Is it the same anymore?

[Banul 3,831]

People are talking about how some pony content creators are changing their name and no longer doing pony things. Consider this. I think some of these people are trying to move on and start an actual career, and ponies can't really get them there. They probably feel that they need to start producing non derivative content. It doesn't mean the fandom is on the decline, fresh folks will always take their place. There must always be pony fan art.

[Shift 4,272]

I'll be honest; the only reason why most people think S1 is the best / the fandom isn't as good as it used to be is because it's the one they started with and it's full of nostalgia.

 

We still have outstanding art, fanfiction, and music. Pinkie Pride, Maud Pie, Twilight's Kingdom, and Rarity Takes Manehatten are, IMO, some of the best episodes in the series. Take off your nostalgia glasses and look around. 

 

Also, fandoms change. We have new art, new fanfiction, new music, etc. Fandoms need to change. Stop looking back on the past and look towards the future.

Edited June 19, 2014 by A Shift Makusu2

[Argumedies 1,748]

Change happens....

 

Good or bad... who's to say. Depends on your prospective.

 

Is the show perfect?... no

 

Well it all come to an end?... most definitely

 

As for myself this story will forever have a place in me no matter what path it takes for it was the journey in between that's made it all worth while

Edited June 19, 2014 by Argumedies

[Freewave 1,145]

Well things have changed quite a bit. I am pretty saddened at how the music community has shapened out. As said most of the well knowns are moving away from MLP music (and many times expecting that their audience will follow them out the door) a few up and comers are being welcomed. A lot of pino and poorly made music does make it harder to find the gems out there and its not much of a community when its all a bunch of cliques and independents.  

 

I will say despite the shorteneed and weakened season 3 I think that season 4 has been pretty solid. If anything the fandom's utter self awareness and just massive size is the daunting thing. I do wish it was less about people trying to make careers out of the fandom and more about people doing it for the love of making fannon. When money became part of the equations thats when a lot of the innocence and enthusiasm was lost.

 

Just because it doesn't feel the same doesn't mean it's worth giving up though.

[ReverseFaller 2,483]

I'm not sure if it's the same as it originally was. I didn't start watching the show until the season 3-4 hiatus. I really can't compare how things are now to how they were then since I didn't even know bronies existed back in 2011. I'd like to hope that things are either the same, or better. The fandom seems to be going strong, so that's good.

Edited June 19, 2014 by Mikami

[~Sylveon~ 188]

I did. Season 5 is fantastic. 

 

Nowhere near Season 6, though, you've got to agree with me on that.

Anyway, yes, I believe it is the same. I've been loving the show since early 2012. If anything, it's gotten even better lately- Season 4 is really good, like, I'm not even kidding. It's even better then S1 and S2 combined into a blender of goodness. That makes no sense, but it does to me.

Maybe you're just phasing out for a bit. Let it happen. Don't force yourself on the show. 

[AnonBrony 1,468]

I haven't seen a single episode after Ep. 5 from Season 4 yet (Hasbro preventing uploading of episodes onto YouTube again stopped me), has it improved since then? 

 

 

Many episodes are still somewhere on youtube. If not I know for a fact they are on dailymotion. Just because some of the eps get taken down doesn't mean they all do. And A LOT of people upload the episodes. And like I said they are all on dailymotion as well since Hasbro hasn't even touched that site. Go Watch Season 4 man it's great. And Season 5 was just announced. We are expecting it sometime in the fall or winter.

Edited June 19, 2014 by AnonBrony

[Mae Borowski 356]

Hmm, maybe it's just the motivation to keep up with you guys since the release of the Season 3 finale has got to me. Maybe I'm just misconceiving the fandom and probably need to start creating visual art again to get back in the game. Thanks

 

 

EDIT: I haven't seen a single episode after Ep. 5 from Season 4 yet (Hasbro preventing uploading of episodes onto YouTube again stopped me), has it improved since then? 

you can find episodes here from 1-5 granted not top quality but episodes nonethe less... its what i use to bide my time waiting for season 5...http://www.animeflavor.com/node/24985

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

I feel like the show has really reached it's climax. As much as I would hope to see new seasons, I think they should stop at Season 5 before they stretch the show out beyond it's limit here. 

It's already bad enough that people have left the fandom after season 3 because they can't seem to adapt to change. Sooner or later, they are going to run low on life lessons and actual ideas for successful episodes. So far all I have seen this season do is tear down our protagonists.  I just didn't find myself appealed to some of the episodes like I used to!   
Now it seems that watching it feels more like a chore than an personal enjoyment. Don't get me wrong, I will see this show to the end, and will always love ponies. For the first time in my life, i'm actually worried about what their going to do to the show.   

Edited June 19, 2014 by Princess PeachBlink

[Keen Blade 64]

I wouldn't say it's changed negatively. Fanwork of all varieties continues to be produced in massive quantities, and if this forum, twitter, reddit, facebook, and the many, many other brony sites and messageboards I've discovered are any indication, people show no sign of letting up on their pony fixation.

