When will G5 come ?

[RoseNoire]

Hello everyone !

Well, this is incredible how time flies so fast. We are going to be in 2018 pretty soon now. The end of another decade. We're getting ready to celebrate 2020. So I was thinking, since Hasbro releases a new generation (very) approximately every 10 years, it is sensible to assume they're preparing a new one, isn't it ?

How would they look like ? How do we want them to be like ? Will there be a G5 soon ? What will become their so popular TVshow ? Let's talk about that and some other things regarding a new Generation, it might be interesting. Or not, and this topic will peacefully sink. 

Here's my opinion on the topic : I've always liked the G1-2-3 designs. They look really cute to me. I'd like to see G5 molds being something a bit like those G1-3, big and detailed ponies with various poses. The G4 toy design is not really appealing to me. I'm not sure why. They're cute though, but hey lack diversity, especially in the poses.  And I'd like to see a whole ton of different ponies, I love diversity. I'm not into the "Let's make 360 versions of the 6 sames ponies" idea like G3.5 did.
It would also be great if we encounter more dudes in that generation. How are we supposed to make families with babies if there are no boys ?  Bring the Big Brothers back !

For FiM's case, I really hope they'll continue it. I love where the series is going. There is so much more they could do. I really hope season 10 won't be the last only because of a new generation coming. And I don't want them to stick with G4 until the serie's extinction. I want the choice in the middle : Keep FiM and sell a new generation of toys.
I encountered the series during the first hiatus, in 2011. Season 1 was done. I have always been asking those questions since.
Now, whe're in 2017, it is time to ask them to everyone.

Well, I hope it's going to be and interesting topic. I would really like to read you opinions. I hope my message was clear. Have a nice day ! =)

[tailrustedtealeaf]

I can't imagine that they'd be rebooting the series anytime soon. The show is still extremely popular and the cancellation of it wouldn't make much sense by a business standpoint, especially with the possibility of a sequel to the MLP movie in the works.
I wouldn't complain about some sort of spinoff series of toys with a more G1/G3 style body, which seems more likely to me than a whole reboot of the current toy line.

[Strawberrysweets]

Agree with Tailrustedtealeaf.


I am gonna be scared when MLP Fim ends. Seen the horrors of hardcore bronies 

[lovesbabysquirmy]

G5 can't come soon enough...  

*ducks flying fakies*

[TheBeatlesPkmnFan42]

Don't know, but I'm very curious as to what it will be like! I don't have too much of an opinion on how I'd like them to look as I love the appearance of all the generations we've had so far, but I know I would love to see G5 be like G1 and G3 in terms of toy size, pony variety, pose variety, etc. Hopefully it won't have an issue like G4 does where a select few ponies get way more releases than other ponies (or worse, something like late G3's Core 7 where you exclusively have a small amount of ponies). G4 has been a bit better in the pose department recently with the G4.5s/reboots/whatever you personally call them, but the basic standing pose is still the most common, even though we do have some new poses now.

Before we do get a G5, I would want them to give the FiM staff a good amount of time to bring a natural ending to the show. As opposed to just stopping it with no real closer.

[LadyMoondancer]

A new generation won't come until MLP FIM stops making money.  At the moment it's doing incredibly well and is one of Hasbro's top brands.

My guess is the next generation of ponies will be as small as FIM, and even more chibi.  I don't think we're going to see ponies as large as G1 or G3 again;  MLP has a limited presence (and a lot of competition) in the toy aisle and Hasbro is going to want to maximize the space that stores give them by jamming a lot of small things into it, rather than a few big things.

Just my guesses.

[Strawberrysweets]

A new generation won't come until MLP FIM stops making money.  At the moment it's doing incredibly well and is one of Hasbro's top brands.

My guess is the next generation of ponies will be as small as FIM, and even more chibi.  I don't think we're going to see ponies as large as G1 or G3 again;  MLP has a limited presence (and a lot of competition) in the toy aisle and Hasbro is going to want to maximize the space that stores give them by jamming a lot of small things into it, rather than a few big things.

Just my guesses.

Maybe if the number on the Retro items goes well maybe there would be Special G1 Editions.

