Do people still like MLP?

Just Wayne

Blingo

Yeah, this is me over-exaggerating and saying how the whole fandom hates the whole thing again. It’s probably as annoying as all the negativity thrown at G5, but I think I can put my question in better words, I think. It’s been about a month since I gave up on it. I think I still can’t let go completely.

I mean I know fanmade stuff is well adored and I think people still like the characters, maybe, probably for porn and fetishes, but like, what about the official stuff? Do people still care about the source material? Whether it’s MYM, TYT, FIM, Equestria Girls, or the comics, anyone still likes official pony stuff? I always see everywhere people saying how some fan stuff does things better than official stuff and that many people leave the show but still stay around sites like this for interacting with people. Obviously it’s because the official stuff is of poor quality and people are dissatisfied with the way the official stuff is going.

I’ve also seen a lot of “villains winning over protagonists and protagonists failing absolutely miserably” thing going on. I mean I know it’s all just in good fun but I can’t help but feel a deeper resentment or at least disappointment toward the way the canon goes. I’ve seen people going absolutely feral toward certain characters in the franchise, which I’ll be fair I’m one of them too. I imagine the hatred people have toward the show is so strong they’re always finding ways to fix it.

Moreover, at the most glaring point, I just don’t see anyone talk about the official stuff positively anymore. Be it G4 or G5, neither seem to be liked at all, G5 even less so with so many YouTube videos I’ve spotted. Again, I don’t feel the love for this franchise. With how many people say they left the show at certain season, I honestly don’t feel like liking it either. I haven’t seen the latest episode of TYT. I played the game but I don’t really see a lot of people talk about it either. Makes sense given the reception G5 is getting. I know people are still having fun with memes and fanarts and other things, but I think that’s it. MLP is over.

Honestly this whole ordeal is just reawakening my own problems I have with the franchise and I’m starting to wonder why I even started watching in the first place. Maybe it should have been over after season 3 or sooner.

Posted 24 days ago Report

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Cake/Ice Cream

I don’t express this through art or fan-made content, but I’m someone who still likes the main show. About a month back, I was really enjoying watching some of the episodes from Season 5 that I only watched once, when I first joined the fandom about four years ago. It was nice to see the Mane 6’s duo adventures with their summons from the Cutie Map in Twiight’s castle.
Even if I’m quiet about it, the main characters of G4 will stay dear to me for the foreseeable future. This show and fandom helped me through the pandemic, and made me feel like a part of a family, in a sense, even if I got into the fandom at about the time the show ended.
In terms of G5, I really liked the movie when it first came out, and even though most of Make Your Mark isn’t really my cup of tea, I’m not the type to stir up drama about it online, and I can respect people who truthfully say that they just simply enjoy aspects of Make Your Mark.

Posted 24 days ago Report

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Starless

Prog rock pony

@Just Wayne
Honestly it’s been more than long enough since G4 started and MLP has been getting worse for a while (depending on who you ask, it could have started to suck as early as season 2 or as late as seasons 8 and 9) to the point to where some of us are questioning whether or not the show was ever that good to begin with. It’s common knowledge that Hasbro doesn’t care about making a quality show, they just want to make money and sell toys. We were never the target demographic of MLP, and it’s no longer profitable for Hasbro to target us. The brony fandom has been “dead” for who knows how long (5 years? 10 years?). G4 has been over for several years now, this fandom has faded into obscurity, and I’d be surprised if the brony fandom ever makes a comeback. I think G4 will be condemned by history, remembered as some below-average show that spawned some huge fad/internet meme that died within 2 or 3 years.

Maybe it should have been over after season 3 or sooner.

If it were up to me the show would have ended after season 5 and the finale would have been completely different (maybe the real Grogar shows up as the final boss, possibly teaming up with Chrysalis, Sombra, Tirek, and Starlight Glimmer). Season 5 was the last great season imo and had FiM ended earlier, we wouldn’t have gotten Countess Coloratura, although it might not have mattered to me. But none of this matters at all.

MLP is basically over. All that’s left of G5 is TYT and when that ends (unless confirmed otherwise, I expect G5 as a whole to end next year), there will be nothing left. This site, Fimfiction, and EquestriaDaily are all still around (although I barely get any notifications anymore so maybe Derpibooru is finally dying), and I don’t think the brony fandom will completely fade away for a long time, but things will never be the same as they were 10+ years ago. MLP doesn’t matter anymore. It’s irrelevant now.

