No offense to Tabitha, of course!
According to an email conversation - documented on reddit - when voicing Derpy Hooves for The Last Roundup, Tabitha St. Germain was unaware that Derpy was actually a filly! For those that thought she had somewhat of a male-sounding voice, there's your justification.
You can find the email screencap here.
346 comments:
I saw no real problem with the voice of Derpy in The Last Roundup. I personally loved it. That scene alone was enough to make me giddy and happy for days! It even motivated me to draw more, and if I wasn't going to the New Orleans Comic-Con I'd have been using that motivation for writing, too!
ReplyDeleteBut even if I do love it, that's not to say that it's perfect. The thing to be kept in mind is that it's a new voice so it needs refinement; it doesn't need to be completely changed, however. All I think Tabitha really needs to do is work on that voice and refine it into something absolutely wondifurous!
As they say: Practice makes perfect!
P.S. This is just something that kept popping up in my head while typing and may not be on topic, but I like to call the character Ditzy "Derpy" Doo. Mostly because that would make Dinky's name Dinky Doo! But also for the same reason I call Lyra, Lyra Heartstrings. Because it's compromise. It also has a nice ring to it, in my personal opinion.
But seriously! Dinky Doo is such an adorable name! I giggle inside when I say it.
Works for me.
ReplyDeleteI just thought of someting: What if it was trolls that sent the hate mail?
ReplyDeleteWhaaaa?
ReplyDelete@kihap
ReplyDeleteI think that's more of a problem for the writers and developers than for the VAs, as they run the risk of inadvertently copying fanwork with all associated legal ramifications.
The voice actors of MLP are all extremely talented and, I sincerely hope, extremely busy with their other hopefully lucrative and rewarding engagements. As much as they would deserve six-figure salaries per season (hell, episode) of pony, it's not quite gotten to that level of popularity.
The Legend of Derpy continues!
ReplyDeleteLong live Derpy!
@Sethisto
ReplyDeleteDid you count the mail sent to Hasbro, the different animators that have a face on the internet and the writer of the episode Miss Amy?
Honestly Seth, I don't think it's something to be overlooked.
I know that it wasn't the whole community but a minority of it, still if it happens again it'll make us all look bad. No matter if for every 5 angry mails we send 50 good ones. The meanest are generally what stays in the mind the more. 50 people saying that they love you may not have the same impact as someone saying they hate you. (Even if it should, admittedly)
Plus is very disrespectful.
Did anyone else read this in Rarity's voice?
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sorry to be picking so much in this topic, but it's just really irksome and frustrating.
ReplyDeleteIt was such a nice gift they made us, and our first response (or the first response they got) is to write hate-mails with stupid accusations of making fun of handicapped people.
I mean come ON. I'm not saying you gotta love it, but when you get a pair of ugly socks from your mom as a gift you won't go to her and say how much you hated them and how much she sucks to you right? What kind of douchebag would you be?! Same thing here for god's sake.
SHE....HAS....EYELASHES!!!!
ReplyDeleteShe just made Derpy sound like a feminine version of sloth from the Goonies so it works wonder for me!
ReplyDeleteHuh. I thought her voice for Derpy was fine. I didn't even think that she was doing it with the knowledge that Derpy was "male". Just expressing my thoughts. Maybe I'll recheck again to make sure?
ReplyDeleteThat's...wow, weell there's no going back now...or is there.
ReplyDeleteI like Derpy's voice, and I can't wait to hear it some more.
ReplyDeletethis while thing inly makes it all the more hikarious. Derpy is where accidents nake things awesome.
FANON STATUS: REINFORCED.
ReplyDeleteLast time I posted here was to put in my thoughts on the Great Derpy Voice Debate, and I asserted that she sounded like a girl trying to affect a boyish voice, perhaps in an attempt to sound tougher or cooler. I formed the fanon that it was a deliberate attempt by Derpy to impress Rainbow Dash, who she looked up to as someone who overcame clumsiness to become one of the best fliers in all of Equestria. So, I'm at least partially right, in that Derpy was voiced by a woman trying to sound like a boy.
Part Two: How disappointing is it that the show with love, friendship, and tolerance as its central message is inspiring HATE MAIL? That is indeed a dark spot on this fandom.
So... She already recorded all of the lines Derpy may have until half of Season 3.
ReplyDeleteBut well, they had the time to change Derpy's eyes on half of Season 1, even though it was already done. So, maybe they can change Derpy's voice before Season 3? Unlikely, but possible! =)
@iheartcandy
ReplyDeleteWhich Tabitha St. Germain didn't see, as no one showed her a drawing of the character. With nothing else to go on, she based the voice on a neighborhood boy, and the show's director and the VA director thought the voice sounded fine obviously without questioning its origin. The mistake was in not giving Tabitha reference material before she performed the voice, but it's a small mistake and it worked out OK in the end.
