The Skin Color Dilemma

[SkyeRibbonPwny 406]

Ok so as we know, bronies of all kinds have been getting a little butthurt over the fact that the characters don't have normal skin. Well, the answer is so freakin' obvious guys, and frankly I'm a little dissapointed you didn't come up with it on your own.
Firstly, the staff knew we would be wary of the absence of ponies, and the coloring remains so that we have some little reminder that they are still ponies. 
Now the second reason is actually quite a brilliant idea. It's to avoid racism.
I mean, obviously we can all agree Twi is asian but besides that.
Now I'm not racist  but because I'm a white girl who grew up in middle class, I always pictured the characters as white girls (Except Twilight.) While a person of different race would probably imagine the characters also being of their race. It's not a racist thing, but Hasbro and DHX is avoiding the illusion of being racist  What if they were all white, but Twi is asian and Pinkie is black? Some people would agree and others would throw an even bigger tantrum then they are now. 
So think more carefully when you're complaining about the odd skin colors.
Thanks for reading!!

Muslim Fluttershy....iinteresting. Very cute ^w^

[. eris . 1,661]

EXACTLY.

 

That way, they don't have to factor in everybody's expectations. For instance, there's a Mane Six Size Chart floating around on the internets somewhere, and that was personally my headcanon for skin colors. But mine may vary wildly from someone else's. I honestly think it was a smart move on Hasbro's part to keep their skin colors the same as their coat colors.

 

Edit: Found the size chart.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 15, 2013 by Earl Grey

[Mr. Jaguar 1,403]

  On 2013-05-15 at 5:58 PM, Earl Grey said:

EXACTLY.

 

That way, they don't have to factor in everybody's expectations. For instance, there's a Mane Six Size Chart floating around on the internets somewhere, and that was personally my headcanon for skin colors. But mine may vary wildly from someone else's. I honestly think it was a smart move on Hasbro's part to keep their skin colors the same as their coat colors.

 

Edit: Found the size chart.

 

 

 

 

Hmm, I used to think Rarity would look bad as a black person because I didn't think purple hair would look good with her skin color, but I take that back. I approve of black rarity. Also why is Rainbow Dash the shortest? On topic, it really shouldn't have been an issue to give them human skin colors, who honestly cares what race they are as humans? They would at least look, you know, human. I mean, we may as well say every other TV show that doesn't give humans candy skin colors is racist, but that's not the case, so why is it an issue only for MLP? I don't, fucking, get it. To me, it just screams "WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID ANGRY LETTERS ABOUT THE RACES OF THESE CHARACTERS SO WE GAVE THEM THEIR PONY SKIN COLORS".

 

Ya, it shatters the ideas of certain people when they see the human races of the characters aren't what they thought, but I don't see why that matters, at all.

[. eris . 1,661]

  On 2013-05-16 at 9:50 PM, Mr. Jaguar said:

Hmm, I used to think Rarity would look bad as a black person because I didn't think purple hair would look good with her skin color, but I take that back. I approve of black rarity. Also why is Rainbow Dash the shortest? On topic, it really shouldn't have been an issue to give them human skin colors, who honestly cares what race they are as humans? They would at least look, you know, human. I mean, we may as well say every other TV show that doesn't give humans candy skin colors is racist, but that's not the case, so why is it an issue only for MLP? I don't, fucking, get it. To me, it just screams "WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID ANGRY LETTERS ABOUT THE RACES OF THESE CHARACTERS SO WE GAVE THEM THEIR PONY SKIN COLORS".

 

Ya, it shatters the ideas of certain people when they see the human races of the characters aren't what they thought, but I don't see why that matters, at all.

 

I like RD being the shortest. It makes those scenes when she fights with AJ much more humorous. Plus, I like the idea of her being so cocky and competitive while also being five two. ^^

 

On topic, you're looking at this from a reasonable standpoint. Try to imagine yourself as a really obsessive, mentally unwell person who thought it's hugely racist that there's, say, four white ponies and two black ones. Also, what with the massive amount of fanart concerning the Mane 6 as humans, some people have gotten used to the idea of an black Twilight, or an Asian Rarity, or whatever.

