I guess there's been too many 503s, because Derpi is temporarily under for maintenance again. No wait, it's just the Cadence server.

edited 9th Dec '12 7:10:17 PM by AceOfScarabs

earth elemental pony is best elemental

Derpy's new pet :3

@Psi: Wow, your pony backgrounds look great! The artstyle looks very close to that of the show's artstyle, and both Twilight and AJ look fantastic. Do you plan on doing backgrounds for the rest of the mane 4 at somepoint?

Also, I had no idea that your avatar was something that you actually made yourself.

edited 9th Dec '12 7:15:37 PM by marston

Even Dollhouse?

I'll say it again, its like comparing chewy chocolate chip cookies to chunky chocolate chip cookies. They're still chocolate chip cookies, man!

And yes, Enlong, I saw that post. Dry, chunky cookies are superior! They don't fall to pieces when you pick them up!

On a side note, is it me or are the supporting characters getting slightly shafted so far this season? The Princesses aside, we're half-way through the season and we've had DATASS Snips & Snails, and... that's it if you don't count Trixie as "supporting cast". No Eyups from Big Mac, no Cheerilee in the CMC episode (she did cameo in the last episode, blink and you miss it), no Cakes dealing with Pinkie Pie. We're getting the Wonderbolts this week, though I'm sure a lot of focus will go on the new pegasus character that'll probably be Dash's rival in the episode. Mac will probably get some lines in "Apple Family Reunion",

I don't know, it just seems we're getting less from our regular supporting characters.

Thank you very much. I do intend to at least make the mane cast. Hopefully I'll get Rainbow Dash made before Xmas.

Never watched it. Some other shows such as Sonic Sat Am fit this category however. It made changes in Season Two a lot were for the worse (Flanderization, Spotlight-Stealing Squad) and a lot were for the better (more continuity and climax) so compared to the more consistant in quality First Season, the Second has some episodes I can't stand and others I enjoy over most others.

It is often also later seasons that animation changes and evolutions begin (often due to changing contracts with animation studios), which also vary in quality.

I could argue it's more due to using a lot of one shots this season, or actually bringing up less seen supporting characters compared to the more recurring ones from before (eg. Trixie and Shining Armor and Cadence). We got a fair few lesser seen characters in Magic Duel for example. I like that idea really, some others need a chance now.

edited 9th Dec '12 7:23:40 PM by Psi001

ICE BURN

The animation quality on MLP has pretty consistently improved from season to season.

edited 9th Dec '12 7:23:34 PM by edvedd

True that. Though MLP is a modern show computer animated. Many earlier cartoons were cel animated and handed to different studios of varying quality and budget. eg. The Disney Afternoon usually got their very high quality Japan or French studios to do the first few episodes of each cartoon, then left it to lower budget ones for the majority of later episodes.

edited 9th Dec '12 7:26:02 PM by Psi001

When it comes to side characters, they should only be used where they're appropriate. There's no quota of appearances for them. They'll show up when the need to.

New Reaction Image for sleepyheads◊

Keep in mind that S3 isn't done yet, all these supporting cast could do a lot soon.

At this point for s2, Cheerilee was of no importance (didn't even exist at s1), Snips and Snails didn't do anything (they did do more in s1 however), Big Mac really wasn't of much importance (even in the Apple Bloom episode where you'd think he'd do a lot, he looked proud of AB and disappeared after that), Derpy was still on the sides still yet to get a scene

I don't think too much needs to be worried here, it could happen yet.

Wait, I forgot we got Zecora in "Magic Duel"! Maybe I am crazy. Or just curious how much of the Cakes, Cheerilee, Mayor Mare, etc we're gonna get this season. Or both.

I'd honestly personally rather see them expand on existing side characters rather than have a bunch of oneshots. I'd much rather have an episode about Cheerilee, or the Cakes, or whoever than have them spend time developing someone we've never seen before. That's just me, though. I'm a sucker for stuff that has a limited cast and grows all the conflicts out of their interactions.

edited 9th Dec '12 7:31:54 PM by JapaneseTeeth

Big Mac got his One-Scene Wonder moment in Lesson Zero though.

The Cakes and the Mayor also got very brief but funny roles in that episode.

edited 9th Dec '12 7:32:26 PM by Psi001

I would argue that limited canon detail for background characters feeds the fandom in much the same way that Touhou does.

@Kyler: I'm not talking background ponies; I'm talking about minor but established characters.

Yeah, Mayor in a cage and the Cakes pushing a throne around (with one of the kids in it, I forget which). Still, I kinda want to hear them again if only to see their name listed in the credits finally (well, Mayor did get listed in the credits despite not talking! Deleted Scene maybe?)

Speaking of background ponies though... what have they been doing so far this season? We got the awesome "Meh, this duel is boring, I'mma drink my smoothie" moment from Lyra in "Magic Duel". Berry Punch was in the Crystal Empire. They haven't really done anything with Derpy other than use her for generic crowd shots, makes me think of instead of shoe-horning her into nearly every episode they're saving her for something truly hilarious.

Wonder what else they plan on having everyone's favorite extras do this season, I always enjoy the little gags with them.

Well Dollhouse is a rather unique case because it was actually canceled after the first season, and then uncancled. So I think there was a lot more focus on the plot arc in season 2 because they knew it would be their last chance to wrap things up.

Warning: ADORABLE

Someone should vector smoothie-drinking Lyra. I want to use it as an avatar.

And also Ponyville Confidential.

There's a few Smoothie Lyra vectors including a Derpy variation (with a muffin smoothie, of course).

New Celestia avatar. I just couldn't resist the look on her face.