Ponybooru Collab Image - 2024 Edition

Poll results: What Should This Year's Theme Be?

Las Pegasus Casino
35.56% 16 votes
Moonbase Equestria
22.22% 10 votes
Tribal Island
11.11% 5 votes
Castle Crashers
11.11% 5 votes
Winter Wrap-Up
11.11% 5 votes
Other
6.67% 3 votes
No Theme
2.22% 1 vote

Poll ended with 45 votes.

Twiface
Twilight Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
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Princess of the Moon
It’s that time of year again. We’re doing another collaboration image. The annual tradition of submitting OCs for a giant ‘family photo’ should be familiar to every regular on any pony-related imagebooru by now, and self-explanatory for any newcomers.
“There’s something oddly fitting about the users of this site assembling our own anniversary collab if no-one else will.” -FeatherTrap, two months ago
So far no mods are involved in this project, just a few volunteers (I created this thread, FeatherTrap’s friend will do the background, runner2 has volunteered to compile it)
Basic Rules (subject to change since we don’t know what we’re doing):
  • Submissions must be drawn yourself or commissioned from an artist. Machine Learning/AI generated and/or “assisted” images are strictly forbidden. (Several people requested this rule last year)
  • Characters should be drawn in a pose allowing them to be in a crowd. Backgrounds must be transparent (vector images are perfect) so everyone can pose over the same background.
  • Clothing and accessories are allowed, especially if they are part of the character’s normal attire or they fit with the theme of the year.
  • Each user may submit up to 3 6 unique OCs to this project.
  • Multiple OCs may be submitted together in a single vector image (example)
  • Submissions must be ‘Safe for Work,’ meaning it would qualify for the ‘safe’ tag on this site ( Given the year’s (presumptive) theme and the fine line between ‘safe’ and ‘questionable,’ we will allow showgirls and playboy bunnies, but draw a line at genital outlines )
  • Flying characters are allowed (and encouraged!). However, if the ‘Casino’ theme is chosen, ‘flyers’ will be limited to 20 slots due to the indoor setting, and rationed to valid character submissions on a first-submitted, first-served basis (we will announce if/when the limit is reached).
  • Submissions should not be “political” (see the 2023 collab rules for details). This means no characters like Aryanne or Molly Tov.
  • Must be MLP related (obviously). They don’t need to be ponies (non-pony species in the show such as griffons are allowed), but they should be as close to the show’s art style as possible. A ‘borderline furry’ species such as Diamond Dogs or Abyssinians are allowed as long as they can be instantly identified as such. If we have to ask “Is this MLP related?”, you’ve crossed the line.
  • NO ANTHROS WHATSOEVER. Not even ‘unguligrade’ anthros.
  • Submissions must be OCs (alternate interpretations of canon characters, such as Raptorshy, are allowed if sufficiently different from the canon OC to be distinguishable). OCs holding plushies or merch featuring canon characters are permitted.
  • Don’t submit other people’s OCs without permission (‘Public Domain’ OCs like Dyx and Anon Filly are allowed)
  • Each character may only be submitted once, on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis (eg. If someone else posts Anon Filly before you do, then she’s taken)
  • Do not submit an entry used in a previous Ponybooru collab. Recycling a Derpibooru or Ponerpics collab entry is allowed (though we would prefer you procured a purpose-made original. Characters may be (and usually are) reused from year to year, but we want new pictures of those characters each time.
  • Please upload your submissions using the ‘upload’ button in the upper left hand corner of the screen between the ‘Ponybooru’ logo text and the search bar. When uploading, tag it ‘Ponybooru Collab 2024’ so we can easily find it, then post a comment on this thread with a link to the image (preferably including the image itself, using the >>XXXXp feature)
If you have any questions about the collab, its rules, or if your submission meets the requirements, feel free to ask.
We will begin accepting character submissions on July 4th, once the poll to decide the theme has concluded.
[7/6: It will take several weeks to get a background and furniture prepared. We suggest waiting until these are ready before creating your entry ]
The tentative ‘soft’ deadline to submit characters is to be determined, probably after October, though this could be extended if any issues come up (or by popular demand)
A theme will be decided by a poll. FeatherTrap came up with virtually all of the ideas except the ‘Other’ category.
Moonbase Equestria: A space capsule on the moon, with a large window showing space and the planet in the far background, so anypony who wants a spacesuit-moonwalking position in the picture can have one
Tribal Island: Imagine the set of a season of Survivor, if that example is enough for you to grasp the visual tone this one would be going for
Trip to Las Pegasus Casino themed picture as mentioned before, cocktail suits and holiday attire is a must
Castle Crashers: A castle in the far background with a small siege encampment with catapults in the near background, knights and medieval themed attire for this one
Winter Wrap-Up: Snow blanketed town-mostly likely Ponyville-with everyone’s OCs putting in to help clear away for Spring in some fashion
Other: This is the “write-in candidate” option; if you have an idea that isn’t on here, list it in the comments and check this box. If this answer gets the most votes (or is at least 80% of the most popular option with a minimum of 4 votes) then I will create a new thread with a new poll with the new suggestions as options.
No Theme: If you insist on being boring, we could let the OCs wear/do whatever they want and throw them up against a generic background (but where’s the fun in that?)
runner2
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Donor | Luna - THE LOVE HAS BEEN DOUBLED!
Artist -
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