NEXT episode, Derpy will turn into an ALICORN! :P
ReplyDeletePFTHA! That's something of a beautiful irony right there. Derpy's so derpy, her official VA can't help but derp!
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, now Derpy is our very own Nermal. Even with the fact, I personally hope she keeps the voice. It’s far too widespread to change now and besides. I rather find it endearing.
TO HELL WITH THE HUMANOIDS, TABITHA! YOU DERP THAT DERPY!
Zorilynx should learn to keep his mouth shut.
ReplyDelete*Cocks Shotgun*
'DERP' happens :)
ReplyDeleteThis means that, any future appearance of Derpy in season 2 will sound like this, that is, if Hasbro doesn't cut it out of the show after the complains and the butthurt comments and petitions.
ReplyDeleteHowever! Now that Ms St. Germain knows, maybe she'll voice Derpy differently. Of course, if she's still going to be in future episodes after the outcry.
I myself found it hard to assosiate Derpy as female
ReplyDeleteThis...
ReplyDeleteThis just kind of ruins the whole Derpy incident for me.
Not mad at Tabitha or anything, and I liked the voice in the episode. But... well first of all, if she's willing to admit this, it's probably safe to assume there's no more Derpy speaking in Season 2. It also means that future prospects of giving Derpy a scene are going to be iffy because, now that this information is out, a voice change it pretty much necessary, and Studio B may not want to do that.
In short: This mistake probably severely jeopardizes Derpy's future as a canon character. Everything would have been fine if Tabitha simply had kept this little mistake secret.
As a fandom get's bigger, you tend to have more people who aren't exactly best to represented it.
ReplyDeleteI did like the voice used for Derpy, it was very different from what I'm used to hearing from mares in the show. Not to mention if the choice of voice was a derp, isn't that the best voice for Derpy?
(my subjective opinion is yes)
@Jonathan Funcke completely agree with you Jonathan. Tabitha is the last person in the series that should be send hate mail from those pseudo "bronies". The only thing that she is bringing to us is happiness.
ReplyDeleteI liked the voice even though she intended a mail voice, it works fine for me.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Derpy had a cold?
ReplyDeleteDerpy had a cold.
ReplyDeleteThe line "I just don't know what went wrong" sounds a little butch, but the rest of Derpy's lines sound appropriately female to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but people who think they're in any way qualified to say "practice makes perfect" to someone like Tabitha St Germain are talking out of their asses.
ReplyDeleteEasy mistake to make what with 8 outta 10 male characters in this show being either mentally slow, visually ugly or mute. If I heard just the name Derpy and completely ignored the fandom I'd think it was a male too just based on the show's track record.
ReplyDelete@Pegasus Rescue Brigade
ReplyDeleteYou're probably severely over-reading into this :/
There's no real necessity to change the voice considering the overall positive fan response. Even if they do change it, I don't think they're going to put that much concern into the act. I's not like there's much of a history of continuity in side-character pony voices anyways. (Big Mac for example)
I think we have a fear here that either Tabitha is going to refuse to voice any more Derpy roles, or that the Derpy voice backlash is going to affect our fan connection to the show in an adverse way. After all, who decides who is going to speak for the brony community? I just feel that now Tabitha is aware that she "derped" that her perception of the fanbase is going to be lowered. It's true that we are the fanbase who is obsessed with wanting to be as respectful to the cast as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that Derpy voice was inspired by something in Tabitha's personal life, and not just given some random voice. She tried hard, like a Baws!. If there was a vote, I'd vote to keep the new Derpy voice in.
Derp ALL the things. So far so successful Derpy.
ReplyDeleteWow, hate mail?
ReplyDeleteSeriously?
I am very disappointed.
I hope they still use the voice used in The Last Round-Up. If Derpy ever talks again, because I though that voice suited her quite damn well.
ReplyDelete@Jigglysaint
ReplyDeleteI know there's cause for concern, but I wouldn't worry too much. If they can still be nice to us after the poisonous response to "Mare Do Well," I don't think something like this is going to wreck relations.
Hate mail? Now I'm really disappointed in this fandom, and I feel a little bit embarrassed to be a part of it. I hope we can make it up to Tabitha somehow.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I liked Derpy's voice. I thought it suited her.
I thought Derpy's voice was cute.She had sort of a generic voice.I still think she sounded like Rudolf which isn't a bad thing for a goofy character.
ReplyDeleteBut it seems strange that you would mistake an grown female pony for a male one considering the facial differences.You think someone would have said Derpy was a she or something.But everyone makes mistakes.
I'm perfectly fine with the voice, not what I personally imaged but it worked and Tabitha is amazing. The voice was a little deep for a mare, but it's not like she sounded like Polish Spitfire.
ReplyDelete@talziedash
ReplyDeleteWorry not, sugarcube. She got love mail, which outnumbered the hate mail.
