What if FiM Came From Japan?

[Denim&Venöm 20,635]

How would Friendship Is Magic have been treated if it were originally made in Japan? Not exactly all that odd considering the art style shares many a trait with conventional anime.

Say Hasbro decided to focus on launching their product in Japan first. Same design. Same scripts. Same animation. Same characters. Same everything. Just swap the VAs for their Seiyuu equivalents and trade Studio B/ DHX for Kyoto Animation or someone else that deals well in cute things. 

First, how would this show be reacted to by anime fans in the west upon the initial airing in 2010?

And second, say the show made it's U.S. debut in late 2012 with an English dub, around the same time MLP originally debuted in Japan. Same american voice actors and all, getting broadcasted on The Hub, etc. How different would the fandom be reacting to MLP as an import, getting a high quality dub two years after the first airing and comparing it with the original? 

 

[MangoFoalix 25,060]

I want to say that the show itself would be fundamentally different, maybe based in Japanese culture in someway. I also would think the animation style would still be a bit more... animeized? To be fair, I don't know if there would be a fandom if launched in Japan. MLP has been an American thing for as long as I remember.

[The Kaeya Simp 13,996]

There would be many less fans due to the animéness of it...

causing people who despise Japanese culture to never start watching...

(Meaning I'd've never started watching)

[DJShy 952]

Assuming that it would remain mostly untouched, as far as stories, animation, and art style are concerned, the only change I can see ATM is that there would be a role reversal compared to shows like RWBY, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and OG Teen Titans.

 

TL;DR: All I can see is people confusing it as not anime, when it technically is.

[RDDash 19,257]

One thing that I know for sure is that average anime season would be 12/24 episode per season. 

They might use Flash or they might not.

The pony designs probably going to be changed, anime specific big eyes. 

The main story arc going to be Slice of Life/fantasy. Most likely the story is not going to be completely random, just different.

If they would have released EQG then they would have to be proper five fingered humanoids with the Magical girl Shoujo angle. May or may not keep their multicolored skin colors. EQG Spike may or may not be human child.

manga/comics would be sold first in Japan to see how public would react to full blown animation series

Edited July 23, 2018 by R.D.Dash

[cuteycindyhoney 13,339]

                                                                                                                                                            

[Pr0m4NV14 839]

The fight scenes would be a lot cooler, I’ll tell ya.