Who came up with the idea for Twilicorn, Hasbro or the writers?

[Pony Of The Month 534]

Was Twilight destined to become an alicorn from the very beginning, or was it really a result of executive meddling? I've heard both of these claims, and I would appreciate it if someone would give me the answer with some good sources. The closest thing to a good source that I've seen was the brony documentary trailer in which Lauren Faust says that her original plan was for Twilight to eventually become Celestia's successor.

 

So, from the very little evidence that I've seen, it seems like Twilight's ascencion was Lauren Faust's idea. 

 

P.S. I am pro-alicorn twilight.

[Kamarat 103]

I think it would have been different if it was planned from the very beginning. I'm not going to show you lots of proofs but I clearly saw it in the episode. They would make it happen more smoothly and with a lot better plot etc. It doesn't look very planned in my opinion.

Probably Hasbro. 

Edited February 24, 2013 by Hitpony

[sᴋʏᴇ_ᴄᴀɴɴᴏɴ 101]

I used to hate the alicorn idea, but then i noticed, "Hey, Twili looks pretty good with wings."

And so now i am supporting Alicorn Twilight. If she is still a alicorn in season 4, i would be like SO happy.

You know why? Because, she DESERVES to be a Alicorn. It's fine if Twi was turned back into a Unicorn though.

Edited March 1, 2013 by ѕĸyeвlαѕт

[Shanks 10,816]

I used to hate the alicorn idea, but then i noticed, "Hey, Twili looks pretty good with wings."

And so now i am supporting Alicorn Twilight. If she is still a alicorn in season 4, i would be like SO happy.

I think Twilight looks good with wings but still hate the idea, and really hope they don't screw it up anymore than they already did in that disaster of a finale.

 

 

Yes alicorn Twilight was obviously Hasbro's idea it was so obvious with the finale that they crammed down the writers throats at the last minute and only gave them 1 episode in the season finale to introduce it. Yes I know that the season 4 premier is going to be a two parter which delves more into this but could you seriously have a crappier introduction? That is not to say that the writers wouldn't have eventually made her an alicorn at some point later in the story but it would have been handled a lot better.

[Millfox 28]

Now that I look back in it. The first signs of something like that possibly happening was at the beginning of s3. Celestia talking about Twilights "trial" was a test if she's willing to sacrifice her personal gain during crisis in order to help higher idea, thus if she is suitable for leadership with great power. 

 

Before that. No I don't think they expected something like that to happen. 

Edited February 24, 2013 by Millfox

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,494]

I used to hate the alicorn idea, but then i noticed, "Hey, Twili looks pretty good with wings."

And so now i am supporting Alicorn Twilight. If she is still a alicorn in season 4, i would be like SO happy.

This I approve of.

 

According to this, it seems apparent that it was the plan from the beginning. They even wrote the finale in November of 2011.

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/mylittlepony/comments/191wgk/highlights_from_the_writers_panel_at_las_pegasus/

 

Much like Skyeblast, I am in full support and hope they keep her around.

[Emerald Flame 381]

We don't really have definitive proof either way. The episode really made it feel like it was Hasbro's idea, but with Faust's comments I can't be sure until someone who still works on the show comes out and says "Twilicorn was my idea."

[Pony Of The Month 534]

 

Yes alicorn Twilight was obviously Hasbro's idea it was so obvious with the finale that they crammed down the writers throats at the last minute and only gave them 1 episode in the season finale to introduce it. Yes I know that the season 4 premier is going to be a two parter which delves more into this but could you seriously have a crappier introduction? That is not to say that the writers wouldn't have eventually made her an alicorn at some point later in the story but it would have been handled a lot better.

 

"Rushed episode= This was obviously Hasbro's idea!" Where did you get that idea?

 

And the episode wasn't really rushed at all, when you consider that this has been a long loose 65 episode story arc. 

[Splodge Inks 15]

Yes, I can see both sides, but evidence points to before. I am Pro-Twilicorn, bit I still love Unicorn Twilight.

 

But what will happen to her in Season 4? I really want to see what happens to her!

[Wubsie 1,123]

It probably was.