@Sethisto
ReplyDeleteStill, the fact that she got any at all...
...don't be surprised if that's the last bone they toss our way for a good, long while, you jerks.
Why u no thankful?! ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)
@Till
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any significant character yet that's mute, and ugly is of course going to be a subjective judgement; as to mentally slow, the only male I've seen so far to fit that description is Snails. I suppose you could try to argue Soarin' is, in which case he's a very positive role model for the mentally challenged, what with being a respected member of the Wonderbolts.
@Arothyss
ReplyDeleteAside from background pony shout-outs (e.g., bringing back Octavia) and giving Derpy a voice and a bigger role, I'd sorta rather they not toss bones our way. I like the show just fine as it is, made by Studio B to please themselves and their target audience.
Deeeep breath everyone! As a previous commenter stated, those emails could have been sent by trolls. They do not represent bronies at all, and I think the best response is not to get irate at the random, but rather simply respond with more love for the shows creators. Yes?
ReplyDelete*Fandom, not random, you derpy spellcheck you :P
ReplyDeleteI don't have any issues with the voice, especially since Rainbow Dash(A filly) has a young male-like voice.
ReplyDeleteThe voice she use worked for me. She and all the talent working on the show are just awesome.
ReplyDeleteOne part of me says it fits perfectly, the other one says it doesn't fit at all. Most importantly she spoke. Everything else doesn't matter.
ReplyDelete@Saburo
ReplyDeleteThat's true....and, as I said, I thought that Tabitha had opted for the lower-register female voice she'd used as Heloise's robot double on Jimmy Two Shoes. If Derpy ends up on the cutting room floor or sounding like Pashmina from Hamtaro because of this, I am not going to be ecstatic.
Everyone who complained about derpy's voice should be ashamed of themselves. They made our fandom like like a bunch of whining ingrates. I mean come on people they were awesome enough to create a pony that we wanted and then we through it in their face that she wasn't good enough? Seriously, if I worked on the show I would never put her in the show again, and since a bunch of people acted like ingrates they probably wont do anything for the brony community ever again, thanks a lot guys, for ruining everything!
ReplyDeleteso... what languages hasn't made a pony the wrong gender? because now we can take 'english' off that list.
ReplyDeletewhich is humuorous.
Poor Derpy is a comedy of errors.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really Tabitha's fault, just a communication error I guess. Still love them for including Derpy as a real character. And hey, at least it's not a male-sounding voice actor for Rainbow Dash or Spitfire like certain foreign dubs got.
ReplyDeleteOkay people, here's a fun little fact: this is the internet we're talking about. If she only got like five angry emails, do you realize how small that number would be if the internet and its wondrous anonymity didn't exist? Zero. That's because there will always be annoying people in cyberspace, however small their numbers may be. I bet any of those email senders would act like they met a hero and speak nothing but praise if they were actually put in a room with Tabitha (or any of the VAs, really). I'm also fairly certain that all of the persons involved in the show are adult enough to sort the trolls from people with founded opinions.
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as the actual mix up goes, I didn't really notice. After hearing Rainbow's voice for the first time, it was no real shocker. Either way, I'm just happy she got airtime. Her character being even more "derped" than previously just makes it all the more hilarious.
I didn't mind the voice at all. If she voices the character again, she could always just do the same voice, but with a higher pitch.
ReplyDelete[Incoming Soapbox rant in 3...2...1...]
ReplyDeleteSadly, ever fandom has "those guys". You know who they are. Every fanbase has them. They are the guys that cause trouble for the rest of us, putting out slanderous behavior that places bad labels on the fanbase as a whole. They can be small, or they can be a large problem.
In our case, we have folks who, despite being in a fandom that promotes love and tolerance, decide their free time is best used sending hate mail to people who did absolutley nothing wrong. Ms. St. Germaine wasn't given ANY resource material to base the voice on, and who could blame the staff? Up until the episode aired, there was no official material to base Derpy's character on! She was nothing but a minor background character. Suer the staff new about our creations of Derpy, but i doubt they took the time to dive deep enough into our fandom to really get to know her. It's not how it works when you are professionalsmaking a television show. They made her a shoutout to the Bronies, but thats's about it.
As for the voice itself, I loved it. Didn't even think of here being portrayed as male until someone brought it up. I find that it worked, but if they DO decide to throw more lines her way, sure, Tabitha may alter the tone slightly to make it more feminine, but if not, who cares? I mean, the fact that she got lines AT ALL proves our dedication to the show reached the staff on a level i've never seen before.
