When you think of the My Little Pony fandom, what do you think of? Do you think of a bunch of little girls who like unicorns and ponies? Or do you think of grown middle-aged men who are obsessed with the plot and lore? Coincidentally, the My Little Pony fandom is made up of both of those kinds of demographics and everything in between.
As a self-proclaimed brony, I have been into My Little Pony since the first episode’s release back in 2010. I remember sitting on the edge of my parent’s bed, watching the first episode’s premiere. My dad, who was hardly interested in my pony show, was dozing off in the back as I sat firmly on the edge. I remember it vividly, as something in me clicked that day. Little did I know that this would soon be my Roman Empire.
I enjoyed the show for many reasons. On a more juvenile level, I enjoyed the fantastical elements of unicorns, griffins, and dragons. On a more adult level, I think there’s something comforting about a world where harmony and equality are the standard, and evil and discourse aren’t the norm. Even if there is discourse, everyone in this world seems to value friendship and communication over fighting. This aspect in itself creates a cozy utopia, where you can escape and relax as these colorful ponies banish evil forces and make cupcakes afterward.
A lot of this is the reason I still enjoy the show to this day because there are even more mature themes that are tackled such as: disabilities & limitations, boundaries & respect, self-harm & forgiveness, trauma & trauma triggers, and so on. These elements create a dynamic relationship between the characters and the viewer, as anyone of any age can take whatever they want from the show itself. Younger viewers can appreciate the fun adventure, and older viewers can look a little deeper into the meaning of certain symbolisms or plot points.
As for the fandom of the show itself, that’s an entirely separate can of worms. If you’ve ever been on the internet and looked up things about bronies, there are so many things wrong with the fandom itself. Unfortunately, with everything that exists on the internet, there’s an overwhelming amount of over-sexualization, discrimination, sexism, and hatred. And whatever you do, please don’t look up “Rainbow dash jar”, you will regret it.
There is a racist side of the fandom predominately run by white individuals who believe this was a show intended for them and them alone. There are conservative and religious bronies who believe the show isn’t meant for LGBTQ+ individuals, and that they should stay out of the fandom. Some individuals oversexualize the idea of literal horses, and that’s pretty wild.
All of this is pretty ironic to me. There’s so much that’s fundamentally wrong with this, as many characters and scenes discuss diversity, inclusion, communication, and kindness. All while highlighting the negative consequences of exclusion, discrimination, and crossing boundaries. It’s almost as if they’ve never watched the show.
It also makes it uncomfortable for the viewers (including myself) who simply find the show nostalgic, warm, and lovely. This show has comforted me on the hardest of days, and I’ve probably seen each episode a billion times. I tend to find it hard to watch new things, as it sometimes can be overwhelming or anxiety-inducing when I’ve had a stressful day. I enjoy seeing the familiarity of the characters on screen, it’s almost like I’m still sitting there on the edge of my parent’s bed.
This show, for many people, evokes nostalgia. The first episode aired in 2010 and I was only 7 at the time. I’m now 20, and the show still makes me feel that unexplainable comfort that takes me back. Though, anytime I consider myself a brony to others I’ve gotten weird looks. I’ve had people tell me to grow up, or called me names for liking the show. There was a time when I stopped telling people how much I liked the show, but I was always confused as to why I had to pretend I didn’t like such a wholesome show.
For me, I think the phrase “Friendship is magic”, is a simple but applicable statement. This statement carried through for most of my life. In my eyes, my life is filled with love because of the people around me. My friends, family, and relationships make my life worthwhile. I don’t think I’d be here if it weren’t for the people who have come into my life throughout the years, and even if we stopped being friends at some point, the lessons they taught me are the reason I keep going.
However, it’s easier to say that from where I’m standing now. I’ve lost some really close people over the years, and each of those losses came with heartbreak. How could you not mourn the loss of a connection when you think so highly of the people you connect with?
I’ve even lost people I’ve considered to be my best friend, so much so that I stopped using the term “best friend”.
Freshman year of college I lost the most important person of all to me at the time, and it made me not want to make friends ever again. This person was my friend from 8th grade up until the start of college. This person knew everything about me, the good and the bad. We had the most beautiful, raw, and authentic friendship. I wanted this person to be my best man, I wanted this person to grow old with me. But I digress. To this day, I still haven’t gotten as close with anyone as I have this person. But that’s the end of that story. Things happen, people get hurt, and then one day they’re no longer around. It makes you wonder, “Do I even deserve friendship?”
I ended up finding comfort in the show during this time. Especially because there was a character going through a similar thing. This character’s name is Starlight Glimmer. She gets introduced as a villain, but she ends up becoming reformed. Starlight’s story is that she lost her childhood best friend when she was young. He left abruptly without any warning and didn’t keep in contact with her after he left. Since then, she’s never made another friend.
She blamed herself and thought she was unworthy of authentic friendships. So much so that she forced ponies into living in a secluded town Starlight was the mayor of and thought keeping them there and keeping them happy would make them not want to leave. She eventually gets reformed by the Princess of Friendship herself, Twilight Sparkle. Where she learns that friendships are something to work at, not force. That missing an old friend isn’t bad, it’s natural. Not only that, but losing a connection doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of connecting with, and it’s definitely not a reason to stop loving.
When I lost my best friend, I found comfort in Starlight. Especially because after she gets reformed, she still struggles with abandonment trauma throughout the show. She still worries about losing her friends, but she tries anyway. She ends up making a group of friends she never would have met if she had stayed a villain, and that was a comforting thought for someone in my situation.
As for me, I’m in a better place than I was in Freshman year. I now have a group of friends I never would have met if I stayed in my rut. I’m grateful for the connections I’ve made throughout college, and I hope to make more.
So, despite the weird online presence the brony fandom has, I think it’s important to remember that this is a cartoon about magical ponies and friendship. It’s important to know that this show is wholesome, lovely, and sweet. It also gives people hope when they’re unsure about the connections in their lives. When I say I’m a brony, this is exactly what I mean. So I don’t think I deserve weird looks for thinking a show about magical ponies is epic.
Image Credits: Luuandherdraws, Parcly-Taxel, 90Sigma on DeviantArt
