mega thread The state of the Brony fandom (Numbers, Popularly, Future)

[Ganondorf8 11,288]

This fandom may not be as strong as it used to be--the decline began sometime after 2011 according to most--but I feel that it will continue to remain strong by remaining stagnant where people come and go without affecting too much of the overall grand scheme. The fact that the fandom lasted this long is a testament to its tenacity and dedication.

[Altastrofae 933]

So? Who cares? That won't stop people from watching unless they want to.

And let's face it.

One day, My Little Pony will end without being brought back for a reboot

It's just a show, no big deal, really. If people left the fandom, then that was their choice

[Nyactis Mewcis Catlum 672]

There are several fandoms with a smaller size than this one still going strong long after their shows have ended. Hell, My Little Pony actually had a fandom before Friendship is Magic, it's just that it blew up to have a much larger general public once that iteration came out.

It's doubtful that the MLP fandom will ever die out.

[twilly_brony 174]

when i was a kid i watched tmnt, that was the 2003 4k!ds version, and i still love it now. but the newest tmnt is just so terrible. but i'm still a fan of tmnt. i mean, even if the show ends, i fear that day comes, but love still remains. 

i'm not sure if the fandom will die or not, i'm not too positive about this. and i fear it. i hope it never ends. only if you guys are still here, only if the show continues, i will never leave and proud of this. as long as we stick together. 

sadly, one day i met a troll, but surprisingly once he was a brony too. i dunno what changed him, but I left it be, there are always someone like that. at first i felt confused and also frustrated, how could that happen? mlp is so awsome! even if you are not a brony any more why would you choose to be a troll? but then i realized it was his choice, and i think that happens in every fandom, even in every society party, club or somewhat, people leave, people come. we just stay who we are, and that's enough, i think

Edited April 20, 2018 by twilly_brony

[AlbaTross 1,586]

This fandom's dead still greatly eclipses many other fandoms' thriving, so I'll roll with it.

[starwantrix 68]

For autistic people? That's offensive dude. MLP fandom is kinda weird, kinda good. A lot of porn, a lot of weirdness, crazyness, with tentacles and other shit, but it's not all that, we have a lot of good stuff, and things are getting better. Trixie being reformed, mlp movie, equestria girls continuation, amazing art from all over the world. MLP keeps people happy, so don't say it's "dead", the only dead is you. If you don't see the colors why shouldn't I? MLP keeps me inspired, if it weren't for MLP my progression as an artist would be quite low. Trixie was a main inspiration to me. If it weren't for MLP I wouldn't be an artist. So don't say such things you're making me sad

Edited April 20, 2018 by starwantrix

[Bendy 1,821]

8 hours ago, twilightfan said:

somebody has just joined the brony fandom because of how it's dead right now to the point that this brony youtuber named forgotten dreams left the brony fandom and it upsets me that nobody will do anything about it this fandom was once the perfect fandom for autistic people now it's not 

 

 

Far from dead. Just go on fimfiction, there's fan fiction being uploaded every day.

[twilly_brony 174]

2 hours ago, starwantrix said:

A lot of porn

Speaking of porn things... *cough* well, I signed up just yesterday, I'm not sure if my account will get banned and I don't want that, but I still wanna say it. People like porn things from thousands years ago, tis like natrual. I mean, almost anything popular in the web will be porn-ed. It's not our fandom exists porn, I'd rather say that it's porn itself find its victims and it never rest, not just this fandom. What makes this fandom special and alive is not because of that. It supports a place for us so we can rest and heal ourselves, so we can stick together and move on, so we can taste true love and friendship which we can hardly find in the outside world. Maybe a form will die, but the spirit never. As long as the human exists, then love and friendship exists. That's what makes this fandom, our fandom special. I think I should add this. 

Edited April 20, 2018 by twilly_brony

[Goat-kun 2,527]

Ruin has come to our fandom ...

 

P.S: This fandom was never based on friendship, forgiveness, or trust. It was based on visual appeal of pastel equines. It is a fandom like any other. I can imagine this realization is daunting to some people. Though, rest assured. The people he speaks of have no power here. We made sure of that.

[Photon Jet 5,491]

Fandoms never die. They will always be around even when their shows end. Like Sonic SATAM for example, the series is long gone but the fandom is still ongoing to this day. 

