If I told you about a group of adult males, who are fans of a children’s cartoon series about ponies, called the “Bronies“, you’d probably tell me to stop kidding. But I’m not. It’s really true.
Ever since “My Little Pony”, an animated TV show from the 80s, was remade in October 2010, the number of geeky, tech savvy guys interested in the show have been on a steady rise. Now titled “My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic,” the show in its new avatar is actually targeted towards preadolescent girls and features pretty, candy-colored ponies. The first sign was the appearance of videos from the show on the website 4chan, which a lot of tech savvy guys tend to visit frequently. Soon, the number of hits on these videos was on the rise, and a community of Pony-lovers was formed. They call themselves the “Bronies” which combines “Bro” and “Ponies”. Bronies hold regular meetings and get-togethers in various cities, supporting each other, watching the cartoons, displaying and exchanging Pony collectibles and merchandise.
Still sounds hard to believe, doesn’t it? Well, different guys seem to have different reasons for their fascination towards the cartoon show. Some say that the high-quality animation is what had them hooked. Others talk about the characters on the show, who seem very real.
The Bronies do have female members, who are surprisingly, a minority. The ladies call themselves the “Pegasisters”. And in case you’re wondering, no, the male members are not gay. At least most of them aren’t. A majority of the Bronies are actually straight men. They claim that their interest in the cartoon is merely a hobby, and has nothing to do with sexuality or gender. Jason Subhani, a 19 year old college student in New York, says that he does not care about showing the world that he is masculine. He has a Pony poster up on his wall, proudly displayed with other heavy-metal ones.
Some of the Bronies do get flak from their family and friends for their seemingly bizarre obsession. They feel they are lucky to have a community that understands and shares their interest.
