Despite Lyras picket sign, I am not saying raid the Hasbro contact form with hatred and spite.
But do write something, in clean english, free of obscenities, letting them know that they have a separate fanbase from their typcial 3-12 year old girl demographic that loves these ponies. Some of you are not from /co/, and are perfectly fine with the direction of the toys. This post is not for you. For everypony else though, that desperately wants to see a Luna (and not a pink luna) or some other pony/griffon that isn't a recolor of a main pony, this really is our only option.
Here is the contact form
CONTACT HASBRO
Just give them a heads up, or something. Don't write about how retarded their toy designers are, or how Lauren Faust should be the CEO. Just be reasonable. Ask for a Luna toy, or a Trixie, or whoever else (I'm pretty sure derpy and lyra would be illegal in some form from reading the stuff on /co/ about fan characters).
Maybe if enough of us send requests in, we might see an official, well done pony set in the future that isn't a bunch of random recolors of the same molds used for everything else.
And Snail Mail for those into that.
Hasbro, Inc.
Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 200
Dept. C-847
Pawtucket, RI, 02862-0200.
Corporate Mailing Address:
Hasbro, Inc.
1027 Newport Avenue
Pawtucket, RI 02862.
The telephone number is 401-431-8697
52 comments:
This is also a good place to email them asking about DVD releases (or Blu Ray if you're a jerk), soundtracks, or just to tell them you really love the cartoon.
ReplyDeleteI personally think Lauren Faust finds it creepy and disturbing that adult men like this show and when she says she's happy about it she is just being nice because it's not good to be mean to your own fanbase. I'm sure Hasbro feels the same way - though they of course don't give a shit if it means they're selling more toys. Couldn't care less who's buyin' 'em.
ReplyDeleteFrankly I don't really care how they handle the toy line. We all know that Hasbro will do just about anything to sell toys. My little pony is a show based off a toy line. Ya they just use the same mold for everypony and make more of the same pony but with a different coloring, but that's what keeps cost of production low and gives a "gotta collect them all" feel to them. As long as Hasbro keeps its hands out of the show for the most part, I'm ok with the commercialism. That said I would like to see a figure set that is well modeled and looks professionally done.
ReplyDelete"I personally think Lauren Faust finds it creepy and disturbing that adult men like this show..."
ReplyDeletethis trolling again?
This is the whole point of MLP: FIM, little girls and grown ups, every age group can enjoy it without being surpressed under cultural norms.
Lighten up man. The Trackies and Star Wars geekery were far worse than this, collecting MLP merchandising may be even cute.
@AnonymousLauren Faust is quoted on her deviant art account that she made this show to be enjoyed by all. But yes she probably does find the porn of this show a little creepy but hell this is the internet and I think that she knew that it was inevitable.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, chill guys. I like the show too, I'm just saiyen.
ReplyDeleteOn another note: Derpy shoutouts to /co/ gets the animators and Lauren Faust personal kudos from me.
@Anon
ReplyDeleteNot sure she would think it's creepy. She wanted to get rid of the stereotypical view MLP had of girls in that they are all the same and all like the same things. She has said as much on MS. Blog, also that she had hoped it would also appeal to the other gender.
I see nothing wrong in males of all ages liking the show and the new direction she has taken MLP. Some of us like cute silly and quirky things. It's a nice escapism from the hostile adult work a day life. If it's fun and makes you smile there's nothnig creepy about that. That's good.
Looking at the new toys I can't help but wonder if Hasbro are really understanding what Lauren Faust has done with the show. She has moved it forward. The people who are designing the toys seem to have their minds stuck in MLP of old.
@Jadacks
ReplyDeleteThis.
also, the way I see it, even if Hasbro keeps with it's "kids will buy anything" approach, adults won't. So wouldn't it be better to work to make the adults, who have the cash to spend on plastic poni, happy? And in reality, we're not actually expecting anything strange, we want the toy line for a show to match up with the show itself, isn't that just generally a smart idea?
of course, it could be that these new toys are actually the characters for season 2, and the show will focus on them, instead of Twilight and company.
I've decided to write my own letter to Hasbro about this, but I want to put effort into composing it, and I want it to appear professional.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
I dunno. While I'm sure she doesn't particularly care for a lot of the weirder fan reactions herself, she seems like a pretty intelligent person with a sense of humor; a real chill gal, and I wouldn't put it past her to be very amused by, say, Madmax's comics.
@cherrybomb0388I pray that Lauren Faust will defend her creation to the bitter end before a season two with recolored "kids will buy anything" Inspired atrocities.
