“I used to wonder what friendship could beUntil you all shared its magic with me.”
Thus begins the opening theme song of one of the most popular cartoons currently airing on television: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Created by Lauren Faust, whose credits include The Powerpuff Girls and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, this revamp of the popular 80s toy brand has been sweeping the nation. Set in the magical land of Equestria, a purple unicorn named Twilight Sparkle, a student of Princess Celestia, has traveled to the quaint town of Ponyville to learn about the magic of friendship.
Why am I telling you this? Because, despite this show being meant for little girls, this show is really good. The animation is superb, every single character is complex and interesting to watch, and the plots are full of adventure and heart.
And I’m not the only person above the age of six who loves it.
Across the globe, a mob of heterosexual, older men have discovered the show. Calling themselves “bronies” these super fans have dedicated hours of time to appreciating the show, writing blog posts about it, making fan art and YouTube videos, and composing songs inspired by the show. They gather at conventions such as BronyCon to meet other fans. Besides loving My Little Pony, these men are just normal guys, living normal lives.
Why is this so weird to us? It’s not because My Little Pony is animated; a lot of men have shared their love for Disney films such as Wreck it Ralph. It’s not because the show is meant for children; a lot of adult men still play video games. I think the concept of “bronies” is so strange to us because of how feminine the show is.
My Little Pony features candy colored horses in a magical land and speak in dialogue that is sometimes too sugary-sweet and corny. But can a man still be masculine if he genuinely enjoys watching a show about magical candy-colored horses? Does it insult his manhood if he cries while watching a shy Pegasus pony named Fluttershy finally conquer her fear of flying in front of others?
Bronies don’t love the show despite its femininity, but instead embrace the femininity and love the show anyway. In fact, one of the most loved episodes of the show, called “Suited for Success”, has probably one of the most “girly” plots out of the entire series. The entirety of the 22 minutes involves Rarity, fashion designer pony, making dresses for all of her friends. But this seemingly girly plot is incredibly dense: the audience learns about how difficult it is to be a struggling artist, how heartbreaking it is when friends take advantage of each other, and are given a treat of spectacular animation and voice acting.
Over winter break, I introduced my father, a straight, middle-aged man, to the show, showing him a few of my favorite episodes on my computer. Though taken aback at first, he now loves the show. He even watches new episodes every week and texts me with his opinions about them. I want to say that I was surprised by his enjoyment of the series and investment in the characters, but honestly, I’m not.
Take it from my dad: My Little Pony is just too good of a show, and anybody, regardless of age or gender, will find something about it to appreciate.
[Photo Sources: blog.peterfrisman.com herogamesworld.com]