animation MLP vs. Steven Universe.

[CastletonSnob 3,078]

Which would you say is the better show?

[Zyrael 1,471]

anything's better than steven universe so obviously mlp

[Zachary 5,521]

It's so hard to Choose, I really Like both MLP and Steven Universe.

Can I say Both? No? Then I'll say.......MLP!

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

Well it's really hard to compare those shows since both of them are fundamentally different shows. Both shows have their strengths and weaknesses. 

For example, when MLP does story arcs, they tend to be better paced and have better payoff than SU. The friendship journal arc had a better payoff with the Tirek fight than the cluster arc which was slowly paced (The characters during a time when the world is threatened to end stop to have a birthday party), and has no payoff (the cluster is resolved in one episode and the episode after that is just playing baseball with the villain). 

Steven Universe handles character redemption better. Peridot's reformation was better paced and showed a more natural progressions than Starlight Glimmer's frankly rushed reformation. 

[cmarston1 5,959]

Steven Universe.

It benefits greatly from being a show with a beginning middle and end, which results in the majority of the same staff members staying for the duration of the show, and allowing for a more consistent vision than FiM.

Another point in its favor would have to be that all of Steven Universe's main cast have grown and developed and had actual character arcs over the course of the series which is more than I can say for characters like Applejack and Pinkie Pie from MLP.

The show also benefits from being able to handle much more mature themes allowing for greater storytelling possibilities.

I would actually say that the show is able to handle story arcs with better pay offs than FiM.  I mean sure the Cluster and Malachite arcs were quickly gotten rid of, but that is nowhere near as disappointing as the pay off to Rainbow's 6 season arc of becoming a Wonderbolt wrapped up.

The whole Peridot coming to earth, Sardonyx, Amethyst vs Jasper and Wanted arcs were all thought out and executed in ways that reflected that. Which is something that even outside of Rainbow Dash becoming a wonderbolt, we had arcs like the restoration of the castle of the two sisters that were either not concluded in a satisfactory manner, or were just forgotten about.

 

Edited July 30, 2017 by cmarston1

[CastletonSnob 3,078]

8 minutes ago, cmarston1 said:

Steven Universe hands down.

It benefits greatly from being a show with a beginning middle and end, which results in the majority of the same staff members staying for the duration of the show, and allowing for a more consistent vision than FiM.

Another point in its favor would have to be that all of Steven Universe's main cast have grown and developed and had actual character arcs over the course of the series which is more than I can say for characters like Applejack and Pinkie Pie from MLP.

 

SU's worldbuilding is also FAR superior. 

[Megas 27,742]

22 minutes ago, ChikoritaCheezits said:

Well it's really hard to compare those shows since both of them are fundamentally different shows. Both shows have their strengths and weaknesses. 
 

This

Quote

For example, when MLP does story arcs, they tend to be better paced and have better payoff than SU. The friendship journal arc had a better payoff with the Tirek fight than the cluster arc which was slowly paced (The characters during a time when the world is threatened to end stop to have a birthday party), and has no payoff (the cluster is resolved in one episode and the episode after that is just playing baseball with the villain). 

This too

16 minutes ago, cmarston1 said:

I would actually say that the show is able to handle story arcs with better pay offs than FiM.  I mean sure the Cluster and Malachite arcs were quickly gotten rid of, but that is nowhere near as disappointing as the pay off to Rainbow's 6 season arc of becoming a Wonderbolt wrapped up.

The whole Peridot coming to earth, Sardonyx, Amethyst vs Jasper and Wanted arcs were all thought out and executed in ways that reflected that. Which is something that even outside of Rainbow Dash becoming a wonderbolt, we had arcs like the restoration of the castle of the two sisters that were either not concluded in a satisfactory manner, or were just forgotten about.

Also this

 

It's pretty close but I can think of a tie breaker:

 

Steven Universe took the Fusion Dance and made it lame. So I'm giving it to MLP

[Nerdy Luigi 2,065]

Steven Universe, but it's close because season 1A is total trash.

[CastletonSnob 3,078]

I think SU has better animation, and it's not even close. I haven't seen anything in MLP that looks as good as the part in SU where 

Spoiler

Steven heals Lapis.

 

[Dreambiscuit 9,966]

The animation style alone is enough to keep me away from Steven Universe. I can't stand that style (if you want to call it 'style' at all). MLP at least has a nice character design that doesn't look like a bad doodle that should have ended up in the trash can. Besides, MLP is better on every level and leaves a positive lasting impression whereas I wouldn't watch Steven Universe if I was paid by the episode. 

[Prospekt 11,018]

I tend to flip-flop between these two. Both have captured my heart. Though currently I'm putting Steven Universe just ahead of FiM. The storytelling is better, but only if you are looking for long story arcs, which I tend to enjoy more than shorter ones. Characterization is better, since SU doesn't have major characters who are stagnant and hardly change over the course of the series. Scenery is better, though FiM has better overall animation IMO. The concept of reforming villains is executed better by SU. Peridot's transformation was especially fun to watch, whereas FiM sometimes reforms a villain in just 1 episode, which isn't always believable.

[ihhh 30]

Steven universe. Hands down.

[Jeric 46,854]

C) All of the above

I've always been one to dismiss my own personal weaknesses with categorizing and ranking things (when it comes to franchises). 

To me, both SU and MLP are quality animation that scratch a different itch. I have an equal affinity for both -- or more accurately it's close enough to make any decision transitory in nature. 

 

[Tao 7,904]

I kinda feel this is like Twilight fans vs Harry Potter fans from back in the day.    

 

Ok, in the same list:  both have magic,  both teach life lessons in a way young people can understand,  both also have something for us older watchers,  both have close bonds in the interactions of the cannons,  both have good music,  both have plots and some a bit more thought out,  both have bright colored themes in design!   Also way too long breaks between airing ... So you have a LOT that is shared and can be used to draw in fans of both sides of the line.

Now in a break down in my point: MLP.  So MLP hit the animation world in a big wave!  Drawing in fans not many would think: men/young guys!   From its refreshing style of color and smoothness and sharp writing,  well given how most cartoons in the west are kinda these   days.  Not to hard to see why!  Also in lessons of friendships and growth as a person and taking in faults and growing just seem to hit a lot of good buttons!  Also, the music and humor of the show with the main characters just made the fandom grow and expand!   MLP is a light colorful world full of magic and friendship with singing ponies!  I still love MLP highly much with the lovely fandom/community we have made for all types of fans and the creativity!  Yet its not my fav....

SU:  So SU at first was kidish,  light in humor and just a young boy living with this magic aunts!  First eps seemed to be nice and feather light in the plot and pace in lacking the over drama humor in some cartoons.  Then things begin to change as the world expanded and we learned more about the history of the Gems.   We also got themes of coming of age, war and lost and death, single parent,  expected of different sexuality's and LBGT themes,  facing your fears, being yourself,  the recourse of bad choices and the outcome of them, even genocide.    So this pretty magic world kinda did a 360 in a lot of ways,  yet still had the light moments and humor that got SU to stand out on its own legs with many fans!  Thus also the why I tend to lean more on ST when it comes to dealing with life issues as we grow up to the people we are. 

 

But really,  can we have some eps from both without waiting for MONTHS to see them....

 

[BritishBrony2012 822]

My Little Pony, any day.

[EightBit 284]

I love some aspects of each show more than the other, but I'm probably going to have to say Steven Universe. I love both, but I love Steven Universe just a little more. I just feel as though the issues that it tackles are more mature than anything that MlP: FiM will ever be allowed to do.