Bronies In The News (and Adventure Time too!)

Following my obsession with My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and the Brony culture in general, I thought I'd upload a couple of youtube videos I found discussing the phenomenon.  Neither of these are breaking news, but still, they're fun.

The first is from the popular internet vlog RocketBoom and features MemeMolly discussing the impact the fandom has had on the show’s production (particularly the characterization of Derpy Hooves) and how a similar thing happened to a little Cartoon Network show that is also near and dear to my heart.  That's right, it's ...

Enjoy!

The next is a clip from Fox News' show RED EYE.  The discussion is mostly back and forth which is usual for Fox.  Some like it, some don't, but it's still cool to see it mentioned and discussed on a serious news network.  It just goes to show how far the reach of the herd has extended!

And finally we have the one and only Stephen Colbert giving a shoutout to Bronies on The Colbert Report even though he admits he doesn't know what a Brony is.  That almost makes the comment superfluous, I guess, but then it is Stephen Colbert.  Has he ever known what he's talking about?

The comment doesn't come until the 50 second mark, so if you want, just skip to that.  Later every pony!

John De Lancie On My Little Pony

John De Lancie better known as 'Q' from Star Trek: The Next Generation talks about his introduction to the Brony/Pegasister fanbase after his first outing as the voice of the villianous Discord.  The video's short and it was shot with a camera so the picture and sound quality are hardly stellar, but Mr. De Lancie is so much fun to listen to it doesn't really matter.  File this one under voice artist appreciation, De Lancie-fandom, and Brony facts.  Enjoy!

Special thanks to admonkeyman for recording and uploading this video.  You can check out his youtube channel here!

My Little Pony: This Fanbase Is Magic - And So Is Daddy Discord!!!

I have been a member of some committed fanbases in my time, but the sheer volume of quality work that continues to pour out of the Brony/Pegasister community overwhelms me at every turn!  I could name any number of excellent fan fictions, fan art, and even some very well constructed animation, but today I've chosen to showcase a video that has not only impressed me but in some not-small-way touched me on an emotional level.  I am of course talking about Daddy Discord.

Daddy Discord is the second in a series of songs dedicated to the ficitonalized relationship between My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic's chief villain DISCORD!!!

And an anonymous pony who shows up at mark 00:11 in the video below:

The pony in question has been given two names by the fanbase, Topsy Turvy and Screwball.  I have to admit I like the name Topsy Turvy better because I think it fits better with status quo of pony names in the show.  However, Screwball seems to be the more popular of the two (at least from what I've seen) and it's the one used in Daddy Discord, so that's how I'll be refering to her from now on.

It's nothing new for the Brony/Pegasister community to name background characters.  They actually gave the name Derpy Hooves to an unnamed pony who had been dubbed by her model sheet as Ditzy Doo, and guess what?  The animators actually changed her name because of the popularity Derpy enjoyed among the fanbase.  While the creators behind Friendship Is Magic might be a tad more wary of doing that in the future as the name Derpy (which can be used as slang for retarded, though it does have other meanings) has caused some backlash among viewers (read more on that here), and yet I can't help but wonder if the fuss being kicked up over Screwball might lend her to more appearances and possibly coming to be called by that name in the future.

Getting back to the main story, Daddy Discord is a fantastic piece of music with a wonderful slideshow presentation behind it.  It has a powerful dramatic affect!

The voice of Screwball is provided by youtube user SiminaCindy who gives a touching performance as well as invoking some haunting tones to match the somber yet still hopeful tune.  And yet as good as SiminaCindy is, I think the show is stolen by fellow youtube channel provider Lanovran  who breathes life into Discord.  The actor does a marvelous job of imitating the original voice actor John De Lancie, so much so that when I first heard this I thought it might actually be him!

I'm not sure who wrote or performed the music, but the original version of the song was uploaded by SandJosieph so I'm assuming that's who put everything together.  Whether you're already a fan, are curious about the following, or are just interested in good music Daddy Discord will have something for you!  Check it out and let me know what you think!

On a finale note, I want to acknowledge that the video I've posted is a reloaded version of the original with new artwork being provided by MadameLeFlour.  I think it adds a lot to the production.  Kudos Madame!  Kudos indeed!

Tara Strong Raps Like A Pony, Christkids Animates Like A Star!

In response to a vocal tweet of Tara Strong performing a short rap in the voice of Twilight Sparkle (the character she voices on Lauren Faust's AMAZING remake of Hasbro's My Little Pony property) youtube user and animator par excellence (apparently) Christkids has created a short animated version of Mrs. Strong's original material.

One small wrap for a voice artist!  One giant leap for animated fan fiction!!!  Enjoy.

Derpy Hooves 'UNCUT'

A brief follow up to my earlier story.  I have received word from several friends that the recently released My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic DVD entitled The Friendship Express features the original cut of The Last Roundup that episode and not the edited version that itunes has been sellling.

