Nicole Dubuc Q&A

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

8 minutes ago, NicoleDubuc said:

I remember you!  I have those drawings in my office.   
1) and 2) All those decisions are up to the marketing team at Hasbro, sorry!  
 

Aww nuts.

 

Anyway, I will chat with you again on Twitter.  It's @dachangeling

[NicoleDubuc 211]

31 minutes ago, Theanimationfanatic said:

Which character is your favourite to write for?

I like characters together - it's really fun when you have the whole M6 in a scene, because you automatically know how they're gonna react to each other, and the dialog (and humor!) just flows from that.  So, I guess the M6?  But the Young Six make me similarly happy.  

[Them's Seeing Ponies 282]

Thanks for the insightful reply. Here's round 2 (fortunately the last set of questions I have), including a few more 'technical' questions (feel free to take your time answering):

Of the shows you've worked on previously, which would you liken the general storytelling and comedic style of FiM to the most?

What initially influenced you to co-author the Ponyville Mysteries books?

What role does Jim Miller play in production as supervising director? Does he oversee only an episode's visual/storyboarding aspects, or does he have some input on story development as well? 

What role did Meghan McCarthy play in the production of season 8 (after her return from developing the MLP movie)? 

From the perspective of one of the show's lead writers, what is the most unique aspect of writing for FiM as a whole (which facets of its creative landscape do you find cause it to stand out from other series of its genre/demographic)?

Edited December 15, 2018 by Them's Seeing Ponies

[NicoleDubuc 211]

33 minutes ago, KH7672 said:

Welcome, and hope you're enjoying this holiday season coming from a retail employee. My question is related to the great Twitter thread you did talking about writing, and I was wondering what comes after that? Are all the lines for every episode recorded at once or does it depend on the cartoon's production? 

Thanks - and a huge brohoof re: working retail.  Not easy, especially this time of year.  I'm glad you read/liked that thread!  So, in a perfect world, we record one episode a week (about three weeks in a row, then a week off).  We record chunks of the cast together in shifts (based on everyone's schedule).  Then we may record the song for that episode, or do pickups - to either catch an actor up from an episode we've missed, or to add/re-record a line of dialog for an episode in production.

37 minutes ago, Twilight Luna said:

Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to be here with us, Ms. Dubuc.

What made you decide to do a special about Hearth’s Warming Eve and not another holiday like Nightmare Night especially since season 8 already had an episode about it?

Thanks for having me!  It was actually Hasbro's call, not mine.  

[Quinch 1,180]

Also, what did you think of the MLP: The Movie? Did you have any influence over its story, and if not, did it do anything that surprised you, both story-wise or regarding what it meant for MLP's overall worldbuilding?

[Sparklefan1234 187,474]

Hello, Ms. Dubuc!

Welcome to MLPForums!

 

I was wondering: 

 

"Were there any specific episodes that helped you decide to become a part of Friendship is Magic?" 

 

Thank You *so* much for answering my question! 

[NicoleDubuc 211]

37 minutes ago, DwhitetheGamer said:

Hello.  I'm lowkey disappointed that you won't speak for DHX lol.  That throws my question of a shameless plug of OCs out the window.

The other question I have, though, is how fun is it to work for the guys in DHX?  Also who's Bernie?

Haha!  The team at DHX is legit amazing.  Jim, Mike, Denny, and Devon made every story-break so much fun. The whole crew is incredibly passionate about the show.  They're always looking for places to plus our scripts, or coming up with ideas and character development.  It was a real honor to work with that team.

And Bernie says hi.

[Twilight Luna 31,501]

2 minutes ago, NicoleDubuc said:

Thanks - and a huge brohoof re: working retail.  Not easy, especially this time of year.  I'm glad you read/liked that thread!  So, in a perfect world, we record one episode a week (about three weeks in a row, then a week off).  We record chunks of the cast together in shifts (based on everyone's schedule).  Then we may record the song for that episode, or do pickups - to either catch an actor up from an episode we've missed, or to add/re-record a line of dialog for an episode in production.

Thanks for having me!  It was actually Hasbro's call, not mine.  

Thank you for answering.  I saw someone else posted basically the same question after I did. 

[Castle Bleck 19,601]

On a more-random note, Ms. Dubuc -- if you could have any single Infinity Stone (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe), which would it be, and what would you use it for?

[NicoleDubuc 211]

41 minutes ago, Quinch said:

-snickers- Sounds like all of them, then.

While working on FiM, have you ever gone to Hasbro {or whoever your boss was at the time} with an idea thinking "okay, there's no way they're going to say yes to this" and then they totally did?

Haha, yes, if we do our job right, is IS all of them.

We always swing for the fences with our stories and ideas - and to Hasbro's credit, they hear us out, even if something might sound crazy.  With a great creative team, you have a safe room, so you can pitch anything.  And sometimes, though the initial idea won't work, you get to an even better one that does!  So...Short answer...Yes!

[Ganaram Inukshuk 3,682]

Couldn't tell if this was asked, but what's your favourite non-pony creature(s)? (I'm personally torn between griffon, hippogriff, kirin, and changeling because Gallus, Silverstream, kirin_list.Random(), and Ocellus.)

And another thing: what advice would you impart to aspiring artists/writers who have only ever been in the technical fields (computer science for example)?

