Jayson Thiessen is the supervising director. For those of you who don't know that means, he's in charge of creative oversight for every aspect of the show, and making sure the script, voice acting, music, and animation all come together into a cohesive whole. Friendship is Magic wouldn't be the awesome cartoon it is today without his genius guidance.
Someone working for Hasbro is allowing us to interview him, the same way we did with Daniel Ingram a while back, and just like the last one, I'll be gathering questions from all of you!
I'm not 100% sure what we are allowed to ask about in terms of season two, though I was told that these types of questions aren't completely banned. Try to keep them to a minimum at least!
So, toss your questions in the comments below!
251 comments:
Will season 2 have a new plot or will Twilight keep learning the magic of friendship?
ReplyDeleteHow involved are the crew on non-show MLP stuff?
ReplyDeleteDo you think Lady Gaga, Seth Green, etc. really like FiM?
What do you think of the toys?
How would you feel if something like South Park referenced FiM, mockingly or not?
How many characters are based on non-MLP characters and real people? Have there ever been self-inserts?
Will Applejack and Rainbow Dash get solo songs?
Why is only the main cast credited?
Twilight Sparkle is the only main pony whose name doesn't have three syllables. Coincidence?
How does Hasbro feel about subtle story arcs?
1) How you guys reacted to the big impact this show had among the internet and the self-called bronies?
ReplyDelete2)Some pieces of music in the first season were very similar to actual songs. Was this some kind of tribute or reference to those? Who's idea was this and did you like it back then?
Has anyone felt that the show is running out of morals?
ReplyDeleteWill a "no-human" policy remain for the following seasons and what does Jayson Thiessen think about it in general.
ReplyDeleteI have one doubt that I don´t kwnow if you or someone else in the MLP FIM team know
ReplyDeleteWhat is a rock farm? really we saw that Pinkie Pie grew up in one but for what I know there´s no need of harvesting rocks anyway whats the point who uses rocks
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThey are also known as 'quarries.' Probably just making it more obvious for the target demographic.
*imagines Pinkameina with quarry explosives*
oh my...
anyways, question: What does your average work day look like?
What were your thoughts on the MLP franchise before coming to work on it? Have they changed since then? If so how?
ReplyDeleteDid you ever (secretly or not) watch any of the older MLP shows? Even if just it was just once.
Do you have any memorable moments from working on the first season?
Can you tell us anything about Luna or Derpy in season two?
Will we ever get a ba
ReplyDeleteWill we ever get a full background on Spike? Or will he always be the 'elephant in the room'?
ReplyDeleteWill you be doing a Fluttershy in Wonderland episode?
ReplyDeleteI believe its been stated in the past by Lauren Faust or someone else that things like sexual orientation of characters wouldn't be touched upon given the nature of the show. HOWEVER, this rule or sentiment has already been disregarded with Rarity being given a tastefully portrayed opposite-sex romantic interest in Prince Blueblood and also Spike with an interest in Rarity. Given this, do you think it is possible we could ever see a tastefully portrayed same-sex romantic interest between other characters even if it's not between any of the mane cast and limited to some background or secondary characters?
ReplyDeleteI can't make rent this month. Mind if I crash on your couch for the night, two days tops, I swear?
ReplyDeleteWith regards to constructing the story for each episode, how have the writers been approaching it? Story first then moral/lesson or vice versa? Also, how often (if at all) has the team looked over the storyboard and just flat out said "This isn't good enough" and started again?
ReplyDeleteDo you foresee maintaining your current level of creative freedom with the show due to the overwhelming response or do you think you might gain/lose some of it as time goes on? (As far as season 2 and into season 3 at least)
Season 1 had a lot of mythological/fantasy creatures, should audiences expect to see more in the near future? (like chimeras, wyverns, hippogryphs, and/or returning creatures from the past season)
RELEASE SEASON 2 FOR FUCKS SAKE!
ReplyDeleteJames,
ReplyDeleteHow do you split your duties with yourself and "co-director" James Wootton?
