WikiFur - User contributions [en]

User talk:Spirou

2014-12-15T15:13:51Z

Hawthorn: /* My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic */

<div style="float:right; border:2px solid #bbbbbb; width:150px;">
<center>'''Discussion Pages'''</center>
*[[/Archive1|Archive 1]] (August 2005 - October 2006)
*[[/Archive2|Archive 2]] (October 2006 - January 2007)
*[[/Archive3|Archive 3]] (January 2007 - September 2007)
*[[/Archive4|Archive 4]] (September 2007 - February 2008)
*[[/Archive5|Archive 5]] (February 2008 - September 2009)
*[[/Archive6|Archive 6]] (March 2010 - April 2010)
*[[/Archive7|Archive 7]] (April 2010 - May 2011)
*[[/Archive8|Archive 8]] (May 2011 - September 2011)
*[[/Archive9|Archive 9]] (October 5, 2011 - October 14, 2012)
*[[/Archive10|Archive 10]] (October 15, 2012 - May 2013)
*[[/Archive11|Archive 11]] (June 4, 2013 - June 8, 2014)
</div>
'''Older conversations have been archived. Please view the links on the right review old threads.'''

==[[Maxwell Rodgers]]==

How come you do not let me edit my own page and keep reverting it? Ive been trying to keep it blank until i have the info written properly, I'm sorry if that i upset you, but you have all the wrong information on this site. Maxwell Rodgers IS NOT a person, HE IS MY FURSONA. I have not and will not give you my real name. Please let me edit or tell me how to make so you understand that Maxwell Rodgers is my FURSONA, I don't know where to put it. Please help. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by [[User:Maxwell5050|Maxwell5050]] ([[User talk:Maxwell5050|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Maxwell5050|contribs]]) .

:Within the fandom, it is normal for people to refer to themselves as their fursonas, but if this is the case, I'm sure we would be glad to correct the article. However, bear in mind that this is not "your own page". It is "''our'' page about your character". While you may own copyright on, say, a story which you wrote about your character, you do not own the right to control factual descriptions of your character by others, just as anyone may write a Wikipedia article about Harry Potter. We will seek to write the best article that we can with the details publicly available. --[[User:GreenReaper|GreenReaper]]([[User talk:GreenReaper|talk]]) 17:14, 18 June 2014 (EDT)

== I understand now. ==

''Moved to [[Talk:Maxwell Rodgers#I understand now.|Talk:Maxwell Rodgers]]''. --[[User:GreenReaper|GreenReaper]]([[User talk:GreenReaper|talk]]) 20:00, 18 June 2014 (EDT)

== Deletion of redirect pages ==
I have fixed several broken links on this site by creating redirect pages, but many of these pages have been deleted. I'm confused: why is this happening? :/ [[User:Jarble|Jarble]] ([[User talk:Jarble|talk]]) 02:55, 7 July 2014 (EDT)
:See your talk page - [[User:Spirou|Spirou]] ([[User talk:Spirou|talk]]) 03:06, 7 July 2014 (EDT)
::I have made several links and copyedits to pages on this site, but several of my other edits have been reverted recently. I'm very confused: which of my edits are considered problematic? [[User:Jarble|Jarble]] ([[User talk:Jarble|talk]]) 19:55, 7 July 2014 (EDT)

== thanks for edits to education article ==

Thank you for all those improvements to Norwegian-language education article. Was working on 2nd revision when it got eaten (along with all my other tabs). Tabs eaten probably by accidental shutdown combined with an unanswered "are you sure you want to leave this page?" text box. --[[User:EarthFurst|EarthFurst]] ([[User talk:EarthFurst|talk]]) 10:32, 3 September 2014 (EDT)
:Anytime =) It was my last edit of the night anyways. Yeah, love bombing mid-edit too =P I tried to expand for who, where or where this public service pamphlet/commission was made for. Did find anything that late, thou. - [[User:Spirou|Spirou]] ([[User talk:Spirou|talk]]) 17:34, 4 September 2014 (EDT)

== comic infobox question ==

Question about your suggestion at [[Template talk:Infobox graphic novel]]. --[[User:EarthFurst|EarthFurst]] ([[User talk:EarthFurst|talk]]) 03:29, 27 October 2014 (EDT)

== Recent [[Draco Lockhard]] change ==

A couple of questions regarding the recent [[Special:Diff/439124 |change]] to the article. First of all, I believe there ''is'' considerable semantic difference between http://drakia.com/ – which is a URI designating a Web page (or Web site), and ''Drakia.com'' – which is a DNS name, not necessarily related to the World Wide Web at all. (Say, it may designate a mail-only domain, or a Kerberos realm, etc.) Is it really necessary to replace the former with the latter (in the link text)?

Also, I wonder if youtu.be/rlVmr38v5IY – an interview Draco Lockhard gave to the short-lived Georgian “First Caucasian” TV channel back in 2010 – could be cited to support the <q >best known for his [[fantasy]] and [[science fiction]] works involving [[dragon]]s</q> claim?

TIA.

[[User:Ivan Shmakov|Ivan Shmakov]] ([[User talk:Ivan Shmakov|talk]]) 07:41, 1 November 2014 (EDT)

== Chip 'n Dale ==

… Now that the redirect is moved, could you please also take care of [[Special:WhatLinksHere/Chip 'n Dale]]? TIA. [[User:Ivan Shmakov|Ivan Shmakov]] ([[User talk:Ivan Shmakov|talk]]) 23:31, 16 November 2014 (EST)

:Will do =) - [[User:Spirou|Spirou]] ([[User talk:Spirou|talk]]) 23:41, 16 November 2014 (EST)

== My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ==

I prefer to think of my edits as well-informed judgement rather than opinion. :) Am I editing wrongly? How do I know what's the 'correct' change to make to a page?
[[User:Hawthorn|Hawthorn]] ([[User talk:Hawthorn|talk]]) 10:13, 15 December 2014 (EST)

User talk:Spirou

2014-12-15T15:13:32Z

Hawthorn: /* My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic */ new section

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-12-14T15:57:01Z

Hawthorn: tidied up a bit, removed some of the supporting characters which aren't important.

[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]

'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] (now Discovery Family) on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also rather sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, her mentor Princess Celestia refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races==
Equestria and its surrounding territories are home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are often brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races (sometimes called tribes) of pony:
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on its forehead. Unicorns can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestrian unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
** '''Crystal pony''' - a pony with a crystalline body, but which otherwise seems to be identical to an ordinary Equestrian pony. Crystal ponies have three tribal variations: crystal earth pony, crystal pegasus, and crystal unicorn. They inhabit the Crystal Empire, but have been seen visiting other locations.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own country, the Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - Equestria is full of dragons of many different varieties, although the winged western variety is most typical. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. They appear to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.
* '''[[Horse]]''' - horses are briefly seen in one season 3 episode. They appear to have their own territory (Saddle Arabia) and are closer to real horses than Equestrian ponies. Ponies also often use horse-related metaphors (eg. 'hearts strong as horses'), suggesting that the two races have been close in the past.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all over Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform cartoon-like feats that baffle even her friends. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a small baby dragon, and Twilight Sparkle's assistant. He can breathe fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''', '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''' - three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Derpy Hooves''' - a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in Derpy being given a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Although the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Many furry artists have branched into pony art, and several of the brony fandom's celebrities are or have been involved in the furry fandom in the past.

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene - one of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is usually referred to as an OC (Original Character), a term commonly used in TV show fandoms.
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen). Others derive from memes (for example: 'plot' to mean a pony's backside).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a writing community, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using Fanfiction.net.
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is comparatively more popular among members of the fandom, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums. The most popular brony song as of 2014 is The Living Tombstone's ''Discord'' remix, which has more than ten million views on YouTube.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPfMb50dsOk Discord (Remix)]</ref>
* cosplay (that is, specifically costuming as canon characters) is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters.
* younger demographic - the Brony fandom's age demographic is skewed well toward youth, with a large proportion in their teens or even younger. As a result, there are efforts to keep the fandom child-friendly and to segregate the adult and non-adult sides. Many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon 2014]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
*** Thailand: [http://thaiponycon.com Thailand Pony Con website], [https://www.facebook.com/ThailandPonyCon Facebook]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Czech Republic: [http://www.czequestria.cz/ Czequestria website] and [https://twitter.com/Czequestria Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** Netherlands: [http://www.hwcon.nl/ Hearth's Warming Con website] and [https://twitter.com/HWConvention Twitter]
*** Poland: [https://www.facebook.com/MyLittleKonwent My Little Konwent Facebook] (mlk2014.pl forwards to Facebook)
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://nightmarenights.net/ Nightmare Nights Dallas website], [http://nightmarenights.net/ Facebook], [http://nightmarenightsdallas.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/NightmareNights Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-12-14T15:49:36Z

Hawthorn: removing two of the logos - they're not necessary and they mess up the page.

[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]

'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also rather sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, her mentor Princess Celestia refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races==
Equestria and its surrounding territories are home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are often brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races (sometimes called tribes) of pony:
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on its forehead. Unicorns can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestrian unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
** '''Crystal pony''' - a pony with a crystalline body, but which otherwise seems to be identical to an ordinary Equestrian pony. Crystal ponies have three tribal variations: crystal earth pony, crystal pegasus, and crystal unicorn. They inhabit the Crystal Empire, but have been seen visiting other locations.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own country, the Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. They appear to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.
* '''[[Horse]]''' - horses are briefly seen in one season 3 episode. They appear to have their own territory (Saddle Arabia) and are closer to real horses than Equestrian ponies. Ponies also often use horse-related metaphors (eg. 'hearts strong as horses'), suggesting that the two races have been close in the past.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all over Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform cartoon-like feats that baffle even her friends. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a small baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. He can breathe fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''', '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''' - a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in Derpy being given a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Although the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Many furry artists have branched into pony art, and several of the brony fandom's celebrities are or have been involved in the furry fandom in the past.

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene - one of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is usually referred to as an OC (Original Character), a term commonly used in TV show fandoms.
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen). Others derive from memes (for example: 'plot' to mean a pony's backside).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a writing community, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using Fanfiction.net.
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is comparatively more popular among members of the fandom, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums. The most popular brony song as of 2014 is The Living Tombstone's ''Discord'' remix, which has more than ten million views on YouTube.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPfMb50dsOk Discord (Remix)]</ref>
* cosplay (that is, specifically costuming as canon characters) is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters.
* younger demographic - the Brony fandom's age demographic is skewed well toward youth, with a large proportion in their teens or even younger. As a result, there are efforts to keep the fandom child-friendly and to segregate the adult and non-adult sides. Many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon 2014]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
*** Thailand: [http://thaiponycon.com Thailand Pony Con website], [https://www.facebook.com/ThailandPonyCon Facebook]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Czech Republic: [http://www.czequestria.cz/ Czequestria website] and [https://twitter.com/Czequestria Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** Netherlands: [http://www.hwcon.nl/ Hearth's Warming Con website] and [https://twitter.com/HWConvention Twitter]
*** Poland: [https://www.facebook.com/MyLittleKonwent My Little Konwent Facebook] (mlk2014.pl forwards to Facebook)
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://nightmarenights.net/ Nightmare Nights Dallas website], [http://nightmarenights.net/ Facebook], [http://nightmarenightsdallas.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/NightmareNights Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

LondonFurs

2014-08-30T17:43:12Z

Hawthorn: I've rearranged this page and clarified some of it, as the information was kind of all over the page and not very useful.

[[Image:Londonfurs.png|300px|right]]

'''LondonFurs''' is a local [[furry]] group for the [[Wikipedia:Greater London|Greater London]] region of the [[Wikipedia:United Kingdom|United Kingdom]]. Founded in 1998, the group has grown from a handful of meet attendees to an organised community, with hundreds of members all over London. The LondonFurs hold tri-weekly London furmeets and organise special events for the furry community.

==Origin==
Originally brought together by [[Ia'Kat]], furs in the London area first started having organised meets during March and April of 1998, becoming established as a regular tri-weekly event in 1999. During this period, LondonFurs didn't have an established 'base' as they do today. Instead, most attendees met up at [[wikipedia:London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross Railway Station]], below the departures board usually around 11am, and set off from there. "Pre-meets" of this nature still continue to this day at many of the capital's major rail hubs.

