The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Mismatch on October 09, 2018, 03:06:19 AM
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Sundance is kind of a weird name for the pony in question. I mean. Most ponies have names that have something to do with their symbols/cutie marks, if only peripherally. Sundance though? I only see it as place names or as a Native American ceremony. Where on earth did that name come from?
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I've never thought about how Sundance got her name before but I've often wondered how Hasbro came up with some of the ponies names too. My favorite theories are Hasbro picking random names/items from a hat and putting the two together to make pony names or they started naming ponies as a party game at the company cocktail parties. :lol:
Maybe Hasbro thought the hearts in a circle looked like they were dancing?
Ponyfan
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I figured it had to do with sun catchers.
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Even as a kid I wondered this same thing. Her symbol is also very abstract for the time she came out.
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I have no idea. The only thing I could think of, is that it was a combo of laziness and popularity. Sundance has always been a very popular horse name.
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I’m not sure myself. Sundance being a popular horse name seems like a likely answer.
But I would love it if they actually had a game to name ponies at company parties. And the names get weirder as the night goes on. Start with flutter shy, end with tink a tink a too.
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I'm 110% on board with the theory that HASBRO was feeding the naming committee some cocktails as they brainstormed. Especially in the G3 era - some of those names... Scootaloo, Razzaroo....
As far as Sundance - I'm in agreement with the popular horse name consensus - especially since she was sold wearing a bridle and with Megan. However, I agree with you as well - with a name like Sundance - you would think that a sun or some other celestial art would be part of her symbol, like G2 Sundance. I think when G1 Sundance was released that pink was still in high demand for girl toys, so they marketed based more on color scheme (pink & white) than symbol logic.
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I'm 110% on board with the theory that HASBRO was feeding the naming committee some cocktails as they brainstormed. Especially in the G3 era - some of those names... Scootaloo, Razzaroo....
... Tink-a-tink-a-too ;) But that one is onomatopoeia.
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Her name is Sundance because if you notice her symbol at the center is a pink dot, which represents a black hole. The hearts are not actually hearts, they are distorted stars which are being pulled into the black hole. The suns are circling at a high rate of speed, which with the distortion of being pulled into a black hole and circling it makes the suns look like they are dancing around the blackhole.
So yea, Sundance...
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I love the name Razzaroo.
Her name is Sundance because if you notice her symbol at the center is a pink dot, which represents a black hole. The hearts are not actually hearts, they are distorted stars which are being pulled into the black hole. The suns are circling at a high rate of speed, which with the distortion of being pulled into a black hole and circling it makes the suns look like they are dancing around the blackhole.
So yea, Sundance...
:blink:
Posts like this are one of the reasons we need like buttons.
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Her name is Sundance because if you notice her symbol at the center is a pink dot, which represents a black hole. The hearts are not actually hearts, they are distorted stars which are being pulled into the black hole. The suns are circling at a high rate of speed, which with the distortion of being pulled into a black hole and circling it makes the suns look like they are dancing around the blackhole.
So yea, Sundance...
*gives cookies*
I remember wondering that ever since I had to take a unit on the American West in secondary school for my GCSE exams, and learned what a Sundance actually was. It made me look at her very differently...
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Her name is Sundance because if you notice her symbol at the center is a pink dot, which represents a black hole. The hearts are not actually hearts, they are distorted stars which are being pulled into the black hole. The suns are circling at a high rate of speed, which with the distortion of being pulled into a black hole and circling it makes the suns look like they are dancing around the blackhole.
So yea, Sundance...
*gives cookies*
I remember wondering that ever since I had to take a unit on the American West in secondary school for my GCSE exams, and learned what a Sundance actually was. It made me look at her very differently...
I've never really put a lot of thought into her name, other than her being one of my favorite ponies in her simplicity, I think there could be any number of reasons she ended up being named Sundance.
I think it seems more people don't see the connection with the name and symbol/pony.
I believe in native american culture there is a ceremony called a sundance; which is what I believe you are talking about Taff.
I think also a white horse/pony has symbolic meaning in a lot of different cultures. I'm sure in native american culture it has meaning; messanger maybe?? not sure.
MLP Sundance's circular symbol even reminds me of a mandala.
I think we'd really have to figure out which designer came up with Sundance and how they go to calling a white pony with pink hair and a circular heart symbol Sundance.
Was there a meaning behind it at all? Or was it the only thing that worked for this particular pony? It'd be an interesting question to ask Hasbro designer why the name was chosen.
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I just always figured she was part of an unfinished set where her hubby was named Butch...
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Never made the mandala connection before Karen.
Funny you say that Pokeyone. I used to call my childhood Sunnybunch Cassidy, as I didn't know her name.
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Good question. Which makes me wonder what comes first, the pony's design or the name? Or is it a back and forth thing until the final design and name gets approved?
