My Little Brony II: The Cloppening

[CivilianOfTheFandomWars]

All the chatter in this thread reignited some nostalgia, and I watched back a few episodes to see if they hold up at all.
Honestly, the show is enjoyable. Not offensively bad, not outstandingly good, but just comfy and fun enough that you don't mind it.
Why it grew such a huge 'adult' fandom is beyond me, I was 13 when I was into it (PL, I know), so I think that many Bronies were more fans of the fandom rather than of the show entirly.

 

[Solid Snek]

Twitter just sent me this...?

The only brony I keep tabs on is Graeme Kelly, and it wasn't something he sent out. This is literally Twitter itself trying to get me to follow G5 hashtags.

 

[Green-Machine]

Twitter just sent me this...?

View attachment 2579024
The only brony I keep tabs on is Graeme Kelly, and it wasn't something he sent out. This is literally Twitter itself trying to get me to follow G5 hashtags.

 

[Neet Tokusatsu]

All the chatter in this thread reignited some nostalgia, and I watched back a few episodes to see if they hold up at all.
Honestly, the show is enjoyable. Not offensively bad, not outstandingly good, but just comfy and fun enough that you don't mind it.
Why it grew such a huge 'adult' fandom is beyond me, I was 13 when I was into it (PL, I know), so I think that many Bronies were more fans of the fandom rather than of the show entirly.

I think that should be general knowledge by now, i'd go as far a saying that the vast majority of the fandom never watched a single episode, it was just entry-level furfagottry, an easy way to "fit in" right in the time when social media was getting popular with the normies.

 

[UnsufficentBoobage]

till, it's strange considering that, as far as i know, Hasbro never bothered to capitalize on these people

Are you fucking kidding. They sunk a ton into "badass" molded "show-accurate" toys which then shelf-warmed. They made Trixie riding a rocket. We are probably never getting normal brushable male in the toyline again because of fallout of this shit.
Fucking fake fans.

 

[Enig]

Are you fucking kidding. They sunk a ton into "badass" molded "show-accurate" toys which then shelf-warmed. They made Trixie riding a rocket. We are probably never getting normal brushable male in the toyline again because of fallout of this shit.
Fucking fake fans.

Well it also didn't help that:
a) stores fucked Hasbro over by having collective autism about where to even put them because it wasn't pink enough for the girl aisle or generic enough for the midsectionals
b) Hasbro, in their lethargic boomer wisdom, did it three fucking years late to really make any profit from it seeing as everything had peaked in 2014 already

Also in muppet dog news, I dug this fun one about their toy delivery dilemma for 2021 up from July:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/hasbro...-work-around-shipping-constraints-11627332252

This was before the magnitude of the trucking crisis began to be known, so it's going to be fun to see them blame COVID for G5 not selling and being unable to be kept in stock even though they had toys for it on shelves for months not selling anyway.

 

[UnsufficentBoobage]

stores fucked Hasbro over by having collective autism

This actually keeps happening specifically with MLP, as company outsourced to make retro releases (exact copies of original 80s toys) had to drop an entire line because of some gay-ass "risks" cited at them.

 

[Punished Benis]

I'm not sure Hasbro is trying to shoe them away, either. Like @AnOminous says, Hasbro did at least one episode of the previous Generation that was entirely fandom memes - not to mention things like the Chrischan episode, the War episode, and several coomerbait epsiodes - and there is some indication that will continue.

In the leadup to this film release, there was a rumor that G5 was going to be a "dark, gritty reboot, geared towards older fans" - but it's not. Not by any means. (the darkest element, the race war plot, is apparently resolved by the end of the first episode) In that sense, Hasbro might be backing off catering to Bronies. But the film also has several elements that were probably intended, at least in part, to bring bronies back.

• There's a musical number where the ponies sing about, and display, their butts. I checked Derpibooru last night to see how people are reacting to the film, and of course the butt scene is incredibly popular. It's nothing on the level of that one "DeviantArt fetish episode" from G4, or the Fluttershy Singing episode where it's a string of ass shots and shower scenes, but the intent seems clear.
• There are more male characters this time around, and one of the "Mane Five" is a guy (in G4, the only major male character was a baby dragon simp-slave)
• There's some artwork in the background of several scenes which was clearly drawn by brony fanartists.
• And at one point, the main character screams "EAT MY ASS" at a room full of ponies.

That said, I don't think this will be anywhere near as popular as G4 was, mostly because the character writing isn't anywhere near as strong.

Spoiler

The character writing was, I think, the primary reason why MLP got so popular. In G4, you knew exactly who each character was within five minutes of meeting her; her interests, her strengths, her flaws. Fluttershy was sweet and autistic, Pinkie Pie was a hyperactive spaz with mental health problems; Rainbow Dash was brave and competitive but also lazy and a bit of a cyberbullying shitposter, Rarity was a thot. Having strong, memorable characters is a good sign in any show, but it was particularly helpful for lonely 20-something autists, who were able to identify with, and "befriend", the G4 ponies very quickly. Autists have trouble picking up on subtle social cues, but even for the terminally autistic, there's no mistaking who the G4 ponies were, what they wanted and what they were about.