[The Recherche 29,967]

I'll be perfectly honest... does it really matter?  I won't deny that the fandom is infinitesimal compared to how it used to be around 2011 - 2013... but again, does that truly matter? As long as the franchise continues to make money, as long as it continues to bring joy to the lives of its fans, as long as it brings people together and forges connections that would otherwise be impossible... how much does the fandom shrinking truly matter?

Franchises, just like any aspect of life, change. Whether or not the changes are for the better or worse in entirely up to you to decide, but either way, they never remain the same. Sometimes they grow, sometimes they shrink, sometimes they stagnate... anything can happen to them at any given time. If you or anyone else wants to leave or enter the fandom... that's perfectly acceptable either way. That's just the way franchises and their fanbases evolve.

The point is, as long as the franchise and the fandom is still going strong, In my opinion, there's no real reason to be upset about it growing or shrinking. That's just the way things go.

[twilightfan 12]

22 hours ago, twilly_brony said:

Speaking of porn things... *cough* well, I signed up just yesterday, I'm not sure if my account will get banned and I don't want that, but I still wanna say it. People like porn things from thousands years ago, tis like natrual. I mean, almost anything popular in the web will be porn-ed. It's not our fandom exists porn, I'd rather say that it's porn itself find its victims and it never rest, not just this fandom. What makes this fandom special and alive is not because of that. It supports a place for us so we can rest and heal ourselves, so we can stick together and move on, so we can taste true love and friendship which we can hardly find in the outside world. Maybe a form will die, but the spirit never. As long as the human exists, then love and friendship exists. That's what makes this fandom, our fandom special. I think I should add this. 

wow it seems you are the only like-minded brony that have replied and is very supportive of me without giving me advice that conflicts me ty i am just very conflicted right now about the current state of the brony community and nobody else as open-minded as you did'nt make me more conflicted unlike the other's who have replied to this thrend 

22 hours ago, Bendy said:

 

Far from dead. Just go on fimfiction, there's fan fiction being uploaded every day.

but not as much at a rapid rate as before like as said in the video that's what i meant by it being a dead fandom with how it's decaying not that there aren't anymore fan content just not as much like look at ppgd that's the best ppg fan work that i find very enjoyable other than some of the nsfw content that i found enjoyable of ppg

On 4/20/2018 at 5:22 AM, starwantrix said:

For autistic people? That's offensive dude. MLP fandom is kinda weird, kinda good. A lot of porn, a lot of weirdness, crazyness, with tentacles and other shit, but it's not all that, we have a lot of good stuff, and things are getting better. Trixie being reformed, mlp movie, equestria girls continuation, amazing art from all over the world. MLP keeps people happy, so don't say it's "dead", the only dead is you. If you don't see the colors why shouldn't I? MLP keeps me inspired, if it weren't for MLP my progression as an artist would be quite low. Trixie was a main inspiration to me. If it weren't for MLP I wouldn't be an artist. So don't say such things you're making me sad

i do not mean it in a offensive way i mean it as in people who have autism not as people who are mislabeled with autism since i have autism myself

22 hours ago, Photon Jet said:

Fandoms never die. They will always be around even when their shows end. Like Sonic SATAM for example, the series is long gone but the fandom is still ongoing to this day. 

yeah idc for the sonic satam fandom and yes ik the fandom is still a thing so is star trek and star wars but there's not really a cartoon that i do care about that has grown as big as and as widespread as mlp:fim with how much fan content there is but that rate of brony celebs leaving the fandom as in no longer making mlp:fim content has increase a lot over the last few years like the only brony rock musician that have grown as big as a adience but is still around making pony-related content is princewhateverer

On 4/20/2018 at 4:58 AM, AlbaTross said:

This fandom's dead still greatly eclipses many other fandoms' thriving, so I'll roll with it.

yes but most bronies at least on poniverse websites don't realized it

On 4/20/2018 at 4:29 AM, Nyactis Mewcis Catlum said:

There are several fandoms with a smaller size than this one still going strong long after their shows have ended. Hell, My Little Pony actually had a fandom before Friendship is Magic, it's just that it blew up to have a much larger general public once that iteration came out.