==The London Furmeet==
The London Furmeet is held every third Saturday if possible, although the schedule is sometimes moved around to account for other events such as the Summer and Christmas Parties. At present, the meets are open to all furries and their guests from 12pm (noon) until 7pm. All visitors to a regular London Furmeet must be 16 years or over; this limit is increased to 18 years for special events such as the Summer Party. Furry dress such as ears and tails is welcome and encouraged. Namebadges are also useful for helping people in recognising and remembering visitors (and their [[fursona]]s).

Fursuiting is commonplace during the London Furmeet, and a space is usually reserved in the venue for fursuiters to change.

At 3pm, there is usually (weather permitting) an organised Fursuit Walk. This is a short trip around the local area of Central London with any fursuiters who wish to attend, as well as handlers, photographers, and meet attendees. The walk usually takes about 2 hours, with a rest stop at the halfway point for the fursuiters to take a rest and rehydrate.

The usual route takes partipants over the [[Wikipedia:Millennium Bridge (London)|Millennium Bridge]] to the [[Wikipedia:Tate Modern|Tate Modern]], then along the [[Wikipedia:South Bank|South Bank]] to a rest area, before returning to the meet venue via [[Wikipedia:Blackfriars Bridge|Blackfriars Bridge]]. This route allows a great deal of interaction with the public, allowing for many and varied opportunites for photographs with tourists and children.

Aside from the Fursuit Walk the meet has no rigid structuring, and furs are free to socialise as they desire. Furry art, card games, and board games are popular activities during the meet. An "artists corner" has proved popular, allowing those with artistic talents to meet and draw in (relative) peace.

LondonFur meets are open to any furs (or, occasionally, non-furs) who wish to attend, provided they are old enough. Newcomers are advised to introduce themselves to the community via the [[UKFur|UKFur Forums]] or the [[IRC]] channel.

As of 2014, there have been over 200 London Furmeets.

===Attendance===
Current attendance figures are approximately 100-150 attendees per meet, although this can vary depending on other events occuring on the same weekend, such as major furcons or comic conventions. At special LondonFur events such as the Summer or Christmas Party, this number can increase dramatically, often topping 250 to 300.

Although the majority of the meet's attendees are from London, participants have been known to come from all over the globe, with many regular attendees from [[wikipedia:Germany|Germany]], the [[wikipedia:Netherlands|Netherlands]], and the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]].

=== Summer and Christmas Parties ===
LondonFurs have had major party events for several years, with live DJs, dancing and food, such as the LondonFurs 10th Anniversary Party<ref>http://vimeo.com/5793139</ref>.

In ''July 2010'' these became a more official event with additional branding, themes and activities. Admission is free with expenses being funded by collections at the regular meets along with online donations.

Unlike regular meets, these events are restricted to over-18s only. This is due to licensing restrictions with the venues. There are, however, alternative (and unofficial) meets organised by the community for the younger members of the group.

====2010====
2010's summer party was themed '''Aloha, a "''delightful Hawaiian soirée''"''', held at The Wall Bar, [[Wikipedia:Old Broad Street|Old Broad Street]] on July 17th,<ref>http://www.londonfurs.org.uk/aloha</ref> with an attendance of approximately 300 furs from all over the UK.

The success of this event meant a Christmas party was organised at the same location on December 11th 2010.<ref>http://www.londonfurs.org.uk/santa-claws</ref>

====2011====
On July 30, 2011, a '''"Cowboys and Indians"''' themed summer party was held at the Agenda Bar, Minster Court .<ref>http://londonfurs.org.uk/yeehaw</ref> According to a post by Lupus Londonwolf on the UKFur forums, the party hit a maximum of 404 attendees at one point, nearly £8000 was spent over the day, and not a single glass was broken.<ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/33652-summer-party-2011-meet-report/page__st__241 Summer Party 2011 Meet Report] - Lupus Londonwolf on UKFur, dated August 2, 2011</ref>

The 2011 Christmas Party was held on December 3, 2011 at "The Sterling", inside [[Wikipedia:30 St Mary Axe|30 St Mary Axe, London]], more commonly known as the "Gherkin", with a theme of '''"Dress to Impress"'''.<ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/34629-londonfurs-christmas-party-3rd-december-the-sterling-30-st-mary-axe-the-gherkin Londonfurs Christmas Party] - Lupus Londonwolf on UKFur, dated September 30, 2011</ref> Several raffle prizes were donated by [[Elliott's Live Events]], with representatives from the organisation turning up to present the prizes. <ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/35342-londonfurs-winter-party-saturday-3rd-december-2011 Londonfurs Winter Party, Saturday 3Rd December 2011] - Bariki on UKFur, dated November 13, 2011</ref> The first prize was a free trip for two to Elliott's Spring Gathering 2012.

====2012====
In April 2012, it was announced on UKFur that this years summer party would be returning to the Agenda bar (used for the 2011 summer party).<ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/37784-londonfurs-summer-party-pre-announcement-thread/ LondonFurs Summer Party Pre-Announcement Thread] - Bariki on UKFur, dated April 24, 2012</ref>

The 2012 winter party was held on December 1, 2012 at the Amber Bar in Ropemaker Street, London, with a theme of '''"Back in Time"''' (1980's themed).<ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/40240-%E2%98%85-winter-party-2012-back-in-time-%E2%80%93-1st-december-the-amber-next-meet/ Winter Party 2012: Back In Time] - Lupus Londonwolf on UKFur, dated October 15, 2012</ref>

<gallery>
File:LF Summer Aloha Poster 1of2.jpeg|Aloha! A0 poster, sold at the party. Features 'Samson'
File:LF Summer Aloha Poster 2of2.jpeg|Aloha! A0 poster, sold at the party. Features 'Lea'
File:LF Christmas Poster 1of2.jpg|Santa Claws A0 poster. Features 'Samson'
File:LF Christmas Poster 2of2.jpg|Santa Claws A0 poster. Features 'Lea'
</gallery>

====2013====
On February 9, 2013, it was announced on UKFur that this year would see a "Summer Weekender", with the party spread over two days. The theme was '''"Día de Los Muertos"''' ([[wikipedia:Day of the Dead|"Day of the Dead"]]). On Friday, July 19th, there was a party aboard the ''M.V. Erasmus'' - previously used for the [[RBW]] boat parties - from 19:00 to 23:00, and on Saturday July 20th, the party returned to the Agenda bar (used for the past two years).<ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/41726-lf-londonfurs-summer-weekender-%E2%80%93-fri-19th-sat-20th-july-2013/ LondonFurs Summer Weekender] - Miyabi on UKFur, dated February 9, 2013</ref>

The 2013 winter party was held at the Amber Bar on December 14, 2013. The theme was '''"Hit the Slopes"'''.<ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/44247-londonfurs-winter-party-2013-hit-the-slopes-14th-december-amber-bar// Londonfurs Winter Party 2013] - Miyabi on UKFur, dated October 2, 2013</ref>

== Media appearances ==

The LondonFurs were featured in a documentary shown late night on the UK's [[Wikipedia:Channel 4|Channel 4]], under the title ''"[[Human Furry Animals]]"'' in 2000 as part of their strand of programming called ''"The Other Side"'', designed to give new directors a "break" into TV. It was one of the first early television documentaries to show furries in a positive light.

Members of the LondonFur community were also featured in a segment on the London only [[Wikipedia:ITV|ITV]] show ''[[Nightlife]]'', in a piece titled ''"The Furverts"'' aired in 2001. Prior to filming, the production crew promised that the segment would not focus purely on the sexual nature (like other documentaries had done) and would give a fair and balanced view. However when the programme was aired it had been edited down to anything but; giving a negative and embarrassing portrayal of furry. Most, if not all the furries that feature, regret taking part.

In 2010, the London Furs featured in a segment called ''"[[Furry:Gente de Pelúcia]]"'' from the Brazilian programe ''[[Wikipedia:Fantastico|Fantástico]]'' after a chance encounter with a Brazilian film crew during one of the meets <ref>http://forum.ukfur.org/index.php?showtopic=21218&hl=brazilian</ref>, which can be downloaded from [[SlyCat]]'s [http://www.slycat.co.uk/index.php?page=downloads download page].

==History==

===Timeline===

* In the early days of the group, furs would congregate at [[wikipedia:Soho Square|Soho Square]] before going to the pubs "The Ship" or "The Intrepid Fox".
* ''Late 1999 - early October 2000'': the meets were held in "The Devonshire Arms", London's premier Goth pub in [[wikipedia:Camden Town|Camden Town]]. As the group grew to larger numbers, this small establishment was no longer suitable and so moved on.
* ''Late October 2000 - October 2003'': the "Jorene Celeste" pub in [[wikipedia:Kentish Town|Kentish Town]] was home for LondonFurs. However, steady decline in relations following a change of management resulted in the group moving on.
* ''October 2003 - 8th July 2006'': The meets were held at "Ye Olde London Pub" (formerly "The Bell, Book and Candle" until it was refurbished in mid 2005), close to [[wikipedia:St Paul's Cathedral|St. Paul's Cathedral]]. Increasing attendance and another management change left the LondonFurs distinctly unwelcome, and moved on.
* ''29th July 2006 - 15th December 2007'': the LondonFur Meets were held at the "Theodore Bullfrog" pub in [[wikipedia:Charing Cross|Charing Cross]]. The venue was quickly outgrown as the group grew ever larger.
* ''15th December 2007 - March 2010'': the Londonfur meets were relocated to the "City Golf Bar" in the [[wikipedia:Blackfriars, London|Blackfriars]] area of London, and remained here for some time, before relocating again to the Saint Bar in [[wikipedia:Paternoster_Square|Paternoster Square]].
* ''March 2010 - present'', the increasing regular attendance meant the meets outgrew the available space again, and were relocated down the road to the larger "Jamie's Bar" in Fleet Place. The meets have been operating here ever since and have an exceptional relationship with the management staff.

==Operating Committee==

In August 2008, with the increasing number of regular attendees, an organising committee was formed. As of December 2010, it consisted of [[Agrajag]], [[Bariki]], [[Branded_Bunni|Branded Bunni]], [[Lupus_Londonwolf|Lupus Londonwolf]], [[Miles_TigerFox|Miles Tigerfox]] and [[Miyabi]].

In September 2011, it was announced that Agrajag and Miles were stepping down from the committee, with [[Ani Boxer]] and [[Camrath]] taking their place.<ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/34372-lf-committee-changes-are-afoot LF Committee - Changes Are Afoot] - [[Lupus Londonwolf]] on [[UKFur]], dated September 9, 2011</ref>

In November 2011, it was announced that a small sub-committee had been created, composed of [[Kittiah]] and [[TiWolf]] to aid the committee in their activities, and to act as deputies in the event of committee member absence.<ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/35274-lf-your-committee-updated-november-2011 LF: Your Committee] - [[Miyabi]] on UKFur, dated November 9, 2011</ref>

On November 18th 2011, Branded Bunni announced on [[Twitter]] that he had resigned from the committee as he felt it was now the right time for him to step down.