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Libertatem Noctibus
An additional note to this regarding the theme(or lack there-of) chosen. It is only for cosmetic ideas to add onto your character either through a pose, outfit, or accessory(ies) and not a requirement. Simply having your OC without anything on will still be fine. Basic poses and expressions are fine but if you should choose a pose based upon a given theme, just be aware that I will try to go in order of submissions for the layout.
So, for instance, if the Casino theme is chosen and you want your character at a slot machine, I will go in order of submission to place that character at a suitable location. There will most likely be limited spots for this so your character will either be positioned at another location that might fit their pose, or potentially placed at the edge so it looks like they might be interacting with stuff off-screen.
Either way, just be mindful of both the theme if you want to follow it and the pose and post time of your submission. First come, first served and all that. :)
Also… if anyone wants to make one of (or all of) my OCs for this I would appreciate it.
DuskenDraws
Artist -

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Does Gay Things
Not gonna lie, the number of active people on this site isn’t big-big. So allowing even two OCs per-person could make the final image look a bit more, well, lively? In a good way, especially if it’s something like a casino.
FeatherTrap
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Chatty Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
A toast - Incredibly based
Artist -
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

Public Relations
Sir Boops-A-Lot
Okay, so should we say up to two or three OCs per person allowed? On the one hoof I would like to help make the picture more lively but on the other hoof I can see this quickly spiraling out of all control >.<
Oh also for everyone’s consideration, since @Twiface forgot to mention it:
DON’T WORRY TOO MUCH IF YOUR FAVOURITE THEME ISN’T PICKED. ALL REJECTED THEMES FOR THIS YEAR WILL GO INTO THE POOL FOR NEXT YEAR’S SUGGESTIONS, ALONG WITH A NEW THEME.
This rotation allows me to commission all the backgrounds in good conscience (without wasting the artist’s time and labour), while also having a pool of suggestions for each year that is just sizeable enough to offer variety without being too large as to be overwhelming. X3
Point is: no theme is ever really gone…it just gets pushed back to a later year.
Hericks

This site is doing this mass collab thing too?
Hmm… I might wanna try getting in on this, myself.
The rules say “no anthro whatsoever” but what of diamond dog OCs?
I’d also like to know if more than one oc can be submitted.
FeatherTrap
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Chatty Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
A toast - Incredibly based
Artist -
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

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Sir Boops-A-Lot
@Hericks
As @Twiface said in his post at the top, Diamond Dogs are okay so long as they are instantly recognisable, getting them in a show accurate vector would be your safest bet to make sure it’s accepted.
Just make sure we can tell immediately that it’s a Diamond Dog, if we have to ask, then the answer is “No”.
Twiface
Twilight Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
A toast - Incredibly based