I've been a part of fandoms since I started to watch Anime as a kid, but never was I involved enough with one single show enough to see it become like the Brony community has. And the staff at FiM are aware of us, and they make these little hints to us, because THEY know how much we love the show. But when "those guys" send the staff and VA's hate mail? What does that show them? Yes, they are big boys and girls and are probably used to getting a little heat for some of their work, but that is certainly no excuse for OUR fandom.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying nopony has the right to complain at all, I'm saying that those who, for some reason, found a problem with Derpy and her voice, keep your ill-fated opinions to the fandom alone. We can handle you guys within our own terms. But to everyone who took the time the write out hate mail and sent it to Tabitha, I say for shame on you all. For shame. You don't deserve to be here if that how you make use of our gift. Derpy is something special to OUR community, we ned to treat her better. Same goes for her VA and the guys who drew her into the show.
[steps off soapbox]
@zorinlynx Most of what I see as the immature bronies are the recent inductees, though I do see some spoiled veterans as well. I myself have barely reached a year brony contract as well, but I know not to hate what the show does, because chances are my voice won't sway them otherwise. Sure, I could send them hateful mail to change something to something else (like this voice dilemma) but chances are it won't change, so I leave it at that. I squee like Fluttershy when fanon becomes canon, but in this case I didn't let the Derpy scene overpower the fact that it was a solid episode, it just added to the awesomeness.
ReplyDeleteAnd like others are saying, just be grateful she even GOT any lines at all, instead of being shown for 2-5 seconds at a time within each episode. If you don't like how they portray such a character, then don't watch the show anymore. The community won't be any worse of without you. Instead of sending hate mail, just go right out and ask why they used that voice, and you'll find a proper answer like we did now. Don't humiliate the entire fandom because of your preference to the high pitched voice in the fanon. Personally, I didn't like her fanon voice at all, and thought the canon voice was better in all aspects. Besides, it's what Derpy DOES, not what she SAYS that makes us laugh and love her, is it not? Do this, mute the voice, put on some subtitles, and laugh at the klutz we all love.
Now would be the time to use Aha I knew it.
ReplyDeleteI thought Derpy's voice was androgynous.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trying to rile anyone up here, but has anyone actually seen this supposed 'hate mail'? How do we know that the letters and emails sent weren't well-worded dictations asking legitimate questions and voicing actual concerns by people who's life experiences may actually differ from those of the vocal part of the fandom.
ReplyDeleteOr does any opinion that differs from the bandwagon of EQD automatically classify as 'hate-mail' and relegates that person to a 'troll' status?
I would personally like to see these letters myself before jumping to any conclusions and chastising people for their opinions.
We love you Tabitha...
ReplyDeleteDerpy is what Derpy does.
she derps her own gender sometimes.
Wait. Tabitha voiced Derpy? Man, I've been under a rock for the past week.
ReplyDeleteStill, I really liked her voice, I didn't know it was a male voice. Keep up the good work, Tabitha! :)
This made me smile like such an idiot at work.
ReplyDeleteAn error in animation made Derpy and now an error in VA is solidifying the Derp-ness.
I say they keep the voice. And I'm not surprised at all to hear that Tabitha didn't know anything about a background pony.
And hate mail? That just makes me a sad pony...
You know I've rewatched this episode like 5-6 times after hearing about this and tried to concentrate, Tabitha's Derpy is more androgynous (I agree with Tylendal here) than male.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I want to call it an error but more like a serendipitous moment of voicing a klutzy Derpy by accident and coming out in a good way.
Although I'm abit sad, annoyed, and ashamed(I don't feel angry....I feel pity though) that my favorite VA gets this crap from you guys(only applicable to whoever complains and rages about Tabs performance because of their own self-centered preferences)
**By the way, I also tried to cross-referencing with the "Muffins" line (I think it was at 14:51 into the episode)@ Applebuck Season (If its Derpy whos actually saying it although I still think the Derpy in that episode is a spy *jokes lightly*), Its deeper than the fanon voice.
**:If its not Derpy speaking ignore the marked paragraph
Woah.
ReplyDeleteUm.
So, I was one of the people that sent Tabitha a letter, and she responded. I... Didn't expect that.
She says that she got four letters from people who were "ostensibly defending what they perceived as an attack on the helpless." But aside from that, no backlash has wound up on her doorstep, as she says.
Eh, I'll just copy-paste her last bit.
"It's funny, it's like everyone got into armor. I've had all these defenders coming to my aid, and it's bloody sweet, but so far, knock on wood, everything's been civil in sherwood forest.
Again, thanks boo. Not to worry though. Right here, right now, we're all good."
@Vanishing
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty offensive. Some women just have deeper voices. Mental capacity doesn't figure into it.
Huh, and here I was thinking it was a great (but a little low) female voice. I really like it and for later episodes it should stay the same.
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOD thats hilarious. hahahaha lol. We still love Tabitha but thats just great. And I still liked Derpys voice.
ReplyDeleteShe could sound a bit less like Rainbow Dash, but no major change is in order, really.
ReplyDeleteAnd Derpy's origin story is now that of two mistakes. Awesome!
