The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Saiko on March 07, 2024, 05:32:31 PM

Title: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Saiko on March 07, 2024, 05:32:31 PM
Has G5 failed? I heard on Instagram that the leaked G5 Equestria Girls dolls have been cancelled due to low interest in the Netflix series. Whenever I go to a toy store I only see a couple of G5 toys. There haven't been any new toys released for months. Months go by between updates on MLPMerch.com

What do you think? Has this generation flopped?
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Zapper on March 08, 2024, 02:35:12 AM
Can't say much about cancellations because I don't keep up with new pony stuff anymore but just by looking at the animation budget and toy quality it wouldn't surprise me if G5 would wrap up soon.
They made the mistake of starting out with a celebrity voiced movie that could have been in theaters, then tone all of that down by going for a lower budget show they releases not in episode format but mini movie format. The time period between each of these brackets was too long for kids so they had the webisodes on youtube as inbetween entertainment and those looked really low budget and quite frankly: ugly.

Their marketing plan must have read: "Cheaper, cheaper, cheaper until interest is gone". Something that baffles me because G4 must have made so much money for them, all they had to do was use some of that money and create something that looks appealing to kids and will hold their interest.
Paw Patrol is still churning out product and movies, they obviously designed the ponies to look like that and yet they failed to understand why Paw Patrol stiĺl works. It's because it's adventure and they present that to kids in more exciting ways. Their movies go to theaters, they are everywhere. Hasbro tends to give up on girl franchises if they can't pull the big numbers but they really don't try hard enough. They lost the Princess liscense and Descendants is over, so now is the time they should start investing in their own girl lines again.

Basic Fun is really coming for them, imo. They are releasing more nostalgic toy repros than ever before and TLS Toy is creating their own lines based on the nostalgic IPs they have. Look at the Rainbow Brite line of mini poseable dolls they are doing now. Hasbro is so much bigger than them and yet they are cheap and treat the big names they have like stepchildren, there is little innovation and that results in little customer engagement.

All my opinions, I have no insight into their marketing plans or anything. I wish I had :lol:

EDIT: I corrected my wrong assumption that Basic Fun is doing the new Rainbow Brite line. It's TLS Toy.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: CowboyRaccoons on March 08, 2024, 05:39:24 AM
Short answer- yes.

Long answer- Hasbro did not want to let g4 go, of course because it made them so much money, but at the same time wanted to purge the fandom of bronies. So, they made the writing a lot more shallow and "girly".
With the toys, they were stuck in the mindset that fewer characters = less money on toys = fans will buy anything with the MLP logo. They were too scared to reach out into more characters (which, IMO would have saved the line) and instead focused on exhausting the main 5/sometimes misty. This paired with the state of Hasbro's stock, they are not going to be reaching out any time soon.
The show is a topic for another day, though.

I hope at least they are working on a new generation.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on March 08, 2024, 06:12:03 AM
I think it is safe to say that it did.

Two ways to tell:
1.   Just look at the poor presence on store shelves.
2.   All the brands that were successful (i.e. made Hasbro a lot of money or at least met their expectations) get mentioned in their financial reports. MLP was among those brands during the G4 reign, but not one peep of the brand since G5 (minus the first report following the release of the G5 movie, I believe. Not sure though).
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: TheClassCalico on March 08, 2024, 06:20:35 AM
It appears that it has been doing poorly for the aforementioned reasons, yes. I do hope that they instead move to their old model of releasing more original characters instead of being too quick to cancel it. It would be a shame if it had such a short lifespan or if it pulled a G2 and was exclusive to a smaller selection of countries.

I think a big contributor to G4's success was its main show, making the repetition work; from what I've gathered, characters that never significantly appeared in the Friendship is Magic show didn't do quite as well, whereas presumably, the main characters and popular secondary characters did well. It seems that G5's show hasn't been doing so well, so they can't really rely on show appeal. However, I may very well be wrong. It is purely a guess based on observations made by others and myself.

Another thing is that pastel horse toys are commonplace outside of My Little Pony now. There is simply more choice, which has likely affected its popularity somewhat.

If it is true that the Equestria Girls dolls were cancelled, that is a shame. I actually liked the look of them. They looked to be a big improvement of the Equestria Girls line.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Saiko on March 08, 2024, 06:38:23 AM
Another thing is that pastel horse toys are commonplace outside of My Little Pony now. There is simply more choice, which has likely affected its popularity somewhat.
I think this is a really good point. There are so many brushable pony toys available now and G5 focused more on the small action figure toys with plastic hair. If this was an attempt to appeal to boys as well as girls so the toys will sell better it has sadly backfired.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on March 08, 2024, 06:47:31 AM
IMHO it now has a negative association and connotation with the public these days.  most people roll their eyes and have an opinion about "bronies" :(  it's terrible for the actual male collectors who had nothing to do with that behaviour.

also, any preschool brand has to be oversaturated and in your face with way too many toys to choose from.  Cocomelon, Gabby's Dollhouse, Paw Patrol... Baby Shark (do do do do doooo)

If you don't force it to go viral, then it doesn't sell.  If you "see how it goes", it will fail.  and right now there are a LOT of fantasy animal toys to pick from.   
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: CowboyRaccoons on March 08, 2024, 06:47:59 AM
I have ended up with at least 11 3-inch Sunnies.
But they all have slight differences, so I can't get rid of any.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 08, 2024, 07:30:05 AM
The Loyal Subjects is doing Rainbowbrite, unless BF just announced a new line.

There have been other pastel horses for as long as MLP has been around. So that's not what's killing them.

The answer to this is yes. It's failing. Hasbro can't continue to pump out lazy, uninspired,  cheap crap with very little variety and expect the brand to do well. Core casts have always killed the toylines, but they're too stupid to learn that lesson.

I barely even see MLP on shelves anymore.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Beth3346 on March 08, 2024, 07:41:58 AM
i did read a while back that Hasbro was doing a lot of layoffs. seems in line with other companies. i don't keep up with the newer ponies so this isn't based on any concrete research but it seems like companies now days aren't keeping any product lines going unless it essential prints money for the shareholders. they end up just saturating the market with the same franchises over and over again. IE star wars and marvel being everywhere all the time.

i checked out the Hasbro website and MLP is featured prominently. the prices for the pony sets seem high to me. but i'm out of touch with toy prices. i don't have kids so i don't know what toys go for these days. but if the quality is poor and the toys are pricy that seems bad. i guess that's the MSRP so who knows :huh:

I personally wasn't even that into the G4 sets with the core cast. the toys are cute but i agree it feels lazy. i'm not going to buy the same thing over and over again just because it's a new release. there just isn't a lot of variety in the characters or gimmicks that i would think appeal to kids. i still remember with the G1s i was so into the glitter and sparkles. the 80s was full of gimmicky toys that irritated by parents but kids liked them. i guess i still like the fun gimmicks as much as i hate admitting it  :lol:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Zapper on March 08, 2024, 08:51:59 AM
It's terrible for the actual male collectors who had nothing to do with that behaviour.

And yet male collectors weren't the ones deeply hurt by this phenomenon.

Girls couldn't look up MLP on the internet without coming across viral art and videos made by male fans, all of which was strong on "adult themes". The generation that got scarred is now old enough to tell their side of the story. There's many vids on youtube about that subject. Just look up "Bronies ruined my childhood" and other similar titles.

If I was a kid I wouldn't want to share my fandom with grown adults 30+ regardless of gender. But especially not with adults who create so much p*** that "safe search on" still shows it.

I'm sad that G5 couldn't be for girls again without being cheaped out. MLP is predominantly a girl targeted franchise and that's ok. Boys have lots of choices in the toy aisle, most of them don't naturally gravitade towards doll-like toys anymore.
Hasbro thought they'd attract more boys with the boy pony character but most people who liked him were grown-ups. Now compare to Paw Patrol and their token girl characters... one of my nephews wanted to name his little sister after that dog. That's how much he loved that pink spaniel thing in her little plane.
But he scoffed at the male pony. It wasn't about the characters, it was about the franchise they belonged to.

MLP needs to retain their girl focus. Hairplay, imagination, bigger size, stop the hard plastic. Is it too much to ask?
Schleich is doing more hairplay now than MLP, it's a bit absurd.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Carrehz on March 08, 2024, 08:57:13 AM
I'm upset if it's true the EQG dolls got canned, I was really looking forward to them :( Not surprised though - it's been forever since the leak, I'd kinda guessed already they weren't gonna come out.

I think it's flopped, yeah. I don't even think G5 will end up doing the "disappears from US shelves, runs for longer in other countries" bit like G2 did because... is it doing well ANYwhere??

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This is a pic I took in Smyths Toys in December 2021. That's it, that was the entire MLP section. From what I remember last time I was in a Smyths, it's pretty much the same three years later :( It's hard to get invested in G5 because it's barely over here to begin with. When I was in New York last year it was pretty much the same story:
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(TRU in Macy's Times Square)
Sure they at least had a section to themselves, but it was mostly just multiples of the exact same set. There's no variety! Even for the parts of G4 where you could just get several different main 6 sets and maybe one new char, at least it wasn't ALL the SAME character, you know?? G4 repeated itself soooo much but it still feels at least a little less same-y than G5 does.

I think the cartoon is affecting things too. Bluey and Paw Patrol are everywhere, heck even my Dad commented on the abundance of Bluey toys the other day (and he's not generally observant about anything toy-related!). And they've both got popular cartoons to go along with the toylines, right? What's MLP got? Everything for G5 has been just quietly put out on streaming right? I'll admit I don't keep up with the cartoons (I just read the threads about them on here X3) but still... like I know streaming is more of a thing these days, I'm sure a lot of kids are watching Bluey/Paw Patrol/etc on streaming services, but they're still being advertised, right?? Is the G5 cartoon being advertised in the same way? Genuine question, I don't keep up with the cartoons and don't watch streaming services so idk if I've just got a skewed perspective on it ^^; But I do know I've seen barely ANYTHING for the G5 cartoon. If it's true that they're not advertising it then that's probably not helping... the toys by themselves are lame and repetitive. I dunno if that makes sense.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 08, 2024, 09:08:54 AM
It's terrible for the actual male collectors who had nothing to do with that behaviour.

And yet male collectors weren't the ones deeply hurt by this phenomenon.

Girls couldn't look up MLP on the internet without coming across viral art and videos made by male fans, all of which was strong on "adult themes". The generation that got scarred is now old enough to tell their side of the story. There's many vids on youtube about that subject. Just look up "Bronies ruined my childhood" and other similar titles.

If I was a kid I wouldn't want to share my fandom with grown adults 30+ regardless of gender. But especially not with adults who create so much p*** that "safe search on" still shows it.

I'm sad that G5 couldn't be for girls again without being cheaped out. MLP is predominantly a girl targeted franchise and that's ok. Boys have lots of choices in the toy aisle, most of them don't naturally gravitade towards doll-like toys anymore.
Hasbro thought they'd attract more boys with the boy pony character but most people who liked him were grown-ups. Now compare to Paw Patrol and their token girl characters... one of my nephews wanted to name his little sister after that dog. That's how much he loved that pink spaniel thing in her little plane.
But he scoffed at the male pony. It wasn't about the characters, it was about the franchise they belonged to.

MLP needs to retain their girl focus. Hairplay, imagination, bigger size, stop the hard plastic. Is it too much to ask?
Schleich is doing more hairplay now than MLP, it's a bit absurd.

I agree with most of this, except the schleich part. They look kinda odd. But from what you're saying it seems the quality is good. So that's good.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Zapper on March 08, 2024, 10:11:50 AM
I agree with most of this, except the schleich part. They look kinda odd. But from what you're saying it seems the quality is good. So that's good.

I can't comment on the quality but the new Schleich lines with brushable manes and tails are advertised and take up most space that used to be MLP in toy stores. I live in Schleich country, there is no Breyer in physical stores except for one single family owned shop. So I noticed the abudance of brushable Schleichs compared to any other brand with small horse toys.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 08, 2024, 10:35:31 AM
I agree with most of this, except the schleich part. They look kinda odd. But from what you're saying it seems the quality is good. So that's good.

I can't comment on the quality but the new Schleich lines with brushable manes and tails are advertised and take up most space that used to be MLP in toy stores. I live in Schleich country, there is no Breyer in physical stores except for one single family owned shop. So I noticed the abudance of brushable Schleichs compared to any other brand with small horse toys.

Ah my bad for misunderstanding you.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 08, 2024, 01:33:22 PM
Reading through this I was struck with the wondering - to what extent has Basic Fun's retro line sabotaged G5's publicity train? I know the target markets are technically different, but with everyone tightening finances, and with so much G1 retro stuff around (not just ponies, also clothing, bags, other marketing deals with other organisations...) has G5 been overshadowed? Has there actually been a publicity campaign for G5? #

Hasbro have never understood the collector market, so the reality of collectors not automatically throwing money at G5 isn't surprising. The lack of variety is a factor. The fact the ponies are expensive, not great quality, and erm...not especially cute? Is another one. I can't comment on the animation beyond the movie, but that felt like a weird political pitch which regurgitated the concepts of FIM...

I understand wanting rid of the brony nastiness. So that may be part of the marketing strategy. And as said, Hasbro are known for being more tuned in with boys' toys as well (whatever that means)...but the fact the original MLP episodes (g1) were written by someone who wrote for transformers should be a lesson learned.

Problem is Hasbro aren't and haven't really looked back before G4 to understand how to reinvent My Little Pony. There are so many things you could do with the pony concept right now, which isn't being done. The friendship junk has been flogged to death, and it was an unhealthy message anyway...there's no really defined 'mane six' to build a narrative around, so no reason for kids to care about the ponies on shelves. They all have silly names, but not silly in a way a kid would find funny. Sunny is a very overused colour scheme in G3/G4 MLP, which doesn't help (orange is also a brave choice for a MC, though it would be so much nicer if orange with blue...or something other than that pink).

The attempts at the 'retro' ponies (G4 in fakie poor imitation G1 'style'), the what is it set - rainbow? with the Minty and Pinkie Pie and co in G5 style in a 'set of g3-4-5' something... suggests complete dissonance from anything pre G3. It just feels like G5 is haphazard, not well marketed, and...well...kids aren't stupid.

Add to that the competition from other toy lines and *splat*.

Has it failed yet? Not officially. Is it like what happened with G2? Not in the slightest. G2 had a market, did that without an animated series, ran successfully in a fairly independently organised European sale network for years after the US Hasbro pulled the plug. That independence of regional identity died with G3, when that moved to core characters. G5 doesn't have that option. If it fails in the US it fails universally.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 08, 2024, 03:24:47 PM
I think BF is probably making a bulk of the money.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on March 08, 2024, 04:09:21 PM
In my opinion, no.

For a non-objective stand point, it's far too early - at worst it's only flopped if they give up now (assuming the sales aren't working, because I have no idea - I will admit, I barely know what the G5 toys are doing, and I get that's the be all and end all of My Little Pony) from an objective stand point, it's doing absolutely fine - Make Your Mark alone is beautifully written, and feels like something I grew up with, like My Little Pony should, and I honestly feel if they stick with these ponies, they'll continue to have something beautiful (I'm not saying they can't do a G1 and have new mane cast though - it would be a shame in my opinion, because I am so nostalgic for the current G5 cast right now, though.) I also know that Make Your Mark has ended, but there is a chance that the CGI G5 could continue under a new name.

I also don't think it's really relevant if something "flops" or not - a lot of now acclaimed movies were likely flops when they first premiered, it means nothing, in my opinion. I will also say that I have seen a lot of positivity (from bronies and MLP fans in general) towards G5 - there are flaws pointed out, some even the opposite of each other (some think G5 takes forever to have a storyline, yet I've seen one person, say that the Little Ponies don't take the time to have fun) - there are some G4 purists who don't like it, but they are G4 purists, that should tell you all you need to know. People are allowed not to like it themselves of course, but I love it.

Regarding the A New Generation cast: This is just me, but I didn't even know they were celebrities - I recognized two of them from Disney, and one from YouTube, but I honestly didn't know they were a higher "Letter-List" than the usual voice actresses - basically, all celebrities are the same to me, in a good way, like they're all equally famous, and deserve their spotlight - I know it doesn't work like that, and I realize now that the whole "A-list, C-list, etc." thing has nothing to do with how much I or anybody likes them, but is what type of celebrity they are (say, movie celebrity vs. game show host), but yeah, I didn't know they were that "big".

Regarding Hasbro not "letting go of G4": For one thing, it doesn't need to - all generations should be remembered and celebrated (if not, still used), all the way back to G1, and for the other, I think G5 stands on it's own perfectly. Yes, it is written as a sequel to G5 (albeit, a sequel to its own canon of G5 - and yes, it is it's own canon, I can go into detail on this), but it ultimately stand out on it's own, and is it's own thing, just like any other generation. I was unsure about it being its own sequel to G4 at first, and part of me still feels that linking generations should be left to fanon (or they could not link at all, it's up to you, that is the beauty of fanon) but ultimately, I feel they did it fine, as G5 ultimately stands on it's own hooves, and the link to G4 seems to be more of a starting off point, and some heart-warming nostalgia (they refer to G1 as well.)

So yeah, even if it does "flop" it doesn't matter, because I will always love G5, and so will it's fans, and I can tell there are a lot of us - like all generations of My Little Pony, it will be remembered forever, in my opinion.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Queen Sophie on March 08, 2024, 04:23:00 PM
My Walmart got rid of their pony section guess cause it just wasn’t selling well that and kids are really not into toys that much nowadays
Also I feel like there is more retro ponies being released than g5 ponies lately!
Also I was at target I wanted to get the main cast with Misty but for some reason it’s like $30! Geez?
I’m ready for g6, media is second best for me, toys are number one thing I care about
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 09, 2024, 06:53:37 AM
My Walmart got rid of their pony section guess cause it just wasn’t selling well that and kids are really not into toys that much nowadays
Also I feel like there is more retro ponies being released than g5 ponies lately!
Also I was at target I wanted to get the main cast with Misty but for some reason it’s like $30! Geez?
I’m ready for g6, media is second best for me, toys are number one thing I care about

I'm not. Because then we'll be getting the Mane One. And we'll only ever get one pony sold to us 12 billion times.  :nope: :facepalm:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Carrehz on March 09, 2024, 07:16:11 AM
Reading through this I was struck with the wondering - to what extent has Basic Fun's retro line sabotaged G5's publicity train? I know the target markets are technically different, but with everyone tightening finances, and with so much G1 retro stuff around (not just ponies, also clothing, bags, other marketing deals with other organisations...) has G5 been overshadowed? Has there actually been a publicity campaign for G5?

This is a good point... there is a fair amount of retro stuff around these days, not just the BF toys but also clothes etc. I guess there's G5 merch around too, but I don't recall seeing as much merch for it as I did back in G4's heyday? There's the Egmont magazine here in the UK (and I assume the other countries that sell it) but that's continued on from G4, it's not new...

ARE Hasbro really advertising G5? Paw Patrol and Bluey were mentioned before... I already said how you can't escape Bluey toys over here, I see it all over the internet.. and when the Paw Patrol movie was in cinemas - couldn't go five minutes without seeing an ad for it! It was all over the cinemas! But I've never really seen stuff like that for G5?

Has it failed yet? Not officially. Is it like what happened with G2? Not in the slightest. G2 had a market, did that without an animated series, ran successfully in a fairly independently organised European sale network for years after the US Hasbro pulled the plug. That independence of regional identity died with G3, when that moved to core characters. G5 doesn't have that option. If it fails in the US it fails universally.

Mm, I don't know if I agree completely with this. Other toy lines have died down in the US and continued on in other countries - Enchantimals is a good example of this - so I don't think a US failure would definitely equal the death knell for G5. That said, I agree that I can't see anything like the variety, etc that G2 had after it went to Euro-only releases, happening again... if that makes sense. like, I could see G5 wrapping up in the US and then limping on for a while longer elsewhere, but I don't think the line would suddenly reinvent itself or whatever.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Beth3346 on March 09, 2024, 08:04:43 AM
yeah Paw Patrol and Bluey are everywhere. i even know what they are and i don't have kids and i don't care all that much about pop culture these days. my little pony seems to be more of a nostalgia thing these days. who knows though. these kinds of product lines can increase and decrease in popularity.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 09, 2024, 02:18:50 PM
Mm, I don't know if I agree completely with this. Other toy lines have died down in the US and continued on in other countries - Enchantimals is a good example of this - so I don't think a US failure would definitely equal the death knell for G5. That said, I agree that I can't see anything like the variety, etc that G2 had after it went to Euro-only releases, happening again... if that makes sense. like, I could see G5 wrapping up in the US and then limping on for a while longer elsewhere, but I don't think the line would suddenly reinvent itself or whatever.

I was commenting specifically on the comparison to the failure of G2 My Little Pony, not toys in general succeeding/not in the US/Europe. I was really saying that the G2 example has nothing in common with the G5 example, in part because Hasbro and MLP were set up differently then from how they are now. In G1 there is a lot of autonomy and G1 continued in other places after the US ended. In G2, the same happened. In G3, it didn't. In fact, the US line got more exclusives than were available overseas, and there wasn't a lag after G3 ended in the US whereby it had an independent identity outside. G4 was very streamlined because of the show. Aside a few store exclusives, there isn't much deviation on what's available where. By the point you get to G5, MLP is an all-or-nothing concept with little room for regional deviation. That's why it's not the same, and why failure in the US is failure everywhere - there's no independent creativity going into the line in the way that existed at the end of the nineties.

We're talking a period of more than 20 years now. It's not surprising that this is the case. I just don't think it matters whether other toy lines have this flexibility, regionally. We're talking specifically MLP, and MLP does not.

@MJSNEIFER, while I don't see people raging and cursing G5 (thankfully), I don't ever see much 'emotion' around it. Emotion is important for anything to last. It's also had a hard time in terms of when it's been launched/operational. Not the best economic climate.

I saw a kid today with a small G4 backpack. I have seen some G5 stuff for kids in shops like primark, and yes, there's the comic...but it does seem very anonymous, here at least.


May I also say that I strongly dislike Hasbro using the G-terms that we defined as a community.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Harmonie on March 09, 2024, 02:24:48 PM
I have also noticed how MLP sections are virtually nonexistent in stores.

I'm not much of a fan of G5 myself, but it would be sad to see the franchise end here. (not saying that's likely, but I don't know).
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 10, 2024, 08:56:04 AM
Going into the 4th year, barely any presence on shelves. Poor G5 is really tanking, for want of a fair and proper chance.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on March 14, 2024, 10:25:54 AM
@MJSNEIFER, while I don't see people raging and cursing G5 (thankfully), I don't ever see much 'emotion' around it. Emotion is important for anything to last. It's also had a hard time in terms of when it's been launched/operational. Not the best economic climate.
There's been some hate on Twitter recently (though it's likely "those" type of bronies again - and if any good has come out of it, it's encouraged more G5 fans on that site to speak out, but it's still bad it happened) and as for "emotion", I've seen a lot of it on DeviantArt, but again this is online, so it's probably not the target audience, but the bronies and other older fans, again.

Toyline wise (which is, or should be, the selling point of My Little Pony - even with the shows being as awesome as they are, in my opinion) I'm not sure what they're doing - I used to always see at least one G5 Mane Five pony in Tesco, I'm sure, but now I don't, and I have no idea where G5 even is as a toyline, which is extra strange, because I'm sure I saw it said that Hasbro wanted G5 to have more of a toyline presence than an animated presence (though it would still be animated, which it is), though that could have been word of mouth, as I don't think I saw Hasbro themselves say it, just people talking about it.