[Carrehz]

A new generation won't come until MLP FIM stops making money.  At the moment it's doing incredibly well and is one of Hasbro's top brands.

My guess is the next generation of ponies will be as small as FIM, and even more chibi.  I don't think we're going to see ponies as large as G1 or G3 again;  MLP has a limited presence (and a lot of competition) in the toy aisle and Hasbro is going to want to maximize the space that stores give them by jamming a lot of small things into it, rather than a few big things.

Just my guesses.

Maybe if the number on the Retro items goes well maybe there would be Special G1 Editions.

Ehhh, I dunno. Hasbro tried doing G1 re-releases a couple of years back and they didn't sell that well (as I recall they were significantly lower quality than the originals). Dunno if they'd try again.

[Leave a Whisper]

Hopefully soon. Hopefully they're horsey and not hideously deformed quadrupeds, though I have no hopes. MLP has been on a downward decline since 3.5 and I don't see it pulling up anytime soon, if ever. Hopefully they've got decent quality, though Hasbro's quality is an absolute joke these days. Hopefully they're a little bigger, though at this point I expect them to be LPS size.  Hopefully they'll have variety again.

Bu let's be honest, Transformers is Hasbro's Golden Goose. Its apparent in the way that they are willing to make quality throwbacks and spoil its fans of all ages. Its apparent in the way Hasbro dropped quality in its other toytoon brands and has been slowly killing them off. Its apparent in their diverse and various lines and sets.

MLP has none of that.

(Keep in mind this last part is strictly my personal opinion and not meant to offend. Sorry if I did.)

If G4 and beyond is MLP's future in terms of deliberate deformity and horrible quality  its better off not having anymore iterations.

[LadyMoondancer]

I'd love special edition G1s!

I think the difficulty is that in most toy collecting fandoms, a 'special edition' is either an exact re-release of a popular figure or an 'improved' version of an existing figure (which usually means "more show accurate" or sometimes "more articulation").

For example, in the 2000s Mattel re-released Masters of the Universe (He-Man) figures that were pretty much exact replicas of the 80s ones, down to the packaging.  In later years they released a Swiftwind who was the correct colors from the show (white with orange hair) instead of all pink, like the original toy.  All of these sold well.

The trouble . . . because G1 MLPs were so popular, widespread, and sturdy, they are cheap.  I know it may seem like they cost so much but seriously--the majority of them are extremely inexpensive toys for their age.  Which means most collectors can already cheaply acquire the most popular ponies, which leads to collectors thinking "Why should I spend $$ for this rerelease when I already have the exact same pony that I only paid $ for?"

So then there's the show-accuracy angle.  But most of the ponies on MLP & Friends WERE show accurate already.  It's not like G1 Transformers where you look at G1 Ratchet on TV, then look at the G1 Ratchet toy, and wonder where it all went wrong.  Also G1 MLP is just not as tied to its show as most 80s toys.  More articulation?  But MLP collectors don't care about articulation.  Better molds?  No, the whole point is that we love the G1 molds already! 

IMO the best and easiest way would be if they made (high quality) baby ponies for G1 ponies who didn't have babies--Baby Medley, Baby Posey, etc.  Then they'd be appealing to nostalgia AND offering collectors something new.  But I don't think that's an idea that will necessarily ever occur to Hasbro.  The MLP collecting community is really unique compared to most toy collecting communities.

Personally I am happy enough with the third-party MLP customs that have been coming out.  It's so exciting seeing actual NEW ponies in G1 molds.  Makes me feel like a kid again. 

[tailrustedtealeaf]

IMO the best and easiest way would be if they made (high quality) baby ponies for G1 ponies who didn't have babies--Baby Medley, Baby Posey, etc.  Then they'd be appealing to nostalgia AND offering collectors something new.  But I don't think that's an idea that will necessarily ever occur to Hasbro.  The MLP collecting community is really unique compared to most toy collecting communities.

That's such a cute idea!

[Carrehz]

IMO the best and easiest way would be if they made (high quality) baby ponies for G1 ponies who didn't have babies--Baby Medley, Baby Posey, etc.  Then they'd be appealing to nostalgia AND offering collectors something new.  But I don't think that's an idea that will necessarily ever occur to Hasbro.  The MLP collecting community is really unique compared to most toy collecting communities.

