The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: freezestime on April 27, 2020, 06:33:19 AM

Title: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: freezestime on April 27, 2020, 06:33:19 AM
So long story short, I was given the option to make a paper (or paper like) propaganda poster with some kind of commentary attached to it.

I choose to make one about how G2 is left out when the media talks about My Little Pony and how Hasbro doesn't like to acknowledge their existence/past.

Question is, what pony would be iconic or recognisable to non pony people? I know Pinkie Pie for either G3 or G4, I'm not sure which gen yet. Her inclusion is meant to represent corporate greed and lack of originality, aka her numerous releases throughout both gens.

I'm not going to bother with eyes, colours, ect (they'll be a black silhouette) but I will put a cutie mark on them. I made all of the ponies Earth ponies but I can make horns easily. For the G2 I will either put Tender Love's or Light Heart's cutie mark.

Any help is appreciated!
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on April 27, 2020, 06:39:47 AM
I believe G4's drawn characters were made with silhouettes in mind as it was media-first, but you're not going to get as much recognizably with the other gens because they were toy-first and do not follow the same principles. I would include Rainbow Dash from FiM for sure with this because I believe she is probably the most well-known character from the show.
With the cutie marks though, I think Firefly from G1 is probably the most iconic of the bunch. There is also the benefit of her silhouette being in a rarely used pose with her leg raised. I think her being featured on some print and fabric merchandise would work well towards your message.
I think Pinkie Pie from G3 is a good idea, but maybe Minty as well?
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on April 27, 2020, 06:45:38 AM
From G1: Applejack, Firefly, Glory
From G2: Ivy, Lightheart
From G3: Pinkie Pie, Rainbowdash, Minty, Toola-Roola
From G4: Isn't it obvious?
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: freezestime on April 27, 2020, 07:55:54 AM
I believe G4's drawn characters were made with silhouettes in mind as it was media-first, but you're not going to get as much recognizably with the other gens because they were toy-first and do not follow the same principles. I would include Rainbow Dash from FiM for sure with this because I believe she is probably the most well-known character from the show.
With the cutie marks though, I think Firefly from G1 is probably the most iconic of the bunch. There is also the benefit of her silhouette being in a rarely used pose with her leg raised. I think her being featured on some print and fabric merchandise would work well towards your message.
I think Pinkie Pie from G3 is a good idea, but maybe Minty as well?

I agree with the Rainbow Dash for Gen 4, but any clue what she could represent? Something new, something old? And If we use RD, would including firefly be overkill? It could add to the theme of corporate greed or something? Because from my opinion, she's iconic but I don't know if she's iconic or well known to outsiders (essentially) I know of her and Glory being made into a mini book thingy. But if we go by modern merchandise, I've seen Lickety-Split and Sundance a few times, even Applejack.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: Taffeta on April 27, 2020, 08:16:46 AM
Princess Amethyst (Sparkle) still has a presence in terms of clothing design, since her OC role 20 years or so ago.

Starshine and the Rainbows are also quite featured on recent merchandise.

Firefly is always a favourite as well.

Maybe thinking about the kind of ponies used on things like Hallmark decorations would indicate the ponies someone not MLP might buy.

But I agree with the silhouette thing being a problem given that G1 often used stock images/poses for promotion and they could be several different ponies, depending how they were illustrated.

Also, G1 and G2 ponies don't have cutie marks. It's a G3 and later term. I only mention this since the point of this project seems to be raising G2 awareness...good to begin with the basics ;)
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: SaraMari on April 27, 2020, 08:17:13 AM
G1: Firefly, Sundance, Applejack, Peachy (I mean if we are talking non-collecters I think every girl had a Peachy back in the day and will remember her)

G3: Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity (honestly I don't think non-collectors will recognize Minty she's more of a collector favorite)

G4: Any of the Mane6 esp Raindow Dash and Pinkie Pie (I think it would be ok to use Firefly and Raindow Dash because non-collectors won't know the connection)
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: freezestime on April 27, 2020, 08:32:23 AM
Princess Amethyst (Sparkle) still has a presence in terms of clothing design, since her OC role 20 years or so ago.