Another thing (sorry if people have said this) it doesn't seem to be advertised - I don't see any toyline adverts for My Little Pony or any for the show really (I love Make Your Mark, but I don't think I've ever seen it officially advertised as being on Netflix, outside of possibly YouTube videos (which, you ultimately need to find yourself) you just have to know it's on there. Thinking of it, I rarely see any children's shows on Netflix advertised, if ever - not even on YouTube ads, so it seems like you need to go on Netflix and look around, or be part of the circle talking about that show/movie anyway...
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: brightberry on March 14, 2024, 11:49:19 PM
I liked the first g5 movie.  The toys just don’t speak to me.  It is a little bit sad it didn’t take off.  But, I don’t think it’s the last we’ll hear from My Little Pony.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Snapdragon on March 15, 2024, 01:14:25 AM
I'm not sure 'flopped' is the right word, because I think right now Hasbro is in a bit of a free-fall situation. I didn't realize how bad (or even that it was bad) until I saw Goddessofpeep's explanation in another thread, which I will link here: https://mlparena.com/index.php?topic=405276.msg1909518#msg1909518

But basically, Hasbro messed up their big cash cow line (Magic: The Gathering) which until very recently was basically just printing money for them, and now it's so bad that even their stock tanked, and they got downgraded by Wall Street. Like, it's BAD-bad. So I think right now, Hasbro just isn't focusing much energy (if any) on their other toy lines, especially because they seem to generally consider themselves a "boys toys" company, and thus MLP is more like an afterthought. I have no idea what the internal mechanism is like at Hasbro, and it's hard to believe that they'd just shelve an entire toyline, but I don't think they have the same amount of people devoted to each line as they might have in like, the 80s/90s. And I think if they do have departments, the MLP department is probably just Gary who's been delegated to the janitor's supply closet! :lmao:

But more accurately, I think if the MLP department said 'okay, here's our budget, we'll need $X millions up front to manufacture the toys', Hasbro's budget might just not have $X millions to spare. I could see MLP being one of their brands being cut for costs - I mean, it's pretty barebones in general, compared to G4, or other lines like Transformers. We didn't even get anniversary-branded products most years, and this year it pretty much fell to Basic Fun.

So with that being said, I don't know if 'flopped' is the right word, but it certainly is/was floundering. I felt like it started off so strong, with the movie and the 'we have to reunite everyone' storyline, and then it petered off into 'friendship problems!' pretty quickly. I appreciate that it's not the same as G4, but I do miss when MLP was more fantastical. The toyline also never got past the same problem of the Bore Five/Six, and although I'm glad they added Misty, it still gets tiresome seeing Sunny Starscout show up in every playset. (Plus, she's orange! Why's she gotta be orange?! And pink too! Aughhh!) The novelty of the toys being jointed was very exciting, but then when your options are 3 stiff Sunny Starscouts, or 3 jointed Sunny Starscouts, I start to care less about the joints.

I mean, take all of this with a grain of salt, I'm still buying whatever I can find. :silly: But it's hard not to notice that the MLP section of every store I go to has gotten smaller... and smaller... and often vanishes. My Walmarts don't carry ponies anymore, and neither does my local TRU/Macy's combo, and my local Target has had the same 2-3 items for months. That's not good. (And it makes me miss REAL TRU, because when TRU was still around, they'd ALWAYS have tons of ponies, and a wide variety too!)
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 15, 2024, 10:46:05 AM
Another thing (sorry if people have said this) it doesn't seem to be advertised - I don't see any toyline adverts for My Little Pony or any for the show really (I love Make Your Mark, but I don't think I've ever seen it officially advertised as being on Netflix, outside of possibly YouTube videos (which, you ultimately need to find yourself) you just have to know it's on there. Thinking of it, I rarely see any children's shows on Netflix advertised, if ever - not even on YouTube ads, so it seems like you need to go on Netflix and look around, or be part of the circle talking about that show/movie anyway...

This is what I was getting at with regards to it lacking a presence. Though most kids TV these days are on designated channels, which wasn't the case back for G1 and G2. I was still aware of a lot of promotional G4 stuff being around though.

Snapdragon may be right, though, it's just them trying to keep the brand present on a shoestring and it may or may not get a better injection of something later on down the line. A placeholder in the market isn't great but perhaps they consider it better than nothing.

Tesco is one of the supermarkets I can no longer get to that easily, but Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury's are the same story. Asda has more fakies than actual ponies. Re actual toy shops - Smyths has about one version of Sunny and that's it. Again, more fakies and other unicorn related toys. The Entertainer display could be archived as a museum piece as I don't think it's been touched in a year.

I did see a few more things when I went to the county town the other week but not much.

I do think they chose the wrong colour scheme for their MC. Or at the very least they should've changed the packaging colour. Orange +pink + darker pink/purple is kind of hard on the eyes when it's literally all that's available.

To balance that out, I haven't seen BF stuff on shelves in a store here in a year or two. I've only seen them when I've gone down south.

Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 15, 2024, 05:00:07 PM
I've been hearing that Transformers are being cheaply produced and overpriced too. I stopped buying a couple years ago myself, so I don't know.  Sounds like hasbro is just doing this all around now. Unsure of the quality with their Joes and LPS lines, if still around?
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MoonShadow on March 16, 2024, 04:37:11 AM
I've been hearing that Transformers are being cheaply produced and overpriced too. I stopped buying a couple years ago myself, so I don't know.  Sounds like hasbro is just doing this all around now. Unsure of the quality with their Joes and LPS lines, if still around?

I think BasicFun! took over the main LPS line but may be mistaken.  I kind of hope Hasbro hands off the next gen of MLP to them as well.  I'd love to see BasicFun! run wild with the line if the quality is as good as the retros (nylon hair, etc.).  Hopefully they'd even be brave enough to go the "gotta collect 'em all route" as opposed to releasing the same 5/6 characters ad nauseam.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on March 16, 2024, 11:08:03 AM
I kind of hope Hasbro hands off the next gen of MLP to them as well.

Me too. If Hasbro is unwilling to up their game when it comes to quality and design then I do want them to pivot to just owning and (re)creating the IP and licensing it out to other companies, like they seem to have in mind.

Kind of like how Disney handles its IP's, you know. Sure, Disney makes some of its own toys, but most of what's out there is created by licensees and they are all giving it a bit of their own spin. Then again, it could become a jumbled mess as well?
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lalalei2001 on March 16, 2024, 02:01:29 PM
They're having another video game out so I don't think it's doing poorly, but I haven't seen a lot of buzz around either the animated series or the toys.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: TheClassCalico on March 16, 2024, 02:18:04 PM
I've been hearing that Transformers are being cheaply produced and overpriced too. I stopped buying a couple years ago myself, so I don't know.  Sounds like hasbro is just doing this all around now. Unsure of the quality with their Joes and LPS lines, if still around?

I think BasicFun! took over the main LPS line but may be mistaken.  I kind of hope Hasbro hands off the next gen of MLP to them as well.  I'd love to see BasicFun! run wild with the line if the quality is as good as the retros (nylon hair, etc.).  Hopefully they'd even be brave enough to go the "gotta collect 'em all route" as opposed to releasing the same 5/6 characters ad nauseam.

Agreed! Basic Fun, assuming that they'd stick to the same quality, would be perfect! I'd also like to think that there'd be more variety as well.


Regarding the game, it may have been in production for awhile, or even just an attempt to give G5 a boost. However, given that it's very likely shovelware like the previous game, I doubt it. Maybe it's a sign that things are doing okay, but I also doubt that, based on the evidence that things have been going poorly. We'll have to wait and see.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: CowboyRaccoons on March 18, 2024, 05:45:31 AM
There's a new game? If it looks any good I might have to pick it up.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: BlackCurtains on March 18, 2024, 09:11:38 AM
Honestly, things seem to be going pretty bad for most companies lately. A bunch of video game developers let people go recently. I think all the inflation is starting to make a difference in what people choose to buy. I mean, I wanted some Doritos yesterday but the price made me not get them. Over $5 for a bag? I don't think so. If Hasbro wants quantity over quality and charge the same thing, there's a problem.

Also, as someone else in thread said, kids toys are everywhere. I don't have kids nor am I around them and I know who Bluey is. Barbie is popular again and as far as I know, their quality hasn't gone down.

Maybe Hasbro got too big for themselves and consumers are starting to fight back.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: TheClassCalico on March 18, 2024, 10:09:04 AM
Honestly, things seem to be going pretty bad for most companies lately. A bunch of video game developers let people go recently. I think all the inflation is starting to make a difference in what people choose to buy. I mean, I wanted some Doritos yesterday but the price made me not get them. Over $5 for a bag? I don't think so. If Hasbro wants quantity over quality and charge the same thing, there's a problem.

Also, as someone else in thread said, kids toys are everywhere. I don't have kids nor am I around them and I know who Bluey is. Barbie is popular again and as far as I know, their quality hasn't gone down.

Maybe Hasbro got too big for themselves and consumers are starting to fight back.

I'm not a Barbie collector, but I do follow the toy community as a whole, and sadly, its quality has gone down significantly.

If they are indeed struggling with the current inflation, I understand the quality drop, but I agree that they shouldn't be expecting people to pay the same amount for inferior products. I do think that an increase in variety may help, even if they use cheaper materials, though.

There's a new game? If it looks any good I might have to pick it up.

Yep! A Zephyr Heights Mystery. It is being produced by OG Outright Games, which was responsible for the last G5 game and are known for creating rushed, "shovelware" games (notoriously, the Bluey game.) That isn't to say that they're necessarily unfun, but it's important to keep in mind that it's better not to expect too much.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: CowboyRaccoons on March 19, 2024, 05:41:43 AM
Honestly, things seem to be going pretty bad for most companies lately. A bunch of video game developers let people go recently. I think all the inflation is starting to make a difference in what people choose to buy. I mean, I wanted some Doritos yesterday but the price made me not get them. Over $5 for a bag? I don't think so. If Hasbro wants quantity over quality and charge the same thing, there's a problem.

Also, as someone else in thread said, kids toys are everywhere. I don't have kids nor am I around them and I know who Bluey is. Barbie is popular again and as far as I know, their quality hasn't gone down.

Maybe Hasbro got too big for themselves and consumers are starting to fight back.

I'm not a Barbie collector, but I do follow the toy community as a whole, and sadly, its quality has gone down significantly.

If they are indeed struggling with the current inflation, I understand the quality drop, but I agree that they shouldn't be expecting people to pay the same amount for inferior products. I do think that an increase in variety may help, even if they use cheaper materials, though.

There's a new game? If it looks any good I might have to pick it up.

Yep! A Zephyr Heights Mystery. It is being produced by OG Outright Games, which was responsible for the last G5 game and are known for creating rushed, "shovelware" games (notoriously, the Bluey game.) That isn't to say that they're necessarily unfun, but it's important to keep in mind that it's better not to expect too much.

I do like the models used for the ponies in the game, I think its quite cute.

Adding to your point about inflation- there have been so many new lps with flaws straight from the factory. I don't mean the usual chips or misprinting, I have a kitten whose peg is lopsided in her head. I have seen someone get a factory reject in theirs, and so many cases of oily pets and huge paint flaws as well as head/body mismatching colors.
Basic fun seems to be struggling a bit too. I am still so peeved that they haven't made any new popular pets. It's all different animals than what people think of when you refer to "pets"
Ie. Dogs, cats, the like.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Beldarna on March 19, 2024, 06:09:18 AM
I'm going to be a little allover the place so bare with me.

People who're getting kids are getting older and older. In Sweden most new parents are in their mid to late thirties. These were the ones who grew up with G1. Are they gonna buy toys like G5 or be nostalgic and getting the retro ponies? I know of at least two moms my age who went for the latter. The newer ones were "ugly and did not look like horses". Their kids have just turned three so a bit young for the show but not too young to play with the dolls. I would say this is one of the reasons the retro ponies sell so well compare to Hasbros newer additions.

Most brand toys are sold in toystores. When I grew up I never saw Barbie or MLP or Transformers in supermarkets or discount stores. I still rarely do. The other day I was walking through a discount store and on the toyshelf amongst a lot of off brand toys were Bluey. Kids were flocked at that section. Someone in the Bluey-department is thinking outside of the box and bringing in beans by contracting discount stores. With the inflation going, that is a smart move. I've also seen Barbie in supermarkets.

One thing that sells a lot in all of our discount store chains is a brand of ponies called Zuru Sparkle Girlz. They remind a tad bit of G4, but they are larger, brushable (they have bangs!) and feels more playable. They are cheaper but the quality is amazing compaired to the brand toys. They feel good in the hand. I love them, I have one of each of the baby unicorns. This is something others has touched as well, the quality of the toys have gone down. As a kid you could tell a brand toy from an off brand toy by the looks of it. Now you can't because they look the same.. except from the ponies describe above that feels like the G3. I'll take any of these before G5 any day of the week.

G5s are ugly, to be honest. The toys I've seen on the shelves are boring. It's like Hasbro grew tired and just felt they needed something, anything, and did not put any thought or interest in them. I guess that's the lack of budget talking. I saw the movie when it came to Netflix and was like meh.. not for me. I am not a fan of G4. Did not like the toys, never got into the show and just waited for the generation to be over.. but I think that was way better than what is presented now. Someone wrote that Hasbro should have let the G4 die down and bring back MLP a couple of years from now and I think that is a good idea. I think it would have been better. This feels so rushed.

Finally, what I brushed on in off Topic; kids today grow up so fast. I played with ponies and Barbies when I was 12. My niece turnes 9 in two days. The pony I gave her when she turned five was returned to me two years ago when she cleaned out her toys. She's nine but into crafts, make up and nail polishes and clothes. In my favorite toystore (which has an amazing mlp-section by the way, but 90% is basic fun) two thirds of the store is now childrens crafts. Everything from diamond painting kits and paint by number to do your own make up and embroidery. And lego. Lots and lots of Lego. When I go to fleemarkets tons of tables are parents with little kids getting rid of their toys. Kids ages 7-10.. I played with toys when I was that age, but these have outgrown them.. Kids in the age of the TV-show simply don't play with toys anymore so they don't relate and want the toys. Which turns back to my first point. The ones who playes with the toys are too young for the show and their parents buy them the retro ones for nostalgic reasons. The ones old enough for the show don't plays with toys anymore. It's an ongoing circle spiraling down.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on March 19, 2024, 06:42:13 AM
Yes I agree Beldarna, the pony lot I bought locally had McD's ponies, a bunch of fakies, 1 G1 and 4 Basic Fun repros, and it was confirmed by the little girl who was like 5, that yes these were her old ponies.  >.<  I played with mine until I was like 12
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Ponybookworm on March 19, 2024, 11:33:30 AM
Beldarna I definitely saw your remark on how quickly children grow out of toys nowadays...
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Carrehz on March 19, 2024, 12:24:16 PM
Re actual toy shops - Smyths has about one version of Sunny and that's it.

I actually took a pic of the MLP ""section"" last time I was in Smyths:

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That's it! That's literally the only pony stuff they're selling atm.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 19, 2024, 05:40:02 PM
Re actual toy shops - Smyths has about one version of Sunny and that's it.

I actually took a pic of the MLP ""section"" last time I was in Smyths:

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That's it! That's literally the only pony stuff they're selling atm.

Yep. That's the one. Same situation here :/

On the discounts stores carrying Bluey or whatever else, that's not uncommon here either - LOL, Rainbow High, and yes, FIM My Little Pony stuff have appeared in B&M, Home Bargains, etc. I am unsure however if this is a deal with the producers at the start or at the end of a range (ie clearance).

But I do agree with most everything Beldarna said. I've also seen young kids selling toys what seems like really early at carboot sales. I am unsure whether this is just how the world is now, or whether that's those individual kids. Difficult to say really. I have never liked the pressure on girls especially to grow up and be adult sooner than they need to be (ie having phones, social media, make up and such) - at the same time, crafts and things are probably also popular online and they have a lot more digital exposure.

I think kids' imagination develops differently now as well. Not necessaily in a good direction.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on March 19, 2024, 08:56:11 PM
I went to walmart this past weekend and all the G5 MLP stuff was on clearance! 
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Snapdragon on March 19, 2024, 09:29:44 PM
I went to walmart this past weekend and all the G5 MLP stuff was on clearance! 

That sounds like an exciting sale, but I can't help but feel like it's a bit pointless for me, since my local Walmarts have already gotten rid of the pony section! :yikes:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DracoKat on March 20, 2024, 08:00:28 AM
I liked the cartoons- once I got used to the odd looking ponies that look nothing like MLP IMO. The storyline was cute.
The toys felt cold and not fun. They had no personality to them, I can see why kids aren't grabbing them off the shelves. I've found so many of them in thrift stores too, many still in packaging.

I feel like maybe if they made the mane 5 look more like g4's, more like horses like g1/3's, they'd have better luck? And a bigger variety of characters other than the same 6-7 over and over.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: CowboyRaccoons on March 20, 2024, 08:10:18 AM
I think the faces look way too human. They're also skinny still, not like actual horses, but I think g4 started that trend.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: TheClassCalico on March 20, 2024, 01:32:55 PM
Myself, I like the skinnier bodies, though I wouldn't mind a little more bulk. However, those humanoid faces, and especially those eyebrows are very much not my taste. I prefer my horses to actually look like horses, and since G3.5, they've looked too human.

Concerning children growing up quickly, I grew up in the 2000s, and I'd get bored of some toys earlier and others later. I wouldn't at all be surprised if children are bored of their toys faster more often, with the shift towards technology; at the same time, some of it may just be a matter of not caring about their old toys and instead moving towards new toys. I have definitely noticed an increase in the popularity of craft toys, as mentioned here earlier. I don't really see crafts as more "mature" exactly, but rather more interactive.

I think that it is a blend of children simply becoming bored with their old toys and also a shift towards more interactive toys and devices. Children are also probably growing up faster to a degree as well due to their exposure to the "adult" internet (such as the original YouTube) at a younger age. This last point probably affected me to a lesser degree as well, as I was regularly using services such as YouTube and watching content not technically intended for my age when I was 11+, and I know that this is also true for a lot of people within my age group.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Ponyfan on March 20, 2024, 03:38:06 PM
This is what the MLP section looks like at Target.

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Ponyfan
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: CowboyRaccoons on March 20, 2024, 04:35:41 PM
It's the same for me. I never got that minifigure set, way too much imo...
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 20, 2024, 05:48:19 PM
I checked out DD's Discounts, alas no ponies.  :huh:

Post Merge: March 20, 2024, 05:48:55 PM

This is what the MLP section looks like at Target.

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Ponyfan

At least you've got Misty
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 21, 2024, 04:31:14 AM
Has Misty even been seen in the UK? Like, at all? Ever? Anywhere??

I know she's been on Amazon, at least I think so, but regarding store shelves, it's literally just Sunny here.

There are some small figure Izzys around, possibly the same ones as when they were first released as I never see this display go down any. But any other characters...forget it.

I did see Opaline? in the county town. Also a couple of other things. Notwithstanding this isn't the most connected part of the country, it was still dire. During G1, even if I didn't have access to stores with them in, I found most G1 ponies available here at local carboot sales - so distribution must have been vaguely functional even if not in my immediate vicinity.

And even when I did go shopping for ponies, there was always choice. Even if the pony I wanted wasn't there, there were always at least ten or eleven DIFFERENT ONES on the shelf for me to pick from. Even in the smallest shop displays. John Menzies? Yep. Boots? Yep.

It's sad to say that shops like those, which are not toy stores, had much better pony displays in G1 than actual designated toy stores now do in G5.

Menzies doesn't exist anymore, afaik, but while Boots occasionally had G4 ponies, I haven't seen G5 there.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on March 21, 2024, 06:36:16 AM
[off topic but I adore the names of stores in the UK, they just are... cute!  no offense meant!]
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Lady Frostbite on March 21, 2024, 08:04:42 AM
[off topic but I adore the names of stores in the UK, they just are... cute!  no offense meant!]

Loooool, Boots is a chemist (pharmacy) for the most part but does have some toys, mostly around Christmas.

Menzies ... there is a name I haven't heard in a long, long time ... they're long dead as a shop, only the distribution arm exists. WH Smith filled the niche they left, but more expensive and worse in my opinion.

I see SOME ponies in the major supermarkets like Tesco and Asda, Smyths I'm usually distracted looking for POP!s, Pokemon, FNAF or MH so I can't tell you how big the section is but not very large, certainly smaller than the shelf space given to LOL (how is this line still going???? HOW???????). I've not been to The Entertainer for a while, I'll have a look next time I'm there. Not much in B&Ms either.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 21, 2024, 11:28:18 AM
[off topic but I adore the names of stores in the UK, they just are... cute!  no offense meant!]

Hee, none taken :) Boots is a really old company, actually. Menzies and WH Smiths are named after people/families who founded them (as Lady Frostbite said, Menzies is long since defunct as a store). We've had a lot of stores like that. Sainsburys is another (JJ Sainsburys I think?). I suspect Wilkinsons (later Wilkos) was that way too...

According to Google, Boots was also originally named after a Mr Boot who founded in the 1840s.

I have quite a few old pony packages which have boots price labels on them. I didn't mention BHS (British Home Stores, also now defunct), but my first ever pony came from there (my mother remembers choosing her in the store in Birmingham, they were all up a pillar, apparently, and she thought they looked so pretty. It was rainbow pony Windy, I can imagine that display caught the eye given how new MLP was. I don't think Mum had ever seen them before...this would've been late 1984.)

As a Brit, the word mart in shop names is a bit weird to me as we don't use it (market, yes, mart, not really). When I was in Japan, I kept seeing FamilyMart stores everywhere and it was a bit jolting ;) Asda used to be Walmart but I don't think it is anymore.

Japan also has a lot of 7/11 stores and a handful of Circle K (the latter has long since triggered Bill & Ted jokes with my sister and I, since she found them in Korea as well).

...Enough for the OT ;) Moving back on topic.

The display in our Entertainer has not changed for literally over a year.

We don't have a toymaster franchise in this area anymore, so I don't know if they have any better. They do better on BasicFun than Entertainer/Smyths/etc stores.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Lady Frostbite on March 21, 2024, 12:15:44 PM
Tesco was named after a combination fo the founder (Jack Cohen) and his main supplier at the time, so TES from that supplier and CO from Cohen. Some of the own-brand Tesco stuff is under this original supplier name, it's escaping me at the moment and I'm too proud to look it up. Sainsbury was deffo named after its founder, same with Boots and Wilkinsons.

The last Toymaster I ever saw was almost 20 years ago in a specific city, I'm not sure it's still there but it might be. TRU and other toy shops really piledrove it into the ground. The Entertainer is so weird; they never stocked MH and I think someone on MH arena said it was because someone at head office thought they were demonic? Or maybe too risqué? But they have other franchises in there that are just as dark?? It's a weird mix of toys compared to Smyths or Hamleys. They do seem to change stuff over late compared to Smyths, which is apparently really taking up TRU's mantle. My local Smyths rearranged their displays (which was confusing as I was looking for the Schleich figures after I had done my pick-up of Pokémon POP!s and notice the FNAF display was thin).

Coming back to Tesco, their pony section was small for G5 but it's worth noting that their Rainbow High selecton was also weirdly small as well
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on March 21, 2024, 02:05:49 PM
[off topic but I adore the names of stores in the UK, they just are... cute!  no offense meant!]
It's more than fine. I never thought about it, but... it's cute that you find them cute, if that makes sense. ^_^
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on March 21, 2024, 10:53:10 PM
I've found so many of them in thrift stores too, many still in packaging.


Ouch!

Post Merge: March 21, 2024, 10:55:51 PM

my mother remembers choosing her in the store in Birmingham, they were all up a pillar, apparently, and she thought they looked so pretty. It was rainbow pony Windy, I can imagine that display caught the eye given how new MLP was. I don't think Mum had ever seen them before...this would've been late 1984.

Your Mother has good taste!  :shocked: So lucky!

Post Merge: March 21, 2024, 11:18:00 PM


If I was a kid I wouldn't want to share my fandom with grown adults 30+ regardless of gender. But especially not with adults who create so much p*** that "safe search on" still shows it.

