3 Seasons = 1 year?

[Nature's Spell 526]

I was listening to Dr. Wolf's review of Princess Twilight Sparkle Ep 1 and he said something that blew my mind. Only one year past between the show's start and the current season. I always assumed it was one year per season.

 

He came to this fact based upon Celestia's comment that this Summer Sun Celebration would be the first she ever looked forward to because Luna was now reformed. I'm just amazed that so much happened in a single year. Now we don't know how long a year is in Equestria, but it still seems such a short time for so much to happen. What do you guys think?

[Skullbuster 1,906]

id like to think its more than just a year, we never saw Mrs. Cake pregnant, so at least 9 months have gone by, plus another 3 months for them to be the age they were in that episode, that alone is 12 months

[Nature's Spell 526]

id like to think its more than just a year, we never saw Mrs. Cake pregnant, so at least 9 months have gone by, plus another 3 months for them to be the age they were in that episode, that alone is 12 months

I agree but I also can't deny Dr. Wolf's analysis of Celestia's words or for that matter any character's feeling about the event. They all make it seem like the first anniversary of their friendship.

[Armchair Adventurer 211]

I have been thinking a lot about how much time passed during the show. For me the Season 4 premier is enough to prove that only one year has passed so far. Otherwise, some things in the premier would just seem a bit odd.

 

On the other hand a lot has happened in previous seasons. Speaking of seasons, a lot of them seem to have gone by in FiM. And sometimes out of order too! Ah, this is making my head hurt now   Just like Doctor Who sometimes... My excuse is:

 

Wibbly wobbly timey wimey...

Edited November 24, 2013 by Armchair Adventurer

[OceanSapphire 227]

Well 2 Winter's have gone by (3 if you consider the comics as canon) so it doesn't make sense to have only been a year.

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

There is nothing to say this is the first Summer Sun Celebration that has happened since Luna was released from being Nightmare Moon. It could be the second or even tenth SSC, but this is the first time since Twilight became an alicorn, and so the first time Celestia felt comfortable enough to say what she truly felt.

[Bhending the Rules 697]

Shows like this tend to play fast and loose with the passage of time. Look at the Mare Do Well episode, where apparently every possible disaster that could occur in Ponyville all happened within a day or two. Or... maybe it's just a contrivance for the sake of making the plot of that single episode work.

 

As others have pointed out, it's possible to interpret Celestia's statement multiple ways. I wouldn't read too much into it.

[Fluttershutter 2,650]

She didn't say FIRST she said it's good to look forward to it. This is the first time she's talked to Twilight about it, that doesn't mean this is the first one since Luna returned.

[GrimCW 658]

 at least 9 months have gone by

 

thats questionable.. do they follow Equine or human?

Horses/ponies IIRC have an 11 month gestation period or so.. that alone is nearly a year!

[Nature's Spell 526]

Yes, the dialogue is ambiguous and in general they play fast and loose with the length of time. It just an interesting thing to think about if only a year past. I guess we'll never know.

[pinkiefan1287 610]

Well it's hard to believe that only 1 year has passed, seeing as so many things have happened. Like Discords return, the Cake Twins being born, the Chrystal Empire returning, and many other things . But what if the show was telling different stories in a random order.

 

There is an anime called, Hidamari Sketch. It's about 4 girls living in this apartment complex, while going to an art school. Now the first episode starts off in the middle of December and than it just tell's different stories taking place in different months. So it's telling 1 story in December and another in April. It's just telling random stories. 

 

MLP could be doing the same thing. For example in, MMMystery we see Mr. and Mrs. Cake take a cake with Pinkie and her friends to the train station. But you know what's missing from that part? Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. They are no where to be seen. This tell's me a few things. 1. They are napping. But who leaves 2 babies home alone or They aren't born yet in that episode. Maybe Mrs. Cake got pregnant when Twilight came to town and was expecting them to be born by that point in time. It would explain why they did not go.

 

Still I could be wrong and I'm way off.

 

Still I could be very off on this. 

Edited November 24, 2013 by pinkiefan1287

[Planty 1,053]

I like to think that its a few years at least, maybe 3 ish.

 

So much happens, it would be un natural! Ponyville is meant to be a lovely peaceful place to live, when you think how much has happened in the show, if that was 1 year it would be crazy!!

[GreyScholar 1,584]

I will personally treated it as a single year myself, as the episode has greater meaning and importance that way.

Edited November 24, 2013 by EquestrianScholar

[Declen 118]

First of all, I have to point out, that is at least third thred started in the last couple of days were this issue is discussed in one or other way.

So I just quote myself:

 

It's impossible. First of all, as HandMan already pointed out, look at the sequence of celebrations*. And no, the timeline int's screwed up: i'm sure, if you try, you can find indications of that chronological order is right. Second of all, we have had two Apple Family Reunions: one in the pilot episode (the fact was revealed in "Applejack Season", though), and second in the same named episode in 3d season. Well, there is, of course, an issue with Aplle Family Reunions: it was sayd they happen every 100 moons! But who sayd a moon is a month and not a week, for example? I personally think son and moon in that world are two low-orbit artificial satellites. And 100 weeks make little less than two years.