On January 30th 2013, Lupus stepped down from his role as Chairman of the committee for personal reasons. Bariki assumed the post of Chairman, and TiWolf was promoted from the sub-committee.<ref>[http://londonfurs.tumblr.com/post/41873964570/lf-committee-and-company-changes LF Committee and Company Changes] - [[Bariki]] on LondonFur Tumblr, dated January 30, 2013</ref>

===Londonfurs Management Ltd===

At the beginning of March 2012, an announcement was made by the committee that, due to issues surrounding public liability, no further "official" walks (walks organised and directed by members of the LF committee) would take place until and unless suitable insurance could be obtained. This would cover any claims made by participants or members of the public in the event of damage or accident.<ref>[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/37047-official-fursuit-walks-public-liability/ Official Fursuit Walks & Public Liability] - Miyabi on UKFur, dated March 7, 2012</ref> Whilst the LondonFur community raised the estimated cost of annual coverage within 48 hours, it still took a month to arrange the insurance, and was only made possible through the creation of a private company.<ref name="LML"/>

On April 5th, 2012, [[Bariki]] announced that the committee had formed a non-profit private company, titled ''LondonFurs Management Ltd''. This company exists solely to administer the meets/seasonal parties, and to provide insurance for any arranged activities, including the fursuit walk. <ref name="LML">[http://forum.ukfur.org/topic/37472-insurance-purchased-official-fursuit-walk-to-resume/ Insurance Purchased - Official Fursuit Walk To Resume] - Bariki on UKFur, dated April 5, 2012</ref>

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
* [http://www.londonfurs.org.uk/ LondonFurs Website]
* [http://www.ukfur.org/forums/index.php?showforum=21 LondonFurs Discussion Forum]
* [http://twitter.com/LondonFurs LondonFurs on Twitter]
* [http://londonfurs.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d41adda0a0566630372792d6b&id=fde2cd8381 LondonFurs Mailing List]
* [irc://irc.furnet.org/londonfurs #londonfurs] on [[FurNet (IRC)|FurNet]]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/londonfurs/ Londonfurs Flickr group]
* [http://www.furmeets.co.uk/group.php?id=2 LondonFur events] on [http://www.furmeets.co.uk/ Furmeets.co.uk]
* [http://www.londonfurs.org.uk/apparel LondonFurs Apparel Store]
* [irc://irc.furnet.org:6667/londonfurs <nowiki>#</nowiki>londonfurs] - official LondonFurs IRC channel on the [[FurNet (IRC)|FurNet IRC network]]

{{United Kingdom}}
[[Category:Regional groups]]
[[Category:Events]]
[[Category:London]]
[[Category:1998 births]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-29T00:10:08Z

Hawthorn:

[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also rather sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, her mentor Princess Celestia refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races==
Equestria and its surrounding territories are home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are often brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races (sometimes called tribes) of pony:
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on its forehead. Unicorns can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestrian unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
** '''Crystal pony''' - a pony with a crystalline body, but which otherwise seems to be identical to an ordinary Equestrian pony. Crystal ponies have three tribal variations: crystal earth pony, crystal pegasus, and crystal unicorn. They inhabit the Crystal Empire, but have been seen visiting other locations.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own country, the Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. They appear to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.
* '''[[Horse]]''' - horses are briefly seen in one season 3 episode. They appear to have their own territory (Saddle Arabia) and are closer to real horses than Equestrian ponies. Ponies also often use horse-related metaphors (eg. 'hearts strong as horses'), suggesting that the two races have been close in the past.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all over Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform cartoon-like feats that baffle even her friends. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a small baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. He can breathe fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''', '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''' - a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in Derpy being given a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Although the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Many furry artists have branched into pony art, and several of the brony fandom's celebrities are or have been involved in the furry fandom in the past.

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene - one of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is usually referred to as an OC (Original Character), a term commonly used in TV show fandoms.
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen). Others derive from memes (for example: 'plot' to mean a pony's backside).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a writing community, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using Fanfiction.net.
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is comparatively more popular among members of the fandom, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums. The most popular brony song as of 2014 is The Living Tombstone's ''Discord'' remix, which has more than ten million views on YouTube.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPfMb50dsOk Discord (Remix)]</ref>
* cosplay (that is, specifically costuming as canon characters) is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters.
* younger demographic - the Brony fandom's age demographic is skewed well toward youth, with a large proportion in their teens or even younger. As a result, there are efforts to keep the fandom child-friendly and to segregate the adult and non-adult sides. Many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-27T12:26:13Z

Hawthorn: more refining

[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also rather sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, her mentor Princess Celestia refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races==
Equestria and its surrounding territories are home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are often brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races (sometimes called tribes) of pony:
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on its forehead. Unicorns can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestrian unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
** '''Crystal pony''' - a pony with a crystalline body, but which otherwise seems to be identical to an ordinary Equestrian pony. Crystal ponies have three tribal variations: crystal earth pony, crystal pegasus, and crystal unicorn. They inhabit the Crystal Empire, but have been seen visiting other locations.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own country, the Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. They appear to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.
* '''[[Horse]]''' - horses are briefly seen in one season 3 episode. They appear to have their own territory (Saddle Arabia) and are closer to real horses than Equestrian ponies. Ponies also often use horse-related metaphors (eg. 'hearts strong as horses'), suggesting that the two races have been close in the past.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all over Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform cartoon-like feats that baffle even her friends. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a small baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. He can breathe fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''', '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''' - a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in Derpy being given a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Also the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Many furry artists have branched into pony art, and several of the brony fandom's celebrities are or have been involved in the furry fandom in the past.

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene - one of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is usually referred to as an OC (Original Character), a term commonly used in TV show fandoms.
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen). Others derive from memes (for example: 'plot' to mean a pony's backside).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a writing community, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using Fanfiction.net.
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is comparatively more popular among members of the fandom, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums. The most popular brony song as of 2014 is The Living Tombstone's ''Discord'' remix, which has more than ten million views on YouTube.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPfMb50dsOk Discord (Remix)]</ref>
* cosplay (that is, specifically costuming as canon characters) is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters.
* younger demographic - the Brony fandom's age demographic is skewed well toward youth, with a large proportion in their teens or even younger. As a result, there are efforts to keep the fandom child-friendly and to segregate the adult and non-adult sides. Many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-26T13:18:46Z

Hawthorn: /* Bronies */

{{unreferenced}}
[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also extremely sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, Princess Celestia (ruler of Equestria) refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races==
Equestria and its surrounding territories are home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are often brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races (sometimes called tribes) of pony:
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on its forehead. Unicorns can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestria unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own country, the Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. They appear to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.
* '''[[Horse]]''' - horses are briefly seen in one season 3 episode. They appear to have their own territory (Saddle Arabia) and are closer to real horses than Equestrian ponies. Ponies also often use horse-related metaphors (eg. 'hearts strong as horses'), suggesting that the two races have been close in the past.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all over Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform impossible feats. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. Can breath fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''', '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''', a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Also the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Many furry artists have branched into pony art, and several of the brony fandom's celebrities are or have been involved in the furry fandom in the past.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene - one of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is also sometimes referred to as an OC (Original Character).
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a fanfiction scene, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using Fanfiction.net.
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is comparatively more popular among members of the fandom, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums. The most popular brony song as of 2014 is The Living Tombstone's ''Discord'' remix, which has more than ten million views on YouTube.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPfMb50dsOk Discord (Remix)]</ref>
* cosplay (that is, specifically costuming as canon characters) is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters.
* younger demographic - the Brony fandom's age demographic is skewed well toward youth, with a large proportion in their teens or even younger. As a result, there are efforts to keep the fandom child-friendly and to segregate the adult and non-adult sides. Many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents.

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-26T13:11:12Z

Hawthorn: /* Bronies */

{{unreferenced}}
[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also extremely sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, Princess Celestia (ruler of Equestria) refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races==
Equestria and its surrounding territories are home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are often brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races (sometimes called tribes) of pony:
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on its forehead. Unicorns can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestria unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own country, the Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. They appear to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.
* '''[[Horse]]''' - horses are briefly seen in one season 3 episode. They appear to have their own territory (Saddle Arabia) and are closer to real horses than Equestrian ponies. Ponies also often use horse-related metaphors (eg. 'hearts strong as horses'), suggesting that the two races have been close in the past.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all over Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform impossible feats. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. Can breath fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''', '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''', a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Also the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Many furry artists have branched into pony art, and several of the brony fandom's celebrities are or have been involved in the furry fandom in the past.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene - one of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is also sometimes referred to as an OC (Original Character).
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a fanfiction scene, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using Fanfiction.net.
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is comparatively more popular among members of the fandom, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums. The most popular brony song as of 2014 is The Living Tombstone's ''Discord'' remix, which has more than ten million views on YouTube.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPfMb50dsOk Discord (Remix)]</ref>
* cosplay (that is, specifically costuming as canon characters) is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters.
* a more child-friendly atmosphere - although the adult brony scene is just as active as the adult furry scene, it is recognised that a large proportion of children are also fans of the show. As a result, many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents. A common rule on convention panels is that during Q&A sessions, children get to ask questions first.

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-26T13:00:58Z

Hawthorn: /* Supporting characters */

{{unreferenced}}
[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also extremely sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, Princess Celestia (ruler of Equestria) refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races==
Equestria and its surrounding territories are home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are often brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races (sometimes called tribes) of pony:
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on its forehead. Unicorns can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestria unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own country, the Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. They appear to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.
* '''[[Horse]]''' - horses are briefly seen in one season 3 episode. They appear to have their own territory (Saddle Arabia) and are closer to real horses than Equestrian ponies. Ponies also often use horse-related metaphors (eg. 'hearts strong as horses'), suggesting that the two races have been close in the past.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all over Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform impossible feats. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. Can breath fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''', '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''', a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Also the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Several furry artists have branched into pony art, and some of the brony fandom's celebrities, such as DustyKatt, are on record as being involved in, or having been involved in, the furry fandom previously.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene. One of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru]].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is also sometimes referred to as an OC (Original Character).
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a fanfiction scene, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using [[Fanfiction.net]].
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is extremely popular among members, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums.
* cosplay is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters for cosplayers to play as.
* a more child-friendly atmosphere - although the adult brony scene is just as active as the adult furry scene, it is generally recognised that a large proportion of children are also fans of the show. As a result, many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents. A common rule on voice actor panels is that 'children get to ask questions first'.

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-26T13:00:03Z

Hawthorn: /* Races of Equestria */

{{unreferenced}}
[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also extremely sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, Princess Celestia (ruler of Equestria) refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races==
Equestria and its surrounding territories are home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are often brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races (sometimes called tribes) of pony:
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on its forehead. Unicorns can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestria unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own country, the Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. They appear to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.
* '''[[Horse]]''' - horses are briefly seen in one season 3 episode. They appear to have their own territory (Saddle Arabia) and are closer to real horses than Equestrian ponies. Ponies also often use horse-related metaphors (eg. 'hearts strong as horses'), suggesting that the two races have been close in the past.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all over Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform impossible feats. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. Can breath fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''' - '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''', a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Also the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Several furry artists have branched into pony art, and some of the brony fandom's celebrities, such as DustyKatt, are on record as being involved in, or having been involved in, the furry fandom previously.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene. One of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru]].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is also sometimes referred to as an OC (Original Character).
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a fanfiction scene, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using [[Fanfiction.net]].
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is extremely popular among members, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums.
* cosplay is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters for cosplayers to play as.
* a more child-friendly atmosphere - although the adult brony scene is just as active as the adult furry scene, it is generally recognised that a large proportion of children are also fans of the show. As a result, many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents. A common rule on voice actor panels is that 'children get to ask questions first'.

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-26T12:48:42Z

Hawthorn: /* Main cast */

{{unreferenced}}
[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also extremely sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, Princess Celestia (ruler of Equestria) refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races of Equestria==
Equestria is home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races of pony.
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on their foreheads. They can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestria unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons are a sentient race and appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. Appears to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all over Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform impossible feats. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. Can breath fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''' - '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''', a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Also the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Several furry artists have branched into pony art, and some of the brony fandom's celebrities, such as DustyKatt, are on record as being involved in, or having been involved in, the furry fandom previously.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene. One of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru]].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is also sometimes referred to as an OC (Original Character).
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a fanfiction scene, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using [[Fanfiction.net]].
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is extremely popular among members, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums.
* cosplay is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters for cosplayers to play as.
* a more child-friendly atmosphere - although the adult brony scene is just as active as the adult furry scene, it is generally recognised that a large proportion of children are also fans of the show. As a result, many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents. A common rule on voice actor panels is that 'children get to ask questions first'.

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

Talk:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-05T23:27:16Z

Hawthorn: /* MLP, bronies, and the furry fandom */

I added some references, will it be enough? If not, please, mark the sentences that need to be referenced, I'm sure I can find proper sources.

Also, "baby [dragon Spike]" links to [[babyfur]]. I think "baby" and "babyfur" is not the same, and if it is - there should be a redirect. [[User:EvilCat|EvilCat]] 03:08, 13 August 2011 (EDT)

:Aaand the "unreferenced" is for?,... - [[User:Spirou|Spirou]] 06:09, 13 August 2011 (EDT)

::The page requires work with citations. I'll do that later when I'm not so exhausted. --[[Special:Contributions/98.95.112.33|98.95.112.33]] 21:19, 13 August 2011 (EDT)

== Restoring [[Brony]] article ==

I think the brony section could stand as its own article. As it stands it was merged into this article [[Talk:Brony|without much discussion]], with another user later commenting that it could stand on its own. WikiFur has plenty of term-stub articles, and as its own article this would be longer than many of them. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by [[User:Equivamp|Equivamp]] ([[User talk:Equivamp|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Equivamp|contribs]]) 12:47, 10 April 2012 .
: I'm in support of splitting it off as a separate article. At least once the section of this article is more substantial. {{:User:AlexanderGrey/sig}} 18:09, 26 April 2012 (EDT)}}

== Outdated or need improved ==

change Studio B to DHX media logo and Hasbro Green-box-alike logo or add them too?
Update the character image to Season 2, or add the Season 2 too, or use this:
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/492/097/167.png ??
add info and update sertain obvoius parts tpp

== Singapore bronycon: Canterlot University ==

Canterlot University a possible convention to add (apparently no date yet) : https://www.facebook.com/Canterlot.University and https://twitter.com/Canterlot_Uni (http://www.canterlotuniversity.com/ seems to be down). --[[User:EarthFurst|EarthFurst]] 07:44, 23 April 2014 (EDT)

==MLP, bronies, and the furry fandom==

I updated this article a bit recently, as it was very out of date. I've also been trying to think of how to make this relevant to a furry audience.

