Time really flies, doesn't it? On July 22, 2011, I began watching Season 1 for the first time, starting with the pilot and plowing through to The Best Night Ever. The show got me hooked. Fluttershy became my instant favorite of the entire series, a spot no one else took. Not only did I stick with FIM for the rest of its run, but also its successor.

Seth over at EQD posted a nice question celebrating this occasion, and I have something to say:

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Do you think Hasbro ever would have been confident enough to launch their 5th generation of this brand with a big movie if G4 turned out to be the 2 season and done concept they envisioned way back when it was first under construction?

Hell, no! You wouldn't produce nine seasons without feeling confident folks would watch it, stick to it, and buy merch (either for themselves or for their kids). Nine seasons is nothing to sneeze at, especially when consistently maintaining good quality. Bronydom itself made a gigantic impact on ANG and the introduction of both Izzy and Sunny.

In addition, FIM is vital to the growth of WildBrain (previously DHX) and western animation altogether. This show and Adventure Time began western animation's equivalent of the Revival Era, and that impact spread to several other shows, such as Thomas & Friends for a five-year span, Owl House, the DuckTales reboot, Gravity Falls, She-Ra, Hilda, Steven U, and so many more. ANG demonstrates its willfulness to enter that plethora.

Each of the Mane Eight (the Mane Six, Spike, and Starlight) left a magical impact on the show and its growth. G4 proves that making a proudly feminine and feminist show is worthwhile to multiple demographics, leaving G5 open to future success of its own.

Thank you, FIM. Thanks to you, I can't wait for what G5 has in store.