"And Friends"

[Pixel Stick 927]

I know a lot has been said about all the things that MLP:FiM does right, especially compared to other kids' shows, but I had a thought just recently that I hadn't seen discussed.  To me, it represents yet one more reason why I've come to really love this show.

 

It struck me that there have been so many TV shows directed at children with titles following the form "Somebody And Friends" (eg. "Barney and Friends", "Garfield and Friends", etc.), as well as plenty more that aren't explicitly named as such but still have that same feel to them.  And just today, I realized the main problem I've ALWAYS had with those shows.

 

I'm going to pick on Barney in particular, since I have many reasons for disliking it.  But with regard to this topic, my problem is that the show was written specifically to entertain kids - as in, "Hi, I'm Barney!  My friends and I are going to entertain you for the next half hour!"  Shows like this talk directly to the kid, and there's almost no element of interaction between the characters to tell a coherent story.  Everyone on the show is already friends with one another, so now their only purpose is to be entertaining (and purportedly educational).  The main character does one act, then the "friends" do other acts, often with little relation.

 

I think over time, show developers have fallen into this sort of trap.  If their show is "Somebody and Friends", or if it behaves like it has that sort of title, the show's writing invariably goes down the path of "We have a team specifically designed to put on a show for the kids".  I realize that my example of Barney is targeted at much younger children than the current My Little Pony, but I've seen this pattern in cartoons aimed at older kids as well.

 

And to some extent, what I've seen of Gen-1 and Gen-3 MLP felt much the same way - there were simple plots, but for the most part it still felt like the characters were there primarily to entertain kids and (hopefully) teach them lessons (like, "Buy all our playsets and toys!").

 

What I've come to realize about FiM is that the characters really belong in their own world, and they interact with each other in realistic ways that tell real stories.  The writers, for the most part, really nailed this aspect, where the characters entertain by working things out for themselves and with each other, rather than trying in some way to address the viewer directly.  And instead of all the characters just automatically being friends and nothing ever being wrong between them, the Mane 6 have plenty of things to work on with each other.  They really have to work at their friendships, and they grow and become stronger for it.

 

In other words, this show really does set itself apart, such that it's almost never in danger of being "Twilight Sparkle and Friends".  And by doing this so well, it's really done a lot to make me feel like a kid again when I watch it.  I think I would have really enjoyed watching it as a young boy too.

[Misty Rose 3,216]

Strebiskunk said something similar about the G3 movies. He watched Princess Promenade and I have to agree it kind of was hard to watch. For one thing it doesn't really have a conflict and it was just made to entertain little girls and not really teach them anything.

MLP:FIM teaches kids and young adults lessons, is entertaining to watch, and is even enjoyable for adults.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I can't really compare a show like Barney to My Little Pony since, My Little Pony is pretty popular cartoon while Barney was a pretty odd and creepy cartoon with someone in a dinosaur costume. The writers for My Little Pony are able to connect the Mane Six as dependable ponies who can always count on each other and guide to help one another. While, Barney well.. nothing can be said.

[Pixel Stick 927]

I can't really compare a show like Barney to My Little Pony since, My Little Pony is pretty popular cartoon while Barney was a pretty odd and creepy cartoon with someone in a dinosaur costume. The writers for My Little Pony are able to connect the Mane Six as dependable ponies who can always count on each other and guide to help one another. While, Barney well.. nothing can be said.

 

Well, like I said, Barney was also targeted at a different (much younger) demographic.  It had lots of issues, of course, and I don't know of very many parents who would actually admit to liking it themselves (every one I've ever spoken to about it has said they tolerate it because their young kids like it).

 

But my point wasn't so much to compare FiM to Barney as to talk more about the "Somebody and Friends" concept as a whole - I just chose Barney as a convenient example.  I'm not sure if I'm really getting my point across well, though - I guess the main thing is that I just like the approach FiM takes by making it so the world it takes place in is its own world, with its own characters and fairly realistic problems, with realistic solutions.  And more importantly, with no need to break the fourth wall to address the viewer directly.  It's not there specifically to keep kids entertained - it's there to tell stories, and I just think the crew has been doing a good job on that front.