What do you love about MLP and its fandom?

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

I don't have any excuses for liking the show as some people do, I simply like the show because it us entertaining :3 I just freaking love it x3

[Freewave 1,145]

So many reasons.....

 

The good-hearted nature of the show. The morals and ethics they focus on that we've lost sight of in the real world.

 

The creativity of the community, the strengths of their art in adding dimensions to these 2d characters ...even in alternative directions (clop, grimdark, humor).

 

Getting men to acknowledge their feminine side.

 

The strengths of good wriiting, character development, and great animation in the show.

 

Adding depth and alternate experiences by having strong female characters and the fanbase in adding alternate genders and sexual alignments through shipping

 

Emphasizing community while encouraging diversity and uniqueness.

 

Encouraging youthful joy in teens and adults alike.

Edited January 25, 2013 by Freewave

[Silver Boulder 123]

I generally love it for a few reasons

 

When I was in highschool I HAD to find out why people watched it. I watched it myself, and didn't really care for it but I didn't hate the fandom in all honesty, I just thought the show was girly and etc but again, I was still in highschool at the time.

 

After the family announced divorce, I was heart broken and just completely spiraled downwards into depression. I tried to find something light hearted to watch and well, My Little Pony did just that and I appreciated the show much more and catched all the little things like the references, visual gags like the snips and snails cutie mark gag which took me a while to figure out xD and of course the characters being just so likable 

 

So I love it for saving me from my depression and giving me something to look forward to in the morning along with providing a fun show to laugh with others considering of how huge the fandom is

Edited January 25, 2013 by Silver Boulder

[Aeon Of Dreams 115]

I pretty much agree with what everyone else is saying, about the characters, the setting, and things like that, but here are some of the things I will single out specifically that I don't always hear being mentioned.

 

The characters: The characters just being awesome and well written is one thing, but consider the characters in context with what Faust wanted to do with the show. She is big on making more fictional female heroines, but she did something that you don't really see here, she succeeded. A major reason for me, awesome writing aside, was that she did it without having to say "Girls are awesome because guys suck." in some way, shape, or form.

 

It's treatment of Introversion and Cynicism: Normally in a show about Friendship, especially one directed to younger audiences, you would probably expect the introverted cynic to be viewed as the devil incarnate. But that never happens, which is a pleasant surprise for me considering I am introverted and lean towards cynicism more often then not. Fluttershy and very possibly Twilight are introverted and then you have the cynical Cranky. But they got it right with Cranky because I would normally look at this scenario and think about how the person helping the cynic has an alternative motive than wanting the cynic to feel better. It also understands that forcefully shoving optimism into a cynics face will not always make them feel better (it can, but not always, it usually depends on why they are the way they are).

 

The Setting: Equestria has a rather thick history and one would not know all of it's secrets or what it contains at a glance. There is a genuine mythology to it, and it is rather interesting in and of itself.

 

There were probably others, but I do not think I remember them yet, perhaps I will post them later if there were any.

[hawkflame 3,310]

One of the things that I love about MLP:FiM is that it's an innocent show, but goes about it in a smart way. There's a tricky balance to making something kid friendly without boring or insulting the intelligence of the adults, and yet not being too crass or mean spirited. Only maybe Miyazaki films, Disney/Pixar and Warner Brothers have been able to pull that off. The villains, for instance, are threatening and even slightly scary, but not *too* scary, just enough to provide a real sense of danger.

 

Also, the show is smart enough to kid itself at times without being needlessly sarcastic. Perfect example is the opening notes of "Giggle at the Ghostly". Rarity and Twilight's little "Tell me she's not..." "She is." exchange there is kind of perfect, really. It's acknowledging the weirdness of that "break into random song" trope in some cartoons, but then having fun with it anyway. I love those little moments of characters reacting to certain moments with a very slightly cynical "hey, this trope is weird/disturbing/stupid" because it validates our own reactions to those situations.

