A documentary about 'Bronies', a group of adult, male fans of the television series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.A documentary about 'Bronies', a group of adult, male fans of the television series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.A documentary about 'Bronies', a group of adult, male fans of the television series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
- Director
- Stars
Photos
Storyline
Featured review
The Dark Side of the Rainbow
At only 24 Minutes, Sam Cooke's short documentary encamps pretty much everything you'd ever have to know about the Children's television-show "My Little Pony" and the cult-like followers who have christened themselves "Bronies". It's the stuff that would probably haunt Werner Herzog in his nightmares (and that he might have produced himself, if Herzog was interested in children's shows).
In case you have never heard of "My Little Pony". Imagine an updated version of "The Care Bears"-cartoons from the 80's, only way shallower and infinitely cheaper animated. Imagine the "Barney & Friends" show, which apparently taught kids to confront unpleasant realities with denial and unconditional love. Now multiply those shows by a thousand, just with colorful, prancing and singing Ponies instead of a purple dinosaur. Then add another couple spoons of sugar.
"My Little Pony", based on a failed toy-line from Hasbro, has first reared its colorful head in 2010. Shows like those come and go (usually when the "target-audience" has outgrown them) and one would have imagined that since it had been replaced by one fad or another, but instead it became a social phenomenon. Rather than the intended target (pre-puberty girls), it appealed mainly to males between the ages of 14 and 35. Those quickly formed a scene of its own, consisting of the "Bronies" (an amalgamation of the words "brother" and "ponies"). Like most scenes, the Bronies soon staged their own conventions, the "Bronycon"-convention for example, where the fans gather, dress up like their favorite Ponies and, of course, spend their money on overpriced merchandise and trinkets.
Cooke took his camera to one of those convention and the first thing that strikes the eye is, that the audience consists predominantly of "man-children" (who by their age should have outgrown watching TV-shows for little girls) and adults, who seem to enjoy the company of children (perhaps even a little too much, without wanting to raise accusations). Most of those kids look like they're either on medication or at least are in dire need of some. We see kids who stutter, generally have an air of confusion and wide-eyed teenage-Angst about them and some who look like they're on the point of snapping. All the while the merchandise-peddlers milk the crowd for all it's worth (one kid proudly presents a cheap cotton-scarf which has a print of his favorite pony, proudly declaring that he paid 40 Dollars for the junk, despite better knowledge that this doesn't leave him with a nickel and a dime to ride home with). Others will purchase five or six "value-meals" at some local fast-food-joint (which will of course contain "My Little Pony"-toys and trinkets, meant to lure children into the establishments).
There are many aspects that make this documentary very interesting: For one, the director allows the interviewed Bronies to speak for themselves. Most cannot articulate the appeal of the show, pretty much employing the old one-liner, "it's a Brony-thing, you wouldn't understand". Some of them mention coming from uneasy backgrounds (being bullied in school or online, suffering from depression, not being understood by parents, etc). Below the incessantly chanted mantra of "love and tolerance", there often is a sentiment of deep-rooted anger and contempt for the outside world, that is generally perceived as hostile and cynical. The stuff that cults are made of (which the Reverent Jim Jones would agree with, if he would still be among us).
One is never quiet sure whether to laugh or cry about "Friendship is Magic". It would be easy to make light of those bizarre kids and misfits, who run around in self-made pony-costumes, spend their time hugging life-sized pony-dolls, and loudly proclaim their eternal love for Twighlight Sparkle and Pinky Pie with a fervor that borders on religious mania. On the other hand one tries to suppress a giggle, knowing fully well that a lot of those people are deeply disturbed, probably facing a future that is everything else but "painted in rainbow colors".
I'd give "Friendship is Magic" 8 points from 10, mainly for presenting its point precisely, in such a short time and non-judgemental (there virtually is no narration).
In case you have never heard of "My Little Pony". Imagine an updated version of "The Care Bears"-cartoons from the 80's, only way shallower and infinitely cheaper animated. Imagine the "Barney & Friends" show, which apparently taught kids to confront unpleasant realities with denial and unconditional love. Now multiply those shows by a thousand, just with colorful, prancing and singing Ponies instead of a purple dinosaur. Then add another couple spoons of sugar.
"My Little Pony", based on a failed toy-line from Hasbro, has first reared its colorful head in 2010. Shows like those come and go (usually when the "target-audience" has outgrown them) and one would have imagined that since it had been replaced by one fad or another, but instead it became a social phenomenon. Rather than the intended target (pre-puberty girls), it appealed mainly to males between the ages of 14 and 35. Those quickly formed a scene of its own, consisting of the "Bronies" (an amalgamation of the words "brother" and "ponies"). Like most scenes, the Bronies soon staged their own conventions, the "Bronycon"-convention for example, where the fans gather, dress up like their favorite Ponies and, of course, spend their money on overpriced merchandise and trinkets.
Cooke took his camera to one of those convention and the first thing that strikes the eye is, that the audience consists predominantly of "man-children" (who by their age should have outgrown watching TV-shows for little girls) and adults, who seem to enjoy the company of children (perhaps even a little too much, without wanting to raise accusations). Most of those kids look like they're either on medication or at least are in dire need of some. We see kids who stutter, generally have an air of confusion and wide-eyed teenage-Angst about them and some who look like they're on the point of snapping. All the while the merchandise-peddlers milk the crowd for all it's worth (one kid proudly presents a cheap cotton-scarf which has a print of his favorite pony, proudly declaring that he paid 40 Dollars for the junk, despite better knowledge that this doesn't leave him with a nickel and a dime to ride home with). Others will purchase five or six "value-meals" at some local fast-food-joint (which will of course contain "My Little Pony"-toys and trinkets, meant to lure children into the establishments).
There are many aspects that make this documentary very interesting: For one, the director allows the interviewed Bronies to speak for themselves. Most cannot articulate the appeal of the show, pretty much employing the old one-liner, "it's a Brony-thing, you wouldn't understand". Some of them mention coming from uneasy backgrounds (being bullied in school or online, suffering from depression, not being understood by parents, etc). Below the incessantly chanted mantra of "love and tolerance", there often is a sentiment of deep-rooted anger and contempt for the outside world, that is generally perceived as hostile and cynical. The stuff that cults are made of (which the Reverent Jim Jones would agree with, if he would still be among us).
One is never quiet sure whether to laugh or cry about "Friendship is Magic". It would be easy to make light of those bizarre kids and misfits, who run around in self-made pony-costumes, spend their time hugging life-sized pony-dolls, and loudly proclaim their eternal love for Twighlight Sparkle and Pinky Pie with a fervor that borders on religious mania. On the other hand one tries to suppress a giggle, knowing fully well that a lot of those people are deeply disturbed, probably facing a future that is everything else but "painted in rainbow colors".
I'd give "Friendship is Magic" 8 points from 10, mainly for presenting its point precisely, in such a short time and non-judgemental (there virtually is no narration).
helpful•11
- t_atzmueller
- Nov 15, 2014
Details
- Country of origin
- Language
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime24 minutes
- Color
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content