Why do you like griffons?

[HorsesandMOARGaloar 300]

Even though Gilda caused many bronies to hate griffons, it (or appearances of other griffons) also led to the creation of many griffon OC's, and a fascination with the locals of Gilda's homeland. Considering that griffon fans are usually either fantasy or mythology geeks (like me) or furries, I think it is like the show's griffons attracted more fans to the show.

 

I wonder, what makes them like griffons like Gilda (before Season 5)? And what about you: why do you like griffons?

Is it because of their majestic shape (unlike the cutesy ponies), and their glorious wings? Is it because of their mythological associations? Is it because they are beautiful, or even cuter than ponies? Is it that Griffonstone (or the griffon empire, or their nation) used to be intriguing and mysterious, that fanfiction will fill that gap?

Edited November 14, 2016 by HorsesandMOARGaloar

[Merrypaws 71]

In general, gryphons seem the be one of the most popular creatures of all fantasy genre. I've always liked gryphons, they were probably among the first fantasy creatures I learned about after my childhood unicorn and dragon toys. As I discovered the internet and started looking up fantasy art, gryphons were one of the most recurring themes I came across. Also, they seem to be among the most modifiable fantasy creatures with how many artists are drawing gryphons made up of other species than eagle and lion.

 

In the pony universe, I think they are interesting because we were initially given so little info about them. All we knew was based on Gilda's appearance. Basically a blank canvas and a loaded paintbrush.

[Guest]

There aren't many arguments for why I like gryphons but I do. The idea of a flying feline bird is just something really awesome. I feel like the adjective intimidatingly cool fits them too, which is something I really like to see in fantasy stuff. I might also be a bit biased though, since all kinds of creatures with wings tend to attract my attention.

 

 

Also, they seem to be among the most modifiable fantasy creatures with how many artists are drawing gryphons made up of other species than eagle and lion.

 

This reminds me a lot about this post and it's awesome to see that gryphons can be imagined as so many different "breeds". My favorite is obviously the last one of the bunch.

[Randimaxis 8,633]

Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word.

[Le Trotteur Sauvage 13,049]

Griffons are jerks. They're angry, stupid, mean. In fact in think that griffon are some kind of metaphor, to me they're like human.  May be that's why I love them and hate them at the same time !
No ? Am I the only one who think this way ? 

[Nara 84]

As for griffons in general I always like them since I was a kid! I'm interested in mythology and I enjoy reading folk tales so creatures of legends always captured my imagination! And there's just SO MANY different feline+bird mixes you can imagine them as!

 

The MLP griffons? So far they're a "meh" for me. I'd like to see more development on them. Maybe a reformation like with the changelings?

[Goat-kun 2,496]

Griffins are among the most prominent beasts in fantasy, and when one wants to create a magical world with sentient animals, one will hardly find a better creature to fill the void left by the absence of men and their holy empires. Griffins are basically social cat raptors that can grab things like we do, covet things that we covet, eat things that we eat, and they can be made to build a society similar to ours. No friendship rainbows, no deus ex magica, no forced outcomes, just grit, skill, and feral badassery.

 

Granted, such a fantasy can never be fulfilled within the confines of FIM due to practical reasons, but I trust that other lovers of fantastic creatures remain unfazed. The likes of griffins, dragons, and krakens shall continue their rampage through whimsical lands long after alicorn princesses are forgotten.

[Ganondorf8 11,118]

Griffins have always been an interesting creature in fantasy lore. If you were to ever become engrossed in any kind of fantasy setting that implores a sword and sorcery mechanism, griffins have to be featured as a creature one would either view with hostility or befriend them depending on what their current attitude is.

[Merrypaws 71]

Griffons are jerks. They're angry, stupid, mean.

 

I'd like to see more development on them. Maybe a reformation like with the changelings?

 

I don't think there has ever been any indication that the gryphons in general are evil, or even disliked.

 

In fact, if I remember right and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, the only non-pony team present in the episode Rainbow Falls when the teams were competing to qualify for Equestria Games were gryphons, and no one seemed to consider it odd in any way. So it would seem that gryphons may be the species that ponies have the closest relationship with.

[GrimGrimoire 4,970]

I always liked using them in Heroes of Might and Magic. Otherwise I prefer phoenixes, dragons and wyverns over griffins for the most part. Of course it does depend on the style of griffin as well, since some of them are pretty awesome looking.

[weesh 690]

i remember opening a brand new set of magic cards when I was a kid that was chalk full of amazing art of these creatures.  they weren't even that strong, but they captured my imagination, and I loved playing with them.  they are just super resonant and cool.  

that said, up until the end of season 6, i was quite underwhelmed by the griffons in MLP.  I didn't like any of them.  

Gabby is awesome though!

Let's get more of her!