The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Lucky_Ladybug on April 22, 2015, 03:19:47 PM
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Perhaps that's a stupid question, but I'll explain. I was surprised the first time I learned of the existence of a pirate Pony (Barnacle). I know kids often dream of being pirates, and I assume that's because they like the sound of the adventure and hopefully it's not because they want to go attack people and plunder stuff. But since that's what real pirates do, it does give me a raised eyebrow that there is a pirate Pony.
Of course, semi-recently we've been introduced to some fictional pirates that seem to just like the adventuring and don't go hurting people (the One Piece crew, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, etc.). Jake and the Neverland Pirates apparently even have it as part of their code that a "real" pirate doesn't take anything that doesn't belong to them. LOL!
Laughable as that is, is that the type of pirate Barnacle is? Or is he really like real pirates and attacks Ponies and plunders from them? The fact that his hat has the skull and crossbones and an eyepatch makes it seem more to me that he is the latter. And it makes me cringe to imagine him going after Ponies like that (unless he's some sort of high seas crime-fighter and goes after "real" pirates to get their loot back and return it to the rightful owners or something).
But there is one other possibility, something that came to me while I was thinking of this post. What if Barnacle isn't any kind of pirate at all and is instead an actor who entertains the kids? I remember his backcard story has him setting up something fun for the kids so they can find a treasure he hid for them, so that would fit right in with the idea.
That is so adorable it's probably going to be my headcanon for him from now on. Either that or the high seas crime-fighter idea. But what do the rest of you think? What are your headcanons for Barnacle?
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Hrmmm good question. I can't give you any definitive answers on where Barnacle gets his treasure, but according to Heck Yeah Ponyscans (http://heckyeahponyscans.tumblr.com/post/31909433679), he hides treasures for other ponies to find? So maybe he was independently wealthy to begin with and he is giving away his fortune one treasure hunt at a time *new headcannon*
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Honestly I have always seen him as a retired pirate living somewhere nice after all the loot he stole.
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Hrmmm good question. I can't give you any definitive answers on where Barnacle gets his treasure, but according to Heck Yeah Ponyscans (http://heckyeahponyscans.tumblr.com/post/31909433679), he hides treasures for other ponies to find? So maybe he was independently wealthy to begin with and he is giving away his fortune one treasure hunt at a time *new headcannon*
That's a cute idea! I guess I just assumed Barnacle was more of a treasure hunter/sailor since that combination seems to be the most kid-friendly version of a pirate.
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Well, there aren't only ponies in the world in which the ponies live. So Barnacle probably loots and plunders from the other, evil creatures that are out there in the world. There are so many villains in the show who have magical artifacts and things -- if Barnacle makes it his duty to take all of those artifacts and hide them away that could be his form of piracy. :)
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I've heard that real pirates actually treated their crews significantly better than the Navy in the old "galleon-and-treasure" days. They also democratically elected their captains. :)
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I've got no guesses how Hasbro designed him. I do think the treasure hunter aspect makes sense here, though.
As for my own little pony universe, Barnacle is Princess Serena's big brother. He hated learning how to be a Prince, stowed away on a ship and ended up befriending several other ponies and going treasure hunting / exploring. They find lost treasure and give it to those in need, help other ponies find important things that have gone missing and eventually patrol the sea for threats so Serena and the other princesses can help further protect the other ponies from outside dangers.
So yeah... A mix of pony treasure hunter / explorer / crime fighter / Robin Hood or Aladin (like in Aladin 2 where he's flying over Agrubah and has all kinds of treasures on carpet and he and Abu are throwing them into the streets).
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He has a good heart, and I'm sure he shares his treasure with those in needs, but I bet he still plunders and steals! He's probably got a rivalry going on with Tex, who's like the town sheriff. Tex is always locking up Barnacle, but he's always escaping and returning to his old ways.
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So, what does a pirate Pony DO?
Whatever he wants!
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I've heard that real pirates actually treated their crews significantly better than the Navy in the old "galleon-and-treasure" days. They also democratically elected their captains. :)
Like :thumb:
It's always weirded me out how in FIM Rarity and Spike just dig up zillions of gems (all pre-cut) and then Spike just eats them all.
Hm, maybe the Ponies' definition of 'treasure' is more like chocolate coins and plastic-bead necklaces. You know, the GOOD stuff :)
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I wondered about this! Um, perhaps he's like a Robin Hood pirate, redistributing the wealth of the ruthless capitalists and bourgeoisie?
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I wondered about this! Um, perhaps he's like a Robin Hood pirate, redistributing the wealth of the ruthless capitalists and bourgeoisie?