It's doubtful that the MLP fandom will ever die out.

yes ik but i care more for the gen 4 part of the fandom than the brony hippie since i am a normie brony

On 4/20/2018 at 2:46 AM, Ganondorf8 said:

This fandom may not be as strong as it used to be--the decline began sometime after 2011 according to most--but I feel that it will continue to remain strong by remaining stagnant where people come and go without affecting too much of the overall grand scheme. The fact that the fandom lasted this long is a testament to its tenacity and dedication.

i agree but i kinda agree with what one of the admins said about the decine starting around 2015 not really 2010-2014 since that was when most of the best episodes were made imo

On 4/20/2018 at 1:30 AM, Snow Frostflame said:

Nothing can be done, as time goes on things change. This fandom has been a thing for nearly a decade, so its quite amazing how long things have gone on. Though with a 5th generation in the works I'm sure we won't die out, we just won't be as big as we once were.

sorry i kinda disagree since i believe nothing is impossible unless nobody is willing to change things but it seems currently nobody is willing to change things right now other than a few people

19 hours ago, Recherche said:

I'll be perfectly honest... does it really matter?  I won't deny that the fandom is infinitesimal compared to how it used to be around 2011 - 2013... but again, does that truly matter? As long as the franchise continues to make money, as long as it continues to bring joy to the lives of its fans, as long as it brings people together and forges connections that would otherwise be impossible... how much does the fandom shrinking truly matter?

Franchises, just like any aspect of life, change. Whether or not the changes are for the better or worse in entirely up to you to decide, but either way, they never remain the same. Sometimes they grow, sometimes they shrink, sometimes they stagnate... anything can happen to them at any given time. If you or anyone else wants to leave or enter the fandom... that's perfectly acceptable either way. That's just the way franchises and their fanbases evolve.

The point is, as long as the franchise and the fandom is still going strong, In my opinion, there's no real reason to be upset about it growing or shrinking. That's just the way things go.

it might not matter to most bronies but the minority do care deeply for the state of the brony community not the majority

Edited April 21, 2018 by twilightfan

[Flow 1,624]

Oh please, it's always been like this. There are people that come and go in the fandom, it's no surprise that even former staff around my time have left the forums and fandom. Why? Cause they moved on with their lives I guess.

[Nyactis Mewcis Catlum 672]

2 hours ago, twilightfan said:

yes ik but i care more for the gen 4 part of the fandom than the brony hippie since i am a normie brony

If the other gens of MLP have fans long after they've stopped airing, so too will G4. You've very little to worry about, trust me.

Also, just a response to something else in your post, but I do like to think I'm fairly open-minded. I've just been around the fandom rodeos for long enough to get a sense of how they work. If you see me as someone who is close-minded or attempting to make you feel bad/conflicted, you are getting the wrong impression from my post. I'm not attempting to argue with you, I'm attempting to comfort you.

[Adachi 772]

I dunno, judging from the activity of this forum, I would say it's pretty much alive. And there are many other MLP communities that are active as well. Even if the fandom doesn't get as popular as it was in it's peak, it'll still go on for a very long time at least. The show is no longer new, but good shows aren't easily forgotten.

[twilly_brony 174]

@twilightfan thank you. 

1 hour ago, Flow said:

Cause they moved on with their lives I guess.

I know there is no need, but I still wanna add something to this. Not arguing, I don't think that is true. Leaving the fandom and moving on with their lives, they are not even necessary and suffecient conditions to each other. I mean, some still move on but they haven't left, meanwhile some are not fans of mlp doesn't mean they can move on. So that's not the point. As there is a famous motto saying, correlation does not imply causation. 

[Adderbane 121]

At FIMFiction, there are over 1k users online right at this moment.  A lot of fandoms would be over joyed to have that kind of activity.

[Flow 1,624]

2 hours ago, twilly_brony said:

@twilightfan thank you. 

I know there is no need, but I still wanna add something to this. Not arguing, I don't think that is true. Leaving the fandom and moving on with their lives, they are not even necessary and suffecient conditions to each other. I mean, some still move on but they haven't left, meanwhile some are not fans of mlp doesn't mean they can move on. So that's not the point. As there is a famous motto saying, correlation does not imply causation. 

I see your point, but yes, I could've worded my previous statement better.

[Mirage 24,747]

I became a fan because I think the show, and the fandom, is fascinating. The more I learned about both, the more I wanted to become part of it. I'm also new to the fandom, only about a year.