People have suggested creating a Brony article on Wikifur, and while I thought that looked like a good idea at first, after thinking it over I believe it doesn't fit here.

It is certainly true that there is overlap between the Furry and Brony fandoms. A not-insignificant number of furries are bronies (which increases further if you widen the definition to 'MLP fan', rather than someone active in the brony community), and I suspect that in some ways, the furry fandom has acted as a prototype for the brony fandom, particularly in the convention scene. (I could be wrong about that, but as furry and brony are the only fandoms I know, I see parallels between them).

For hard facts, I know this: around 20 percent of bronies consider themselves furry (as per the Herd Census), and a few of the well known celebrities of the Brony fandom are furries or ex-furries ([[DustyKat]] is probably the highest profile in both fandoms, and Apple Cider and Chef Sandy of the Bronyville podcast often talk about furry fandom history and how it applies to bronies). Bronies sometimes even get conflated with furries, although usually by people who can't or won't see the difference.

I guess the question is, is the overlap between the fandoms worth an article? That's where I'm thinking it isn't. Wikifur is a furry encyclopedia first and foremost and although the brony fandom is similar and likely inspired by the former, it isn't the same. MLP falls under furry in the limited sense of having anthropomorphic animals, which is the direction I've tried to take the article in (by detailing the races of Equestria).

[[User:Hawthorn|Hawthorn]] ([[User talk:Hawthorn|talk]]) 19:27, 5 August 2014 (EDT)

Talk:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-05T23:26:51Z

Hawthorn:

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-08-02T01:59:20Z

Hawthorn: expanded massively

{{unreferenced}}
[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. In the opening episode, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also extremely sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, Princess Celestia (ruler of Equestria) refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. The six discover themselves to be the embodiments of the six Elements of Harmony, and after this, become firm friends. The show largely focuses around these six (referred to as the 'Mane Six' by fans).

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races of Equestria==
Equestria is home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races of pony.
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on their foreheads. They can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestria unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
* '''[[Griffon]]''' - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons are a sentient race and appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own Griffon Kingdom.
* '''Changeling''' - an insectoid pony-like creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* '''[[Zebra]]''' - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* '''[[Minotaur]]''' - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* '''[[Dragon]]''' - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* '''Diamond Dog''' - a bipedal species of [[dog]] which lives underground and mines for gemstones. Appears to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* '''[[Donkey]]''' - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* '''[[Cow]]''' - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all oer Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform impossible feats. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. Can breath fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''' - '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''', a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, most often the quality of writing and animation on the show.

A fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Also the term is masculine in origin, it is considered to cover fans of all genders. The term 'pegasister'<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>, a portmanteau of 'pegasus' and 'sister', has been coined to refer specifically to female fans, but it is not in wide use.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has a significant crossover with the furry fandom. According to the 2014 State of the Herd Report<ref>[http://www.herdcensus.com/2014%20STATE%20OF%20THE%20HERD%20REPORT.pdf 2014 State of the Herd Report]</ref>, 21% of bronies consider themselves furry as well. Several furry artists have branched into pony art, and some of the brony fandom's celebrities, such as DustyKatt, are on record as being involved in, or having been involved in, the furry fandom previously.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

Many things familiar to furries have equivalents in the brony fandom:

* an extremely active art scene. One of the best-known and most active image boards is [http://derpibooru.com derpibooru]].
* costuming - ranging from simple earbands and tails to full pony fursuits.
* meetups - similar to [[furmeet]]s, and varying from casual get-togethers to gatherings of hundreds of people.
* conventions - many take place every year, all over the world.
* avatars - like [[fursona]]s, most bronies will have a [[ponysona]] to represent them in the fandom. This is also sometimes referred to as an OC (Original Character).
* vocabulary - like the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom (or indeed, most fandoms) a vocabulary of fandom-specific words exists. Some of the terms are taken directly from the show, such as "anypony" (anybody), or "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen).
* an adult scene. Sexuality is explored in the brony fandom as freely as in furry, and some aspects of the vocabulary reflect this: most notably, "clop" is the brony equivalent of [[yiff]], and is a euphemism for adult material, as well as for masturbation (similar to 'pawing' for furries). <ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.
* [[troll]]s - sometimes called 'parasprites' in the brony fandom.
* a fanfiction scene, mostly organised on [http://fimfiction.net Fimfiction], with a few also using [[Fanfiction.net]].
* roleplay - this generally takes place on forums and IRC.
* news sites - [http://equestriadaily.com Equestria Daily] is the biggest and most active.

There are also a few differences between the scenes:

* a heavier emphasis on music. Although there are a number of furry musicians, the brony fandom's musical output is extremely popular among members, and music is regarded as important as visual art by most. There are a large number of brony musicians who create new music and remixes regularly, often releasing entire albums.
* cosplay is more widespread, as the show contains a very large number of characters for cosplayers to play as.
* a more child-friendly atmosphere - although the adult brony scene is just as active as the adult furry scene, it is generally recognised that a large proportion of children are also fans of the show. As a result, many of the major conventions are family-friendly, and encourage children and parents. A common rule on voice actor panels is that 'children get to ask questions first'.

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-07-27T17:07:10Z

Hawthorn: Big rewrite, with expansion on the show's species

{{unreferenced}}
[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Friendship is Magic''', '''MLP:FIM''', or just '''FIM''') is an animated television series based on the long-running [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise ''[[My Little Pony]]'', adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]]. It is designated as the 'Fourth Generation' of ''My Little Pony''<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, and is therefore also sometimes referred to as ''G4'', especially when discussing the franchise as a whole.

''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' has been a critical success among its target demographic of young girls<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, but is also known for having attracted a surprising periphery demographic of young adult males, known as the [[Brony]] fandom. As a result, it has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], websites, and has a thriving [[convention]] scene.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012. Season 4 premiered on November 23, 2013.

==Plot==

The show takes place in the magical land of Equestria, populated by a variety of magical creatures, including the titular ponies. As the show begins, we are introduced to Twilight Sparkle, a highly intelligent but also extremely sheltered unicorn pony, who is concerned about a prophecy predicting the imminent return of the evil Nightmare Moon. Despite her warning, Princess Celestia (ruler of Equestria) refuses to take her seriously, and instead sends her to the nearby town of Ponyville with the task of making some friends.

Although she fails in this task at first, the return of Nightmare Moon sets in motion a chain of events which unites her with five other ponies - Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - who band together to defeat the villainess. After this, the six become firm friends.

The show is largely slice-of-life, with intermittent "adventure" episodes. Episodes typically revolve around problems faced by one or more of the characters, and the moral lessons that they learn in the attempt to find a solution. In seasons 1 and 2, these morals would be presented quite directly as letters dictated by Twilight (and later by other characters) to Princess Celestia at the end of each episode. In seasons 3 and 4, this has been largely dropped.

==Races of Equestria==
Equestria is home to many different sentient races:
* '''[[Pony]]''' - Equestrian ponies are brightly colored, and all receive a unique, distinguishing magical mark (a 'cutie mark') on their flanks when they discover what makes them unique. There are several races of pony.
** '''Earth pony''' - a 'normal' pony without horn or wings. Implied to naturally possess great strength and stamina, as well as an innate talent with plants, animals, and rocks.
** '''[[Pegasus]]''' - a pony with feathered wings. Capable of flight, and with an innate ability to manipulate clouds and weather. Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, and many live on them; there is an entire Pegasus city called Cloudsdale, high above Equestria.
** '''[[Unicorn]]''' - a pony with a single horn on their foreheads. They can use their horns to perform magic. All unicorns can perform simple telekinesis, using their magic to levitate and hold objects in the air. Unicorns can also cast other magic spells, generally ones related to their special talent. Despite the mythological origins of the unicorn, Equestria unicorns are considered equine, and aside from the horn have a normal pony body.
** '''[[Alicorn]]''' - a winged unicorn pony. Considered to be a combination of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies, with the abilities of all three. Alicorns in Equestria are extremely rare - only four are known to exist - and are revered by the populace. It is possible for an ordinary pony to become an alicorn through a form of ascension. Alicorns appear to automatically have royal status in Equestria, and all known alicorns are princesses.
** '''[[Bat]] pony''' - similar to a pegasus, but with slitted eyes and batlike wings. Bat ponies have only been seen in one episode and have never been named or identified, but have a following among fans.
* [[Griffon]] - half [[eagle]], half [[lion]] hybrids. Griffons are a sentient race and appear to have their own society, but nonetheless intermingle with ponies on rare occasions. In the fandom, they are popularly assumed to have their own Griffon Kingdom.
* Changeling - an insectoid ponylike creature with the ability to disguise itself as any pony, and which feeds off of love. There appears to be a very large population of changelings, but they have only been seen once in the series so far. Changelings have a bee-like social structure, with a Queen who rules the hive.
* [[Zebra]] - one zebra, Zecora, is a secondary character in the show. Zebra are explicitly stated not to be ponies, and mostly live in a far off land (heavily implied to be the Equestrian equivalent of Africa).
* [[Minotaur]] - a species of bipedal [[bull]] with fingered hands.
* [[Dragon]] - typically the winged western variety, although there appears to be a lot of variation. Dragons can grow to enormous sizes and are known for their greed and hoarding habits. They appear to be impervious to high temperatures, and can breathe fire.
* Diamond [[Dog]] - a bipedal species of dog which lives underground and mines for gemstones. Appears to have a culture, military organisation, and trade economy.
* [[Donkey]] - a species which lives among the pony population. Little is known about them, but they appear to be treated like any other pony.
* [[Cow]] - known to be sapient (one is known by name, and is seen entering a shop), but at other times, are herded like cattle.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''' - a purple unicorn (and later alicorn) pony. Extremely studious, highly intelligent, but somewhat socially inept at first. She joined Ponyville as their new librarian, before later becoming a princess. She represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''' - an orange earth pony. A hardworking apple farmer with country mannerisms. She owns the Sweet Apple Acres farm and has a large extended family all oer Equestria. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''' - a blue pegasus pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail. She is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer who dreams of joining the world-famous flight team, the Wonderbolts. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''' - a pink earth pony. She is incessantly cheerful, hyperactive, and loves to throw parties. Infamous for her tendency to break the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and perform impossible feats. She represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''' - a yellow pegasus pony. She is very timid and soft-spoken, and a poor flyer, usually preferring to remain on the ground. She has a talent for understanding and communicating with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''' - a white unicorn pony with a stylish purple mane and [[tail]]. She is a self-made fashionista who runs her own business, and dreams of being a part of high society. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''' - a baby dragon. Twilight Sparkle's assistant and sidekick. Can breath fire, and also has the magical ability to teleport items using his fire breath. This ability is commonly used to send messages to Princess Celestia (and can be used in reverse, to receive messages back).
*'''Princess Celestia''' - an white alicorn pony. Ruler of Equestria, who raises and lowers the sun at dawn and sunset. She is thousands of years old, and Twilight Sparkle's personal mentor.
*'''Princess Luna''' - a dark blue alicorn pony. The sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria. She raises and lowers the moon at sunset and dawn. She is also the guardian of pony dreams, and can freely enter a pony's dreamscape while they are asleep. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years, when her jealousy turned her into the evil Nightmare Moon.
*'''Apple Bloom''' - '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''. None of them have yet discovered their special talents, and so lack their cutie marks.
*'''Diamond Tiara''' and '''Silver Spoon''' - a pair of rich fillies who bully the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
*'''Snips''' and '''Snails''' - a pair of colts, known for their stupidity.
*'''The Apple Family''' - a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''' - a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''' - a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Mayor Mare''' - the Mayor of Ponyville, who officiates in matters pertaining to the running of the town.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''' - the local school teacher.
*'''Shining Armor''' - Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Princess Cadance''' - a pink alicorn. Twilight Sparkle's former babysitter, and Ruler of the Crystal Empire.
*'''Spitfire''' - leader of the Wonderbolts, Equestria's top pegasus flight team.
*'''Derpy Hooves''', a gray pegasus pony with a blonde mane. Recognisable by her eyes, which are wall-eyed (facing in opposite directions). Originally an animation error, she quickly became a fan favorite and was brought back several times by the animators for background roles. In season 2, she was given a speaking role, which proved highly controversial as some complained that it was insensitive to the disabled. This resulted in a long absence from the show, but she was eventually brought back in season 4. She is widely considered to be the mascot of the Brony fandom.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. It has been well received for cleverly embedded double-entendre humor, original yet classical plot, pop cultural references, and modern visuals.

