Why is there so much pony crossover content?

[Lateon 589]

Allow me to set the scene first - 

 

I was out in the living room of my suite unit this weekend with my laptop, and one my friends and suitemates caught sight of one of my many pony wallpapers. Now, he knows (along with everyone else in my suite) I'm a brony, and has for quite some time, so this isn't relating to that at all. But, the particular wallpaper he saw was this one:

 

 

 

 

Big thumbs up to Zedrin for making this awesome League of "Pones" wallpaper! (note, this isn't supposed to be a promotion for his works, so don't take it that way, please  )

 

This particular one is of Octavia (obviously) taking the place of Fiora, the Grand Duelist, a champion in the game League of Legends. The artist also made one for Diana and Nocturne, being replaced by Nightmare Moon and Luna, respectively.

 

This is what Fiora looks like in her original LoL splash art:

 

 

 

 

Back on topic, my friend asked me a question when I was like, "Hey dude, it's Fiora!" and it was, "Why is there so much crossover with ponies? I don't really get it."

 

...I couldn't answer him. I've been in the fandom for close to 8 months now, and even I still don't know why there's so much stuff like this! I think it's awesome when I see the occasional World of Warcraft of League of Legends crossover, among other things, but I never stopped to consider why people create it in the first place, other than to say, "What if?"

 

I told him it was because there are so many creative people in the art, music, and writing departments in the fandom that we just so happen to have a large proportion of crossover stuff, but that seems like a weak justification to me.

 

What do you all think? Why is there so much crossover stuff with ponies? Also, what do you guys think of it? Is it cool or awesome, or unnecessary and annoying?

 

[Thevenomous 59]

I think it's mostly because people think "It would be cool if ponies were in (Insert Show/Game Here)" And then proceed to make it happen. So what you said isn't a weak justification, it's the truth. People just like combining things they like.

[Shawn Parks 1,798]

I would say that it is the same reason that you want your significant other to meet your parents.  You love both, so you think that they should interact with one another - even if they have no logical reason to ever be together.  

[poniesforfun 716]

I find it annoying and pointless for the most part. Unless it's a really similar comparison to the crossed character in question then it could be amusing for a few seconds. Few good examples is like making the Mane Six in a Sailor Moon humanized look, it's a pretty good parody because they're both magical girl-like and represent a category (elements/planets). A bad example would be Star Wars, it's overused, it doesn't fit the central MLP cast, it would be funnier if Star Wars was crossed with Disney characters because as we all know Disney bought the franchise and reflects a satire.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

I like it, I don't know why, maybe it's just that when you cross two things you enjoy you get something even more epic than either of the two things seperate.

[000 206]

Someone makes a crossover when they realize they like both things and wonder how it would look if they were fused or crossed together.

 

It's not a really hard question.

[Megas 27,649]

Maybe because they think it's fun? As a whole they're just silly ideas fans want to do and something people shouldn't take seriously. I think most of the fun is trying to find characters that are similar to the casts personalities and going off from there, despite being from some completely different world. I mean, who would've thought that Rainbow Dash had a lot in common with a certain manly mecha pilot with crazy shades, Spike with an otaku assassin with a lightsaber, Pinkie Pie with a yahoo from Jersey who happens to own a giant robot car, or Applejack with a salesman of propane and propane accessories. 

 

Hell, I'm still waiting for someone to make a God Hand parody starring Lyra

Edited March 4, 2013 by Megas75

[Lateon 589]

I guess I forgot the other thing I wanted to ask in my original post. Sorry guys, this is my first topic post other than the introduce yourself topic! 

 

My other question was, does it seem like there's more crossover stuff with ponies than there is for other fandom stuff? Or are ponies just more...crossover-able? 

[Thevenomous 59]

I find it annoying and pointless for the most part. 

I agree with that. It's just unnecessary.

 

 

 

I guess I forgot the other thing I wanted to ask in my original post. Sorry guys, this is my first topic post other than the introduce yourself topic! 

 

My other question was, does it seem like there's more crossover stuff with ponies than there is for other fandom stuff? Or are ponies just more...crossover-able? 