What instrument is Octavia -supposed- to play? My eyes and knowledge say contrabass, but much of the fandom insists its a cello.
ReplyDeletePersonal questions:
ReplyDelete1) How does it feel that the show is attracting this unexpected demographic?
2) How did he learn about bronies? What was his first reaction?
3) What does he think about the community?
Show related questions:
1) How much affect does the community have on Season2?
2) Does the MLP:FiM team browse the fansites actively, for feedback and ideas? (I certainly hope they don't take too many ideas from the community)
3) Did they consider introducing humans into the world of Equestira? ((Please please say they dont want to!)
Please Seth, I BEG YOU, try to imply in a way or another that we do not want to make too much direct affect on the show.
Making sure some background ponies reappear, bit still as background ponies, is enough.
What they did so far is AWESOME, don't change anything. I really don't want them to rewrite or redo anything just for the sake of bronies.
I would hate to see anythinr uined coz they tried too hard to be in favor of the community.
Anyways I know you can't tell him this (can you?) so just ignore this, questions are above, hope they are fine ^-^
1. Will Derpy Hooves be making a more prominent appearance in the coming season?
ReplyDelete2. When can we expect the shipout date for the DVD's for MLP FiM?
3. Will Twilight and the gang meet with other people/ponies from outside of Equestria?
4. Will the ponies used in the Backgrounds be indexed for later usage, to provide a little bit more continuity?
5. What would it take to encourage a third season?
When can we expect a DVD Release of Season One?
ReplyDeleteDude, can I crash on your couch tonight? My landlord kicked me out and, well, you know it goes....
ReplyDeleteI would ask about how technologically developed Equestria is. This is because they seemingly have electricity and no electricity at the same time.
ReplyDelete(ie. oil lamps, horse-drawn carriages, advanced testing equipment, and microphones.)
This might have been touched on, but is Hasbro intending on coming out with any more merchandise? More toys, or t-shirts, or anything else?
ReplyDelete1. Why is Gummy so awesome?
ReplyDelete2. Did you guys intentionally decided to single-handedly revive the mullet or did it just kind of happen?
3. Phoenix or Justice? (The correct answer is Daft Punk).
What I'd like to know is:
ReplyDeleteWill we get to ever see Pinkie Pie's sisters again? I think that it would be a really fun opportunity. Not to mention I've always LOVED the idea of Octavia being Pinkie Pie's sister.
Has Weird Al signed on for a guest appearance? I love the guy and I'd be so excited to see him show up and meet Pinkie (I've always loved the idea of him being her uncle Oatmeal Pie or Weird Al Flankovic).
@Anonymous I hope we get to see Twist again! She's so cute and quirky.
ReplyDeleteCan we see Braeburn and the Appleoosa ponies again? Little Strongheart too.
ReplyDeleteDoes the crew from MLP: FiM have a Cutie Mark Crusaders spinoff in mind? And if so, would other characters be included as cameos?
ReplyDeleteWill FiM be at Comic Con?
ReplyDeleteIs Hasbro trying to get the show on things like Netflix streaming? Will it ever be on other networks?
Will FiM take a page from Adventure Time and have production blogs, Formsprings etc.?
Do you ever check out fan stuff?
Would a pony say "zee" or "zed"?
How successful is FiM actually is?
Why did Lauren "leave"? Is it mostly temporary? Just kidding.
Pony Genetics: What prevents a pony from being born in an embarrassing color like barf green, or a colt being born hot pink? Can unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies interbreed? Can a pony be more than one type of pony, or will they take on the breed of just one of their parents?
ReplyDeleteCutie Marks: Do cutie marks just KNOW how to fit in with the color scheme of a pony? Why are ponies' cutie marks always appropriate for their personality/name/appearance?
Pony Naming: Do ponies have last names? Mr. and Mrs. Cake seem to have Cake as a family name, and Twilight is referred to as Ms. Sparkle once. However, there are some ponies who don't have two names (Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy), so they couldn't possibly have last names... could they? Applejack is from the Apple Family, and she has an Aunt and Uncle Orange (last name Orange, last name Apple?)...