[Rainbow Dash Loyalty 1,275]

It's not only the show I love, it's the fandom. The show itself has very nice animation and detail, it doesn't look like it's too hyper-realistic or too cartoon-ish, theres at least one character for everyone to relate to so they're not left out, the songs are really catchy and you can actually listen to it instead of pressing the mute button like I usually do and the show also has humor which is always a good thing for good shows. They can sneak in some references from other shows which make me chuckle a bit and remember what other show they were trying to make a reference of.

The fandom though, the fandom is just amazing. As long as the show goes on the fandom will make more of it, like the songs you hear from the show. As soon as you hear a song form a new episode then just wait at least one day and there will be like ten remixes of it already. The art I see on deviantart is simply amazing, I have tons of wallpapers of and art from the talented bronies. Another thing are the fan-fiction stories, I love to have a read once in a while and when I do read, it's usually the stories that I hear that have a good plot.

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

Well, the show itself has many charms. Clean and crispy animation, smart and interesting stories, deep characters that one can easily see themselves in, a well developed universe, catchy music, and decent cultural references every now and again. MLP:FiM truly does have something for everybody.

 

Really, though, the show is just the beginning. What keeps me coming back everyday is the community. There's no better fandom out there and I am grateful every day to be here.

[noplsno 124]

(hopefully not a respost, looked around.. didn't find anything similar.)

 

Let my rephrase that. Why do you guys like my little pony?

 

Now, i'm saying this in the must un-offensive way. We all know this show was directed toward little kids, 5 - 10 year olds. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite fond of the show and I really enjoy it but I've been thinking, what makes this generation better than the other ones, why do you guys like this show in particular. You all must have your own reasons why you like the show and decided to become a brony. I mean, what makes this show different from all the other shows directed toward 5 - 10 year olds.

 

me, myself. I like the show because of the colors, the colors cheer me up in a way I cant really explain, it feels like the world is pretty dark and gruesome but this show makes me think different. It makes me feel like we still have hope in society and the world. It makes me feel like I was a kid and I saw everything a lot more simpler.

 

Why do you like the show in particular? you must all have your very own reasons, right?

Edited February 4, 2013 by HorseandRaisins

[Sanic Screwdriver 345]

Well it has good songs, it's funny, it's cute, and good episode writing (even though at times it can be sappy, predictable, and girly but I mean it IS directed towards little girls.)

[longgone 873]

The animation style is what got me interested in the first place. But aside from that, the writers are talented enough to make it appealing to an older audience and not just little kids, which most shows fail to do. Another reason is it was (g4) created by Lauren Faust, who earned my appreciation from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. So yeah, animation, wider span of appeal, and Lauren Faust tie to together to make me a brony.

[Betez 1,734]

I'll be honest, when I first heard about this show and everyone liking it, I thought it was a joke. But then I watching it, and I was amazed. There's really good character art, concepts, animation, and storylines. It's like why were there Trekkies? Because Star Trek was a good show back then, a lot of people liked it, and they formed their own cult group.

[Sam 30]

The show appealed to me in many ways. The animation/graphics look really good, the stories are well written and sometimes I can even relate to them (especially the opening of season 1). As well as MLP itself there's the growing community of open minded and friendly bronies, which I'm proud to be a part of.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I love the show for its very good graphics, the singing, and the way they portray the characters with their own personalities as in cutie marks, the way the animation and fandom has grown since the show first began. If it wasn't for Faust, Hasbro, and the writers, we as the fandom would seize to exist I'm basically afraid by saying that. But, I am proud to be a brony I don't care what anyone thinks of me.

[Sks_Burns 730]

innocent plots, appealing likable characters, catching fun songs, nods to pop culture, plenty of funny moments

 

i also like it because it brinngs me back to my childhood when cartoons were actually good. theyre so few and far between these days thats its almost refreshing to watch one that has all the qualities of the cartoons from a former era

 

and ponies are cute. thats enough for me.