A male fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Some female fans prefer to be known as "pegasisters", a portmanteau of "pegasus" and "sister"<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has seen significant crossover with the furry fandom, as the show heavily features anthropomorphic animals of various species. The brony fandom similarly features a large creative output of art, writing, costuming, animation and music along with websites dedicated to showcasing them. Gatherings similar to [[furmeets]] and [[conventions]] have also become commonplace around the world. Many bronies will also make [[ponysona]]s, similar to the [[fursona]]s of furry fandom.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a [[Guest of Honor]] at [[Anthrocon]].<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>

The brony fandom has another parallel with the furry fandom in its fandom-specific terms (akin to the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom); words include "anypony" (anybody), "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen), and "brohoof" (bro-fist), while "clop" is a fan-derived term akin to [[yiff]] for similar use<ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-07-27T15:10:44Z

Hawthorn: /* Bronies */

{{unreferenced}}
[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated '''MLP:FiM''') is an animated television series adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]], based on the [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise. Sometimes referred to as the "Fourth Generation" [[My Little Pony]]<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, the show is considered much better produced than any of the earlier television series and has proven to be popular among a large cross-section of viewers, including but not limited to [[furry fan]]s<ref name=WP>See [[:wikipedia:My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic#Reception|Reception]] section of "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" article at Wikipedia</ref>. It has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], and websites.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012.

==Plot==
The show follows the character of Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn and star pupil of Princess Celestia after displaying an unusual talent for magic at a young age. When Twilight becomes preoccupied with her studies and paranoid about the impending return of the evil Nightmare Moon, the princess sends her and her assistant Spike to Ponyville to make some friends.

Twilight and her friends come to represent the Elements of Harmony, an extreme magical force that is used to defeat Nightmare Moon. Following Nightmare Moon's defeat, Twilight is told to stay in Ponyville and send reports to Celestia about the magic of friendship. As of the season two episode "Lesson Zero", all of the main characters are tasked with reporting to Princess Celestia when, and only when, they learn a valuable lesson in friendship.

The show follows the slice-of-life genre, with intermittent "adventure" episodes, with each episode usually revolving around a problem and it being solved through an application of friendship, tolerance, or other attribute that makes up the "moral" of the story. Episodes usually end with a letter to Princess Celestia, detailing how the preceding events have bettered the characters.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''', a violet [[unicorn]] [[pony]] who is extremely studious but lacks many social skills. She runs Ponyville's library and represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''', a golden orange earth pony who is a hard-working country girl and owner of the Sweet Apple Acres farm. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''', a blue [[pegasus]] pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail, who is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''', a pink earth pony who is incessantly cheerful and loves to throw parties. She frequently breaks the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''', a yellow pegasus pony who is very timid and soft-spoken with a talent for working with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''', a white unicorn pony with a purple mane and [[tail]], who is very proper and has a talent for fashion, running her own dressmaking business. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''', a baby [[dragon]], Twilight's assistant and sidekick.
*'''Princess Celestia''', an [[alicorn]] pony, the ruler of Equestria, controller of the sun and Twilight's teacher.
*'''Princess Luna''', Celestia's sister, the ruler of the night. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years when her jealousy manifested itself into '''Nightmare Moon'''.
*'''Apple Bloom''', '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''.
*'''The Apple Family''', a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''', a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''', a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''', the local school teacher.
*Various school age children including the mischievous colts '''Snips''' and '''Snails''', and fillies '''Twist''', '''Diamond Tiara''', and '''Silver Spoon'''.
*'''Shining Armor''', Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Derpy Hooves''', a background character who became a fan favorite. Later added as an [[wikipedia:Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] and given a speaking role as a canon character.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. It has been well received for cleverly embedded double-entendre humor, original yet classical plot, pop cultural references, and modern visuals.

A male fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP/><ref>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Some female fans prefer to be known as "pegasisters", a portmanteau of "pegasus" and "sister"<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has seen significant crossover with the furry fandom, as the show heavily features anthropomorphic animals of various species. The brony fandom similarly features a large creative output of art, writing, costuming, animation and music along with websites dedicated to showcasing them. Gatherings similar to [[furmeets]] and [[conventions]] have also become commonplace around the world. Many bronies will also make [[ponysona]]s, similar to the [[fursona]]s of furry fandom.

In 2014, Lee Tockar, a voice actor on the show, was a Guest of Honor at [[Anthrocon]]<ref>[http://www.anthrocon.org/node/17345/2014-guest-honor-lee-tockar Official announcement] on the Anthrocon website</ref>.

The brony fandom has another parallel with the furry fandom in its fandom-specific terms (akin to the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom); words include "anypony" (anybody), "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen), and "brohoof" (bro-fist), while "clop" is a fan-derived term akin to [[yiff]] for similar use<ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

User:Hawthorn

2014-07-27T15:03:27Z

Hawthorn:

[[Image:Hawrabbit.PNG|frame|Hawthorn, the bunny.]]
[[Image:Hawthornowl.jpg|frame|Hawthorn, the owl.]]

I'm a [[lapine]] fur, [[owl|strigine]] feathery, and [[brony]] from [[England]]. I first encountered the Furry fandom via one of its offshoots, the [[Feathery]] fandom, when I discovered [[Avians.net]] whilst at university in 2002.

My character, Hawthorn, is named after the tree (''Crataegus monogyna''). The name was originally chosen for my owl character, because it sounds like something an owl would say.

==Furry==

I've been what could be described as Furry for at least a decade before I heard of the fandom. When I watched ''[[The Animals of Farthing Wood]]'', or read ''[[Watership Down]]'' or ''[[Duncton Wood]]'' in the early 1990s, I wasn't just watching animals - I was wondering what it would be like to ''be'' one of those animals.

A few years later the book series ''[[Animorphs]]'' was published, and once again, my focus was drawn to the character Tobias, a human stuck in the body of a red-tailed hawk. I started writing fanfiction for it at this point, and moved onto writing my own stories, all with that same theme of animality. I researched birds a lot, and became quite a capable bird-spotter as a result.

In 2002, at university, I found Avians.net, a place for bird characters to chat, and was quite thrilled to be able to play out my fantasy of being an animal. I adopted the persona of Hawthorn the owl. At this time, I was still unaware of the Furry fandom, and when I did learn of it, it was initially a little too sexed-up and raucous for my liking.

At this point I was more into realistic characters; my focus had always been on the nonmorphic, and I found anthros to be a little silly, fantastical, and human.

The story universe ''[[Winds of Change]]'', invented by [[Jon Sleeper]], changed my views in 2003. It's about the whole world's population being changed into anthro animals, and it simply blew me away. Here was a world I wanted to ''live'' in. I started writing again, churning out WoC fanfics (really they're stories in a shared universe, but it was pure fannishness driving me) by the dozen, none of which saw the light of day because I suck at finishing stories. This also got me interested in the transformation (TF) community, and into anthro animals. My eventual anthro rabbit form was inspired by my WoC stories.

I also encountered the ''Watership Down'' fandom around this time, and got involved in that, adopting a nonmorphic rabbit persona for myself. I kept the name Hawthorn because it was perfectly appropriate for this.

{{ContributorU|Hawthorn (United Kingdom)}}

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

2014-07-27T15:00:20Z

Hawthorn: /* Bronies */ - contamination seems a bit negative.

{{unreferenced}}
[[File:Mlpfimlogo.png|right|220px]]
[[File:Hasbro studios logo 1.jpg|right|140px]]
[[File:Studio B.jpg|right|125px]]
'''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''' (sometimes abbreviated '''MLP:FiM''') is an animated television series adapted for television by [[Wikipedia:Lauren Faust|Lauren Faust]], based on the [[Wikipedia:Hasbro|Hasbro]] toy franchise. Sometimes referred to as the "Fourth Generation" [[My Little Pony]]<ref>[http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G4index.html G4 Friendship is Magic Ponies]</ref>, the show is considered much better produced than any of the earlier television series and has proven to be popular among a large cross-section of viewers, including but not limited to [[furry fan]]s<ref name=WP>See [[:wikipedia:My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic#Reception|Reception]] section of "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" article at Wikipedia</ref>. It has become the subject of a large volume of [[fanfiction]], [[fan art]], and websites.

The first episode aired on [[Wikipedia:The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] on October 10, 2010 as one of the channel's flagship shows. Season 2 premiered on September 17, 2011. Season 3 premiered on November 10, 2012.

==Plot==
The show follows the character of Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn and star pupil of Princess Celestia after displaying an unusual talent for magic at a young age. When Twilight becomes preoccupied with her studies and paranoid about the impending return of the evil Nightmare Moon, the princess sends her and her assistant Spike to Ponyville to make some friends.

Twilight and her friends come to represent the Elements of Harmony, an extreme magical force that is used to defeat Nightmare Moon. Following Nightmare Moon's defeat, Twilight is told to stay in Ponyville and send reports to Celestia about the magic of friendship. As of the season two episode "Lesson Zero", all of the main characters are tasked with reporting to Princess Celestia when, and only when, they learn a valuable lesson in friendship.

The show follows the slice-of-life genre, with intermittent "adventure" episodes, with each episode usually revolving around a problem and it being solved through an application of friendship, tolerance, or other attribute that makes up the "moral" of the story. Episodes usually end with a letter to Princess Celestia, detailing how the preceding events have bettered the characters.

==Characters==
[[File:Ponies.png|right|300px]]
===Main cast===
*'''Twilight Sparkle''', a violet [[unicorn]] [[pony]] who is extremely studious but lacks many social skills. She runs Ponyville's library and represents the Element of Magic.
*'''Applejack''', a golden orange earth pony who is a hard-working country girl and owner of the Sweet Apple Acres farm. She represents the Element of Honesty.
*'''Rainbow Dash''', a blue [[pegasus]] pony with a rainbow-striped [[mane]] and tail, who is athletic, tomboyish, and a very talented flyer. She represents the Element of Loyalty.
*'''Pinkie Pie''', a pink earth pony who is incessantly cheerful and loves to throw parties. She frequently breaks the [[wikipedia:Fourth wall|fourth wall]] and represents the Element of Laughter.
*'''Fluttershy''', a yellow pegasus pony who is very timid and soft-spoken with a talent for working with animals. She represents the Element of Kindness.
*'''Rarity''', a white unicorn pony with a purple mane and [[tail]], who is very proper and has a talent for fashion, running her own dressmaking business. She represents the Element of Generosity.

===Supporting characters===
*'''Spike''', a baby [[dragon]], Twilight's assistant and sidekick.
*'''Princess Celestia''', an [[alicorn]] pony, the ruler of Equestria, controller of the sun and Twilight's teacher.
*'''Princess Luna''', Celestia's sister, the ruler of the night. She was formerly banished to the moon for 1000 years when her jealousy manifested itself into '''Nightmare Moon'''.
*'''Apple Bloom''', '''Sweetie Belle''', and '''Scootaloo''', three fillies collectively known as '''The Cutie Mark Crusaders'''.
*'''The Apple Family''', a large family of ponies including Applejack, Apple Bloom, their brother '''Big Macintosh''', and their grandmother '''Granny Smith''', along with numerous others.
*'''Mr. and Mrs. Cake''', a couple who operate the bakery where Pinkie Pie lives, and later give birth to twins '''Pound Cake''' and '''Pumpkin Cake'''.
*'''Zecora''', a zebra who lives in the nearby Everfree Forest and always speaks in rhyme.
*'''Ms. Cheerilee''', the local school teacher.
*Various school age children including the mischievous colts '''Snips''' and '''Snails''', and fillies '''Twist''', '''Diamond Tiara''', and '''Silver Spoon'''.
*'''Shining Armor''', Twilight's brother and leader of the Royal Guard. He is married to '''Princess Cadance''', Celestia's niece.
*'''Derpy Hooves''', a background character who became a fan favorite. Later added as an [[wikipedia:Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] and given a speaking role as a canon character.