[King of Canterlot 9,603]

I mean, I guess if you think the fandom is dead, then go ahead and think that. Me personally though, I don't think the fandom is anywhere close to being dead, just look at how much new pony content and other projects are still being created  Sure, they're not being pumped out as fast they were back in 2011 or 2014, but the fact is that there are millions of us still out there, who love the show and fandom just as much as you do 

[twilightfan 12]

2 hours ago, King of Canterlot said:

I mean, I guess if you think the fandom is dead, then go ahead and think that. Me personally though, I don't think the fandom is anywhere close to being dead, just look at how much new pony content and other projects are still being created  Sure, they're not being pumped out as fast they were back in 2011 or 2014, but the fact is that there are millions of us still out there, who love the show and fandom just as much as you do 

which was the whole reason i made this thread to bring bronies together and discuss the current state of more the fandom than the show itself since i see it the fan work is what keeps the fandom a flout not the show itself but yeah i guess decayed or decaying would've been a better word than dead that's the whole reason automatic jack left youtube and ended his music career because he felt his fans cared more about the show than his contributions to the fandom since i have him as my online friend on discord & twitch so i did'nt meant it to be taken the wrong way it just since 2015 there's been too much negative stuff sure the show is good and all but imo the fan work is what's important for me not the show itself so on i both agree and disagree at a certain extant pretty much i have a very one-sided opinion that's probably unpopular within the brony community

2 hours ago, Mirage said:

I became a fan because I think the show, and the fandom, is fascinating. The more I learned about both, the more I wanted to become part of it. I'm also new to the fandom, only about a year.

wow really i been around since late 2015 around september so it's been 3 years for me

5 hours ago, Nyactis Mewcis Catlum said:

If the other gens of MLP have fans long after they've stopped airing, so too will G4. You've very little to worry about, trust me.

Also, just a response to something else in your post, but I do like to think I'm fairly open-minded. I've just been around the fandom rodeos for long enough to get a sense of how they work. If you see me as someone who is close-minded or attempting to make you feel bad/conflicted, you are getting the wrong impression from my post. I'm not attempting to argue with you, I'm attempting to comfort you.

ok yeah i usually exaggerate everything like in the graphic novel by marjane satrapi called persepolis where the family loves to exaggerate which explains why you gave me the wrong impression

5 hours ago, Adachi said:

I dunno, judging from the activity of this forum, I would say it's pretty much alive. And there are many other MLP communities that are active as well. Even if the fandom doesn't get as popular as it was in it's peak, it'll still go on for a very long time at least. The show is no longer new, but good shows aren't easily forgotten.

yeah i have seen that with most 2000's cartoons and anime i grew up with on cn, nickelodeon, and disney channel during my childhood and my teenhood but i guess the reason why mlp:fim because it's was the cartoon that gave me as big of a escape from reality compared to other cartoons also with how different it was with how hasbro dealt with slice of life compared to cn, nickelodeon, and disney channel and probably better than most slice of life anime

4 hours ago, Adderbane said:

At FIMFiction, there are over 1k users online right at this moment.  A lot of fandoms would be over joyed to have that kind of activity.

don't undertale,fnaf, and sonic fandoms have that kind of activity?

Edited April 21, 2018 by twilightfan

[Nyactis Mewcis Catlum 672]

3 hours ago, twilightfan said:

don't undertale,fnaf, and sonic fandoms have that kind of activity?

Those fandoms definitely have a lot of activity, which is especially amazing in Undertale's case, as that game hasn't been updated in years. It's possible it was partly revitalized because of the port, but I've seen Undertale nearly everywhere even when I moved on from the fandom myself.

To be honest, I never permanently leave a fandom, re: the moving on thing. Usually, anyway. I still like the thing and I'll still come back to it later, and I think a lot of MLP fans are like that. For Undertale and Sonic in particular, I just had bad experiences with both so I tend to keep out of the more active circles of the fandom as they contain the people I no longer want to associate with. But I still enjoy content related to it, and I'll come back and do something related to that fandom every once in a while.

[Ganondorf8 11,288]

12 hours ago, twilightfan said:

i agree but i kinda agree with what one of the admins said about the decine starting around 2015 not really 2010-2014 since that was when most of the best episodes were made imo

Maybe the decline did happen in 2015 and no sooner than that. What I mentioned before is what I've been hearing from others but not my own opinion on the subject.

[VeroxVitrus 70]

The truth is the fandom is already dead, unless you're a dedicated fan it will be inevitable you'll just stop watching the show entirely and move on in your life. 

[SDP40F amtrak 2,447]

Ok I don't understand if our fandom is dead hello we got new mlp fans coming to mlp fandom  don't worry about fandom being dead  who cares if fandom dies  we never die 

Same thing like Thomas fandom we got a lot fans still liking Thomas since 1984