Why is "My Little Pony" so popular?

[Dango]

Because people make threads about it rather than read old ones, then the people who read the thread start watching it, and the cycle continues.

 

[Outcast107]

Well the problem is, to a lot of "bronies" if you don't like the show, you are immediately a hater because of it. I watched 5 episodes and still have no idea why its so popular, but bronies still say that I'm just hating on their show because I say I don't like it. It's like you can only appease them by saying you are an avid fan of the show, otherwise they spam you with MLP content which gets annoying very very quickly.

Minority I would believe. Every show has one and a few I could think of was the Flap Jack show. I hated that show and when I just said I don't like the show to a fan, I got call out of being a hater.

I doubt most people will care if you don't like the show as long as you don't go hating and insulting others. But since I wasn't there I can't really say. Though just in my opinion the ones I have seen are ok so far.

 

[Sewer Rat]

Because it's a meme...
Now there may be some people out there who actually enjoy the show, but I daresay most people with MLP avatars, sprays, furry porn etc are only showing of that shit because it is whats "in" on 4chan and the other deep recesses of the internet at the moment. Maybe I'm wrong, but all the bronys who I met were already obsessed with the internet culture and I daresay they would not have give a shit about MLP if it wasn't the current hot button on the internet.

Spoiler: I stay as far away from it as possible because of this... warning, adult language, and sick sick bastards behind this spoiler tag

 

[Fawcks]

It's like the "furry complex" but at least these people have the decency not to make crotchless fursuits and write incredibly awkward stories about it.

Although, the furry and MLP communities tend to have a large overlap.

I wonder why.

Bro.

You sound really sad.

So I'll ask you, for your own sake....

Let go of your hate, bro.

 

[Cain_Zeros]

Better question, why do we get this thread at least once a month? At this point, everyone who wants to know and hasn't just joined in the past month-ish should've already seen at least one and have their answer.

 

[Fanfic_warper]

Look, if you guys want to like this show, fine. It's your time and money. But I will never understand why all the obsessive culture around it.

yeah pretty much this....although I tried it out and found the show to be, what's the nice way to put it......


mind numbingly boring and stupid....if anyone considers this anime (and I know a few who do), it gives the rest a bad name.

 

[Erana]

Well the problem is, to a lot of "bronies" if you don't like the show, you are immediately a hater because of it. I watched 5 episodes and still have no idea why its so popular, but bronies still say that I'm just hating on their show because I say I don't like it. It's like you can only appease them by saying you are an avid fan of the show, otherwise they spam you with MLP content which gets annoying very very quickly.

Well, this comes down to the many people on the internet who confuse, "I didn't enjoy this" with "This is shit!"
I didn't enjoy Mass Effect, but I'm not going to try to argue that it really isn't as good as people say just because I for some reason couldn't get into one of the many great Bioware RPGs.

Really, though, if you don't have much to say about something or know you're not going to be able to get a decent discussion out of a topic, the best you can do is to not post. I mean, on any topic about games and art, many people seem to count anything I have to say as bullshit if I dare bring up the fact that I'm in a graduate program for fine art. It is very rare that I can find a good conversation on the matter that makes anyone involved consider new perspectives on the topic, so I simply keep my nose out of it.
Knowing when not to post is the key to Matrix badges and a happier posting experience in general.

 

[Neverhoodian]

A brony is a bro who likes My Little Pony.

Short answer: Because it's awesome. The franchise as a whole is mind-numbingly stupid; it consists of absolutely nothing more than cuteness for the sake of cuteness. But famed children's television creator Lauren Faust hates that most girls' entertainment is like that, and set out to turn My Little Pony into something that is both aimed at young girls and actually of a recognizable level of quality. The result is My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, a well-animated, well-acted, well-written, funny, creative, friggin' adorable, and just awesome show.

Long answer: Check out CR's retrospective. Part 1 is <url=http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/cr/ff/32418-episode-57-my-little-pony-retrospective-part-1>here, and <url=http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/cr/ff/32594-episode-58-my-little-pony-retrospective-g4>here's part 2. Part 1 is background on the whole show, so if you're just interested in why this new one is so popular and don't mind missing a few in-jokes from part 1, just watch part 2. It will explain it all.

Bolded for emphasis. CR does an excellent job explaining how this latest iteration of the show is different from the simplistic and overly saccharine versions that gave the franchise its "girly" stigma in the first place. Friendship is Magic has excellent animation, a genuinely likeable cast with their own distinct personalities, it teaches positive life lessons without coming across as preachy, and has all sorts of clever references from popular culture (and even internet memes):

Spoiler

Well the problem is, to a lot of "bronies" if you don't like the show, you are immediately a hater because of it. I watched 5 episodes and still have no idea why its so popular, but bronies still say that I'm just hating on their show because I say I don't like it. It's like you can only appease them by saying you are an avid fan of the show, otherwise they spam you with MLP content which gets annoying very very quickly.