One last thing. If you want to leave the fandom, just leave. Don’t tell anyone you’re leaving the fandom, don’t announce it (this isn’t a job, you don’t need some formal resignation or anything), just leave.

Posted 24 days ago Report

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Blackblade360

About me

@Just Wayne
@Cake/Ice Cream
@Starless

I think the fandom is still alive, and there are MLP fans, even some ogs, that do like G5 such as MyM and TyT. heck, I’m kinda new to this fandom and I like both generations of MLP, including watching some G1 on youtube (I have yet to watch G3).
And there are people that are talking about and playing the new MLP G5 game, there are people that are still making fan art, and fanfictions about MLP, wherever if they are G4, G5, or something else.

The Brony fandom is not exactly dead as well, in other words, “we are still here”, we just are very hidden from some certain toxic haters

Hey and if some of you want to see some active MLP creators, I’ll recommend checking these people out:

Hawk Nightwing/Admiral Produce:
A very talented brony creator that does lots of G5, and soon, some G4 videos. He does some analyzing and music videos. He also in FIMfiction as well, and active there since he own a G5 group.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidentOfTheNewLunarRepublic

FaolanCortez:
I guess this guy is one of the og fans of MLP, and also does some good G5 context.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaolanCortez

dreeze/@dreezegh:
Dreeze creates some popular theories and analyzes videos on G5. They also are working on their own au of G5 as well.
They own a discord server as well
Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@dreezegh/videos

Doc Anubis:
Famous for not only making reviews on G5 and G4, he’s also known for reviewing the comics as well.
He even own a discord server of MLP and other topics
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@doc_anubis

The Nameless One:
Does DnD streams, and does a podcast with different kinds of MLP fans from youtubers, artists, musicians, and writers
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNamelessOne/videos

New Leaf:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NewLeafPony/videos
Famous for making gameplay on random games, which are mostly MLP themed. Also does reaction videos on MLP G5 context.

Gatorgoatjohnny:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gatorgoatjohnny/videos
Does video topics such as the parents of MLP, bat ponies, and many more. This includes both G4 and G5.

And I would also share this message as well:
“Hey everycreature, I know that G5 is hated a lot, though it’s not all bad. Sure yes chapter 2 looks a bit bad, but in the end, and after watching the rest of MyM, then you finally get the context that the whole thing was planned out the whole time. The Together Trees being referenced in the cutie mark swap up episode, Misty going to be reformed, and Sparky having a big role in Chapter 6. I also know that everycreature have opinions, but it’s not right to go out and spread a lot of negativity towards a show, if you don’t like it, then stop hate watching it and move on, go to something that you actually enjoy. It’s not right to literally double down on newer MLP fans that actually wanted to watch G5, or like both MyM and TyT.

The first reason why I’m typing this out, is due to a messed up situation that happened last week, where a fan got harassed over liking G5, and that’s not cool, like at all. I thought we all would learn about friendship. What’s even more ironic is that right before the events of the ANG movie, the three pony tribes were against each other (Similar to the g4 purists..).

As for ending off this message, I would like to share a recent video I found of a very passionate G5 fan, as they explain how they are a fan of MLP in the first place, and where they are now.
Makaryo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcl58BjUuIk

I would also share this video of Hawk Nightwing’s video of how MyM chapter 1-3 is not all bad at all. Indicating that MyM has a plan the whole time, with some foreshadowing.
https://youtu.be/icLBYlDGifg?si=EZ62VZlsLJZhZIj2

Even with some few flaws of G5, and G4, I will always love them both.
Hoof to Heart

P.S Make sure to support your fellow creators and people that you like
Blackblade360

Posted 24 days ago Report

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Just Wayne

Blingo

@Starless
It’s pretty sad to know people have been following a series that has been pretty bad from the start. Was MLP ever really good when the later half of itself wasn’t exactly all that great?

