I wanted to try something new with another blog that is different from Retro's Blog. I will debut this new section called The Equestrian Blog, a series of blogs where i talk about topics related to MLP. With four successful movies and three episode specials, what we have asked for since Rainbow Rocks has finally come true. The new YouTube series is available and expands the brand in some form. However, despite finally getting a "seasonal" format for the spin-off, why does it feel like its wasted potential? Yes, I'm excited we are getting something for the next 45 weeks, even if it's a short cartoon most of the time. Like I said, it just feels like Hasbro, despite all the money they have will not take the series further other than in two to three minute shorts. In my movie reviews on the series, I always claimed that the 70-minute movie format for EQG stopped working once we got to Friendship Games. The reason is that there is not enough time to world build, give the HuMane Seven development, and grow recurring characters exclusive to this series. In FIM, it has enough time to do all that I mentioned because it has 26 episodes that are 22 minutes each as its seasonal format. It's one of the many reasons FIM is good as they have time to build on everything from the characters to world building. I counted seasons 4 - 7 and The Movie of FIM (excluding seasons 1 - 3) and its clocked at 39 hours and 39 minutes altogether. While for Equestria Girls, between its four movies, three episode specials, Prequel shorts, and Summer Shorts all together has the length of 6 hours and 38 minutes. The reason I did not include the first three seasons is so to make a fair comparison since EQG had not debuted until after Season 3. Again, I get it, FIM is the main series and it's the reason it gets the most focus. I still see great potential for the spin-off in many ways, something Hasbro does not have the common sense to realize. The problem with the 70-minute films is the series has progressed slowly because of it. As you already know, the HuMane Five of Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity never got proper development. It was not until Dance Magic when for once they decided to slowly grow the HuMane Five. Even world building for once was properly written further as seen in the Summer Shorts. However, character growth and world building have more ways for development than in 2 to 3 minute shorts. What is also annoying is the fact that the HuMane Seven have superpowers from the parallel world's Elements. They are also shaped differently in the form of pendants and transforms the girls in a Sailor Moon fashion. So let me get this straight, you go out of the way for the HuMane Seven to get their own Elements of that world while granting them superpowers. Yet you do not want to invest in a concept that needs a seasonal format for the show to work. I can tell these business people who have no common sense would pull a stunt like this. I am sure the studio's writers wanted to take this further, but with restriction what can they do. Hasbro could be smart and invest with another studio if DHX is too busy, I mean it's not like they are desperate for cash. They wanted to buy Mattel out recently, but then, in turn, they are going to tell me that two to three minute cartoons are all they could afford? Mattel is their biggest rival, a company that was not worth mere pennies. There is no reason to waste such potential when you know Bronies who hate it will still come and watch it. If EQG is such a pain to continue then, why couldn't they stop at the first film? Hasbro is this head deep into the lore of the parallel world that now they cannot back out. If the company had no confidence in the brand, they would not have continued past the first movie. Why do you think companies like WWE, EA, Square, and Marvel (cartoons and MCU only) have such bad products? It's because of this crappy model they go by, which is only used solely to make money while not giving a damn about the quality. Here is another good example; Suicide Squad from DC's Extended Universe had average writing in it— this forced David Ayer to write the script in just six weeks and we all know that doesn't work for big movies. Of course, my expectation wasn't that high for the new series as I was expecting them to have a handful of 10 minute episodes with many shorts spread out. As I already stated, the shorts are very enjoyable unlike the examples i gave before. I am sorry, but two or three minute shorts is not good enough for a show of this caliber. So what does Hasbro think EQG is? Another crappy Marvel cartoon like the Avengers: Assemble. The series is way above that and deserves better treatment than being made into cartoon shorts. It's true that they announced 45 episodes with one of the producers on Twitter who claimed some will vary in length. However, I have a couple of ideas Hasbro could use the next time around. The first idea is Plan A which is to have three episodes of 22 minutes, one for the premiere and the other two for the finale. From Episode 2 to 43 you will have 20 ten-minute episodes and 22 shorts spread across the season. The time for this season will clock at 5 hours and 12 minutes, which is half the amount of FIM's 10-hour format in one season. If Hasbro is so pressed about the length of the season, then we have the next plan. In Plan B, there will be three 22 minute episodes, 15 ten minute episodes, and 27 shorts. It clocks this format at 4 hours and 38 minutes, which is still half the time of FIM. I doubt Hasbro wanted 13 episodes at 22 minutes each for a season, clocking that at the same amount as Plan B. Overall, I'm just disappointed that Hasbro decided to use this crappy format all because they did not want to invest in another studio. You think with all that money they have especially when they wanted to buy Mattel, Hasbro would pony up the money for this series. So what was the point of bringing in Boulder Media to do some of the Summer Shorts? Boulder Media even improved their production by using quality software to produce the Canterlot High shorts. I cannot understand this business decision when you had another studio on speed dial to use if DHX had their hands tied with FIM's Season 8. Perhaps I am overreacting to the recent shorts that have aired recently; I mean one of the producers did say the length would vary. Of course, that could mean anything or maybe they are implying some will range from 8 to 10 minutes. I guess we will see, but I'm not holding my breath considering how much this has happened to other series. A company needs that good balance between using a business model that makes you money without sacrificing the product's quality. Nintendo is the only company that has a perfect balance between business and quality products. It is the reason their games and recently the success of the Switch is why Nintendo is still a multi-billion dollar company. My point is they could be making even more money if they invested a little more for EQG.
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Retro Gamer has been an avid fan of the My Little Pony Series since the debut of Gen 4 in 2010. Whenever she isn't talking about gaming, Retro will give her thoughts on MLP and other pony themed brands.
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