Your opinions on background ponies

[Shawn Parks 1,798]

Here is another Doctor Whooves product that I only saw recently:

 

 

I am still not clear on how this happens.  Is the character actually called "Doctor Whooves" officially?

[Scootalove 10,689]

I think I'm starting to like background ponies because they appear in every episode.

I especially like:

- Colgate

- Vinyl Scratch

- Octavia

- Lyra

- Bon Bon

- Cloud Chaser

and other background ponies.. if I can remember their names.

[Zygen 6,066]

Well I think technically the background ponies aren't really mostly offically named, except for maybe Derpy, DJ Pon3 and I think Lyra. They've had toys that are released by their names I think.

 

However its really just kinda people start using the names and others like it and join in. Theres still background ponies who don't have truly offical names everyone calls them. For instance the big buff Pony from Huricane Fluttershy and Wonderbolt Academy, Snowflake is what I call him, but others call him Roidrage, and other things I've heard. Its just what the majority calls it usually wins out.

 

I actually think naming all the random background characters is one of the coolest things about this fandom, the fact that they have so much imgination that over a few seconds of actions or screentime they have an idea about a name and a whole character idea, I've never seen this anywhere else, and its quite amazing. Not to mention it makes the background ponies seem less like chopped tacked on paper people in the background, and more like real ponies since I can be like "Oh look theres Lyra!" Or "Hey look its BonBon! :D" Instead of just seeing all these ponies scattered everywhere and be like. "Look at that blue and pink pony" or something like that. It makes them come to life, especially when they have a story to go along with it all. Makes the whole show better for me I think.

 

I didn't even know about Background ponys for my first watch, and after I watched again I finally learned some and some more and now I now a good bit of them, and the background's just come to life when you know them by their name and color's and stuff, its really cool .

 

So I think background ponies are awesome, not sure my favorite, but the background ponies really are a great example of the creativity and passion in this Fandom.

[Stalliongrad 982]

Background characters are always so cool simply because they are mysterious and we don't know anything about them. The background characters don't have many lines or they don't talk at all but you are drawn to them. The best example i can give:

 

 

I think that the background ponies should be nudged closely to the main characters and supporting characters. I love Octavia and Vinyl. We know so little about them yet you can see them having an apartment together. C'mon a DJ and a Cellist sharing an apartment. I smell a new sitcom . Lyra and Bon Bon, I am not so sure but they are often depicted as as being in a relationship or best friends. Either way works for me. I think these pairs should be given at least a part of an episode.

[Mightymags 1,053]

I think the appeal of background ponies comes from their specialties corresponding to people's interests. People like Derpy because she's silly/cute, people who like Dr. Who are highly likely to like Dr. Whooves, people who like music probably like DJ Pon-3, and people who play instruments can relate to Octavia. 

 

These are just some examples, but I think people relate to them because their interests are more specific than the Mane 6's are. 

[Suzaku 88]

Since getting into the fandom and recognizing that the background ponies DO have names, I love pausing the show to look at the background ponies and see which ones I can remember the names of, and do research to find the names of the ones I don't recognize.  I think the background ponies are a ton of fun.  My favorite (aside from Derpy) is Minuette/Colgate, because I love her color scheme.

[Fhaolan 4,483]

Here is another Doctor Whooves product that I only saw recently:

 

 

I am still not clear on how this happens.  Is the character actually called "Doctor Whooves" officially?

 

Yes, and no. Remember that Hasbro manufactures nothing anymore. Everything is licensed to third-party manufacturers. They take that license and run with it.

 

WeLoveFine makes Doctor Hooves T-shirts. Notice the name change. That's because WeLoveFine went to the effort of checking their lawyers on copyright issues and they determined that dropping the W will protect them from the BBC.

 

Funco is the third-party manufacturer who produced this toy, specifically for the Hot Topic retail chain. Their lawyers told them that putting Doctor Whooves is okay as the 'oves' part is enough of a change to protect them from the BBC.

 

The IDW comic series has a variety of alternate covers, some of which show Doctor Whooves, complete with TARDIS and sonic screwdriver. IDW's lawyers told them that the covers with Doctor Whooves is okay because they never refer to him by name.