ReplyDelete@ringoffire605
ReplyDeleteagreed, if Hasbro forces that sorta thing on the show it will completely ruin it. but, personally, from reading some of what Mrs. Faust has written on the show I really don't see that happening.
Is it realy such a good idea to post this here?
ReplyDeleteIf a person really wanted to contact Hasbro, they'd search Hasbro in google , easy
It appears you can attach a word document as opposed to leaving a message, therefore I'll take my time and compose something.
ReplyDeleteI am all for supporting this show, as with any show i enjoy. So far I've bought: The Gift set / The 4 1.5 inch characters as advertised on the front page and the McDonald toys. Including the shipping to the UK and thats already over $100.
But personally apart from these toys purchased i haven't seen anything else i REALLY want.
I'm ready to fork over my money Hasbro, but please.. Give me something worth buying.
i would LOVE to buy toys if they looked like the show, but as it is....hell naw.
ReplyDeletehonestly if season 2 just randomly kills off the main cast and replaces them with stock recolors just so they can sell more toys without a template change im going to burn there HQ to the ground
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI think this is how most bronies feel. though considering how much Mrs. Faust is putting into this show, that seems doubtful. but yeah, I would too. Hasbro would have a riot on it's hands.
dammit hasbro! I could buy anything with lyra or derpy, I don't care if is ilagal or not.
ReplyDeleteoh, I can see it now.
ReplyDeleteFANS: give us more Bon Bon & Lyra and Derpy and yadda yadda
HASBRO: Yeah, thanks for treating us to endless pony porn and your creepy fan stories. We'll get right on that.
Emailing is one thing. It's pretty easy for cyberdata to get deleted forever with little proof of it's existence. But I'll still bookmark this page and do it later when I get more time.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I think would be better is if a group of us all physically mailed them at the same time, because chances are they have *important* info going through the physical mail that they'd be in a bind if they trashed as a group, yet if they receive a large amount of mail on the same topic in a short time, they'll probably notice the issue. (And on another note, when you're getting rid of mail, you have to have a place to dispose them. If enough letters got there, they might get that jammed and stall them on trashing all the similar letters that they may or may not consider junk.)
I had been planning on writing letters to both Hasbro and Discovery for about half a month now. I can add the issue of the toys to the issue of the DVD/BluRay release when I send one off to Hasbro. I'll probably drop the toys portion when I mail off to Discovery.
Anywho, thanks a ton for the contact page link!
This might be of use to Bronies that plan to use snail mail:
ReplyDeleteConsumer Affairs Department:
Hasbro, Inc.
Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 200
Dept. C-847
Pawtucket, RI, 02862-0200.
Corporate Mailing Address:
Hasbro, Inc.
1027 Newport Avenue
Pawtucket, RI 02862.
The telephone number is 401-431-8697
Probably be worth send a copy to both, along with an email.
If you write a letter, you might also beg Hasbro to use the same type of plastic for the toy ponies' heads and bodies. Right now they're using two different types which means a) a lot of ponies have different colored heads/bodies right off the bat and b) over time the difference is going to get more pronounced and look crappy.
ReplyDeleteIf I might add, I'd suggest people contact them to reiterate our enthusiasm for a *Blu-Ray* release of this season in addition to DVDs.
ReplyDeleteMy comment:
ReplyDelete"To begin, I am an 18-year-old male. With that said, I have already invested around $100 in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic merchandise. My main complaint is the blatant laziness shown in the new line of toys. These are obviously just simple recolors using the same molds as the main colors. I understand that you are just trying to make a profit(i.e. keep production costs low/sales profits high), but this is simply not the way to go about it, especially when the ever-growing fan base of the show your toys are based after is comprised of 18-40 year-old Adults(Male and Female). That being said, I wholeheartedly suggest a line of supporting characters (Big Macintosh, Princess Luna, Trixie, Gilda, Zecora, etc.) or even a line of background characters (Derpy Hooves, Vinyl Scratch/DJ PON-E, Lyra, Bon-bon, Blues, Caramel, Doctor Whoof, etc. ) that have taken a life of their own on the internet. (On a side note, when you do come out with actual characters, don't change the color scheme, as it tends to make fans mad.)
Also, Lauren Faust is a genius and you should take notes from her. She has made the show rise well beyond expectations. I am eagerly awaiting each new episode and hope that they never change.
On a final note, take some time to watch the show and browse the pathways of the internet. It will benefit you and all of us in the long run."