I'm sad that G5 couldn't be for girls again without being cheaped out.


I was angry and disgusted by it at the time, but then I saw it just part of the 'next' social problem i.e. harmful media content. Every new generation of teens seem to have more serious problems to deal with and they are worse when they are new because kids (and parents) don't know how to avoid them. I just assumed that it would work itself through and that in the meantime you gave your child a brick and they just had to put up with it. Not so. The social pressure to have an online presence is now so great that it can set a child back if you don't allow them to engage with it, and meanwhile the media companies have not made things much better.

I am also sad. I would not like to offer my child something so lacking in substance that she might identify with her gender. I watched the 2 mini movies on Netflix and quite enjoyed them, but the only character I liked enough to buy a toy was Izzie, so I bought one plush and that was it. It's a nice plush but not even that different from some G4 plushes. 

I don't know yet, but don't think I will allow daughter to engage fully in these toy lines with media and current releases etc. We never did because we didn't have network TV. We saw a couple of MLP movies in the cinema because a friend offered to take us, but that was it. Incidentally, we never had any fixed idea of the characters either because my cousin lived in a different area and got different characters from us in the shops. We had Argos and they had Cash and Carry. So we just had a mixture of toys old and new and used our own imagination. If she wants to collect anthing fully it will have to be stamps maybe it can be rocks. Maybe I'm being too extreme. Will kids even want plastic toys in a few year's time? I know that they worry about the environment a lot more than even 5 years ago.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Carrehz on March 22, 2024, 08:41:41 AM
Yeah, Sainsbury = John Sainsbury.

Taffeta - wasn't it you that said Entertainer didn't stock MH because they were too good and Christian to sell demon monster toys? or am I misremembering? I definitely do remember that coming up back on the MH Arena though.

Another factor could be that apparently Entertainer don't sell things unless they can get them for a good price. I was told this by a reliable source in the toy industry - that's why they stopped selling Sylvanian Families for a while - Entertainer were getting them for a good price, and then Epoch took over distribution of SFs worldwide and charged more than Entertainer were willing to pay, so they dropped the line. Epoch eventually put their prices down and so Entertainer started stocking the line again, but they only stock the cheapest items, which is why you'll never see a huge SF section in there.
(I wonder if this is why they stopped selling Pokemon stuff too?)

Toymaster... I don't remember the last time I saw one of those. There's never been one within my usual umm toy hunting radius? one I can easily get to, anyway XD

I've never seen Misty over here. Opaline I think I've only seen at some GAME stores? Definitely never at Smyths and I don't think I've seen her at Entertainer either.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 22, 2024, 03:24:22 PM
There is a Christian-based element to Entertainer, which is why they don't open Sundays, and yes, I believe they did not stock MH but did stock EAH because of this. They never had an issue with MLP though. It was just the 'monster' side of MH that I guess they didn't go for.

I had a very brief temporary employment with them back in the long ago days, and the whole not working on Sunday was something they made a big deal out of.

I do think any toy store would only go after something that they see as profitable.

I know of lots of toymaster franchise stores in the area where I used to live in south London - but none here in the midlands any more :/ We get forgotten for a lot of things, though, especially since this nonsensical north/south divide narrative started gaining traction. We're not really part of either :/

I didn't think I'd seen Misty, either. I have Opaline, and I think I bought her in Entertainer, but not in my local store. Probably the county town.

@Artie - I'm glad not to be a kid now. I think they have so many difficult things to navigate that we just never had to face. It's hard to predict the future, but hopefully at some point the 'wild west' nature of social media and the internet will come into line and things will settle down in time for when your daughter is old enough to really engage with it all.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: BlackCurtains on March 23, 2024, 11:29:24 AM
I miss KB Toys in the US. Mine always had old stock of stuff, like Kenner LPS, you could still find in package for cheap. I never shopped for ponies  back then but I wonder if I came across any that were like the LPS.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Crystal-Sushi on March 26, 2024, 03:34:08 AM
I've personally felt that MLP (strictly the toys themselves, not any attached media) has been on a downward spiral ever since Core 7.
One of the KEY aspects of MLP is the 'collect them all' nature which completely falls apart once you introduce a core group of characters - I think only G2 pulled this off somewhat successfully as it maintained a good blend of old characters with new looks and brand-new ones.
The second aspect is the tactility, which I feel has been lost with the ponies getting increasingly small and less... quality?
The hair doesn't feel nice any more (if it's not outright sculpted) and they're hard plastic. Poses are static and uninspired, gimmicks are obtrusive and get in the way of standard play...
I firmly believe if G4 hadn't had such a successful cartoon attached to it, it would have been dead in the water in a couple of years  -_-
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 26, 2024, 04:23:27 AM
This is what Entertainer's pony section looked like on Saturday.
visitors can't see pics , please register or login


It's been like that for months.

Look at the choice! You can get a little Sunny, a big sunny or a big sunny with wings! Wow. And is that maybe a poseable sunny as well? I can't believe it  :blink:

I am honestly still not sure why FIM was as successful as it was. Not that it was successful, but why it was SO popular. I can only assume it was a perfect storm of timing and promotion. But on balance, its success is something that MLP is going to struggle to overcome or match. I actually did wonder how Hasbro would continue after the FIM phenomenon, because whatever they released wouldn't be able to match up to it.

I think the only way they might have succeeded would have been to rip up everything from FIM and do something TOTALLY different. It would've been a risk, but at the same time, establishing it on it own merits rather than as a comparative media to G4 would have been a better move.

The sad thing is that coming up with something more innovative than what we got is not hard.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on March 26, 2024, 05:18:16 AM
But on balance, its success is something that MLP is going to struggle to overcome or match. I actually did wonder how Hasbro would continue after the FIM phenomenon, because whatever they released wouldn't be able to match up to it.

On top of that, FIM's success hasn't completely waned yet; merch continues to come out to this day! MLP Merch just posted a nice overview of new stuff, and frankly, it looks better than what's on that shelf.

I think that as long as third parties are willing to pay the liscensing fees, we will see FIM merch. It's just part of the overal MLP brand, like G1 is to this day. Maybe Hasbro sees whatever gen is current as just a branch of a larger tree, and not as the main focus anymore? It's all just a bit messy IMO.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on March 26, 2024, 06:57:15 AM
I have seen G5 merch at our local liquidation clearance store! 
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Carrehz on March 27, 2024, 10:57:35 AM
Taffeta - that looks just like the Entertainer I was in on Monday! Only difference is your Fashion Squad EQGs are in a box :P

It's sad that the most variety I've seen lately is the old stock Fashion Squads and some ancient G4s that have suddenly popped up at TK Maxx (the articulated ones? not sure what set these are, but Miss Pommel is one of them).

Look at the choice! You can get a little Sunny, a big sunny or a big sunny with wings! Wow. And is that maybe a poseable sunny as well? I can't believe it  :blink:

:silly:

I think FiM's success was one of those miracle hits that you can't ever replicate. One of those "right place, right time" kind of things. Lauren Faust was a name most animation fans would instantly recognize - I know my reaction was "Ooh, Lauren's on this? Cool" when I first heard about it - I think that brought a lot of people in. I 100% think that the show coinciding with the rise of social media, and Tumblr's heyday, accounts for a lot of its popularity too. (I also think this is why Homestuck was such a hit, but that's going a bit off-topic... :P) Something about it just clicked with that crowd and made it spread more than I think it would've otherwise. Plus the very simplified design/aesthetic/etc compared to previous gens makes it easier/more appealing perhaps to make fanart of? (horses are hard to draw - even stylized ones like G1-3... G4's very stylized, simplified designs are a lot easier in comparison. this isn't a knock on G4's style btw, just a comparison) people love a bandwagon, making ponysonas is fun and easy, I think that helped too. (I know what I mean but I'm not sure I'm explaining it well... I'm not sure how to put this into words :s)

But yeah, I'm not saying I think FiM would ever have been a flop, but I think the level of popularity it enjoyed was largely the result of everything falling into place at just the right time. I don't think ANY follow-up would ever have been as successful because of that.

I think the only way they might have succeeded would have been to rip up everything from FIM and do something TOTALLY different. It would've been a risk, but at the same time, establishing it on it own merits rather than as a comparative media to G4 would have been a better move.

I agree.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on March 28, 2024, 01:40:47 PM
To be fair, I think G5 does stand on it's own, even with it's connection to G4, and being a sort of sequel - it still feels like it's own generation (which it is) due to it doing its thing and going by its own rules (the things that G4 established have changed for G5, so it's more like a sequel to its own take on G4, rather than G4 itself - there's already contradictions if it's literally a sequel to the G4 we saw) - so it's still its own thing, at least that's how I see it - and I feel that it honors G4 beautiful when it does follow it, so this isn't an attempt to separate it from G4, I just feel that it is its own thing, ultimately.

I can't say for sure, as I did start with G4, but G5 could probably be viewed without prior knowledge of G4, and the G4 ponies and the like they refer to could just be... "story building?" if taken out of context, like they could easily have just been created for this show, as historical/mythological/legendary characters/places/things, but they just happen to be from previous generations, which you (if you're somebody who started with G5) can later check out, when you realize this? I can only speculate, but I like they idea of a reboot opening the door for newcomers to its predecessors, while at the same time standing as its own thing (which G5 does, in my opinion.)

I can only speak for myself, but I both understand and don't understand how G4 was such a song and dance - I love G4, but a lot of what I love about it was present in the previous generations, and stayed present in future generations, yet I also get how it stood out from what was around at the time. I'm not saying that all other cartoons were bad (or that FIM was the only cartoon to do what I'm about to praise), but there seemed to be more focus on being silly/comical, which isn't a bad thing, but I was getting annoyed that there didn't seem to be any love or friendship in cartoons, unless it was included as a joke - I'm exaggerating, I'm sure, but I'm sure I remember feeling this, so when I discovered G4, I was happy to find a show that did have cute friendship moments taken seriously, and had the love that shows I grew up with had (other modern shows do this, as did/do previous/later MLP generations, but that's what made G4 standout for me above other shows - though all of MLP does for me, essentially (again, I know it's not the only franchise that is like this.)

That's just me personally, obviously other people got into G4 for their own reasons, and maybe some of it was the timing, which is awesome in a way, as I got to experience it, which I wouldn't trade for anything, but a shame on the other, as all the other generations deserve the exact same praise and following in my opinion, and I still hope that someday they can be given exactly that, but of course, I know that I and many others (bronies included) love the non-G4 generations (forgive the term, pure laziness, nothing more) and that will always be something, but I'd love for them to get the creative
 fandom treatment that G4 got (if I had more talent, I'd have done so much more for them, and hope that someday I can.)

Side Note: As much as I respect Lauren, it was actually My Little Pony that "introduced me to her", so to speak. I'd seen and liked other things she'd been involved with, but I didn't really check who was involved with them. I guess it just goes to show that the journey can always be different, even if the destination is the same.  :lovey:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 28, 2024, 02:00:40 PM
The thing is that all previous generations broke away from the earlier stuff and did their own thing.

What G5 has done is more in keeping with My Little Pony Tales, which does not reference directly anything from the older G1 material, but you do have the cameos from the Glowing Magic(al) ponies, and then there's some pseudo-mediaeval stuff which I guess you could looooosely tie into the kind of world that existed in the earlier stuff. Albeit very loose.

Tales is G1. MLP & Friends is G1. One is the older version of a world modernised in the other. That's a link albeit it's not as tight a link as G5 has with G4. Yet we're meant to believe G5 is a generation of its own.

This is one of my bugbears because the defining of generations was something we did, not Hasbro, and the mainstreaming of this idea of a G4-G5 transition is their brainchild, not necessarily in keeping with how generations were defined in the past.

To begin with it was Old Ponies and New Ponies, as there were only two generations. Sometimes you got 'new generation', then LM came in with the Transformers concept of G-, around G3's arrival. Because you couldn't have old, new, and newer xD.

But...though there are some name repeats across generations, there is literally nothing canonical connecting Dream Valley (Ponyland in the UK), Friendship Gardens and Ponyville. Whereas Sunny and company live in a later version of Equestria. Just like Tales and MLP Friends.

Actually, do they call it Ponyland in Tales as well? I can't remember what they call it xD.

So basically, G5 scrapes the barrel on being a new generation. It has its own characters but not really its own concepts. And maybe the nod back to older generations is reflecting the age of the brand and the anniversary coming up - but at the same time...it's really quite lazy.

The naming sense is also awful.

But, all that said - if the toys looked less...weird, and had more variety and better QC, would that make the world/narrative/etc feel more fresh and engaging? I guess the question is, is the problem a stagnant toyline or a media concept that's tired and starved of new ideas?
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: TheBeatlesPkmnFan42 on March 28, 2024, 10:09:57 PM
I've personally felt that MLP (strictly the toys themselves, not any attached media) has been on a downward spiral ever since Core 7.
One of the KEY aspects of MLP is the 'collect them all' nature which completely falls apart once you introduce a core group of characters - I think only G2 pulled this off somewhat successfully as it maintained a good blend of old characters with new looks and brand-new ones.
The second aspect is the tactility, which I feel has been lost with the ponies getting increasingly small and less... quality?
The hair doesn't feel nice any more (if it's not outright sculpted) and they're hard plastic. Poses are static and uninspired, gimmicks are obtrusive and get in the way of standard play...
I firmly believe if G4 hadn't had such a successful cartoon attached to it, it would have been dead in the water in a couple of years  -_-

Little late to quoting this here, but I absolutely agree. I did get into MLP via G4's cartoon, and so G4 of course will always hold a place in my heart, but the toys themselves were never as good as the generations prior to it, even if they were the first toys I started collecting.

As I got further into MLP, the collectability with the large amount of different ponies to collect in gens 1 to 3 were a huge part of what drew me to those past generations and ultimately led to me preferring them over G4 (and now G5). And yes the quality has gone down significantly, too. Though the concept of the Core 7 drags late G3/G3.5 down, at least even then the quality of the ponies were still pretty good. Early G4 quality was... alright? But about halfway through that it dipped significantly.

Completely agree that the success of FiM was the only reason G4 lasted as long as it did. I also think the G4 toyline could have done a little better if they'd took advantage of the cartoon's success more? Hasbro going in on releasing so many versions of the Mane 6 constantly when the FiM staff introduced so many characters was always a really strange decision to me. While it wouldn't have helped the issue of decreasing quality, I do think the G4 toyline could have been much more enjoyable to collect if Hasbro would have just made more various FiM characters into standard, widely released pony toys. We did get some toys of other characters, but a lot of them were either part of spin-off lines (like blindbags, Guardians of Harmony, etc), or had limited releases in specific store chains. Really a lot of missed opportunities.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Carrehz on March 29, 2024, 08:21:47 AM
But...though there are some name repeats across generations, there is literally nothing canonical connecting Dream Valley (Ponyland in the UK), Friendship Gardens and Ponyville. Whereas Sunny and company live in a later version of Equestria. Just like Tales and MLP Friends.

Actually, do they call it Ponyland in Tales as well? I can't remember what they call it xD.

not sure about Tales or the backcards/other G1 media (I think Tales is Ponyland too, but I honestly haven't seen enough eps to be sure ^^;), but in MLP and Friends at least, the main ponies live in Dream Valley which is a part of Ponyland.

I'll honestly never understand why Hasbro didn't take as much advantage of FiM's massive cast (from what I've seen!) as they could've. Like, the fact that we had to wait until the Movie line for a brushable Big Mac toy is insane.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 29, 2024, 08:23:27 AM
The thing is that all previous generations broke away from the earlier stuff and did their own thing.

What G5 has done is more in keeping with My Little Pony Tales, which does not reference directly anything from the older G1 material, but you do have the cameos from the Glowing Magic(al) ponies, and then there's some pseudo-mediaeval stuff which I guess you could looooosely tie into the kind of world that existed in the earlier stuff. Albeit very loose.

Tales is G1. MLP & Friends is G1. One is the older version of a world modernised in the other. That's a link albeit it's not as tight a link as G5 has with G4. Yet we're meant to believe G5 is a generation of its own.

This is one of my bugbears because the defining of generations was something we did, not Hasbro, and the mainstreaming of this idea of a G4-G5 transition is their brainchild, not necessarily in keeping with how generations were defined in the past.

To begin with it was Old Ponies and New Ponies, as there were only two generations. Sometimes you got 'new generation', then LM came in with the Transformers concept of G-, around G3's arrival. Because you couldn't have old, new, and newer xD.

But...though there are some name repeats across generations, there is literally nothing canonical connecting Dream Valley (Ponyland in the UK), Friendship Gardens and Ponyville. Whereas Sunny and company live in a later version of Equestria. Just like Tales and MLP Friends.

Actually, do they call it Ponyland in Tales as well? I can't remember what they call it xD.

So basically, G5 scrapes the barrel on being a new generation. It has its own characters but not really its own concepts. And maybe the nod back to older generations is reflecting the age of the brand and the anniversary coming up - but at the same time...it's really quite lazy.

The naming sense is also awful.

But, all that said - if the toys looked less...weird, and had more variety and better QC, would that make the world/narrative/etc feel more fresh and engaging? I guess the question is, is the problem a stagnant toyline or a media concept that's tired and starved of new ideas?

They do call it Ponyland.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 29, 2024, 10:44:13 AM
Thanks Carrehz, LAW.

Carrehz, do they explicitly mention the DV/Ponyland link in MLP and Friends? I've seen all the episodes but some only a few times and it's been a long time. I don't remember Dream Valley as a location coming up in the comics, but it might have done. I do remember lots of other locations, such as Memory Lane, Misty Mountain, Rainbow Mountain, and so on, and they were all part of Ponyland - new release ponies 'came to live in Ponyland'.

Hasbro did put a lot of money into various versions of a limited cast in G4 but I think it worked for them because of the demand around the series. For that to work for G5, it probably requires an iconic series that will make people want to follow x y z characters rather than variety.

It's interesting how quite a lot of other existing toylines are still going with variety. MH have always done core line/additionals and they have already managed more variety than G5 has done. Rainbow High repeat a few core characters but not so as you'd find them clogging the shelves, plenty of new ones too. LOL seems the same (same company of course). There is an increasing range of stuff from Miraculous, even though it took so long to get here. Even in other kinds of lines, like plush or TY, you see a range of characters or concepts. I feel like maybe that limited core cast thing was a phase and the world's moved past it.

Yes, people will always want popular figures like Pikachu, at the same time, when I was in Japan I remember the stock in the Japan centre in Kyoto cycled in and out pretty much on a weekly schedule, with lines staggered to keep the shop fairly fresh.

I think 'repetitive core cast' may be out of date. At least, so long as there's no meaningful digital component to compensate.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 29, 2024, 11:45:32 AM
Thanks Carrehz, LAW.

Carrehz, do they explicitly mention the DV/Ponyland link in MLP and Friends? I've seen all the episodes but some only a few times and it's been a long time. I don't remember Dream Valley as a location coming up in the comics, but it might have done. I do remember lots of other locations, such as Memory Lane, Misty Mountain, Rainbow Mountain, and so on, and they were all part of Ponyland - new release ponies 'came to live in Ponyland'.

Hasbro did put a lot of money into various versions of a limited cast in G4 but I think it worked for them because of the demand around the series. For that to work for G5, it probably requires an iconic series that will make people want to follow x y z characters rather than variety.

It's interesting how quite a lot of other existing toylines are still going with variety. MH have always done core line/additionals and they have already managed more variety than G5 has done. Rainbow High repeat a few core characters but not so as you'd find them clogging the shelves, plenty of new ones too. LOL seems the same (same company of course). There is an increasing range of stuff from Miraculous, even though it took so long to get here. Even in other kinds of lines, like plush or TY, you see a range of characters or concepts. I feel like maybe that limited core cast thing was a phase and the world's moved past it.

Yes, people will always want popular figures like Pikachu, at the same time, when I was in Japan I remember the stock in the Japan centre in Kyoto cycled in and out pretty much on a weekly schedule, with lines staggered to keep the shop fairly fresh.

I think 'repetitive core cast' may be out of date. At least, so long as there's no meaningful digital component to compensate.

The concert episiode
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on March 30, 2024, 01:56:45 AM
Carrehz, do they explicitly mention the DV/Ponyland link in MLP and Friends?


Return of Tambelon
Bree: "It's done, master. Dreamvalley is yours."
Grogar: "Exactly as I planned. Today Dreamvalley, tomorrow all of Ponyland"
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: KingdomOfThomond on March 30, 2024, 06:08:02 AM
The MLP section at my local Toymaster is almost nonexistant (and very easily missed), limited to some blind bags and Basic Fun releases on a top shelf.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on March 30, 2024, 03:09:10 PM
Ah, thank you :) Then the idea of Tales being the future of MLP and Friends ponyland makes sense.

...Going back to G5, that photo I posted of the Entertainer last Saturday? I kid you not, NOTHING G5 has even moved.

Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Ringlets on April 06, 2024, 04:26:54 AM
I'd say flop for sure. The thing is  ..well in my case I'd never stopped loving ponies since G1 and always got the new gens (even if it took me a while to accept G2 and G3.5  ^^;  ) . I've always been a bit of a pony addict (understatement!! :P )  but G5 was sooo bad it put me off right away, I've taken a long pony hiatus (  :blink: :yikes: )  and to this day I haven't been able to even make myself try out buying even one single G5. They're just  too *shudder* weird for me?  they creep me out (sorry to anyone reading this who loves them :hug:  )  and of course the quality and variety had gone downhill before the end of G4.
 I rarely see anything G5 where I live now, just the same old ones that have been shelf warming for ages and only a few when they were first released really.  I'm sure there are plenty of other people who had the same feelings about them as I did and started to spend money on other collections instead as well. The Basic Fun G1 are the only "new" ponies I've bought in years  :redface:
Hasbro really messed up IMHO.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Moonbreeze on April 06, 2024, 05:39:39 AM
Short answer: yes.

It was pretty difficult to follow up on the succes of G4 anyway. But I don't see as much ponies here on the shelves for G5. Even the non-toy stores that had a ton of G4 merch, like stickers and small board games, have very little to none right now.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on April 06, 2024, 10:58:26 AM
Been having a really interesting conversation about G5 with a G4 pony fan friend of mine on another site, and she was complaining how G5 reinvented some canon concepts from G4. I think we both agreed (coming from a G1 and a G4 perspective) that G5's biggest issue was being locked into Equestria, rather than being something new.

Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: eiskrempony on May 29, 2024, 03:21:15 AM
So i think g5 is a flop,i talk yesterday to hasbro germany and they tell me the  only pony Set that will be out in germany this year is the Set with the dragon and sunny starscout and in most stores ponys are sell for a very cheap price.

It is very sad that hasbro is not Strong enough to keep the ponys what they where in the past.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on May 31, 2024, 02:01:47 AM
So i think g5 is a flop,i talk yesterday to hasbro germany and they tell me the  only pony Set that will be out in germany this year is the Set with the dragon and sunny starscout and in most stores ponys are sell for a very cheap price.

It is very sad that hasbro is not Strong enough to keep the ponys what they where in the past.

Remarklable, isn't it. It used to be one of their flagship brands, even outsold Barbie for a while in the 80s, and now it's on par with McDonald's toys.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: gabumon on June 04, 2024, 07:29:32 PM
I liked the ponies I saw of G5 and didn’t mind the changes except for lack of variety (but G4 had that issue) ... but they’ve basically disappeared locally.
I don’t mind I guess it gives me a breather from checking the stories all the time and now I can fill out gaps from other gens.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lalalei2001 on June 05, 2024, 03:59:40 PM
Aww, it makes me sad it's doing so poorly. They have video games and everything, but if the toys aren't selling and the shows aren't generating interest...
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on June 09, 2024, 02:30:25 PM
The shows are generating interest - I'm seeing a lot of praise and fanart online (though I assume it is largely the brony fandom, though I hope the target audience  are getting their fill - especially Make Your Mark - that show screams "something to grow up with" in my opinion.) The problem is, Hasbro aren't bothering to promote it, as far as I can see.

