Explaining the Magic of Friendship

The pony obsession started when someone on the internet noticed how good the cartoon was, and brought it up. As things on the internet do, it caused quite a commotion. Some people watched it too, and found that they loved it, while some just proceeded to hate on it. It eventually climaxed into a rupture of 4chan (which is really quite something), and a split off of bronies and pegasisters who soon brought it to every corner of the internet, eager to share it with everyone. It's one of the most grassroots movements of the web, and for many, it has done more good than it has bad. What made the show so likable in the first place?

It all started with Lauren Faust, who has been a producer of several other cartoons over the years, getting a hold of My Little Pony. She was aware of the fact the My Little Pony had obtained a bad reputation as a media that existed solely to push plastic toys on young girls, so she decided to do something about it. What she did was called "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic". This show took everything that made other shows so bad, and fixed it. I'll give some examples.

#1: Unrealistic Conflict
I don't know how familiar you are with typical children's shows, but if you've seen much of any Strawberry Shortcake or Care Bears, you'll know what I'm talking about. Having had a little sister and multiple younger cousins, I've seen more than my fill of them. One of the things that absolutely plagues these shows is the gut-wrenchingly unrealistic ways conflict is portrayed and resolved. To quote Lauren Faust herself:
"I was extremely skeptical at first about taking the job. Shows based on girls’ toys always left a bad taste in my mouth, even when I was a child. They did not reflect the way I played with my toys. I assigned my ponies and my Strawberry Shortcake dolls distinctive personalities and sent them on epic adventures to save the world. On TV, though, I couldn’t tell one girl character from another and they just had endless tea parties, giggled over nothing and defeated villains by either sharing with them or crying–which miraculously inspired the villain to turn nice. Even to my 7-year-old self, these shows made no sense and couldn’t keep my interest."
In FiM, such things are not only avoided, but made laughingstock of. See the episode "Over a Barrel", where Pinkie Pie's song drives the two sides of the wild west conflict to anger and war.

#2: Girl Power
Wouldn't you think that for a show with such a majority of female characters, this would be extremely prevalent? Even in many shows not aimed at girls, female chauvinism is blatantly obvious. Foolish, fumbling males who spend the majority of their time trying to chase after independent females who outrank them in intelligence and charisma, are the staple of most shows. This problem is entirely non-existant in FiM. Though the main characters, indeed, a majority of characters overall are female, the male characters there are portrayed fairly and unbiased. I could list a number of strong male characters in the show throughout the episodes. I've heard people bring to mention more than once the point that "all the antagonists are male". I don't know where they got this from, but they're wrong. Sure, we have Discord, Prince Blueblood, and the Diamond Dogs, but don't we also have Nightmare Moon, The Great and Powerful Trixie, and Gilda? I see no discrimination there. Besides, like I mentioned. There are plenty of positive male characters in it.

#3: Pop Culture Saturation
Nothing turns me away from something more than incessant pop culture steroetypes. You know, drama queens, fashion shows, pop stars, glitter, and all the girly mushy stuff. The kind of stuff you'd see in a Barbie movie. Thank God I have never had to watch a Barbie movie, but it's obvious enough even though I haven't. Anyways. Though you will find such things as a fashion show, dresses, galas, rainbows, butterflies, and bunnies, they're never used as filler material, or a means to push pop girl culture. Each one of them plays an important part in who the different characters are. In all truth, throughout the show the only one that even expresses an interest in fashion at all is Rarity, and that makes sense. She is a struggling seamstress, after all.

#4: Flying Ice Cream Truck LOL Random Humor
Named after a specific episode of Spongebob, It's the type of humor that shows like Spongebob, or The Mighty Boosh, are full of. Having little wit, most of the humor from such shows comes from randomness, wackiness, and crude humor. Of course, wackiness and randomness have their place on the humor spectrum, but quite honestly, the overuse of it is getting a bit old. Friendship is Magic comes as a refreshing breath of air after it all, as it brings with it real wit and humor. There have been times I've had to pause the show just to go back and watch a hilarious scene over and over again.

#5: Poor Writing/Stuffy Morals
Now, there is nothing wrong with morals. Heck, they're what makes this world a livable place. But really, a lot of children's shows have been so ridiculous and unrealistic in portraying them that it isn't even funny. In contrast, FiM has a combination of serious morals and good storywriting, which together make the episodes very effective at getting the point across. Sometimes it's a lesson on moral absolutes, other times it's a lesson on pacifism and the resolution of disagreements. I never thought I'd actually learn something from a children's show, but I am constantly finding myself pondering over the realities of it all, and it has had quite an influence in my life, and how I relate to others.

But more than any of this, I think the following point is what makes it key, and sets it apart from merely being a fad that will soon be forgotten.

Friendship is Magic, like any good work of art should, changes people.

I'm not only speaking for myself, because I've talked to plenty of others who feel the same. Since I've been introduced to it, I've learned a lot about appreciating the true beauty in something, and how that true beauty can affect others. Watching the show has caused me to step away from the world, in all its dirtiness, and take a look at the big picture. It's caused me to realize that art is just as effective as all the lecturing in the world. Through art, you can cause others to step away also, and when they too see the big picture of life and purpose... That's when good things begin to happen, as they replace wrong ideas they have formed over the years with pure ones that are demonstrated to them through it. Also, it has caused me to have a firmer conviction about the standards of cultures, and the intrinsic presence or lack of value in each one. The best way I can explain this is through an example.

Just the other day, I went to see the movie Courageous with a group of friends. It was an awesome, inspiring movie, about embracing true manliness. The one part that stuck out to me most of all though, was this: The main character in the movie had gone for a drive, with his friend and young daughter. While his friend was in the convenience store, the daughter hopped out onto the grass, and began twirling.
"Come dance with me, Daddy!" She said.
You could almost see the thoughts going through his head.
'I wish she hadn't asked me that...
There's other people watching!
It could be very awkward.
I don't feel comfortable doing it.'
Finally, he told her weakly "I'm dancing with you in my heart, sweetie."

The next day, the girl was in a car crash on a way to a friend's birthday party, and died.

I could entirely empathize with what the father was feeling. I can see myself having the same emotions and thoughts. But here's the thing. A year ago, I would not have danced if I was put in that situation. I would have done whatever it took to stay in my comfort zone. Now, after having been introduced to Friendship is Magic, I know I would have danced, comfort zone be damned. If there has been one thing ponies have made me realize, it is this:

When we stand before the reality of love and eternity, arbitrary cultural standards drop away, and we are left with the truly good and the truly beautiful.