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Princess of the Moon
Yes, that’s a good idea. We’ll still need another theme next year, and each year thereafter.
I don’t remember there being a rule on multiple OCs - I just skimmed last year’s rule set and added a few entries of my own, including an ‘each OC can only be submitted once’ to prevent duplicates. Let’s have a limit of 3 OCs per person, per year for the time being.
@Hericks
Yes, we’ve been doing this for a few years now. Diamond Dogs are a canon species so they’re allowed.
FeatherTrap
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Chatty Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
A toast - Incredibly based
Artist -
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

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Sir Boops-A-Lot
@Twiface
I think we need to amend the OC rule a bit, because as I said, this could snowball out of control very quickly if everypony does it. XP
My friends and I talked about and we came up with the following suggestion: When people submit OCs, they should do so numbering them in order of importance/preference from 1-3. The #1 OC will be guaranteed a spot in the collab, #2 will be entered in as long as the total pony count from #1’s alone is lower then 80 and #3’s will be entered as long as the count is lower then 50.
It might be a bit arbitrary, and we may need to adjust the numbers. I just want a system in place so the multiple OCs idea doesn’t cascade into a nightmare scenario is all.
Anonymous #2638
It rock if there was one involving the Gen 4 and Gen 5 ones with Dysney characters from Tarzan, Ice Age, Brother Bear, Pocahontas, Lion King, The Jungle Book, Encando, Dumbo, Dinosaur (2000), and Bambi. And some dodos, great auks, Gigantopithecines, and mastodons.
runner2
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Donor | Luna - THE LOVE HAS BEEN DOUBLED!
Artist -
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

Public Relations
Libertatem Noctibus
This isn’t supposed to be some weird fantasy crossover image. It’s just for members here to submit their own MLP type OCs to take part in a collaboration image of their character alongside the OCs of other members.
Deserter
Artist -
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

If we’re going with the Las Pegasus theme, I will be legally required to draw my characters in bunny outfits, just a fair warning.
runner2
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Donor | Luna - THE LOVE HAS BEEN DOUBLED!
Artist -
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

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Libertatem Noctibus
As long as it’s simply a safe image, then go for it.
You could even have your character walking around and passing out drinks or something too. XD
Twiface
Twilight Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
A toast - Incredibly based

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Princess of the Moon
@FeatherTrap
That’s a very good idea, and I will add it to the rules.
@Anonymous #2638
I know exactly what you’re talking about, but that’s not what we’re doing here.
This is an MLP-only image, not a crossover. That sort of mega crossover belongs on Deviantart.
(Also, the dinosaurs would really only work with the ‘Tribal Island’ theme, which is unlikely to be chosen based on current poll numbers)
UrbanMysticDee
Chatty Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

Bae > Bay
We’ve never had a problem with multiple OCs in one picture in the previous collabs when we had even more active users.
Now they have to be from different users?
If someone had 2 OCs and they wanted to draw them posed together they would have to do 2 separate entries with some ranked choice system and if they can’t be fit together, then that’s that.
We had 64, 61, and then 30 the three years with no problems. Are we expecting to get much more than the 64 entries from the first year? If not that rule seems arbitrary and pointless and seems a problem waiting to happen.
runner2
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Donor | Luna - THE LOVE HAS BEEN DOUBLED!
Artist -
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

Public Relations
Libertatem Noctibus
Everyone is still ballparking some ideas. If you or anyone else wanted to make a single image with 2 OCs then go for it. The general idea was simply to have people with multiple OCs and opted for separate images for each to give them some priority in case of a large amount of submissions. It is certainly doubtful that there will be too many, but it was just an idea thrown around.
Just simply ask about something an never blindly assume or get upset about something unknown. Ask and get your concerns cleared up so everyone can also figure out how specific concerns can be addressed.
Our space concerns are only limited by the background’s scale for the most part. Characters can easily be scaled to fit in the final picture as long as the background allows for such scaling. (it would be weird to have smaller/larger characters then any sort of scenery in the image for instance)
Anonymous #397F
@runner2
I’m saying because, for example, we’ve had characters who are siblings before posed together in the previous 3 collabs and it never was a problem before, but now that wouldn’t be possible.
I just don’t think it’s a good idea that something that was fine all the previous years should be off the table especially when we have fewer people than in the past.
FeatherTrap
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Chatty Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
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Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