Just throwing those out there. I'm not sure there are any real logical answers to these questions, seeing as it's a cartoon, but I would really like to know if any thought at all is put into these matters.
The brony phenomenon has started receiving scattered media attention recently. Unfortunately, it has (generally) arrived in the form of mudslinging and general whoring for ratings. Whats your opinion on the whole situation?
ReplyDeleteIs there any chance that fan characters like Lyra may be canonized with their internet names in season 2?
ReplyDeleteI have three questions, actually.
ReplyDelete1. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
2. Who was your hero/role model growing up?
3. What inspires you and your work today?
How do pony fur color genes work?
ReplyDeleteAre there any non-pony horses on the show?
Is a nude horse a rude horse?
What's your stance on alternative character interpretations like Rainbow Dash being a lesbian?
How much does the crew care about continuity?
How much different is season one from season two? Does it feel like you guys are taking risks?
Who's getting more screentime?
Considering the amount of fan art and vids produced by bronies...
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it make sense to ask for some insight in the entire development process of MLP:FiM?
Like a "making of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" or "How it's made: My Little Pony", something among those lines?
Hell if they'd offer a "Making of" video for MLP for sale i'm sure it'd be a number one sales object!
Are there gonna be more montages? like from DragonShy with the gear-up one? and more action ones?
ReplyDeleteAre there gonna be reboots of episodes? alternate versions such as The GGG? where Luna could go on a rampage and it ends up being a 2 parter?
MUST ASK QUESTION:
ReplyDeleteHas anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
This has been bugging me for a while now... What the heck are those on Luna's feet? Sparkly shoes? Fancy hooves? I'm thinking too much about this.
ReplyDeleteAs most of the community knows, Weird Al was offered a voice cameo on the show. Is it possible you could divulge any other celebrities that have been "offered" a voice cameo (I know whether or not they accepted probably falls under NDA)? I was thinking it would be a nice gesture to offer a voice cameo to Sandy Duncan, since she had a major role in G1.
ReplyDeleteAlso...
For the future DVD release of the show, would you and the rest of the crew be interested/able to do a "Making of MLP: FiM" to show us a little of how everything comes together behind the scenes?
Does Hasbro have any plans for making toys of brony favourites, such as Derpy, Doctor Whooves, Trixi?
ReplyDeleteSeconding the MLP: FiM question.
ReplyDeleteNow for my own: Have you considered bringing on any of the musical composers in the fandom to work with Daniel Ingram, such as Not A Clever Pony or Eurobeat Brony?
Will Owlowiscious be in Season 2?
ReplyDeleteAre you guys really going with the name Derpy Hooves or the previously suggested by Lauren, Ditzy Doo?
ReplyDeleteA name like Derpy seems a bit demeaning and possibly bring unwanted attention.
While not a question, I just wanted to echo this person's sentiments because I couldn't agree more:
ReplyDelete"Last month was pretty rich for many events regarding MLP community and
the show. Hasbro launched some commercials aimed to non-TA (target
audience) fans, opened Twitter and Facebook group. There even some new
merchs and t-shirts appears on the horizon, made specially for
"bronies".
Within all those months some parts of the large MLP community
very
carefully watched all your public words or any words from any other
team member regarding the show. But the question that did pop-up
during all those events i mentioned never was answered: how all of
this will affect the show, especially s02?
You may be will be surprised but many fans in the community do not want
any such fanservice or references to bronies in the show itself. And
I'm not talking just about "Ponygoons" (part of the community that
considered to be the "cleanest" one), but about some EqD crowd and
4chan as well: http://i.imgur.com/qwquZ.png (4chan compilation, NSFW)
They want to show be as it is, without any small "nods"
to some fandom theories and memes, like: Trollestia, "leasbianship"
("shipping", relationship between characters in general) and
"Cupcakes" (latter is fanfic, long story short: Pinkie goes
crazy and torture and kills all her friends). While Derpy isn't
something that anyone can be against, any small "nods" (we do
understand that nothing can be added directly during post-production) to
the things I mentioned is pretty much hurt much the show for MANY fans."