[Tollhouse 79]

Why would any of them be of any race that we're familiar with?  They're fictional characters from a fictional land called Equestria.  Why would we associate characters from that fictional setting with ours? 

[SkyeRibbonPwny 406]

  On 2013-05-16 at 9:50 PM, Mr. Jaguar said:

Hmm, I used to think Rarity would look bad as a black person because I didn't think purple hair would look good with her skin color, but I take that back. I approve of black rarity. Also why is Rainbow Dash the shortest? On topic, it really shouldn't have been an issue to give them human skin colors, who honestly cares what race they are as humans? They would at least look, you know, human. I mean, we may as well say every other TV show that doesn't give humans candy skin colors is racist, but that's not the case, so why is it an issue only for MLP? I don't, fucking, get it. To me, it just screams "WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID ANGRY LETTERS ABOUT THE RACES OF THESE CHARACTERS SO WE GAVE THEM THEIR PONY SKIN COLORS".

 

Ya, it shatters the ideas of certain people when they see the human races of the characters aren't what they thought, but I don't see why that matters, at all.

 

Well see, that was my other point. They AREN'T people. They are ponies. And the new dimension isn't necessarily ours. For all we know, they could pull Inception on us and say "It was all a dream, Bronies! Nothing is canon anymore!" Which could easily be the case, though I doubt it. 

  On 2013-05-16 at 11:24 PM, Earl Grey said:

I like RD being the shortest. It makes those scenes when she fights with AJ much more humorous. Plus, I like the idea of her being so cocky and competitive while also being five two. ^^

 

On topic, you're looking at this from a reasonable standpoint. Try to imagine yourself as a really obsessive, mentally unwell person who thought it's hugely racist that there's, say, four white ponies and two black ones. Also, what with the massive amount of fanart concerning the Mane 6 as humans, some people have gotten used to the idea of an black Twilight, or an Asian Rarity, or whatever.

Yes. Yes. Plus smaller people who ride horses are usually faster, lol. Though according to my own headcanon, RD is the youngest. And it goes by race, do you see? The pegasi are the shortes, the unicorns are the mid-sized, and the hardy earth ponies are the tallest and i LOVE how they made Pinkie chubby!!

Edited May 16, 2013 by SkyeRibbonPwny

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

I agree, the move to use coat color=skin color was a really brilliant way to avoid issues with unfortunate implications regarding skin color. If they went with all white they'd be called racist, and if they made them diverse they'd be called out for shoe-horning in a multi-racial cast due to political correctness. This was the only way to keep that issue from coming up. 

Edited May 16, 2013 by Shoboni

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

  On 2013-05-15 at 5:58 PM, Earl Grey said:

EXACTLY.

 

That way, they don't have to factor in everybody's expectations. For instance, there's a Mane Six Size Chart floating around on the internets somewhere, and that was personally my headcanon for skin colors. But mine may vary wildly from someone else's. I honestly think it was a smart move on Hasbro's part to keep their skin colors the same as their coat colors.

 

Edit: Found the size chart.

 

 

 

 

Heheh, that tumblr... :3 Pinkie's is the best seriously, those damn thighs <3

 

 

Anyways, i figured this out too, it's odd, yes, but honestly, i'd see people flipping shit about it.

 

Nothing to do with racism. it's best not to misuse the word, which seems to happen so often, best is to not mess with people's headcanon.

 

For example

 

 

 

Several of the comments pretty much said "omg twilight is not a f*cking n*gger, she's not even voiced by one you sh*theads" (some guy apparently didn't know the difference between blacks and having a tan x3)

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

  On 2013-05-15 at 5:58 PM, Earl Grey said:

EXACTLY.

 

That way, they don't have to factor in everybody's expectations. For instance, there's a Mane Six Size Chart floating around on the internets somewhere, and that was personally my headcanon for skin colors. But mine may vary wildly from someone else's. I honestly think it was a smart move on Hasbro's part to keep their skin colors the same as their coat colors.

 

Edit: Found the size chart.

 

 

 

 

 

The fact the scaling of their heights relative to each other in no way matches the numbers is driving me mad. XD. I'm 5' 4", and my 5' 6" friend is still pretty visibly taller than me even at that small difference. 

