Lauren Faust's question

[Callisto 1,877]

My answer is: I like it because I think it's a good show, with good characters, good writing, fine voice acting and average animation. Not an amazing show. Not a fantastic show. Just, a good show. Frankly, I wouldn't be here if I didn't a least like it. The show is why I'm here in the first place, though the fandom is the main reason I've stayed.

Edited June 12, 2013 by Callisto

[Kamil 315]

I think when it comes to giving the show a try, a lot of people were like "Really? 'My Little Pony' and 'good' in the same sentence? This I've gotta see." I know that's how I felt about it at first, though just with the first two episodes I didn't get beyond "well, it's better than I expected, but not really worth the time." The second time I gave it a try was mainly for "okay, now I really need to find out where all these memes are coming from," so I gave it more of a chance and it grew on me.

 

To answer the question, if I still thought it was just "better than expected" then I wouldn't still be here (especially not while the show isn't even airing). I wouldn't say it's the BEST THING EVER or even close, but it certainly has one of the most varied and cohesive fandoms that can support interest indefinitely.

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

Ive ALWAYS been a huge fan of childrens animation. It was on a bet that i even knew about this show, and upon losing that bet i was forced to watch episode one..... Then i watched episode 2.... and before i knew it i was hooked.... Its one of the only shows ive had a real connection with.... Maybe its the animation, maybe its the whole innocence of it all but its genuinely a great show.

 

Hell its helped me work out alot of my mental anger issues.... MLP is just plain awesome.

[Luximus 482]

Actually, it's both for me. When I first saw the show, I thought it was just going to be some piece of crap that no one but my little sister would watch. But as I started to watch the first two episodes, I didn't think it would be this good of a show. Reasons? Great music, animation, plot line, characters, and a huge, great fandom. That basically explains them both. And I think one leads to another for this question. I think once you realize that it's a better show than you thought, it becomes one of the best shows ever. 

 

You said something about animation? To me, the reason why I think it's better than the rest is because all of the other shows have a low profit for animating. That or they just don't take the time to actually do some awesome magic. It adds more feeling to the show itself, not like any other show I've seen (except maybe Fauster's Home For Imaginary Friends and PPG.) My point is, it's a great show with great animation, and it's better than I expected.

[Wonderbolt_Spitfire 235]

I believe this show is very comparable to most of the great cartoons of the 90s. The cartoon has a wonderful message and real characters that anyone can relate to and attach to emotionally.  The animantion and scripting is great and the songs make it that much greater. I watch a lot of cartoons and to me this is one that genuinely makes me happy whenever I watch it. The morals learned at the end of each episode make me wish that humanity could learn half of what the cartoon is trying to tell you. When all is said and done this will be looked back at for years to come. If the fandom did not exist then the cartoon would still be great, but it's another thing that makes it even more amazing.  The fandom has done a lot for many people that many of us may never know of, but it just lets you imagine all the good this has done, could do, and will do.

[Super Derpy 535]

This really is a good cartoon. The animation is very unique in a good way, the voice acting is great, and the singing is just astounding. I mean I was hooked on the show before I even knew bronies existed. So in the beginning it was how good of a cartoon it was that got me hooked and not the brony community. In my opinion it is a masterpiece of a cartoon and was brilliantly made.

[Gone for good 1,593]

you see I dunno about you guys, but I think the season that Lauren Faust worked on was by far the worst. I think MLP's a great cartoon, but if it weren't for season 2 I wouldn't be on this friggin' forum nor would I label myself as a brony. The fanbast has always fascinated me even after I became part of it, but it was season 2 that made me join in the fun. Season 1 has it's good episodes,but at the same time it has episodes that are just boring.

[Zygen 6,066]

I enjoy the show even before I joined the fandom(I watched all of S1 and S2 before joining the fandon) and I enjoy it still maybe even more now that I can talk about it here.

 

I really don't watch any other cartoons hardly, so I'd say the fact i watch MLP means its a pretty good cartoon.

 

So yeah, there is something special about ponies, I'd say its a cartoon I still enjoy, and I hope I continue to .

[MrHaru 217]

I ended up liking the show because it was a really good show for me. I don't often watch a lot of animation outside of anime because for me I am -very- picky about things I watch. I often find a load of children programming in the past decade to have seen a terrible decline in overall quality control and with MLP not only breaking past the usual (and society) norms of what can be considered 'all around, for all genders' quality television why shouldn't I have been attracted to it? The fact it bears the "My Little Pony" brand name on it is merely a brand name and nothing more.

[hawkflame 3,310]

I believe it is legitimately a good cartoon, mainly because unlike some bronies I did not get into it with low expectations. What led me to get into it at first was Lauren Faust's strong track record with PPG and Fosters, as well as the input of people whose opinions I respect that really enjoyed the show. I expected it to be good, and it met my expectations.

 

To me, unlike others, the fandom is something of a secondary (but large) appeal behind that of the show itself. I like it mostly as a place to discuss the show and the characters themselves, and while I enjoy the artwork, fan animation, fanfiction and so forth, it's not the main reason I'm in the fandom.

 

The writing of the show is very strong (though season 3 wasn't as consistent). The characters are well balanced, you can find reasons to like every single one of them. But they're not perfect and all have their own unique quirks and flaws.

 

In essence the show is a deconstruction and reconstruction of television entertainment for girls. It fixes the problems of most such animations with the aforementioned great writing and characters, breaking stereotypes, going in one direction when other shows would have gone in another. It proves that any kind of material regardless of target audience can be well received and well made if you put the talent and effort behind it.

[Antismurf9001 1,271]

I seem to be one of the oddballs that heard about the fandom before watching the show.  However, I don't think that I would have continued watching the show if it was just 'better than I expected a show about pink ponies would be'.  I would have just decided that I respected it as a cartoon and left it at that, perhaps to watch it occasionally if it was on television at the time.  I do believe that it's a legitimately good cartoon, and I hope that Lauren feels the same way.

[Mzukiller 233]

Dear sweet God, she was on Ponychan? I never knew!

 

To answer OP's question: It's all 3. Fans of the fandom from 4chan made us big and the show kept people around. Personally, I never would've known was it not for a stray Youtube video with the word "brony" in it. And now, I've made it a big part of my life.

 

I would not have stayed if I had thought the show was shit, I hope Lauren takes something from that instead of assuming most of us are here for fanart.

Edited June 16, 2013 by Mzukiller

[Dark Moon 965]

It was the show for me. It is pretty good. I didn't even have a clue about the fandom until my brother started talking about it. Then he showed me a few episodes. 

[lincolnshirepony 527]

I think MLP holds up as one of the best in today's cartoons. The animation is pretty top notch for a flash toon. The art style is definitely one of the most appealing. The writing is clever and the characters are lovable. MLP is a genuinely good cartoon, not just better than expected. Though I think the fandom plays a crucial role in its popularity, the fandom comes from the show being good. At least, that's why I stuck around. 

[Dr. Vojislav Seselj 691]

Ponies are just simply great.

 

We like the show because we can relate to the characters.

 

I agree with @@~Chaotic Discord~, the fandom and show really fit together, this fandom consists only of great and funny people (and the occasional weirdo).

[Beyonder 46]

It is most certainly both. If the only factor was the virility of 4chan, things like the Nicholas Cage "Ya Don't Say" face would be the only things on the Internet, but that clearly isn't the case. Ponies appeal to human nature in a very unique way so as to inspire thoughts of humility, kindness, open-mindedness, and acceptance towards your fellow human beings. This is the unspoken, albeit perceived, message which draws people to ponies, I think.