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I just always figured she was part of an unfinished set where her hubby was named Butch...
Omg that's hilarious! I love that idea XD
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I just always figured she was part of an unfinished set where her hubby was named Butch...
Omg that's hilarious! I love that idea XD
So Baby Sundance is the Sundance Kid? Literally. Heh.
Erks. Someone mentioned mandala. *runs away*
I have traumatic memories of studying them in East Asian buddhism class and never quite getting which mudra was which...
To be honest it looks more like a doily to me...
@Uni - yes, I imagine we're thinking of the same native american ritual...
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I’m not sure myself. Sundance being a popular horse name seems like a likely answer.
... which really makes me curious about another thing. Why was Sundance a popular horse name? It seems so random. Are we sure the popularity of Sundance as a horse name predates the release of the My Little Pony? Because I remember seeing a lot of Applejacks and Blossoms in the stables that were named after the MLPs.
Post Merge: October 09, 2018, 02:55:57 PM
I just always figured she was part of an unfinished set where her hubby was named Butch...
... let the customs begin.
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I just always figured she was part of an unfinished set where her hubby was named Butch...
Omg that's hilarious! I love that idea XD
So Baby Sundance is the Sundance Kid? Literally. Heh.
I want to watch a western movie now...XD
I'm actually not going to be able to look at Sundance the same way now, she's starting at me from the shelf she's on... :rofl:
I’m not sure myself. Sundance being a popular horse name seems like a likely answer.
... which really makes me curious about another thing. Why was Sundance a popular horse name? It seems so random. Are we sure the popularity of Sundance as a horse name predates the release of the My Little Pony? Because I remember seeing a lot of Applejacks and Blossoms in the stables that were named after the MLPs.
I actually didn't know Sundance was a popular horse name either, my grandfather has horses at his farm and I've never seen one named Sundance but there's a Blossom and Butterscotch...I think I saw a Gypsy too at Christmas
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I’m not sure myself. Sundance being a popular horse name seems like a likely answer.
... which really makes me curious about another thing. Why was Sundance a popular horse name? It seems so random. Are we sure the popularity of Sundance as a horse name predates the release of the My Little Pony? Because I remember seeing a lot of Applejacks and Blossoms in the stables that were named after the MLPs.
Post Merge: October 09, 2018, 02:55:57 PM
I just always figured she was part of an unfinished set where her hubby was named Butch...
... let the customs begin.
Why would it only come with MLP, when the word predates it?
Probably because it sounds pretty. I've known 2 horses named Sundance. Both palomino quarter horses and one of them liked to bite. :/
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I wonder if Sundance is a more common name in the US than in other places, maybe because of other cultural references that other places don't have.
I've also never heard of a horse called Sundance (though probably there are some) here, and my friend as a kid used to ride all the time...
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Well if we're talking about Sundance Kid, he was an actual real person so obviously, the name predates MLP. I'm not sure if people are naming their horses after him though, but there could be some connection but not sure a modern MLP would follow being named after a thief.
I just did a random google search and the name sundance is also a flower
https://www.finegardening.com/plant/mexican-orange-blossom-choisya-ternata-sundance (https://www.finegardening.com/plant/mexican-orange-blossom-choisya-ternata-sundance)
I'm almost going to make the assumption that the connection could be to flowers rather than the other things.
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I always equated Sundances symbol to a kaleidoscope. But yea would be hard for a kid to call her Kaleidoscope...
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Do the people who conceptualize My Little Pony ever show up to Toy Fairs? I thought Hasbro might provide some kind of response to these burning questions...
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I've never heard of Sundance being a popular horse's name. But if it is, I would guess it's because of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Which would make sense because they're associated with the Old West and cowboys, and both of those are associated with horses.
The other common usage would be the Sundance film festival. (Which is also named after the Sundance Kid.) Maybe she's a film buff. :P
The more I think about this, the more I wonder if I'm overthinking it. In a line with Moondancer, Skydancer, and Star Dancer, there's a good chance they simply smashed an unused heavenly body together with -dance and called it a day.
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I always equated Sundances symbol to a kaleidoscope. But yea would be hard for a kid to call her Kaleidoscope...
Didn't seem to stop them with Masquerade. I was really good at spelling as a kid, but aged four, that was a bit much for me. Masquerade was Masky for most of my early childhood. And Cherries Jubilee has a lot of syllables too. Kaleidoscope doesn't seem too much worse, honestly...
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Do the people who conceptualize My Little Pony ever show up to Toy Fairs? I thought Hasbro might provide some kind of response to these burning questions...