Yes, a Pirate version of Robin Hood could be a very fun / interesting concept and Robin Hood has been done for kids before, so why not? :)
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I've pictured Barnacle being a deep diver and salvager, blundering wrecks for anything of value. He doesn't attack an intact ship and abhors killing, but he has little use for others' rules. He'll go where he's not supposed to and uses the pirate motif to scare off those who might interfere. He's also not above stealing from the living and is an accomplished thief who can get in, take his target, and get out. Majesty has actually commissioned him as a privateer since he seems to be able to get whatever needs to be got whether it be on land or the bottom of the ocean.
He and Salty obviously don't get along. Salty is a more by the book sailor and boat captain. The two often get into spats over the moral code of seafarers.
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Well, there aren't only ponies in the world in which the ponies live. So Barnacle probably loots and plunders from the other, evil creatures that are out there in the world. There are so many villains in the show who have magical artifacts and things -- if Barnacle makes it his duty to take all of those artifacts and hide them away that could be his form of piracy. :)
So he's a seafaring Robin Hood? :)
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I've pictured Barnacle being a deep diver and salvager, blundering wrecks for anything of value. He doesn't attack an intact ship and abhors killing, but he has little use for others' rules. He'll go where he's not supposed to and uses the pirate motif to scare off those who might interfere. He's also not above stealing from the living and is an accomplished thief who can get in, take his target, and get out. Majesty has actually commissioned him as a privateer since he seems to be able to get whatever needs to be got whether it be on land or the bottom of the ocean.
He and Salty obviously don't get along. Salty is a more by the book sailor and boat captain. The two often get into spats over the moral code of seafarers.
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I just imagine that he's a really eccentric millionaire that's super into pirates and uses it for philanthropic purposes. He buries his money for ponies to find because he's very intrenched on his pirate persona.
Plus he can claim a tax deduction on his pirate ship!
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So, what does a pirate Pony DO?
Whatever he wants!
True! And when he gets sunburned he puts on lotion. :)
Post Merge: April 23, 2015, 12:06:46 PM
I just imagine that he's a really eccentric millionaire that's super into pirates and uses it for philanthropic purposes. He buries his money for ponies to find because he's very intrenched on his pirate persona.
Plus he can claim a tax deduction on his pirate ship!
Lol, he's like Gio from the Atelier PS3 series (if anyone gets any of these references I'm throwing out).
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So, what does a pirate Pony DO?
Whatever he wants!
QFT! :thumb:
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I'd like to think that he's a genuine pirate. And that he sings this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1l7N-WLa3Q
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Now I picture him with Tim Curry's voice.
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I think that many westerners (US UK) have a fairly different idea of a "pirate" (ie the type that wears a hat and says ARGGGG) than people say from Vietnam or parts of Africa, or people who have actually had experiences with real pirates.
In the US at least, a "pirate" is more in the line of an old-school, fictional, Captn. James Hook (like from Peter Pan) or like from a romance novel, where they basically just wear cool outfits and act tough and steal from stuck-up or rich. I think that is where Barnacle fits in. He is more like Capt. Hook. A fake children's "pirate".
A friend of ours from Vietnam just cannot understand the US obsession with pirates- having emigrated from his country as a refugee, sometimes under very dangerous circumstances, his understanding of what a pirate is and does sounds a lot more like what Somali pirates are currently like. He thinks of pirates as the most terrible of thieves- preying on their own people, people who steal, kill and ransom for money alone. The lowest of the low.
It is an interesting perspective-
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I imagine he plunders cupcakes!
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I imagine he plunders cupcakes!
I like this one- good idea Barnacle!
I think as a kid I just assumed that the Big Brothers were playing dress-up...
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I imagine he plunders cupcakes!
I like this one- good idea Barnacle!
I think as a kid I just assumed that the Big Brothers were playing dress-up...
So... the Big Brothers are village people?
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So... the Big Brothers are village people?
They just need a biker and motorcycle cop and they would be good to go.
In the past pirates were often mutineers who took their ship from their navy began looting the shipping lanes. Many were even secretly under the employ of certain governments to sabotage the commerce of other governments.
Today, the modern pirate is often seafaring person who turned to a life of crime and is often tied to some terrorist organization. They capture ships mostly for ransom, but will also terrorize the seas and the coast if so instructed. Actually, many modern pirates had been fishermen.
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I'd like to think that he's a genuine pirate. And that he sings this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1l7N-WLa3Q
Ah, yes! Actually, I have a whole soundtrack of music for him to sing. Like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCnYG3q91ZY
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He and Salty obviously don't get along. Salty is a more by the book sailor and boat captain. The two often get into spats over the moral code of seafarers.
^.^
A lot of the big brothers don't make sense to me, actually. I can't imagine 4-Speed driving a truck, for instance (virtually impossible for a pony!) I love the U.S. big brothers but think the Mountain Boys make a lot more sense with their nature motifs.
