Pony image dump thread (NO 56k, PIC HEAVY)

[Zixinus]

A few quick images:

Little helper


This was originally a t-shirt design


Ponies go to SPACE!
(I have no idea what image they are parodying)


Little Sparkle


Rarity in a different style

[Zaune]

I am sorely disappointed that there seems to be no fanart referencing the consistently excellent marksmanship and tactical skill demonstrated by the Ace of Spades brony clan, several of whom take their handles from the cast of MLP:FiM and consistently maintain Kayfabe.

[Skgoa]

I have no idea what you just said.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Kayfabe is a pro-wrestling term for a known lie treated as the truth. Example, Kane and the Undertaker as brothers. (totally different folks, who have had other idenities before, in fact Kane started out pretending to be Kevin Nash)

[Civil War Man]

So in tonight's episode of sleep deprivation theater, I decided to ponder the brony phenomenon.

There are a few reasons to like MLP as a cartoon. Good animation, distinct and interesting characters and all. But I was wondering why the bronies were attracted to MLP in particular instead of some of the other cartoons that are out there.

So I think there is a superficial similarity between the creation of bronyism and OWS. OWS is a wholesale rejection of the culture of greed and corruption in the corporate sector and government in response to years of crushing despair caused by widening inequality and political disenfranchisement.

I think a lot of bronies at least subconsciously attach to MLP in a similar rejection of popular culture, which has glorified cutthroat game theory bullshit and shallow egoism. They latch onto MLP because to them it best represents the antithesis of these cynical depictions of humanity, and has the added bonus of nobody trying to pepper spray them.

As for the people on the internet who sexualize it, you get that kind of shit all over the internet. But if I had to pull a bullshit interpretation out of my ass, I'd say that a lack of positive sexual experiences has caused them to fetishize the positive reinforcement of the show or something like that.

[Zixinus]

Here's a problem with that theory: how come it is popular in non-USA regions as well?

I like the show for the following reasons:
- It's not stupid. I am tired of the idea that "it's a cartoon so it must be stupid". The show handles itself fairly seriously, even with all its silliness (mild west dances) in story and humor. The plots make sense, rather than the usual casual disregard of it for the sake going from one gag to another.
- It' nice. It has little bullshit ideology ("ROOAR HONOR"). The most prevailing idea in the show is that you should be a nice person and that you should try to understand your friends. That is a very agreeable idea (the only episode that had a negative message as far as I am concerned was Feeling Pinkie Keen). It tries to tell the audience something important without being preachy.
- It's bloody adorable. Look at over half of the pictures presented here. They are meant to show how bloody adorable the ponies are. In the show, they often ACT adorable and cute, without forcing it.

[evilsoup]

I think a lot of bronies at least subconsciously attach to MLP in a similar rejection of popular culture, which has glorified cutthroat game theory bullshit and shallow egoism. They latch onto MLP because to them it best represents the antithesis of these cynical depictions of humanity, and has the added bonus of nobody trying to pepper spray them.

Yep. It's a nice show, completely without the crushing, endless cynicism that permeates so much pop culture. Plus good characters, entertaining stories, etc.

[VF5SS]

poniez is popular for the same reason as Transformers, GI-Joe, and Touhous

lots of characters in a vaguely interesting setting who all have distinct personalities and appearances which means that no matter brief their appearance, characters garner love and obsession from fans like with derpy hooves and the DJ pony

so using the tried and true method of psychological manipulation as perfected by Hasbro, there is now another perfect fanfiction universe to exploit forever

i am an expert you see

[evilsoup]

In transformers (interesting characters? Transformers? LOL), I seem to remember that they introduced random background robots by name so that they could justify selling the toys. That DJ pony you talked about didn't even have that ... she was in a single shot for about seven seconds.

Now there are like a dozen fanfictions about the character, she has a consistent characterisation and ongoing friendship with another background character (combined they have nearly twenty seconds of screen time), and someone made a radio play with volunteer voice-actors (it's on youtube somewhere, can't remember what it's called).

I swear I had a point in mind when I started writing this, but I suppose the conclusion is that this fandom is insane..

[Zixinus]

Applejack time!

The duds
(this is a coloured version of a scetch that Lauren Faust actually made while planning AJ's character)


After a hard work


Her pride got the best of her again


Sister


Sleepy little apple


I'll get to you!

[Crazedwraith]

Wait Applejack want to be Rainbow Dash's pet?

I could have done without knowing that.

[Zixinus]

It's actually a shipping image, not official in any way. It's still cute and pretty SWF so I thought I'd include it.

[evilsoup]

What the hay, you guys.
Everypony knows that it's Twilight who wants to be Dash's pet

[RogueIce]

The art he made for the song is, of course, where I got my new sig/av combo from. Enjoy!

It really is pretty chill. And just made for looping.

[RogueIce]

Semper Pie!

[RogueIce]

To follow on from the above, I present to you the United States Marine Corps Herd!

[Vendetta]

but I suppose the conclusion is that this fandom is insane..

Yeah, you should look at what the Touhou fandom has produced.

Except with Touhou I bet that 95% of the fandom hasn't played the games for more than a minute... (at which point they ran out of lives).

[Ritterin Sophia]

To follow on from the above, I present to you the United States Marine Corps Herd!

Are you sure you don't mean 'Mareines' :V

PS That's a horrible pun and I feel horrible.

[Crazedwraith]

Cute Mark Crusader Cosmonauts! Yay!

Grown up Scootaloo is best Scootaloo

Number One Fan

Crusader Reunion

[Zixinus]

Bad Sparkle!



Telekinesis practise


Juicebox

[Crazedwraith]

Inevitable

[RogueIce]

So 99% of the time, I'm not a fan of the humanized ponies art.

This, however, is from the 1% when I am:


DeviantArt for the full image

[RogueIce]

And yes, I so want a uniform like that one.

[RogueIce]

If this isn't canon, it should be.

[Zixinus]

About Luna: What I'd like to know, is what is she holding.

About Dash: Oh yeaaah.