^SENT^
If there ever is a Derpy toy wall eyed or not I would buy. I would march right into the store and buy it with confidence that would make Rainbow Dash jealous
ReplyDelete=D I love that picture! Oh Lyra~ How I love you so~
ReplyDeleteI've already bought a few of the toys, despite their slightly creepy appearance. I had to give Applejack some freckles and mess with Pinkie's hair a bunch but I guess it was worth it for this odd fandom.
@Reading Brony
ReplyDelete> Buy Derpy toy/clone
> Go home
> Redo eyes to make the wall-eyed
> Giggle uncontrollably at correctly-adjeusted Derpy
Back on topic, I will definately send a lot of snail mail and shoot at least one email to these guys. Every bit helps!
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHa, yes, Hasbro will gladly turn down a group of fans begging to give them money.
Oh, wait, this is Hasbro.
I support this idea of emailing/letter writing of begging them to make on-model ponies. Companies usually take this seriously, and if Hasbro starts to smell the green in this, I'm sure it won't take much convincing at all for them to make show accurate models. Most pony designs vary in only hair and eyes anyways.
I personally will ask them for a Lyra, Luna, Nightmare Moon, and Derpy (I'm still not convinced that Derpy is illegal, the arguments sound uninformed). Gilda might not be bad, but that'd take a new mold.
Please make this happen
ReplyDeleteYou've forgotten the moral of "Suited for Success": if you tried to pleased everyone, you'll end up pleasing no one.
ReplyDeleteAnd who do we contact if we want a better airing time for the show?
ReplyDeleteEven when I'm not american and the time fits perfectly for me, it annoys me because there are so many people missing out on this wonder. Hell, we don't even have the hub here...
@Mikel E. Crawford
ReplyDeleteBut if you try to please no one you will still . . . please no one.
Sethisto, thank you for posting this. I've sent a message to Hasbro - not about the toys (I'm not really a big fan of the toys), but about DVD / soundtrack album plans.
ReplyDeleteFor everyone else, if you want them to listen, the key is to keep your message simple and brief. If you were working for Hasbro and you were getting a flood of e-mails, would you want to read the lengthy ones that ramble on and on rather than just getting to the point? I don't think I would either.
Here's the question I asked:
"Dear Hasbro,
I am a major fan of the new TV series, "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic". I am wondering if you have current plans to release Season One on DVD, as well as a CD soundtrack album. It would be a delight to have a CD that equally showcases Daniel Ingram's songs as well as William Anderson's background score.
Thank you,
(my real name was here)
Basil (FilmScoreMonthly.com message boards)"
Personally, I hope they will listen to all the inquiries and act on them.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteA DVD release is almost guaranteed. It's a Blu-Ray we need to press for. The show is wasted in SD, and the HD uploads we get pale in comparison to what it would look like on a Blu-Ray. Every frame would be more like one of shelltoonTV's vector traces, instead of the artifact-ridden recordings we have to settle for online.
Please make new molds for the ponies, you don't have the same fanbase for the series anymore meaning you have to put more effort into the ponies rather than just releasing nameless faceless ponies that are not even in the series, you are loosing tons of money on creating only ponies with the old molds that look nothing like the new Friendship is Magic series, we the fans want more accurate ponies that you don't seem capable of giving us at this time. McDonalds was better able to handle the new series with their pony toys than what you have been releasing.
ReplyDeleteMy Little Pony has changed from what is really driving them the series is what drives them now, not the toys, that means the toys have to reflect the series style now for your customers to be truly satisfied.
sent that to them, I wish they put as much effort into MLP as they do into Transformers, minimum. each transformer is made different
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI prefer DVD to Blu-Ray, and I have yet to see a difference between the two in quality, and I have seen both DVD and Blu-Ray on an hd tv, saw no difference.
@Paul
ReplyDeleteDepends a lot on what you're watching and your hardware setup from the player to the viewer. The experience I've had is that HD looks great for 2D animation that was drawn at high-res in the first place or was vector (like MLPFiM) but not too much of a difference in photographic works unless the person watching has very good sight.
Also, BluRay discs tend to have absurd amounts of bonus features, and they can all be on the same disc. I really like that.
Though I suppose it's worth nothing that the only BluRay I've watched so far is Scott Pilgrim. There hasn't been a lot of animated stuff lately that I really wanted to own.
But yeah, sometimes the difference between DVD/BluRay isn't apparent at all. I used to be a huge skeptic until I finally played MVC3 for myself on a decent screen after having watched dozens and dozens of Youtube videos on it.
lol, no difference? I'm sorry, but no. The difference is this:
ReplyDeletehttp://img196.imageshack.us/img196/2600/lookbeforeyousleephdsd.png
My point is, we're going to be getting DVDs. Why ask Hasbro for something they're already going to give us? Then they'll think that antiquated DVDs are good enough, when they're only truly good enough for the visually impaired. Blu-Ray video is also a much better source for fanvids and high-res wallpaper (unless your computer is from the 90s, and uses some pathetic screen resolution).
