Does it have to be ponies?

[Pentium100 2,136]

I would not have liked "my little doggy" because of my opinion about dogs. "My little kitty" - I don't know honestly, cats are cute, G4 ponies kind-of look a bit like cats anyway, so I probably at least would have watched an episode.

I guess the difference between cats and ponies is that ponies have manes, so their faces are kind-of human-like as well (and G4 ponies do not really look like real-life ponies or horses), with different hairstyles etc. Cats do not have a separate mane from their coat, so it probably would not look as good.

[Splashee 28,565]

On 11/6/2017 at 6:05 PM, whitemagemog said:

My little doggy? or any other kind of animal, meerkats or elephants you name it

No.

So, at least we can say that My Little Catty (random name for Pony Life) isn't popular because it is cats instead of ponies.

Spoiler

Yea, I tried.

 

The truth is, MLP is big because it is a brand with a past. With its G4 reincarnation and the current feed of Internetz at the time, just managed to create a phenomena. if you asked most of them, they probably didn't even see ponies, but just colorful big eyes and cute voices. It's as simple as that!

Spoiler

It's not simple.

But let's say, it only works with ponies because we love ponies. End of story

 

 

[CypherHoof 26,483]

4 hours ago, Splashee said:

Spoiler

The truth is, MLP is big because it is a brand with a past. With its G4 reincarnation and the current feed of Internetz at the time, just managed to create a phenomena. if you asked most of them, they probably didn't even see ponies, but just colorful big eyes and cute voices. It's as simple as that!

 

There is a downside to that though. Perhaps there would have been less resistance to Bronies in general if there hadn't been a history of MLP as shallow pony toys for young girls?  I mean, some of the early gen stuff was pretty dark, but the reboots to "girly teen ponies" and "cute baby ponies" each added a stigma for male and/or adult fans of the show to overcome.

The G4 ponies were so much different in design, there were no actual humans in their world, and the storylines much less dumbed down - but they still had to carry that history with them.

[Landi 600]

If FIM was about a different animal, I most likely would not be anywhere near as interested in it. The characters being ponies is a huge part of why I like the show so much. In fact, all the lore behind the ponies is one of my favorite aspects of the show. The fact that there are three different kinds of ponies, each with their own innate abilities and lore; how could I not be obsessed with it. I love studying the pony lore we get, and even coming up with some of my own. If the show was about any creature but ponies, I just wouldn't be as invested in it; even if the stories themselves were up to par. So yeah, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be too interested in the show if it weren't ponies.

[Sonic Shimmer 4,132]

As long as it was as well written as the MLP we know and love, I wouldn't care if it was My Little Walrus, My Little Dust Mite or anything else.

[Jesse Terrence 2,968]

On 11/6/2017 at 11:05 AM, whitemagemog said:

So I've been thinking about what genuine things I'd like to ask while here at this forum as someone who isn't really involved in the MLP fandom in a big way and this is something that sticks out in my head first!

Would you still have liked my little pony if it were, lets say: My little doggy? or any other kind of animal, meerkats or elephants you name it 

Doubt so. FiM owes part of its charm to the 80's franchise. For older members of the fandom it was part of reuniting with one's childhood and those things forbiden by society to boys. For dogs there was pound puppies anyway (and nopony missed that thing).

On 11/4/2020 at 5:17 AM, Splashee said:

The truth is, MLP is big because it is a brand with a past. With its G4 reincarnation and the current feed of Internetz at the time, just managed to create a phenomena. if you asked most of them, they probably didn't even see ponies, but just colorful big eyes and cute voices. It's as simple as that!

And I agree with splashers on these. Is about the ponies. Though I'm wondering why he didn't seem to enjoy g3. It has ponies in diapers just the way splashers likes :v

[Scootaloo Is Best Filly 578]

No matter what characters they were I’d love it just the same if not more then I do right now. What brought me to love my little pony gen five was the friendships and pretty much the all around message of the show etc. so by it my little doggy, my little kitties, my little bunnies, etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.etc. I’d love the show just as much.

[Justin_Case001 4,896]

I'm gonna say... yes.  I'm mean, yes, I'd probably still like it if it were My Little Doggy, provided that the characters and stories were the same, and they were just as cute.  It definitely wouldn't have had the same appeal if the characters were dopey stick figures like Adventure Time or Rick & Morty.  I'm not saying those aren't good shows; I mean, R&M is one of the best shows ever made!  I'm just saying that so many cartoons use the dopey stick figure style, or the equally dopey, bubbly chibi style.  It's rare to see animated characters that are actually pretty.  For that it's either anime or FIM (which are very different styles, obviously.)  I loved that Pony was actually cute and pretty, and not dopey or cheesy looking.  It needs to have that appeal, but it's certainly possible to do that with another animal.  For instance, I think the dogs in Littlest Pet Shop are pretty nice looking, and similar to FIM.

I do think pones are the best, though, especially for the adorable ponyspeak.  I don't think dog or muskrat puns would be as precious.

[ScribblePixel 50]

It doesn’t matter for me, though I am a furry so that might be a factor. Infact, one of my favorite older gen toys is a lion that looks similar to Pinkie Pie! 
I will say though, from a marketing perspective ponies was a good animal choice as they are very popular with young girls. But personally, other animals would be cool. 

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Edited December 9, 2020 by ScribblePixel