UPDATE: Here is my review of My Little Pony: Equestria Girls. http://geekalabama.com/2013/07/04/movie-review-my-little-pony-equestria-girls/
You know, when I have to talk about some Bronies attacking the company that animates My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, you wonder where this world is coming too. Since Hasbro announced Equestria Girls, it has caused another huge rift in the Brony community. Some MLP adult fans feels like Hasbro is trying to sell some toys and that Equestria Girls does not fit into the My Little Pony universe. By the way, here is the trailer to Equestria Girls.
Some MLP fans have gone so far as to attack DHX Media. DHX was formed after a merger of Halifax Film Company and Decode Entertainment. The DHX animation studios in Vancouver Canada makes My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and other shows on The Hub. They are the ones that made Equestria Girls. And with this fact in mind, some people have sent hate mail to the animators. These animators have worked very hard making some high quality shows that many people enjoy! And of course, they enjoy seeing great comments and praise for their work. But when they start seeing hate mail and bad messages because of something Hasbro decided to do, that goes over the line my friends.
The Brony community has a very tight connection between the fans and the animators up at DHX Media. These animators often work long nights and weekends to bring the fans some highly praised work. The animators love what they do and I am sure they really love their jobs! Everyone should give props to the animators not only at DHX Media, but all other animation studios around the world. It takes a really long time to animate a cartoon we see on TV. And if these animators did not have the spark to keep going, we would not be seeing any cartoons on TV. This is a major reason why I do Animation Monday on the Geek Alabama blog. I love talking about the craft many people enjoy doing and watching today, and that’s animation.
So, here is where the controversy comes in. Ever since Hasbro announced Equestria Girls and that DHX Media was making the movie. Some attacks have been made on the competency, the commitment, and ability of the staff to pull of Equestria Girls. This wave of negativity, and waiting on people’s reactions, has apparently gotten more than a few members of DHX disheartened and possibly considering leaving their jobs. That’s right, some animators are threatening to quit because of the angry e-mails and even death threats they are getting from some people. I just can not quit laughing about this right now!
Look, we should be happy that we have many talented animators working on highly praised shows like My Little Pony:Friendship Is Magic, Phineas and Ferb, Adventure Time, The Legend of Korra, and many other animated shows. I believe we are in an animation renaissance right now! We should be proud that we are seeing many quality animated shows on TV. What’s going on with some grown adults attacking animators because of something they don’t agree with is horrible. People should be proud of all animators because for one, the animators at DHX Media have gotten many adults to watch a show aimed at little girls. And two, all animated shows are written and directed by some highly respected people. This is why animation is hot right now!
In fact, DHX Media is responsible for some really great animated shows like The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Arthur on PBS, Bump In The Night, George of the Jungle, Inspector Gadget, Heathcliff, Johnny Test, and many more shows! One of the newest shows from DHX Media called SheZow is coming to The Hub on June 1st. Here’s a preview.
Animation is a great craft for anyone to master. It does not matter if you animate a comic book, TV show, movie, or just something for your own personal enjoyment. We all should be happy to see some great, high quality animation! No one should be sending hate mail or threatening any animators because of something they don’t like. That is way too immature! Now for Equestria Girls, I will eventually see it and review it on Geek Alabama later this summer. Meghan McCarthy has written Equestria Girls and Daniel Ingram has already said the music in Equestria Girls will be great. I always enjoy watching a good quality animated show especially on Saturday mornings. Yes, I enjoy watching cartoons on Saturday morning! I am sure many adults does this as well!
Give Equestria Girls a chance this Summer. You should never make conclusions on something you have never seen yet. I will review this movie once the DVD comes out in August. No theaters near me are showing this by the way. I will give this movie a fair review like I have done with many other movies and TV shows. At least I will get to enjoy some great animation! We all should be happy about that!
Thank the people at DHX Media by using the Twitter hashtag: #thankyouDHX
Related articles
- Animation Monday: Five Kids Cartoons Adults Watch (geekalabama.com)
- Meet the ‘Equestria Girls’: ‘My Little Pony’ spinoff coming to theaters this summer – EXCLUSIVE POSTER (family-room.ew.com)
- Equestria Girls are not really pony fabulous (dawnstarpony.wordpress.com)
- My Little Ponies to be turned into horrifying mutant Pony People (io9.com)
- Why “My Little Pony” fandom is freaking out over “Equestria Girls” (dailydot.com)
- Geek Love: On the Matter of Bronies (tor.com)
Categories: Animation Talk Stuff, Geeks and Nerds Stuff
Most people agree that the ones sending these message went too far, but you know what. If people want to criticize the studio for it’s work. They have that right to express their opinion, no matter how ignorant or uninformed it is. IF some animators want to leave because of some “hate mail”, grow up and develop a backbone. Seriously…”someone doesn’t like my work so I’m gonna leave”! No matter what it is, someone is gonna criticize you. That is how the world works. Either way I was surprised to hear that DHX made The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. That show was garbage. Oh yeah the author of this article makes the same pig-headed mistake other article writers do. They don’t properly represent Bronies as a whole, and never point out that this is in the majority. Probably for sensationalistic BS.
