By Paul Esau (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: March 28, 2012
Love and tolerate: this is the primary message of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic television show, as defined by SUS vice president financial Samuel Broadfoot, host of UFV’s first ever official Brony party. Broadfoot was the driving force behind the March 19 event, which featured pizza, games, episodes of the TV show and cupcakes.
The event revealed a thriving UFV Brony community, who channeled their energy into activities like “pin the tail on the pony” and grooving to fan-made remixes of the My Little Pony soundtrack. Some even wore Brony-inspired gear bedazzled with rainbows and pastel colours, presumably to match the sprinkles they’d heaped upon their cupcakes.
Shane Potter, vice president east for the 2012-2013 year, defined the term Brony for those wondering. “A Brony is someone that is a fan of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, and one that enjoys the show and enjoys the principles of friendship and magic.”
The leader of the herd, Broadfoot, was more specific. “A Brony is anyone who can, without throwing up, watch three consecutive episodes of My Little Pony and still like it.”
One thing many attendees wished to stress is the vague nature of the word “Brony” in regards to the fandom of My Little Pony. Most were recreational Bronies, in contrast to the term’s more extreme internet manifestations.
“A person who enjoys the show itself could be a Brony, but it’s more like a gradient of sorts,” Aaron Siebenga clarified. “There’s people who are slightly in and just watch the show. There’s people who are more in-depth who look at the fanart, listen to the music, collect fan art and music. And then there are the cosplayers, the people who actually make the music, make the art, things like that.”
When asked if Bronyism is a philosophy, a hobby or a religious movement, Siebenga was less conclusive.
“Some people think it’s a religion, some people think it’s a cult. Personally I think it’s a hobby of sorts and if people appreciate the characteristics and principles represented by the show then that’s just an added bonus.”
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic follows the adventures of six ponies: Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Apple Jack, as they strive to strengthen their friendship in the town of Ponyville. Each episode embodies a certain theme or moral about friendship. The show premiered on The Hub in 2010.