Nothing was building up to this whatsoever and it popped out of no-where.

I honestly think Hasbro wasn't thinking at all and said, "Hmm.....we can get more money if we sell an Alicorn Twilight Doll!".

They better know what they're doing, because changing the species of your main protagonist changes a GARGANTUAN amount of the show...

[hawkflame 3,310]

Generally speaking, for franchises like this, the show doesn't influence the toys, toys influence the show.  Everything else so far has been from the standpoint of "toys pushing story", why would this be the other way around?

 

Just because the finale was written in November 2011, that still doesn't mean it wasn't Hasbro's idea.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

No, Hasbro was never involved in the show from the start, it was the Illuminati. Look, see what the Illuminati doesn't want you to see.

[Antismurf9001 1,271]

I've heard Lauren Faust say two things that might be relavant to this topic.  In an interview (the extended BronyDoc interviews), she stated that she wanted to see Twilight eventually become Celestia's successor.  In a panel (I think it was the BronyCon one, but I'm not certain), she hinted that she intended for Celestia and Luna to be the only alicorns.  This makes me think that Faust wanted Twilight to become a princess, but not necessarily an alicorn princess.  However, that still doesn't necessarily mean that alicorn Twilight was Hasbro's idea; it could have been a decision by the current creative team.

 

 

 

No, Hasbro was never involved in the show from the start, it was the Illuminati. Look, see what the Illuminati doesn't want you to see.

 

Well, I remember seeing that Feld0 spelled backwards is Illuminati, so you're saying that alicorn Twilight was Feld0's doing?

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

I've heard Lauren Faust say two things that might be relavant to this topic.  In an interview (the extended BronyDoc interviews), she stated that she wanted to see Twilight eventually become Celestia's successor.  In a panel (I think it was the BronyCon one, but I'm not certain), she hinted that she intended for Celestia and Luna to be the only alicorns.  This makes me think that Faust wanted Twilight to become a princess, but not necessarily an alicorn princess.  However, that still doesn't necessarily mean that alicorn Twilight was Hasbro's idea; it could have been a decision by the current creative team.

 

 

 

 

Well, I remember seeing that Feld0 spelled backwards is Illuminati, so you're saying that alicorn Twilight was Feld0's doing?

Shh, they're watching. They are always watching us. Be careful what you say, or you might disappear like that guy you've never heard of because he disappeared. Feld0 has advanced interrogation.

 

This conversation never happened, I was never here. Don't tell them anything.

Edited February 24, 2013 by Harmonic Revelations

[Betez 1,734]

I honestly think it was just Hasbro wanting to sell more toys. I highly doubt the writers would ever have done this on their own.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

I think Twilight becoming a princess, not necessarily an Alicorn, was inevitable. Whether it would have happened at this stage of the show without corporate intervention is kind of up in the air for me.

[~Starlight~ 764]

Well Hasbro are manly a company who just sponsor things so things are aloud to be broad-cast so they probably not had anthing to do with the series. But things have been spreading that Lauren did not come up with the idea, but again other things have been spreading that it was supposed to happen and she told the other writers to do this eventually, all I know is that Twicorn is cool... 

[poniesforfun 716]

Lauren Faust was surprised Twilight became an alicorn and it wasn't her plan to make her an alicorn. Hasbro pressured the writers to make Cadence an alicorn who also was originally an unicorn. So who else would have the reins on this?

[Yes-Man 597]

Probably, yes.

 

So lets all hate on Hasbro and call them evil and bitch about everything on the Internet and get mad! Brony, forever!

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

Yes, yes it was. As some have already stated, Faust originally did intend Twilight to become a princess, but to stay a unicorn. Same with Cadence. 

 

That's not to say the current team might not have naturally made Twilight an alicorn in the end on their own, but the timing was completely on Hasbro, IMO. It was shoehorned in because Hasbro wanted Twilicorn toys NOW, even though they could've waited until the show's natural end (when making her and the rest of the Mane 6 alicorns might've made since), and instead made fresh unicorn Twilight designs in the meantime. But for some reason, Hasbro wanted Twilicorn now, and now the writing team has a serious challenge on their hands by turning something that SHOULD'VE been a series finale event, into a season finale event. I feel bad for them.