Nah, people cross everything they can, ponies or not. It might seem like there's more because you see more pony stuff than other stuff, but it really isn't.

[Yellow Diamond 7,569]

It's fun to mix things together and see how they might turn out. You have Story A and Story B -- why not stir them in the same concoction? And at a very basic level, folks can combine their favorite franchises. It's typically all fun and good. The appeal of crossovers is fairly strong for me, so you won't find me knocking the concept and of itself.

 

What I do have trouble with is 1.) bad storytelling that is the product of forcing two or more franchises together and 2.) placing entirely inappropriate characters into another universe. My Little Pony has a world with a very specific set of rules and standards. I'm often befuddled when someone attempts to take a wholly inappropriate character (e.g., RoboCop) and shove them into Equestria. Unless you are doing so for satirical purposes, then the exercise is mostly a waste of time. I don't know how you could take the venture very seriously.

 

It works the other way around, too. I wouldn't want to write a serious story where Twilight gets dropped into Deus Ex and has to fight alongside JC Denton against Majestic 12. It's ridiculous to the point of being distracting.

[PonyRocker95 106]

Allow me to set the scene first - 

 

I was out in the living room of my suite unit this weekend with my laptop, and one my friends and suitemates caught sight of one of my many pony wallpapers. Now, he knows (along with everyone else in my suite) I'm a brony, and has for quite some time, so this isn't relating to that at all. But, the particular wallpaper he saw was this one:

 

 

 

 

Big thumbs up to Zedrin for making this awesome League of "Pones" wallpaper! (note, this isn't supposed to be a promotion for his works, so don't take it that way, please  )

 

This particular one is of Octavia (obviously) taking the place of Fiora, the Grand Duelist, a champion in the game League of Legends. The artist also made one for Diana and Nocturne, being replaced by Nightmare Moon and Luna, respectively.

 

This is what Fiora looks like in her original LoL splash art:

 

 

 

 

Back on topic, my friend asked me a question when I was like, "Hey dude, it's Fiora!" and it was, "Why is there so much crossover with ponies? I don't really get it."

 

...I couldn't answer him. I've been in the fandom for close to 8 months now, and even I still don't know why there's so much stuff like this! I think it's awesome when I see the occasional World of Warcraft of League of Legends crossover, among other things, but I never stopped to consider why people create it in the first place, other than to say, "What if?"

 

I told him it was because there are so many creative people in the art, music, and writing departments in the fandom that we just so happen to have a large proportion of crossover stuff, but that seems like a weak justification to me.

 

What do you all think? Why is there so much crossover stuff with ponies? Also, what do you guys think of it? Is it cool or awesome, or unnecessary and annoying?

 

1) it's called "Ponification"

 

and 2) I don't really know why but I think it's because people want to see there favorite genre's as or with ponys!  

[Fridge 382]

Allow me to set the scene first - 

 

I was out in the living room of my suite unit this weekend with my laptop, and one my friends and suitemates caught sight of one of my many pony wallpapers. Now, he knows (along with everyone else in my suite) I'm a brony, and has for quite some time, so this isn't relating to that at all. But, the particular wallpaper he saw was this one:

 

 

 

 

Big thumbs up to Zedrin for making this awesome League of "Pones" wallpaper! (note, this isn't supposed to be a promotion for his works, so don't take it that way, please  )

 

This particular one is of Octavia (obviously) taking the place of Fiora, the Grand Duelist, a champion in the game League of Legends. The artist also made one for Diana and Nocturne, being replaced by Nightmare Moon and Luna, respectively.

 

This is what Fiora looks like in her original LoL splash art:

 

 

 

 

Back on topic, my friend asked me a question when I was like, "Hey dude, it's Fiora!" and it was, "Why is there so much crossover with ponies? I don't really get it."

 

...I couldn't answer him. I've been in the fandom for close to 8 months now, and even I still don't know why there's so much stuff like this! I think it's awesome when I see the occasional World of Warcraft of League of Legends crossover, among other things, but I never stopped to consider why people create it in the first place, other than to say, "What if?"