But G5? The characters are very flat. Even after an hour of screentime, you don't get a feel for who they are or how they'd react in any given situation. There's SOME brony community coping and seething about this lack of characterization so far, with the emphasis on cope - they seem to be hoping/assuming that the G5 characters will become more fleshed out and relatable as more and more media gets pumped out. I doubt this will be the case (one of the major downfalls of G4 was the fact that in later seasons, Hasbro kept pushing more and more useless "toy sales" characters, characters who were never improved or fixed), and I assume that seethe will become more common within a year. But we'll have to wait and see!

CHRISCHAN might not mind, though. I can't presume to speak on his behalf, but given that Chris is one of the few bronies who actually watched G1-3, I don't think the problems with G5 would faze him.

not to mention things like the Chrischan episode, the War episode, and several coomerbait epsiodes - and there is some indication that will continue.

It's nothing on the level of that one "DeviantArt fetish episode" from G4, or the Fluttershy Singing episode where it's a string of ass shots and shower scenes

I'm sorry, what.

I'm reading back through the thread now, bur I haven't kept up with anything involving horses or horsefuckers since... Season 5-ish, so 2015?

When, what, and why? If you don't mind explaining.

 

[Solid Snek]

I'm sorry, what.

I'm reading back through the thread now, bur I haven't kept up with anything involving horses or horsefuckers since... Season 5-ish, so 2015?

When, what, and why? If you don't mind explaining.

ChrisChan was a recurring background character. Usually didn't do much, but he is featured prominently in an episode where the Tara Strong pony, Twilight Sparkle, goes on what is essential a Brony Convention Cruise, and gets harassed by her asshole fans. It's clearly based on Bronies, one of at least two episodes that criticized the fandom (the other one being the Patton Oswald episode), and iirc it was written shortly after Tara got into some Twitter fights with Chris. I don't know if the Chris reference was planned all along by the entire crew, or if the Chris reference was just an easter egg thrown in by a memelord animator, but...

Chris, Barb, and Robertchu. In happier times...


The War episode was an alternate future episode where one of the villains "wins", and all of Ponyville turns into a grimdark, futuristic warzone. If you follow the Brony fandom for any amount of time, you'll discover that grimdark, futuristic warzones are one of the most popular settings for fanfics, so this episode was pretty much just brony fanwank.

Spoiler

The DA fetish episode, I don't remember when it happened exactly. But there was an episode, or maybe a string of episodes, where the writer and animators were clearly trying to pack as many weird fetishes in as possible; things like inflation, smelly feet sniffing, age regression, vore, and hypnotism.

Spoiler

And yes, there's a ton of porn based on this over at Derpibooru.

And the Fluttershy episode was one of the more egregious "Plot" episodes. FiM had numerous episodes that featured Fluttershy fanservice (the one where she turned Goth, the one where she was a bee, the one where she changed into a vampire), but the episode where she used a Potion of Gender Change so that she could pretend to be a guy and sing vocals for another pony to lip sync to, was notable for having multiple, obvious ass shots. Not gonna post screencaps of Fluttershy twerking, but that's what happened.

 

[DDBCAE CBAADCBE]

All the chatter in this thread reignited some nostalgia, and I watched back a few episodes to see if they hold up at all.
Honestly, the show is enjoyable. Not offensively bad, not outstandingly good, but just comfy and fun enough that you don't mind it.
Why it grew such a huge 'adult' fandom is beyond me, I was 13 when I was into it (PL, I know), so I think that many Bronies were more fans of the fandom rather than of the show entirly.

Yeah, honestly I watched it for a little while and then eventually just stopped when it got a bit repetitive for my tastes. It genuinely not all that bad. I think it’s a shame that the show ended up being so finely associated with Bronies.

 

[Punished Benis]

ChrisChan was a recurring background character. Usually didn't do much, but he is featured prominently in an episode where the Tara Strong pony, Twilight Sparkle, goes on what is essential a Brony Convention Cruise, and gets harassed by her asshole fans. It's clearly based on Bronies, one of at least two episodes that criticized the fandom (the other one being the Patton Oswald episode), and iirc it was written shortly after Tara got into some Twitter fights with Chris. I don't know if the Chris reference was planned all along by the entire crew, or if the Chris reference was just an easter egg thrown in by a memelord animator, but...

View attachment 2588587
Chris, Barb, and Robertchu. In happier times...


The War episode was an alternate future episode where one of the villains "wins", and all of Ponyville turns into a grimdark, futuristic warzone. If you follow the Brony fandom for any amount of time, you'll discover that grimdark, futuristic warzones are one of the most popular settings for fanfics, so this episode was pretty much just brony fanwank.