That's such a cute idea!

Oh, I WISH they'd do this, it'd be wonderful!!

[Leave a Whisper]

IMO the best and easiest way would be if they made (high quality) baby ponies for G1 ponies who didn't have babies--Baby Medley, Baby Posey, etc.  Then they'd be appealing to nostalgia AND offering collectors something new.  But I don't think that's an idea that will necessarily ever occur to Hasbro.  The MLP collecting community is really unique compared to most toy collecting communities.

That's such a cute idea!

That'd be adorable!

[Sunset]

I'd love special edition G1s!

I think the difficulty is that in most toy collecting fandoms, a 'special edition' is either an exact re-release of a popular figure or an 'improved' version of an existing figure (which usually means "more show accurate" or sometimes "more articulation").

For example, in the 2000s Mattel re-released Masters of the Universe (He-Man) figures that were pretty much exact replicas of the 80s ones, down to the packaging.  In later years they released a Swiftwind who was the correct colors from the show (white with orange hair) instead of all pink, like the original toy.  All of these sold well.

The trouble . . . because G1 MLPs were so popular, widespread, and sturdy, they are cheap.  I know it may seem like they cost so much but seriously--the majority of them are extremely inexpensive toys for their age.  Which means most collectors can already cheaply acquire the most popular ponies, which leads to collectors thinking "Why should I spend $$ for this rerelease when I already have the exact same pony that I only paid $ for?"

So then there's the show-accuracy angle.  But most of the ponies on MLP & Friends WERE show accurate already.  It's not like G1 Transformers where you look at G1 Ratchet on TV, then look at the G1 Ratchet toy, and wonder where it all went wrong.  Also G1 MLP is just not as tied to its show as most 80s toys.  More articulation?  But MLP collectors don't care about articulation.  Better molds?  No, the whole point is that we love the G1 molds already! 

IMO the best and easiest way would be if they made (high quality) baby ponies for G1 ponies who didn't have babies--Baby Medley, Baby Posey, etc.  Then they'd be appealing to nostalgia AND offering collectors something new.  But I don't think that's an idea that will necessarily ever occur to Hasbro.  The MLP collecting community is really unique compared to most toy collecting communities.

Personally I am happy enough with the third-party MLP customs that have been coming out.  It's so exciting seeing actual NEW ponies in G1 molds.  Makes me feel like a kid again. 

I agree with most of this.  Absolutely the part about us not wanting to buy reproductions of something we can get the originals of cheaper.  On top of that they chose the most common sets to use instead of uncommon sets or sought after ponies.  And your right, what works for other toy lines won't work for retro g1.  They should think of it as a collectible instead of the current strategy of relying heavily on recognizable characters.  In other words, if they were to release brand new characters in the old molds (like the hqg1c project) for limited amounts of time then retro ponies would do much better than their last attempt.



On the topic of G5,  I don't think it will be coming any time soon.  Not that I'm not ready for something new even though I like G4.  I'm mostly concerned that future generations will not be reckoned in the same way as old gens.  Never before has mlp had a gen that was so tied to the show that the show became the driving force behind the toy line instead of the other way around.  And Hasbro had abandoned the "gotta catch em all" collectible aspect in favor of the character driven strategy (G3 core seven) even before FIM became wildly successful.

So even though I largely like G4 ( though, I wouldn't mind a return to something more G1/G3) I'm rather  concerned that the future of mlp will look something more akin to other long standing cartoon franchises in which we just keep getting the same characters and stories rehashed over and over again with only slight variations in artistic style.

[Al-1701]

For those saying the show is still popular, the raw numbers would suggest otherwise.  They're not getting half the audience they did in Season 4, and the trend has been consistently downward.  The show is probably going to run until the end of this generation because it's the only thing justifying Hasbro's continued interest in Discovery Family.  However, I think Hasbro will change gears on schedule.  New characters and new toys.

As for the form it will take, who knows.  I would like to see a larger toy (perhaps reduce the packaging to save space and money).