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

[HereComesTom 2,267]

I, for one, have been working on an ambitious fangame since 2012, and I'm not going to stop building it even if DHX stops making G-4 episodes.

Besides, for all we know, G-5 will be even better than G-4 was, and just as worthy of our devotion.  (It's a high bar, I know, but I wouldn't call it impossible!)

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

The brony fandom is a MUCH bigger ocean than BronyCon on it's own. While it was the biggest, BABScon and Everfree NW can fill that void well enough, and we have plenty of smaller cons as well. Even then, we still have solid online communities, a strong fan art/music/fiction scene, and people still generally in love with the franchise.

So yeah; I see no death in the future. Contraction; yes, but no death.

[Ganondorf8 11,314]

The fandom will keep on going long after the last Bronycon next year. As Pathfinder said, it's likely going to reduce in numbers--contraction--but not enough where everything suddenly comes to an end just like that. As long as there is still passion, this fandom will continue to exist.

[NavelColt 22,880]

Fandoms don't die, they just calm down , and all fandoms do it. Let's not pretend the fact this fandom even had as many large, successful conventions all around the world as it did is anything other than rare for single show fandoms. The fandom was bound to deflate noticeably eventually, because it blew up noticably. We're just leveling off, and I wish people would quit the 'fandom is dying' doomsday discussions.

I went to BronyCon 13' - 15' and it was an amazing experience, so I know how people feel. I was struggling with life stagnancy and depression and the fandom, by extension BronyCon helped me build a path out of it. I've never witnessed a more creative fandom than this one and it might never get topped, but all things come to an end.

The fandom isn't going to die after BronyCon, nor will after the last season. That said, if we're to take anything away from BronyCon's end, it's the old addage: don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

[Iam 525]

Fandom won't die, Fandom will be alive for many years after "official" end. The reasons for my statements are such things as: the Bronies' lifestyle, their activity, creativity, determination, involvement (underlined: involvement), theirs' positive consequences and many, many other things. The Fandom, which had been even talked in TV Shows ( https://www.google.pl/search?q=TV+talking+about+bronies&rlz=1C1CHBD_plPL810PL810&oq=TV+talking+about+bronies&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3075j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 ) can't die just because the official show ends. As many people said above, some shows still have dedicated fans after years after official endings or silent periods. Don't worry, as even with a bit shrinked community I believe you will make a succes =) Go now! You can do it! =D

[Summer Storm 256]

Heya ponies,

I agree with Iam!  I think Fandoms are like watching stars twinkle in the sky; just because you or someone you know looked away from it doesn't mean that someone else in the world isn't looking up at that very same part of the galaxy.  My Little Pony has become strong enough to last and last.  Kind of like Wendy and Richard Pini's Elfquest series.  Look how long they've been around!  =)

Honor and fun,

Summer Storm =)

[ccb20yes 81]

DONT. WORRY. A bunch of my old high school friends are huge Avatar the last airbender fans, and have comic books.  People need to quit worrying.  to qoute black willy wonka fron the nostalgia critic, "true beauty never fades. you just need to be reminded of it." And twilight from equestria girls: "This isnt goodbye forever. just goodbye FOR NOW." 

DONT. WORRY.A bunch of my old high school friends are huge Avatar the last airbender fans, and have comic books.  People need to quit worrying.  to qoute black willy wonka fron the nostalgia critic, "true beauty never fades. you just need to be reminded of it." And twilight from equestria girls: "This isnt goodbye forever. just goodbye FOR NOW." NT. WORRY.

[BornAgainBrony 2,397]

Loyalty will try to stop the seasons just to keep a friend around. Fight through eternity for what you care about.

[Miti 82]

The way that I see it, I will continue to provide for the fandom until it no longer exists.  By that point, I'll be at least well known enough to continue on with my own devices.  However, this isn't to say that the fandom won't blossom into an independent community as the Furry community is.  If that happens, I will stay for as long as I am able.

[GeekySonic 1,150]

Nah, no way. I've barely started voice acting in the MLP community. I don't plan to stop anytime soon.

