Since the announcement of Equestria Girls, bronies all over the Internet have had different opinions. Some are skeptical, some outright hate it, and some like the idea. Myself? I’m skeptical. I don’t outright hate it, but I don’t like the idea of anthropomorphizing these characters. I’ll give it a chance, that’s for sure, but I don’t expect much from it.
Now, aside from our favorite equines becoming human, what do we know about Equestria Girls? We know that Daniel Ingram is doing songs for it; that’s a bit reassuring. We know that it will not affect My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic in any way; also reassuring. Lastly, there are rumors that it’s going to be released in Digiplex Theaters in June and July of this year.
It will not directly affect Friendship is Magic. We have the always great Daniel Ingram doing the music. It’s going to be released in theaters…so it may just be a “one time thing” (or it could spawn a series, who knows?). What could possibly go wrong? I’ll tell you…
This might be Hasbro’s way of making Friendship is Magic a “little girl’s show.”
Right now, all we can do is speculate.
I don’t know what to think of Hasbro right now. They’ve filed multiple cease-and-desist letters to fan artists over the past few months. Hasbro is to bronies as EA is to gamers (or Call of Duty in some cases). The majority of bronies really don’t like Hasbro, and sometimes it seems that Hasbro really doesn’t like bronies. This is just speculation, but I think Hasbro is scared of bronies. We’re different. We’re grown men and women who watch colorful equines saving the day. Hasbro’s original intention was to make this a show for little girls only. The target demographic is somewhere around the ages 3-9. Then the bronies came along and changed the system. Now Hasbro has a fandom on their hands, one that basically represents the My Little Pony franchise now. When people think of My Little Pony, they don’t think of Hasbro, they think of bronies. Bronies write dark fan fics, make fan animations, make art, make plushies. Bronies make more merchandise, better merchandise, for My Little Pony than Hasbro ever has. Why do bronies make better merchandise than Hasbro does? Because bronies make their art out of love for the show, while Hasbro does it for profit (considering they’re a toy corporation).
I personally think, and I hope that I’m wrong, that Equestria Girls is Hasbro’s way of taking My Little Pony back, and making it a show purely for little girls. Equestria Girls is Hasbro’s answer to bronies; Equestria Girls would be for bronies, and Friendship is Magic would be for children (no more fight scenes, no more witty remarks… just a kid’s show). This puts Friendship is Magic back within its target demographic. It’s less “uncomfortable” for Hasbro executives to have an adult fan base for a show about human girls on their hands, than it is to have an adult fan base for a show about ponies on their hands.
If this is the case, it’s sad. Hasbro is sitting on a gold mine with Friendship is Magic and the brony fandom, and if the above scenario is truly what’s going on, they’re throwing that gold mine away and slapping bronies in the face.
What do fans think of Equestria Girls?
Our fandom tends to have strong opinions. With Twilicorn, for example, some fans panicked, some threatened to leave the fandom and some loved the idea (myself included). I found it appropriate to gather a few fan reactions to Equestria Girls. I spoke with several Bronies, and got their opinions on Equestria Girls.
David Larsen: “I’m not terribly fond of the concept, and unless the reviews are exceptionally good, I don’t think I’ll be likely to watch it. But as long as it doesn’t leak into Friendship is Magic by becoming FiM canon, I think it’s fine that they’re trying out new things, and I hope it’ll be a success.”
Stormy Specter: “I think it’s a smart idea but also think it’s kind of lame; the idea of the ponies becoming human just doesn’t fit in (well for Lyra’s sake it’s a good thing) but I think it would be cool to see. I mean, yeah they are humans and it somewhat reminds me of Bratz, but we just got to give it a chance like we did with MLP FiM. But over all just let the writers do what they do, and besides, if Equestria Girls turns out to be real bad, just don’t watch it because it’s a spinoff; that means it won’t involve the My Little Pony we all know and love.”
Emily Koch: “I’m not a fan. I personally just don’t like the idea…to me, it sounds like another way for Hasbro to sell more toys and make more money. But when it comes out, I’ll give it a watch. If I like it, I’ll keep watching. If not, I just won’t watch it!”
DJ Calcos: “The biggest reason that we love My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic in the first place is because it takes girly material and makes it awesome. FiM isn’t good in spite of it’s girliness, but because it is girly, in all the best ways.
Equestria Girls looks to complete reverse that, and do it’s best to go back to the days of having entertainment for girls and women always be about chasing after boys, fashion, and other “girly” things. Basically, I predict it to be as shallow as possible. That’s the thing about FiM that people see, but never feel: Friendship is Magic glorifies absolutely everything that’s amazing about being female.
We have characters who enjoy athletics, love science and learning, run a business about fashion, adore having a blast, do everything they can to care for everyone and everything, and understand the value of a good work ethic. These characters embody everything good about not just being female, but being human, and presents it in a girly way that’s appealing for everyone. It’s undeniably feminine in design, but that’s why it’s amazing.”
JanAnimations: “Well I must say I’m still pretty confused and at the same time intrigued by the thing, but I’ll gladly give it a shot when it comes out”.
Ryan C: “No sir, I don’t like it.”
The Verdict
I, personally, will give Equestria Girls a chance. I gave My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic a chance, too (The idea appealed to me more though than Equestria Girls).
No matter what happens with My Little Pony in the future, just remember: we’re all bronies, and we all have got to stick together.
Laus deo. May peace flow throughout this fandom.