Just another hiccup in a character who happens to be the embodiment of hiccups. In that sense it works perfectly!
ReplyDelete@brilliantspecter
ReplyDeleteSee, just as I thought. Nothing to go up in arms about. Keep calm and canter on and whatnot.
Entertainingly, I've always thought that the fandom VA work for Derpy was too high-pitched. Tabitha's voice for her was pretty much exactly what I'd always imagined her having. It's a lot closer to the "muffins" line in season 1 than the bubbly soprano adopted by a lot of the fanon (compare "Muffins" and "You okay Rainbow Dash?", especially).
ReplyDeleteDerpy may be a klutz, and is perhaps not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I don't think she's outright stupid, or slow, even after her appearance last week. Heck, if Snails - SNAILS! - can recover in the eyes of the fandom from his idiot-ball performance in Boast Busters, Derpy has it made.
I KNEW it! I THOUGHT Derpy's voice was too deep and too masculin to be a girl's voice! Poor Tabitha, so embarassing. :(
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who thinks tabitha is taking this rather well? And just continue to be a great, loveable woman?
ReplyDelete@brilliantspecter I literally sighed in relief. So no one is really hate-mailing everyone Tabitha, everypony here is defending Tabitha and Derpy... I think we're in pretty good shape.
ReplyDelete@brilliantspecter
ReplyDeleteI wish Sethisto would copy-paste her statement into the main body of this post; maybe that would cool off some of the more passionate responses we're seeing.
Derpy's voice was derped? DERPCEPTION.
ReplyDeleteI DID think Derpy's voice was weird, sounding too much like a young boy's voice...
ReplyDeleteEither way, it's funny how Tabitha had the best of intentions at heart, saying the person she based her own Derpy on was very dear to her...
I need to pass that on to my fellow Bronies!
@jodyjm13
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should ask Tabitha's permission to submit her response directly to the EqD inbox?
@zorinlynx Every fandom that has ever existed has about the same proportion of idiots once it reaches a certain size. It has to do with average population archetypal representation, you see.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it seems clear that Derpy is from Berry Punch's family of alcoholics. Fetal alcohol syndrome. Poor Derpy. :C
@Dusty the Royal Janitor Take comfort that I am here! The perfect fan: brilliant, charming, super-genius, well-spoken, elegant, regal, extraordinarily handsome... (sounds of vomiting are heard the background)
ReplyDeleteOh hardee-harr-harr. >:C
Derpy may be transgendered? yay~
ReplyDeleteAll that matters at this point is that she knows better now.
ReplyDeleteSo the next time Derpy speaks (be it later this season, or not till season 3), she will have had time to reconsider how to do it and voice her more casually, which I'm pretty sure most fans will be much happier with.
I actually would not complain if they re-dubbed that scene for future broadcasts and the eventual DVD/Blu-Rays.
I really thought Tabitha's take on the character did sound a little to much like "Duhrr..py" intead of "Derpy" to me.
Now we know it was because she was trying to sound like a boy. Go figure.
@Sethisto
ReplyDeleteThere was only 5 hatemails? Thank goodness there were only so few...
Still, this must not go unpunished! Track them down, and release Discord on them! He can love and tolerate their feet with feather tickle torture for a 100 years!
/) ͡ Êš ͡ (\
BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
I liked her lines. Except for: "Good work, Rainbow Dash."
ReplyDeleteOh Derpy, even your VA cannot escape your derpiness!
ReplyDeleteClearly this is Derpy's legacy: everything to do with her will be awesome yet also a mistake.
I think Derpy's voice works very well. It's tomboyish, but also adorable. Aside from Dash and AJ of the Mane 6, there's not really any other female pony who has a tomboyish tone to their voice. So the addition of Derpy's voice really helps on that front. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter if Tabitha thought Derpy was male, because the majority of us accept Derpy for who she is and adore her. This bit of news shouldn't, and will not, change that.
Stick to it Tabitha, we as a fandom have embraced canon Derpy, you don't need to retcon her voice (unless it causes you some sort of discomfort that I cannot foresee, after all, you voice almost everypony it seems).
I liked the Derpy voice, it made her sound... Derpy!
ReplyDelete*sigh* hate mail?
REALLY?!
to everyone who sent any hate-mail: YOU FAIL AT MLP!
GOODNIGHT!
Of course Derpy doesn't sound like a guy. She sounds like a girl trying to sound like a guy, and that's the worst thing of all.
ReplyDeleteBut what the hay, I vote to retroactively make Derpy a colt. All in favor?
I thought the voice was perfect for derpy!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that those types who would send hate mail to her are within our fandom. :(
Doom on the "bronies" who sent Tabitha hate mail because they didn't like her voice for Derpy. I am truly disgusted by this fandom right now.
