I was challenged by some friends of mine to create and design the “Neo Changeling” kingdom ever since the events of “To where and back again”, followed by Queen Chrysalis dethroning and Thorax stepping in as the new king (not sure if he’ll be referred in future episodes and merchandise as king, but if Chrysalis is referred to as Queen, I don’t see why not). and since the Changeling species is now reformed, I figured that, asides half the hive was destroyed, they would remake their terrain more accessible for everypony to visit. For now, I’m developing the concept and I won’t reveal much about it, but I figured I would end up making some stained glass windows for the throne room, or wherever they will end up in. My main inspiration for this design was the scene in which Thorax’s metamorphoses by giving chrysalis all of his love is the solution to satisfy a Changeling’s hunger for good, alongside a plant and insect motif.
Personally, I like the new changelings’ design as much as the previous one. They look very appealing and colorful, but not very saturated nor bright that it’ll hurt your eyes, keeping their insect theme on far, especially with their wings. The concept reminds me of the stages a butterfly goes through until it becomes beautiful and free. The only thing I’m not very fond of would have to be Thorax’s beetle pincer like “antlers”, because it makes him look less like a pony and more like a moose ^^;
Some argue that the Changelings being reformed, except for Chrysalis, was to soon and they could have stayed “evil”, but ever since Thorax’s debut in season 6, I’ve started to see Changelings more differently: Changelings were always hungry and couldn’t find a solution for their constant cravings.I speak for myself that when I’m hungry and someone or something is blocking my attempt of eating, I can become grouchy and sour XD, but once I’m full or find something to control my appetite, I start seeing everything around me in a more positive way. In the end, after Thorax’s transformation, it was all a matter of choice for they wanted to give or take.
It’s like the old saying goes: you can’t judge a culture completely without observing and experiencing it from the inside instead of just the outside. Plus, before Thorax was introduced, we didn’t know much about Changelings and their nature asides their invasion over Cadence’s wedding.