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I think as a kid I just assumed that the Big Brothers were playing dress-up...
I agree with Galactica. I believe the Big Brothers are playing dress-up. They are just boys pretending they are cowboys, pirates, baseball & football players, etc. Innocent & all in good fun!
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I don't know if most people know this, but there used to be pirates on the Great Lakes in the 1800s / early 1900s! They were a pretty interesting bunch. One of them, Roaring Dan Seavy, would put up fake navigation lights and then rob ships once they ran aground.
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He sings sailor songs all day with Salty which annoys Chief. He also guards his golden lego treasure chest...
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I imagine he plunders cupcakes!
I like this one- good idea Barnacle!
I think as a kid I just assumed that the Big Brothers were playing dress-up...
So... the Big Brothers are village people?
EXACTLY!
Check out the resemblance:
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They are totally the Village People. Y-M-C-A!
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Yeah- honestly Hasbro didn't even try very hard to disguise the fact that the big brother ponies are essentially the Village People. Maybe they were fans?
The native american, cowboy and sailor hats are obvious- but they also have the "cop" hat (train conductor hat which is identical) and "construction worker" hat (allegedly a truck driver? since when do truck drivers wear hard-hats?)
- the hankies especially are a dead give-away. I guess Hasbro has a sense of humor after all.
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4-Speed's symbol is a dump truck, so perhaps he is a construction worker.
And Hasbro is the company that gave us a pet named Duck Soup, so they definitely had a sense of humor back then.
"We're thinking of making some male ponies. Any ideas?"
"Let's make them the pony version of the Village People."
"BRILLIANT!"
I what's fun is to actually add to the Big Brothers. We have a baseball pony and football pony, so why not hockey, basketball, and soccer ponies? A biker pony? Lumberjack? Swamp rat? Desert nomad? Spelunker? Mountain climber? Arctic explorer?
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I don't know if most people know this, but there used to be pirates on the Great Lakes in the 1800s / early 1900s! They were a pretty interesting bunch. One of them, Roaring Dan Seavy, would put up fake navigation lights and then rob ships once they ran aground.
Yes, I have read a bit about this! I've been meaning to do more research on the subject, actually. When I was in high school my friends and I called ourselves the "Lake Pirates" (I lived on a lake) -- we thought that was a novelty, but when I read about the pirates of the Great Lakes I was especially interested. :)
Post Merge: April 24, 2015, 11:16:40 AM
I what's fun is to actually add to the Big Brothers. We have a baseball pony and football pony, so why not hockey, basketball, and soccer ponies? A biker pony? Lumberjack? Swamp rat? Desert nomad? Spelunker? Mountain climber? Arctic explorer?
If they had ever made actual pony toys of the male characters from MLP Tales, we'd have Ace, a soccer pony. :)
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A friend of ours from Vietnam just cannot understand the US obsession with pirates- having emigrated from his country as a refugee, sometimes under very dangerous circumstances, his understanding of what a pirate is and does sounds a lot more like what Somali pirates are currently like. He thinks of pirates as the most terrible of thieves- preying on their own people, people who steal, kill and ransom for money alone. The lowest of the low.
It is an interesting perspective-
I guess I think more in terms of your friend's concept. Pirates are thieving, killing scum to me. Which is why it bothered me to think of a pirate Pony.
4-Speed's symbol is a dump truck, so perhaps he is a construction worker.
Really? I never saw it as a dump truck. It looked like a big 18-wheeler to me. Or at least, something that's longer than a dump truck. I kind of had my heart set on him being a trucker, although the reason why I want that so badly is a little strange. ;)
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4-Speed's symbol is a dump truck, so perhaps he is a construction worker.
And Hasbro is the company that gave us a pet named Duck Soup, so they definitely had a sense of humor back then.
"We're thinking of making some male ponies. Any ideas?"
"Let's make them the pony version of the Village People."
"BRILLIANT!"
I what's fun is to actually add to the Big Brothers. We have a baseball pony and football pony, so why not hockey, basketball, and soccer ponies? A biker pony? Lumberjack? Swamp rat? Desert nomad? Spelunker? Mountain climber? Arctic explorer?
Actually, that wouldn't of been a bad idea for custom pony boys. I would of liked to have seen MLP tales boys. Too bad they never made any. :/
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I always kind of imagined they were boys who had raided a dressing up box...so less pirate more little boy pony pretending to be a pirate :P Seemed like the classic dress up options - "indian", "cowboy", "pirate", "sailor" etc etc :)
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I always kind of imagined they were boys who had raided a dressing up box...so less pirate more little boy pony pretending to be a pirate :P Seemed like the classic dress up options - "indian", "cowboy", "pirate", "sailor" etc etc :)
Great idea!