 

Most importantly, the show continues to be a blast and only shows signs of continually improving. The people at DHX never cease to surprise me with how they find new, and natural directions to take things.

 

There's a lot more to discuss regarding this, but to put it briefly,  I think we'll be here for a while yet to come, one way or another. And if you feel like something is missing, the best thing to do is to fill that niche yourself, if your interests and abilities so incline you. Go be that awesome musician/fanfic-writer/artist/video-maker! Don't let what others are doing- or what you think they are doing- diminish your own enthusiasm. Focus on how much you enjoy the show or the fandom or what have you, and act according to your own goals and desires. Go share that with likeminded people and don't worry.

 

One day, one way or another, you won't be as focused as you are right now- and that's not a bad thing in itself. The good you've found will always exist. All of this will always matter, no matter where it all goes. Learn from the best things you've discovered and take that into the rest of your life, let it fuel your enthusiasm for ever more new, wonderful things.

Edited June 19, 2014 by Keen Blade

[otaku4242 183]

the fandom has gotten better!



I mean come on, the show is amazing, we got a word entered into the dictionary, and we've raised HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, if not MILLIONS of dollars of charity.



no, its not the same anymore, because its so much greater!

[agigantorllama 258]

After some quick searching I have found that Daily Motion is an excellent source for providing episodes. I just got through catching up on the Manehattan and Apple Pie episode and I HAVE to say they really picked the pace back.

 

Sure, I may be looking too much back at the past, but it really is sad to see some popular artists changing aliases and forgetting the fandom. However, I care more for the show than the community. It really is great to see Hasbro has got it together in Season 4.

 

Thank you motivational peoples of MLP Forums

[Nerdy Luigi 2,065]

Very much so.

 

The artists produce some neat music still (never have been the biggest fan of brony music, other than MandoPony, if that really counts.)

The show? Last season had the best episode of MLP. EVER. Sure it had a lot of flops (Power Ponies, MAUD PIE), but it had it's great episodes (Inspiration Manifestation, Castle-Maneia).

 

Until they release Equestria Girls 7: Return of the Prom Queen (Yeah, it may come to that), there's no chance I'll leave. Unless Rule 34 and shipping of ponies become the whole definition of being a brony. Then I'm REALLY out of this fandom. (Still watching the show though).

 

 

[MadPointer 75]

Let’s have a closer look at MLP Forum members who logged in in the past 3 months. The most relevant information is the date they joined the forums.

MLP Forum (members joining during...)

S2     | 6%

Hiatus | 6%

S3     | 6%

Hiatus | 22%

S4     | 52%

Hiatus | 8%

This means that 81% of currently active members joined the forums after Season 3. Having looked at the MLP Forums timeline(check out this thread for some charts), it became clear that the number of active members right now is about same as it was at the end of Season 3.
Conclusion: 81% of old-timers left the forums and their place took new members.

 

Now, let’s have a look at Brony Census 2013. This survey took place in January 2013. It was a time before Twilicorn, EqG, C&D and etc were in the picture. Season 3 had already started and while some people were underwhelmed, they had remained seated by the time the survey took place.

Brony Census 2013 (When did you become a brony?)

S1     | 25%

Hiatus | 27%

S2     | 30%

Hiatus | 15%

S3     |  2%

53% respondents become brony before Season 2 started. It should be noted that a year before(2012) 9,015 bronies took part in the survey and this time around the number of bronies doubled(actually it’s 2.4 times bigger), resulting in 21,637 respondents in 2013.
Conclusion: before 2013 old-timers rarely leave the fandom and their share in the fandom decreased mostly due to the fact that the the fandom itself had been rapidly expanding. 2012 was a good year for the fandom overall.

 

Brony Census 2014 expanded its reach by allowing to take the survey in 8 languages which increased the number of foreign bronies. However the total number of participants(21,868) only marginally increased comparing to the last year turnout(21,637 in 2013). Also, Brony Census 2014 started accepting incomplete responses which were abandoned which before being completed. If incomplete responses were eliminated, there would be only 16,395 participants in 2014.
Conclusion: Brony Census 2014 showed a drop in turnout by 24% compared to the year before and it doesn’t even factor in the boost from foreign bronies which means that the drop might be even bigger.

 

After completing the main survey, people were offered to take a personality test.
2013: 18,542 (85.7% of all participants) opted to take the test.
2014: 9,803 (45% of all participants) opted to take the test.
It appears that the number of people who appreciate science went down over a year. It comes as no surprise that Twilight Sparkle experienced the most significant drop in popularity according to Brony Census. She lost a third(in absolute numbers) of her fans during 2013.

