If you type the phrase “why do boys like” into Google’s search engine, one of the first suggestions to appear is “why do boys like ‘My Little Pony.’”
Google’s search suggestions are based off popular queries by users, so clearly this is a question gnawing at the public consciousness.
It’s probably a reaction to the cartoon, “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic,” which has amassed a colossal online following of college-aged males despite its saccharine subject matter.
These older fans call themselves “bronies.” Chances are many readers have been made aware of their existence already, either by one of the tens of thousands of pony-related videos on YouTube or via message boards.
But back to the original question: Why are people, especially grown men, drawn to a show marketed toward preadolescent girls?
“Friendship is Magic” is a cartoon about candy-colored ponies learning about friendship. They occasionally break out into song, but they mostly just trot around “Ponyville” looking adorable.
A typical episode focuses on ponies overcoming their flaws or discovering something about themselves. The lessons range from basic grade-school etiquette — sharing is caring — to stuff that even adults need to be reminded of — the most recent episode emphasized the importance of remembering where you came from.
Behind the show is a talented team of animators, voice actors and writers. For example, Lauren Faust, the executive producer of season one, was responsible for the brilliant “Powerpuff Girls” cartoon you won’t admit you watched.
I doubt more praise of the show’s talent or further elucidation of its premise will help readers to understand, so I’ll just skip to why so many people outside the little-girl demographic — myself included — find the formula so irresistible.
My generation was raised on cartoons, so animated shows in general hold a very special place in my heart. This is especially true today, when the overall quality of cartoons has plummeted.
“Friendship is Magic” proved to me with funny writing, good music and lively animation that the medium isn’t dead. It brought back my childhood, when I would spring out of bed on Saturdays to watch a new episode.
Another appealing aspect of the show is its brightness and authenticity. The show takes its subject matter to heart, resisting cynicism and producing a sincere, positive vibe. As someone who is easily discouraged and pessimistic by nature, I find the weekly injection of colorful ponies quite healthy. In a culture of negativity, this cheerful spirit is just what many people sorely need.
Those are just two reasons, but I feel they encompass the majority of what most people my age adore about the cartoon.
As silly as it might sound to students who still have no idea what I’m talking about, I’ve heard “Friendship is Magic” helped some viewers through depression and others to become friendlier people.
Now that readers know why grown men watch a show about cute ponies, I suggest they try it out for themselves to see if they like it for the same reasons so many others do. For starters, I recommend Episode 3 of Season 1.
And guys, if you aren’t secure enough with your sexuality to give the show a quick watch, remember: I’m a guy, and I wrote about it in the college newspaper.
Steven Zoeller is a journalism sophomore.
The Oklahoma Daily is pleased to provide you the opportunity to share your thoughts about this article. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or straying from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of OUDaily.com. Thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Log in | Register
CrazedGeek 5 months, 3 weeks ago
And if, after watching the show, you have an insatiable need to talk about it with other OU students... we meet here: http://www.okcbronies.com :)
TheFleaman 5 months, 3 weeks ago
I will watch it.
OUBronyGS 5 months, 3 weeks ago
I'll admit that I'm a brony who goes to this school. Steven here hits it right on the mark. The show is honest. When I first heard about it last spring I thought it was all just a joke. I mean "Males liking a show for little girls?" Turns out the show show's creator, Lauren Faust, created it with not just the children, but the adult parents in mind as well. I hope you won't just take my or Steven's word on it and will watch a show before judging. Hasbro has been really understanding and pretty much let us upload all of the episodes on youtube, so you can watch as many as you'd like to. I mean, what's the worst that can happen about watching an episode? You learn a lesson about friendship? Doesn't sound like a loss to me.
brett6781 5 months, 3 weeks ago
You may be wondering why it is that a Senior guy in highschool is a fan of a show made for little children, for that I call on the infinite wisdom of Know Your Meme and a collage Psychology professor who also happens to be a brony.
http://knowyourmeme.com/videos/13130-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic
My Little Pony Research Presentation by FillyFilmFeatures
I've been a Brony since the middle of July, I'm a New Lunar Republican, I can sing Winter Wrap Up in it's entirety, and Fluttershy = best pony. I've downloaded and watched every episode at least 4 times, My music library is filled with 400 songs all based on remixes of show songs done by amazing artists like DJ Alex S. & Eurobeat Brony. I have a file of pictures almost 3 gigs in size, and I now have 1252 bronies in my Google Plus circles...
This may all seem crazy to you, but it's for a reason, three actually.
first is that the show it's self is amazing. Don't believe me? watch this: http://goo.gl/UNLJM
The show's animation is visually stunning, it's on par with a lot of anime and other forms of high art cartoon series. The voice acting is top notch, they hired people perfect for the roles like Tara Strong who also voices character like Ayng in The Last Air Bender, Harley Quinn in Arkham City, and Raven in Teen Titans. The story lines are anything but sugarcoated, having deep and complex plot lines. The Characterizations are much deeper than superficial plot devices. Ans the biggest reason show wise is cause the senior producer, Lauren Faust, was also the creative genius behind shows like Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, Code name Kids Next Door, Power Puff Girls, Johnny Bravo, and she was the head of animation for the Classic Iron Giant.
The second reason is the fan art, music, fiction, and videos. All of which are of excellent quality, just look: http://www.equestriadaily.com/
The Herd has captured (infected is a better word there) the minds of some of the best deviant art artists, Soundcloud Musicians, and Youtubers. the amount of fan made content is staggering, it has the largest amount of fan made content of any other domestic cartoon series ever according to research done by know your meme.
The third and, at least for me, most important reason is because of the community. I mentioned that I have well over 1000 people in my bronies circles on Google Plus, this is cause these people are some of the funniest, most uplifting, caring, and all around excellent ponies you'll never see face to face. They make artwork, manage websites, create music, develop programs, film videos, and share good times as if they were being paid to. They helped me out of a jam, made me laugh, cry, scream, rage, and scare myself half to death. And for all that I am Thankful.
These are the reasons I'm a brony, I invite you to join us along for the ever growing ride, and if not... well... http://goo.gl/CaoZX
TL;DR:
GO BACK AND READ IT
TheGeekProfessor 5 months, 3 weeks ago
I happen to be a "brony" though I'm actually in my 30's. As a long time watcher and fan of animations of all kinds, it would have been more strange than not for me NOT to like this show.
As a matter of fact, I think MOST adults watch childrens' shows regularly. For example: Adventure Time, Phineas and Ferb, etc. Many of these shows are just excellent.
But to the question of the day, why My Little Pony? I have written a very detailed answer to this question here: http://www.thegeekprofessor.com/why-i-am-a-brony-a-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-fan/
I hope, if you're interested, that the above link answers many of your questions.
daedalus 5 months, 3 weeks ago
That's cool, bro. The problem I've seen with most people having issues with "bronies" isn't that they watch the show, it's that bronies can't keep it separate from their other interests. Whether it be video games, online forums, or often times real life activities, they'll find some way to incorporate My Little Pony into it. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you guys found a show you like, I enjoy many cartoons also, but at the same time, I also keep it to myself.
kdbp1213 5 months, 3 weeks ago
phineas and ferb are awesome.
i'd like to see a cage match between perry the platypus and those damn penguins from the madagascar movies.......... perry would kick a$$............... those penguins are so smug.
skyworthy 1 week, 2 days ago
Just about to graduate! I hope there's a meet up group at OU for bronies :)