Maybe it's different outside of the UK, but I haven't seen any promotion for either the toys or the cartoon - I don't know what their problem with the cartoon is (but, I don't think Hasbro have known what to do with the toys since G3.5) but I think with the show, it's because they think everybody is streaming, they don't need to promote it (like "everybody has Netflix" (which isn't the case), so they don't need to advertise it (but they do.)
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on June 09, 2024, 02:49:24 PM
The shows are generating interest - I'm seeing a lot of praise and fanart online (though I assume it is largely the brony fandom, though I hope the target audience  are getting their fill - especially Make Your Mark - that show screams "something to grow up with" in my opinion.) The problem is, Hasbro aren't bothering to promote it, as far as I can see.

But see, it doesn't quite matter whether the show is successful or not, if that's all there is. A show, any show, is meant to sell something; products, toys, ad space, etc... But in the case MYM, there is nothing to sell except for the super basic stuff that collects dust on the shelves.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on June 09, 2024, 05:40:36 PM
The shows are generating interest - I'm seeing a lot of praise and fanart online (though I assume it is largely the brony fandom, though I hope the target audience  are getting their fill - especially Make Your Mark - that show screams "something to grow up with" in my opinion.) The problem is, Hasbro aren't bothering to promote it, as far as I can see.

But see, it doesn't quite matter whether the show is successful or not, if that's all there is. A show, any show, is meant to sell something; products, toys, ad space, etc... But in the case MYM, there is nothing to sell except for the super basic stuff that collects dust on the shelves.

This.

Ironically, it was almost better when US companies were allowed to use their TV shows to promote their toy line. At least then there was some cohesion between what was on screen and what was on shelves. There is such a massive disconnect now that it's hard to see how to resolve it.

Bronies making fan content around G5 is no more useful to Hasbro than us making custom G1 ponies. None of it gives them revenue, so yes, they need to promote it more. There are no actual products aside some very basic toys and some limited merchandise.

There's quite probably more g1 merch out right now than there is for G5. That, quite honestly, is shameful for an 'active' pony line.

Hasbro are making money from the G1 and G4 licences, though...so maybe don't care as much about G5 as they should. They still haven't broken away from G4, and until they do, G5 is never going to stand a chance of its own promotion.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on June 10, 2024, 06:39:38 AM
But in the case MYM, there is nothing to sell except for the super basic stuff that collects dust on the shelves.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. Do you mean that the toys aren't "playable" in anyway, like for kids to just play with them as toys? The few G5 toys I have seen in shops are pretty big, so I guess they wouldn't be easy to just play with like the smaller toys, so I get what you mean if that's the case.

Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Harmonie on June 10, 2024, 07:28:32 AM
I was in a store called Old Time Pottery with my mom the other day and I was kinda surprised that in their small toy section they actually had quite a few G5 toys. More than I typically see in grocery stores nowadays.

Alas, Pottery Barn isn't what I think of when I'm going out to look for toys. lol
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on June 10, 2024, 04:30:38 PM
Dream Valley hit it right on target.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on June 11, 2024, 04:27:16 AM
But in the case MYM, there is nothing to sell except for the super basic stuff that collects dust on the shelves.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. Do you mean that the toys aren't "playable" in anyway, like for kids to just play with them as toys? The few G5 toys I have seen in shops are pretty big, so I guess they wouldn't be easy to just play with like the smaller toys, so I get what you mean if that's the case.

What I meant was that the toyline is extremely lackluster and basic in design, limited in range and also very overpriced for what you get imo. If these products don't sell, then it's safe to say that the driving marketing force (namely the tv show) lost its purpose.
The show may hold the interest of a certain audience, but if that audience doesn't take the next step to shell out money for the related products, it Missed its Mark, pun intended.

EDIT: But maybe we are wrong, because we have a different take on what "G5" constitutes. The people that were around before G4 think of the toyline as the main element of a generation, backed up by a show. I think it is safe to say that G4 started out with that same approach but maybe evolved away from that: IP popularity (through a show) first, then toys. And that mindset may have been carried over into G5, for Hasbro and the G4+ fans at least, while us longterm fans still keep the focus on the toys.
Hasbro's recent self definition as an "IP, games, toys-company in that order" certainly corroborates that.
I hope I made my point come across clear enough; english is still my 3rd language :)
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Raindrop on June 11, 2024, 06:50:03 PM
I would be curious to know how well the G5 electronic media are doing.  I haven't been paying attention, because I found the toys so off-putting, and it seemed like they were targeting a younger audience with the show(s). 

I think, in the U.S. at least, it is significant that Wal-mart has gotten rid of its MLP section, as someone else has mentioned, and Target's offerings have shrunk significantly.  I am not seeing G5 toys much in dedicated toy stores, either.  I see more fakies than G5, honestly. 
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on June 12, 2024, 12:51:10 PM
I would be curious to know how well the G5 electronic media are doing.  I haven't been paying attention, because I found the toys so off-putting, and it seemed like they were targeting a younger audience with the show(s). 
Different people have different views, but I've seen a decent amount of fanart of G5, particularly Tell Your Tale, so G5 definitely has it's fans. I myself feel that Make Your Mark did beautifully. I'm only really focusing on what would likely be the older viewers, though - bronies or not (as I'm in that "circle" so to speak, I don't know how the actual target audience, i.e. kids, are doing with G5.)

I don't really get the vibe that the shows are made for a younger audience, though... at least, no younger than MLP already was (it that it basically seems to be the same "target wise" for me). No offense.

Quote from: DreamvalleyMLP
What I meant was that the toyline is extremely lackluster and basic in design, limited in range and also very overpriced for what you get imo. If these products don't sell, then it's safe to say that the driving marketing force (namely the tv show) lost its purpose.
The show may hold the interest of a certain audience, but if that audience doesn't take the next step to shell out money for the related products, it Missed its Mark, pun intended.

EDIT: But maybe we are wrong, because we have a different take on what "G5" constitutes. The people that were around before G4 think of the toyline as the main element of a generation, backed up by a show. I think it is safe to say that G4 started out with that same approach but maybe evolved away from that: IP popularity (through a show) first, then toys. And that mindset may have been carried over into G5, for Hasbro and the G4+ fans at least, while us longterm fans still keep the focus on the toys.

Hasbro's recent self definition as an "IP, games, toys-company in that order" certainly corroborates that.
I hope I made my point come across clear enough; english is still my 3rd language :)
I think I get what you mean. Thanks.

I get what you mean about the "change in focus" too. I'm somebody who ultimately started with G4, but my experience with the entire franchise has shown me that the toyline should be what takes priority from Hasbro and the like, despite the fact that I may think of the shows first (but I respect all of My Little Pony and get that it's a toyline first.) I do feel that (in my limited knowledge of the toylines of the later generations) that Hasbro likely needed to re-think how they do the toylines since 3.5. I mean, I started with G4, but I have more of a memory of the ponies in the G1-G3 toylines, despite never owning any of them, because they look so interesting to me...
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on June 12, 2024, 01:50:45 PM
I would be curious to know how well the G5 electronic media are doing.  I haven't been paying attention, because I found the toys so off-putting, and it seemed like they were targeting a younger audience with the show(s). 

I think, in the U.S. at least, it is significant that Wal-mart has gotten rid of its MLP section, as someone else has mentioned, and Target's offerings have shrunk significantly.  I am not seeing G5 toys much in dedicated toy stores, either.  I see more fakies than G5, honestly.

Do the fakies look nice at least?
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lonewolf on June 15, 2024, 06:04:59 PM
I think it's multiple issues. First off: Connecting it to FiM. It should've been completely stand alone from it. Then there's the fact FiM was on cable/satellite. I know it may sound strange, but not everyone messes with  Netflix (including me which is why I haven't seen any G5 stuff), and restricting it to there has hurt it's  exposure.
  And to me the G5 toys are second only to G3.5 for being the ugliest. A wiener dog body with a Lego head is a good description of them. Today I went to Walmart, and there were a couple of things in the toy aisle (up from nothing last month). Aside from a few cheap ones, I haven't seen any other pastel pony or horse lines (
meanwhile Monster High still had a decent amount of toys which was surprising). That new line of good G4 plushies is definitely  going to outsell any G5 ones.
 And yeah. Like it or not, the brony community had a big hand in making G4 as popular as it was (Lauren wanted it to appeal to both sides). If Hasbro really is trying to cut them off, they goofed. While the community is showing support for G5, it just doesn't seem to be getting the attention FiM did. Unfortunately I know of some (led by one person who has been throwing a constant, and vocal fit since G4 ended) who think they can force Hasbro to restart FiM, which definitely doesn't help. And I guess unlike with FiM, Hasbro is clamping down on fan videos using G5 content.
 So yeah. I think 5 is going to be like 3.5.  Hopefully it doesn't mark the end of the road for the franchise.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on June 16, 2024, 12:57:20 PM
I can understand the bronies - some of them - wanting FIM back. I remember a similar campaign to get G1 back when G2 were out - in fact, it's thought that some of the negativity over G2 led to them being withdrawn in the US (though I expect it was more sales figures than online complaining, especially in the end of the 1990s).

The real difference is just that in 1997, when G2 happened, there had only ever been one kind of My Little Pony. Whereas G4 is just G4. It's just one iteration and while Hasbro is making money on G1 and G4 licenced merch, they're not going to pay a lot of attention. If Hasbro had wanted G4 to continue it would have done.

As for appealing to both sides, I've been going through my G1 comics for my website stuff, and what strikes me along the way is the number of letters being written to the comic by boys. Boys who like the smooze in the movie, boys who liked characters like Sportstime. Boys who just liked ponies. And that gels with my childhood memories, because one of my friends, her two brothers had Magic Star and Tootsie. The idea that bronies created male interest or that G1 was only aimed at girls is a myth (albeit My Little Pony has always been marketed in every generation as a Girl's TOY, the media is not always so simple). Iirc RaMC was written by someone who had written transformers' stuff.

I decided against making a montage of these letters from real life boys as it feels like an invasion into their childhood privacy. I think the way the Big Brother ponies were characterised here as Adventure Boys also helped, as they projected traditionally "boy" things into the comic (trucks, and trains, and pirates, and so on.) Note, I'm not saying that they should be boy or girl things, just how the eighties would've seen them. Of course, these were boys, not adult men. That's a different factor, probably. I know I addressed this/posted it before, but I dug up the page in one of the MLP & Friends comics that addresses this directly. :)

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This was a thing well before G4 or Lauren Faust thought of making it a thing. G3 was probably more aimed at girls, admitted. But G1 was a bit more neutral (in some and not all ways) and had a male following as well.



Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on June 16, 2024, 02:53:35 PM
I still maintain that G5 does "stand alone" from G4, despite being a "reboot sequel" (IMO) from it.

I doubt that Hasbro want to cut the brony fandom, or at least the G4 fandom off, as (regardless of how much G5 connects with G5) it is respectful to G4 - it changes things, yes, but it is allowed to as it is a new generation, and a lot of people (other than G4 purists) seem to like G5

Unfortunately I know of some (led by one person who has been throwing a constant, and vocal fit since G4 ended) who think they can force Hasbro to restart FiM, which definitely doesn't help. .
I think I know who that person is...

And yeah, I feel that it being purely on Netflix isn't helping.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on June 16, 2024, 03:51:56 PM
MLP has moved to the preschool toy aisle in Walmart. Before, it was (and had been) in the girls/fashion doll aisle. It is now pushed near the Minnie and Bluey stuff. I've seen no new toys.

I still maintain that G5 does "stand alone" from G4, despite being a "reboot sequel" (IMO) from it.

I'll push back lightly on this and even posit the idea that it urges kids to check out MLP FIM at all with their vague inclusion of Twilight Sparkle. She's not introduced as anything, she's a hologram, and then her appearance is referred to at multiple points. We also have the inclusion of Celestia and Luna, Spike.... The FIM show just kind of offers kids way more to chew on (and it's readily available on Youtube!), even if they got started with G5. If you give a kid a phone, and they're looking up Twilight Sparkle because they're curious about this pony who was introduced (or even just looking up any G5 stuff at all) they're going to find all of the crossover stuff with FIM, the FIM episodes themselves, and hours and hours of content. And ads for toys! And merch!

It could have stood on its own if they had developed the rules of the world in-universe, but it kind of feels like they didn't. A lot of required reading expected going in, I felt.

It certainly feels like G5 has flopped. No new toys, Youtube views outdone by FIM's.

As someone who gave G5 more of a shot than it likely deserved, the main show suffered from amateurish writing (a lot of the episodes of chapter two were written very confusingly and unsatisfying) and a lack of time to develop characters. Misty was a great addition to the cast but I feel the main cast felt underdeveloped as a result. They needed more time, less of a focus on grand, sweeping adventures, and just to take a step back. Sunny is boring as tar in MYM, when she was the main character in ANG, and they should have maybe spent a chapter focusing more solely on her struggles as a new princess or alicorn or whatever that status even means for her. They should have focused on developing those folks before giving us this big baddie they have to face off. The character development was lacking and it makes it hard to care for characters at all. I thought them sidelining Sprout was a mistake and was fully expecting them to develop him more as a redeemed character throughout the season. I think that would have made for a better season one conflict and kept their world fairly limited to the scope of the movie, and THEN open season 2 with Misty & Opaline.

Even fans of the show can't get toys of the little fillies that follow everyone, Seashell, Peach Fizz, & Glory. What a sad showing toy-wise.

I'm not holding my breath for any potential G6 to fare much better, honestly. I'm kind of hoping Wild Manes will take the fantasy horse market and absolutely steamroll MLP at this point just to try to force Hasbro to do anything interesting.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on June 16, 2024, 07:12:15 PM
MLP has moved to the preschool toy aisle in Walmart. Before, it was (and had been) in the girls/fashion doll aisle. It is now pushed near the Minnie and Bluey stuff. I've seen no new toys.

I still maintain that G5 does "stand alone" from G4, despite being a "reboot sequel" (IMO) from it.

I'll push back lightly on this and even posit the idea that it urges kids to check out MLP FIM at all with their vague inclusion of Twilight Sparkle. She's not introduced as anything, she's a hologram, and then her appearance is referred to at multiple points. We also have the inclusion of Celestia and Luna, Spike.... The FIM show just kind of offers kids way more to chew on (and it's readily available on Youtube!), even if they got started with G5. If you give a kid a phone, and they're looking up Twilight Sparkle because they're curious about this pony who was introduced (or even just looking up any G5 stuff at all) they're going to find all of the crossover stuff with FIM, the FIM episodes themselves, and hours and hours of content. And ads for toys! And merch!

It could have stood on its own if they had developed the rules of the world in-universe, but it kind of feels like they didn't. A lot of required reading expected going in, I felt.

It certainly feels like G5 has flopped. No new toys, Youtube views outdone by FIM's.

As someone who gave G5 more of a shot than it likely deserved, the main show suffered from amateurish writing (a lot of the episodes of chapter two were written very confusingly and unsatisfying) and a lack of time to develop characters. Misty was a great addition to the cast but I feel the main cast felt underdeveloped as a result. They needed more time, less of a focus on grand, sweeping adventures, and just to take a step back. Sunny is boring as tar in MYM, when she was the main character in ANG, and they should have maybe spent a chapter focusing more solely on her struggles as a new princess or alicorn or whatever that status even means for her. They should have focused on developing those folks before giving us this big baddie they have to face off. The character development was lacking and it makes it hard to care for characters at all. I thought them sidelining Sprout was a mistake and was fully expecting them to develop him more as a redeemed character throughout the season. I think that would have made for a better season one conflict and kept their world fairly limited to the scope of the movie, and THEN open season 2 with Misty & Opaline.

Even fans of the show can't get toys of the little fillies that follow everyone, Seashell, Peach Fizz, & Glory. What a sad showing toy-wise.

I'm not holding my breath for any potential G6 to fare much better, honestly. I'm kind of hoping Wild Manes will take the fantasy horse market and absolutely steamroll MLP at this point just to try to force Hasbro to do anything interesting.

Off topic, who is the rabbit in your avatar?

Back on topic-It would serve hasbroken right, if another brand out-performed MLP for a few years. I'd like to see it happen myself, it wouldn't be hard to do at this stage.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on June 17, 2024, 01:43:21 PM

I'll push back lightly on this and even posit the idea that it urges kids to check out MLP FIM at all with their vague inclusion of Twilight Sparkle. She's not introduced as anything, she's a hologram, and then her appearance is referred to at multiple points. We also have the inclusion of Celestia and Luna, Spike.... The FIM show just kind of offers kids way more to chew on (and it's readily available on Youtube!), even if they got started with G5. If you give a kid a phone, and they're looking up Twilight Sparkle because they're curious about this pony who was introduced (or even just looking up any G5 stuff at all) they're going to find all of the crossover stuff with FIM, the FIM episodes themselves, and hours and hours of content. And ads for toys! And merch!
In my mind, it is good for a reboot of anything to draw its fans in the direction of the original, or previous versions - that is how I write my (fictional) reboots - they are their own thing, yes, but they give enough awareness that previous versions exist, not that new viewers would need that much help these days, as it is easier to see there are several version of things - which is a good thing, IMO. They don't have to be reboot sequels like G5 is to G4, but they can call back.

I still feel G5 stands on it's own, even with these - not only is it (in my opinion) its own take on the G4 characters used, they are also used pretty sparingly - they include Twilight early in the show as a kind of nostalgic starting point, the Celestia and Luna thing is easily ignored, in my opinion (which, despite my love of G5 I actually do ignore, because it doesn't match my personal headcanon, which I know is my personal headcanon), the Spike stuff I feel works better than what FiM itself did design-wise, but again I feel they are their own take on the characters - by pure coincidence, G5 actually makes more sense as a sequel to my version of G4 than the real G4 (and even some of G5 doesn't fit my version either - which matters even less than fitting the real G4, because it's fanon.)

It could have stood on its own if they had developed the rules of the world in-universe, but it kind of feels like they didn't. A lot of required reading expected going in, I felt.
Again, it could be an encouragement to check out older versions, and enjoy them as well as the current version, but I still feel G5 stands on its own even with this. If you don't, I respect that, but even if it wasn't connecting to (possibly its own version of) a previous generation, it makes sense in my opinion to not establish everything about the world before hand - it gives the viewers chance to learn more about the world as things go on. In fairness both examples (explain early or wait to explain) can work, but again, I don't feel this stops G5 standing on its own personally (again, respect if it doesn't for you.)

As someone who gave G5 more of a shot than it likely deserved, the main show suffered from amateurish writing (a lot of the episodes of chapter two were written very confusingly and unsatisfying) and a lack of time to develop characters. Misty was a great addition to the cast but I feel the main cast felt underdeveloped as a result. They needed more time, less of a focus on grand, sweeping adventures, and just to take a step back. Sunny is boring as tar in MYM, when she was the main character in ANG, and they should have maybe spent a chapter focusing more solely on her struggles as a new princess or alicorn or whatever that status even means for her. They should have focused on developing those folks before giving us this big baddie they have to face off. The character development was lacking and it makes it hard to care for characters at all. I thought them sidelining Sprout was a mistake and was fully expecting them to develop him more as a redeemed character throughout the season. I think that would have made for a better season one conflict and kept their world fairly limited to the scope of the movie, and THEN open season 2 with Misty & Opaline.
I guess we just had different views on G5, which again I respect, and I do agree with you in some places, but admittedly disagree in other places - you found Sunny a boring character, which is fine, but I personally did not; I found her a character that I enjoyed following, and sympathized with when she wasn't "understood" as herself - I get they could do more with her, but when I saw her and she got the spotlight, I loved how she was used, but if you didn't, I respect that.

I agree about G5 needing "more time" - I have seen complaints from both people who think that Make Your Mark took too long to be adventurous/storyline driven and was just the ponies "goofing", and complaints by those who felt that it focused too much on the the main story, and the ponies didn't take the time to have fun and "be friends" like the previous generations did.

I think the "Episode Format" didn't help the show, even though have a lot of love and nostalgia for Make Your Mark - it may have helped it to have the same episode format as FiM (and I'm not saying every generation has to be like G4 - all generation cartoons have had their own format, and the closest to FiM's was My Little Pony Tales by the look of things), as that would have given things more time, however you look at it.

Again, I love Make Your Mark, but a 26 Episode Season would have allowed side storylines, such as Sprout getting a redemption storyline (which I agree he should have, I even plan on writing said storyline for him), a few extra storylines for the Mane Five, and the actual "Mane Story" storylines we got (i.e. the Misty and Opaline stuff.) I personally don't think the former needed to wait for the second season (but again, respect if you did), but yeah, I can get the idea of there needing to be more focus on other stuff.

But I will again admit, that I love Make Your Mark for what it is, and can just "fill in the gaps" with my own stories. There was just something about it that resonated with me, and I felt like I grew up with it (which is often the case with me and MLP), but I respect your view, and I get that some of this is nostalgia talking, and respect that you felt different, but that's my basic view on it. I hope that's okay.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: BlackCurtains on June 17, 2024, 03:31:55 PM
I had positive feelings about G5 at first. I was happy that Sunny was orange and was glad Hitch was a main character. I liked the first movie and bought the unicorn party pack ponies. I had intentions to keep buying the toys, but as time went on and they kept putting out articulated ponies, I lost interest.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on June 18, 2024, 08:42:15 AM
Off topic, who is the rabbit in your avatar?

Jax from The Amazing Digital Circus. He is a terrible man, but he's my terrible man.

MJNSEIFER - I'm glad MYM still resonates with you! I gave it as much of a shot as I could before writing it off, it's a shame it just didn't seem to meet any of my expectations. If I were to rewrite it, I would have gone a completely different direction (I also think Sprout and Misty would have had an amazing dynamic had Sprout been allowed to be redeemed or interact with Misty at all, as a pony who's done evil knowingly and a pony who's been coerced into doing so.)
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on June 18, 2024, 09:09:15 AM
Off topic, who is the rabbit in your avatar?

Jax from The Amazing Digital Circus. He is a terrible man, but he's my terrible man.

MJNSEIFER - I'm glad MYM still resonates with you! I gave it as much of a shot as I could before writing it off, it's a shame it just didn't seem to meet any of my expectations. If I were to rewrite it, I would have gone a completely different direction (I also think Sprout and Misty would have had an amazing dynamic had Sprout been allowed to be redeemed or interact with Misty at all, as a pony who's done evil knowingly and a pony who's been coerced into doing so.)

 :lol:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: 2003pony on June 18, 2024, 04:32:07 PM
Generation 5 failed because of the My Little Pony community and Hasbro. Hasbro didn't do decent marketing I live in Brazil and I've never seen a G5 commercial on television I remember the G3 and G4 commercials the distribution of ponies to other countries takes a long time they only focus on the United States and here in Latin America it takes a long time almost a year to launch new ponies, G5 started with a film on Netflix, a fatal error should have been in theaters, the dolls are of poor quality and the story doesn't attract children's attention and Hasbro focuses a lot on nostalgia. Now the fan base are the G4 fans who can't get over the fact that the G4 is over and keep boycotting the G5 and saying that it's a bad generation and so people lose interest because if the fans of the franchise themselves don't like the G5, why who If you're a fan, you'll like it, not to mention that the G5 didn't please G1 collectors. I LOVE THE G5 I LOVE THE DESIGN OF THE G5 I LOVE THE EPISODES THE MOVIE THE SERIES I LOVE THE G5 IT'S PERFECT!! I wish there were more G5 products in Brazil so it would be easier to follow, but Hasbro doesn't care about Latin America. Remembering that this is my opinion, forgive me if I offended anyone!
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on June 19, 2024, 08:05:03 AM
I've never seen any G5 promotion here either. There are some kids' clothes with G5 characters on and I did see a Sunny pen in the Works a while back, but yeah, the promotion is not great.