Edited February 25, 2013 by AtomicBassCannon

[Yellow Diamond 7,569]

Twilight becoming a princess probably would have occurred under Lauren's watch. The big question is whether or not she ever intended Twilight to be an alicorn. The likelihood is low based on two reasons: first, Cadance, the first alicorn outside of Celestia and Luna to be introduced, was not originally an alicorn in Lauren Faust's designs; second, as others have mentioned, the position of alicorn seemed to be reserved solely for Celestia and Luna. Lauren also made a passing comment on Twitter following the finale episode wherein she stated she did not oppose Twilight becoming a princess. (That statement, however, was qualified by her saying she opposed poorly conceived storylines. Whether or not she meant that as a shot at the Twilicorn business is unclear.)

 

Based on the evidence on hand, Twilight was definitely in position to become Celestia's successor, probably by being made a princess. The transformation into an alicorn was most likely a dictate from Hasbro which may have ultimate been serendipity, i.e., Twilight becoming a princess intersected with their desire to have her as an alicorn.

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

I honestly think it's Hasbro.

 

If it was planned out from the begining they would of made it something more memorable. So far the only reason it's memorable, is because of the butthurt coming from both sides of the fandom.

[Twinhead B 482]

Given that the finale was the first episode they finished in Season 3 (written all the way back in November of 2011), I highly doubt the writers were told last minute to make Twilight an Alicorn. Chances are (and I believe the Unicon Writer's panel will back me up), Hasbro approached the writers at the beginning of the production period and probably said something like:

 

"Okay, you guys know the drill, we got a list of product placement opportunities we need done for Season 3. We don't care how you do it, be creative, just make sure you get all these things in somewhere. One of which is making Twilight an Alicorn Princess. We don't care if it's permanent or not, just fit it in there somehow."

 

To which, Meghan and her crew collectively said:

 

"Mmmkay."

 

Everyone needs to stop labeling Hasbro as an evil, money-grubbing corporation. Twilicorn, the C & D for Fighting is Magic, and the Youtube takedowns are all things THEY HAVE TO DO as a business. They aren't setting out to destroy the fandom, or alienate us, they are merely trying to protect their brand, as they clearly wish to continue Friendship is Magic for a good while as it is now, their flagship brand.

Edited February 25, 2013 by Twinhead B

[Wingnut 6,992]

Twilight becoming a princess probably would have occurred under Lauren's watch.

 

This is possible.  I will give MLP:FiM credit for one thing.  They've stuck to what appears to be Lauren's original idea that being a princess or a prince is a position earned by merit.  They aren't there just to look pretty and preside over ceremonies.  Being royalty is serious business.  Being an intelligent and just leader is a must.  And one must be willing to fight, and possibly die, on Equestria's behalf.  I'm hoping that Prince Blueblood is really a good guy too and only treated Rarity like crap to make her lose interest in him. 

 

As to whether the alicorn thing is a change imposed by Hasbro, I imagine the truth on this will come out sooner or later. 

 

 

Twilicorn, the C & D for Fighting is Magic, and the Youtube takedowns are all things THEY HAVE TO DO as a business.

 

I still wonder about Fighting is Magic.  I'm very dismayed that a suitable licensing agreement for producing the game wasn't reached with its creators.  That would've been the best outcome for all involved. 

Edited February 26, 2013 by Wingnut

[Treble Bolt 1,122]

I thought they were going to make Twilight a Princess from the very beginning....

 

However, I believe it was Hasbro that said, "we need princess Twilight now, so we can sell more toys now!".....

 

If the creative team did what they pleased with the whole Princess thing, it would have been a slow gradual thing, not a 1 episode "holly crap my babysitting kids can't keep up with the plot because it's moving so fast for the targeted demographic to understand let alone us adults!!!"

 

Plus, now what?  How in the world of Equestria can you get any more powerful than PRINCESS!!!?!?! Seriously, Twilight has now achieved what is nearly impossible to achieve, so now anything that comes afterwards is more of the after "they lived happily ever after"....