Will you leave the fandom if G5 is dark and full of action?

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

So let's say G5 is a retcon of G4. The art style is the same, just dark and gritty. The original mane 6, Celestia, Luna, Cadence and pretty much every character from G4 is accounted for. Even the villains are revamped. Discord and Chrysalis....maybe Sombra, since I want to see him have an actual story next time. I would support it. Things need to change and they can't be the same all the time.

Prime example is the 1987 TMNT cartoon. It was comedic and light hearted. The 2003 came along and it was a much more darker cartoon. Some people loved it, but the hardcore G1 Turtles fans rejected it. I think it could work for MLP. I mean first off G1 MLP is pretty dam dark for a girls cartoon in the 80s. The 80s was an age of goofy and light hearted animation. With stuff like TMNT, HE MAN, Thunder Cats, Transformers(the movie was dark)Inspector Gadget and many others. The 90s was the age of dark and gritty animation.

Great examples are Batman TAS and Disney's Gargoyles. I would say the years 2000-2013 have been kinda...well, weird, I can't classify them under any tone. It seems to have been been. more of the light hearted, over the dark stuff

[Blue Moon 6,341]

I wouldn't support it. One of the reasons I liked MLP: FiM in the first place was how it wasn't too violent and dark, but it wasn't too lighthearted and either. Right now, it has a nice blend and I want it to stay like that.

 

 

However, my opinions may change if I like it. (I, of course, would give it a chance.) But this is unlikely as I don't think MLP should be a dark show. But no matter what, I will not leave the fandom and will continue to love MLP:FiM.

Edited May 10, 2013 by Blue Moon

[Jokuc 8,174]

No why would I leave the fandom? I don't think I would like it too much, but now my head is full of ponies and well.. It would be hard to not watch it..

[Phoenix237 353]

Well since you are including the cast of the G4 series then wouldn't this technically be a spin-off series instead?

When I think of G5 I think of a new set of toys to sell, not neccesarly a new show.

That said would I watch the type of genre show you discribed?

Hell yes!

 

There is no sayin that this will happen, but If it did then ya I would watch it.

We would just need the right people an the right storylines.

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

Well since you are including the cast of the G4 series then wouldn't this technically be a spin-off series instead?

When I think of G5 I think of a new set of toys to sell, not neccesarly a new show.

That said would I watch the type of genre show you discribed?

Hell yes!

 

There is no sayin that this will happen, but If it did then ya I would watch it.

We would just need the right people an the right storylines.

The only reason why I'm saying keep the G4 cast is because they're the most popular characters. The only OG characters are Twilight and Apple Jack from G1...Oh yeah forgot Spike. I think the bronies want all the original characters intact for G5

[Shanks 10,816]

As long as it was still a good show I would watch it, I like the example of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles you gave because I myself have been a fan of that for over 20 years and when I found out about the 2003 series I had the biggest fangasm ever. I knew it was going to be exactly the same and I was right, but I still loved and I have also been watching the 2012 series which combines the light hearted elements of the 80's/90's series and the darker elements of the 2003 series and so far with the exception of a few nitpicky things I like it. G5 is of course not going to be the same as G4, but as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has proved that is not always a bad thing.

[WhiteFang 14]

No I would not leave the fandom just because of a bad generation of ponies.  If I did, then I would be forgeting about My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic which happens to be my favorite show.

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

Yes, well, as much as I like most of the shows you mentioned (and I absolutely bucking love Batman: The Animated Series), I wouldn't like for G5 to go all dark and action-y. I wouldn't give up on the show, but it'd make me uncomfortable. The strength of the show is its characters and general sense of optimism. Stuff like the fight scene in Canterlot Wedding and some of the imagery in Crystal Empire is badass and all, but that kind of stuff should be reserved for special occasions, not made the norm.

 

It's just not this particular show's style, but I really hate it when a show or whatever is dark for the sake of being dark. Unless you are actually trying to accomplish something with that stuff, there's no point in having it other than to just to demonstrate how edgy your work of fiction is. The stuff in Issue #3 of the comic was pushing it for me; the only reason I wasn't put off of it is because the series isn't constantly like that and it's treated as tongue-in-cheek as that could possibly be.

Edited May 10, 2013 by CITRUS KING46

[Just some guy 1,070]

If I wanted a badly done dark and gritty reboot,I'd watch that one Looney Toons reboot where the characters are all ancestors of the original characters or something.The name currently escapes me at the moment.