The bronies will just learn the same lesson we did with G2, in that My Little Pony moves on and their generation is now just one of many. But their reaction to G5 is the same as a lot of G1 fans' reaction to G2 in 1997-8. We outgrew it. So will they. But what it will mean for the toyline overall is unclear.

I don't think G5 is going to take off in Europe the way G2 did. Back in G1 and G2 Hasbro was far more independent in releasing stuff exclusively in those regions. It did happen a bit in G3 but it was mostly swamped by US exclusives and store exclusives and since G4 it's not really been a thing. So I do wonder if regional Hasbros have lost the creative control they had in the earlier periods.

That applies to Brazil as well, of course, since Estrela made a lot of unique G1 ponies for that market in the 1980s, but if they no longer have that interest to licence the toy out, there's just no equivalent in G5.

But *we* are the My Little Pony community. The G4 community are bronies, but not the whole of the pony fandom. In fact I'd say we were the community, they were the fandom...
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lordalexander74 on June 19, 2024, 02:29:35 PM
I enjoyed G5's premiere, and watched most of MYM, but nothing really stuck to me the way G4 did. I tapped out after a dozen or so episodes of TYT, that bean mouth does not appeal to me.

For the toylines, they're looking less like ponies as generations happen. I've a few G5's and some G4 MLP Movie reboot toys, but the Pony Life line is a hard no. G3 hit the sweet spot for me, I love the way they look and the sheer variety of characters.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on June 22, 2024, 06:35:40 AM
Little to no shelf presence, lackluster show. Hasbro barely lifting a finger to make anything? Do you think Hasbro permantly ran it into the ground through extreme laziness? Maybe it'll have the occasional reboot like G.I. Joe and Jem?
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on June 22, 2024, 10:37:26 AM
Little to no shelf presence, lackluster show. Hasbro barely lifting a finger to make anything? Do you think Hasbro permantly ran it into the ground through extreme laziness? Maybe it'll have the occasional reboot like G.I. Joe and Jem?

I think it was always going to be hard to follow G4.

Not because G4 was amazing, necessarily. It may have been. It may not have been. More important to Hasbro is that it was successful. That success = $$ and that's why they can't let it go.

Because they can't, G5 has never stood a chance to be its own thing.

I always thought that Hasbro would struggle with anything that came out after FIM.

We've all seen how FIM has impacted My Little Pony stuff online, and the general impression people who don't collect now have that MLP = brony = G4.

I still genuinely don't hate G4's toyline. I took my little Fluttershy around Japan, and she is still one of the handful I have on display in my room, along with the AJ from Porvoo and Coloratura.

But if I could take the concept of MLP back to before G4, I probably would. Not because I think FIM or G4 should be erased, but the impact of it has not been good for the brand.

All that said - if Hasbro had wanted to create something new and exciting and pony, maybe incorporating digital and real products...I think they could have done. I think it's that overreliance on G4, and the belief that it's still a big seller (and maybe it is?) that's holding MLP back.

G4 was great for Hasbro but not for My Little Pony overall.

Although ironically it may be the reason we have had so much G1 retro stuff, as each new generation keeps the old alive. We had to work very hard to do that in the past. Now we're just getting it without asking, and that's nice. At the same time, the need to dig back into that past shows there's nothing new or creative going forward.

I'd like to see MLP take a few years break and then have a rebuild, without any G4 IP. The problem with keeping that alive right now, right after G4 has ended, is that bronies believe they can get it brought back...and that's not helping.

Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on June 22, 2024, 10:51:38 AM
Mmm I'm not convinced g4 has anything to do with it. I'm convinced that Hasbro screwed up because they thought they could continue to make a profit by putting out the barest minimum effort, and were shown that it wasn't gonna wash with fed up stores anymore. They hafta make a profit too, after all. Why would they continue to buy stuff that doesn't sell?

 What I'm really hoping for is that Hasbro will finally learn that they need to put some love and care in their girl products. However, if I try and hold my breath I'll have asphyxiated long before then. If ever.

ETA: We know they can be creative and put heart into it,  because look at the crossover ponies in between 4 and 5. Most of them have appealing designs, horsier sculpts, a whole range of new ponies, and some wild color schemes. Despite being short-lived,  people grabbed them up, because they were different.  I would have liked to see G5 continue in that vein, instead of being boring and oversaturated within a few years.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on June 22, 2024, 11:09:19 AM
MJNSEIFER - I'm glad MYM still resonates with you! I gave it as much of a shot as I could before writing it off, it's a shame it just didn't seem to meet any of my expectations. If I were to rewrite it, I would have gone a completely different direction (I also think Sprout and Misty would have had an amazing dynamic had Sprout been allowed to be redeemed or interact with Misty at all, as a pony who's done evil knowingly and a pony who's been coerced into doing so.)
Thank you. :good: I respect that you gave it a chance before deciding it wasn't for you, which I also respect, as well as the idea that you would have written it differently - that's pretty much my view on My Little Pony; the "story" is what you want it to be (not an original view, I know - MLP is a toyline, of course, so there are many ways to tell the story, be it playing with toys, or writing about the cartoons, or thinking about how you would.)

I like your point on how Sprout and Misty's dynamic as two different ex-"villains" could have been  - if it's okay, I'll try to consider that when I write my Sprout storyline (if Misty's involved - I'm not really sure where in Make Your Mark it takes place in, if it connects to canon at all.)

Generation 5 failed because of the My Little Pony community and Hasbro. Hasbro didn't do decent marketing I live in Brazil and I've never seen a G5 commercial on television I remember the G3 and G4 commercials the distribution of ponies to other countries takes a long time they only focus on the United States and here in Latin America it takes a long time almost a year to launch new ponies, G5 started with a film on Netflix, a fatal error should have been in theaters, the dolls are of poor quality and the story doesn't attract children's attention and Hasbro focuses a lot on nostalgia. Now the fan base are the G4 fans who can't get over the fact that the G4 is over and keep boycotting the G5 and saying that it's a bad generation and so people lose interest because if the fans of the franchise themselves don't like the G5, why who If you're a fan, you'll like it, not to mention that the G5 didn't please G1 collectors. I LOVE THE G5 I LOVE THE DESIGN OF THE G5 I LOVE THE EPISODES THE MOVIE THE SERIES I LOVE THE G5 IT'S PERFECT!! I wish there were more G5 products in Brazil so it would be easier to follow, but Hasbro doesn't care about Latin America. Remembering that this is my opinion, forgive me if I offended anyone!
Agree on some of this, mostly the stuff about Hasbro not really doing any thing to promote G5 - I'm in England, but I haven't seen Hasbro do anything to promote G5 either, and I agree that limiting it to Netflix doesn't help either - corporations in general need to be reminded that, even if streaming is the most popular method of watching media, not everybody does so (or are even able to, as not everybody had Netflix, or even stream at all) and those that do don't necessarily use it as their only method to watch media; i.e. people still watch TV, buy physical media, and yes, go to the cinema - releasing A New Generation as a cinema movie probably would have helped, as you say.

Are children really not drawn in by the shows? I can't speak for other people, but I personally feel that if I was a child, I'd love G5 (which is a reason I love it, as it feels like something I would have watched as a child, like most, if not all generations, in my opinion.)

I'm touch and go with how much of it is down to the fandoms though - I've seen of bronies (or at least G4 fans) who like G5, so I'm hoping that the bronies/G4 fans who don't are just a vocal minority. I  will also agree that bronies focusing too much on "G4 being over" that it affects their view on G5 isn't helping them, but for a different reason; G4 (like all generations) isn't really over, as it hasn't gone anywhere (the show and toyline ended, but nobody has to stop being a fan of it, and nobody has to "let go of it" to enjoy G5.)

Also (and this is more of a personal thing) I do disagree with the "focuses too much on nostalgia" criticism, because in addition to not really feeling that's a problem with G5 myself (while I do feel that the G4 connection and G1 and G4 shout outs are intended to be, and in my opinion are, nostalgic, most of the nostalgia I get from G5, is my nostalgia for G5 itself), I've never felt that this was a bad thing, or even really a thing (maybe I just haven't seen enough of examples of it done badly?) as I ultimately look at it the way I'd write things, from my own perspective of nostalgia; maybe the writers themselves are nostalgic for G4 and G1? That would be my motivation for including previous generation stuff if I was writing for G5 or any other generation - I'd still write the generation as it's own thing (which G5, in my opinion, is), but I'd nostalgically involve previous generations, and invite my viewers on the journey, if they want to join me. That's ultimately my view on "new versions" (reboots, remakes, etc.) they can, should, and do be their own their own things, but should also acknowledge that they are "new versions" of things, and provide some nostalgia for the "old versions", or at least show awareness that they ultimately exist because of them.

I will admit, the main reason I'm unsure of the whole "focuses too much on nostalgia" thing, is because that is likely what my projects will be seen as doing (my My Little Pony fanseries especially, if people think G5 focuses too much on nostalgia). Nostalgia is something very important to me, and is basically a driving force of my inspiration, so it ends up being a thing in my projects - even projects which aren't versions of existing things are/will be written with the intention of being "nostalgic", both nostalgia for itself, and other things. Sorry about turning the focus to myself there.

I respect your opinion. Not offended, at all. :good:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on June 23, 2024, 11:33:15 AM

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This was a thing well before G4 or Lauren Faust thought of making it a thing. G3 was probably more aimed at girls, admitted. But G1 was a bit more neutral (in some and not all ways) and had a male following as well.

This is a nice touch! I wonder if this reaching out to the boys lead to Danny's introduction.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on June 23, 2024, 11:45:47 AM

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This was a thing well before G4 or Lauren Faust thought of making it a thing. G3 was probably more aimed at girls, admitted. But G1 was a bit more neutral (in some and not all ways) and had a male following as well.

This is a nice touch! I wonder if this reaching out to the boys lead to Danny's introduction.

Danny already existed by the time this was in the comic, but those are two different countries/canons so it probably is unrelated. Aside the movie etc, Danny only ever appeared in a UK story once, which was a weird smooze sequel - and technically he was not really Danny but an illusion (ditto Molly).
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on June 23, 2024, 01:23:14 PM
and technically he was not really Danny but an illusion (ditto Molly).

I have no words...
With the strange stories the UK comics had, it sounds like they had a Stephen King fan on their writers team.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on June 24, 2024, 05:26:44 AM
and technically he was not really Danny but an illusion (ditto Molly).

I have no words...
With the strange stories the UK comics had, it sounds like they had a Stephen King fan on their writers team.

I am enjoying adding snippets of comic character and adventure to my website reworking. And possibly, harpooning the ludicrousness along the way. As a kid, maybe you wouldn't notice, but as an adult, explaining how Banana Surprise mended a cloud with an ice cream sundae is a bit more difficult.

Although if you want actual crack, go read some of the American So Soft Pony backcard stories for 1987. Hippety Hop and Crumpet in particular. It's not all this side of the pond!

With Danny and Molly in the story I mentioned, it's Draggle and Reeka pretending to be them to lure Megan in iirc. It's a weird Smooze II story, but by no means even close to some of the other comic stories.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on June 24, 2024, 10:18:22 AM
It's been years since I first heard about the UK's origin story of twinkle eyes and it still haunts me today...
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: NightChaser on August 27, 2024, 06:39:05 PM
Hope its still ok to write here after 2 Months.
I had found this Post after seaching for News agout the Status of G5 and found this, but it has need some Days to get unlocked to write.

Well my Question, is there anything new about G5?
I'm often on Youtube but even Dr Wolf is mot creating any News anymore.
For the Franchise, I find it ok to do a new Generation, even I had hope for more as a Pony Version of Zootropia.
After the first Infos about the Movie, I had the idea of a Pony Version of Boruto - Naruto next Generation, with a new Core Team as Heroes, mostly from the Children of the Mane 6 and the old Group as Support Char, who are not longer in the Spotlicht but not completly gone too.
Instead it was a Mix of Zootropias Rassism Problems and the Problems the main Char (Sunny/Judy) has to prove themself with some Sort of a Hearts Warming Eve Story mixed in and a Bunch of Fan Service of G4 Stuff, who disapear after the Movie is done (except Sunnys Bag).

I know Hasbro want to connect old Fans and new Fans with this Generation, but the Way how Netfix publish the Chapers is not realy a good Way to build up a new Fanbase.
They unload a Wheelbarrow full of Episodes over our Heads, then let us wait for Months (2-6 Months) until the next Stur is realeased.
I'm sire this work well with Netflix, but better would be one Episode every 1-2 Weeks, to prevent Fans to search themself new interesting things and allow a new Fanbase to grow.
I have join the Fandom after the End of G4, so I not know where G4 was released and in what Intervalls, but if a Season was 1 Year and there was 26 Episodes then I guess every 2. Week, 2 Episodes per Month.

I like Make Your Mark, even much in it not realy made Sense, like the Main 5 who are mostly ignoring the Warning of shrunken Twilight, the replacing of the Fantasy and Adventure of the Generations 1-4 with social Media and Drama, the wrong Twilight Design, the wrong Haircolor for Filly Celestia (her Hair should be pink), Spike who look like a oversized Dragon Pony and Hair on Dragons and this strange Cat Villion with Starlight Shiller Hair I could not take serious.

I know the Shows for all IP's are made to sell their "Made in China" Toys, who often not even look close the the Figures from the Show, but Lauren Faust, who had Ponys as Child at last has known how a good Show Worldbuild can be made.
But it looks like it is a bit like the Begin of MLP as some People decided a big hard Plastic Horse could be interesting for Girls until Someone got the Idea that small soft Ponys would work better.

I have the Feeling G5 is in a similar Position pr maybe like G2, where the Ponys had a more slim, horse like Design, like the Saddle Arabians in G4 and no Show.
Maybe G5 is the new G2 so it will maybe soon replaced with G6 and maybe some old Names come back from previous Generations, like Pinkie Pie (G3, G3,5, G4), Applejack (G1, G4), Posey (G1, G4, G5) and maybe even the first MLP Alicorn "Dazzleglow" (G1).

I think what MLP need is what are important for Children Toys: Fantasy.
How Kids should play out a World of Fantasy and Adventure if the Creator Hasbro do a Shjow wo are mosly the real World?
For that they not need Toys, they just need to look on their Phone for the next RL Drama some Social Media Stars produce.
And the Figures of G5?
Sunny, who has the Nickname of Sunset Shimmer, look and like to scate like Scootaloo.
Izzy who are mostly Pinkie Pie with the Creativity of Rarity.
Hitch, the role Model for the male Fans, who try to be like Fluttershy, but half of her is in Misty.
Pipp who act like the old Diamond Tiara and Trixie in one Pony.
Zipp who try to be like Rainbow but with the Character of Spitfire.

Twilight who was a Alicorn as big as Lelestia in S9E26 is small again for no reason and the Showmaker try to tell us, she has do what Lord tirek has done, by stealing all Magic from all Ponys to hide it from Opaline (like that has work as the have try it with Tirek) and reder Equestria complet helpless agains a Alicorn Level Enemy.
After a Comment from Sunnys Dad Argyle we know it is 10 Generations since Twilights Rule, what would be between 250 and 350 Years if we use Human Generations (1 Generation = 25-33Y) + Sunnys Age Difference between Begin of the Movie and Main Part (maybe 10y).
Cadance, Flurry and Twilight would still be around, not sure with Celestia and Luna and we know from the Comics discord is living in Canterlot, continuing Fluttershys Work as Guardian oder the Animals (if its canon).

I'm not sure if its wrong, but I have the Feeling, with all the Errors, the missing history after such a small Time, all the Continuity Errors, the different Looks and Character of old G4 Chars and the complete Missing of Landmarks, this Universe is maybe based on Equestria, but it is not the G4 Universe, just an alternate Version (The Multiverse exist Canon in MLP, since the comic of the Mirror World).

Well two Landmarks exist in G5.
The first is the Tree, who are confirmed by Imalou to be the Tree of Harmony, even the Tree of Harmony is of Crystal and in G5 its a real Tree.
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And the Bridge where Izzy Woodpecker a Tree down to let them pass.
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who look extremly similar to the Stone Bridge at the Castle of the two Sisters (look at the right side) of the Castle).
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Only Problem, in G4 the Tree of Harmony or better the Treehouse of Harmony is in G5 on the wrong Side.
In G4 the Tree is in the Middle of the Castle.
In G5 it would be somewhere right outside of the visible Area of the Castle.
I can just guess they are comming from the Castle Side and passing the Place where Ponyville was ofscreen until they reach The Mountain where Canterlot is on the Side and some say Zephyr High is on the top.
I just wonder, wheres the Ruin of the Castle around the Tree and the wide magical Everfree Forest around the Castle.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Zapper on August 28, 2024, 07:49:46 AM
Maybe a bit of an inflammatory remark but do you think Hasbro even cares about MLP to a point they would reboot it again into a sixth gen? At this point I don't. I see a lot of new G4 merch popping up and getting popular on the Asian market. More G4 brand deals and a bit of G1 nostalgia. As of right now it looks like G5 will die to make way for nostalgia bait, mostly G4, and this is how MLP will be kept alive and milked.

I still think connecting G5 to G4 was a mistake. They tried to attract old and new fangroups alike and it folded real quick. The best that came out of G5 was right at the beginning with the new theatrical release. The movie had the most money put into and had lots of marketing. Afterwards it quickly went downhill.

If they ever attempt a Gen 6 I hope it will stand on its own again and not be tied to previous MLP stories. Save for keeping a couple names, of course, for branding reasons. If you go into the old G5 speculation threads, some of the users here had amazing ideas. Maybe Hasbro should have just lurked here  ;)
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on August 28, 2024, 10:57:38 AM
Hasbro will care about MLP if they see it boosting profits and being a marketable product/toy, no matter whether that's now or in ten years. But I still think G4 utterly gutted out the soul and spirit of MLP to the point that it's saturated the market and until that clears, nothing else is going to really vibe.

It's interesting how much G1 stuff is being made right now under licence, as if Hasbro is trying to make the most of the older brand as well as G4. Maybe more than G4? Or am I just noticing G1 more because I don't like G4 much?

I agree connecting G4 to G5 was a big mistake. It's made some G4 people angry because of the continuity issues as well as the idea that after all the 'perfect evolution to G4' arguments there's now another generation out there.

Reinventing stuff from Twilight etc in Equestria for g5 has also annoyed people. But it's no different from mangling G3 or G1 characters in FIM, it's just that because this is stuck in Equestria it seems more directly problematic. If it were a completely new world, it'd probably be fine.

I saw a handful more G5 toys down south than I see generally in my local area. But honestly, probably saw as many if not more Basic Fun ponies in the same stores. :/
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on August 29, 2024, 06:31:46 AM
In my view, it likely isn't connected to G4 in canon - it just reboots it, and this is coming from somebody who does view G5 as the future of G4 in fanon/headcanon.

It would make more sense given that G5 at face value really does seem like it's own generation (at least to me it does) - new locations, new rules, new species... so I am actually leaning towards the fact that, in canon at least, it is a new world, just a new world that reuses "Equestria" as its name, just like how there's been at least four towns named "Ponyville". It could even be seen as a new reboot version of the G4 Mane Six too, albeit lesser than it has been, as what little we've seen of them, they do seem to be similar to the G4 version, but it feels more like a reference to them, than outright saying "this is what they did next" or whatever.

Again, I don't mind G5 being connected to G4, as it still stands on its own either way for me, and feels like it's own generation for me (and again, in my headcanon they are connected), but it doesn't feel like they are as much in the show, outside rebooting, and nostalgic references to them, but if it is, I personally don't feel it affects anything.

Those who were angry are likely G4 purists anyway - not saying all of them were, but they at the very least seem to be people who don't get how MLP works, or even how rebooting works; even if the new version follows an older version/takes an older version as main inspiration, it is going to change things, that's how reboots work. There are some bronies (not all of us. :silly:) who don't get, or don't want to get that MLP does not revolve around G4, and not everything that is also used in that generation has to be the same as it - I feel I have seen bronies acting like Pony Life gets the G4 characters wrong too, but it doesn't for the simple reason that it is not G4, it is G4.5 - a new generation with new ponies. I have also seen bronies act like, for example, that G3 Rainbow Dash ruins G4 Rainbow Dash, despite the obvious fact that G3 existed first (so, this is probably the people we're dealing with when looking at the anger directed towards G5s changes - not everybody, I'm sure, but I have seen a lot of praise towards G5, including from bronies.)

"Perfect Evolution to G4" is also a bad way for them to look at it, even if they have G4 as their favorite, which they allowed to do, obviously (it is my second favorite generation, so praise where praise is due) - ignoring that no generation can be perfect (I'll probably even find something wrong with G3 if I look hard enough) - My Little Pony was already "perfect" before G4 happened, and I feel that what really helped G4 succeed (outside of the internet being what it was to boost fandoms easier) was that it followed the format of previous generations - when it moved away from that, it felt more like a de-evolution to me, despite the fact that I never stopped loving G4, and it could still be "My Little Pony when it knew how to be - I actually feel like G5 (mostly Make Your Mark) is saving My Little Pony by returning it to its roots, both early G4 and the generations before G4 - either way, it feels more like My Little Pony than G4 eventually did for me (it felt like it at first, IMO.)

I honestly feel that the only thing wrong with G5 is that Hasbro don't see the awesome generation they have on their hands, and have no idea how to promote it - a big mistake was to largely limit it to Netflix, which, while I love using it, doesn't promote its products very well - Make Your Mark alone looks built to be a TV show, and like all animated generations is just screaming for a physical media release, because it's My Little Pony, and of course, they need to promote the toys more.

P.S. To NightChaser: I just noticed your post, and I ultimately agree with what you say about a Chapter Based show on Netflix making it an awkward show to fanbase over. Also I was part of the brony fandom since 2011, and from what I can see the gaps between seasons/episodes was relatively normal, though I can't give an exact timeline.

I disagree that Make Your Mark replaced fantasy and adventure though, as I feel it had adventure (though could have had more if it had better "pacing", i.e. it wasn't a Chapter Based show - it's something that the two conflicting complaints I've seen about Make Your Mark is that it focuses too much on the ponies goofing than doing story-related things, and that it focuses too much on the story so that the ponies don't get a chance to just hang out and be friends - I feel better pacing would have helped both sides, as much as I love Make Your Mark for what it is) and I definitely feel that it has a lot of fantasy, and would do so even if I didn't feel that social media fitted in to a fantasy setting perfectly (which I do) the whole atmosphere just has a very fantasy like vibe to it for me. No offense.

In regards to how you view the G5 Mane Ponies - I respect your opinion, but I certainly wouldn't view Pipp as anything like (early) Diamond Tiara or Trixie by a long shot - if she's like any G4 pony (and ultimately, she's like herself, in my opinion) I'd say she's Rarity - not only is she that perfect blend of adorable and beautiful, she's also the creator/artist of the Mane Cast (yes, I know Izzy can be seen as an artist too), where as with Rarity it was fashion design, with Pipp it's performing and (essentially) YouTube videos, as well as being a stylist or whatever. I also don't feel Zipp is very much like G4 Rainbow Dash, other than being an athletic pegasus (I even feel their personalities contrast each other in places), again no offense.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: invaderhorizongreen on September 01, 2024, 03:00:32 PM
I think gen 5 is on the way out I am already seeing toys in second hand stores and flea markets.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 01, 2024, 04:19:22 PM
Maybe a bit of an inflammatory remark but do you think Hasbro even cares about MLP to a point they would reboot it again into a sixth gen? At this point I don't. I see a lot of new G4 merch popping up and getting popular on the Asian market. More G4 brand deals and a bit of G1 nostalgia. As of right now it looks like G5 will die to make way for nostalgia bait, mostly G4, and this is how MLP will be kept alive and milked.