Spoiler

View attachment 2588600

The DA fetish episode, I don't remember when it happened exactly. But there was an episode, or maybe a string of episodes, where the writer and animators were clearly trying to pack as many weird fetishes in as possible; things like inflation, smelly feet sniffing, age regression, vore, and hypnotism.

Spoiler

View attachment 2588655

And yes, there's a ton of porn based on this over at Derpibooru.

And the Fluttershy episode was one of the more egregious "Plot" episodes. FiM had numerous episodes that featured Fluttershy fanservice (the one where she turned Goth, the one where she was a bee, the one where she changed into a vampire), but the episode where she used a Potion of Gender Change so that she could pretend to be a guy and sing vocals for another pony to lip sync to, was notable for having multiple, obvious ass shots. Not gonna post screencaps of Fluttershy twerking, but that's what happened.

Huh. I remember the season 5 finale having alternate timelines involving war, but none of the others. I skipped most of season 5 though, and never watched past the finale.

I remember the shitshow on /mlpol/ when dragons and yaks and other shit started living in Equestria, though. That was hilarious.

 

[NoonmanR]

Yeah, honestly I watched it for a little while and then eventually just stopped when it got a bit repetitive for my tastes. It genuinely not all that bad. I think it’s a shame that the show ended up being so finely associated with Bronies.

I watched the first two seasons myself. Kinda had to force it to honestly, everyone kept saying this was amazing 10/10 experience, and while what i saw of it was a perfectly wholesome show, i absolutely did not got the appeal. Eventually figured out that "I watch it for the plot" was a code for something and it wasn't just the quality of the show.

Oh well, rest in peace i suppose.

 

[CivilianOfTheFandomWars]

I watched the first two seasons myself. Kinda had to force it to honestly, everyone kept saying this was amazing 10/10 experience, and while what i saw of it was a perfectly wholesome show, i absolutely did not got the appeal. Eventually figured out that "I watch it for the plot" was a code for something and it wasn't just the quality of the show.

Oh well, rest in peace i suppose.

To me, the wholesomeness was the appeal. Just a comfy, wholesome show that you sit back and watch without putting too much thought into it.
But I repeat myself.

 

[StarDreamer2002]

Has Chris watched the new film?

 

[LolRaccoon]

Fox News put out an article accusing the new movie if being woke. I don't think it is.

The movie has the message that is the age old "racism is bad, kay?" story, and that is fine. Everybody in the movie except Sunny and her dad were racist. Everybody. If it were woke, then it would be "these ponies were born privileged and prejudiced and we need to call them out."

 

[CivilianOfTheFandomWars]

Fox News put out an article accusing the new movie if being woke. I don't think it is.

The movie has the message that is the age old "racism is bad, kay?" story, and that is fine. Everybody in the movie except Sunny and her dad were racist. Everybody. If it were woke, then it would be "these ponies were born privileged and prejudiced and we need to call them out."

MLP has had some pretty racist things for a while, tbh.

 

[Enig]

Fox News put out an article accusing the new movie if being woke. I don't think it is.

The movie has the message that is the age old "racism is bad, kay?" story, and that is fine. Everybody in the movie except Sunny and her dad were racist. Everybody. If it were woke, then it would be "these ponies were born privileged and prejudiced and we need to call them out."

Meanwhile no one's asking where everything sentient but ponies went to. Already got signs the unicorns got Andrew Jackson'd into a forest, but the whole "huh there's no dragons or yaks or whatever" thing is a real funny looming event there.

 

[CivilianOfTheFandomWars]

Meanwhile no one's asking where everything sentient but ponies went to. Already got signs the unicorns got Andrew Jackson'd into a forest, but the whole "huh there's no dragons or yaks or whatever" thing is a real funny looming event there.

FIM established that Equestria is a very xenophobic and nationalist kingdom that is intolerant of dragons, griffons, yaks, and zebras to the point of hiding in their homes when one comes to town.
In other words, Equestria is pretty based.

 

[StarDreamer2002]

MLP has had some pretty racist things for a while, tbh.

Like fedora neckbeards.

 

[Neet Tokusatsu]

I watched the first two seasons myself. Kinda had to force it to honestly, everyone kept saying this was amazing 10/10 experience, and while what i saw of it was a perfectly wholesome show, i absolutely did not got the appeal. Eventually figured out that "I watch it for the plot" was a code for something and it wasn't just the quality of the show.

Oh well, rest in peace i suppose.

Same here, watched the first 2 seasons, and i was even part of a mlp imageboard at that time, but as soon as season 2 ended, i flat out dropped the show and stopped posting in that imageboard altogether. I guess i never liked FiM all that much, i was just caught in the hype, since FiM was as its peak during the first couple of years.

Looking back, it saved me a lot of bullshit from the next seasons, Twilight turning into an alicorn, that Molestia drama and all those episodes that were nothing but brony fanwank come to mind, i guess i made the right choice.

And now for the next few years people will claim that Gen 5 "It's not that bad, it's actually pretty comfy and wholesome UwU", yeah, no. I'm not even going to bother with this one, i'm done with anything related to mlp.