ReplyDeleteI thought Derpy sounded good myself. She accident waiting to happen and I've had no problem with the voice it is not like the actor was making Derpy sound bad so why do people feel they should send this? Please for the love of all things pony do not piss off any of the actors or producers just because a char is not the way you wanted them she is still a minor char which had messed up eyes.
ReplyDeleteI never for a moment thought that Derpy's voice was too masculine. And the fact that some bronies actually sent her hatemail is just embarrassing. Her voice work is half the reason I like Rarity so much.
ReplyDeleteWell that makes sense, though for not sure what gender Derpy was, she did a very unbiased voice. I think her current voice could be taken either way, so I'm not disappointed...I am in some of the bronies that jumped down her throat. Seriously, some of you guys need to grow up. Honestly, for those who would act in such a childish manner, I refuse to categorize as bronies.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, if they decide to give it a second round I would love to see how Tabitha does it with a female voice. That is if she will after being attacked by idiots in the community.
Wow. Just. Wow. Like everybrony else here, I am saddened that anyone calling themselves a brony would have the gall to complain about such a beautiful gift to the fandom.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I thought Derpy's voice was just fine for her. The story behind it makes it all the more touching.
Hasbro/the Hub/Studio B has been really accepting of this non-target fanbase so far, even asking for Seth's help with the Mare-athon.
Please, people. Don't ruin this.
Problem solution
ReplyDeletenext episode have derpy sound female
and blame last episode on a cold.
@Toxic-Mario Will Derpy be the new Bon-Bon?
ReplyDeleteI always thought of Derpy as somewhat masculine, too, personally.
ReplyDeleteI always thought of Derpy as somewhat masculine, too, personally. :D
ReplyDeleteNow whenever I watch this scene I'm gonna imagine Derpy without a round snout -_-
ReplyDeleteWhen I first watched this scene, I did not at all find her(his) voice masculine. I think it fit the character they were portraying very well. I bet that a good bit of the show's target demographic very much enjoyed "The part when the funny sounding one with the funny name broke everything.".
Personally, I'm fine with keeping the voice as it is (after all, we don't know what her mare-voice would've sounded like anyway, so you're comparing this to whatever assumptions about her voice you already have), however, it would be pretty awesome if Tabitha released a sample of Derpy's mare-voice so we could at least know what Derpy could've sounded like.
When you think about it, its kinda cool that our little Muffin Princess began life as an animator's derp, and her first words were a voice actor's derp.
I now have a theory that Derpy is the very essence of accidental hilarious failure. She began as the (lack of) thought of a particular animator, and has been using the internet to build up power so she could completely break out of the fourth wall and gain physical consciousness .
Tabitha's mishap and the subsequent internet fallout was simply the seven-ton bus that broke the camel's back. She has finally attained consciousness, and is now the force behind all stair-falling-downs, flat-surface-trippings, coffee-on-keyboard spills, voice actor mishaps, and other such occurrences at Studio B.
That's right, Derpy is trolling us all.
She is displeased with our offerings...
What amuses me is that they derped on the derp.
ReplyDelete@brilliantspecter I'm re-posting your comment because people still aren't getting, it seems. Hope that's okay.
ReplyDeletebrilliantspecter said:
'Woah.
Um.
So, I was one of the people that sent Tabitha a letter, and she responded. I... Didn't expect that.
She says that she got four letters from people who were "ostensibly defending what they perceived as an attack on the helpless." But aside from that, no backlash has wound up on her doorstep, as she says.
Eh, I'll just copy-paste her last bit.
"It's funny, it's like everyone got into armor. I've had all these defenders coming to my aid, and it's bloody sweet, but so far, knock on wood, everything's been civil in sherwood forest.
Again, thanks boo. Not to worry though. Right here, right now, we're all good."'
I demand a re release episode with the voice actor from Doctor Whooves and derpy because it fits alot better than that weird voice that was used
ReplyDelete@zorinlynx
ReplyDeleteNow, now. Its wrong grouping the entire fanbase on just a few individuals. Remember the Humble Brony incident? And the Smile Album? We're not all stupid. Many here are very sweet, kind, individuals.
@Kingzero
ReplyDeleteExactly!
Hey! Here's an idea! Instead of complaining about how stupid it is to send hate mail to a voice actor for what isn't her fault, why don't we...I don't know....
ReplyDeleteTell her how much we appreciate and like her?! Come on, bronies! If you don't like people sending hate mail, send friendship mail!
How did this guy, or girl, find Tabitha's e-mail? I want to send some friendship mail to her.