==Bronies==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' has found a strong following among adults and older teens, despite the target audience being young girls. It has been well received for cleverly embedded double-entendre humor, original yet classical plot, pop cultural references, and modern visuals.

A male fan of the show is known as a "brony," a portmanteau of the words "bro" and "pony"<ref name=WP/><ref>[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic] at Know Your Meme: Fans outside the show's demographic, especially teen and adult male fans, have come to be known as "bronies"</ref>. Some female fans prefer to be known as "pegasisters", a portmanteau of "pegasus" and "sister"<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pegasister Pegasister] on Urban Dictionary</ref>.

The creators of the show have reciprocated the feelings of the fandom, referencing bronies in the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPqjKk_xCo Equestria Girls]'' promo and even marketing directly to the adult demographic<ref>[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/04/madman-dvd-dubbed-brony-box.html MADMAN DVD Dubbed "The Brony Box"] at Equestria Daily</ref>. Probably the most significant call out came in the canonisation of the character Derpy Hooves, whose name and personality was collectively created by the fandom. Other fan names have become canon outside of the TV show such as the name Lyra being adopted in the toy line.<ref>[http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Lyra_Heartstrings#Depiction_in_merchandise Lyra Heartstrings] on Friendship is Magic Wiki</ref> Derpy - along with other fan favourites [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Whooves]], Octavia, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, Colgate, Vinyl Scratch/DJ Pon-3, Lyra and Bon-Bon - appeared on the poster distributed at [[wikipedia:San Diego Comic-Con International|Comic Con]] 2011.

The brony fandom has seen significant crossover with the furry fandom, as the show heavily features anthropomorphic animals of various species. The brony fandom similarly features a large creative output of art, writing, costuming, animation and music along with websites dedicated to showcasing them. Gatherings similar to [[furmeets]] and [[conventions]] have also become commonplace around the world. Many bronies will also make [[ponysona]]s, similar to the [[fursona]]s of furry fandom.

The brony fandom has another parallel with the furry fandom in its fandom-specific terms (akin to the [[furspeech]] of the furry fandom); words include "anypony" (anybody), "fillies and gentlecolts" (ladies and gentlemen), and "brohoof" (bro-fist), while "clop" is a fan-derived term akin to [[yiff]] for similar use<ref>{{cite web|url = http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wingboner-clopping|title = Wingboner / Clopping|publisher = Know Your Meme|author = "Epic Fail Guy is a Brony", "RandomMan" et. al}}</ref>.

==Awards==
''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' won the [[Ursa Major Award]] for Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Short or Series in [[2011 Ursa Major Awards|2011]], [[2012 Ursa Major Awards|2012]], and [[2013 Ursa Major Awards|2013]].

==References==
<references/>

== See also ==
*[http://wikiindex.org/Category:My_Little_Pony My Little Pony] wikis at [http://wikiindex.org/WikiIndex WikiIndex.org]
*[[Equestrian Dawn]], [[EquestriaMUCK]], [[EquestriaMUSH]], [[PonyMUSH]] and other [[:Category:My Little Pony multiplayer worlds|My Little Pony multiplayer worlds]]

==External links==
*[http://www.equestriadaily.com/ Equestria Daily]
*[http://www.canternet.org/ Canternet] [[IRC]] website
*[http://www.bronyshow.com/ Bronyville podcast]

* '''Conventions''':
** '''Asia''':
*** Japan: [http://ponycon.jp/ JapanPonycon website], [http://poniko-jpc.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/japanponycon Twitter]
*** Philippines: [http://phponycon.weebly.com/ PHPonyCon]
** '''Europe''':
*** [http://ponycon.org/ European Pony Convention Union (EPCU)]
*** Finland: [http://www.crystalfair.fi/ Crystal Fair website], [http://crystalfair.deviantart.com/ deviantART] [https://www.facebook.com/CrystalFairCon Facebook], [http://ask-aurorapony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/crystalfaircon Twitter]
*** France: [http://www.bronydays.org/?lang=en Bronydays website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyDays Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyDays/ Twitter]
*** Germany:
**** [http://www.galacon.eu/ GalaCon website] and [https://twitter.com/gala_con Twitter]
**** [http://lunafest.eu/ Lunafest website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunafest/582805341803697 Facebook], [http://lunafest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/lunafestival Twitter]
*** United Kingdom:
**** [http://www.buckcon.org/ BUCK website], [http://summersuncelebration.co.uk Summer Sun Celebration Minisite], [https://www.facebook.com/BUCKCon Facebook], [http://buckcon.tumblr.com/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/BUCKcon Twitter], [https://plus.google.com/u/0/117007229687701100178/posts Google +], [https://www.youtube.com/user/BronyUKCon Youtube], [http://ukofequestria.co.uk/forums/buck-convention-discussion.43/ BUCK Forum], [http://askbritannia.tumblr.com/ Mascot Ask Blog], [http://askbritanniamlp.deviantart.com/ Mascot deviantArt]
**** [http://bronyscot.org.uk/ BronyScot website], [https://www.facebook.com/bronyscot Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyScot Twitter]
** '''North America''':
*** Canada:
**** [https://bronycan.ca/ BronyCAN website], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyCAN Facebook], [http://ask-bronycan.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/BronyCAN Twitter] (British Columbia)
**** [http://www.bronyexpo.com/ BronyExpo website], [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/BronyExpo Twitter]
**** [http://canterlotconvention.com CANterlot website], [https://www.facebook.com/CaNterlotCon Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/CANterlotCon Twitter] (Ontario)
*** USA:
**** [http://www.babscon.com/ Bay Area Brony Spectacular (BABSCon) website] and [https://twitter.com/babsconsf Twitter] (California)
**** [http://www.bigappleponycon.com/ Big Apple Ponycon] (New York)
**** [http://bronyfanfair.com/ Brony Fan Fair website] and [https://www.facebook.com/BronyFanFair Facebook] (Texas)
**** [http://www.bronycon.org/ BronyCon convention website] (Maryland)
**** [http://derpycons.com/ DerpyCon South website], [https://www.facebook.com/DerpyConSouth Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/DerpyConS Twitter] (Louisiana)
**** [http://www.equestriala.com/ Equestria LA] (California)
**** [http://www.everfreenw.com/ Everfree NorthWest] (Washington state)
**** [http://www.fiestaequestria.com/ Fiesta Equestria], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Equestria/465591543463252 Facebook], [http://fiestaequestria.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/FiestaEquestria Twitter] (Texas)
**** [http://www.GrandBronyGala.com/ Grand Brony Gala website], [https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandBronyGala Facebook], [http://thegrandbronygala.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/GrandBronyGala Twitter] (Florida)
**** [http://www.mwbfkc.net/ Midwest Bronyfest] (Missouri)
**** [http://mlp-msp.com/ MLP-MSP] (Minnesota)
**** [http://mylittleponycon.com/ My Little Pony Fair website], [https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Little-Pony-Fair-and-Convention/230605296972598 Facebook] and [https://twitter.com/MyLittlePonyCon Twitter] (Tennessee)
**** [http://www.pon3con.com/ PON3 Con] (Nebraska)
**** [http://www.ponyvilleciderfest.com/ Ponyville CiderFest website], [https://www.facebook.com/ponyvilleciderfest Facebook], [http://ponyvilleciderfest.tumblr.com/ Tumblr] and [https://twitter.com/PonyCiderfest Twitter] (Wisconsin)
**** [http://rotlcon.com/ Running of the Leaves Convention] (Colorado)
**** [http://trotcon.net/ TrotCon] (Ohio)
** '''Oceania''':
*** Australia:
**** [http://www.ponyconau.com/ PonyCon AU]
**** [http://sydneigh.com.au/ Sydneigh website], [http://sydneigh.deviantart.com/ deviantART], [https://www.facebook.com/BronyConSydney Facebook], [http://tumblr.sydneigh.com.au/ Tumblr], [https://twitter.com/Sydneigh2014 Twitter] and [http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneighMLP YouTube]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Ursa Major Award winners]]
[[Category:2010 births]]

[[ru:My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]

User:Hawthorn

2010-10-27T13:46:02Z

Hawthorn: I'm removing these lists since they're never going to be accurate :3

[[Image:Hawrabbit.PNG|frame|Hawthorn, the bunny.]]
[[Image:Hawthornowl.jpg|frame|Hawthorn, the owl.]]
I'm a [[lapine]] fur (and [[owl|strigine]] feathery) from [[England]]. I first encountered the Furry fandom via one of its offshoots, the [[Feathery]] fandom, when I discovered [[Avians.net]] whilst at university in 2002.

I was a bit outspoken against Furries at that time, finding them a bit too raucous for my tastes. My first [[furmeet]], with the [[LondonFurs]] that year, did little to improve my opinion - I fled after fifteen minutes, genuinely worried about my safety.

Fortunately, I've improved my social skills a bit since then, and become rather more tolerant of unfamiliar things. I've even started going to LondonFur meets. :3

My character, Hawthorn, is named after the tree (''Crataegus monogyna''). The name was originally chosen for my owl character, because it sounds like something an owl would say.

==Furryness==

I've been what could be described as Furry for at least a decade before I heard of the fandom. When I watched ''[[The Animals of Farthing Wood]]'', or read ''[[Watership Down]]'' or ''[[Duncton Wood]]'' in the early 1990s, I wasn't just watching animals - I was wondering what it would be like to ''be'' one of those animals.

A few years later the book series ''[[Animorphs]]'' was published, and once again, my focus was drawn to the character Tobias, a human stuck in the body of a red-tailed hawk. I started writing fanfiction for it at this point, and moved onto writing my own stories, all with that same theme of animality. I researched birds a lot, and became quite a capable bird-spotter as a result.

In 2002, at university, I found Avians.net, a place for bird characters to chat, and was quite thrilled to be able to play out my fantasy of being an animal. I adopted the persona of Hawthorn the owl. At this time, I was still unaware of the Furry fandom, and when I did learn of it, it was initially a little too sexed-up and raucous for my liking.

At this point I was more into realistic characters; my focus had always been on the nonmorphic, and I found anthros to be a little silly, fantastical, and human.

The story universe ''[[Winds of Change]]'', invented by [[Jon Sleeper]], changed my views in 2003. It's about the whole world's population being changed into anthro animals, and it simply blew me away. Here was a world I wanted to ''live'' in. I started writing again, churning out WoC fanfics (really they're stories in a shared universe, but it was pure fannishness driving me) by the dozen, none of which saw the light of day because I suck at finishing stories. This also got me interested in the transformation (TF) community, and into anthro animals. My eventual anthro rabbit form was inspired by my WoC stories.

I also encountered the ''Watership Down'' fandom around this time, and got involved in that, adopting a nonmorphic rabbit persona for myself. I kept the name Hawthorn because it was perfectly appropriate for this.

{{ContributorU}}

Hawthorn (United Kingdom)

2010-09-06T20:58:25Z

Hawthorn:

[[Image:Hawthornowl.jpg|frame|Hawthorn, the owl.]]
'''Hawthorn''' is a [[rabbit|lapine]] fur and an [[owl]] feathery who encountered the [[Furry fandom]] via one of its offshoots, the [[Feathery]] fandom, after discovering [[Avians.net]] whilst at university in 2002.

==Characters==

Both of his current characters are, confusingly, named the same, and appear in different degrees of [[morphic]]ness.

Hawthorn the owl (sometimes called just called Hawthorn Owl) is a male Spotted Eagle Owl (''Bubo africanus''). It was his first character. The owl is always [[nonmorphic]].

Hawthorn the rabbit is a wild male European Rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus''), who appears in morphic and non-morphic forms depending on his virtual location.

He frequently attends the [[LondonFur meet]]s.

==External links==
* [http://www.avians.net/~hawthorn/ Hawthorn's Hole] on [[avians.net]]
* [http://hawthornowl.livejournal.com/ Hawthornowl] on [[LiveJournal]]

{{Contributor|Hawthorn}}

{{person-stub}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Owl characters]]
[[Category:Rabbit characters]]
[[Category:Nonmorphic characters]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1982 births]]

Hawthorn (United Kingdom)

2010-09-06T20:57:58Z

Hawthorn:

[[Image:Hawthornowl.jpg|frame|Hawthorn, the owl.]]
'''Hawthorn''' is a [[rabbit|lapine]] fur and an [[owl]] feathery who encountered the [[Furry fandom]] via one of its offshoots, the [[Feathery]] fandom, after discovering [[Avians.net]] whilst at university in 2002.

