Evolution of MLP franchise. Opinions?

[Motion Spark 7,807]

So over more than 20 years, MLP has been mostly a franschise of toys and animated cartoons intended for little girls, that was apparently the only demographic. But with the phenomenom that we all know by now, the demographic has expanded widely, thanks to gen4.

 

 

I bet my mane, that these past years has been the best of the moments for Hasbro's MLP franchise in profits, and they pretty much are aware of bronies and that the demand for merchandise is growing and growing non stop. Having said that, what would you think that would be the future of the franchise?

 

do you think that they would still have the same character designs for further generations? I think they would, just like some other ponies say: "if it's not broken, don't fix it".

do you think they would incorporate more mature characters and scenarios, much more deep story development? more races of ponies (like sea pony, or dragon pony etc.) and mitological creatures? epic battles, fights, drama? more male characters? (actually I would love to see something like that)

 

what I'm saying it's that if Hasbro would take MLP to a never seen or experimented level and do drastic changes to the franchise and adjust it where it's more appealing for males in general (bronies and non bronies) but of course without forgetting the main audience.

As well that's include the toys and merc, isntead of ponies dolls, we also get pony collectibles or action figures and official merc for males (boys or adults) as well.

 

 

opinions

[Bari 7,023]

Well, that does seem like wishful thinking. I would be glad to see some of those things come to pass. I could see better merchandise. Perhaps more collectable type things. Such as special ponies that are only available for a short period of time. Though, I can't imagine that they'd change the show or what not in the future. More pony races? More males? All well and good, but I just don't see it sadly...

[PonyEcho 1,610]

well i don't rely see much for changing they will still have little girls as the target demographic and the formula is perfect so each episode feels fresh, if they try to make big change like cater to a different fan base i.e. Bronies the magic will be gone.

i do have one change that i hope season 3 fixes actually, Rainbowdashs Character in episodes centering her

also i don't see more male or more drama being a good thing

 

 

oh wait i have a big one that if they ever ended up doing would be epic, put some of the fandom OC's in as background ponies it would be fun to see.

[aperture_tech 56]

I do think that they will make more show-accurate figures and plushes. I also think that they will listen a bit more to us bronies, but they will never stop focusing it primarily on little girls. I mean, most of the toy sales are coming in from them.

[Motion Spark 7,807]

I do think that they will make more show-accurate figures and plushes. I also think that they will listen a bit more to us bronies, but they will never stop focusing it primarily on little girls. I mean, most of the toy sales are coming in from them.

 

I agree to disagree, Hasbro revealed that MLP sales has increased a lot this year, and that this franchise along with Transformers, are the top selling from Hasbro, then tell me, why this didn't happen earlier?

Bronies buy more MLP toys than you think, I'm sure they already even beaten little girls to that.

[Dusty Soul 2,611]

That does seem like an optimistic view on it... I think the success of G4, unless g5 five is the same basic formula as g4 it's going to be bad in comparison. I think G4 is the high point of the pony saga. If they keep the same director and writers for g5 it might be awesome. I think they should stick to the values that built up the fan base this much. I wouldn't change anything, but maybe a continuous story.

 

Now about the merch. I agree with what your saying about the whole thing.

Edited September 27, 2012 by Sharp Staccato

[Rarietty 632]

In G5 they'd make their eyes even bigger, and their bodies less horselike. That's what they've been doing every single new gen.

 

On a more serious side I doubt they'd change it very much. Think about it, if you were in Hasbro's position, and your TV show was more popular than any other on your own channel, but you wanted to make G5 you'd keep what works and keep the things that appeal to a more mature audience. You don't want to lose half of your viewership just because you went back to something similar to the G3 MLP. Even so, I doubt G5 will happen soon. As long as they profit from G4, they don't want to accidentally ruin their success by changing things. I get them adding new characters and locations so that they can make more toys (and Equestria is a huge goldmine for new locations and characters) but why would they go onto G5 if their popularity could decrease from it?

 

Even if G5 was the same as G4, but with different characters or something, I bet a whole bunch of people would stop watching just because the show "jumped the shark" or something. Geez, imagine the show with the mane 6 being replaced by other ponies? I'm sure people will stop watching then and there.

 

About the merchandise, I totally agree. I hate the FiM dolls compared to the G3 toys. They just seemed to be a step down from what Hasbro was doing before. I do like how they're trying to appeal to a wider audience now though. For example, their exclusive ponies (Zecora, Nightmare Moon, Vinyl Scratch, White Celestia), a season 1 DVD and the comic that they're making,

Edited September 28, 2012 by Rarietty

[aperture_tech 56]

I agree to disagree, Hasbro revealed that MLP sales has increased a lot this year, and that this franchise along with Transformers, are the top selling from Hasbro, then tell me, why this didn't happen earlier?

Bronies buy more MLP toys than you think, I'm sure they already even beaten little girls to that.

 

I'm aware of the amount of toys bronies buy, but remember, when trying to sell to children, quality is not necessarily a priority. Bronies clamor for show accurate toys, which would cost more money to make, thus costing more, which in turn doesn't sell as well as cheaper items. When you can get a pony made, packaged, and shipped for all under fifty cents, you can sell it for twelve dollars which nets you more profit. The intended fans of the show are not going to care much about accuracy, they want a toy, and their parents aren't going to pay x amount more dollars for a toy that looks more accurate, they'll go for the lowest common denominator.

[Motion Spark 7,807]

I'm aware of the amount of toys bronies buy, but remember, when trying to sell to children, quality is not necessarily a priority. Bronies clamor for show accurate toys, which would cost more money to make, thus costing more, which in turn doesn't sell as well as cheaper items. When you can get a pony made, packaged, and shipped for all under fifty cents, you can sell it for twelve dollars which nets you more profit. The intended fans of the show are not going to care much about accuracy, they want a toy, and their parents aren't going to pay x amount more dollars for a toy that looks more accurate, they'll go for the lowest common denominator.

 

Actually bronies buy more original toys than you may think, I would even say that bronies spent more money on original hasbro merchandise than the little girls parents.

What happen? there is a high demand for custom pony toys, because they are simply better than the original ones, but the demand is so high that the people who made the toys can't fully satisfy, so bronies end up buying the original toys even if they are not that good.