 

WeLoveFine, Funco, and IDW, all have agreements with Hasbro for producing MLP products. I believe their agreements are different, due to variations in medium and differences in whether they can use the MLP logo or not, but they're still a form of license. But they don't have the same lawyers, so they came up with different interpretations on how to apply that license to the Doctor Whooves items.

 

Now it's a question as to when the BBC will start to get antsy over all of this. But given that they've actually advertised the Funco toys on their own website... it's unlikely they're going to get antsy anytime soon. Maybe if there's another management change over there, but at the moment they're riding high on the 50th aniversary of Doctor Who and are just milking all the free advertising they can find.

[MMFAN 198]

Couldn't find any other topics on this so:

 

 

Does anypony ever notice that we make up names for background ponies and that instantaneously becomes their favorite pony? Alright, alright, derpy with the eyes I can understand, and DJ Pon-3 with the pink sunglasses and being a DJ also. But really, we do this often, but from what I see, some (not all) other background ponies didn't really do anything special (I'm too lazy to come up with an example ). I'm not saying this is BAD, I'm just saying that we do this with pretty much every background pony. Bronies who's favorite pony that is a background pony: please do not yell at me. Just please tell me your opinion on this. And if your favorite pony is a pony who didn't really do anything, please tell me why.

 

I've been watching FiM for a while, and I've combed over threads of youtube comments

related to background pony tribute videos. I've given up trying to understand why people like Lyra, Dr. Whooves, Berry Punch and of course Derpy, firstly because I didn't know who those ponies even were until I started reading youtube comments. Secondly, It doesn't affect me physically or harm my mental well being. I just don't get the appeal everyone has with the BG ponies, and i'm okay with that... I don't understand it, it's confusing on a number of levels, but i'm okay with it existing. I suppose I understand the nod to Dr. Who, but as one who has never watched Dr. Who I can't really comment on that, whether good or bad.

[Homura Akemi 974]

They're fun and cute, but some are overhyped like Derpy and Doctor Whooves. They're cool characters, but people flip their crap.about them which is really not needed.

Edited March 5, 2013 by Dipper

[pinkiefan1287 610]

It deepens on what I'm looking at. For me, I like how we the brony community has developed all these background characters and gave them their own lives. But I do feel that some times we can take it a little far. Like how everyone wants a certain background character to have a fool episode to themselves. Now, I would be fine with them being a part of the episode in someway or interacting with the 6 and them helping out, but I feel like a whole episode about a character that we developed would not work well. Mostly due to the fact we don't know if the wrights will use are ideas or their own ideas.

 

So in the end I like background ponies, but as long as they aren't used to much.

[TBB Symphonia 39]

I think that background ponies are awesome. They liven up the show especially when you look for ones that are frequently used from episode to episode.

 

Derpy Hooves for example was first seen in the very first episode and she even had a speaking role later in the series.

 

Background ponies give fanfic writers so many possiblilties do do what they want with the character in the story. They are able to do this because the background ponies do not have a set background story set in stone. Creativity is key.

Edited March 5, 2013 by TBB Symphonia

[Eragonrde12 49]

I am alright with Derpy, she is pretty fun to look for (not that hard in "The Last Roundup") just things like Lyra, I just do not get. Alright, she MAY have developed a personality (ponyality?) in fanfics that I havn't read yet (Only read My Little Dashie, manly liquid pride was shed that day)

[GuerrierCosmique 146]

Lyra Heartstrings is best background pony! It's all cool about background ponies, they're less known and more mysterious characters to explore and make hypothesises and theories about and that internet users can make up the names. I like her combination of colors and her cutie mark, so my favorite is and ever will be Lyra.

 

 

[poniesforfun 716]

Here is another Doctor Whooves product that I only saw recently:

 

 

I am still not clear on how this happens.  Is the character actually called "Doctor Whooves" officially?

 

I think you need to check the manufacturer. I couldn't find one for the funko molded ones. From this trading card he's officially Time Turner. I mean the same person that made this also made the gray one with the lopsided eyes and named it the one the fans gave it doubt that would fly well with Hasbro.

 

http://www.toywiz.com/mlpset1single025.html?gclid=CJCWm-Wu5bUCFaI-MgodQzoAHQ

Edited March 5, 2013 by poniesforfun

[Display Name 448]

Id have to say my favorite background pony is Derpy.

Yeah i know, shes overrated. But who cares, i like her.

 

But unfortunately, i'm not a big fan of muffins.