MLP could benefit to take some inspiration from Mario.

[Slashy 101]

It would probably better play to the strengths of the series and what it is trying to accomplish.

 

In many ways Mario shares a lot of similarities with MLP on a surface level. The character design, world design, tone, and audiences are similar. There is also the element of "a story built around a gimmick" that exists in both series. It is able to work past many problems MLP has with revolving staff, "anything goes" world design, world building, gimmick integration.

 

Yes, Mario is a game, but the way it often tells its stories is still similar enough that it can be compared to MLP (the box in Season 4 feels very much like a Mario story concept), and there are many times where the plot is MORE than just Peach getting kidnapped like Sunshine, Galaxy 1, or any of the RPG games.

 

I feel the biggest hurdle is that the writers and artists at DHX as well as the toy designers and Hasbro execs may not care enough to get creative to come up with interesting ideas and interesting executions of them to make this work.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 40,283]

Aesthetics-wise they can be compared but I feel it is difficult to do so beyond that. Mario is simply something that relies on its gameplay to push it forward and for the most part it does that well. FiM, being a show, doesn't have that liberty, so they have to mold it around the respective media it is. They have to  keep us engaged with the characters, with what they do and say and with the story of each episode presents for them. There is a reason video game movies basically don't work and that is because they don't have the gameplay behind them to push them forward and because the story usually isn't great in these films because they have such a limited timeframe to fit it in. Plus a lot of these films just don't get it anyways.

 

MLP, I think, should stick with its guns and keep with what it does best.

[Slashy 101]

Video game animated series have a decent track record though. MLP doesn't need to drastically change itself to start taking inspiration from Mario, heck most of it would just come in the form of way more interesting new locations and gimmicks (i.e. the toy stuff Hasbro forces into the show, The Cutie Map).

 

The slice of life plots could be left the same, the characters can still be the focus since it is the biggest strength MLP has over Mario. The Mario influence should really only take hold on action/adventure episodes.

Edited January 14, 2017 by Slashy

[Oleks 1,983]

I'd say that's an interesting idea, even though I'm not very familiar with Mario universe. I would definitely like to see references to Mario in the series. By the way, they even have these characters in the official comic:

[trademark2 485]

It would probably better play to the strengths of the series and what it is trying to accomplish.

 

In many ways Mario shares a lot of similarities with MLP on a surface level. The character design, world design, tone, and audiences are similar. There is also the element of "a story built around a gimmick" that exists in both series. It is able to work past many problems MLP has with revolving staff, "anything goes" world design, world building, gimmick integration.

 

Yes, Mario is a game, but the way it often tells its stories is still similar enough that it can be compared to MLP (the box in Season 4 feels very much like a Mario story concept), and there are many times where the plot is MORE than just Peach getting kidnapped like Sunshine, Galaxy 1, or any of the RPG games.

 

I feel the biggest hurdle is that the writers and artists at DHX as well as the toy designers and Hasbro execs may not care enough to get creative to come up with interesting ideas and interesting executions of them to make this work.

This is a very interesting and valuable perspective that I think the writers of the show could benefit from reading

[Castle Bleck 19,167]

I'd say that's an interesting idea, even though I'm not very familiar with Mario universe. I would definitely like to see references to Mario in the series. By the way, they even have these characters in the official comic:

 

 

I "Mama Mia!"'d like crazy when I first saw ^that.

Edited January 16, 2017 by A.V.