A G1 Animation Project

[Al-1701]

I'll have to find out how to ask.  I also need to figure out how to send them scripts and concept art since I've heard they're more receptive if you have those to show.

Speaking of concept art, we're close to finishing the first vectors of the main characters.  I'll see if I can get the artists to put them up.

[berylliumpone]

I know this sounds really dumb--but I think the only way to keep it safe legally is for it to be used for educational purposes. Double Rainboom is doing their project as a senior film, and they got permission from Hasbro.

[LadyMoondancer]

I am of two minds . . . On the one hand, I think keeping on the low-down might be a good idea.   "Fighting Is Magic" didn't get shut down UNTIL they put it in EVO (the big fighting game convention).   In my opinion the problem for Hasbro was not that it was being made, but that it became too big to ignore.  Hasbro was certainly aware of it, as they emailed Hasbro early on asking if it was okay.  (Hasbro never replied, which they foolishly took to mean "Yes, go ahead!")

The secondary problem was that a game where ponies punch each other obviously doesn't fit with their concept of the brand (friendship, innocence, etc).

On the other hand, I understand the desire to get everything straightened out to begin with with a license, rather than spending two years on something (like Fighting Is Magic) and THEN having everything shut down.

In conclusion, I dunno!  But I think it's a great and fun idea.

[Al-1701]

I know this sounds really dumb--but I think the only way to keep it safe legally is for it to be used for educational purposes. Double Rainboom is doing their project as a senior film, and they got permission from Hasbro.

I don't think I could get away with calling this educational.

However, I do want to write for Hasbro Studios, and I'm the head writer of this project.  Maybe I could frame this as an audition.

I'm making a pdf of character profiles.  These will be brief descriptions of the characters along with a sample line.  I have the six main characters done so far.

[Al-1701]

Well, we have vectors of the six main characters done.  However, the vector artists want to make a group picture for public release.  I've also made a PDF file of character profiles with sample lines.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B60i6pK795HEVURIX00tQUVQOGM/edit?usp=sharing

Right now it's just the six characters.  I'll add more soon.

[Lancer]

I'm always up for voice acting!  As soon as you have some more details (audition lines etc.), I'd love to give this a go.

[zora]

i am an animator but i use after effects for it. no experience with flash animation.

[Al-1701]

I'm always up for voice acting!  As soon as you have some more details (audition lines etc.), I'd love to give this a go.

The link in my post above is a PDF file with character sheets including audition lines.

[SwiftStar84]

 Honestly the best thing you can do is put a disclaimer either on the webpage or at the beginning of the episode stating that "This is a parody." That way you don't have to get permission from Hasbro and Hasbro then can not legally touch you. In other news if you need more Male VA's I'm interested.

[NumiTuziNeru]

Ooooooo. Might consider doing some VA stuff for fun, hmm.

Well. So long as you don't mint British accents. On account of. Y'know.

[Evening_Moonstone]

Sounds great, is there an email where we should send our recordings to you?

[Al-1701]

I can be reached at [email protected]

[hathorcat]

Honestly the best thing you can do is put a disclaimer either on the webpage or at the beginning of the episode stating that "This is a parody." That way you don't have to get permission from Hasbro and Hasbro then can not legally touch you. In other news if you need more Male VA's I'm interested.

Not really unfortunately. Companies will still go after parodies and satires even if they are trying to use fair use as a justification. So doing that doesn't protect you from the legalities involved - it has to be a parody in order to be protected and even then not 100% guaranteed. 

Also a parody is clearly defined as poking fun or criticising something - that is not something I think this project could claim to be doing. Also a parody has to be based on something this is a new and unique entity not a reflection of an existing project.

[Sora]

Ooooooo. Might consider doing some VA stuff for fun, hmm.

Well. So long as you don't mint British accents. On account of. Y'know.

This is my answer too

Except I also have the problem of sounding more like a guy most of the time. Oops.

[Al-1701]

There will be more stallions in this.  And we'll need a voice for Spike and some colts.  So, we will need male or at least masculine voices.  Gusty is also a major tomboyish, so if she sounds a little masculine, it would be power for the course.

As for accents.  North Star will have a British accent like in the original.  We might be able to work with some other accents.  Send us your auditions and we'll see how they fit.

And for hopeful VA's, there is a character profile that I'm filling in.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B60i6pK795HEVURIX00tQUVQOGM/edit?usp=sharing
Right now there are profiles and sample lines for Wind Whistler, Fizzy, Tootsie, Gusty, Shady, Flutterbye, and Majesty as well as stallions Hurricane and Monsoon.  Profiles for Little Ribbon, Little Heart Throb, Little Sundance, Little Lickety-Split, Sundance, Heart Throb, Sparky, and the Williams (Megan's family) are coming soon.  Check them out and send us your samples.  Original samples are also welcome as we fill more minor roles.

We're looking for an older sounding woman for Majesty who can speak with gravitas.  Monsoon is also an older character.  King Charlatan will be the main antagonist of this first adventure, so we also need a voice for him.  We know these will be harder roles to cast because of this.

I'm contemplating writing profiles for Magic Star, Galaxy, Spike, and Hydia and her daughters.  They're more minor characters, but still important.  Firefly, Surprise, Sparkler, and Twilight will also be making cameos.

As for calling this parody, this is not parody by any stretch of the imagination.  Getting permission is the only 100% way to avoid trouble.  Maybe if we could get support from the show staff and actually use it to gain favor with Hasbro's legal and My Little Pony departments.