Why do we find ponies soooo cute?

[Captial M 39]

Seriously, guys, why we like so much ponykind?

We love them, but in which manner? Is the simple shape? Or the hyper-detailed manes? Or their kindness and personality? Is so many things that I can't even realize which one is.

The large eyes, their noses, and their hair.

[Lucky Star 972]

Squishy hooves, colors, hairstyle, voice, cute personality, pretty big eyes, that's about it for me personally. 

 

They're just cute to look at, especially Pinkie Pie. 

 

Pinkie sure is cute 

 

 

 

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off topic, but is the character in your sig from Blood Honey?

just reply and slip in a yes or a no at the end.

[Moonlight 7,288]

Pinkie sure is cute 

 

 

 

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off topic, but is the character in your sig from Blood Honey?

just reply and slip in a yes or a no at the end.

 

 

Agreed,

 

 

and no, he's from Black Butler, the character from Blood Honey does look like him though lol.

[~Sassy Dashie~ 712]

Their big eyes, simple yet adorable faces, their voices, and how they each have their own unique personality that always is adorable.

 

They are ponies.  What can I say?

[Justin_Case001 4,907]

Cuteness is an interesting trait.  If you keep increasing it, eventually it will reach this apex where it will then sort of invert polarity and go from being good cute to just downright nausiating.  I think that FIM has perfectly demonstrated the absolute zenith of ideal cuteness before it starts to invert.  It is my belief that nothing can ever be cuter than these ponies.  If you add one miligram, one milileter, whatever the unit of measure of cuteness is, one tiny iota more, it will invert and they would become overly cute to the point of being creepy and nausiating.  (I believe this was part of the problem with G3.)

 

Personality also has a lot to do with it.  I think a big reason that these characters are so utterly endearing is that they have lovable personalities, while at the same time being dynamic and complex.  They are also not portrayed as immature or stupid.  I would never have stuck around if they just seemed cute and bubbly to the point of being empty, devoid of real personality.  (Again, G3.)  Part of the appeal is that they have personality traits that we can all strive for.  We should all be as confident as Rainbow, as kind as Fluttershy, as honest as AJ, as generous as Rarity.  We should all find so much joy and laughter in everyday life as Pinkie.  And we all have the potential to be as smart as Twilight.  This depth makes them...irresistable.

[Not_active 732]

I, for one, love their ears You can see those small movements that their ears make when they move their heads, and it's just amazingly cute when you think about it. I love all these small visual details the producers put in the show, they do more than you would think

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

There is an article on another site who broke this down to a science but unfortunately I will refrain from linking them because I don't like their politics. :okiedokielokie:

 

The basic thing is that ponies are engineered to be cute. There is a specific formula for cute.

 

The designs are rounded and smooth rather than angular and jagged, they have enlarged, chubby facial features and appendages, their faces have much more eye than mouth or nose, and the mixing of bright pastel and bold colors just cap it off. All of it is thankfully done in moderation to keep it easier on the eyes than most else.

 

The writing just adds to it. These are lovable, relatable personalities that we want to see succeed, and thus the investment is doubled :comeatus: when we have characters that are not only well-designed, but well-written.

 

In line with earlier posts, there is a threshold where you can overdo it, and thankfully MLP waters that down with both the humor and seriousness in its writing and "awesomeness" in their designs (such as not overtly deforming the proportions, and giving them angular eyebrows).

Edited November 17, 2014 by Wind Chaser

[Radiance64 7,053]

Good character design goes a long way, and the characters of FiM are designed to be cute. I think they look cool too, personally. Cool & cute.

[Zygen 6,066]

A combination of many things really, between the facial expressions, eyes, ears, mouth, nose, colorful fur and tails, adorable hooves, mane.

 

What isn't cute about them?

 

I think the probably primary parts are the facial expressions, combined with the overall appearance. 

[MONO 202]

Seriously, guys, why we like so much ponykind?

We love them, but in which manner? Is the simple shape? Or the hyper-detailed manes? Or their kindness and personality? Is so many things that I can't even realize which one is.

*chuckles* Who says men cannot appreciate cute things?

