I like pandas.

— Asked by username-required

Ah, I’d actually been reminiscing about this lately while slowly rotting away at work. I forget what my first encounter with the show (or the fandom) was, but I do remember it was back in the days where the anti-horse vitriol flowed like wine over internet message boards and comment sections; where even the mention of the word “pony” was enough to put a stink on you worse than a bucket of unwashed chitterlings.

All I’d seen was so much hatred towards the show and the people that watched it that I simply HAD to investigate. I try to be as knowledgeable as possible about all sides of any issue in which I take interest, and while I do admit that “grown-ass men watching pink ponies 4 gurlz” produced some very disturbing mental imagery of the worst type of nerds, losers, and shut-ins, that couldn’t be all there was to it. It wouldn’t be fair to condemn a group of people based on hearsay or rumors, I needed to see for myself what the big deal was, and the more negativity I encountered, the more it drove me to sit down and just watch the damn thing.

Keep in mind, I grew up with the original “G1″ series existing on TV, and in the age of hyper-masculine action figures, even admitting you saw a commercial for that girly-girly nonsense was enough to earn you a nickname for the rest of your adolescence. But I’m an adult, dammit. And I love cartoons. I can watch whatever the fuck I want.

So I did. I found the show well-paced and watchable enough to at least finish the entire first season. (Interesting note: before I had a “best pony,” I had a “worst pony.” Rainbow Dash already seemed annoying in the premiere, and was a total cunt in Fall Weather Friends, and that impression stuck with me for years.) When I hit Party of One, I fell in love with the show–and Ponk!–thusly declaring Pinkie Pie “Best Pony,” at least for the time being.

Y’all know AJ is the best now, no apologies.

After completing the season, I seeked arenas for discussion. I’d heard it all started on 4chan, but that was a world I wasn’t quite ready to delve into. Luckily, I’d just joined reddit not long before, and found the wonderful community that is /r/mylittlepony. It was still fledgling back then, but had enough members where I could get into some meaningful discourse. I had to admit, these “bronies” were some of the nicest, most genuine folk I’d ever talked to on the web. And there was so much art! I think that’s what really hooked me, the fanart (thanks again, @finalskies). That, and some of the more “extreme” videos like MisterDavies’ stuff, or the .MOV series. (Yes, I find over-the-top animated gore and assorted toilet humor funny, but as I connected more with the characters, it made me unable to ever draw it.) It still took me a few years to actually pick up a pencil and try to make pony art, but that was thanks to the encouragement from the folks at Berrytube and their “gentle” prodding. 

I honestly can’t even say that Friendship is Magic is my favorite cartoon right now. I mean, I still love it, I’m invested in it. But the main thing that keeps me watching and drawing horse is the fandom. It’s been about 5 or 6 years for me (I started season 1 while season 2 was airing), and I have no plans on jumping ship, just taking on additional cargo.

wew, long post, but I think I covered it all. Thanks for the question, @username-required!