Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26305337-20160627170209/@comment-27701762-20160627223348

Most of these connections have to do with numbers: there are six of some particular thing in one case, and six of some other thing in another, or eight, or seven. But the numbers don't really add up.

There are eight human souls in total, seven specifically needed to destroy the barrier (which is why the number seven is so important), and who knows how many monster souls. In turn there are seven unique traits, with the seventh one being presumed to be (though not known to be) determination. The "six" doesn't really work here.

As for eight main characters, in Undertale "main characters" include:

1) The Protagonist

2) Flowey/Asriel

3) Toriel

4) Sans

5) Papyrus

6) Undyne

7) Alphys

8) Mettaton

9) Asgore

10) Chara

Equating the human souls to main characters in another medium doesn't make sense: if we are going to equate two things, they should be similar things.

Love is certainly important in Undertale, but I'm presuming in a very different way. Love, after all, is also used in the form of an anagram to represent the willingness of a person to inflict harm upon one another. I do not watch MLP, but I'm guessing that this inversion doesn't occur. Love is an important theme in many works because love is an important concept of human existence. We should not be hasty in attributing inspiration simply because of similarity of fairly common themes.

I don't know what Toby's specific interests are. However, if you wish to find some connection to MLP, or any other show/book/movie, you should begin with more clear and direct references, then build up from there.