---
I'm with the fans that don't want the shipping or fanfic to creep in to the show. MLP:FiM is made by Lauren, Jayson, and the other good folks over at Hasbro Studios, not the fans. I don't think they would pull something that crazy and rather keep it subtle (like the awesome Equestria Girls video), but I rather not see the more radical fans vindicated by misguided nods to them.
**-=>|[{PINKIE PIE THE PEGASUS!!!}]|<=-_**
ReplyDeleteAny chanche you can make an episode with Pinkie Pie as a Pegasus :D? Pretty Pleaaaaaaaaaaaseeeeeee With a cherry on top <3?
I noticed that, not only Thiessen himself, but also Amy Keating Rogers, Meghan McCarthy, Cindy Morrow, and other surprisingly prominent credits for other animated series have come together for this (looking at the credentials, I'm rather stunned by the number of people who have previously had some input into the shows that have essentially formed my childhood, which might subliminally explain my general attraction to this show's style). Have their writing and your directing styles for this series been a rough transition compared to what you all are used to in past works, or have you managed to put a little of your older works into this show and it still get the green light? (After all, this show is in a rather different style than, say, Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo, or Samurai Jack).
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, are there any new writers and storyboard artists on board for the new season that you're willing to name-drop, or is that more confidential?
They're not really the best questions, given that it's almost 3 in the morning as of typing this and I'm still too busy looking at ponies to lull me to sleep, but I felt like asking SOMETHING since I was given the opportunity.
***Which were your ideas before Hasbro came over and said stand-alone episodes only?***
ReplyDeleteIs Season 2 even better than Season 1 Now that you know you have a giant fandom?
Are there gonna be more Action Scenes in season 2?
Is there gonna be an episode with a flashback, more complicated(more plot featuring the elements of Harmony) in it which will lead to an arching story or you'll keep it simple so it doesn't feel like an anime?
Are most of the episodes still gonna be stand-alone, no connection between the other episodes?
How hard are episodes which contain all the main 6 ponies into an adventure to make?
Are you gonna make a side-series with Side,Background characters such as the CMC, Dr.Whoof etc?
Are you ever gonna make an episode with Pinkie Pie as a pegasus from Lauren's 2008 art sketches?
Also is the team ever gonna make a Spy themed episode? possibly with Rarity as the Spy?
Are those dreams/achievements of the characters ever gonna be achieved? Such as Rainbow Dash joining the WonderBolts, or the Cutie Mark Crusaders finding their Cutie Marks?
Also will the CMC age up a little in season 2? like get a bit bigger or they will still be toddlers?(not like i don't love them being small)
''Takes a breath of air'' let's see... ''Hasbro Vs The Team'' question has been put...k got it
Is there gonna be more material for parodies in the show? Such as FlutterGuy, Rainbow's salute, a bunch of frames which usually has the Pony with an awkward but funny face, Cherilee, Rainbow Dash's Derp Face, RD messing around with the Guards, etc.
Could the team even provide extras for the Fans to use for the parodies? which won't be aired on TV or have anything to do with the episodes?
Alrighty...i think i'm done, sorry for any exaggerated questions which might feel like requests
Any chanche Celestia's mouth(when it's closed) will be more seeable...visual, ye know more obvious when she's smiling or not, i didn't even realise she was smiling at Pinkie Pie when she came in smashing on her table eating the cupcakes In ''Bird in a Hoof''
ReplyDeleteWill there be a 7TH Main Character :D???
ReplyDeleteWill Trixie return in the second season? That's all i need to know.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's not to late to submit questions!
ReplyDelete1. What are the official spellings of the owl and Princess Celestia's phoenix?
2. Why is Tara Strong not singing Twilight Sparkle's parts in the songs? I believe she did all of the singing of Timmy Turner in Fairly OddParents and other characters in other shows.