It's encouraging to know that the original cut won't vanish, of course, that's not to say that future pressings of the DVD after the first run is sold out won't contain the edited version, so go out and grab your first edition copy while supplies last!  You can purchase it here!

Much Ado About Derpy Hooves

Meet Derpy Hooves, a clumsy, cross eyed pony who was lost in the seemingly endless list of background characters in the break out series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic!  Derpy Hooves (or Ditzy Doo as she was originally listed by the production staff) had the sad fate of becoming a popular pony to look for before she was ever named.  As is often the case with such characters, fans began to speculate on what to call her and 'Derpy Hooves' is the moniker that eventually stuck.

The creators of the show have never been shy about playing to the fans (another reason I love them so very much) so when it was decided to use 'Derpy' in a small supporting role with a few lines in the recent episode The Last Roundup the show runners asked the writer to use the fan given name 'Derpy Hooves' as her official name.

(NOTE: Derpy has spoken once before, though it was in a crowd scene with several different characters shouting at once.  The name Ditzy Doo has also been used, but the reference was so vague, the creators didn't feel Derpy was necessarily married to it.)

So Derpy was given a voice and a role.  Here's a brief clip of her brief appearance courtesy of youtube:

That's not the end of our story, however; rather it's only the beginning.

Apparently while fans LOVED seeing Derpy in a bigger part and nearly had a heartache because the name they had chosen was now official, there were some parties that were upset.  While  the word Derpy can mean 'clumsy' it can also be used as slang for 'retarded'.  Thus the outcry began!

Look, I'm not going to deride anyone who was outraged.  I realize that there are lots of families who suffer from certain physical and mental conditions and they have a right to be upset if they feel they are being exploited, but I honestly don't feel that's the case here.

Amy Keating Rogers (the author of the episode) is a long time cartoon writer who has a son who suffers from similar conditions!  She is a sensitive and caring person and actually a friend of a very good friend on my end.  There is nothing in her record to indicate that anything malicious was intentional in her script.

But that doesn't change what's happened.  Hasbro and The Hub have been trying to clean this mess up ever since it started.  This had led to a re-edited version of the episode that has appeared on itunes, and rumors are still circulating that Derpy's name may be changed back to Ditzy Doo as a result (a fact that has some fans up in arms).

The goal of this story is to inform people on what's happened and to call attention to an e-mail response better explaining the situation by Amy Keating Rogers herself.  The e-mail has been posted with permission on Equestria Daily, just follow the link.

This whole thing is unfortunate for everyone: for Mrs. Rogers, for the hardworking staff at The Hub who make this cartoon, for fans of Derpy who have been wanting and asking for her character to get a bigger role since the first season, and also for those on the opposing side of the debate who feel exploited.

Who would have thought a show about cartoon ponies could stir so many varied reactions?  I guess that's art for you, you never know how people will interpret it.

Bronies React To Teens React To My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: A Thought Provoking Rebuttal To The Hormonally Unbalanced!

Guess what everyone!  I've got a new video posted below fresh from you tube that is both thoughtfully constructed and entertaining!  That's great, you say!  Where is it, you ask?  Well, you can skip down at the end to find it if you want, because first I'm going to be talking up a blue streak in true ranting fashion!

Teenagers (A Short Definition) -- A group of emotionally overdosed human beings who believe that reinforcing petty, childish conformity to the most popular social norm in their circles of experience will somehow elevate their maturity to the level of adults.

When it comes to this particular age group, I honestly don't have a lot of good things to say.  I know that this behavior is part of our natural development but does it have to be so darned obnoxious?  Case in point, the program known as Teens React To ... a series of videos where teenagers are herded together and exposed to brief clips of tv shows, movie trailers, ect. and then, well, they react to it and give their opinions.

The series was created by Benny and Rafi Fine, a duo of professional filmmakers, who have garnered (according to info posted on their youtube channel) over 350 million views from their web created content.  So what does any of this have to do with anything?

Recently one of their panels of 'polished experts' decided to pick on a show that is both near and dear to my heart, namely My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic a startling re-imagining of Hasbro's My Little Pony franchise developed by Lauren Faust (of Cats Don't Dance, Powerpuff Girls, and Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends fame!).  The series has reached a wide audience, creating diehard fans, some of whom affectionately refer to themselves as Bronies (for male fans) and Pega-Sisters (for the ladies).

The video Teens React To My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is more or less an attack on the fanbase by the teens involved, who I might add, ONLY WATCHED THE INTRO TO THE SERIES, and nothing else.  As Mr. Holmes once stated:

"It is a Capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence.  It biases the judgement."

From A Study In Scarlet, Chapter 3

But thankfully there is a voice of reason shouting above the inane prattling of the hormonally poisoned delegation!  A group of Bronies have decided to fight fire with fire, offering their analysis of the teens behavior!  A commentary on a commentary, you say?  And a sound one indeed!  Enjoy!

(Special thanks to AC Racebest for the video)