MLP G5 Discussion and Speculation Thread

@Background Pony #6ABD  
LyraBon and the aunts are the most I’d expect out of Hasbro. Still, those were pretty significant steps for a corporation as big as them. As for the waifu thief, I think it was more to do with Twilight of all ponies to suddenly show an interest in guys. Especially one that isn’t even her own species. Not a good idea to use a practically Ace character to start exploring romance.

@Brass Beau
 
Right, it’s actually surprising what amount of LGBT they could put into FiM. Annnd I guuuess there was the “up to interpretation” AppleDash in the last episode but ehh, meh, not a fan but when it comes to LGBT I guess that’s something too.
 
And mhm mhm, that’s pretty much what the biggest problem with Flash probably was, not only did he just not really strike me as the sorta guy Twilight would be into but Twilight crushing on anyone is just strange. But yeah, point is that’s the sort of thing I hope G5 would avoid.
 
I love how this thread can go into so many directions because we have virtually nothing to work off of when speculating about G5, the closest we got is early development art from three years ago that was more about throwing ideas around than something that would actually resemble what the final thing will end up being.

@Brass Beau  
Is Twilight more ace than any other Mane (sans Rarity)? And her being attracted to guys who vaguely resemble her BBFF is not so unusual.
 

 

 
@Background Pony #6ABD  
I think the LGBT elements in G4 were an afterthought. But cartoons have changed, and I don’t know if that will cut it in the 2020s…

@Latecomer  
Well, within canon she’s shown about as much interest in romance as AJ & RD but the fandom pretty much pegged her as such and it’s those same fans that had the biggest problem with Flash. Weird as it sounds, the fandom would probably have been more open to Fluttershy x Bulk than Twilight x Flash at the time.

@Brass Beau  
I see. I generally just got the impression she was uninterested in romance for the same reasons she was uninterested in friendship (and with similar potential for change).

@Latecomer  
Huh, I never really thought of it like that because I feel like the whole point is that some sort of support system in your life, like friendship, is something everyone needs (introvert or not) but romance is not necessary for that.

@Background Pony #6ABD  
There are those who manage without friendship, too. But it helps. Not everyone needs a romantic partner, but I don’t see much more sign of not wanting one in Twilight than in most of her friends. She’s just an introvert.

@Latecomer  
True, true.

@Background Pony #6ABD  
It would make sense if they did make LGBTQ+ romance more predominant since they’re supposed to be aging up the tv rating.That would allow certain things FiM couldn’t show a lot of, now be more upfront.

@Background Pony #51DA  
We don’t know for sure that the TV rating would truly be any higher (it was just in “throwing ideas around” leaked emails from three years ago) but even if it will be I think it would be more of an issue of other countries. It might have to be the sorta thing with plausible deniability or the sort of thing you could censor out to have that wider reach.  
It would be cool if they took the risk and put in more prominent LGBT+ tho. A lot of LGBT+ fans connect to the ponies for various reasons so it would be cool.  
(Thank you for being chill about this guys, last time I brought up having more LGBT+ rep in MLP on Derpibooru it turned into a shitshow).

@Background Pony #6ABD  
Back in early G4, I figured it was impossible. But cartoons changed a lot in the 2010s, and now I’m seeing it as almost nescessary, at least in a mild degree. But it’s true that international markets are a complicator… especially since it’s not just one show or toyline’s reputation on the line, but Hasbro’s too.

@Latecomer  
I can think of two ways Hasbro can work around limitations, not just in foreign but domestic markets as well, when it comes to providing representation. The first is to do what they did towards the end of G4: just do it while not being explicit. It gives them plausible deniability if too many [whatever derogatory term you prefer] get their knickers in a bunch. The second is to design one member of a pair as androgynous as possible. In more accepting markets the pairing can appear LGBTQ+ but in others, a change of pronouns is all it would take to please the distributors (and censors).

@Brass Beau  
Ironically enough, a character doesn’t have to look androgynous to have their gender changed. I saw somewhere that one of Clyde’s fathers in The Loud House became a female in the Arabic dub (and there’s literally nothing feminine on him besides his salmon pink shirt). But I would like to see more androgynous-looking ponies in G5.

@Brass Beau  
Well, either option will raise controversy, but so will not going there, so…

@GoodVibesGorgeous  
“Pink shirt? Must be a woman!”  
What does an androgynous pony look like anyway?
 
@Latecomer  
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Given those options, Hasbro is pretty much better off just doing it.

@Brass Beau  
The best example at the top of my head would be Rumble, being a colt with a filly’s head.

Yeah I guess that makes sense, since a lot of countries still aren’t on LGBTQ+ idea, at least on a kids show.I remeber hearing after the Steven Universe episode where Ruby and Sapphire got “married”, Rebecca had to deal with a lot ,since that episode wasn’t showed or censored in some countries.Because of that a lot of things were rushed. However we still had a confirmed relationship on the Shera Reboot, but that was at the end of the show.It still would be nice to see some cute LGBTQ+ relationship, but I guess it would have to not be shown a lot, which is kinda dissapponting.Still a romantic relationship is the only type of “relationship” Mlp Gen 5 can dwell on…

@Background Pony #51DA  
isn’t the only type of relationship mlp gen 5 can dwell on

@Background Pony #51DA  
After G4 had a princess of love and family and another princess focused on friendship, I’m still down with the idea of G5 having four prominent cultural figures representing the four loves and handing out advice.

@Background Pony #51DA  
You reminded me of something by bringing up She-Ra. They had a lot more freedom to do things that might not normally be allowed since it was on Netflix.
 
So that’s my bridging point, yeah, where do you think Hasbro will be airing G5? Will they stick to Discovery Family? They do still partially own it, after all. Or will they try something like Cartoon Network or just stream it on Netflix? Heck, what if it’s actually a YouTube series?

@Background Pony #6ABD  
YouTube would allow for the episodes to be as long or short as they need to be. One week you get a ten minute episode. The next it’s twenty-four. It would also allow them to post supplemental material and pilots for spin-offs without disrupting the weekly format. Not to mention YouTube would allow it to reach the broadest possible audience. I think it’d be a genius move.

@Brass Beau  
…OK, maybe there are advantages to that style, but it gives my patterned brain a headache.
 
YouTube does reach the toy-loving kid audience pretty well, though…

@Latecomer  
Headache? You mean consciousness?  
Joking aside, the production would have to take careful consideration and executives would have to be willing to relinquish some control to the creative team. Well, it may be one of the better options for the series, it would also be the one least likely to happen.

Going off topic, how would you like the main characters to be? Like would you like them to have somewhat of gen 4 personalites types. What would you guys wish they could look like?  
I for one would like to see a brunette main pony.

@Background Pony #51DA  
I would like at least one or two guys in there. And perhaps less of a connection to the highest echelons?