[BornAgainBrony 2,397]

19 minutes ago, Miti said:

The way that I see it, I will continue to provide for the fandom until it no longer exists.  By that point, I'll be at least well known enough to continue on with my own devices.  However, this isn't to say that the fandom won't blossom into an independent community as the Furry community is.  If that happens, I will stay for as long as I am able.

Pretty much what I'm hoping for if Hasbro drops the ball. Furry fandom is actually growing, and they don't even need a show.

[starrymiss 114]

On 9/10/2018 at 12:47 AM, ccb20yes said:

DONT. WORRY. A bunch of my old high school friends are huge Avatar the last airbender fans, and have comic books.  People need to quit worrying.  to qoute black willy wonka fron the nostalgia critic, "true beauty never fades. you just need to be reminded of it." And twilight from equestria girls: "This isnt goodbye forever. just goodbye FOR NOW." 

That's a really good point about the ATLA. Me and my family and friends are still huge fans of that. 

Even if the main hubub, hype and culture over a show dies down, people tend to remain life-long fans of the ones that have an impact on them.

Brony culture as we've known it is in decline, but people aren't going to stop being fans of it or remembering the good times.

[WhimsicalEngineer 15]

Hope I'm not too late to post this. I think it has quitened down quite a bit since 2012 (when I joined) probably because it was such a new thing. I honestly can't believe I'm still here... haha. But by all means welcome!

[HoneyDrop 0]

I hope not! I only just recently got into the fandom, I would hate if it died  Especially with this year being the last BronyCon, I hope there’s a replacement for it. But there’s hope yet!

 

[chirox the pony 1,336]

Coming from the perspective of someone who wouldn't really call himself a brony these days (I haven't watched since season 5) I would say yes but I've been in worse. Nearly all the people I knew online or in real life who were into it back during it's heyday (so 2012 and 2013) have all moved on and don't even bring it up anymore. This can be pinned down to a number of factors (I plan to make a whole video on it) that I won't get into here (wanna save them for said video). Although unlike a lot of people here I do believe G5 could bring back a lot of the old members. I'm not sure what the policy towards leaks is around here so I won't talk about it (you can message me if you want to hear about that). I'll never forget those days.

[BornAgainBrony 2,397]

1 hour ago, chirox the pony said:

Coming from the perspective of someone who wouldn't really call himself a brony these days (I haven't watched since season 5) I would say yes but I've been in worse. Nearly all the people I knew online or in real life who were into it back during it's heyday (so 2012 and 2013) have all moved on and don't even bring it up anymore. This can be pinned down to a number of factors (I plan to make a whole video on it) that I won't get into here (wanna save them for said video). Although unlike a lot of people here I do believe G5 could bring back a lot of the old members. I'm not sure what the policy towards leaks is around here so I won't talk about it (you can message me if you want to hear about that). I'll never forget those days.

I really feel like a new documentary is in in order on the level of the original "Brony Story." Something akin to "the story so far," detailing the ups and downs that have taken place since the beginning. Obviously Twilicorn is a biggy, but also the Derpy war, random Hasbro blunders, etc.

Loyalty is being tested though, as happens in every fandom.

[chirox the pony 1,336]

8 hours ago, BornAgainBrony said:

I really feel like a new documentary is in in order on the level of the original "Brony Story." Something akin to "the story so far," detailing the ups and downs that have taken place since the beginning. Obviously Twilicorn is a biggy, but also the Derpy war, random Hasbro blunders, etc.

Loyalty is being tested though, as happens in every fandom.

Yeah I'm afraid I see my video being half an hour at most. It would be cool to have another documentary to send out FIM but I don't think the funding is there like it used to be. Although I do have a feeling that when the official announcement of cancellation comes it'll be pretty big news that might get people interested again. 

[Midnight Solace 5,132]

Personally, I believe the fandom is dying because of the ending of FiM. I mean, FiM is truly why this website- or the Brony fandom even exists. It was such a success when the show first aired, and it would always remain in a special place in my heart. As the show progressed, I think some ponies got bored of watching the show. The writers are starting to run out of ideas, and It had a huge change in the last few seasons, with showcasing new characters and stuff. It would be a bit confusing to those who choose to watch FiM again. MLP won't be the same after this change, but you know, gotta sell those toys.

[PCutter 127]

So what is everyone suggesting here?

