Does the toyetic nature hold the show back?

[CastletonSnob 3,089]

Today, I want to ask if the nature of the show holds it back. I mean, let's not kid ourselves, the show's main purpose is to sell toys. We're lucky that the show is as good as it is despite that. 

 

I ask this because I feel that the show shoehorns some items in so Hasbro can sell more toys. Good examples would be the Castle of Friendship and Flurry Heart. Flurry Heart was added solely to sell toys. really hasn't added very much, and I feel she could be removed, and nothing would change.  

 

So, what do you think? Does the toyetic nature of the show hold it back?

[Megas 28,138]

Nope, I'd argue that this is the least toyetic season, with the only ties being the "explore Equestria" advertising. The writers themselves have admitted a lot of things this season, including Flurry Heart, as far as I remember, were their own decisions, and not toy ads or Hasbro's meddling

 

I'd also argue that this is easily the weakest season yet despite all that

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

Today, I want to ask if the nature of the show holds it back. I mean, let's not kid ourselves, the show's main purpose is to sell toys. We're lucky that the show is as good as it is despite that. 

 

I ask this because I feel that the show shoehorns some items in so Hasbro can sell more toys. Good examples would be the Castle of Friendship and Flurry Heart. Flurry Heart was added solely to sell toys. really hasn't added very much, and I feel she could be removed, and nothing would change.  

 

So, what do you think? Does the toyetic nature of the show hold it back?

 

Well, one thing that I have an issue with is a bit of a minor thing, but whenever they do a super form or Outfit for a power up for something, it has to be based on a toy, and 9/10, when they go that route the outfit or super mode has a tendency to look garrish-- For example, rainbow power or

Their ponied up designs in LOE, from the book images

 

 

On the other hand, when they're able to make outfits WITHOUT a toy, they tend to make the outfits look GREAT, like if you look at the Best night ever outfits. Kind of makes me laugh, alot of the time when they do that fans end up demanding toys of those things BECAUSE they look good and we get toys of them anyways, only they look nice instead of garrish.

 

 

Nope, I'd argue that this is the least toyetic season, with the only ties being the "explore Equestria" advertising. The writers themselves have admitted a lot of things this season, including Flurry Heart, as far as I remember, were their own decisions, and not toy ads or Hasbro's meddling

 

I'd also argue that this is easily the weakest season yet despite all that

Actually really surprising, honestly: this season has almost no toy plugs, apart from flurry heart and the swan boat. All the major toylines they're pushing are from PREVIOUS stuff in the show, like the guardians of harmony toyline taking inspiration from past seasons.

[Number62 1,267]

No. The toys can't write, produce, or edit the show.

 

You might instead be referring to the higher-ups, e.g. Hasbro, who make certain demands on the show's creative team, but even they don't decide everything that is broadcasted even if they demand changes to specific scenes, stories, or whatever.

 

Thus, only the people who make the stuff, i.e. the creative team, can hinder the show.

[Yellow Diamond 7,578]

Nope, I'd argue that this is the least toyetic season, with the only ties being the "explore Equestria" advertising. The writers themselves have admitted a lot of things this season, including Flurry Heart, as far as I remember, were their own decisions, and not toy ads or Hasbro's meddling

 

I'd also argue that this is easily the weakest season yet despite all that

 

Was there ever any mention of the Breezies being part of a Hasbro advertising push? Granted, the Breezies are from a previous gen -- but "It Ain't Easy Being Breezies" always felt so weird and out of place to me. I can't help but sense their fleeting introduction was mostly intended to sell toys.

[KrazyDashie 1,847]

er well... so was cadence and shining armor... weren't they added just to have a royal wedding and such? I doubt it just for toy advertising. plus hey, there might be something tied to flurry heart at the finale of the season *shrugs*

 

I mean... I wouldn't be surprised if they make flurry heart look nothing like in the show.

Edited September 15, 2016 by KrazyDashie

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

I mean... I wouldn't be surprised if they make flurry heart look nothing like in the show.