Man so many people in this topic are being so ......dumb. Sorry to be harsh but she did not sound like a boy, as an avid anime watcher I have seen that voice on boys and girls in anime since I was 5 and i'm 25 now, and I still here it. It has no gender, and I cant believe everyone is just so casual saying they liked the voice when there are so many liars here. A lot of people had a problem with it and I don't get why? They gave us a character we really wanted and rather than be grateful, everyone is like "boo, not perfectly what I wanted, boo!" well guess what, it's there show and they can make her however they want. She didn't belong to us, so just suck it up. I hope they never have her in an episode again just to punish all you whining ingrates. I love Derpy but I would still put up with never seeing her again to teach all the cry babies in this fandom a lesson to shut your mouths and appreciate when a company has the kindness to actually throw us some love!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe others sent hate mail. Really? WOW, that is sad.
ReplyDeleteAnyway not to poke anypony's bubble... BUT Derpy is not a FILLY, she is a MARE. I am more irked about everypony making this mistake all of the time. The CMC are fillies, the Cake's children are currently foals. Twilight Sparkle and gang are all mares. How come this is so hard for pons to understand. Meh I got that outta my system, now to watch the episode again and see how masculine Derpy's voice actually sounded... Back, I really liked how she sounded myself. It gave her quite a memorable tone. I know some girls that could be described as having a sort of low toned voice. This actually makes her more memorable really. I liked her voice. Anypony else get the sense of persistence from her?
Thabita, that can be a error, but don't change her voice! Maybe just a slight "girly" next time, but don't make her lose this "guy" tone, it's just perfect!
ReplyDeleteDerpy in this way is like other charaters of the show: a girl to be "feminine" does not need to have a soft voice like a princess...
It seems no one's put forth the theory that voicing Derpy as a male was NOT a mistake. After all, she's become the unofficial mascot of this show's periphery demographic, the most notable aspect of which is its male population. Maybe they gave the symbol of this fandom the voice of the most remarkable characteristic of this fandom. Just yet another tribute to y'all (I can't say "us" as I'm female :P ).
ReplyDeleteOr maybe it was a goof. Either way, I think it's very fitting.
sooo will Derpy have a higher pitched voice in the future or will it be the same?
ReplyDeleteeither or Derpy sounded great to me ^^
I guess the eye lashes dont mean anything anymore on a cartoon yesh....
ReplyDeletePeople need to quit bitching about hate mail, Brony means that we like ponies, nothing more.
ReplyDeleteThe "Love and Tolerance" bullshit has never been a requirement, and it never will be one.
Deal with both this fact and the hate mail, any person with a head on their shoulders can.
Well, there's some irony for you. Voicing Derpy caused the VA herself to herp a derp. Derpy truly is some kind of reality-bending super-entity.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, anyone who sents hate mail to Tabitha at this point is an utter moron and should be beaten with a wiffle bat.
It works great, regardless.
ReplyDeleteOption 1) Stick with it, she just has a deep voice.
ReplyDeleteOption 2) Derpy had a cold/lightning made her sound deeper/derper.
@Octavia If they hate, they ain't us, never forget that.
ReplyDeleteSo, Tabitha thought Derpy was a boy, voiced her as such, and somehow it was still a near-perfect fit (imo). She is a queen among voice actors!
ReplyDelete@Daniel G.
ReplyDeleteOf course that's fine! I don't exactly command a lot of attention, so please do spread the word. Things are fine. n.n
@Kingzero
I'm a guy. n.n And it's on her website. Here ya go: [email protected]
It looks like it's supposed to go to something like her agent... But considering I got an email back from her directly, I get the feeling she goes through the inbox herself.
Friendship mail away!
Hm I'm kind of surprised that they didn't show her a picture of the character lol, but then a again she's basically a background gag. So it wasn't all that important anyways. At least the voice still worked ha ha.
ReplyDelete@Sparky Luck
ReplyDelete?
Are you watching a Let's Play of Radiant Historia (HCBailly) too ?
I go to a pony forum and there are parents that are worried that Derpy might be offensive to disabled people because of her name, her eyes, she breaks everything and Rainbow Dash told her to stop helping might give a bad example to kids and they might treat disabled people the same.
ReplyDeleteBut some people there were like, 'It's a cartoon' and 'it's the parents that should teach the kids!'
I can see where they are coming from, but really I think Derpy is just ditzy like the other 'dumb' characters in other cartoons. (Like Ed.)
Also, I like Derpy's voice.
ReplyDelete@Jordan In general, they don't hold actual auditions for minor/guest characters such as Derpy in Vancouver. Instead the director will quite literally ask all the voice actors who are already in the studio, "Who can voice this character?", get the actors to say a couple of lines in their proposed voice for said character, and choose the best. That's why most additional characters are voiced by the main cast. :)
ReplyDelete@tlarn You totally win for that!
ReplyDeleteI am disgusted by those sending hate mail to the people behind the show they claim to love so much. I was in touch with Tabitha several years ago and she is honestly one of the sweetest people in the industry. It makes me sad that some "bronies" can be so immature.