Well you won't get any badgering from me. I might be a fan, but that doesn't stop me from realizing that the show isn't for everyone. At least you gave the show a chance, which is more than can be said for many of the ardent haters. I think some bronies and pegasisters need to realize that different people like different things and learn to live with that.

 

[Blindswordmaster]

It's a well written show with interesting female lead characters. That's rare in animation today.

 

[major_chaos]

I don't understand this either I mean people can like what ever they want, I don't care but the shows mass popularity baffles me, mainly I don't understand how people can enjoy a story with absolutely no tension or risk, you know that nothing bad is going to happen, there is only the most insignificant conflicts to resolve so what drives the story? second anyone who like the cast is insane every. single. one. has the most ANNOYING personalty that the mind can conceive
and a voice that induces violent rage and the desire to harm others. and then there is the entire premise making me angry as far as I understand we start of with a individual who is happy alone but get sent on a "mission" to make friends, at this point I turned to an empty room and said: "are. you. SERIOUS?" is the moral here relay suppose to be that she is better off surrounded by this bunch of ADD morons than alone doing what she loves? bah whatever I decided that people have odd tastes the first time I looked at a music top 40 list

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

REALLY????? AGAIN?????????????

For fucks sake, can we get one of these stickied please?

OT: Some people like it, some people don't and some people need to die in a car fire. It's not that great, it's not that bad, but the language and memes used by many of its hardcore fans are some of the most skin peeling, puppy raping, Nun molesting, boy scout flaying, irritating as fucking an anthill "Things" in existence.

Not all of the fans use then though.

 

[Unesh52]

EDIT: MLP also covers some pretty heavy subject matter in a way the children can understand. (Like religion and the Native American land abduction.)

Ha! Ah... sorry but that shit made me laugh. I love the show (I'm in the group and everything), but I would never go so far as to suggest that MLP deals with any thought provoking or what might be termed "serious" subject matter. Feeling Pinkie Keen was not about religious faith; it was about Pinkie Pie and slapstick. It wasn't intended to be about religion, and nothing could lead you to that conclusion except for the clumsily worded end scene moral. Faust herself even said she wished it had been different so people wouldn't make that leap. Similarly, suggesting that the Appaloosa episode is about westward expansion is to suggest that Resistance is about World War 2. It was just a backdrop to teach kids the real lesson, which was about compromise and sharing.

 

[Dorian6]

Because it's a cute show with fun characters, top-notch animation and slightly adult humor

 

[Leemaster777]

Because it's a meme...
Now there may be some people out there who actually enjoy the show, but I daresay most people with MLP avatars, sprays, furry porn etc are only showing of that shit because it is whats "in" on 4chan and the other deep recesses of the internet at the moment. Maybe I'm wrong, but all the bronys who I met were already obsessed with the internet culture and I daresay they would not have give a shit about MLP if it wasn't the current hot button on the internet.

Spoiler: I stay as far away from it as possible because of this... warning, adult language, and sick sick bastards behind this spoiler tag

I am sickened to my very core... but that was hilarious. Bravo sir.

OT: It's a good show, well animated, blah blah blah. I've said this over a dozen times, and read it FAR more than that. There isn't a single thing I can add to this topic that hasn't been covered a hundred times already.

 

[Dorian6]

EDIT: MLP also covers some pretty heavy subject matter in a way the children can understand. (Like religion and the Native American land abduction.)

Don't forget the "finally getting your period" episodes

Damn the cutey mark crusaders!

 

[lobster1077]

I bet that more than half the people who say they like it, have never actually seen it. They just say they like it because they think it's a cool thing to say. It's not. It's a cartoon about ponies. There's nothing cool or interesting about it and they all know it.

Sounds like you never asked for this. Ah hohoho. Really though nice opinion you have, love and tolerance and all that.

 

[Sneaky Paladin]

EDIT: MLP also covers some pretty heavy subject matter in a way the children can understand. (Like religion and the Native American land abduction.)

Don't forget the "finally getting your period" episodes

Damn the cutey mark crusaders!

You mean growing up and figuring out what you finally want to do with your life? Because that and a period are two very different things I think you should know...

 

[Mcupobob]

Why is anything popular? Because It just is.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Just thought I'd add this, Will Hodgson, a stand up on the UK scene, was a MLP fan back at school in the 90s, back when it was all new, and he does talk about it on stage, tho some may need a translator:


I think being a pro-gay, communist, skinhead, ex wrestler MLP fan makes for an interesting conversation...