Que?

We already have flurry heart toys, we know what they look like.

[KrazyDashie 1,847]

Que?

We already have flurry heart toys, we know what they look like.

well I didn't know XD I guess I missed out on something

[Luminance 2,187]

Well looking at this as a merchandise standpoint, the toys don't really hold back the show. Sure, the show affects how and when the toys being produced but it shouldn't be the other way around. If the show were to change so much that somehow the if toys were to relying the outcome of the show then I'm pretty sure the show would be pretty bad, honestly. FiM created a show that showcases good characters, story, settings and overall the whole experience has been great but the toys can do whatever they want really. We seen toys that actually have little or zero resemblance to the core show and that's not holding anything back.

[cmarston1 5,964]

Nope, I'd argue that this is the least toyetic season, with the only ties being the "explore Equestria" advertising. The writers themselves have admitted a lot of things this season, including Flurry Heart, as far as I remember, were their own decisions, and not toy ads or Hasbro's meddling

 

I'd also argue that this is easily the weakest season yet despite all that

. Funnily enough, the lack of merchandise ploys have actual hurt this season. The whole Explore Equestria thing could have been the perfect excuse to introduce some new locations to the show and make the world feel more alive. Plus with the existence of the Cutie Map, it seemed that this should have been easy to do.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 42,202]

I wouldn't call the toys the main reason anymore. First few seasons? Yeah, probably, mainly because those were originally going ot be the only season. I mean, any show can have tons of merchandising and can potentially be dictated by it, but originally, yeah, this show was probably pushed into certain directions by the toys. Nowadays I don't think so though. I mean, Tirek. He exists. I don't think we will be seeing many toys of him.

[Justin_Case001 4,934]

Of course it does.  The Castle of Friendship, Flurry Heart, and even Twilicorn were all shoehorned, corporate mandated additions to sell toys, all of which the show would have been better off without.  Now, I don't hate Princess Twilight, (in fact, I've usually supported her) but the show would have been better if the writers were completely free to go any direction they wished without any corporate restrictions.  If this show was not linked to a toy line in any way, I suspect we'd have a much different, and much better FIM today.  I still think the show is great, btw, but it would be better with complete creative freedom.

[ashi 261]

I'd also argue that this is easily the weakest season yet despite all that

 

You'd be wrong, though. 'Cause season three. 

[Megas 28,138]

You'd be wrong, though. 'Cause season three.

You're telling this to a guy who likes Spike At Your Service and a majority of season 3, and repeatedly expresses disappointment to S6. Honestly I don't know why so many people have such a hateboner for S3.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

It could go either way. On the one hand, things like the Royal Wedding and the Crystal Empire were done to push specific toylines, and those went off pretty well. So were Equestria Girls and "Twilight's Kingdom", the former got mixed reviews at first but got better over time, and the latter wasn't a particularly good episode, only being remembered for the fight scene.

 

Most of the show's issues have more to do with its format, particularly the limits of a 22-minute episodic series with a continuity and wide character base aimed at such a diverse audience. Hasbro did give the creators a lot of freedom, but definitely not as much as other shows. Toys have little to do with that, directly speaking, as non-toy-based shows can and have fallen into the same creative traps.

[ashi 261]

You're telling this to a guy who likes Spike At Your Service and a majority of season 3, and repeatedly expresses disappointment to S6. Honestly I don't know why so many people have such a hateboner for S3.

 

I like season three, too, actually. I was just trying to be annoying. 

[Steve Piranha 29,496]

well I didn't know XD I guess I missed out on something

Yeah, let's just forget this one

Isn't she a cutie ? I haven't seen more McFlurry toys apart of those two, they might be the only ones at the moment

 

MLP is mainly a toy franchise, so it makes sense that the series has a duty to promote them. Though they're usually reserved for season premieres and finales, most of their seasons are character development and such, those already promote the basic toys of the Mane6, but I don't think they hold back the show