[Victor van Dort 202]

It has great moral value. It teaches people of all ages something that they should be aware of concerning their everyday opinions and judgments. It developed a fandom that revealed how messed up our society is today (as in the society beyond us). If this show truly was aimed at 5-10 year olds, then that shows how much more immature some people 10 and over are.

Edited February 4, 2013 by Victor van Dort

[WindsweptFrog 52]

I know exactly what you mean about the colours! I'm some what of a manic depressant, and tend to spend alot of my time feeling alone and misserable, but the ponys cheer me up and make me feel better about life And then of course there are the other things that make it so good such as the brilliant animation, voice acting, script writting, fun songs and really it's funny

[An Old Head 4,816]

Simply put, it's a great show. The humour in it is really clever, and it reminds you of when cartoons meant something. Most of us become Bronies because the dry spell of having to appear trendy in most real life situations got doused with the appeal this gives us. I was one of those people.

 

Only so many people reminisce on those days where everything was easier, and 90% of the things we look back on were the great cartoons - so when My Little Pony came along, I snapped up the opportunity to reintroduce that childhood happiness and follow a generally positive trend.

 

Not to mention that I owe an enormous amount to this show and fandom. Pardon the sugar-coating, but my life has been changed by this show and fandom. Characters like Pinkie Pie, for me, are an encouragement that general positivity is solidly rewarding. I have taken and applied so many morals from the show that, subjectively, I'd probably brush off as kids' stuff - and they've really made a difference. I've been told that I act so much perkier and with more enthusiasm, that I can make any situation have a positive, and that I'm understanding. Catch me a year and two months ago, before I became a Brony, and you'd have me a much less tuned person. Which is why I'll be sticking by this show and continuing to enjoy it just as I do.

Edited February 4, 2013 by Flipturn

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

I guess it's mostly just that the show is so well done, and I'll like any genre if it's done well enough. I also appreciate the purity and innocence of the show, because as you said in the OP, it takes me back to my youth.

[Dusty Soul 2,612]

The show has believable characters that are easy to relate to, the show doesn't go for the stupid humor unlike most of todays cartoons, it actually is clever with it's humor.  The writers and animators really know what they're doing.  The songs are also really good.

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

Where to begin...

 

From an AV perspective, it's got clear, crisp and colorful animation and styling. The songs are original and catchy.

 

From a storytelling perspective, the plots are original and entertaining. Even though the show focuses on Ponyville, Equestria is a whole world that bit by bit we are seeing more and more of. It has a lot of the qualities of an epic. Plus it teaches youth the morals we should live by, and it gives the older audience a refresher course in those same values, which sadly are rather lacking in the "real world." At the same time the stories are believable and clever.

 

In the end, it's a show with qualities that are difficult to find in a lot of other cartoons these days, and near impossible to find on most TV in general. Sure, the show might be directed at 5-10 year old kids, but it's got qualities that resonate with people of all ages and lifestyles - hence the brony community.

 

Not to mention it's always nice to see cultural references peppered into the show (Star Wars ending, The Big Lebowski, etc).

Edited February 4, 2013 by AtomicBassCannon

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Many reasons, on the surface it has great animation, great music, funny jokes, lovable characters, good writing compared to a lot a modern cartoons. Shoot, A Wedding in Canterlot was downright nostalgic and reminded me so much of the awesome cartoons I grew up with. 

 

Also, I like the trading cards because that's nostalgic for me, opening a pack of trading cards and seeing what's inside, any of you that were into Yu-Gi-Oh know what I mean. 

 

But if you dig deeper, it's also the idealism. There just something awesome about seeing good triumph over evil, love win over hate. It's like being a kid again at times, back when I didn't have a care in the world, and wasn't worried about "bad guys" because I believed there was a hero for every villain. 

 

There's also all the show and community have done for me, I cried for the first time in years, I've laughed harder then ever, I've gotten help to become a better writer and artist, I've finally learned to be less self-conscious, it's just amazing.  

