Thousands of fans of the animated cable TV show “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” descended on Baltimore over the weekend for BronyCon 2013.
Brony is the word that adult “My Little Pony”-lovers use to describe themselves… it’s a portmanteau of “bro” and “pony.”
One of the Bronies attending the event was Jake Richards, who came into town from Connecticut; he admits that the show’s fandom is somewhat surprising:
"There's no reason this should've ever happened...amazing that it did...a show that isn't ironically preaching love and tolerance and so many people are getting behind that message and shouting it to the world…I think that the world would be a better place if it listened to the morals meant for 8 year-old girls"
“My Little Pony: Frienship Is Magic” airs on the Hub network… depicting the exploits of magic ponies that battle evil. It’s aimed at the younger set – and is the network’s top series for girls aged 2 to 11.
But, as the Baltimore Sun reports, the show’s also the network’s #1 show for men aged 18 to 34.
Another of Bronycon’s attendees was Staff Sergeant Jacob Hughes of Houston – who sees My Little Pony as a point of light in the gritty media landscape.
"In an era when things are getting darker and edgier, this show is just wholesome and pure. it's fun, that's what it is. You can be a rough tough soldier on the frontlines of freedom, and go back to your chew at the end of the night and watch my little pony, and it's all good. Just drop all your preconceived notions, cut all the bull, and just watch it. I guarantee you'll enjoy it."
More than 8-thousand Bronies were estimated to have attended the convention, making it the most successful of the fan conventions since the first one was held two years ago.