Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans Of My Little Pony

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I am not a brony.  Even if Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans Of My Little Pony doesn’t quite reach its goal, the documentary inspires me to consider how I got here.  Despite volumes of books written on a show I don’t particularly like, any consequences have been spared since my interest remains completely hidden.  Bronies depicts less fortunate souls as director Laurent Malaquais attempts to show that the My Little Pony fandom isn’t so weird after all, but he can’t congeal his footage into a compelling story.  Malaquais splits time between specific bronies’ lives from around the world and interviews with various cast members, although neither angle ends up being explored deeply enough.  That My Little Pony has helped these specific people cannot be denied, but one wonders if every celebrity appears more for their careers than the fans.  Making matters worse are a few animated shorts (starring John de Lancie) which try explaining bronies with a Gilbert and Sullivan-esque tune, but only end up stereotypically dividing them into non-existent groups.  However, Malaquais does at least capture the fandom’s spirit, which shines through for large stretches and makes Bronies an overall enjoyable experience.  Focusing on those fans who are unaccepted by their community is wise, but Malaquais doesn’t demonstrate why this show inspires such devotion.  No time is spent on any character besides Twilight (because of Tara Strong), while the writing and episode strength doesn’t match other top shows of its era.  Every interview subject still seems like an outsider who looks and acts very strange, while they’re not entirely humanized or made to seem remotely normal.  Not that anyone should, but the distinct question of “why?” hangs over Bronies without ever being answered.  At least it hints that My Little Pony’s positive outlook came as a respite after 2008’s economic recession, which similarly parallels the Beatles and Shirley Temple in history.  And the love felt and good times had by every convention-goer are definitely infectious.  Pacing and editing problems still dominate however, while having to meet celebrity demands doesn’t help either.  Malaquais makes some progress on a vexing conundrum for outsiders though, even if Bronies almost certainly won’t recruit any new fans.

My Little Pony - Friendship Is Magic: Episode 512 - Amending Fences

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Amending Fences plays as either the second part or flipside to Slice Of Life, but yet explores completely different ground despite starting from a similar spot.  Instead of fan-derived background characters, M.A. Larson based his script on one throwaway moment which occurs two minutes into the pilot.  These ponies had lines and some personality, but were then completely forgotten.  Twilight brushed past them and their party invitation before investigating her suspicions regarding the “Mare in the Moon” prophecy, and she was subsequently sent to Ponyville for good.  While Amending Fences’ story may feel familiar, Larson again took bold risks by strongly adhering to continuity and eschewing any sort of “interesting” plot.  But focusing on character interactions is never anything less than compelling.  Those three ponies who confronted Twilight (Minuette, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts) were barely moved and seem happy having some tenuous celebrity connection.  The mentioned but previously unseen Moondancer behaves quite differently though.  Without actual time travel, Larson uses her to show an alternate universe where Twilight never made friends.  Moondancer’s design and other similarities are therefore quite intentional.  But she also might be a shy introvert who got hurt and then retreated into herself.  Larson doesn’t have time for developing every new character, but Minuette and Moondancer are more well-defined than certain recurring ones.  He also touches on celebrity culture and (possible) autism while clearing up loose threads literally no one cared about.  This decision makes Equestria seem like a real world with consequences rather than an episodic TV show which always starts and ends in the same place.  Like its sister episode Slice Of Life, Amending Fences feels very different from “normal” My Little Pony outings, but Larson correctly realized that this show was well-suited for such material.  By using continuity to explore human themes and showing more “background” characters who deserve being seen again, Amending Fences stands as yet another testament to Larson’s superiority of craft.

My Little Pony - Friendship Is Magic: Episode 513 - Do Princesses Dream Of Magic Sheep?

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M.A. Larson joked on Twitter that Scott Sonneborn was his pen name, but Do Princesses Dream Of Magic Sheep? suggests it is one for Meghan McCarthy instead.  Luna asks the mane six for help battling bad dreams, but this somehow includes a retconned villain and “that was easy” plot solutions.  Apparently figuring third time’s the charm, directors Jayson Thiessen and Jim Miller offer yet another story, but this time their premise is excellent.  Unfortunately, one can feel Sonneborn battling against his own script, as he just isn’t good enough to pull the episode off.  With My Little Pony visiting dreams once again, Sonneborn was given an opportunity to have fun and go crazy, which sort of happened.  There are isolated strong moments, but Sonneborn can’t find consistency or move away from mane six stereotypes.  However, Princesses feels enjoyable overall and Luna’s final development unquestionably elevates the episode over Sonneborn’s other works.  Considering what could have been though, it’s still disappointing.  Sonneborn never matches the joyful mood of Larson’s outings, with too many scenes feeling insincere.  Would Applejack really enjoy a dream about one big apple, or would Rarity find those creepy ugly dresses flying around “divine”?  These show Sonneborn doesn’t have adequate character knowledge or insight, and the animators adding a few background pony references can’t make up for this deficiency.  He never shakes a feeling of incompetence, which prevents Princesses from matching season five’s other top efforts.  This episode could have been great in someone else’s hands, since the freedom of dreams allows much potential for character development.  But it didn’t happen, and Sonneborn got caught up enough in what he explored that the ending feels extremely rushed.  Clearly having other writing partners kept Sonneborn out of the doghouse, since Luna’s development far exceeds his season four efforts.  But it was also probably part of Thiessen and Miller’s story, and seems tacked on in Confalone’s structure.  Princesses still provides plenty to like, but the premise couldn’t be screwed up and most My Little Pony writers would have produced a better script.  Oh, and Tank’s awake now and perfectly fine.  So much for that episode about “dying” then.

My Little Pony - Friendship Is Magic: Episode 511 - Party Pooped

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Inexplicably giving it another go, directors Jayson Thiessen and Jim Miller farmed out their second straight story for Party Pooped, which doesn’t really pertain to the titular event.  While offering another “diversity” story that never shows it, writer Nick Confalone fares better by attempting way too much and having some things stick.  Twilight is preparing for a visit from Yakyakistan delegates (yes, he went there), but these ruffians smash anything around when the slightest thing angers them.  This occurs when something isn’t exactly like what they know from home, or always.  Eventually pinning their diplomacy hopes on Pinkie Pie’s upcoming party, she travels to Yakyakistan hoping to find something which will please them.  Early scenes struggle with the Yaks’ repetitive behavior and more crazy eyes from Twilight and Pinkie, but Party Pooped improves slightly during Pinkie’s trip (usually writers force another character along so the main one can converse with someone, but Confalone averts this trope by having Pinkie talk to herself, which works better than it would for most).  Despite producing a few laughs, Confalone’s effort feels raw (Pinkie Pie is always called by both names), and never successfully answers why it exists.  The Yaks were never mentioned before and act like stereotypical heathens who possess few redeeming qualities (outside of an apparent love for Chopin).  Twilight and Pinkie going crazy (again) simultaneously isn’t compelling, and the mane six seem oddly absent from an episode which features them prominently.  But the Yaks’ portrayal may also have some real life basis, and Confalone finds a decent lesson that his episode actually arrives at.  This doesn’t mean Party Pooped isn’t over the top while being rather frivolous, but Confalone does score some positives.  While problematic overall and certainly unnecessary, it doesn’t reach earlier season five lows and definitely shows partial intelligence.  Even if Party Pooped ends up being forgettable, it still claws toward some middle ground and creates a few memorable moments.