==Characters==

Both of his current characters are, confusingly, named the same, and appear in different degrees of [[morphic]]ness.

Hawthorn the owl (sometimes called just called Hawthorn Owl) is a male Spotted Eagle Owl (''Bubo africanus''). It was his first character. The owl is always [[nonmorphic]].

Hawthorn the rabbit is a wild male European Rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus''), who appears in morphic and non-morphic forms depending on his virtual location.

He frequently attends the [[London furmeet]]s.

==External links==
* [http://www.avians.net/~hawthorn/ Hawthorn's Hole] on [[avians.net]]
* [http://hawthornowl.livejournal.com/ Hawthornowl] on [[LiveJournal]]

{{Contributor|Hawthorn}}

{{person-stub}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Owl characters]]
[[Category:Rabbit characters]]
[[Category:Nonmorphic characters]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1982 births]]

Talk:Hexaped

2008-06-24T17:34:49Z

Hawthorn: /* Can I change this page? */ - removing double post

Talk:Hexaped

2008-06-24T17:34:01Z

Hawthorn: /* Can I change this page? */ new section

I rewrote the stuff about skeletal limbs because it clearly doesn't fit insects (unless skeletal refers to exoskeletal). I know what the article is trying to say, but I'm trying to express it in a more consistent way. However, I'm a little confused about the wings. Are they normally counted when deciding the leg count?

If there is no formal definition for hexapedality I suggest limiting it just to furs with six arms and legs. It makes more sense. [[User:Hawthorn|Hawthorn]] 14:43, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

== Can I change this page? ==

I really feel the definition of hexaped given here is wrong. I know of no one who would call a pegasus a hexaped - whatever wings once were in evolutionary time, I haven't seen anyone count them when counting legs and arms.

I wouldn't ask except that changing it would remove most of the page, and I'd like to clarify the definition. Therefore, I suggest that an ''n''-ped is any animal with ''n'' arms/legs.

A clarification can also be made between form and gait - for example, a centaur is hexapedal, but has a quadrupedal gait.

== Can I change this page? ==

I really feel the definition of hexaped given here is wrong. I know of no one who would call a pegasus a hexaped - whatever wings once were in evolutionary time, I haven't seen anyone count them when counting legs and arms.

I wouldn't ask except that changing it would remove most of the page, and I'd like to clarify the definition. Therefore, I suggest that an ''n''-ped is any animal with ''n'' arms/legs.

A clarification can also be made between form and gait - for example, a centaur is hexapedal, but has a quadrupedal gait.

Talk:Hexaped

2008-06-24T17:33:54Z

Hawthorn: /* Can I change this page? */ new section

Spider

2008-06-24T16:52:53Z

Hawthorn: added drider

A '''spider''' is an arachnid, which has eight legs. A spider is typically [[carnivorous]], eating insects or other small animals.

A [[drider]], originally, was a monster from [[Dungeons and Dragons]] - a dark elf cursed with the lower body of a huge spider, similar to a [[centaur]] form. However, like [[taur]]s, a drider form can be generalised to any [[human]] or [[anthro]] form.

'''Did you know?''' Cassie Sinclair from ''[[The Wotch]]'' was turned into a [[drider]] by the Mythos Virus.

The people of West Africa have a mythical hero called ''[[Wikipedia:Anansi|Kwaku Anansi]]'', or First Spider. Anansi is a trickster, often noble and wise, who did things like bringing stories from Heaven to Earth. He also did things like hiding hot beans under his hat when his friends were hungry, thus forever burning his hair away.

{{species-stub}}

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Spider characters|Spider characters]]

==External links==
* [[Wikipedia:Spider|Spider]] on Wikipedia

[[Category:Species]]

LondonFur Meet

2008-06-23T12:44:46Z

Hawthorn: I've made a few updates because the page was very out of date.

{{cleanup}}

The '''LondonFur Meet''' is a local [[furmeet|meet]] held in [[wikipedia:London|London]] for furs in the [[wikipedia:United Kingdom|UK]] [[furry community]] known as the [[LondonFurs]]. The meets are currently held on every third Saturday and have been held with few interruptions since 1999.

In addition, there are also occasional [[coffee meet]]s (usually on the Friday before a 'main' meet), but these generally draw much smaller attendance.

LondonFur Meets are open to any furs who can attend. It is advised to get to know the people who attend either via the [[UKFur|UKFur Forums]] or the [[IRC]] channel, [[UK (IRC)|#UK]].

== Origins ==

Primarily organised by [[Ia'Kat]], furs in the London area first started having organised meets approximately March/April 1998.

== History ==

* Established 1998
* Regular meets every 3 weeks by mid 1999
* Following [[Ia'Kat]]'s relocation to [[wikipedia:Sheffield|Sheffield]], [[Makali]] took on responsibility for the meets.
* [[Makali]] gave up his responsibility for organising the meets following a lot of hassle. In Nov 2003, [[Daktalis]] became the chief organiser.
* In July 2006 Daktalis retired from managing the [[LondonFurs]]. [[Rapido]] has taken responsibility for organising the tri-weekly meets and with the website now being ran by [[Foxberance]].
* On July 29th 2006, the LondonFurs meet changed location to the Theodore Bullfrog pub near Charing Cross/Embankment.
* In 2006, [[RBW|Red, Blue and White]] is created by [[Rapido]], the purpose of which, is to create a single entity for organizing the Christmas Parties. It saw its first major success in the [[December 2006 LondonFurs Boat Trip]].
* In 2007, following the great success of [[RBW 2006]], [[RBW 2007]] returns to create what is the biggest UK furry event. Attendance for the 2007 event held from 1st to the 2nd of December is confirmed at 242.
* Due to previous misconduct during meets, on the 23rd October 2007, Rapido published a new official [http://forum.ukfur.org/index.php?showtopic=6818 code of conduct] for the LondonFur Meets.
* On 15th December 2008 the meet moved from the Theodore Bullfrog to the City Golf Bar in Blackfriars.
* In May 2008, [[Spargue]] took responsibility for the LondonFur Meet to allow Rapido to focus on organising RBW.

== Locations ==

When the meets first became established as a regular tri-weekly event in 1999, meets didn't have a 'base' like they do today. Instead, the plan was to meet up at Kings Cross train station in London, below the departures board at 11am (some furs still meet there to this day) and go from there. This was an idea of [[Scruff]]'s as Kings Cross was the station many people would arrive in London at, is easily found by those not familiar with the city, and is well-connected via the Underground to serve as a point of departure for wherever people decided to go during the day. Typically furs would congregate around Soho Square before going to the pubs The Ship or for more obvious reasons, The Intrepid Fox.

From late 1999 until early October 2000, the meets were held in The Devonshire Arms, London's premier Goth pub, in [[wikipedia:Camden Town|Camden Town]]. The group was, however, asked to leave as they had outgrown The Dev and, it is claimed, were "putting off" the regulars.

From late October 2000 until October 2003, the meets were held in the Jorene Celeste pub in [[wikipedia:Kentish Town|Kentish Town]]. A change of management, followed by a steady decline in relations between the new management and the London Furs culminated in a bitter eviction in the middle of a meet.

From October 2003 until 8th July 2006, The meets were held at 'Ye Olde London pub' (formerly The Bell, Book and Candle until it was refurbished in mid 2005) which is close to [[wikipedia:St Paul's Cathedral|St. Paul's Cathedral]]. Due to a change of management that left the LondonFurs unwelcome, along with the increasing size of attendance, a new location was found. This caused some sadness amongst the regulars, as the Ye Olde London had been a sentimental place of residence.

From 29th July 2006, the London FurMeets were held at the 'Theodore Bullfrog' pub in [[wikipedia:Charing Cross|Charing Cross]]. However, the meet for the 3rd November 2007 had to be relocated at short notice to a pub named 'Ochre' in St. Pauls due to the apparent continued appalling behaviour by some individuals during the previous 2 furmeets, as the management of the Theodore Bullfrog had stated that they do not want the LondonFurs back<ref>''[http://forum.ukfur.org/index.php?showtopic=6812 3rd November Relocation Notice]'' - Rapido (October 23rd, 2007)</ref>.

The meet on the 24th November 2007 then took place in another temporary venue of 'The Jamaica Wine House' located near Bank and Monument tube stations in London City<ref>''[http://forum.ukfur.org/index.php?showtopic=6994 24th November Location Notice]'' - Rapido (November 8rd, 2007)</ref>.

From the 15th December 2007 onwards, the Londonfur meets was permanently relocated to the 'City Golf Bar' in the Blackfriars area of London<ref>''[http://forum.ukfur.org/index.php?showtopic=6671 New Furmeet Location Notice]'' - Rapido (October 11th, 2007)</ref>.

== Attendance ==

The people who were regulars at the original meets include: [[Ia'kat]], [[Orinoco]], [[ANTIcarrot]], [[Bruce]], [[Darkclaw]], [[Cabbit]], [[Vexen]], [[Scruff]], [[SlyCat]], [[Ruin]], [[Hawx]], [[Glis]] & [[TimmyPup|Timon/TimmyPup]], however few of these members still attend the meets today.

Current attendance figures are typically 45-70 members per meet.

Participants of the LondonFur meets are not restricted to just those who live in London. The meets have had furs visit from all over the globe, including [[wikipedia:Germany|Germany]], the [[wikipedia:Netherlands|Netherlands]] and the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]].

There are also a fair number of regulars to attend meets, such as [[Daktalis]], [[Shep Shepherd]], [[Rapido]], [[Tryst]], [[Nutsy]], [[SouthPaw]], [[Klepsydra]], [[Tungro]] and [[AndySquirrel]]. Other furs that attend include [[DarkRacoon]], [[TwoTailedFox]], [[KurtBatz]], [[Nybras]], [[PaperKup]], [[HelenBaby]], [[EzFoxie]] and [[Scorcher]], some of which are often infrequent.

Those who attend the meets are from all areas of the [[furry fandom]]. Typically at an average meet, there will be a fair number of artists, [[fursuiters]] and [[lifestylers]].

== Activities ==

The normal agenda for a LondonFur meet will be to meet up at the bar from midday onwards, where most will partake in drinking.

At the bar, some members might change into fursuits or don furry items such as ears or tails.

The venue, the City Golf Bar, is not really a pub so much as an entertainment venue. It is downstairs and underground, and while it has a stage and sound system for furry DJs to operate, pub goers should be warned that there is poor lighting inside, and a small drink selection.

In the afternoon, there is normally a fursuit walk, depending on the weather. After assembling outside, a group of fursuiters, accompanied by helpers and other furs, will go on a walk around the local area of London. The average number of fursuiters is around 7, but more are not uncommon.

A current popular walk takes the fursuiters across the Millennium Bridge to the Tate Modern, with the group often allowing photographs with tourists and/or children.

The fursuit walk lasts 1-2 hours. Reclusive furs should note that a lot of photos are taken of the walk, and it is often filmed and put on YouTube.

The meet ends around 5 or 6 in the evening, and most furs will leave, or assemble into groups for shopping or food. One much-visited store is [http://www.forbiddenplanet.com/ Forbidden Planet] on Shaftesbury Avenue, known for its unique ability to attract even the most reclusive of geeks.
Keeping within the West End area, some furs like to visit [http://www.cybercandy.co.uk CyberCandy]. This small shop specialises in imported sweets and drinks; from New Zealand-only Raspberry Coke and Mountain Dew to coffee.

Chinatown is the usual favoured place for eating out. It is close to Leicester Square.

[http://www.london-eating.co.uk/2971.htm Wong Kei] is a Chinese restaurant known for its cheap meals and its even cheaper service. However, with free tea and meals usually coming to under £10 a head, it's nothing to be sniffed at. Not only that, but it's damn tasty too!

[http://www.london-eating.co.uk/3071.htm Zipangu's] is a Japanese restaurant also enjoyed by a few furs. Again, it's pretty cheap food with a home cooked feel. Other places people like to go is Misato, a cheap eat with huge portions, and the usual favourite Pizza Hut.