 

I told him it was because there are so many creative people in the art, music, and writing departments in the fandom that we just so happen to have a large proportion of crossover stuff, but that seems like a weak justification to me.

 

What do you all think? Why is there so much crossover stuff with ponies? Also, what do you guys think of it? Is it cool or awesome, or unnecessary and annoying?

I quite like some of it, of course I've not seen anywhere near all of there is, my particular favourite is Fallout Equestria.

As for why there's so much of it, I can't answer why for anyone else. But for me I find its because the characters have a lot of depth and lend themselves quite well to it. Of course it depends on the material that they've been "ported" to.

I think it also has a fair bit to do with our mentality... You may have noticed but many of us like to read into the show and character, often a bit too deeply... Of course I'm using the term a bit like saying the ocean is "a bit" wet. Because we do this often we look for a darker side to the characters which, to be honest, isn't there. Then when we can't find that darker side we port them into a world or setting that forces a darker side to appear.

 

As someone once said to me about Fallout Equestria, it's actually more of a fallout fan fic with ponies. But I quite like that, seeing how the writer has adapted the world to work with it.

 

Anyway that's my view.

[Bendy 1,821]

Crossovers are awesome.

 

It helps promote lesser known fandoms and TV shows grow in size.

 

So you could say every time one makes a crossover, they are leeching off the size of this massive fandom to help promote their fandom. XD

Edited March 4, 2013 by Rush

[Buttonmash1973 1,026]

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic had been crossed over with things like both Dan VS. and Littlest Pet Shop 2012 on The Hub ads.

[Shawn Parks 1,798]

I thought that it would be neat to write a "Toy Story" fanfiction, in which the characters meet a set of "Friendship is Magic" toys.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

And I always have trouble finding it of stuff I'm really into, I think I contribute most of the pony/Highlander content myself...

Crossovers are awesome.

 

It helps promote lesser known fandoms and TV shows grow in size.

 

So you could say every time one makes a crossover, they are leeching off the size of this massive fandom to help promote their fandom. XD

True that, I've been slowly getting in Doctor Who because I liked the Doctor Whooves content the fans put out so much I checked into it. 

[Fhaolan 4,483]

You've got two types of crossovers.

 

The type you've pointed out in your examples are substitution crossovers. Putting a pony in place of another character. These are usually because the artist/writer beleives there is a similarity between the pony and the character, and wants to point out this perceieved similarity. In a 'You see this too, right?' way.

 

The other type of crossover is the mashup crossover. Bringing characters from different 'worlds' together, Turnabout Storm and the like. These are done more from a 'what if' point of view. How would these characters interact? What would happen?

 

Then there are some that blend the two types. Doctor Whooves is one of the blendings. The Doctor crosses universes, but is ponified in the process. Different interpretations occur to different people, giving them scope for different stories/art. They want to put their stamp onto the blending, their indication of what they would like to see more of.

 

In nearly all cases, however, there is an element of depth addition. In reality, MLP as presented in the show is a bit shallow if you take it literally. Crossovers of all types are easy ways of adding depth, adding personality traits and history to the existing property, using the other side of the crossover as a kind of shorthand for those traits.

 

Most of us know at least something about Star Wars. Put the various ponies into the SW character 'slots', and first it's all about 'You see these similarities, right?', but with repeated stories with the same substitutions, and the readers start to add the original character's traits to the substituting ponies in their own minds. Artificial depth is attained.

 

Finally there is the cross-linking of fandoms. Using crossovers to trigger the interest of other fans, like Doctor Whooves attracting the curiousity of the Whoovians, the Brony fandom as a whole increases rapidly in population.

[Shawn Parks 1,798]

True that, I've been slowly getting in Doctor Who because I liked the Doctor Whooves content the fans put out so much I checked into it. 

 

Ha Ha - me too.  I finally decided to start watching "Doctor Who" because I liked the Doctor character from the "Doctor Whooves and Assistant" series on YouTube.  

[Throwaway19573639385 763]

It all started with drawfags, Although the popularity of drawfags and drawfriends (where people draw requests to either practice their skills or for the hell of it, most commonly seen on 4chan) has declined, the first year of MLP (The days before I was a brony but saw a huge amount of pony drawfags on 4chan) and the first half of the second year for MLP had been a great year for these fun little threads and well... you know 4chan, everything you can imagine and more will get requested.