 

I only watch FiM because it's one of the more light-hearted shows out there that is actually decent.I can get all the dark and edgy stories or over-the-top action I want from a number of any other TV shows,movies,or video games.The innocence is what gives FiM its charm compared to most media today.

[Zygen 6,066]

Eh, i'd try it and see how it works out, if I enjoy it then well I'll watch it, if not well I guess I won't.

 

I will atleast try it, it all depends on how its done I guess.

 

I do kinda think if it gets to dark though it might ruin part of the show for me, the lighthearted side of it is one of the reasons its so good I think.

 

However I wouldn't leave the fandom for sure, I mean even if the series ends forever or something I'd still stick around, just for the fan content and awesome people here.

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

At most, I can tolerate Disney Renaissance levels of darkness (barring Hunchback of Notre Dame). If the writers think they could pull off dark stuff, then whatever, but otherwise, if they just do it because "GEE WHIZ, THAT'D BE TOTALLY RADICAL", then no thanks.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Depends on the level of dark here, if we're talking about Disney/Fantasy dark like the comics kinda delve into, I'd probably love the hell out of it.  

[Derpular 90]

The thing is, G5 isn't going to be a remake of G4. It probably won't happen for a long time, but think about it. G4 is a different universe, with different characters (even if some share names/designs) than G3. It's not going to be the next generation of Friendship is Magic... it'll be the next generation of My Little Pony, something completely separate from what most fans of the show love. Who knows, it may be deeper than pre-G4 generations- they may decide to follow G4's model in expanding it for a wider audience- but it'll be something different. Many fans are likely to overlap, but it won't be FiM.

(Note: I'm an MLP fan no matter what. Any generation.)
That being said, if a darker MLP:FiM did exist, I would definitely watch it, although I also love the show's light-heartedness.

[. eris . 1,661]

You know what really bugs me? The term "leaving the fandom".

 

You can't 'leave' a fandom. You can choose not to associate with other fans of the show, and maybe you can stop watching it altogether. But it'll stay in your brain, like a hot grain of sand, because when you cut yourself off so completely from something you once loved, it'll hurt, and leave a scar. If you're trying to cut yourself off from a television show just because some fat man with a cigar decided he needed more money and wanted a dark, gritty reboot, then that's ungodly silly. You can choose to ignore or not enjoy seasons or reboots of television shows or remakes of movies. For example, in my mind, there is no movie of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, because it's one of my favorite books and Wonka is one of my favorite literary characters, and neither film did the character justice. (Although the Wilder Wonka came marginally close, but I digress.)

 

What I'm saying is, the idea that a majority of people would throw a hissy fit over a reboot they didn't like is not only immature and childish, but just a waste of time an energy when you get down to it. They can explain their reasons for not watching or liking the darker stuff, but spending so much time on hating a corporate sellout is just petty.

 

Now, all that aside, if MLP was a darker show, I would probably not watch it. I love Batman: The Animated Series, it's definitely my favorite animated TV show of all time. But that's where I go to get my fix of dark animation and rich, gothic storylines under the pretense of a kid's show. I go to MLP for rest and relaxation, and to enjoy the perfectly timed humor and excellent animation.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, yeah, I know. X_X

[hawkflame 3,310]

I've always been of the opinion that darker is not necessarily better.  It depends on the material, and whether making it "dark" would be appropriate.  For TMNT, it worked, mainly because of its roots as an independent, black and white comic.  I think there you can get away with somewhat strange ideas and take them somewhat seriously. 

 

For MLP?  I don't know.  it would make for a very different show, certainly.  I think it depends on how you go about it.  If it's firmly rooted more in the world of dark fantasy, then maybe.  But if it's something like Loonatics Unleashed?  Hell no.

 

And even if it does suck- Leave the fandom?  Why?  Look at any fandom of any major property with multiple "generations" of series, and fans are often going to break into their own subgroups and sub niches.  There are Trekkies who only like the original series, or those who prefer The Next Generation, or Transformers fans who prefer G1 or Beast Wars or Transformers Animated or Prime, etc.  and there's going to be a subgroup of Bronies who prfer G4.  Hell, that's exactly what we are already.  How many others here are fans of G1 or G3?  Maybe a few, but not a lot.  We're by and large a G4 fandom, and I think most of us will stay that way even if G5 sucks.

[Sonicrules831 520]

Look at my signature, #Brony4Life. I would give the show a chance and if its good or bad. I will remain part of this awesome fandom!