I still think connecting G5 to G4 was a mistake. They tried to attract old and new fangroups alike and it folded real quick. The best that came out of G5 was right at the beginning with the new theatrical release. The movie had the most money put into and had lots of marketing. Afterwards it quickly went downhill.

If they ever attempt a Gen 6 I hope it will stand on its own again and not be tied to previous MLP stories. Save for keeping a couple names, of course, for branding reasons. If you go into the old G5 speculation threads, some of the users here had amazing ideas. Maybe Hasbro should have just lurked here  ;)


Feels that way
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on September 02, 2024, 07:43:33 AM
EqD reported on the announcement that 2025 would see a "Unified Ponyverse"?

It's not unified if it only includes G4 and G5...  :pullhair:

I have absolutely no hopes for this. Mind you, I couldn't bring myself to read the full post, so maybe I'm a bit too harsh.

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Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 02, 2024, 10:32:09 AM
Hasbro continues to suck
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on September 03, 2024, 03:46:47 AM
Honestly, having seen the attempt at a multi-generational comic, which absolutely sucked, I am glad if they do a unified world with only G4 and G5. I can therefore ignore it completely.

It's going the wrong way, of course. G5 is limping so lets drag back up G4 which may still be popular with hardcore bronies or G4 fans but which parents and kids have moved beyond now and which should be the core of the market.

I'll say it again, G4 will be the death of My Little Pony. That and the fact imagination no longer seems to matter. I get quite frustrated with how little people use their brains for anything except clicking on their phones these days. Yeah, I'm old and cranky xD.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on September 03, 2024, 01:37:37 PM
Haven't read "Generations" yet, but I heard it wasn't the best due to making the G1s need need the G4s to save them, or something... I dunno... I am trying to avoid that with my project.

And today's kids aren't really like that (only using phones) - they aren't really that different to how we were as kids really, phones are just extra - I still see them playing outside and having fun, and the like, and some still play with toys because everybody is different no offense.

Also, imagination will always matter, and every age will always have imagination, which is something I will always be 100% on, again no offense.

G4 won't affect MLP in bad way, as it is another generation of an awesome franchise. I agree they should focus on the target audience, though and hope they are doing so with G5 (not saying bronies should be excluded as we (myself and other bronies) are an audience, but they should focus on the target audience)
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on September 03, 2024, 09:34:53 PM
Per a source (that I have talked to personally for previous g5 affairs), the ponyverse concept is cancelled and we won't see much in 2025 at all. This is also mentioned in the EQD blog.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on September 03, 2024, 11:33:03 PM
And today's kids aren't really like that (only using phones) - they aren't really that different to how we were as kids really, phones are just extra - I still see them playing outside and having fun, and the like, and some still play with toys because everybody is different no offense.


80's kids really did NOT have much access to computers.  I would have been severely punished if I ever went into an office space of one of the adults  I knew ; I can't imagine how much trouble I would have gotten into if I touched their computer!  we had TV (sometimes, when the adults would allow us access), we had cassette tape players and record players, and we had radios.  Other than that, personal electronics were NOT a thing until the '90's
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: MJNSEIFER on September 04, 2024, 10:04:47 AM
And today's kids aren't really like that (only using phones) - they aren't really that different to how we were as kids really, phones are just extra - I still see them playing outside and having fun, and the like, and some still play with toys because everybody is different no offense.


80's kids really did NOT have much access to computers.  I would have been severely punished if I ever went into an office space of one of the adults  I knew ; I can't imagine how much trouble I would have gotten into if I touched their computer!  we had TV (sometimes, when the adults would allow us access), we had cassette tape players and record players, and we had radios.  Other than that, personal electronics were NOT a thing until the '90's
I meant that today's kids still do things that we did as kids (go outside, play with toys, watch TV, etc.) as well as go on phones - that is what I meant by how we are not that different. No offense. In my opinion, kids having phones just gives them an extra thing than what we had.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: BlackCurtains on September 04, 2024, 10:16:34 AM
I actually agree. Granted, I live in public housing so everyone in my neighborhood is poor, but I see kids of all ages playing outside all the time. They play tag, basketball, ride bikes, bring their toys outside to play... one year a girl got a big Hatchimal and I had to listen to it for days :lol:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 04, 2024, 01:12:37 PM
I actually agree. Granted, I live in public housing so everyone in my neighborhood is poor, but I see kids of all ages playing outside all the time. They play tag, basketball, ride bikes, bring their toys outside to play... one year a girl got a big Hatchimal and I had to listen to it for days :lol:

It haaaunted your dreams  :lol: That would probably drive me crazy after a while
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on September 05, 2024, 05:15:36 AM
Per a source (that I have talked to personally for previous g5 affairs), the ponyverse concept is cancelled and we won't see much in 2025 at all. This is also mentioned in the EQD blog.

Thanks for the update, I missed most of the blogpost writing.

I took the time to check out the 2 minute presentation; seems like they did intend to include g1 (mentioned at the 13 second mark). It also shows a very weird looking crossover with what seems like another toyline I never heard of (distroller?).
Looks like it would have been all about merch, not collectible toys.

Here is the video to the cancelled project if anyone is curious: https://www.panaderia.xyz/#gallery-5 (https://www.panaderia.xyz/#gallery-5)
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 05, 2024, 02:09:33 PM
Per a source (that I have talked to personally for previous g5 affairs), the ponyverse concept is cancelled and we won't see much in 2025 at all. This is also mentioned in the EQD blog.

That's a okay with me.


Thanks for the link DV. Odd that they deliberately refused to show MLP and Friends.  Looks like Mexico's branch is having more fun with the brand then the north american branch is.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: cola on September 07, 2024, 06:52:23 PM
Per a source (that I have talked to personally for previous g5 affairs), the ponyverse concept is cancelled and we won't see much in 2025 at all. This is also mentioned in the EQD blog.

Thanks for the update, I missed most of the blogpost writing.

I took the time to check out the 2 minute presentation; seems like they did intend to include g1 (mentioned at the 13 second mark). It also shows a very weird looking crossover with what seems like another toyline I never heard of (distroller?).
Looks like it would have been all about merch, not collectible toys.

Here is the video to the cancelled project if anyone is curious: https://www.panaderia.xyz/#gallery-5 (https://www.panaderia.xyz/#gallery-5)

The G1/Tales in the video was more representative of their target demographics. With MLP Retro, it seems they're targeting women 35+ (No offense to anyone!). I suppose the tales footage was just for brand recognition? Odd choice but, I'll take it. With G4/FIM, it's millennials as a whole. G5 is the same core demographic, 7-8 year old girls.

It looks like Tell your Tale has an 89% approval rating among the target audience as well, I feel very vindicated for thinking it was a success in that regard. (I do not speak spanish, i just put it through a translator)

I'm not familiar with every brand they showed but if I'm honest... It looks like 2025 will/would be more of what we already seen so far. Just more G1 retro merch, I guess. I would feel less disappointed if I knew we had more TYT on the way. Or, maybe more pony toys? I know G5's mainline hasn't done so hot actually. Maybe I'm burnt out haha.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: NightChaser on September 08, 2024, 08:40:08 AM
>>> Twilight Mode on - seek Shelter :shocked: <<<

Maybe a bit of an inflammatory remark but do you think Hasbro even cares about MLP to a point they would reboot it again into a sixth gen? At this point I don't. I see a lot of new G4 merch popping up and getting popular on the Asian market. More G4 brand deals and a bit of G1 nostalgia. As of right now it looks like G5 will die to make way for nostalgia bait, mostly G4, and this is how MLP will be kept alive and milked.

I still think connecting G5 to G4 was a mistake. They tried to attract old and new fangroups alike and it folded real quick. The best that came out of G5 was right at the beginning with the new theatrical release. The movie had the most money put into and had lots of marketing. Afterwards it quickly went downhill.

If they ever attempt a Gen 6 I hope it will stand on its own again and not be tied to previous MLP stories. Save for keeping a couple names, of course, for branding reasons. If you go into the old G5 speculation threads, some of the users here had amazing ideas. Maybe Hasbro should have just lurked here  ;)
For Hasbro every Show they have create was mostly an Addvertisement for their Toys, MLP, Transformers, GI Joe and more.
Other Companys do the same or do you think Matel has made Barbie Movies just because its a nice Story?
The G4 Merch in Asia are often Fakes and Partial just similar like my lovely merry, my little Horse, my lovely Horses and so on.
https://www.mlpmerch.com/2016/05/ossie-and-quest-for-worst-mlp-fakies.html (https://www.mlpmerch.com/2016/05/ossie-and-quest-for-worst-mlp-fakies.html)
https://mlpforums.com/topic/29592-mlp-ripoffs (https://mlpforums.com/topic/29592-mlp-ripoffs)

Also there are many Fakes of real Merch like Funko Pop and the Kotobukiya Bishoujo Figures.
The second I'm collecting and I just need Rainbow Dash to complete it.
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By the Way, next year they will do an Reproduction of all Figures with Pinkie, Twilight and Fluttershy in the first 3 Months:
https://www.kotobukiya.co.jp/en/title/bishoujo_po (https://www.kotobukiya.co.jp/en/title/bishoujo_po)

G5 well its a Mashup of many.
Posey is mostly a Remake of the G1 Posey as the G4 Posey aka Fluttershys Mom.
The World look like Zootropia with Ponys only, no racial Diversity like Gryphons, Changelings, Horses (Saddle Arabian).

I'm still sure the only Reason why they have say it is the G4 Equestria and why they have add G4 Content in the Movie was just to take over as much G4 Fans as possible.
It was just a Trick to sell more Movie Tickets.
In the end you just had an G4 intro in the Style of the G4 Movie with the Stormking who just was the Imagination of Sunny, Hitch and Sprout, an Lighthouse full of Memorabilia who completly disapered after the Movie, except Sunnys Bag and the Lamp who are not even close to the Night Light Argyle has made for Sunny.
There are also one Windows with Twilights Cutiemark and a Wonderbolt Poster who strangely and unrealiostic still look very new after the around 350 Years bet ween G4 and G5.
But the try to force a new Generation on the Fanbase has not work.
I have see so many Reviews and Videos about G5 who had the same Impression as myself after the Movie, like "Wtf I have see there?".
A Girl go in the big City and try to realise her Idea - sound like Zootropia Judy in Ponyland with the Heats Warming Eve Story mixed in.
Both Movies with Racism, a Girl who need to Prove herself, Sovial Media and not a Hint of a "magical World of Equestria" like in G1, G2, G3 (not G3,5) and G4 (also not G4,5 - Equestria Girls).
I guess everyone would have like G5 if it would play in the Time of Season 9 Episode 26, what are about 30 Years after Twilights 2. Coronation.
A World similar like the Boruto Anime, who is also called Naruto Next Generation.
In it the old Char are not vanished, but not longer in the Focus, with the Mane 6 similar in the Background as their Parents in G4 or other BG Ponys like Lyra/Bonbon or :muffin: Pony.

Also I still think G5 is an different Universe, in G3 was a Ponyville too but it was way more modern as the G4 Ponyville.
I think the biggest Problem is the Way they release G5.
You can just see the first Season (Chapters 1-6) on Netflix, the Movie was in the Cinemas.
I not know how G4 was released between 2010 and 2019, because I have enter the Fandom after the End of the G4 Show in 2019.
I think the best would be if a Show release a Episode every 1-2 Weeks, not release a Bunch of Episodes at once and then let the "Fans" wait 2-6 months for something new.
I guess, where ever it was released, G4 was one Episode every 2 Weeks, because one Season/Year had 26 Episodes and this would perfectly fit in the 52 Weeks of the Year.
If they do a Gen 6 and I'm sure they will as long the Toys are sold well enough, I realy would like them to do something with the old Generations, like new Storys from the G1 Universe included the original Pre-Versions of the Mane 6 (Twilight, Glory/Sparkler, Surprise, Firefly, Posey, Applejack) and some of the other Char like Moondancer, bon Bon and Spike, maybe even Dazzleglow, the first ever displayed Alicorn in MLP.
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Per a source (that I have talked to personally for previous g5 affairs), the ponyverse concept is cancelled and we won't see much in 2025 at all. This is also mentioned in the EQD blog.

Thanks for the update, I missed most of the blogpost writing.

I took the time to check out the 2 minute presentation; seems like they did intend to include g1 (mentioned at the 13 second mark). It also shows a very weird looking crossover with what seems like another toyline I never heard of (distroller?).
Looks like it would have been all about merch, not collectible toys.

Here is the video to the cancelled project if anyone is curious: https://www.panaderia.xyz/#gallery-5 (https://www.panaderia.xyz/#gallery-5)
The most in the Video I not understand because its the wrong Language and its from Panadería, a Name I never have see or hear before, but it is surely not an official Hasbro Video.



In my view, it likely isn't connected to G4 in canon - it just reboots it, and this is coming from somebody who does view G5 as the future of G4 in fanon/headcanon.
I not think this is a Reboot.
If you look on the many Reboots some have made like the Sailor Moon Crystal Show or the Spiderman/Terminator Movies, what a Reboot made is, its the same Content with the same Characters, just told in a new Way.
A Reboot of MLP would also contain the Friend 7 (G1), the Core 7 (G3.5) or the Mane 7 (G4).
Not sure but in some Way you could call Equestria Girls as some kind of Reboot, also the Mirror Universe from the Comics.


It would make more sense given that G5 at face value really does seem like it's own generation (at least to me it does) - new locations, new rules, new species... so I am actually leaning towards the fact that, in canon at least, it is a new world, just a new world that reuses "Equestria" as its name, just like how there's been at least four towns named "Ponyville". It could even be seen as a new reboot version of the G4 Mane Six too, albeit lesser than it has been, as what little we've seen of them, they do seem to be similar to the G4 version, but it feels more like a reference to them, than outright saying "this is what they did next" or whatever.

Again, I don't mind G5 being connected to G4, as it still stands on its own either way for me, and feels like it's own generation for me (and again, in my headcanon they are connected), but it doesn't feel like they are as much in the show, outside rebooting, and nostalgic references to them, but if it is, I personally don't feel it affects anything.
G5 is a Generation and universe for itself, like the 7 Versions (G1, G2, G3, G3.5, G4, Eqquestria Girls, Pony Life) before, it reuse some Stuff from other Generations (G1 Posey, G4 Twilight, G4 Spike, Pony Life Celestia/Luna) and the Name Equestria (who are not the World, just the Country/Kingdom Name).
Fans say the Worlds name is Equus, but it has no official Name, just it is Earth like and for the Design of Equestia we can read this on Wikipedia: The Equestrian continent's diverse geography ranges, biomes, provinces, and settlements are modeled after or based on North American cities and the Nearctic realm.
So Equestria are based on the USA and the Crystal Kingdom on Canada.
G1 and G3/3.5 have no real Location as I know, they are somewhere and nowhere.

Those who were angry are likely G4 purists anyway - not saying all of them were, but they at the very least seem to be people who don't get how MLP works, or even how rebooting works; even if the new version follows an older version/takes an older version as main inspiration, it is going to change things, that's how reboots work. There are some bronies (not all of us. :silly:) who don't get, or don't want to get that MLP does not revolve around G4, and not everything that is also used in that generation has to be the same as it - I feel I have seen bronies acting like Pony Life gets the G4 characters wrong too, but it doesn't for the simple reason that it is not G4, it is G4.5 - a new generation with new ponies. I have also seen bronies act like, for example, that G3 Rainbow Dash ruins G4 Rainbow Dash, despite the obvious fact that G3 existed first (so, this is probably the people we're dealing with when looking at the anger directed towards G5s changes - not everybody, I'm sure, but I have seen a lot of praise towards G5, including from bronies.)

"Perfect Evolution to G4" is also a bad way for them to look at it, even if they have G4 as their favorite, which they allowed to do, obviously (it is my second favorite generation, so praise where praise is due) - ignoring that no generation can be perfect (I'll probably even find something wrong with G3 if I look hard enough) - My Little Pony was already "perfect" before G4 happened, and I feel that what really helped G4 succeed (outside of the internet being what it was to boost fandoms easier) was that it followed the format of previous generations - when it moved away from that, it felt more like a de-evolution to me, despite the fact that I never stopped loving G4, and it could still be "My Little Pony when it knew how to be - I actually feel like G5 (mostly Make Your Mark) is saving My Little Pony by returning it to its roots, both early G4 and the generations before G4 - either way, it feels more like My Little Pony than G4 eventually did for me (it felt like it at first, IMO.)
I honestly feel that the only thing wrong with G5 is that Hasbro don't see the awesome generation they have on their hands, and have no idea how to promote it - a big mistake was to largely limit it to Netflix, which, while I love using it, doesn't promote its products very well - Make Your Mark alone looks built to be a TV show, and like all animated generations is just screaming for a physical media release, because it's My Little Pony, and of course, they need to promote the toys more.
Well I like G4 the most, but mostly because it was the first Generation who has catch my Interest.
G1 was more a pure Show for small Children, G2 had no Show after the G1 Show was not very sucessfull and we just got Dols who are more like Horses or the G4 Saddle Arabians.
G3 was a better Version with a more interesting Setting and G3.5 was G3 just in a more modern and realistic Setting with Ponyville as Suburbs and Ponys who had Jobs or visited the School.
G4 was the most sucessfull Show, because it was made by Lauren Faust, who not just had Ponys as Child but also was already active in other Shows.
This gave the show not just Char where everyone could find a Pony who fit the own Character (for me its 2/3 Twilight 4/6 Fluttershy and 2/6 Rarity^^).
Also the show was mostly made in the Style of an western Style Anime, a real Story, the classic Hero Journey, Emotional Situations and a big Finale.
All this is the Reason why this Generation not just has get this much Feedback.
It has fired the Imagination of Writers, Artists, has generate the first MLP only Conventions, has create many Friends in the Fandom and most important, it has save the MLP Franchise from possible Disapearance.
All this would never exist without this single Generation but it also made it extremly difficult to create something new what fit in this "big Shoes".

I like G5 in some Ways, but the Creators of G5 have remove to much of the Fantasy and Danger and replaced it with actual Contentsd like the overuse of Social Media, Smartphones everywhere, Fame and Idols, faking Things, conspiracy Theorys and Rasism.
Also theres no real focus on the Story.
Twilight warn the Main 5 about Opaline, but exept Zip in some Scenes, they mostly ignore it until Opaline start to act in the open.
Sometimes Ponys act like Idiots, like as Misty sucessfull steal the Lantern and hide it, in a Bag, on the Ground, in the Garden, in Front of the Laser Canon, they call a House, from where Misty has stolen it, they made a Concert to find Sparky and using their Cutiemarks as Megaphones instead of asking all Ponys in the Town to help them or Sunny get the Communication Mirror from Misty and is absolutly not surprised to talk with herself.



P.S. To NightChaser: I just noticed your post, and I ultimately agree with what you say about a Chapter Based show on Netflix making it an awkward show to fanbase over. Also I was part of the brony fandom since 2011, and from what I can see the gaps between seasons/episodes was relatively normal, though I can't give an exact timeline.

I disagree that Make Your Mark replaced fantasy and adventure though, as I feel it had adventure (though could have had more if it had better "pacing", i.e. it wasn't a Chapter Based show - it's something that the two conflicting complaints I've seen about Make Your Mark is that it focuses too much on the ponies goofing than doing story-related things, and that it focuses too much on the story so that the ponies don't get a chance to just hang out and be friends - I feel better pacing would have helped both sides, as much as I love Make Your Mark for what it is) and I definitely feel that it has a lot of fantasy, and would do so even if I didn't feel that social media fitted in to a fantasy setting perfectly (which I do) the whole atmosphere just has a very fantasy like vibe to it for me. No offense.

In regards to how you view the G5 Mane Ponies - I respect your opinion, but I certainly wouldn't view Pipp as anything like (early) Diamond Tiara or Trixie by a long shot - if she's like any G4 pony (and ultimately, she's like herself, in my opinion) I'd say she's Rarity - not only is she that perfect blend of adorable and beautiful, she's also the creator/artist of the Mane Cast (yes, I know Izzy can be seen as an artist too), where as with Rarity it was fashion design, with Pipp it's performing and (essentially) YouTube videos, as well as being a stylist or whatever. I also don't feel Zipp is very much like G4 Rainbow Dash, other than being an athletic pegasus (I even feel their personalities contrast each other in places), again no offense.
The Examples of the G5 Ponys are mostly on the look and character, like Sunny who not just look much like Scootaloo, both also like to skate (Rolerskates, Skateboard).
Izzy is practical acting like she is Pinkie, her direct and always happy Character and even the Pinkie Hopping in the Movie.
Zipp has much of rainbow, just her way she is talking is more serious like Spitfire.
But every Generation is from a previous Generation, Applejack is like she is since G1, just has get a Hat and Rainbow/Rarity was already in G3.5 Rainbow Dash.
G1 Posey and G1 Twilight are G4 Posey Shy and G4 Twilight Velvet, G1 Surprise is a Member of the Wonderbolts, Applejack is Applejack, just Glory and Firefly have no G4 Apearance as I know and G3/3.5 has even more Ponys who was reused in G4.
In G5 we have G1 Posey, G4 Twilight, G4 Spike and The Pony Live Versions of Celestia and Luna (not remember more other Char from other Generations).
The Char are similar but not the same, you're right some are Mixes.
G4 Rainbow Dash was made by Lauren Faust from her favorite Pony G1 Firefly and the Look from G3.5 Rainbow Dash, while the Character of the G3.5 Version of Dash was merged with G1 Glory and G1 Sparkler into Rarity.
I not like Pony Life, because it is mostly a G4 on Drugs, where every Figure act like a Suggar charged Pinkie Pie and act in Ways the Originals never would, like drinking Portions of Zecora like they are harmless Soft Drinks.

Maybe for the most of us newer Fans (from the Timeframe I'm actual in Season 5, because I have start 2019) and the Hardcore Pegasister/Bronys is the exterme change.
I mean a the Pegasister/Brony Counterpart of Disney the "Disney Adults" would not want Cinderella from a Castle with a evil Step Mom and Princesses to a Skyscaper with a greedy female Ceo and her Daughters where the Mom not like it that her Step Daughter want to date the hot Guy who bring the diet Coke to the Vendors.^^
Also I'm not sure why Ponys need to have an "Expiry Date" and after it just the new Stuff is good.
Companys like Microsoft want you to use the newest Windows, but there are still many who like the old Versions.
Here in Germany the Railway Compayn "Deutsche Bahn" still use Windows 3 and 3.11 for Displays and as Train OS.
For Figures, Disneys Mickey Mouse exist since 96 Years and it is still a well known Figure.
So Hasbro can made new Things, new Generations, new Storys, as long they not forget there are 6 more Generations before G5, they can always can reuse in some Way.
There are Fans for all Generations and I'm sure there are still some collectors who try to get all around 1200 Ponys from G2 for their Collection.^^
I'm sure Fans will not find nothing with all the Stuff you can get special the Stuff who is even better for Collectors like me, the Kotobukiya Figures, the Funko Vinyl collection, some special Funko Pop like my NFT Release Princess Luna, where are just 1550 Pieces if I understand it right.
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>>> Twilight Mode off  :satisfied: <<<
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on September 12, 2024, 02:30:48 PM
Haven't read "Generations" yet, but I heard it wasn't the best due to making the G1s need need the G4s to save them, or something... I dunno... I am trying to avoid that with my project.

And today's kids aren't really like that (only using phones) - they aren't really that different to how we were as kids really, phones are just extra - I still see them playing outside and having fun, and the like, and some still play with toys because everybody is different no offense.

I didn't say kids, I said people, as in the world in general and the direction it is moving towards.
BUT there is acknowledged to be difficulties with young people and early screen time and imagination development, also the social development lost during COVID and other things which has been well documented over here (in fact in my local area, but that's by the by).