[Mr. Jaguar 1,403]

  On 2013-05-16 at 11:24 PM, Earl Grey said:

I like RD being the shortest. It makes those scenes when she fights with AJ much more humorous. Plus, I like the idea of her being so cocky and competitive while also being five two. ^^

 

 

On topic, you're looking at this from a reasonable standpoint. Try to imagine yourself as a really obsessive, mentally unwell person who thought it's hugely racist that there's, say, four white ponies and two black ones. Also, what with the massive amount of fanart concerning the Mane 6 as humans, some people have gotten used to the idea of an black Twilight, or an Asian Rarity, or whatever.

 

I guess, I just imagined her being taller than Fluttershy, if anything I'd Fluttershy would be the shortest, I dunno. On topic, ya, I forgot that some people are not rational, and all attempts to use logic on them are an exercise in futility. I really don't see the head-cannon argument being valid, it's not like they're messing with canon, they're their characters, they can do whatever they want with them, whether we like it or not.

 

  On 2013-05-16 at 11:36 PM, Shoboni said:

I agree, the move to use coat color=skin color was a really brilliant way to avoid issues with unfortunate implications regarding skin color. If they went with all white they'd be called racist, and if they made them diverse they'd be called out for shoe-horning in a multi-racial cast due to political correctness. This was the only way to keep that issue from coming up. 

 

Or they could just not care what people think and do what they want.

 

  On 2013-05-16 at 11:40 PM, Pinkazoid! said:

Heheh, that tumblr... :3 Pinkie's is the best seriously, those damn thighs <3

 

 

Anyways, i figured this out too, it's odd, yes, but honestly, i'd see people flipping shit about it.

 

Nothing to do with racism. it's best not to misuse the word, which seems to happen so often, best is to not mess with people's headcanon.

 

For example

 

 

 

Several of the comments pretty much said "omg twilight is not a f*cking n*gger, she's not even voiced by one you sh*theads" (some guy apparently didn't know the difference between blacks and having a tan x3)

 

Ya, I'm sure there'd be actual racists upset over it, but that's really just more motivation to do it, just to piss them off. Hell, I might make them all black just to troll the ever living shit out of the racists But seriously, they should just not care what overly-sensitive people think and simply do what they want.

Edited May 17, 2013 by Mr. Jaguar

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

  On 2013-05-17 at 12:06 AM, Mr. Jaguar said:

I 

 

Or they could just not care what people think and do what they want.

 

 

Except that's a very bad attitude to have that will run a company into the ground like the Technodrome. This isn't one guy, or a small team making a web-comic or web series.  This is a huge company with hundreds of thousands of dollars hinging on every decision they make.

 

"Not caring what people think" is what happened to the Simpsons, they got to a point where they dis-regarded everything(even valid criticism) because they got too dependent on that attitude. 

 

I love pissing off racists and bigots as much as the next person, but we must be wary of the author tract and not do it in a way that disrupts the work. 

Edited May 17, 2013 by Shoboni

[SkyeRibbonPwny 406]

  On 2013-05-17 at 12:25 AM, Shoboni said:

Except that's a very bad attitude to have that will run a company into the ground like the Technodrome. This isn't one guy, or a small team making a web-comic or web series.  This is a huge company with hundreds of thousands of dollars hinging on every decision they make.

 

"Not caring what people think" is what happened to the Simpsons, they got to a point where they dis-regarded everything(even valid criticism) because they got to dependent on that attitude. 

 

I love pissing off racists and bigots as much as the next person, but we must be wary of the author tract and not do it in a way that disrupts the work. 

And that's exactly where I'm coming from. This is not an independant stand-alone little project. This is a business, and a big dollar corporation. They can't simply follow the rules of creativity, or there is no opportunity to show that creativity. This is people's jobs, not hobbies. Passion, yes, but careers. They take this seriously. And if all the decision does is piss off a couple men, then that it the least harmful decision. So why wouldn't they take that route?

