Simple Ways Hasbro Could Be Making SO MUCH MORE MONEY

Once upon a time in the 1980s, My Little Pony (briefly) sold better than Barbie.

[NOTE: I'm not actually 100% sure if this is true, although I could swear I've read it before several times -- when I tried to find it somewhere to verify it for this post, well, it was nowhere to be found -- but it sounds likely to me, so let's nod and smile and keep going.]

Once upon a time in 2009, Hasbro clearly had no idea what to do with the franchise. You could tell, because they got it into their heads that it would actually be a good idea to just keep re-releasing the "Core Seven" over and over and over. "But hey, it's okay! We're going to focus on their personalities! That'll make it worth it to buy all seven of them over and over and over! You'll eventually stop noticing that we're not producing any Ponies other than the Core Seven! We promise!"

Once upon a time in 2010, Lauren Faust saved everything. She had quite a bit of help, obviously, but no one involved with the project would have been involved with the project if she hadn't dreamed up a magical little show called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

[NOTE: Interestingly, five of the Core Seven have appeared on the show so far -- two of them as mane characters -- and they've all been vastly improved by it. Particularly Rainbow Dash, who is at least twenty percent cooler now than she was then.]

Because it is just that good, FiM has amassed a huge following of fans who are, well, not little girls.

Which means that we have much more disposable income than fans who ARE little girls.

Which is money that we would love to give to Hasbro in exchange for merchandise.

Unfortunately, Hasbro is still somewhat unsure of how to handle the franchise. A complete list of all the merchandise they've released so far, as well as some that's coming soon, can be found here: http://www.mylittleponynews.com/p/g4-my-little-pony-checklist.html#plush

I'm not saying that's not impressive, because it really is. I'm just saying there's so much more that they could be releasing, and they're pretty much sitting on top of a veritable gold mine right now. Just off the top of my head, here are several ways they could be making QUITE A BIT of money off of us:

Season 1 on DVD
The word "duh" seems wholly inadequate all of a sudden. Fortunately, this is apparently on its way!

Non-Brushable Figures
the Mane Six in their "action poses" from "Dragonshy"
the Mane Six wearing the Elements of Harmony
Nightmare Moon
Opalescence, Gummy, Winona, Angel, and Spike
the Mane Six as fillies
the Mane Six after they've been "cursed"
the Mane Six dressed up for the Gala
the Mane Six after going crazy (happens to Applejack in "Applebuck Season," Pinkie Pie in "Party of One," Rarity in "Suited for Success," Twilight Sparkle in "Swarm of the Century" and "Look Before You Sleep," Fluttershy in "The Best Night Ever," and Rainbow Dash in "Sonic Rainboom")
Spike as a hatchling
the Cutie Mark Crusaders (duh)
gift set: the Cutie Mark Crusaders with scooter, helmets, and wagon
every single character who has ever appeared on the show, including but not limited to: Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Nightmare Moon, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Zecora, the Wonderbolts, the hydra, the manticore, the Diamond Dogs, Lyra, Bon Bon, Derpy Hooves, Ditzy Doo, Octavia, the twins, Applejack's entire family, Twilight Sparkle's parents, Mayor Mare, Philomena, Little Strong Heart, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE, the Ursa Minor, Snips and Snails, Prince Charming, Gilda, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, DJ PON-3, Braeburn, Rose, Daisy, Lily, parasprites, Hoity Toity, Photo Finish, the sorrowful serpent, Owlowicious, the Shadowbolts, Cheerilee, Princess Celestia's guards, Pinkie Pie's family, etc. etc. etc.
==> most of whom could be released in MULTIPLE POSES, and seriously, we'd still buy them all