/)

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

You know what really bugs me? The term "leaving the fandom".

 

You can't 'leave' a fandom. You can choose not to associate with other fans of the show, and maybe you can stop watching it altogether. But it'll stay in your brain, like a hot grain of sand, because when you cut yourself off so completely from something you once loved, it'll hurt, and leave a scar. If you're trying to cut yourself off from a television show just because some fat man with a cigar decided he needed more money and wanted a dark, gritty reboot, then that's ungodly silly. You can choose to ignore or not enjoy seasons or reboots of television shows or remakes of movies. For example, in my mind, there is no movie of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, because it's one of my favorite books and Wonka is one of my favorite literary characters, and neither film did the character justice. (Although the Wilder Wonka came marginally close, but I digress.)

 

What I'm saying is, the idea that a majority of people would throw a hissy fit over a reboot they didn't like is not only immature and childish, but just a waste of time an energy when you get down to it. They can explain their reasons for not watching or liking the darker stuff, but spending so much time on hating a corporate sellout is just petty.

 

Now, all that aside, if MLP was a darker show, I would probably not watch it. I love Batman: The Animated Series, it's definitely my favorite animated TV show of all time. But that's where I go to get my fix of dark animation and rich, gothic storylines under the pretense of a kid's show. I go to MLP for rest and relaxation, and to enjoy the perfectly timed humor and excellent animation.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, yeah, I know. X_X

It's a shame you don't like the Gene Wilder Wonka. Well to each their own. When I was 5 I was bred and exposed to these movies

Star Wars the original trilogy

Willy Wonka(70s)

Wizard of Oz

 

I know Gene Wilder as Wonka comes across as a serial killer lol. But the man just does such an amazing job portraying him

[Tual 152]

Well, I probably wouldn't leave. I highly doubt it. But it really depends. (Besides, the fandoms could be separate.)  I love dark things, but if it were to try too hard, it'd probably slip away for me. 
 (I don't feel like typing a lot to this, maybe I'll add more later, y'know. Opinion-y more stuff..) 

[IronPonyApplejack 318]

Well....I wouldn't stop loving MLP:FiM, that's for sure. Past that...I'd be willing to give it a chance, but I don't think that the series would benefit from a darker tone. It seems contrary to its very nature, which happens to be one of the reasons I love it so much.

 

The Canterlot Wedding fight and things like that are cool and all, but I think just sprinkling them in on occasion like they have been is the way to go with it. And I think the villians are dark enough, given the show's overall tone.

 

I just don't see it as working. With TMNT, it was already a show about mutant turtles that knew martial arts and fought the bad guys every episode to save the day. Going darker with that works pretty well. You're already fighting every episode practically, why not step it up a bit? But MLP isn't like that.

 

So...no, wouldn't 'leave the fandom', per se...but I don't think it would be a good idea.

[Yamato 1,348]

Dark humor, I would probably love it more.

Just dark period, maybe...

Dark for the hell of it, maybe...

I would really have to try it first. My preferences in shows are so here and there that I can never predict what I'm going to like...

[Batbrony 16,055]

First of all, concerning MLP specifically, I'm not going to speculate what G5 is going to be like while we still have at least one more full season in the works at the moment.  Way too soon to speculate about something like that.

 

Second, a question: why would it need to be darker?  Now listen, I'm not saying that whatever style of MLP follows the current generation wouldn't need to be different in some way (although I honestly can't imagine how considering MLP is pretty much perfect as it is ), BUT I am saying this; MLP doesn't need to be darker than it already is.  You cited some interesting examples, contrasting the 80s and 90s, all good and fine, but most of those cartoons you cited were specifically action cartoons targeted at a young male demographic.  The problem with the "make something new darker" formula is that TV producers began COMPLETELY missing when and where that formula was applicable in the late 90s and early 2000s.  They thought it was applicable to EVERYTHING; one of the worst cases of its abuse was "Loonatics Unleashed" (if you don't know what that is, GOOD, just... just keep it that way ).  I mean, look at this thing:

 

 

WHAT THE BUCK IS THAT THING?!?!?!?!?!  