I work in an environment where I meet a lot of imaginative kids, so it's not always the kids that are the problem, it's the world being framed around them and the options they are being given that are the issue. At the same time, I work in an environment where kids who are bored and completely unable to work out how to entertain themselves come in to make a nuisance for us and our customers just because that is the extent of their lives. I've worked on and off in libraries since the late 1990s, it's a situation that is getting worse. So yes, it is having an impact on some young people and not on all.

I actually had a lot of access to a computer in the eighties, but that was because back then schools sent their computers home with staff over the holidays so they didn't get stolen, rather than have them on site over the break. So my Dad always had an old BBCB or Compact computer over the break and I used to write stories and play games on it under supervision. I would say that was definitely happening from the late 1980s. BUT I agree this wasn't a normal state of things. We had our first home PC in 1998. My primary school were also ahead of the curve, though - we had a PC in school almost as soon as they came out. Just one, in the whole school, but we were very excited by paint and having screens that weren't green and black!!

I think the imagination thing comes down to the kids with the internal capacity to self-entertain or those which have the support to do so vs those who don't/lack that support. The latter category are the ones who potentially miss out because of today's tech revolution. But I do think there is a problem with the quality of what is being churned out. They keep remaking old things instead of doing much new. And, as someone who works in a library, you don't want my opinion on some of the literature social media raves about xD.

Back on topic again somewhere...

I am maybe an outlier here but I actually prefer them not using G1 ponies in newer gens. BUT I also accept that when they appear in those gens, they're new ponies and not really the old ones. I absolutely despise people talking about the six ponies that Lauren Faust based the M6 on as though they belong together in a group, when they don't, though. And also when people talk about Posey as the original fluttershy, rather than Fluttershy as based (very, very loosely) on a concept of Posey from one person's imagination.

I don't see the M6 as being at all like any of the g1 ponies, but that's also because of another bugbear of mine. I am sick to death of people talking about G1 animation as the only G1 canon, and then comparing it with FIM. G4 has a collective canon but G1 doesn't. It gets talked down because people are only aware of/only care about comparing animations and not the wider franchise. In reality, the animated series is the least canon part of G1, as it erased pony magic outside of unicorns and massively changed characters from how the backcards portrayed them. It is its own canon, of course, but it is not "THE" canon and it irks me when people make that comparison.

(That includes Dazzleglow as an alicorn, by the way. Dazzleglow is a unicorn, and in fact the first animated 'alicorn' is a glitch of Baby Surprise (I think) in Escape from Catrina).
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: cola on September 12, 2024, 05:43:26 PM

I am maybe an outlier here but I actually prefer them not using G1 ponies in newer gens. BUT I also accept that when they appear in those gens, they're new ponies and not really the old ones. I absolutely despise people talking about the six ponies that Lauren Faust based the M6 on as though they belong together in a group, when they don't, though. And also when people talk about Posey as the original fluttershy, rather than Fluttershy as based (very, very loosely) on a concept of Posey from one person's imagination.

I don't see the M6 as being at all like any of the g1 ponies, but that's also because of another bugbear of mine. I am sick to death of people talking about G1 animation as the only G1 canon, and then comparing it with FIM. G4 has a collective canon but G1 doesn't. It gets talked down because people are only aware of/only care about comparing animations and not the wider franchise. In reality, the animated series is the least canon part of G1, as it erased pony magic outside of unicorns and massively changed characters from how the backcards portrayed them. It is its own canon, of course, but it is not "THE" canon and it irks me when people make that comparison.

(That includes Dazzleglow as an alicorn, by the way. Dazzleglow is a unicorn, and in fact the first animated 'alicorn' is a glitch of Baby Surprise (I think) in Escape from Catrina).

You're definitely not alone, there's plenty of mlp fans who don't like the M6 to G1 comparison. I try to just let bygones be bygones if that makes sense. I don't mind them comparing it- but, I know G1's ponies aren't similar to FIM really. I don't enjoy the Posey or Surprise comparisons, really any of them but I also know that it's not for me. I'll let them enjoy it, and hope they won't wonder too much about the differences. (For any FIM fans reading, I like FIM! I just don't compare it. I like Lauren's headcanons and writing :) )

As someone who grew up watching G1 and G3 (Not while it aired, I had Dvds to watch them) I simply didn't have access to the rest of G1 canon. I live in the US, for me, the backcards and animation was my "canon". I'm sure this issue, a lack of resources, applies to other fans and other fandoms.

I wish there was a catalogue or anthology I could reference for the G1 comics, I would love to read it! I have only read a few of them, and enjoyed them very much. I feel the same about G2 and G3 (I love reading the scans that get posted! I know Lavender Lagoon is a great place to read up on G2  ;) I am not sponsored to say that.)

To touch on Pony Magic...Yeah :/ Yeah I wish people would acknowledge this continuity aspect. G1 Backcards (and the comics surely) open up a world of play for kids, with plenty of stories to share. G2's interpretation was great too, although much shorter.

To go back on topic haha...

Will Hasbro go back to G4?  :wonder:
Well. We know they thought about it. (twice now). I'm truly indifferent, if they really feel the need to. I'm not opposed to a reboot. I would much rather them try to make a new story, they're aiming for multimedia with G5 like with the past gens. I suppose that's more important, someone brought up it's all about tech now. I feel G5 has been on "life-support" so to speak since MYM's first hiatus. It really picked up again when Misty became a more important character though, and people other than kids watched TYT (which hey! what happened to my weekly episode? I hope TYT simply got pushed back for studio reasons. I heard 8 animators left Lil Critter Workshop, hopefully the studio isn't working them too hard.).

I feel whatever they chose to do, FIM will just be treated like MLP Retro. It appeals to a specific group, and that's good enough to license out the brand. FIM isn't going anywhere, if I keep seeing it on shelves instead of G5 still.

just to swing back to the actual title  >_< G5 did flop, but I enjoy it quite a bit. Part of me wants a third game- and another album. It'd be nice to get the rest of S2 of TYT :/ I may be disapointed judging from how things are looking.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Tropical_Sunset on September 13, 2024, 01:26:20 PM
It's hard for me to think of G5 as anything but a flop. There was some hype with the G5 movie and an ok amount of merch at first but I haven't seen pony sections in stores for...a while now. There were several later G5 releases I had to get online because physical stores just didn't want to stock them. And that was on the very rare occasion I even wanted to buy a G5 toy to begin with.

MLP to me will always be collectable brushable ponies made in a variety of colors and characters. G5 just didn't have that. I used to buy random MLP toys all the time when G3 was out, to give as gifts to friends and family. I'd be buying even more nowadays now that I have kids and kids' friends' birthday parties to attend but... There's just nothing to buy. If the kids like MLP, odds are they already own the 4.5 G5 main characters already. I'm not into buying the same characters over and over, it's boring as heck. Not only that' the quality of the brushable pony hair is just gross now.
Hasbro killed MLP's collectability, and thus my interest.

I'm happy for the retro releases. That's it.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Zapper on September 14, 2024, 02:20:14 AM
>>> Twilight Mode on - seek Shelter :shocked: <<<

Maybe a bit of an inflammatory remark but do you think Hasbro even cares about MLP to a point they would reboot it again into a sixth gen? At this point I don't. I see a lot of new G4 merch popping up and getting popular on the Asian market. More G4 brand deals and a bit of G1 nostalgia. As of right now it looks like G5 will die to make way for nostalgia bait, mostly G4, and this is how MLP will be kept alive and milked.

I still think connecting G5 to G4 was a mistake. They tried to attract old and new fangroups alike and it folded real quick. The best that came out of G5 was right at the beginning with the new theatrical release. The movie had the most money put into and had lots of marketing. Afterwards it quickly went downhill.

If they ever attempt a Gen 6 I hope it will stand on its own again and not be tied to previous MLP stories. Save for keeping a couple names, of course, for branding reasons. If you go into the old G5 speculation threads, some of the users here had amazing ideas. Maybe Hasbro should have just lurked here  ;)
For Hasbro every Show they have create was mostly an Addvertisement for their Toys, MLP, Transformers, GI Joe and more.
Other Companys do the same or do you think Matel has made Barbie Movies just because its a nice Story?

Wow! Interesting, never heard of that! Barbie is a toy? MLP are toys? I thought they were my best friends!!!
:lookround:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on September 16, 2024, 01:32:57 PM


As someone who grew up watching G1 and G3 (Not while it aired, I had Dvds to watch them) I simply didn't have access to the rest of G1 canon. I live in the US, for me, the backcards and animation was my "canon". I'm sure this issue, a lack of resources, applies to other fans and other fandoms.

The animation mostly contradicts the backcards, where the ponies with backcard stories are in the animation. Although the comics do add their own flair, the characterisations of some ponies, like Magic Star and Shady, are closer in the comics to the American backcards (even though they're for the SS ponies) than anything in the animation. Of course some sets in the UK have their own backcard stories and some ponies are very unique in the UK canon, like Baby Lucky. But mostly 'backcard' and 'animation' are not the same pony canon and there's more 'backcard' canon in comics than in the animated series. This is why to me it's not 'THE' canon, just 'a' canon :)

There are some recordings on YT where someone has read the comic stories (some of them) in the style of the UK story cassettes. There are a lot of comics, though, and I doubt anyone will ever digitise them completely, especially not given that some are quite expensive and rare to track down :/

I am not a fan of FIM, though I do like some of the G4 figures and designs. The animated series makes me cringe for a lot of reasons, although I accept it exists and is its own canon. But honestly, it's Lauren's canon not anything to do with G1. This is fine, too. Not judging that. But for example, Surprise. Surprise has the Pinkie Pie moment I think in End of Flutter Valley? One of the episodes she is buzzing around all over the place. But that's So Soft Surprise and it's not even consistent with how Surprise is portrayed in Escape from Catrina (I think it's that one?) And in the comic, there's this lovely story about her being surprised for her own birthday party. I believe her backcard story talks about her helping out others...not jumping out from behind bushes or throwing parties. That's not her personality, so when people go "Surprise is G1 Pinkie Pie", I get twitchy xD.

Same applies for most all the other M6, who are their own selves, but not anything really like the G1 counterparts.

This is sort of off topic now though. It's just evidence of how G4 has coloured how My Little Pony is perceived (like, right now so many "g1" collectors refer to G1 symbols as cutie marks as well, which is so annoying) and how difficult it's been for G5 to break that mould. Even if it had been set in a different world. But Hasbro didn't give it that space, so it's basically dead before it begins.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: cola on September 16, 2024, 03:21:18 PM
That's a pretty good point about G5- it didn't really get a chance to do much new. I think it's fine to retread old ground of course, and there's stuff worth repeating or re-exploring. About continuity...Yeah, I don't think any of the more serious older fans liked it.

I feel G5 is different enough where it has it's own continuity, a lot of it's criticisms (about it's FIM roots) I've heard just aren't very worth exploring. This is more of a FIM/Brony issue for me, again all of it coming down to taste. A lot of the criticism it receives about it's story just boils down to originality and continuity discrepancies. So, I see FIM and/or Bronies complain or theorize a lot about what happened to Twilight or fixate on Opaline's origins as a villain.

Many of them are valid and fair points, but in context of G5 and in the story that it is telling, FIM is so far removed that these talking points do not need exploring or elaboration. The story being told does not focus on these points, FIM's events and what happened in between is intentionally vague to keep people interested in FIM invested in the show to tie it back to the previous toyline and story. MYM and TYT doesn't really need to answer these questions, since the shows don't fixate on them. And a spoiler for those still catching up  >_<
Spoiler
The Twilight plot changes it's relevance after we know Opaline is out for revenge. We know what she's trying to warn them about. For me, it was a pretty early plot point. It stops being about Twilight, and is more about Opaline.

The criticism I want to see more of is about the execution, the story beats, the characters and their development, and the morals shown. I don't personally need to know what happened to Equestria to enjoy the show. When I peel back the continuity related criticisms, it does come down to "Why would they tie these two shows together, if they aren't that important to one another or if they don't hold much relevance?" I feel the "cheapening effect" and this side of the argument still. I come to the same conclusion, with different reasoning. I feel ultimately anyone could watch and understand G5 without the need of FIM, that's pretty much the crux of my argument.

^^^ All nerd words for saying "g5 is errrm different!!!", very unserious i promise. The worst part of this embarrassing tangent for me is that I don't mind if the continuity changes. I just like ponies

I still think G5 would have alienated G4 fans even if it had really solid continuity with FIM, it's just the nature of G5 following up that major success. Part of me thanks G5 for pushing away some of the more unsightly fans, but I think that would have happened over time naturally anyways.

About the G4 comparisons to G1 and "getting twitchy" I feel similarly :( I don't take it personally though, I just let them do their thing. It doesn't bother me anymore, even if I disagree over the silly pony shows. It'd be nice to have a re-release of all the UK comics (and G2...and G3), so we could explore more of pony lore and stories.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 20, 2024, 05:51:31 PM
They didn't even have price tag stickers. The mlp section has been taken over by wild manes and some cute new animal dollhouse brand called friendship heights.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Sapphire-Light on September 20, 2024, 07:21:43 PM
The quality of the toys is too low, and the prices are too high, here in central america the lowest I have seen a G5 with brushable hair it's $35, it doesn't help the box includes lame accessories so the price can't go lower

More than a year ago, when I saw a video of "let's go to Ollie's" and in the background they were piles of  untouched G5 figures and Playsets, it was a clear sign the G5 line was doomed  :huh:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: NightChaser on September 21, 2024, 08:39:10 AM
I am maybe an outlier here but I actually prefer them not using G1 ponies in newer gens. BUT I also accept that when they appear in those gens, they're new ponies and not really the old ones. I absolutely despise people talking about the six ponies that Lauren Faust based the M6 on as though they belong together in a group, when they don't, though. And also when people talk about Posey as the original fluttershy, rather than Fluttershy as based (very, very loosely) on a concept of Posey from one person's imagination.

I don't see the M6 as being at all like any of the g1 ponies, but that's also because of another bugbear of mine. I am sick to death of people talking about G1 animation as the only G1 canon, and then comparing it with FIM. G4 has a collective canon but G1 doesn't. It gets talked down because people are only aware of/only care about comparing animations and not the wider franchise. In reality, the animated series is the least canon part of G1, as it erased pony magic outside of unicorns and massively changed characters from how the backcards portrayed them. It is its own canon, of course, but it is not "THE" canon and it irks me when people make that comparison.

(That includes Dazzleglow as an alicorn, by the way. Dazzleglow is a unicorn, and in fact the first animated 'alicorn' is a glitch of Baby Surprise (I think) in Escape from Catrina).
It is actualy Mane 7, because every Group over the Generations was 7 Ponys.
Posey is Posey and in G4 she is the Mom of Fluttershy, what fit to the G1 Counterpart who has act more like a Mother.
If we go after the look even Rosedust, the Queen of the Flutter Ponys could be Fluttershy even her Fur is some times white.
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The first comming close to Fluttershy was maybe G2 Sky Skimmer
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and the first Fluttershy was G3 Fluttershy, even her look was maybe the Basis for Princess Cadance
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Lauren Faust has use Posey as first inspiration for Fluttershy and the Cutiemark is from Sky Skimmer.
She not even has named the Pony Fluttershy, first it was Posey, then Summer Azure, Spring Blossoms, Petalwing and Meadowbrook.
But in the endy she has use the Name of G3 Fluttershy (and the Stare from Laurens Mom^^).
So Fluttershy is a Combination of all 3 Generations before.
Many G4 Ponys are a Mix, like Rarity who is a Mix of G1 Glory, G1 Sparkler and G3.5 Rainbow Dash.

But if we go after the Look then Cotton Candy is closer to Pinkie Pie then Surprise, who just has a similar Cutie Mark, even her Character is more a Herbalist like Zecora
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G1 is the Begin of the Franchise so for some its special, because many have grow up with them (included Lauren Faust).
I'm sure there are many who not like G4 because it is way to complex for Pre-Teens and other (myself included) not like G5 because it is the actual real World in Ponyland and the show give Children wrong ideas like it is normal to run arround with Social Media on Smartphones all the Time or it is ok to ignore Problems or being blind for Stuff going on.
Also I not realy like the modern World in G3.5, G4.3 (EQG) and G5, because MLP was always a magical Fantasy Land.

The most animation Errors are wrong placed Details.
In G4 it was because of the Copy and Paste build of some Scenes with many Characters like many Guards, where it was more easy to place alicorn Versions and then remove Wings or Horn or both from them.
Alicorn Surprise I have found:
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But Dazzleglow are not an Animation Error, because an Error usualy apear in just one scene and often in Scenes with many Figures.
I have rewatch the Scene and Dazzleglow has her Form as "Winged Unicorn" in exactly 9 Scenes in My Pony Tale Ep. 17 https://mylittleponytales.fandom.com/wiki/Up,_Up_and_Away (https://mylittleponytales.fandom.com/wiki/Up,_Up_and_Away) and she is actualy using her Wings (not folded like the G4 Errors).
The Wiki say: "Dazzleglow's toy form notably portrays her as a wingless unicorn, further suggesting the set's TV appearance to be a reconceptualization of an existing set of toys over merchandise specifically created (as with the show's seven main characters) for the show." https://mylittleponytales.fandom.com/wiki/Dazzleglow (https://mylittleponytales.fandom.com/wiki/Dazzleglow).

Also the Name Alicorn is not an canon Race Name in MLP, the canon Name is "Winged Unicon" what are the reason why the Book in the Intro of G4 S1E1 say "the Sisters use their Unicorn Powers" and later they are still Unicorns in S2E25: A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1.
The Name Alicorn is maybe an Fan Creation or later changed.
The Name Alicorn was not used before S3E5: Magic Duel where Trixie use a Artefact who was first called "Unicharm" but then was renamed into "Alicorn Amulet" and the first Time a Pony was called Alicorn was S3E13: Magical Mystery Cure where Rarity told Twilight after her change: "Why, you've become an Alicorn. I didn't even know that was possible!".
After some Search I found here https://www.reddit.com/r/mylittlepony/comments/18aja5/adventures_in_etymology_alicorn (https://www.reddit.com/r/mylittlepony/comments/18aja5/adventures_in_etymology_alicorn) the info not just what Alicorn mean but also the Info: "The idea of calling a winged Unicorn an Alicorn appears to originate with author Piers Anthony some 30 years ago although the concept of winged Unicorns is older."

And today's kids aren't really like that (only using phones) - they aren't really that different to how we were as kids really, phones are just extra - I still see them playing outside and having fun, and the like, and some still play with toys because everybody is different no offense.


80's kids really did NOT have much access to computers.  I would have been severely punished if I ever went into an office space of one of the adults  I knew ; I can't imagine how much trouble I would have gotten into if I touched their computer!  we had TV (sometimes, when the adults would allow us access), we had cassette tape players and record players, and we had radios.  Other than that, personal electronics were NOT a thing until the '90's
Well thats mostly because of the Price, because a Computer in the 80s has cost between 2000 and 5000 Dollar.
For that Money you could get a Car somewhere between a used 1980 Buick Regal ($2,790) and a new 1986 Dodge D-50 ($5,595).
Most Kids had more simple Computers like an Commodore 64, Consoles like the Atari 2600 or LCD Games like Nintendo Game & Watch.

I am not a fan of FIM, though I do like some of the G4 figures and designs. The animated series makes me cringe for a lot of reasons, although I accept it exists and is its own canon. But honestly, it's Lauren's canon not anything to do with G1. This is fine, too. Not judging that. But for example, Surprise. Surprise has the Pinkie Pie moment I think in End of Flutter Valley? One of the episodes she is buzzing around all over the place. But that's So Soft Surprise and it's not even consistent with how Surprise is portrayed in Escape from Catrina (I think it's that one?) And in the comic, there's this lovely story about her being surprised for her own birthday party. I believe her backcard story talks about her helping out others...not jumping out from behind bushes or throwing parties. That's not her personality, so when people go "Surprise is G1 Pinkie Pie", I get twitchy xD.
Maybe because G4 was mostly made with Flash Animations, similar how Southpark was made just way more Fluid.
Also G4 was mostly made like an Anime and not special for Children like the other Generations.
Surprise is not Pinkie, because they are own Char in the Show.
Surprise is a Wonderbolt BG Pony, Moondancer is a Sidechar, Twilight and Posey are the Moms of Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy, Spike is himself just a bit older.

I still think G5 would have alienated G4 fans even if it had really solid continuity with FIM, it's just the nature of G5 following up that major success. Part of me thanks G5 for pushing away some of the more unsightly fans, but I think that would have happened over time naturally anyways.
Well I'm still new in the Fandome, joined in 2019, so I'm still in the G4 Modus.
G5 is nice by itelf, its Popcorn Movie Stuff, you watch it and its ok but it not realy Catch you except you are TicToc User or much in social Media.
My biggest Problem with G5 is the same other have with Games, if the Creator give you expecations and then give you something completly different.
I remember G5 was announced as a kind of Sequel of G4, in the same World as G4 but new Cast and all the Pictures of Sunny, the Bag, all the Details in her Room as the first Pictures was released.
I'm sure I was not the only one who expected an Sequel maybe like in Star Wars  where G4 is Ep6 and G5 is Ep7 with an Timegap of 30 Years (the possible Time between S9E25 and S9E26).
I was thinking Yay, Luster Dawn is now the new Twilight and Twilight the new Celestia.
The Mane 7 are still there but in the Age of mid 50 and sometimes just appear in the BG or as Side or Support Character, exactly like so see it in other shows like "The Legend of Korra" or "Boruto, Naruto Next Generation".
Today I think the only Reason why Hasbro/Netflix have told us this was to take the old Fans over in the new Generation, but after the Movie practical every Trace, except Sunnys Bag, Twilights Message the Sisters and the wrong made Spike was removed, it just has miss the Message "G4 is over Pegasister/Bronys, learn to like G5).
Well, somehow I like Shawn Keller's Athena & Lustrous from Guardians of Pondonia more, wonder why.^^
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WipRVvvNt4Y
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 21, 2024, 10:20:30 AM
No. There was no core group in MLP and Friends at all. It was a rotating cast of characters. There is nothing to suggest Rosedust could be Posey or  Fluttershy's relative either. Just because a pony shares color schemes, does not officially make them a parent. Also, the core cast went from 7 to 6 to 5.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: NightChaser on September 25, 2024, 07:05:03 AM
No. There was no core group in MLP and Friends at all. It was a rotating cast of characters. There is nothing to suggest Rosedust could be Posey or  Fluttershy's relative either. Just because a pony shares color schemes, does not officially make them a parent. Also, the core cast went from 7 to 6 to 5.
For Rosedust, I said "If we go after the look", so I not said she is Fluttershy in G1.
I have look why People call Fluttershys Parents Posey Shy and Gentle Bleeze and it looks like they are Fan Names, mostly used on some Pony Image Sites.
For Posey it could fit they are somehow connected, because in G1, G4 and G5 they are all like Flowers and at last in G1 and G5 they have the same Cutiemark.

