As a toddler/young child, I used to sit in front of the TV and watch a huge array of different cartoons with my sister, sometimes we would watch my boy cartoons like Transformers and Thundercats, other times we would watch cartoons aimed towards girls like Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Ponies. Which at that age I will admit I really didn't get the difference between boy cartoons and girl cartoons, to me cartoons were just cartoons, and I enjoyed them all.

Fast forward to October 2010, Lauren Faust, story artist for the Power Puff Girls and head writer for Fosters Home of Imaginary Friends, teamed up with Hasbro to produce a new My Little Ponies television series called, My Little Ponies: Friendship is Magic. For the past year the show, which was initially aimed at young girls 3-6 and their mothers who grew up watching Ponies demographic, became a huge success and gained a huge following, surprising to Faust and Hasbro, the show has become most popular with Teenage and young adult MALES. Yeah, you heard me right. There was even a convention held for Friendship is Magic where these male fans, referred to as Bronies (Mix of Bro and Ponies) Gathered to share their love for the series.

Not too long ago I talked to a good friend of mine, who while watching the show with his niece admitted that the show really isn't all that bad. Then a few weeks back my 28 year old brother admitted that he is a "Bronie" and he thinks this show was absolutely amazing! After talking me into giving this show a chance, and having a nostalgic episode, I decided step out of my comfort zone and review this series by watching 5 episodes of F.i.M. to try and find out what exactly all the hype is about.

The show begins in the fantasy realm of Equestria where a young unicorn pony named Twilight Sparkle stumbles upon a prophecy fortelling the return of the evil Nightmare Moon, a Princess/Goddess pony of the night who was trapped in the moon for 1,000 years by her sister Princess Celestia. Nightmare Moon returns to bring eternal night to Equestria and holds Celestia prisoner. Twilight Sparkle along with 5 other ponies from Ponyville, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity go on a quest to free Celestia and defeat Nightmare Moon with the Elements of Harmony and the Power of Friendship. After defeating Nightmare Moon, Twilight Sparkle asks to remain in Ponyville with her new friends to continue her studies in magic, and to learn more about the bonds of friendship.

Every episode after the two part pilot follows Twilight Sparkle as she is faced with a different problem involving how friends help each other, a moral lesson on friendship is learned and she reports her findings on friendship back to Celestia every episode. While filling the requirement for moral and educational television by Hasbro, Faust is able to challenge the stereotypical girly kid show with the quirky humor she has incorporated in Powerpuff girls and Fosters. At times even making fun of the stereotypical elements we expected to find in a show aimed at 3-6 year old girls. I think it is the unexpected use of this humor which entertains the older fans being in a show we didn't expect to find it which hits the mark with the male fan base. Scenes like Twilight Sparkle freaking out when she hasn't learned a lesson on friendship to report back to Celestia leading to a Golum/Smeagol conversation parody just to name one element that throws a wrench in the stereotype we expected to see in a My Little Ponies Cartoon. Some of this humor I will admit, even had me laughing at times.

Overall, I can understand why Friendship is Magic can inadvertently attract an older Male following, especially those of us who loved Powerpuff Girls and Foster Home for Imaginary Firends who can see elements of those shows at times overshadowing the cute, girly elements in a ponies show. The show proved to be more enjoyable than I was expecting. Was it good enough to turn me into a Bronie and join in the phenomina? No. But I will admit it is one I might actually go back and watch more episodes down the line.

Ponies has succeeded in being a show that the intended demographic can watch and enjoy, AND their parents can actually watch with them, whether it be Nostalgic mothers who want to relive their childhood through a familiar children series they once loved, or even the fathers who can appreciate the creative writing and humor which has led to the Bronie following. Not a typical show I would watch regularly or think it deserves the huge following it has gained, but still a fun show to watch every now and then or have as a guilty pleasure.

FINAL GRADE: C+

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwLvzpMB5OY

Bonus fan trailer, Inglorious Ponies: ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bxAyP6uJ4k