 

Now, that's one of the worst examples of abusing that formula, but my point is TV producers made the BIG mistake with A LOT of kids shows in the late 90s and early 2000s when they decided, "Hey, Batman: TAS was dark and edgy, you know what, we should make our new shows dark and edgy".  Here's the problem with that thinking: BATMAN IS A DARK CHARACTER!!!!!!!  Ergo, making a dark Batman show naturally works (although camp Batman can work as well, as recently proven by Batman: Brave and the Bold, since it has its own place in Batman's history as well).  Just because dark works for one show, doesn't mean it'll work for another; the show's atmosphere needs to be FIRST AND FOREMOST consistent with the characters themselves!  Does that mean MLP can't be serious?  Heck no, the show can get quite serious and dark at times!  But those moments are more the exception than the general rule; most of the time, the show is happy, light-hearted, and humorous, and that naturally works with the premise of a show about multi-colored ponies living in a magical land when done right!

 

So, my final response?  Yes, the next generation probably will and should be different to an extent from G4; no, I can't speculate what it'll be like, way too soon to be able to figure that out; and BUCK NO, whatever it is, whoever produces it shouldn't just aim to make it darker and assume that'll make it better from G4!!!!!!!!! 

Edited May 10, 2013 by Batbrony

[EcstaticWind 572]

So long as it's not done badly, I'll give it a chance. That said, darker doesn't necessarily mean better, but it doesn't mean worse, either.

 

As for leaving the fandom, no. Leave all you wonderful people? Nah.

[Blue Moon 6,341]

First of all, concerning MLP specifically, I'm not going to speculate what G5 is going to be like while we still have at least one more full season in the works at the moment.  Way too soon to speculate about something like that.

 

Second, a question: why would it need to be darker?  Now listen, I'm not saying that whatever style of MLP follows the current generation wouldn't need to be different in some way (although I honestly can't imagine how considering MLP is pretty much perfect as it is ), BUT I am saying this; MLP doesn't need to be darker than it already is.  You cited some interesting examples, contrasting the 80s and 90s, all good and fine, but most of those cartoons you cited were specifically action cartoons targeted at a young male demographic.  The problem with the "make something new darker" formula is that TV producers began COMPLETELY missing when and where that formula was applicable in the late 90s and early 2000s.  They thought it was applicable to EVERYTHING; one of the worst cases of its abuse was "Loonatics Unleashed" (if you don't know what that is, GOOD, just... just keep it that way ).  I mean, look at this thing:

 

 

WHAT THE BUCK IS THAT THING?!?!?!?!?!  

 

Now, that's one of the worst examples of abusing that formula, but my point is TV producers made the BIG mistake with A LOT of kids shows in the late 90s and early 2000s when they decided, "Hey, Batman: TAS was dark and edgy, you know what, we should make our new shows dark and edgy".  Here's the problem with that thinking: BATMAN IS A DARK CHARACTER!!!!!!!  Ergo, making a dark Batman show naturally works (although camp Batman can work as well, as recently proven by Batman: Brave and the Bold, since it has its own place in Batman's history as well).  Just because dark works for one show, doesn't mean it'll work for another; the show's atmosphere needs to be FIRST AND FOREMOST consistent with the characters themselves!  Does that mean MLP can't be serious?  Heck no, the show can get quite serious and dark at times!  But those moments are more the exception than the general rule; most of the time, the show is happy, light-hearted, and humorous, and that naturally works with the premise of a show about multi-colored ponies living in a magical land when done right!

 

So, my final response?  Yes, the next generation probably will and should be different to an extent from G4; no, I can't speculate what it'll be like, way too soon to be able to figure that out; and BUCK NO, whatever it is, whoever produces it shouldn't just aim to make it darker and assume that'll make it better from G4!!!!!!!!! 

Perfectly said.

 

I agree. MLP isn't a show with dark characters meaning that a dark version of it wouldn't be unnecessary. 

 

 

 

And why did you have to bring up Loonatics Unleashed? Eesh, that is the stuff of nightmares, man.

Edited May 10, 2013 by Blue Moon

[Hay Lin 38]

 Well, if the show dosen't contain bad language, impure thoughts, or blood, then no. If it had euphrisims, then I would reconsider just a bit. If anything bordring slight romance and euphrimis, then, yes, I would leave the G5 part of the fandom. I wouldn't leave the fandom entirely, because there would still be some people who talk about Generation 4 and do Gen 4 fanwork.

[Dr. Eggnog 203]

Heck, if it's a good show it's a good show.  Making ponies do action would be a little weirder than turtles who have always been about martial arts though.  So far, MLP: FiM has only had one scene I'd call a good action sequence, when they're fighting the changelings in Canterlot.  I've barely seen any of the old TMNT, but I would assume that had more action than MLP:FiM.

 

But hell, if they could make it work, of course I'd watch a darker ponies show.