But because the Design of G4 Fluttershy was made by Lauren Faust from G1 Posey, G2 Sky Skimmer and G3 Fluttershy, you can connect them.
Quote
Lauren Faust was inspired to create Fluttershy by her childhood toy G1 Earth pony Posey.
Fluttershy's initial design, published online by Faust, refers to her as "Posey" as well.
Her cutie mark, three pink and cyan butterflies, is similar to that of the G2 pony Sky Skimmer.
- FiM wiki -
https://x.com/Fyre_flye/status/406582513839005696 (https://x.com/Fyre_flye/status/406582513839005696)

Core Groups I think are mostly the Char who are more in Focus with Products and in Shows.
The Number of Cores was:
G1 - My Little Pony 'n Friends: 7
G1 - My Little Pony Tales: 7
G2: 4
G3: 8
G3 (The Core 7): 7
G3.5 (The Core 7): 7
G4 FiM (Mane 6): 6 (later 7 with Starlight)
G4.3 (EQG, Rainbooms): 6 (later 7 with SciTwi)
G4.5 (PL): 6 (7 if you count Spike)
G5 (Mane 5/Main 5): 5 (later 6 with Misty)

http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/Core_Ponies (http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/Core_Ponies) is listing all Core Groups.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: cola on September 26, 2024, 02:52:00 PM

But because the Design of G4 Fluttershy was made by Lauren Faust from G1 Posey, G2 Sky Skimmer and G3 Fluttershy, you can connect them.
Quote
Lauren Faust was inspired to create Fluttershy by her childhood toy G1 Earth pony Posey.
Fluttershy's initial design, published online by Faust, refers to her as "Posey" as well.
Her cutie mark, three pink and cyan butterflies, is similar to that of the G2 pony Sky Skimmer.
- FiM wiki -
https://x.com/Fyre_flye/status/406582513839005696 (https://x.com/Fyre_flye/status/406582513839005696)

Core Groups I think are mostly the Char who are more in Focus with Products and in Shows.
The Number of Cores was:
G1 - My Little Pony 'n Friends: 7
G1 - My Little Pony Tales: 7
G2: 4
G3: 8
G3 (The Core 7): 7
G3.5 (The Core 7): 7
G4 FiM (Mane 6): 6 (later 7 with Starlight)
G4.3 (EQG, Rainbooms): 6 (later 7 with SciTwi)
G4.5 (PL): 6 (7 if you count Spike)
G5 (Mane 5/Main 5): 5 (later 6 with Misty)

http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/Core_Ponies (http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/Core_Ponies) is listing all Core Groups.

MLP likes to reuse it's designs often, so maybe there is some truth to the parallels you pointed out. For a lot of the non-FIM crowd, I don't think we really like to make connection of "G4 and back" when it comes to lore. Every generation of MLP may take inspiration from the previous, I think only G5 was explicit in that it tried to continue a timeline of events from G4/FIM. (Although, G5 is so disconnected in plot, it may not really matter if it's connected to FIM or not in my opinion.)

About... :| Core groups. I think you make a good point that Hasbro picks ponies to advertise or put on merchandise for some gens, but when it comes down to the cartoons and comics, MLP didn't have a "Core Group" until 2008 with the Core 7 soft-reboot. Hasbro did pick groups of ponies for merchandise still up until then, this is different though.

When I talk about a Core Group, I think it comes down to intentional marketing and personalities. This is why Core 7 is the first "Core Group", Hasbro intentionally marketed us the characters first- not the toys. Previously, it was all about the toys I believe. So :lookround: just to circle back to Leave a Whisper- they're right. MLP and Friends didn't have a "Core Group", it had an ensemble cast of characters. Some of these characters did get toys, and did get some products, but they did not advertise them as a character. I could keep going, but to be clear, none of the media up until Core 7 tried to sell a cast of characters or personalities like comic books or anime do with their figures. Instead, it was a show made to sell toys, that where already on shelves.

I hate to discredit My Little Wiki, but I have to in this instant. MLP and friends was a much bigger cast that what was listed, some episodes or sets of episodes do not include any characters they listed. Firefly does not appear in the show, unless you want to count the TV version of "Escape from Midnight Castle"- in which she only appears there and in the special obviously. G1 Tales is correct ;) G2 is debatable, however looking at the known French magazines and other scans, these four where not the only main characters. It's not clear to me, but there may be more characters I simply don't know about because, I do not have access to it. G3's group dissipates as the media progresses, I think the only ones worth considering as a group is Minty, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie. The rest appear sometimes, and sort of just stop appearing completely as the generation continues. Core 7 onward seems correct to me, of course with the exception of a few unmentioned characters. This wiki page was last touched 3 years ago :blush: Maybe an update is due?

G3 (and G1) experimented with the idea of a "Core Groups" or "Character forward Toys" throughout it's lifespan (Ex: Tie in toys with VHS or other media, like Star Catcher or like Firefly's Adventure), and finally committed to it with Core 7. This is my interpretation, I'm sure you could interpret this differently or disagree.  :)

It is actualy Mane 7, because every Group over the Generations was 7 Ponys.
Posey is Posey and in G4 she is the Mom of Fluttershy, what fit to the G1 Counterpart who has act more like a Mother.

...

Sorry to say it again- but no  :nerdy:
FIM has a canon mother for Fluttershy, but I like your theory. I think Fluttershy's parents where something like, "Mrs. and Mr. Shy"?



Lauren Faust has use Posey as first inspiration for Fluttershy and the Cutiemark is from Sky Skimmer.
She not even has named the Pony Fluttershy, first it was Posey, then Summer Azure, Spring Blossoms, Petalwing and Meadowbrook.
But in the endy she has use the Name of G3 Fluttershy (and the Stare from Laurens Mom^^).
So Fluttershy is a Combination of all 3 Generations before.
Many G4 Ponys are a Mix, like Rarity who is a Mix of G1 Glory, G1 Sparkler and G3.5 Rainbow Dash.

But if we go after the Look then Cotton Candy is closer to Pinkie Pie then Surprise, who just has a similar Cutie Mark, even her Character is more a Herbalist like Zecora

...

Yes, yes that is the story for G4's Fluttershy. :lookround: I suppose you could interpret her as a combination. Wouldn't "Up, Up & Away" be more similar to Pinkie Pie? Take a look, let me know what you think :P I see the "mix" comparisons are popular for FIM/G4 fans, I will leave you to enjoy that :biggrin: I don't like comparing them too much really, unless it makes sense in the right context.


G1 is the Begin of the Franchise so for some its special, because many have grow up with them (included Lauren Faust).
I'm sure there are many who not like G4 because it is way to complex for Pre-Teens and other (myself included) not like G5 because it is the actual real World in Ponyland and the show give Children wrong ideas like it is normal to run arround with Social Media on Smartphones all the Time or it is ok to ignore Problems or being blind for Stuff going on.
Also I not realy like the modern World in G3.5, G4.3 (EQG) and G5, because MLP was always a magical Fantasy Land.

...


For me, it's been a "Modern Fantasy". I talked with someone about it for a bit, and I liked the way that sounded. Pony Land in G1 had electricity, and modern appliances...well, I suppose if you take a look at all of the generations, it has always been like that, no? I don't mean Tales btw! I mean Paradise Estate has a fully decked out kitchen, and surely Scoop's Sweet Shoppe needed fridges and freezers... G2 was pretty basic and magical if you ask me- but hey, those roller skates, play grounds, bikes and phone? That feels fairly modern to me.

G3 had scooters, and electricity too. Oh- hey that big ass roller coaster XD! :lol: Cars too. Plenty of G1 ponies had symbols with cars... I'm sure the argument could be made for FIM too if someone wanted to do so. Cities and all. Eh, some antics. Fantasy for me can include contemporary things, but there will still be a place to enjoy "High Fantasy" too  :)

I hope I was informative, I don't mean to be rude or lecture anyone. I love ponies haha
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 26, 2024, 03:12:22 PM
I repeat.There was no core group for My Little Pony and Friends.
All it takes is watching the episodes to see that characters would be swapped in or out, and that other characters were in the show once and never again. Now, I'll agree that Hasbro started thinking about the idea with Tales, which oddly enough never showed at all in the states. But a core group did not come about properly until the 3rd Generation.

 It can also be pointed out toyline wise, that a few toys would sometimes show up to pad out a second or third set. It was most likely due to having extra stock. But it was never to the detriment of having a wide variety of toys being drowned out to make room for a handful of the leftovers, as it does with 3.5's Core 7 all the way up through Gen 5.

ETA:
Cola makes a good point about technology always being present in the brand. I'll add to that point by reminding you that there's also ponies with modern technology symbols. For example.

Salty has a tugboat
Baby Whirlytwirl has a helicopter
Several ponies have cars
Star Hopper and Love Beam have a UFO
Baby Countdown has a rocket ship
Round n Round has a ferris wheel
Swinger has headphones
Scooter Sprite has an electric scooter
Steamer has a train
Melody has a microphone
DJ has a radio
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on September 28, 2024, 03:40:11 AM
I don't consider the cast of MLP n Friends a core group either. It was a continuation of the movie and featured the sets that came out when the movie did; primarily the So Softs and Twinkle Eyes, the BBE, the Flutters to a lesser extent, and the occasional odd ball (Mimic, Locket) thrown in. Too much to be seen as a core.

G2 imo did have a core; Light Heart, Sun Sparkle, Ivy and Sweetberry dominated the line and especially the merch. While they didn't have a show, they were ongoing representatives of the line.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on September 30, 2024, 03:20:44 PM
The first core group in MLP is the Tales seven, who are seven characters, so in a sense NightChaser has a point, just with focus on the wrong stage of Generation 1. The reason we don't tend to think of the seven characters as a core group is that they were introduced in 1993 and in most places G1 ended in 1994 (the Netherlands set in 1995 were sponsored by an external company, or some other thing, I'm not quite sure, so for now let's leave them out of it).

Two years is not enough to make a real 'core group', but this is what they were aiming for at the end of G1. I think the documents that came up on ebay a while back actually hint at that, with the US line ending in 1992 and the discussion in the intro about needing to refocus the line if they intended to bring it back. We could debate how important the US line is overall - not really that important, honestly, given how many different lines are out there. BUT in terms of big product decisions like the shift to Tales, I think maybe there was some impact.

Anyhow. In the UK, in 1993, the comic suddenly shifted from the normal fantasy stories involving all ponies currently in stores and a few extras to focus on the tales ponies as the core characters with a few adjacent extras. So Rockin' Beats often appeared, but in totally different guises from their original presentation. At the same time, though, the comics included older stories with the older characters in the same publications, which is why I am so set against dividing Tales from the rest of G1. They were still promoting stock (a lot of stock) that wasn't included in the new "Tales-verse" that had taken over the comic and also the cartoon. But you can also already see in 1993 and 1994 that Hasbro are creating 'special' versions of Tales ponies. Melody has rollerskates. Starlight is a hairdo pony. Sweetheart is a nurse. And so on. We can only imagine this would have continued.

I also think G2 has a very definite core cast of ponies which were reissued in various forms, albeit it's harder to quantify because some pony names change in translation or region, and again, because it was predominately under the care of European Hasbro branches.  Ivy, Sunsparkle, Sweetberry (as DreamvalleyMLP said), and also Light Heart have several versions (but in some cases pony names change between releases). There are also a few Sky Skimmers, too, but I don't think she was a much of a 'core'. And Morning Glory got a princess version iirc?

G3's revamp had a core cast with the core 7, and G4 had a mane 6, and it hasn't really gone back to the 'collect them all' mentality that made G1 so powerful for more than a decade. But toys have changed, digital stuff is more common, it's hard to really know how much of a factor that is.

I'll go back to what I said, though. The G4 characters are their own characters, based on Lauren Faust's personal pony canon developed into a show. As a G1 kid, I think it's really important for fans who came in with G4 to understand that every G1 kid had their own canon, built from the cartoons, comics, books, backcards and their own imagination. Saying that any G4 character is 'based on' a G1 character is disingenuous, because it doesn't reflect how G1 worked. Saying G1 didn't have a canon is also problematic. It did - a plurality of them. I don't really love the G1 animation, because, as I said before, the characters don't reflect the ones I grew up with. The comic canon is batty at times but it is also fairly robust and well-grounded in pony backcard data and so on. But the joy of G1 is everyone being able to pick and choose what stuff they like - a bit like a buffet. I read the comics to death as a kid, but I never once played a game based on the stories they contained. :)

Going back to the point raised, MLP & Friends not only didn't have a core cast, it also didn't have consistent characterisation (so soft versions of ponies having different personality to the regular versions, although looking the same) or continuity (because nothing that happened in episode a mattered in episode b (except End of Flutter Valley for obvious reasons). 

As for criticising the wiki, not criticising sources when they have gaps or are wrong is why this community is still full of myths, mistakes and misunderstandings 20 years after they've been debunked. :) If the wiki is wrong then it's wrong xD.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: kestral_kitsune on October 05, 2024, 09:20:05 AM
Short answer- yes.

Long answer- Hasbro did not want to let g4 go, of course because it made them so much money, but at the same time wanted to purge the fandom of bronies. So, they made the writing a lot more shallow and "girly".
With the toys, they were stuck in the mindset that fewer characters = less money on toys = fans will buy anything with the MLP logo. They were too scared to reach out into more characters (which, IMO would have saved the line) and instead focused on exhausting the main 5/sometimes misty. This paired with the state of Hasbro's stock, they are not going to be reaching out any time soon.
The show is a topic for another day, though.

I hope at least they are working on a new generation.

show: I need to find the article but apparnetly the g5 show was supposed to be in the same software as the movie and the rainbow road trip but because how how little profit/views those 2 made and cost they went with the cheaper to make 3d animation. and they scrapped the 'we're just going to redesign the g4 main core' and went with new characters which were basically the main 6 in new bodies. -thats how it feels to me-
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: achab1984 on October 11, 2024, 02:47:24 PM
I have lost interest in the current pony line years ago! They killed it off, i can't see it coming back. The toys are even cheap looking!
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on October 13, 2024, 10:11:31 AM
I was surprised to actually see ponies on Walmart shelves. Of course it was just 3 versions of Sunny and one version of Moonbow, so it was nothing to get excited over.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lalalei2001 on October 15, 2024, 11:52:36 AM
I've seen a couple ponies around but nothing major or new and nothing really big, just small ponies.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: brightberry on October 16, 2024, 11:23:20 AM
I think it did flop.  I thought the first special was ok.  I didn't really like the premise, but the ponies were cute.  The toys are not interesting to me though. 

I'm sure the biggest reason I liked G4 is because it has about the same atmosphere of Rescue at Midnight Castle and Escape from Catrina. Those are the shows that drew me into ponies as a kid.   But the characters in all of them are kind of generic.   

I feel like every children's show or toyline come up with the same type of characters over and over again.  The bold one, the crazy one, the shy one, the vain one and the smart one.  And if they need more, the "country" one, the "mean" one and so on.  We can say "X" inspired "X" but, it's less that and more "we need these types of characters to make an interesting show." 
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on October 17, 2024, 07:26:40 AM
The final animated episode for G5 has been uploaded today. The series was cut short. The only remaining G5 media that we're waiting on is the comics. China is doing some figures that look much better than anything we got released domestically.

As far as the animated series goes, I'd suggest watching Cxcd's video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FplutvPxo_c). As someone who's been following G5 closely at the start and had contact with a few insiders, this seems to be pretty correct and a good summary of what happened corporate-wise to cause such a disaster.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on October 17, 2024, 09:44:15 AM
The final animated episode for G5 has been uploaded today. The series was cut short.

It's over and done with. Anything G5 will fade into obscurity from this point on. The animation was the driving force behind the toys, and if there are no toys to sell there is no need to invest any further in animation. That's how I see it.

2025 will probably be all about merch to keep the brand name alive, while they (hopefully) work hard on a reboot for 2026.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on October 17, 2024, 02:58:24 PM
The reboot for 2026 leaked a bit ago. It's lame. I don't know if it's currently hosted anywhere on the internet since Hasbro gently asked people to take it down, but it's really disappointing.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on October 18, 2024, 12:32:35 AM
The reboot for 2026 leaked a bit ago. It's lame. I don't know if it's currently hosted anywhere on the internet since Hasbro gently asked people to take it down, but it's really disappointing.

 what is it, what is it?? spill!

Edit: Found something called "camp cutie mark"..? I don't believe for a second that's legit.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: TheClassCalico on October 19, 2024, 01:18:03 AM
The reboot for 2026 leaked a bit ago. It's lame. I don't know if it's currently hosted anywhere on the internet since Hasbro gently asked people to take it down, but it's really disappointing.

I found a forum thread on another forum hosting some of the content. If legitmate, it looks like G5's .5 generation/some other spin-off rather than a full blown, distinct generation. I hope so, anyway.  :sweat:
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on October 19, 2024, 02:27:47 AM
The final animated episode for G5 has been uploaded today. The series was cut short. The only remaining G5 media that we're waiting on is the comics. China is doing some figures that look much better than anything we got released domestically.

As far as the animated series goes, I'd suggest watching Cxcd's video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FplutvPxo_c). As someone who's been following G5 closely at the start and had contact with a few insiders, this seems to be pretty correct and a good summary of what happened corporate-wise to cause such a disaster.

I did watch the video (and lol'ed at the fact he had to do random recaps for people not capable of understanding a few minutes of dialogue, hehe). It is interesting because I think we've seen a shift very definitely - maybe because of G4 - towards the media-centric show-core type of MLP.
Spoiler
I don't agree with him in everything - whether G4 was the best generation is obviously subjective and he's clearly a brony, so that's by the by, but I don't like his omission of G2, and I also don't like the suggestion that G4 rebooted G3 and G3 rebooted G1. In reality, they rebooted the IP but NOT the generations. I remember the concept art for rebooting G4 as the same characters, and that's totally different from what we saw with any other generational introduction. In fact, G5 is much closer as a reboot to G4 than any prior reboots have ever been to any other generation, which for me is it's biggest fundamental problem. Trying to ride G4's coattails.

BUT with the added context around the media side and Hasbro's shifting focus, you can see why it's a mess. G4's animation will probably remain cult status - like Jem - for years after the toyline is forgotten, but it's shifted what MLP was originally and what made it successful.

I'm a biased G1 person so I think that G1 is the most successful generation - largely because here we are, 20+ years after it ended and there are a ton of retro licensing products around G1 themes although by rights it should be dead and buried. That longevity is also the real heartbeat of MLP's continued existence...so maybe by shifting across to animated media, Hasbro have really stepped from a world they had control into a world they don't massively understand.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on October 19, 2024, 08:19:51 AM
Camp Cutie Mark is exactly it. It's legit. It looks awful and disastrous for the brand. I'm hoping they saw the backlash and changes it, but it might be too late for that.



Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: DreamvalleyMLP on October 19, 2024, 11:24:52 AM
It sounds like an unimaginative fanfic cooked up by bronies who can't let go of twilight sparkle.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Lady Frostbite on October 19, 2024, 12:00:22 PM
It sounds like an unimaginative fanfic cooked up by bronies who can't let go of twilight sparkle.

It comes across as this, but more that Hasbro can't let go of the monster hit they had and are so desperate for the same amount of mega-money they'll do anything to recapture it.

It just feels lately that, if a 'successor' in a franchise or IP doesn't reach the absolute mega-billion sales mark or become a dominant pop-culture force, companies and watchers just declare it a bomb and get rid of it. Doesn't matter to them that there is an audience happily buying things related to the product, if it's not every single speck of money, they're not happy. Nothing is allowed to grow, if any risks are taken and aren't immediately successful, the company panics and goes back to what was huge before and often they just ... re-do that version again and again. It's a horrible cycle for an IP to get into, and I can think of a fair few caught in that swirl. G4 MLP was a giga-hit and pulled in an audience outside the intended audience, and G1 has a renaissance for older adults who love buying IPs from their childhood (heck, I do it with one franchise myself!).

A lot of bronies I saw looked down on G1, and it wasn't a franchise that really depended on story; it was a sandbox sort of thing were you were given the tools and your imagination had a greater part. It was made to sell toys, and the disdain for the 'lack of story' is pretty rich coming from the fact so many other pop culture icons ALSO were made simply to sell toys with a vague story that either remains free-floating or gets one fleshed out later. For my franchise, I didn't know there was an animated series to go with it, I wasn't exposed to it, I went with backcard info and my own imagination. It doesn't help Lauren Faust also seemed to have this dismissive mindset of it being made to sell toys and all the ponies did was have tea parties and simple problems (I would question if she's forgotten that girls' imaginations can come up with the most intricate and twisted storylines with toys) and she wanted to make something 'better' and got annoyed whenever Hasbro wanted to make it marketable. Because, surprise, toy company wants toy franchise to sell toys. Shocker.

I can't name any of the G5 characters, I can name a lot of G4 but I live on the internet and it was such a dominant force. G1 I can name quite a few from being on here, it's not difficult or strange. This might need to go back to the drawing board and looking at other toys to see what's missing. LOL Surprise still isn't dead or rebooted as far as I am aware, just new 'lines' under the same umbrella, so it can be done.

(I'm not going to lie, I'm genuinely shocked that's still going. How?!)

My thoughts are messy as it's been a long day but hopefully some points come across. I'm aware parts of this are hypocritical as I'm a giant G1 Monster High person and really dislike the changes they make for G2 and G3, but it's more they step away from their target demo than anything to do with character or story, as stepping away from the core demo is what leads to a lot of story and character changing. Frankie is pretty consistent as a character in that she's enthusiastic, bright-eyed, a bit naive but always cheerful and ready to embrace others. Wither they give her her clumsy gene, give her Ghoulia's trademark smarts or give her prosthetics doesn't take away from that when done right, i.e. not giving her smarts because they deliberately cut Ghoulia out
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on October 19, 2024, 01:54:38 PM
I think the difference between G1 MH and G4 MLP is that G4 is already a reboot of a reboot of a reboot of an IP that existed way back. G1 MH is the original, and it's like book to movie adaptation.

I think there's also an issue whereby nothing much now is that original, and so moving away from a 'sure thing' like G4 is a big risk. But while bronies are the best placed to talk about the shift from G4 to G5, they're not well placed to talk about how MLP has worked overall, and yes, they do dismiss the toyline, probably because G4's toyline was more for kids or collectors and not so much the 'fandom' the bronies consider themselves.

...It doesn't help that the bronies keep telling themselves they invented the concept of a my little pony fanbase and thus are the only ones with an opinion. But that's another issue.
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on October 20, 2024, 12:35:11 PM
Hasbro doesn't care to admit that the massive influx of money they got during G4 was from internet-absorbed adult male collectors who were expecting to be influential, playing a part in directing the merchandise, conventions, fandom, and TV show.  and that cannot co-exist with preschooler entertainment.  MLP won't reach that level of profit ever again, probably.

G1 was magic in a bottle - with so little fantasy animal toys on the market, of course Hasbro was going to be the gold standard.  And they enjoyed it for 10-15 years.  That gave other toy companies more than enough R&D time to find things that could compete with MLP. 

Today's toys have a struggle Unless there is some tech tie-in:  kids are done with toys by the time they are like, 8.  .  Most toys that are marketed to children (preschoolers) have all sorts of marketing limitations when it comes to the internet.  It's all about multichannel marketing these days.

Pokemon have video games and a CCG and a TV show.  and that is only popular among a wide audience because it's a combat game.  yes yes there is friendship and other stuff, but in the end, it's a competitive combat game. 

Hasbro is also limited by the retailers, unlike in previous years, where it was "here is what is available for order".  That's why Basic Fun didn't make the Flutters - retailers told them they were not interested in selling them.  Most of us collectors would have happily bought them but we weren't given the opportunity.   I would love to know if BF considered the Celestials a success or not, given that Amazon was the major way that they were sold. 

I really feel like I am repeating myself endlessly when the subject comes up and newbies are like, "when are we getting more?"  :/ 
Title: Re: Did G5 flop?
Post by: Taffeta on October 20, 2024, 05:45:27 PM
I think that's a pretty good overview, tbh. I do think there's a way to tie MLP into tech while still keeping it fresh and not stagnating, but I don't think Hasbro have found that yet. And I am honestly ok with MLP not being there for a while. The bronies are all still "MLP cannot survive without us" but it has been doing just fine doing exactly that for years without them, and the real fans will stick with it.

Whether pony transitions from just a toy that our generation loved to one that becomes a historical artefact in museums in the future is unknown at this point xD.

Basic Fun sold Celestials extensively in Toymaster franchise stores here in the UK. Just they're not well distributed in all areas anymore. 5LD also had them, albeit that's also an online retailer. Though I accept that they will be mostly looking at the US sales and not their exports.

BF did mention something happening still in 2025 with retros but we'll wait and see what it is, if it happens. I think we've been spoiled so much already that I don't mind if it ends. I never thought I'd have a Medley plush <3.
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