“…never point out that this is in the minority.”
Wow, some points about your comment. I respect the animators at any animation studio and they should not be criticized for their work, period. Yes, getting criticism is a part of life but when some death threats are involved, that goes too far.
“IF some animators want to leave because of some “hate mail”, grow up and develop a backbone.” That seems like a bully apologist and had I known you in real life I would love to criticize you as much as the animators would and see if you have a backbone. There is a difference of having the actual ability of expressing constructive criticism, having the ability to use tact, and understanding that showing some restraint on your part in terms of reaction, and emotional response is the mark of a productive, intelligent member of society. Criticism doesn’t have to be verbose a simple few hundred words (even a thousand) will be better received than the “hate mail.”
If someone uses slander, anger, and silly arguments to get a point across what exactly have they accomplished…not much most likely. Additionally it seems that no one is willing to see it from the side of the animators and what sort of hate mail they were receiving. If you feel that criticism includes making the other feel so horribly then I can only hope that the influence and circle of people you know is very small and additionally simply shrug and shake my head.
It is very easy to deconstruct a film and get your points across on what did not work and what did. I read it time and time again critics who were able to point out the strengths and weaknesses in a film. The last one I read was about the new Superman movie.
I don’t have any apprehension on the film because the angle of Hasbro wanting to create more merchandise which will include everything that one can expect: dolls, play sets, plushies, collector sets, possibly makeup kits, pillows etc. Then there’s the fact that I am sure they will probably make a spin off show when they get the sales figures of the merchandise, and number of people who will watch the film in theaters, and watch on television (I believe it will be?).
As for the plot of the movie itself. I like the idea of Twilight going on a quest. However I can definitely question why she would need to go into an alternate universe and that it’s sufficiently explained on how it’d affect Equestria. Then add the environment itself, high school, which can also be seen as another marketing tool to have little girls, tweens and possibly older be interested in the series which can then point to a possible spin-off. I can sort of understand why they might have wanted high school as a simple way of keeping the characters of Ponyville in the same general area the way Ponyville is. However that in itself made me wonder if they simply did not want to carry over the societal dynamics into the alternate universe (and why not) or if high school was easier.
Then additionally there are the characters involved. We have the ponyville characters. However we also have the “mean girl” and “nice boy” characters. We have seen some of the “mean girl” caricature in Gilda however we had yet to really see the “nice boy” character as a single, possible love interest. The only evidence of a relationship we have seen in terms of actually being single and moving on to marriage is Twilight’s brother. Then there is also Mr. and Mrs. Cupcake who are married and recently had children.
It really depends on how they use the environment and the new characters that are either directly pushing the plot forward or are there to be relatable to viewers–we’ve all known a mean girl, and the nice boy possible love interest etc.
Those are many thoughts: 1) Why did they choose the setting and trying not to think the worst for it 2) Why didn’t they try to carry over the Equestria society model over? 3) How are they going use the two new characters? Are they possibly going to have something to do with the “mission”? Are they there for marketing and to push product (I will say most likely). 4) And how did they choose those character designs 🙂
You want to see if I have a backbone? This post was done to defend the animators for making the cartoon. They do a great job and I had to write this post because some people were threatening the animators which is wrong. Yes, Equestria Girls will be on DVD in August when I plan to review it. It will also be on The Hub this fall. Yes, I am a little confused about Twilight having a small love interest while in the human world. But the writers have already said the love interest will not be in season 4. (unless they are lying)
I am guessing a high school was chosen because we have all been there or will be there in the near future for the little ones. It is something we can relate too. Yes, Equestria Girls was done to compete against Mattel’s Monster High dolls. But so far, the reviews have been very positive and the hate has quieted down which I like seeing! Attacking other people is wrong.
No it’s not if they’re wrong.
It’s not if they’re wrong.
Huh? I don’t know what you are trying to say?
“Attacking other people is wrong.” is wrong if the people are wrong.
You are so right, but the movie was good! Thanks for Commenting!