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Sir Boops-A-Lot
@Anonymous #397F
@UrbanMysticDee
Nothing is solid on that matter just yet, this is why I made a proposition instead of a demand, I suspected there might be reasonable objections to the suggestion.
The intent of the rule is to keep the number of individual entries from becoming overwhelming to the point where we can’t fit everything into the scene, not to prevent group entries.
How about this amendment:
If someone wishes to submit multiple of their own OCs in a single entry they can do so, as long as it balances out with the entry count.
Let me provide an example: Instead of listing individual entries as #1, #2 and #3, if someone wants to submit an entry with their pony and their sibling together and then another individual entry, they would be listed as #1 (siblings group entry) and #2 (individual) with no third entry.
If someone wants to submit one entry with three (or more) of their own OCs (let’s say an entry with their OC, their two siblings and their parents, five in total) that would be allowed on condition that it’s the only entry they make, with no additional individual entries.
I think that sounds like a fair and reasonable compromise that addresses these complaints, does anyone disagree?
FeatherTrap
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Chatty Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
A toast - Incredibly based
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Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

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Sir Boops-A-Lot
@DTavs.Exe
There should be plenty of space between the floor and the roof, minus the spot for the chandelier * so yes, some flying OCs would be allowed.
* Talking under the assumption that it will be Casino theme this year, since that one is firmly in the lead and everyone is already talking about what costumes they intend to wear in it. If it’s any other theme there will be even more airspace to fly in.
Twiface
Twilight Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
A toast - Incredibly based

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Princess of the Moon
@FeatherTrap
Should we place a limit on how many flying OCs we allow?
As in, ‘We’ll allow 10, 15, 20, etc. on a first-submitted, first-included basis?’
FeatherTrap
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Chatty Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
A toast - Incredibly based
Artist -
Liberty Belle - Sings the song of the unchained

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Sir Boops-A-Lot
@Twiface
Mmmmmmhm, I’d say we should approx. about 20…but really as long as the flyers fit the image and don’t clog up the background covering others, they should be fine.
Currently how I’m thinking of laying this out is:
Foreground: Flat Space, majority of ponies in “generic” poses will go here.
Near centre background: Gaming tables: roulette, poker, craps, blackjack etc.
Near - Mid Left side background: Slot machines
Near - Mid Right side background: bistro and bar
Mid - Far centre background: stage/burlesque show
Near top centre background: Chandelier from ceiling
So by that layout, fliers have to take into consideration the Chandelier and that they’re not blocking off ponies performing on the stage or sitting in the bistro or by the slots.
Unfortunately, this theme is the worst one out of all the available ones for fliers. All the others have a wide open sky they can fly around in, for this one they’re limited by a roof.
Twiface
Twilight Kirin - A user who has reached a combined 1000 forum posts or comments.
A toast - Incredibly based

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Princess of the Moon
@FeatherTrap
I’ll add a (tentative) rule about the flying characters limit
Regarding the layout, I think you have a good plan, but we don’t need to include a burlesque stage in the image itself, and we don’t even know how many people will submit characters dressed like that. I had imagined there might be a few such characters walking around for various reasons (either a show is about to begin or has just ended and they haven’t taken off their costumes yet, or they’ve been tasked with walking around in costume to entertain guests or to promote a show)
Also, have you considered adding a second floor/balcony area(s), if the room is going to be high enough for characters to fly? It could create more space for regularly posed ponies, especially ones who aren’t actively involved in the gambling/revelry
(And it would be cool if we had some drunk pony riding the chandelier like a swing)
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