Wow, guess this was more successful that I thought! Fight the good fight bronies!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteYou know not everyone is a techno geek with super high expectations.
I get your point and I agree but get off your high horse.
@Anonymous
ReplyDelete1. I'm not visually impaired and I prefer DVD
2. DVD is good enough, especially since many people probably haven't bought a Blu-Ray computer yet.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteMy comments weren't directed at those who simply prefer still watching DVDs; I only take issue with the statement that "there's no difference", which is utterly ridiculous and patently untrue. Even 80 year-old material can look incredible on Blu-ray, provided it was filmed on 35mm in its time and properly transferred to digital.
FiM's native format is HD; it's animated and broadcast in HD. Hell, they even sell it on iTunes in sort-of (720p) HD. To release it only on DVD when the time comes would be selling the series short.
But if Hasbro is on the fence about a Blu-Ray release, and enough people send e-mails like *that* one, asking for something they were going to release anyway, they're not likely to give us something Blu-Rays, are they?
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteIt would be wonderful to have this show on Blu-Ray, yes. Unfortunately, I lack a Blu-Ray player and the thought slipped my mind when I wrote to them, but I'd buy a copy regardless... by all means, contact them into releasing a BD set! :)
@Anonymous
"My point is, we're going to be getting DVDs. Why ask Hasbro for something they're already going to give us?"
Possible DVD releases aren't confirmed yet. I haven't seen any reports or information about such, anyway. It seems like a valid question to ask them at this point, since we have no official confirmation yet.
Everything is released on DVD these days, though; even old cartoons that barely even come on anymore. A massively popular show like this is a no-brainer for DVD. They're not going to announce that in the middle of the season, but it's certainly coming.
ReplyDeleteA soundtrack is worth pushing for, as are Blu-Rays. Neither of those are guaranteed; a soundtrack least of all. The files I make myself from the Hubworld copies are pretty decent quality, but it'd be nice to have a real CD with liner notes, official art, etc.
Hello, fellow bronies!
ReplyDeleteI've been reading through posts like this on here and on /co/ and it seems like you guys might need a little advice on how to get Hasbro to listen to you. You guys are making really odd assumptions and I think it's going to really hurt your cause.
I've worked in areas where I've had to deal with customer complaints and suggestions like this before. Mind if I give you guys some tips? This is going to be rather long, but I hope it helps:
1. E-mailing Hasbro is a good idea, but using the traditional method of "snail mail" will definitely make more of an impact with the company. After all, anybody can write a hastily-made e-mail complaint to a company, but writing an actual letter and spending money on the postage needed to get it to its destination shows more dedication. Physical mail is also taken much more seriously by large companies by Hasbro because they HAVE to read it; e-mails can be dismissed as spam or harassment and be deleted "accidentally" by employees who would rather not deal with them.
2. Telling Hasbro in your letters that they are lazy or stupid for using recolours is not going to win you points in your argument, no matter how right you are. They've been reusing sculpts and recolouring characters in the MLP franchise for a long time, and it has always worked for them before. Why change what works and gets them money?
Besides, you have to admit that even in the show itself ponies are basically recolours of one another with different hairstyles. Their basic bodies are the same. Unicorns usually have Rarity and Twilight Sparkle's almond-shaped eyes, while everyone else has Pinkie Pie style eyes. They are each given their distinct and wonderful personalities thanks to Lauren and the other writers in the show, not because they look vastly different from one another besides colour and hairstyle.
However, you guys DO have a point about things like the main ponies being recoloured on the boxart, the Rainbow Dash and Applejack toys having eyestyles that don't even appear in the show, and Fluttershy's eyestyle being used for other ponies when it's been used solely by her in the show. I would really stick to bringing these issues up when you write your letters, and not talk about how much they suck/fail.
@Riovel
ReplyDeletePart 2!
3. Like everyone else, I would love to see the background characters in the show get toys. The thing is, though, that it's very likely that the people you're writing to won't know who "Lyra", "Bon Bon", or "Derpy" are. Not everyone browses 4chan. I suggest including a picture of the common background ponies (including a good shot of their respective cutie marks) that you want a toy of with your letter so that they know what you're talking about. Don't name them, as that would be like telling Hasbro to make toys of your fancharacter or something and be impossible to legally do.