Yes, for a few years now they've been having designers come to the fair. I'm not sure if any who have already attended are responsible for Megan and Sundance but I believe the one who came up with the first set of unicorns and pegasus attended. But sorry I can't remember names right now, I think we could probably ask a Fair staff member or look in the fair forum to see which designers/hasbro folks have been invited.
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How did they think of her name? How about Magic Mushroom, FLOATER, Tipsy Tulip, MUNCHY?
I am pretty sure they came up with these names like this:
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How did they think of her name? How about Magic Mushroom, FLOATER, Tipsy Tulip, MUNCHY?
I am pretty sure they came up with these names like this:
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Magic Mushroom? Do you mean Port-o-bella?
Heh heh heh. I like Cheech n Chong.
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:lmao:
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The more I think about this, the more I wonder if I'm overthinking it. In a line with Moondancer, Skydancer, and Star Dancer, there's a good chance they simply smashed an unused heavenly body together with -dance and called it a day.
This actually seems to make the most sense to me.
Not that all pony names are created with logic ^^;
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How did they think of her name? How about Magic Mushroom, FLOATER, Tipsy Tulip, MUNCHY?
I am pretty sure they came up with these names like this:
[/img]
Magic Mushroom? Do you mean Port-o-bella?
Heh heh heh. I like Cheech n Chong.
Oh- well maybe I got that one wrong... but for sure Munchy and Floater are real names... Plus, does this look like a Port-O-Bella mushroom to you?
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How did they think of her name? How about Magic Mushroom, FLOATER, Tipsy Tulip, MUNCHY?
I am pretty sure they came up with these names like this:
[/img]
Magic Mushroom? Do you mean Port-o-bella?
Heh heh heh. I like Cheech n Chong.
Oh- well maybe I got that one wrong... but for sure Munchy and Floater are real names... Plus, does this look like a Port-O-Bella mushroom to you?
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Red cap. Portobello mushrooms are brown, delicious and sometimes stuffable. Yummy! I love her and I have her. She and Dream Drifter the hippie pony must be good friends. XD
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How did they think of her name? How about Magic Mushroom, FLOATER, Tipsy Tulip, MUNCHY?
I am pretty sure they came up with these names like this:
[/img]
Magic Mushroom? Do you mean Port-o-bella?
Heh heh heh. I like Cheech n Chong.
Oh- well maybe I got that one wrong... but for sure Munchy and Floater are real names... Plus, does this look like a Port-O-Bella mushroom to you?
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She is awesome! She one of my top wants. If I didn't know her name I probably would of called her Magic Mushroom too XD
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How did they think of her name? How about Magic Mushroom, FLOATER, Tipsy Tulip, MUNCHY?
I am pretty sure they came up with these names like this:
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Okay then where is our pony named Dave, then? :-p
*knock knock* "Open up, it's Dave, I've got the stuff!" "Dave's not here right now!"
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How did they think of her name? How about Magic Mushroom, FLOATER, Tipsy Tulip, MUNCHY?
I am pretty sure they came up with these names like this:
visitors can't see pics , please register or login
Okay then where is our pony named Dave, then? :-p
*knock knock* "Open up, it's Dave, I've got the stuff!" "Dave's not here right now!"
:lmao:
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This is an interesting topic. I've often wondered how the ponies got their names. All I know is that Sundance is one of my favorite G1 ponies! ^.^
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The more I think about this, the more I wonder if I'm overthinking it. In a line with Moondancer, Skydancer, and Star Dancer, there's a good chance they simply smashed an unused heavenly body together with -dance and called it a day.
This actually seems to make the most sense to me.
Not that all pony names are created with logic ^^;
Except Moondancer, Skydancer, and Stardancer ARE kind of logical! Moondancer has a moon. Skydancer has birds and she's a pegasus, and both birds and pegasi sort of dance in the sky. Stardancer has creepy stars that always make me think off teeth, and they're dancing. Sundance has... hearts. Really, Hasbro?
I mean, there are other pony names that seem kind of random. Like, Firefly? I wonder if the Chinese word for lightning translates to flying fire or something like that.
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Whenever the name to symbol question comes up, my response is always, well, what about Bouquet then ;)
Just because her comic persona had an explanation doesn't make her symbol make an iota of sense. I guess my point is that G1 pony names and symbols do not have to match up. That's a later idea, and anachronistic to this generation. They often do, but not always.
I did not know Portobello was a type of mushroom. To me it makes me think of Portobello Road in London where there is a big and quite famous market ;) For some reason that always gelled with me and her identity, given the set she came in.
I think magic mushrooms may have been involved with my Portobella, though...I had her...she vanished...I still have Lickity Split though...so no idea what happened then. But now I have her again, thanks to a wonderful friend who added her into the package she was sending to me as a freebie. I still don't know what happened to the original. She went roaming somewhere to pick mushrooms and never came back...;)
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Coming from a people and community that participates in the Sundance, it was always and still is a name that gives me pause. A true Sundance is never talked about outside of those that are the active participants, ever. So anyone doing or saying otherwise I side eye crazy bad. It's one of the holiest ceremonies among the Plains peoples and that's all I'll say about the subject.
