While you still may be processing the title of the article, I am here to inform you on the "Bronies" phenomenon. Bronies are male fans of the Hub Network's TV series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (a show based on pony dolls marketed to young girls). Majority of people are familiar with the pony toy sets while only few may know of the My Little Pony television series, initially aired in 2010. While the show was intended for a young audience, there has been a strong following among grown men.
Luke Allen, one of the My Little Pony fanboys expresses his obsession in greater detail via email with Wired.com: “First we can't believe this show is so good, then we can't believe we've become fans for life, then we can't believe we're walking down the pink aisle at Toys R Us or asking for the girl's toy in our Happy Meal."
This phenomenon has escalated in the last three years. Last February marked the 3rd annual Ponycon convention which took place over the three-day Valentine's Day weekend. Over 1,000 fans attended the convention, filled with endless activities and experiences. From games and workshops to panels and sneak peak animation, fans mingled and celebrated with others in the pony-loving community. Bronies were said to have made up about 75% of the fans—the rest were families.
Here are a few photos from last year's Ponycon:
While this convention may be reasonable in regards to families, why is there a strange obsession trending with the older male population?
“While there are certainly groups of Bronies who have a sexual or perverse outlook on the story, a lot of Bronies would be quick to tell you that's not the approach the whole fandom takes," writes Jill O'Rourke of Crushable. Outside of the inappropriate memes or YouTube videos, Bronies engage in the overall message of the show: friendship and working together to solve problems.
Bill Crumlic, operations manager of the TV series, explains further: “Many of us also like 'Family Guy' and 'The Simpsons,' but with My Little Pony there is no need for the humor to be on the edge. It is innocent yet still very clever with references that older people will get. They are not harmful or offensive in their humor."
The show's production team fully supports the Bronies and relies on the fan base for free publicity, whether it's through chat rooms or public forums. If this sparks your interest and you would love to learn more, take a look at the Netflix documentary, Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony.