4. I would certainly mention that the show has gotten a fanbase outside of the one Hasbro initially planned for in my letter. However, let's not kid ourselves into thinking that we're a bigger or any more important chunk than their core demographic. Lauren and co. have made Friendship is Magic much more than the sum of it's parts, but in the end Hasbro is looking to sell toys. Having a minority of adults that like this show complain that they are hurting sales by not bowing to what adult fans want is not going to be something that Hasbro will care that much about.
What WILL get their attention is people writing to them saying that their daughter/little sister/niece/whatever would like Applejack with her hat or that they'd get [insert background pony here], but they're disappointed that all that's available are ponies that haven't been in the show. Bring up how important it is that recognizable characters are put on the shelves and that they'll make more money doing that.
5. As awesome as it would be, "Derpy" is not a name that Hasbro will go along with even if they decide to use background ponies in their toyline. It's a name that most certainly will be seen as offensive and making fun of the mentally handicapped despite the fact that WE don't mean it that way. "Ditzy Doo" has much more of a chance of being used because the term "ditzy" is more of a harmless way of saying "scatter-brained" or "forgetful".
This last thing isn't really related to the letter writing campaign, but it's something to think about:
I know that a lot of bronies don't really care about the toys. That's fine. To each his own, right?
But selling the toys is something that Hasbro cares about. That's why I'm always so puzzled when someone says that they love the show, but don't care about how many toys are selling. I know that fans on /co/ and other places might not like to admit it, but this is a heavily toy-based line. If the toys don't sell well, Hasbro CAN and most likely WILL cancel the show.
I'm not saying that all bronies have to go out and buy the toys, but I think it's a good idea to keep an eye on how well sales are going.
THESE FUCKERS ARE IN RHODE ISLAND? SHIT, I NEED TO GO THERE RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!!
ReplyDelete...Well, okay, not now. And I probably won't have a chance for a while. But I need to go there AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!!
Do... Do any of you even understand how toy making works?
ReplyDeleteSeriously.
Give it a year, trust me.
Just keep on supporting and emailing, and watching and nelsoning, and being fans and communicating with the right amount of volume.
It'll work out.
At the very least, we might get large pony plushes. My baby girl would enjoy having a Pinkie Pie to cuddle up with at nights.
Just trust me. For if Hasbro fails to live up, there'll be always those small independent toy production companies. Just convert them into fans, and you'll have something like this but pony instead of Optimus Prime:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcSEB5Fa5Cg
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteYou've never seen the Hasbro offices? There is a seven foot tall Mr Potato Head outside, right in the middle of god-awful Pawtucket.
Also, here's the email I just sent:
I've been a My Little Pony fan and collector since childhood, and have a large collection from the first three generations. As an adult, I collect a wide range of action figures and toys, and deal in vintage and antique collectibles. While the appearance of some of the newer generation My Little Pony toys doesn't appeal to me because of my attachment and fondness of the toys from my childhood, I'm a huge fan of My Little Pony; Friendship is Magic, and I'd love to see more toys developed that more accurate to the show's aesthetics.
The show itself has found a huge, unlikely fanbase in the 18-30 demographic, and most collectors in this age range (which I also fall into) want to see toys that reflect the source material. We're also willing to invest a little more in toys like these because more often than not they become collection pieces and not playthings. I know I'm not alone in wanting to see figures that reflect not just the six main characters within the show, but the recurring background characters that have become just as popular among fans. The show's executive producer, Lauren Faust, is very involved and attentive to fan reactions. I'd absolutely love to see her more involved in toy design and creation in the future.
My Little Pony was once a massive, creative, and well put together toy line. There is a reason I have seen ponies, playsets, and accessories from the first generation command prices of well over $200 on the collector's market. The toys I see on shelves now don't seem as though they'll still be around 20 years from now, let alone be sought after as eagerly. I'd love to see that kind of quality and attention put back into the line.
Also, what's with all the Celestia toys being pink? That pony is white, my friends.
u make me sad hasbro
ReplyDelete"We're also willing to invest a little more in toys like these because more often than not they become collection pieces and not playthings."
ReplyDeleteThis is a useful point to expand on in letters: The older fanbase is both willing and able to spend more on higher quality, premium versions of the toys. There is even precedent in what happened with action figures when such premium lines were created.
hey i am a beyblade fan and i am from mauritius but here in mauritius beyblade dont sells beyblade many people dont know it so i wanted to request hasbro start selling beys in mauritius
ReplyDeletehasbro i need to ask why did you take down LPSO?????????????????????
ReplyDelete