Brushable Figures
Scootaloo
Sweetie Belle
Apple Bloom
six gift packs: each of the Mane Six with their pre-Fim counterparts
gift pack: ELEMENTS OF HARMONY
Nightmare Moon
Princess Celestia -- but make her the right color this time, duh
Zecora
Derpy Hooves
re-release: Rarity . . . with her hair all one color, and maybe even styled correctly
re-release: Twilight Sparkle . . . twenty percent less pink
re-release: Applejack WITH HAT
gift pack: PARTY OF ONE
gift pack: Fluttershy vs. the cockatrice
gift pack: Fluttershy vs. the dragon
gift pack: Rarity and Sweetie Belle
gift pack: Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Macintosh
gift pack: Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo
gift pack: Rarity vs. Applejack
gift pack: Twilight Sparkle and THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE
gift pack: Rainbow Dash and Gilda
gift pack: the Cutie Mark Crusaders in costume
Cheerilee with eighties hair
Pinkie Pie in disguise
Pinkie Pie as a Pegasus Pony (what? I'd buy it)
Applejack with Bloomberg
and so on and so forth

Playsets
Rainbow Dash's House (DUH)
Rarity's Boutique
Sugar Cube Corner
Twilight Sparkle's Library
Sweet Apple Acres
Fluttershy's House

Plushies
Scootaloo
Pinkie Pie
Rarity
. . . and whoever else ya feel like

Sooo, there you have it.

I'm just saying.

Ponies I Want

YES, I am writing about Ponies tonight. I really should be writing about recovery, since I have been back at work for a month and a day now . . . but I'm not entirely sure exactly what recovery even means! Which I could, you know, write about (who cares what it officially means? This is MY blog), but it's just a tad overwhelming. Actually, even the thought of writing a list of Ponies I'd like to add to my collection (which, let's face it, I could do at the -- it's 11:11 -- drop of a hat) seems just a tad overwhelming.

I could be annoyed with myself for feeling overwhelmed by something as simple as my own thoughts (riiight, "simple" -- shut up, I could really use a Pensieve), but I'm gonna go ahead and choose to . . . not be annoyed. 'Cause this process is, well, a process, and sometimes it's less easy than it is at other times. The important thing is that recovery is happening. And that's not just my own personal opinion; people literally cannot shut up about how much happier I've been since I went to group, how awesome I am at my job, how awesome I am at life in general, how amazing it is that I was able to make so much progress in such a short time, what a great listener I've become, etc. etc. etc. I've even been told that the improved morale at my store probably has a lot to do with me being back (um, the coworker who said so also happens to be one of my best friends in the entire world, buuut).

Eurgh. I'm rambling, and who knows if it's making a lick of sense?

Anyway. Ponies!

I want -- nay, I must have -- the following basic figures from the current Friendship is Magic line:

APPLEJACK
PINKIE PIE
LILY BLOSSOM*
CHEERILEE
SNOWCATCHER (probably won't get her unless I can find her for way cheaper than $31, which is her current asking price on eBay -- and that would be fine, since finding her on eBay for $31 was the first I've ever heard of her)
LUNA

There are also a ton of other characters from the show I would happily snatch up if they were turned into toys, chiefly Zecora, Nightmare Moon, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, Lyra, Bon Bon, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE, Gilda, Little Strong Heart, Derpy Hooves, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Especially the Cutie Mark Crusaders! Why they haven't been released as a three-pack (for which I would gladly give Hasbro close to $30 of my hard-earned monies) is a mystery that may never get solved. I know you can get Sweetie Belle in a gift pack with Pinkie Pie, but having her without Apple Bloom and Scootaloo would just be sad.

One character from the show who HAS been turned into a toy that I DON'T want? Princess Celestia! When little girls are complaining that she's not supposed to be pink, you are doing something wrong. Take note, Hasbro.
   That being said, I will eventually buy the gift set, which unfortunately includes her, for Spike. Despite not being a Pony, he may be my favorite character.

Also, I currently have three different versions of Rainbow Dash -- FiM basic, Ponyville, and pre-FiM basic (back when she was an Earth Pony who needed an umbrella). I'd like to eventually have at least six of her. Not that I'm a tad obsessed with her or anything.

The only non-FiM Pony I really want at the moment is the very first Pony I ever owned, who I have found on eBay in FANTASTIC condition. The good news there is that I am currently the highest bidder; the bad news there is that the auction lasts for another six days, so some jerkface could totally outbid me at the last possible second, and in the meantime I have to wait.





Sigh.

Tomorrow is gonna be great, and I swear I'm not just saying that.





*Purple Pegasus Pony with yellow hair. SHE IS SO GORGEOUS THAT I CAN'T STAND IT.