ReplyDeleteI myself have been receiving a lot of hate mail and death wishes just because I liked previous generations of MLP, as has my friend who worked on one of the G1 cartoons. Seriously, guys? It doesn't really bother me anymore, I just delete the messages without even reading them, but it really distresses my friend who was in a bad car accident last year and doesn't need further bad things wished upon him. Just stop it. I watch FiM too, and I don't pour hate on people who like cartoons I don't. And to say someone who worked on the old cartoon "should burn in Hell" (as some have told me friend)? That's sick. It was 2 weeks' work over 20 years ago - give him a break.
Anyway, that's kind of off topic but still seemed topical in light of this whole hate mail thing. I never even picked up that Tabitha was doing a strictly "male" voice like the ones she uses for some of her male characters in other shows - Derpy sounds more like a deep, slow woman.
And yes, it is totally possible that she didn't see a picture/didn't know anything about Derpy Hooves or her gender. Derpy IS just an additional character who was probably cast on the spot in the studio - the actors would have had no background for her except for what she did and how she acted in that one scene. I think Tabitha did an excellent job, as she always does. :)
Derpy's derpiness is contagious!
ReplyDeleteHasbro, if you read this, I say stick with Derpy's voice - it's feminine enough and in my opinion she sounds cute!
ReplyDeleteI really don't mind Derpy's voice. It fits her character well, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteFor a fandom that is comprised of mostly adults, some of us sure don't act like any. Sending hate-mail is one of the most insulting things a fan can do, especially when it is over something so minuscule. I can only hope Hasbro and the studios won't judge the rest of us Bronies on the actions of some very bad apples.
whoops, accidental rule 63
ReplyDeleteOne could lay the argument that Derpy was just trying to sound tough in front of Rainbow Dash. =P
ReplyDeleteI can't believe ANYONE would give Tabitha St. Germain --the best and most active voice actress on the show-- hate mail! She voices so many awesome characters, there is really no excuse for that, she deserves better from us.
ReplyDelete@Makkon
ReplyDeleteYou get that in any group unfortunately. I thought Derpy was male a long time ago myself, so I'm cool with it. Love the voice, love the fan service. Those guys over there make the show rock. Now a note for the others that whine: Stop COMPLAINING! This show deserves better! Do we want to lose the very rare link that we have between fans and the show because we're being idiots? No.
Derpy IS A MALE. I have always believed this...
ReplyDeleteLong before the episode...
Derpy is a colt, but has a feminine body shape.
I never believed that it would be (kinda) canon now!!!
I'M SO HAPPY.
Princess Luna has a message for the hate mailers.
ReplyDelete"By order of thine Princess of the Night, thou shalt remove thine heads from thine posteriors and apologize this instant!"
Alright, that really explains it. Good to hear!
ReplyDeleteHere's a question: Anyone got any proof of validity on these notes from Tabitha? So far I've seen two wildly different ones, this one and a really weird one that goes on about drag queens and such. Is there any sort of official channel we can check to see if things are legit?
ReplyDeleteHer e-mail is so cute! What a sweet way to get inspiration for a voice! I think I can accept the voice a bit better now...Still like the fan one
ReplyDeleteI'm seconding the comments wishing for any further Derpy lines to be more feminine... but this accident... well, I guess it's just the aura sorrounding Derpy herself (and can be improvisingly explained as cold / momentary over-derpness, or whatever :P).
ReplyDeleteI am a bit disappointed that they let such an error just slide by, though.
@Gold DemonaGood explanation too :). Can't wait to hear her voice again, curious if they will correct it...
ReplyDeleteIT'S NOT THAT HARD. THE GIRLS HAVE EYELASHES. THE BOYS DON'T. EXCEPT FOR BABIES, WHICH DON'T COUNT.
ReplyDeleteI liked Derpy's voice - it worked.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the haters - yes, I wish they would just go away. I have a mentally disabled person in my family and I didn't find Derpy offensive AT ALL. There's no proof she's mentally impaired - she might just be a little ditzy that's all. But even if she has a disability - props to the show for adding that diversity. None of the other characters are perfect - why should Derpy be perfect?
Obviously the "bronies" that had the nerve to send hate mail didn't watch the episode Suited For Success.
ReplyDelete"Never look a gift horse in the mouth."
Now because of these idiots me might not ever get a Derpy line or any lines from the Fanon characters again.
.......wait a second....
If they have the right to call Derpy, ...Derpy in the show, then why did they change Lyra's name to Heartstrings?
@Al_Skylark
ReplyDeleteBut anyone would not think twice about telling friends about it; because they know that the possibility of tracking it back to their mother is nearly impossible.
It's the same thing here bronies are doing, hiding behind a username and sending hate mail as an anynomus source.
@kihap
ReplyDeleteYou think she'd at least have seen the character before. You don't need to read fan fiction to know what Derpy looks like(considering they've popped her into every episode in someway thus far), and to notice that Derpy has EYELASHES which in MLP is a distinctly feminine trait.