Deliver it some sort of final blow so it can be put out of its misery (both fandom and show) ? Or still treasure the show because it's important to you?

Right now I couldn't care less if the fandom somehow erected a headstone for its " death" . I only care much about my memories when I've watched the show by myself.

[MangoFoalix 24,961]

Why does it matter if it is dying or not? If you want to jump off ship than go ahead, I know I'll be around until it's on its last legs.

[Critical Thought 12]

I recently made a video about this, but out of fear for being struck with a banhammer for self promotion, I'll simply recap what I said here.

The brony fandom isn't dying...it's evolving. The hipster bronies that lasted up through 2014 were the ones who made the fandom ultra huge and magical. They were the ones that actually adopted Love and Tolerance as more than just an antagonistic 4chan meme and turned it into a true brony montra. Their enjoyment of the show was more rooted in their desire to "stick it to the man" and rebel against gender norms than it was their appreciation for the writing or the animation. There were many contributing factors that lead to them leaving, but I think the 3 biggest were, 1) the mainstream exposure of the fandom, 2) the post Season 4 hiatus, and 3) the premiere of Steven Universe. After the hipster bronies left, the people still left truly appreciated the show itself, but also were no longer concerned with keeping up the positive facade. This is when negativity started to fester in the community and caused more people to leave. Now, we are on the cusp of a new era with the show coming to the close where only the hardest of hardcore fans will remain. They will be even more passionate than the bronies that came before but also a lot more underground and harder to find.

[lua 106]

Is it really dying? I feel like its just waiting for something, sleeping I guess. I'm hoping once season 9 comes or when G5 starts that could start a new boom in the fandom, but we'll just have to wait I guess.

[Luna the Great of all the Russias 2,985]

It seems that the fandom was at its apex in 2012-2013 at least judging from the fandom participation in the arts in volume and ambitions (though other ambitious projects like the Lullaby for a Princess and The Moon Rises animations were released in later years). Being a new fandom, the question is how Bronydom would be in the long term.

I am not familiar with the nature of Furrydom or... Animedom(?), but I would think that they would have the advantage in longevity and size due to their more general nature, but among the smaller number of people within Bronydom there is the advantage of greater cohesiveness because the fandom revolves around one specific show rather than a broad genre; you know what to talk about if you meet another Brony but that may not necessarily be true if you meet another Furry or Otaku/Weaboo.

[Snowball Macaroon 10]

If the fandom has diminished at all, there are two main reasons why that may be.

1st: Fans of the community are either too embarrassed or insecure to express their liking due o prejudice or judgment

2nd: People who don't understand what the community is all about spread information of gossip that isn't true, giving others the wrong impression. Radicals tend to cause much of that gossip. Like wack jobs who literally prance around like a girl. Yes, the show is intended for Young girls, but that doesn't mean you need to prance around like a sissy queer.

Sadly, there are many folks like that within the community. Your community is exactly how you represent it publicly. One way I like to express myself is with this shirt I found at FYE. When people ask e about it, I tell them there's a lot of awesome music, art, stories and support groups within the community, and that's why I love ithttps://www.fye.com/deadpool-unicorn-ride-it-like-you-stole-it-t-shirt-fye.unicornridetee.html

3 minutes ago, Snowball Macaroon said:

If the fandom has diminished at all, there are two main reasons why that may be.

1st: Fans of the community are either too embarrassed or insecure to express their liking due o prejudice or judgment

2nd: People who don't understand what the community is all about spread information of gossip that isn't true, giving others the wrong impression. Radicals tend to cause much of that gossip. Like wack jobs who literally prance around like a girl. Yes, the show is intended for Young girls, but that doesn't mean you need to prance around like a sissy queer.

Sadly, there are many folks like that within the community. Your community is exactly how you represent it publicly. One way I like to express myself is with this shirt I found at FYE. When people ask e about it, I tell them there's a lot of awesome music, art, stories and support groups within the community, and that's why I love Brony's and the fandom.

ithttps://www.fye.com/deadpool-unicorn-ride-it-like-you-stole-it-t-shirt-fye.unicornridetee.html

 

[AveryGamerDude 4,640]

I blame Alicorn Twilight. (Even though I don't have a problem with it.)