Edited February 4, 2013 by Shoboni

[~/XC- BRONY\~ 310]

(hopefully not a respost, looked around.. didn't find anything similar.)

 

Let my rephrase that. Why do you guys like my little pony?

 

Now, i'm saying this in the must un-offensive way. We all know this show was directed toward little kids, 5 - 10 year olds. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite fond of the show and I really enjoy it but I've been thinking, what makes this generation better than the other ones, why do you guys like this show in particular. You all must have your own reasons why you like the show and decided to become a brony. I mean, what makes this show different from all the other shows directed toward 5 - 10 year olds.

 

me, myself. I like the show because of the colors, the colors cheer me up in a way I cant really explain, it feels like the world is pretty dark and gruesome but this show makes me think different. It makes me feel like we still have hope in society and the world. It makes me feel like I was a kid and I saw everything a lot more simpler.

 

Why do you like the show in particular? you must all have your very own reasons, right?

My reasons are the community and the show actually has a plot, unlike anything else on tv. the community is one of the most supporting and cool groups ive ever met! and the show, compared to shows like regular show, adventure time. etc. MLP actually has a sort of story and has characters that I don't want to shoot with a 12 gauge, un like regular show.

[FlutterSky 3]

Sometimes I don't even know why I like it.

It just seems to appeal to me.

I write about it.

I draw about it.

I've even had dreams about it.

Maybe I keep watching for the negative comments I get on it. "You act like such a little kid." "That show is for 3 year old's." "That shows stupid." "Oh, yea, the power of friendship. Whatever." 

Maybe it's because i'm depressed. I see these ponies and they somehow make me feel warm inside. I wish I could reach my hand inside and be dragged into the happy world itself. Escape the world around me. Escape the hate. The dreadfulness. The feeling of water to disappear. 

Maybe it's because of my lack in friends. In truth, I really only have one close friend. And even then, I only made friends with her this year. I see Pinkie Pie and I think to myself: She's so social. I wish I could be like her, not to shy and afraid of life. Be friends with everyone in town. 

Maybe because of my bullying in the past. I watch and the the CMC get bullied by others every so often. And I wish I could of been like them. At the least trying to stand up for myself. Not just let it go on, do nothing about it until some years after. Their a group of good friends, never having to worry about others. While I'm on alert. Trying to avoid those and hide in the corners in despair. 
Sometimes I'll sit and think. Just like I was doing before I came on here. And I think to myself, You're so stupid. Watching ponies. Don't you have anything better to do? But then again... What would I be without My Little Ponies? Just more of a loser than I already am. Life thinks I'm stupid enough already and just keeps hitting me with a stick. 

 

So, I really don't know why I cling to ponies. Maybe I just hope that someday they'll help me turn my life around. And maybe inspire me even more.

[Phoenix237 353]

I like the show for what it is and what it has done for me.

One thing one that I find depressing is the good shows we lost. Yes cartoons eventually end, but or a time the new shows seemed to make up for it.

Then a time came where the quality of the cartoons starte to fall (for me). Eventually I found it hard to stick to a programming that I liked.

Then this cartoon appered, and I wasn't all that skeptical. Coming from someone who watched a lot of cartoons, I knew when a show was good or bad. The way I knew was if I watched the show.

 

When I saw it, I was brought back with memories. A time when cartoons were great. Cartoons for me got me through my childhood. Growing up I was picked on a lot. Cartoons helped me stay happy and never made me feel down.

Watching those ponies for the first time, I was brought with memories of joy and laughter, and I felt great. I continued to watch and joined the fandom, because anything that could cause a huge impact on not only me, but of millions of others, had to be a good show.

 

And that's why I am a brony.

[SkyGust 72]

Its just an awesome show. Good characters, humor, animation, story.... and the fanbase that is always making art, music, and videos... Its great.