I think I made this post because I was still looking for a glimmer (heh) of hope for this franchise. It’s pretty hard to let it go after following it for more than 12 years, but when I see somewhere someone says that G5 being awful is the popular opinion with a random YouTube video titled “Everything wrong with MLP G5” and then see someone complain nonstop about a part of G4 like Princess Celestia or Starlight Glimmer or the later seasons, it’s also hard to decide which one I should even enjoy. With so many people also going about how G5 is cancelled and have this “I told you so” attitude When they realize they’re right about G5’s short lifespan, I feel even more drained. This is probably the first time I’ve seen a fanbase being so happy about the cancellation of the source material they gathered around for. It feels… sinister.

I think it hits harder for me because I myself used to have this phase where I saw nothing but negative toward the show. It was before G5 was out. After which I decided to watch the whole show again and I was able to get a newfound passion I had for this franchise, a passion that extends to G5. Now though, I think it’s gone again. With everyone else losing passion for it, I can’t find mine either.

It’s ironic. When I had my negative phase I saw that most of everyone else had positive opinions toward the show. Now it’s the complete opposite.

I would say though. I don’t think the fandom is dead. I think the fandom’s passion for MLP is dead. With so many fan stuff still being worked on but it’s for one reason and one reason only: Fanworks fix things.

Posted 23 days ago Report

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donutmasterjoe

Average Pony Joe Enjoyer

I’m rewatching all the seasons, passionate for it. Maybe it’ just me. But I don’t think the brony fandom is entirely dead, just that without much new official content ~~except the comics that many people don’t like~~ it’s just like you said:

I don’t think the fandom is dead. I think the fandom’s passion for MLP is dead. With so many fan stuff still being worked on but it’s for one reason and one reason only: Fanworks fix things.

And I don’t think that’s a bad thing, at all. Fan content was always huge in the fandom, most of it is what brought more fans to the show.

Do people still care about the source material? Whether it’s MYM, TYT, FIM, Equestria Girls, or the comics, anyone still likes official pony stuff?

Yes, and I’ve seen many ponytubers that still discuss the G4 show with official sources, and people who enjoys and are following G5 regiliously. As well toy content, review of already old released ponies or new ponies. It’s just not as huge as before, that’s a fact - I just don’t think the passion overall is dead in the fandom as a whole. Assuming that many of the bronies from 2010s have grown much older than they already were and isn’t everyone that can have a burning passion just for only one thing for several years, that is indeed a minority in every fandom. And the time for MLP: FiM already came. I’m more than glad that, what I have found being in the fandom nowadays, is great enough to be part of it. Afterall, being a brony (in my perspective) isn’t just have a passion for the official source, but actively contribute in the community in any way with official source, since, well, it’s a community.

Honestly this whole ordeal is just reawakening my own problems I have with the franchise and I’m starting to wonder why I even started watching in the first place. Maybe it should have been over after season 3 or sooner.

You don’t have to wonder why you wanted to have fun or why you fell in love with the show’s universe and characters. Enjoy it is it. From somewhere, loving those characters came from something official, in a way. It’s the same as liking Bluey, you enjoy it for whatever reason as well many people do. It’s a fresh thing now, but who knows in 10 years? Maybe a passionate Bluey fan can come wondering with exactly same text as this one.

Posted 23 days ago Report

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Starless

Prog rock pony

@Just Wayne

It’s pretty sad to know people have been following a series that has been pretty bad from the start. Was MLP ever really good when the later half of itself wasn’t exactly all that great?

Yeah the early seasons weren’t terrible but we did have to go through episodes like “The Mysterious Mare-Do Well” before seasons 8 and 9.

I think I made this post because I was still looking for a glimmer (heh) of hope for this franchise. It’s pretty hard to let it go after following it for more than 12 years

Yeah it’s hard to let go and move on but there’s no hope for this franchise.

I think it hits harder for me because I myself used to have this phase where I saw nothing but negative toward the show. It was before G5 was out. After which I decided to watch the whole show again and I was able to get a newfound passion I had for this franchise, a passion that extends to G5. Now though, I think it’s gone again. With everyone else losing passion for it, I can’t find mine either.

It’s been at least 5-6 years since anything good came out of the franchise. Plus G4 has been over for a while now. There isn’t anything to be passionate about anymore.

I would say though. I don’t think the fandom is dead. I think the fandom’s passion for MLP is dead. With so many fan stuff still being worked on but it’s for one reason and one reason only: Fanworks fix things.

Not really, and even if a fan work did fix something it doesn’t matter because it isn’t canon. It’s not going to replace what actually happened in the show. Fan works don’t matter.

