me make the difference between "That looks good, I should check it out", "That looks boss, I really should watch it", or "I'll believe it's good when I see it." It took me a much longer time to get into a show like We Bare Bears because of the unremarkable art style, even if the writing's all right. Likewise, if you gave me G3 MLP, I'd turn it down because of its generic, assembly-line look. G4, on the other hand, has a sleek, modern style that doesn't look too far removed from The Powerpuff Girls.

 

Given good writing, the G3 look would make for a show that would take a much longer time to get a favorable opinion out of me, and even so, wouldn't be as fulfilling to watch as one with a more enjoyable art style. The art style and aesthetic is what inspires the mountains of fan art this show gets.

 

So really, when people say the writing is everything or the only thing, I seriously have to question why they're watching a visual medium such as animation anyway. The story is a very important part, but it's not the only part. The art style and animation quality is definitely worth more than a damn in animation and part of why I often find it more enjoyable than live action. Storyboard and layout artists are arguably as important to the structure and flow of the episodes as the writers themselves are.

[Kapitan zur See Hans (Daz) 883]

As much as I love everything outside of the animation, I do find the animation in previous gens to be quite appealing(Or just not appealing to me). I would probably say no to this as I never would have gotten into mlp without the current art style. A great deal of people seem to share this sentiment as well, so it would most probably not be near as successful(At least in appealing to the older audience outside of the targeted demographic).

[123 111]

I would have avoided MLP like the plague if it was animated in G3 style. One of the most important principles of the 12 principles of animation is appeal. G3's style had very little appeal.

[EverEverOn 346]

I doubt it. G3 wasn't all that great to begin with, and if they used the same style in FiM, people would assume it's the same show and ignore or ridicule it. Plus, today, G3's animation is very low quality. It wouldn't stand a chance.

The animation is a huge part of what makes FiM successful. Without it, we wouldn't have attracted so many animators who create amazing fan created content.

[Lunar Bun 153]

Possibly, but the reason G4 peaked my interest in the first place was the animation. So I wouldn't have even watched it, but that's just me! There are tons of fans of the G3 style.

[Stormlight 1,371]

If MLP:FiM was to be animated similar to G3, I would doubt that its popularity would be less than what is seen now.

 

For one, the show wouldn't have attracted me to watch G4, since the animation style was part of the reason why I decided to watch My Little Pony to begin with.