Starshine and the Rainbows are also quite featured on recent merchandise.

Firefly is always a favourite as well.

Maybe thinking about the kind of ponies used on things like Hallmark decorations would indicate the ponies someone not MLP might buy.

But I agree with the silhouette thing being a problem given that G1 often used stock images/poses for promotion and they could be several different ponies, depending how they were illustrated.

Also, G1 and G2 ponies don't have cutie marks. It's a G3 and later term. I only mention this since the point of this project seems to be raising G2 awareness...good to begin with the basics ;)

I can agree with the Princess Amethyst/Sparkle and Rainbow ponies, but would people buy Bubbles and Seashell hallmark ornaments? They don't scream iconic "My Little Pony" To me (but that might just be me) I can understand maybe Applejack, since she is basically identical to her G4 counterpart. Understood, but would it be a detriment to still refer to them as "cutie marks" in this context?

Post Merge: April 27, 2020, 08:56:01 AM

Oh, did any friends think about Bowtie, Cotton Candy or Gusty? Cotton Candy is one of the original ones.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: Carrehz on April 27, 2020, 09:12:31 AM
honestly I don't think non-pony people really differentiate between the characters? They're not going to know Firefly from Scootaloo. I think you could use pretty much anyone.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: SunPony on April 27, 2020, 09:21:59 AM
From G1: Applejack, Firefly, Glory
From G2: Ivy, Lightheart
From G3: Pinkie Pie, Rainbowdash, Minty, Toola-Roola
From G4: Isn't it obvious?

I agree with these G1s for sure!  I think Applejack's symbol especially would be suitable for this.  I'd also add Cotton Candy and Peachy to this, maybe lean more toward Peachy. 
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: freezestime on April 27, 2020, 09:29:51 AM
honestly I don't think non-pony people really differentiate between the characters? They're not going to know Firefly from Scootaloo. I think you could use pretty much anyone.

That's also a valid point, I'll have to take that into consideration.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: IceCrystal02 on April 27, 2020, 09:47:45 AM
Hmm, difficult to say. Perhaps these:

G1: Firefly, Applejack, Peachy

G3: Minty, Rainbow Dash
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: otocolobus_manul on April 27, 2020, 10:37:05 AM
I’d say Princess Amethyst/Princess Sparkle for g1, because she showed up on some popular show (Brooklyn 99 or Parks and Rec or something like that) so more non-collectors are likely to know her. I think Applejack is the only g4 my non-collector friends know or care about, but that might just be because we’re Texan, haha.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: LadyAmalthea on April 27, 2020, 10:48:47 AM
I know I'm just repeating what others have said, but I would say Firefly, Glory, Cotton Candy, Peachy for G1.

Rainbow Dash for G4; I can say this because I knew nothing about G4/FiM until very recently when my son got into it, but prior to that, I still knew who Rainbow Dash was because she is plastered all over merchandise and the internet.

As far as G2 and 3 go, I can't help, sorry...I don't know much about those gens.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: Taffeta on April 27, 2020, 03:40:03 PM
Understood, but would it be a detriment to still refer to them as "cutie marks" in this context?

Frankly, for me it's detrimental in any context.

Plus, if you're writing something to inform, surely it makes most sense to inform correctly?

It's hard to focus on putting G2 back on the map if you're describing them using G3 and G4 vocabulary.

That also applies to G1, of course.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: freezestime on April 28, 2020, 03:52:55 AM
Understood, but would it be a detriment to still refer to them as "cutie marks" in this context?

Frankly, for me it's detrimental in any context.

Plus, if you're writing something to inform, surely it makes most sense to inform correctly?

It's hard to focus on putting G2 back on the map if you're describing them using G3 and G4 vocabulary.

That also applies to G1, of course.