 

As of right now the number of people leaving the fandom outnumbers people joining it(see charts). It look like the boost from Season 4 was not able to reverse the downward trend but it might be still too early to tell. The fandom needs another boost even before Season 5 starts if it’s desirable to increase numbers. Eventually the fandom will stop bleeding members and survivors will be more resilient to whatever future holds. However it might affect their enthusiasm toward ponies and willingness to create pony related context. They might instead focus on socializing with their fellow bronies even if the topics they’re discussing aren’t pony related.

 

It’s difficult for me to get reading on how much content is created because it’s spread out on  YouTube and DeviantArt. And I definitely cannot measure whether its quality improves or not.
The only one I could get is from Know Your Meme.

 

Edited June 24, 2014 by MadPointer

[Deathstroke 1,564]

What's not the same anymore? The show? the fandom? The forums? Be more specific 

Edited June 24, 2014 by Saudi brony

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,302]

I got into the show and joined the fandom proper somewhat recently, so I can't really compare the fandom's past to the fandom's present.  But the show itself (with the exception of a hiccup or two - *cough* season 3 finale *cough cough*) seems to be getting better.  I've only seen seasons 1-3 because I prefer to buy and watch the DVDs.  Rainbow Dash Season 1 lured me in.  Season 2 developed my favorite pony (who was already awesome to begin with).  Season 3 saw the development in season 2 really come to fruition...  I guess if your focal point is a specific character, it helps to appreciate it more / stick with the program.  I watched as many as 8 episodes in a row, at one point; I devoured it.  I need more.  I'll be satiating my semi-newfound pony-related enthusiasm with whatever I can get my hands on.  Comics, figures, vectors / fan arts, shirts...  The whole kit and kaboodle.  I shine my fervor upon thee!! xD

[Jeric 46,851]

@MadPointer your conclusions/hypothesis for the future do mirror what I witnessed in the Star Wars fandom post Episode III. The slide actually started after the second prequel film. The fan forum activity became centered around general media and non SW based conversation for a long while. Instead of it feeling like a SW centric site, it felt more organic. Even with an influx of new users thanks to the Disney buyout ... it still maintains that feel. That is what I eventually expect from this fandom.

 

Funny thing is, it was during that time that I got to know the users better as individuals and formed long term friendships. So for the casual fan who isn't a con goer or active in other aspects of the Brony Community today, this could be a great thing for them.

 

BTW, love the data.

[WunderWaffen_ 165]

Amigo, I believe the change is within you. People have probably said this many times over. But I think that you have taken a second look at the show, and not liked what you saw. I still love all the artwork and music being created daily. I see it arrive on my Equestria Daily newsfeed, and Its just another EPIC creation from the fans, Maybe you have seen so much good artwork, That the average stuff, barely fills your excitement. Maybe you have heard so much good music, You no longer appreciate the average stuff. I believe we are still going strong. Season 5 Just around the corner, That will bring you back to life.

[The Gasper 48]

...Season 1 (especially more than 2) and 2 seemed to be much better than the new stuff...

 

Yes. There was something about Seasons 1 and 2 (especially 1) that the later ones missed, largely because we came in and begged Hasbro to change it to our format instead of the beautiful children's show it once was.

[Celli 4,338]

I'd say it's changed. Not necessarily in a bad way, though.

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

I don't think it has changed all that much. Artists can't stay in one area all the time. They have to try new stuff. In short while there might not be the same enthusiasm as MLP has become more mainstream i do not believe it has done anything wrong or deteriorated.

[KoGy 187]

I take back my earlier opinion.
It was made in bad emotional states.

 

People are people in general.
The fandom is pretty much the same since it exists.
It's just way bigger now that in the early days.

[Plonkett 345]

I hope the fandom won't change for the worst because of copywright laws.

[Splashee 28,563]

On 6/18/2014 at 9:58 PM, agigantorllama said:

Way back in 2011/2012 (2-3 years ago?!), the community and show was in an outstanding position. Beautiful music was produced by amazing artists, art was created by amazing artists, episodes were rolled out in greater quality. YouTube offered all the episodes you could possibly ask for.

 

Now, artists are changing aliases to non-MLP related names. The population is moving away from the fandom, the series. Looking back at the older episodes and content created long ago, it was a breath of fresh air to me. Now, it kind of seems like Hasbro is doing whatever they can to keep the show alive. I wish they'd never tried to appeal only to the fandom, that's why Season 1 (especially more than 2) and 2 seemed to be much better than the new stuff. 

 

Anyway, there is a big question I have for the community of MLP - has the game changed negatively? Do you remember back when the fandom seemed to be more alive, or am I just naturally moving away from the show?

 

edit: i have no means to create this post in a disrespectful manner, i just need some constructive criticism to get me back into the community after a hiatus, thank you

I think the people that grew tired of FIM still took away what they learned from the experience. They didn't just remove the Rainbow Dash avatars because they started hating the show. They just grew tired if it and moved on to more up to date stuff like FNAF, Steven Universe, Undertale, and Fortnite