 

The design was intended to be cute, and so therefore we find it cute. Faust did a good job and succeeded in designing the characters to be appealing. There we go!

[Oblivion 20,271]

*chuckles* Who says men cannot appreciate cute things?

 

The design was intended to be cute, and so therefore we find it cute. Faust did a good job and succeeded in designing the characters to be appealing. There we go!

Exactly, Faust actually did an amazing job on this latest gen, the older gens IMO had next to no appeal at all other than their specified age demographics, but I truly believe that Faust had made gen four to be enjoyed by, everyone, young or old.

[ShintX 180]

I just think its a fun show on its own premise

To see and watch what happens in each episode. Its just cozy ^^

[Aurorah 5]

Because coincidentally people who ended up being bronies like things that are girly.

[Celeryjack 71]

Big eyes, colors, fuzz, cuteness.

They are made to be cute, and when you get a professional like Lauren to make it happen... it gets too cute (?) and even boys like it.

[Kapitan zur See Hans (Daz) 883]

Because coincidentally people who ended up being bronies like things that are girly.

Nothing wrong with that, I love things that are girly as well as stuff that guys like, but I'm not like some stereotype where I am just some prissy guy that acts like a girl that has been imposed by society.

[Celli 4,339]

I think it's the big eyes, and the pudgy bodies, and in some people's idea, you know what? I'm not going to say it. But I think it's the eyes, mostly. 

Oh, and some artists are really good at making really cute looking ponies.

[Looking Glass 197]

Steven Jay Gould's essay on the cuteness of Mickey Mouse is worth a read. Gould was a highly influential evolutionary biologist, and commonly wrote articles on popular science like this. A quote from the essay:

 

 

 

Gould also notes that although Mickey's snout is the same length now as when he was first drawn, the snout has become fatter making it seem less long.

 

The ponies have been drawn in such a way to achieve maximum possible cuteness. Compared to normal horses they have:

 

• large head size to body size ratio
• small snouts
• large eyes

These features are practically lifted straight out of Gould's essay and transplanted into MLP:FIM. Add the bright colours, fancy hairstyles and feminine voices and we're hooked!

Exactly, in fact most characters are drawn to specific formulae based on those observations, characters are drawn in a way to get a reaction, whether it's to go d'aww (cute) to laugh with (screwball) to boo and or cringe (sinister villain) or to be down right afraid (huge monster)

 

Disney was the master of cute, Bambi is one of the best examples of the "cute" in action, while the "screwball" is best used by Warner bros, especially with Bugs Bunny, and (early) Daffy duck.

 

A lanky build, small eyes (but not too small!), a dopey grin (big teeth optional)

 

Many others are based on formulas.

 

 

I'll post a link if I find where I got the formulas

Edited November 20, 2014 by looking glass

[SasQ 1,379]

@, @ and @ pretty much covered it all, so I'll just add one more thing to that list: smooth moves.

 

I really enjoy watching how ponies walk in FiM. They move sooo smoothly I literally slip off of my couch There's something hypnotic in how they shake their heads, rumps and tails, and the intertwined rhythm of their legs. The animators have done a very good job in making these animations look so natural and accurate to how horses actually move. I can just sit there and watch this all day long:

 

 

*_*

Edited November 21, 2014 by SasQ

[Shanks 10,816]

It is because the ponies are deliberately and consciously designed to be that way and while previous generations had that in mind they didn't all get it right but G4 clearly did. They have relatively large eyes in comparison to their body sizes, small furry cuddly looking bodies almost pet like. Personalitiy also plays a role in this especially with Fluttershy and a few of the fillies and colts and even some background ponies like Derpy to a certain extent with fannon somtimes intermixed with cannon.

[SasQ 1,379]

EarthbendingProdigy, on 21 Nov 2014 - 02:55 AM, said:

It is because the ponies are deliberately and consciously designed to be that way

Yeah, pretty much that

 

 

(Source: http://doublewbrothers.deviantart.com/art/The-Power-of-Pony-410683472)

[Kapitan zur See Hans (Daz) 883]

^^ That is is friggin amazing, though that last part would be my reaction too

[Tao 8,203]

You ask why,  just look at the avi above me....