* To sequence of celebrations:

 

We've got: Winter Wrap Up (Spring), The Running of the Leaves (Autumn), Nightmare Night, Heart's Warming Eve (Winter), Hearts and Hooves Day (Spring).

And to what the words of Her Highness mean:

 

...

She SAID that the SSC used to be reninder of Nightmare Moon defeat. And now it's a celebration of royal sisters reunion.

It sounded as if it was the first such selebration, but it isn't necessery means there were no SSCs inbetween at all.

Thinking of Luna in "Luna Eclipsed" I easily suggest she simply didn't participate in any SSCs before recenty.

 

Edited November 25, 2013 by Declen

[Nature's Spell 526]

Well I guess the mods can just lock the thread.

[Forlong 1,726]

It was a misunderstanding of this line:

Princess Celestia: I must admit that it is wonderful to actually be looking forward to the Summer Sun Celebration.

 

It does make it sound like this is the first SSC since the show started, but it could be that Celestia and Twilight haven't celebrated it together since that year.  Also, trying to fit the first three seasons into one year makes my brain hurt.

[Nature's Spell 526]

It was a misunderstanding of this line:

 

Princess Celestia: I must admit that it is wonderful to actually be looking forward to the Summer Sun Celebration.

It does make it sound like this is the first SSC since the show started, but it could be that Celestia and Twilight haven't celebrated it together since that year. Also, trying to fit the first three seasons into one year makes my brain hurt.

I agree with you and I must make plain that I don't want it to be true. I was simply pointing out a interesting plot point. Blame Dr. Wolf. Lol Pesky MLP analysts. Digi and Brony Curious said nothing about it so it may mean nothing.

[Malinter 3,064]

kinda dawned on me that we have no idea how big the planet equestria is on is or its relation to the sun.

 

could just be that 1 Equestrian year is more than 365 days.

[GrimCW 658]

There is an anime called, Hidamari Sketch. It's about 4 girls living in this apartment complex, while going to an art school. Now the first episode starts off in the middle of December and than it just tell's different stories taking place in different months. So it's telling 1 story in December and another in April. It's just telling random stories. 

 

 

 

Another example would've been Suzumiya Haruhi

the whole series was aired out of order (on purpose).

It was actually debated as to what order to put them in when they moved it to DVD AIRC since there is an actual timeline within the series, but it was entirely out of whack when the show aired...

 

TBH I thought that about MLP to begin with.

It has no real "order" to its stories, they just are.

Its one of the things I liked about it up until the end of S3 tbh. The episodes didn't build on one another most what, with a few exceptions where they continued the story from a previous point. MMC built upon the entire series as a whole for its purpose :/

 

But until then it avoided going back on itself and becoming  directly linear. Linearity leads to an end, randomness just keeps going.

its why things like spongebob, simpsons, and family guy just keep going. Having a set storyline though means they need to have an end planned, and it limits what can be done in the stories because it develops setpoints that can't be broken.

 

 

I don't care about Twilicorn, its a good advancement tbh, but I truly hope MLP doesn't get to linear... And thats one thing twilicorn may build on. Its just not good for a series to have continued stories within the show that last seasons.

time will tell though, time will tell.

 

 

kinda dawned on me that we have no idea how big the planet equestria is on is or its relation to the sun.

 

could just be that 1 Equestrian year is more than 365 days.

 

 

I'd also question is if Equestria is more than just the one country.

Most maps, and references show it as a single nation upon the world.

Edited November 25, 2013 by GrimCW

[Malinter 3,064]

 

I'd also question is if Equestria is more than just the one country.

Most maps, and references show it as a single nation upon the world.

 I can imagine the Equestrian world map having every other ocean and landmass labelled "Here there be monsters."

Edited November 25, 2013 by Malinter

[GrimCW 658]

 I can imagine the Equestrian world map having every other ocean and landmass labelled "Here there be monsters."

 

That would be awesome

It seems largely the world is very unexplored though given comments often made. 

Twilight even mentioned the only reason she knew anything about Zecora was because she read about zebra's in her books.

 

The Comics have a map shown, and its nicely detailed with various things (Including the Mansion from Resident Evil )

But the canon is questionable since most fans seem to be unaware of the awesomeness the comics have....

seriously... they should be missed less than the show, its almost better.... shorter, but they can do things the show can't (and the callback references.. omfg the references... Its like derpy x100)

[Rinkitty 589]

I always thought that time wasn't in effect in cartoons like this.

[Nature's Spell 526]

I always thought that time wasn't in effect in cartoons like this.

I think that's actually true and the writers are always vague. Questions on geography are pretty fascinating and I really hope season 4 takes the Mane 6 on the road.

[UserNotFound 964]

id like to think its more than just a year, we never saw Mrs. Cake pregnant, so at least 9 months have gone by, plus another 3 months for them to be the age they were in that episode, that alone is 12 months

How long does a pony gestate for? I don't think it's 9 months...

[Malinter 3,064]

How long does a pony gestate for? I don't think it's 9 months...

 

I believe its 11 months, someone else mentioned that somewhere abouts.