Okie, I'll take that into consideration.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: Carrehz on April 28, 2020, 07:00:24 AM
IIRC the term in G2 was "official rump design"? I know there were a couple of scant references to their symbols in G2 (didn't someone have a t-shirt with the term on, or somesuch?).
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: freezestime on April 28, 2020, 08:01:05 AM
IIRC the term in G2 was "official rump design"? I know there were a couple of scant references to their symbols in G2 (didn't someone have a t-shirt with the term on, or somesuch?).

I don't think they had a definite term, but their magazines use "Pony Design" (As seen below) courtesy of Heck Yeah Pony Scans on tumblr, (They're LadyMoondancer!)

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However, another scan (I can't find the full one online but it's probably from LadyMoondancer) is a how-to draw Light Heart which call it "Rump marks" and "Rump designs"

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Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: Carrehz on April 28, 2020, 09:37:35 AM
Heckyeahponyscans is LadyMoondancer on here :)
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: freezestime on May 01, 2020, 07:04:18 AM
Heckyeahponyscans is LadyMoondancer on here :)

Thank you friend!
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on May 01, 2020, 12:17:48 PM
"Rump design" was also used on the packaging of the "Garden Basket" and "Birthday Surprise" G2 sets.  Like "Ivy and (whoever) with special rump designs!"

Ironically none of the gens actually use "symbol" as a canon term even though it's so common among collectors.  ;)
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: Ponybookworm on May 01, 2020, 12:38:45 PM
I read marking or mark so often in G1 comics I figured the G1 term was rump mark or rump marking, unless of course we're talking a TAF
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: freezestime on May 01, 2020, 10:21:53 PM
Thank you to everyone's who chipped in!

Here's my final work!

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They're meant to be walking in a parade (that's why Princess Sparkles/Amethyst is in a funny pose) with G1, G3 and G4 being labelled as the best generation by many different people. Tender Love, the G2 representative, is left on the sidelines. (Not Tenderheart lol)

Our lecturer said they wanted a unique poster shape so I did hearts in a pattern, but I left a heart out, making the pattern incomplete which represents Hasbro's opinion on G2, don't want to acknowledge it and leaves it alone, also the bg colours are related to this as rainbows are bright and attention grabbing, while the G2 is surrounded by darkness, forgotten by Hasbro.

While I'm not too sure what Sparkle/Amethyst and Rainbowdash represent, Pinkie Pie represents corporate greed and unoriginality.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: WaterDraw on May 01, 2020, 10:55:37 PM
Thank you to everyone's who chipped in!

Here's my final work!

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They're meant to be walking in a parade (that's why Princess Sparkles/Amethyst is in a funny pose) with G1, G3 and G4 being labelled as the best generation by many different people. Tenderheart, the G2 representative, is left on the sidelines.

Our lecturer said they wanted a unique poster shape so I did hearts in a pattern, but I left a heart out, making the pattern incomplete which represents Hasbro's opinion on G2, don't want to acknowledge it and leaves it alone, also the bg colours are related to this as rainbows are bright and attention grabbing, while the G2 is surrounded by darkness, forgotten by Hasbro.

While I'm not too sure what Sparkle/Amethyst and Rainbowdash represent, Pinkie Pie represents corporate greed and unoriginality.


Oooo really good design! I really like what you did. I also like how someone's sticking up for G2 and Hasbro's general thinking of ignoring it...I really like the design and colors and everything. I think it conveys the message very well  ^.^
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on May 02, 2020, 08:45:52 AM
I love the graphic design, great job!
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: hathorcat on May 02, 2020, 08:58:43 AM
This looks great! What an interesting topic :)

I actually think its interesting to see

PS...orignial marketing material supplied to third parties during G1 refered to symbols as "rump designs" as well rather than symbols :) So just shows that the phrasing we use now is what we prefer to use rather than anything too official.
Title: Re: Ponies most iconic to non pony fans?
Post by: Shadowperla on May 03, 2020, 10:47:19 AM
That poster makes me sad for poor pony :(
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