Now kid me always thought Butch Cassidy was around somewhere and the two would take off on epic adventures together. Megan joining their gang because she knew how to sharp shoot and trick ride. Yes, I had an active imagination as a kid. Cowgirl up!
Port-O-Bella is at the top of my G3 wishlist cause she's so unique. Magic shrooms aside, next stop Wonderland.
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Same reason Firefly has lightning bolts for her symbol, I suppose. Or any of the many, many other weird symbol/name combos. Hasbro names don't usually make sense.
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My idea is that it was late and someone was very sleep deprived.
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Firefly makes total sense to me. Lightning= fire and she is a Pegasus so she flies. And even if it’s meant to reference the insect, well then a firefly is also sometimes called a lightning bug. So it all circles around in perfect logic to me.
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Firefly makes total sense to me. Lightning= fire and she is a Pegasus so she flies. And even if it’s meant to reference the insect, well then a firefly is also sometimes called a lightning bug. So it all circles around in perfect logic to me.
I always thought of it in terms of the insect as well, and the flickers of light.
Though as I said before, symbols and pony names in G1 are not always connected.
The Chinese for lightning uses basically the same character to Japanese, which is 雷. Orthographically that's rain (top half) over the paddy field (bottom half). So no flying fire.
The closest I can think of is 花火 (fireworks) which is literally 'flower fire', but that's the closest I can offer. The Japanese character for firefly the insect is 蛍 which is even less helpful. Apparently in Chinese they use more characters: 萤火虫 - the second of those is fire, but theres no flying.
Not that I think it matters much since the pony concept came from the US anyway...
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Firefly makes total sense to me. Lightning= fire and she is a Pegasus so she flies. And even if it’s meant to reference the insect, well then a firefly is also sometimes called a lightning bug. So it all circles around in perfect logic to me.
I don't understand how lightning = fire... Lightning is electricity..?
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Firefly makes total sense to me. Lightning= fire and she is a Pegasus so she flies. And even if it’s meant to reference the insect, well then a firefly is also sometimes called a lightning bug. So it all circles around in perfect logic to me.
I don't understand how lightning = fire... Lightning is electricity..?
Not in a literal sense but more of an artistic sense. Ever see in art when someone wants to draw someone/thing that is going really fast and they draw flames around them? The there is the saying “fast as lightning.” Plus, lightening causes fire, sooo. Basically lightning/ electricity is closer to fire than any of the other traditional “elements”. There’s a reason in the Last Airbender that it was the Fire nation that discovered lightning bending and not one of the other nations.
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Firefly makes total sense to me. Lightning= fire and she is a Pegasus so she flies. And even if it’s meant to reference the insect, well then a firefly is also sometimes called a lightning bug. So it all circles around in perfect logic to me.
I always thought of it in terms of the insect as well, and the flickers of light.
Though as I said before, symbols and pony names in G1 are not always connected.
The Chinese for lightning uses basically the same character to Japanese, which is 雷. Orthographically that's rain (top half) over the paddy field (bottom half). So no flying fire.
The closest I can think of is 花火 (fireworks) which is literally 'flower fire', but that's the closest I can offer. The Japanese character for firefly the insect is 蛍 which is even less helpful. Apparently in Chinese they use more characters: 萤火虫 - the second of those is fire, but theres no flying.
Not that I think it matters much since the pony concept came from the US anyway...
OMG, Taffeta, can I download your brain somewhere?
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Firefly makes total sense to me. Lightning= fire and she is a Pegasus so she flies. And even if it’s meant to reference the insect, well then a firefly is also sometimes called a lightning bug. So it all circles around in perfect logic to me.
I always thought of it in terms of the insect as well, and the flickers of light.
Though as I said before, symbols and pony names in G1 are not always connected.
The Chinese for lightning uses basically the same character to Japanese, which is 雷. Orthographically that's rain (top half) over the paddy field (bottom half). So no flying fire.
The closest I can think of is 花火 (fireworks) which is literally 'flower fire', but that's the closest I can offer. The Japanese character for firefly the insect is 蛍 which is even less helpful. Apparently in Chinese they use more characters: 萤火虫 - the second of those is fire, but theres no flying.
Not that I think it matters much since the pony concept came from the US anyway...
OMG, Taffeta, can I download your brain somewhere?
In fairness that's specialised knowledge thanks to 11 years of Japanese and 2 on and off of learning Mandarin. If it had been about Greek or something I'd be clueless xD. And believe me, my brain only works for useless information. It is absolutely rubbish at anything else.