 

So then came the drawfriends (Love 'n Tolerate, blablabla, let's change fag into friends) of EqD, Artists had become more and more well-known and started to divert from 4chan drawfags one by one, joining sites like DeviantArt and FurAffinity to get more attention and critiques to polish their skills. However, requests were still a big hit and so many of the requesters also moved to DA and FA in addition to the already many people who requested drawings. Slowly but surely crossing-over random things with MLP became a trend, something fun to do, simply put, everything has to be crossed over with MLP. 

 

Of course we still have the other group that just thinks "Hey! You know what would be fun to get a crossover?? [enter any imaginable subject here]!"

 

And that's where we are now, one and a half year later. We have crossovers for almost anything out there, it's like it has become its own little R34 of crossovers: everything that exists will get a crossover with ponies.

[Zygen 6,066]

Idk the exact reason really, I guess people just sometimes are like, I love this and this, so they crossover them and do something cool or silly with them.

 

I for one actually enjoy most crossovers ironically. Some of them are just kinda dumb looking, but some are funny or cool to look at aswell. It all depends I guess.

 

I certainly am not against it or anything .

 

Its just a combination of two things people love I guess, only reason I can think of. I guess maybe alot of people just love multiple things along with MLP, or maybe MLP is just such a large fan following that it just has alot of.. well everything .

[Ruddboy Olaf 10,628]

Sorry nothing.

Edited July 22, 2024 by Ruddboy Olaf

[MrHaru 217]

Stealing a post from someone else who said the exact same thing:

 

It's The Internet.

 

So....yeah. Not exactly sure what to tell you OP.

[Bigmethod 239]

Allow me to set the scene first - 

 

I was out in the living room of my suite unit this weekend with my laptop, and one my friends and suitemates caught sight of one of my many pony wallpapers. Now, he knows (along with everyone else in my suite) I'm a brony, and has for quite some time, so this isn't relating to that at all. But, the particular wallpaper he saw was this one:

 

 

 

 

Big thumbs up to Zedrin for making this awesome League of "Pones" wallpaper! (note, this isn't supposed to be a promotion for his works, so don't take it that way, please  )

 

This particular one is of Octavia (obviously) taking the place of Fiora, the Grand Duelist, a champion in the game League of Legends. The artist also made one for Diana and Nocturne, being replaced by Nightmare Moon and Luna, respectively.

 

This is what Fiora looks like in her original LoL splash art:

 

 

 

 

Back on topic, my friend asked me a question when I was like, "Hey dude, it's Fiora!" and it was, "Why is there so much crossover with ponies? I don't really get it."

 

...I couldn't answer him. I've been in the fandom for close to 8 months now, and even I still don't know why there's so much stuff like this! I think it's awesome when I see the occasional World of Warcraft of League of Legends crossover, among other things, but I never stopped to consider why people create it in the first place, other than to say, "What if?"

 

I told him it was because there are so many creative people in the art, music, and writing departments in the fandom that we just so happen to have a large proportion of crossover stuff, but that seems like a weak justification to me.

 

What do you all think? Why is there so much crossover stuff with ponies? Also, what do you guys think of it? Is it cool or awesome, or unnecessary and annoying?

I don't play LOL but that wallpaper is f'in badass! 

 

As for crossover stuff, it has to be my favorite type of art for ponies, not only is it entertaining and fun, its all really interesting and well drawn sometimes. 

 

Some examples below. 

[indigoat 0]

Maybe it helps that MLP has canon crossovers!  After all, parasprites are totally tribbles, right?  That's a really early episode, too, so people who are trying to decide if they like the show are more likely to like it if they like Star Trek and crossovers ... hello, geeky fandom.

[fimdash 1,196]

I think bronies just want to make everything 20% cooler, and there you have it: a myriad of pony crossovers. I think the crossovers are awesome, and can help assimilate people into bronydom. Your friend who likes LoL might see that art and think "Dang, ponies are pretty cool" and then boom.. captured.