[Mr. Jaguar 1,403]

  On 2013-05-17 at 12:25 AM, Shoboni said:

Except that's a very bad attitude to have that will run a company into the ground like the Technodrome. This isn't one guy, or a small team making a web-comic or web series.  This is a huge company with hundreds of thousands of dollars hinging on every decision they make.

 

"Not caring what people think" is what happened to the Simpsons, they got to a point where they dis-regarded everything(even valid criticism) because they got too dependent on that attitude. 

 

I love pissing off racists and bigots as much as the next person, but we must be wary of the author tract and not do it in a way that disrupts the work. 

 

  On 2013-05-17 at 12:30 AM, SkyeRibbonPwny said:

And that's exactly where I'm coming from. This is not an independant stand-alone little project. This is a business, and a big dollar corporation. They can't simply follow the rules of creativity, or there is no opportunity to show that creativity. This is people's jobs, not hobbies. Passion, yes, but careers. They take this seriously. And if all the decision does is piss off a couple men, then that it the least harmful decision. So why wouldn't they take that route?

 

Alright, I get it, those racists pay them money too. I still think it's stupid that they should have to do that in the first place. Writers should be free to do what they please with their work (with obvious lines they should not cross, like trying to preach something immoral through their writing), instead of being forced to be "politically correct" just to appeal to idiots. But whatever keeps the cash flowing I guess.

Edited May 17, 2013 by Mr. Jaguar

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

You have the issue that ponies don't have a "race". Race here on earth was born of several factors like location(darker skin is a desirable trait in sunnier climates because it stems from more melanin, which also results in more protection from the sun) and just plain out what physical traits wound up becoming more genetically prominent in which groups of people in which areas. We have no idea what those factors are in Equestria and how ponies would biological evolve racial traits if they had them(aside from the three "races" which might be as random as "male or female" in that scheme of things)  

 

Throw in the fact that Zebras might be the African natives in Equestria and you have a bigger mess , unless Zecora is in the movie, because no one in the whole thing would be black.

 

God help us if Thunderlane shows up...  

[Phoenix237 353]

At last someone else understands their color staying the same as their pony forms.

Unfortunately racism is around is and as someone here posted their would people complaining why someone is a certain race. While people may complaine I saw it as a smart move.

[elbj 190]

O_O *facepalm*

I feel like such an idiot. I never thought of it as a way to avoid racism This makes so much sense now. Thanks for making me look forward to Equestria Girls even more now.

[. eris . 1,661]

, I actually never went to the tumblr. ^^ They posted it on deviantart several months ago, I think, and I saw it then and went, "Yes! So perfect!" Is the tumblr good though? I rarely visit tumblrs unless they're funny...

 

, I know, I'm looking forward to it too. ^^

[Trixie the Greatest 131]

I have a feeling this post may well turn into a flame war very soon with all this misconception of being angry at why people dislike the different color thing...

[SkyeRibbonPwny 406]

  On 2013-05-17 at 2:22 AM, Warpony said:

I have a feeling this post may well turn into a flame war very soon with all this misconception of being angry at why people dislike the different color thing...

Oh, I'm not angry at all. A little annoyed at the tantrums, of course, but there's no excuse for getting angry at something someone likes or dislikes. I'm simply providing some reasons as to why the skins are the colors they are. All of which are my own opinion, I personally don't know the exact reasons, nor will we ever probably find out. But this is in no way out of anger, and I apologize if it came across as such.

Edited May 17, 2013 by SkyeRibbonPwny

[Fivefs 38]

The only two I've ever had set in my mind as a specific race is AJ being a white country girl because of her mannerisms and bleach blonde hair and Twilight as being Indian but that's probably cause my gf is Indian and they often act very similarly both in stubborn craziness and being absolute geniuses

 

Otherwise I can see rarity as black, and Hispanic pinkie. But most of the time I just think of them as white, everyone relates to what they know most I think

[NavelColt 22,882]

Taking the risk of forcing the characters into specific ethnicities and races was one of MY biggest fears for this show before screenshots and the trailer came out. So, I'm -relieved- that they retain their colors.

[Rainbow Sherbet 36]

Yes. When I first saw the EqG pictures, I thought that they should just have had regular skin colors. Once I thought about it a bit I noticed why they kept the colors.