[Jeric 46,890]

1 minute ago, A.V. said:

On a more-random note, Ms. Dubuc -- if you could have any single Infinity Stone (from the Marvel Cinematic Universe), which would it be, and what would you use it for?

This is the absolute most important question asked so far! Hope she gets to it.

 

[NicoleDubuc 211]

45 minutes ago, Holly Jolly Ody said:

Hi! It's so great to have you around for a Q&A.

I'll be asking a non-MLP question myself. With the holidays coming up, do you have any special annual traditions that you do to celebrate them?

I am having a super-non-traditional Christmas this year, but usually we make chicken cordon bleu and mulled wine, and play games with the family.  A few days before the holiday, we go to a friend's house to do a group reading of a Christmas Carol.  It's no Snilldarfest, but it's still pretty great.  

45 minutes ago, TransitPony said:

Good evening Ms. Dubuc!  An honor for me to a be a part of this Q&A. I have these questions for you: 

-What is the most favorite episode you worked on? 

and... 

-Have you considered doing voice acting? 

Hi there!  Thanks for coming to the Q&A!

--There are SO many episodes I'm glad to have worked on, but for MLP... You'll have to wait to see it.

--Yes!  I actually do voice act!  I'm in Rescue Bots, Miles From Tomorrowland, and Young Justice.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,165]

Sooo...any possible chance that more sentient/sapient deer will show up? 

Also; THANK YOU for taking the time to come here and answer questions! You Rock!

[NicoleDubuc 211]

47 minutes ago, Ganondorf8 said:

Good thing I was able to see this rather than miss out on it entirely.

The only question that I can think of right now would be this. "What are your thoughts on Equestria Girls--As in the series as a whole?"

I haven't watched a ton of EG, but I have tremendous respect for the people who work on it!  So I would say I'm in favor of it.

[Quinch 1,180]

2 minutes ago, NicoleDubuc said:

--Yes!  I actually do voice act!  I'm in Rescue Bots, Miles From Tomorrowland, and Young Justice. 

Ooooh! Okay, question, then - what would be your advice for aspiring amateur voice actors for improving? I.e. not ones looking to make a living off it, but for quality, versatility and consistency?

[NicoleDubuc 211]

47 minutes ago, Quinch said:

Also, can you tell us who came up with the line "don't rock it 'till you try it?"

HA!  I wish I could!  When I watched the episode, I looked to see if the line was in the script, but it wasn't!  So it was either an ad-lib or something Jim came up with at the record!

[Never Returning 28,617]

Welcome to MLP Forums, Ms. Dubuc! A couple of questions for you:

Which character is your favorite and why?

What's your favorite episode of the show?

 

[NicoleDubuc 211]

48 minutes ago, TwilySparky said:

Sorry to flood you with questions!

But I really want to know, what is your favorite character in animation?

Favorite of all time?  Ugh, so many!  Like, I love the character animation of the Beast.  And Peter/Gorbash in Flight of Dragons is wonderful.  And Judy Hopps is fantastic.  Basically, I could write pages and pages on this question...

[Quinch 1,180]

Just now, NicoleDubuc said:

HA!  I wish I could!  When I watched the episode, I looked to see if the line was in the script, but it wasn't!  So it was either an ad-lib or something Jim came up with at the record! 

If it was the former, then it looks like Ingrid Nilson's comedy can...

Stand up on its own.

[Adderbane 121]

1 minute ago, NicoleDubuc said:

HA!  I wish I could!  When I watched the episode, I looked to see if the line was in the script, but it wasn't!  So it was either an ad-lib or something Jim came up with at the record!

Does that happen often?

[Will Guide 21,378]

Thank you @NicoleDubuc for your answer earlier. I think it's important to know the different staff members and what their jobs entail.

[Jeric 46,890]

Okay, here is a question for you. Growing up as a child of the 80’s, did you have any favorite cartoons that you would jump at helping to resurrect for the current generation of kids and kids-at-heart? There are a few of us 40-somethings here that would probably love to hear your thoughts on that. 

[Batbrony 16,088]

Well everypony, it looks like our time with Ms. Dubuc is just about at an end.  On behalf of the entire MLP Forums and Poniverse community, I just want to thank @NicoleDubuc one more time for taking the time out of her schedule to chat with all of us.  This has been a real pleasure for us all, and it's been very fun and informative getting to hear from one of MLP:FiM's very own creative minds.  In case Nicole was unable to get to one or more of your questions, fear not, she will be able to answer them after tonight if she wants to or is able to make the time.  Thanks for joining us this evening, everypony, and to Ms. Dubuc, our staff and members all wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

P.S. One more question for the road.  What is your personal favorite holiday TV special/film, that one (or more) holiday classic that you just HAVE to catch every Christmas season?

OK everypony, we've had our fun, now get back to your holiday shopping and prepping.  Those presents aren't gonna wrap themselves, ya know?  Here, I'll even provide some holiday tunes for ya'll to set the mood. 

 

[NicoleDubuc 211]

49 minutes ago, Theanimationfanatic said:

What shows/movies have the biggest influence on your writing. Not just for Friendship is Magic, but for your work as a whole?

Great question, thanks.  The Disney Afternoon was tremendously influential for me.  I like the storytelling structure of Darkwing or TaleSpin.  Also a huge fan of the DC stuff -- many Batman iterations and Justice League.  Live-action-wise, I love the patter of Gilmore Girls and the West Wing.