Posted 23 days ago Report

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Litrojia

@Just Wayne
First of all, understand that it’s okay to move on from things. And not only is it okay to completely leave an interest behind, but it’s also fine for an interest to simply wane and not fully go away. What matters is that you’re enjoying yourself. And as stated before, making a big deal out of “leaving” doesn’t really benefit anyone.

On MLP in particular though, I think I agree on a lot of what you’re saying. Since FIM ended, I feel like there’s been a big shift in the fandom from focusing on the actual source material to focusing on characters (especially OCs) and common non-MLP interests (mostly gaming). I don’t feel like many people have much of a connection to the source material now. Honestly, I think I’m one of them, and it makes me kinda sad. Long gone is the communal excitement over new episodes with all the discussion and art it generated. For most in the fandom, I feel like individual episodes are distant memory, with the characters reduced to simple caricatures. What’s left are people who have that common formative bond, but often no longer have pony as a central interest.

The people I’m around generally still think positively about G4 but don’t really care about it. I haven’t seen the kind of negativity toward G4 that you describe. G5 is another story, but most people I’m around just ignore G5 because they don’t like what they’ve seen (which is more or less where I’m at). I’ve seen much more complaining about toxic anti-G5 folks than the actual toxic anti-G5 folks. Depends on the sites you’re on I reckon.

Why I’m still here I think is because

I like the fanart
I have friends though the fandom (though frankly I don’t think I fit in as well with brony culture now that MLP itself isn’t as important to it)
I kinda don’t have a life otherwise (though I’d love to change that lol)

I feel like I may move on before too long, but I’m grateful for what the fandom’s provided over the years.

Posted 23 days ago Report

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phoenixacezero

@Litrojia
Yeah. That’s why I’m here still. It also what brought me into gen 4.

Posted 23 days ago Report

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Mr.Myoozik

Music/Charts Enthusiast

Oh boy, still on this huh Wayne? Yeah that question is incredibly vague and open ended, and obviously I can’t speak for everybody in the fandom but here’s my attempt of an answer:

I think that’s a normal thing when it comes to these types of fanbases where after the source material ends, the fans who stay usually do for the fan creations and the friends they’ve made within it. This happening to MLP isn’t surprising since fanbases of other properties are the same thing, so those who stay just for the fanworks and not much for the actual show/game/movie is pretty normal and happens a lot. R34 and fetishes are a very big factor because it’s the Internet and that’s just how it is. That and people can have multiple reasons to leave whether it’d be disinterest, the quality of the source declining, drama, real life commitments and all that so no two fan is alike obviously.

As for the negativity thing, well people have their reasons to dislike things just as much they have for praising it. There are those who hate it just for the sake of it and personally those ones are annoying, there are those who find faults and discuss ways to make it better because not everything is 100% perfect and flaws do come in, and that’s alright. For G5’s case, yeah I do see a lot of negative discourse on YouTube, mostly from reviews who try to hold it to the same standards as G4, which is something that I really don’t like. For those who do like it, they seem to really hold it dear if all the fanart is any indication and tend to disregard the hate towards it.

I stay because even though it’s over, I still think it’s a great show despite its many many faults (which again, is alright) and I have met some great people like everybody else. If you feel like you want to move on from it, then you can, nobody is forcing you to stay and you don’t have to torture yourself trying to stay on something that you don’t feel passionately as you did before. If you get that spark again and reinvigorates your interest, then that’s cool or if you feel like enough is enough and you want to pack up and leave, then that’s cool as well, moving on and finding a new interest is a completely normal thing to do.

Posted 22 days ago Report

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Twi Clown

Übermensch in training

I do.
For my own reasons.

Posted 22 days ago Report

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♬𝕸𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖔𝖜 𝕽𝖍𝖞𝖙𝖍𝖒♪

💙Glass Sight's Chocopon💙

Though I’m not nearly as big a fan as I once was, I still like MLP…. or at least all the fan cotent, plus some of the new G5 stuff. I met lots of great people through the fandom; Some have come and gone, but the memories are still there. The memories still keep coming for me via this site and the odd fan video I see every now and then on YouTube.
There are of course the downsides, of which there have been and still continue to be quite a few, but that’s the same for just about any other fandom.

Posted 22 days ago Report

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