There are conventions and then there are conventions. Forget about Comic-Con, E3, the Nightclub and Bar Show, or even the World Pornography Conference my colleague Matt Labash once covered (he called it “a dark, dark place,” and I assume he meant the convention). In a recent Washington Post story, Melody Wilson attended a D.C. meetup of “bronies”—adult fans of My Little Pony.
Hasbro’s third iteration of the classic TV show was intended for young girls such as Dayna; its creators never expected men such as her father to be a driving force behind its popularity. Lauren Faust, also known for her work on “The Powerpuff Girls” and “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” wanted to create a show that would be enjoyable for parents, too. But neither Faust nor Hasbro was prepared for the overwhelmingly positive response they received from the unusual demographic of mostly 20-something, mostly white men.
Also,
Collecting gear is a big part of “My Little Pony” fandom; this is a subculture that literally wears its heart on its sleeve. The majority of the bronies at this meet-up sport T-shirts featuring their favorite characters: Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Twilight Sparkle.
It’s a great read—Wilson does her best to report this straight. (Not once does she use the word “eww.”) But read the comments and it’s all over the place.