After these activities, some furs will visit the arcades. Play2Win on Old Compton Street provides the only ParaPara machine in London, and is proving more and more popular with time. Situated on possibly the gayest street in London, this arcade not only provides effeminate dancing but many shoot-em-ups too.
Las Vegas arcade just south of Old Compton Street provides some [[Dancing Stage]], other games like Percussion Master, as well as many shooting games.

[http://www.londontrocadero Trocadero] is a developing favourite with a few furs, due to its rich mix of amusements, location, transport links, and ability to easily go for refreshments afterwards. [[DDR]] Machines are plentiful, as are the usual arcade favourites, such as racing games, and air hocky, as well as a dodgems area.

There is also [http://www.namcostation.co.uk Namco] on the South Bank, Westminster, providing some startling and well-known views of London, but it also provides the comfiest seats and the most expensive drinks. However, it does have a DDR machine, a giant screen for watching sports, coin-operated bowling, dodgems and pool.

==Non-meet locations==

Very occasionally, groups of LondonFurs band together, and decide to descend on a particular area of London for a day. [[wikipedia:Camden Town|Camden Town]] is a favourite, as is [[wikipedia:St. James Park|St. James Park]].

== Media Appearances ==

* The London Furs were featured in a documentary shown late night on the UK's [[Wikipedia:Channel 4|Channel 4]], under the title "[[Human Furry Animals]]" in 2000 as part of their strand of programming called "The Other Side", designed to give new Directors a "break" into TV. It was one of the first early television documentaries to show furries in a positive light.
* Members of the LondonFur community were also featured in a segment on the London only [[Wikipedia:ITV|ITV]] show NightLife, in a piece titled "The Furverts" aired in 2001. Prior to filming, the production crew promised that the segment would not focus purely on the sexual nature (like other documentaries had done) and would give a fair and balanced view. However when the programme was aired it had been edited down to anything but; giving a negative and embarrassing portrayal of Furry. Most, if not all the furries that feature, regret taking part.

It can be downloaded from [[SlyCat]]'s [http://www.slycat.co.uk/index.php?page=downloads download page].

== See also ==

* [[List of media links]]

== External links ==

* [http://www.londonfurs.co.uk New & Updated LondonFurs Homepage]
* [http://www.londonfurs.org Old LondonFurs Homepage]
* [http://www.furmeets.co.uk/group.php?id=2 LondonFur events] on [http://www.furmeets.co.uk/ Furmeets.co.uk]
* [http://gallery.furmeets.co.uk/v/londonfur_meets/ Photos of LondonFur meets since 1999]
* [http://www.vexen.co.uk/photos/furry.html Vexen's photos of LondonFurs]
* [http://www.ukfur.org/forums/index.php?showforum=21 LondonFurs discussion forum]

[[Category:Parties]]
[[Category:London]]
[[Category:1998 births]]

== References ==

<references />

Owl

2008-06-01T22:44:30Z

Hawthorn: added more

An '''owl''' is a type of [[bird]], belonging to the order ''Strigiformes''.

All owls are predators and meat-eaters; they are commonly called birds of prey, although they are not closely related to [[raptor]]s (which are the more typical 'bird of prey').

Owls are adapted for nocturnal behaviour, and possess greatly enhanced eyesight and hearing, and the ability to fly silently.

==Physical characteristics==

Owls have a unique appearance amongst birds as a result of their nocturnal adaptations. They have large heads, which hold very large eyes compared to those of other birds. The face is surrounded by a disc of stiff feathers, called the facial disc, which acts in a similar manner to a parabolic reflector, focusing sounds that hit it toward the ears.

The ears of owls are not visible, but are nonetheless a very important feature for some owls. The ears are located under the feathers at the left and right sides of the facial disc.

Several owls have a pair of feathery tufts at the top of the head, which are sometimes called 'ears', but they are unrelated to the true ears and have no function in hearing. It is believed that the tufts are there to break up the owl's shape and improve its camouflage.

The beak of an owl is largely hidden under the facial disk, but can open very wide. Several owls swallow their food (normally [[rodent]]s) whole, and allow their stomach to digest it before regurgitating the indigestible pieces, such as bones, fur, or insect exoskeletons, as a pellet of waste. This is known as ''casting''. Some people collect owl pellets and dissect them to see what the owls have been eating.

Owls have thick, soft plumage, which gives them a fat, fluffy appearance, although they are actually fairly scrawny underneath the coat of feathers. They are generally cryptically coloured.

They have long, broad wings, which allow them to glide slowly. The leading edge of the wing has feathers which deaden the noise of the owl's wingflaps, allowing it to fly silently (although with a loss of efficiency).

==Abilities==

Owls are known for their ability to see in extremely poor light, and for their highly sensitive hearing. No owl can see in total darkness, although it has been shown that at least the barn owl can hunt by sound alone.

Owls have highly mobile necks, and can turn their heads round more than three-quarters of a circle. (Although the ability to turn the head through extreme angles is present in most birds, owls are most famous for it.) This offsets the problem of the owl's limited field of vision; its eyes are pointed forward (allowing for binocular vision) and fixed in their sockets.

[[Category:Bird species]]

Tail

2008-05-29T18:52:58Z

Hawthorn: quite a lot of rewriting

The '''tail''' plays an important role in furry culture, since its absence distinguishes [[human]]s from most other [[animal]]s. It is thus an easy symbol of furryness, and many furs will wear fake tails for this reason.

Anatomically, the [[vertebrate]] tail is an extension of the spine. Non vertebrates can also have tails (such as the [[scorpion]]), but these are less well defined.

There exists a broad variety of tails in nature, adapted to various tasks:

* '''balancing''': for animals which are agile, such as [[cat]]s, long tails can be moved to control their balance.
* '''swimming''': the tail is in a perfect position to provide thrust, and a lot of swimming species have flat tails to take advantage of this. An exception is the [[otter]], whose tail is more like a rudder, but its power still makes it effective for swimming.
* '''gliding''': [[bird]]s have flat tails to give them more area with which to glide.
* '''air steering''': a tail can also allow flying animals to steer whilst in the air. This is why birds which hunt in forests often have long tails. Birds also open their tail-fans to brake. [[Flying squirrel]]s also use their flat tails to steer in a glide.
* '''tree-climbing''': some [[primate]]s have prehensile tails, as do [[chamaeleon]]s, which lets them hang onto branches with more than just their arms and legs. Some birds, such as [[woodpecker]]s, have stiffened tailfeathers which act as a brace while they are perched on the side of a tree.
* '''signalling''': the tails of [[rabbit]]s and [[deer]] are short and stubby, and can be erected to show a white underside when danger is detected, to warn others. The [[rattlesnake]] has a very unusual ability to produce an audible warning with its tail.
* '''weapons''': some tails can inflict damage on other animals. While most animals today lack this ability, it seems to have been present in animals of the past, especially the [[dinosaur]]s, who had tails with spikes and club-like ends. The scorpion is probably the best known animal with a tail weapon. [[Dragon]]s also often have tail weapons.

==Tails in furry fiction==

In [[stories]] and [[art]], the way a tail is held can be just as much an indicator of emotion as eyes, bodily posture, or mouth position. Tails are often used to make weak warm hugs, and curling tails together (if possible) is a sure sign of intimacy between two characters. Care is often given to tails; as well as keeping them looking nice, they are also extensions of the spine, which means damage to them is especially painful.

== Tails in real life ==

Many furs have tails which they have purchased or made themselves. It is quite common to see people walking around [[convention]]s wearing the appropraite tail for their species.

Tails can be purchased at conventions either in the [[Dealers Room]] or [[Artists Alley]], or online from furs who make them.

== See also ==

* [[Tailhug]]
* [[Tailwave]]
* [[Gertrude McFuzz Syndrome]]

== External links ==

* [http://www.claws-and-paws.com/furry/non-fiction/uncis-tail.html Unci's Tail] - Tail building instructions.
* [http://www.tailsmith.com/ Tailsmith] - Sells tails (and [[ears]]). Also offers advice on how to care for a tail.

{{Anatomy}}
[[Category:Anatomy terms]]
[[Category:Fursuiting]]

[[de:Tail]]

Quadruped

2008-05-29T17:56:20Z

Hawthorn: tidied

A '''quadruped''', traditionally, means an animal which walks on four legs. This is mainly to distinguish them from [[biped]]s, which walk on two.

The furry community has retained this terminology to distinguish [[morphic]] and [[nonmorphic]] animals, and while there are some other species which could fit the definition ([[taur]]s, which have four walking legs, for example) it is rarely applied to them.

'''Quad''', '''quaddie''', and "four on the floor" are other, informal names used to describe a quadruped.
{{Anatomy}}
[[Category:Anatomy terms]]

[[cs:Kvadripedální]]

Mouse

2008-05-28T18:32:31Z

Hawthorn: added a little more

[[Image:Ebonyleopard uniform micro2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Jacob WhiteEye|Micro]], a fictional mouse character in [[Extinctioners]]]]
'''Mice''' (singuar: '''mouse''') are small [[rodent]] [[omnivore]]s that live in many situations on most of the planet's continents.

The mouse is a popular children's character, embodying many properties associated with the young: small size, mischief, vulnerability, and innocence. In many ways it is seen as the friendly cousin of the [[rat]], despite the two often overlapping in their habits.

Like most rodents, mice are rapid breeders, and can build up a population very quickly if allowed to breed, which causes problems in places where they are not welcome, such as farms or houses. However, unlike with [[rabbit]]s, it rarely comes into their popular characterising.

==Varieties of mice==

The word mouse most often refers to the [[field mouse]], a small, brown, wild species.

Mice that are seen indoors are normally the [[house mouse]], a different species which often causes trouble for the homes it lives in by damaging property and leaving droppings.

Mice are also common animals for laboratory testing. The stereotypical [[lab mouse]] is depicted as having white fur.

==Mice in fiction==

* [[Mickey Mouse]] is probably the most well known, being synonymous with [[Disney]].
* The mice of [[NIMH]] in its various incarnations
*[[Fievel]]
*[[The Rescuers]]
*[[Big Ears, Small Mouse]]
*[[Albedo Anthropomorphics]]
* Gadget in [[Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers|Rescue Rangers]]
*Jerry from [[Tom & Jerry]] is a house mouse, and is quite true to his reputation, stealing food and causing damage.

{{species-stub}}

== See also ==

* [[:Category:Mouse characters|Mouse characters]]
* [[Wikipedia:Mouse|Mouse]] at Wikipedia

== External links ==

* [http://www.fanarchive.net/miavir/stories/key.mouse.html Stories with "Mouse" species keyword] on [[Mia's Index of Anthro' Stories]]

[[Category:Rodent species]]

Red fox

2008-05-28T17:51:20Z

Hawthorn: added a little, tidied

{{cleanup}}
{{unreferenced}}
[[Image:bioclr.jpg|thumb|right|Artwork of an [[anthropomorphic]] and [[quadruped]] Red Fox.]]
The '''red fox''' (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the most well known [[species]] of [[fox]], and for most people is synonymous with the word 'fox'. It is one of the most popular species in the [[furry fandom]].

The fur of a red fox is actually a rusty orange, although artistic depictions often darken the colour to a deeper reddish colour.

==Subspecies and varieties==

The red fox has many varieties. Some taxonomists regard the American variety as being a separate species (''Vulpes fulva'') but the consensus seems to be that they are merely different subspecies.

The '''cross fox''' is a common color variant with a dark stripe across the shoulders and down the back.

The '''silver fox''', so called because of white-tipped black hairs on an otherwise solid-black coat, is also a color variant of the red fox, and is rare in the wild.

==The red fox in culture==

The red fox is proverbial as a thief and a trickster in some of the oldest story traditions, and has kept this reputation to the present day.

It is also an urban animal in some places, and many towns have foxes which hunt the streets after dark.

== See also ==

* [[:Category:Red Fox characters|Red Fox characters]]

==External links==
*[[Wikipedia:Red Fox|Red Fox]] at Wikipedia
*[http://www.lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=26 Red Fox] at Lioncrusher

{{species-stub}}
[[Category:Fox species]]

Talk:Evolution

2008-01-28T18:21:13Z

Hawthorn: New page: I had a feeling this wouldn't be suitable for Wikifur. :) My reasoning is that, animals being so important to the fandom, it's appropriate to cover the science of how they change over time...

I had a feeling this wouldn't be suitable for Wikifur. :) My reasoning is that, animals being so important to the fandom, it's appropriate to cover the science of how they change over time, and how they came to be as they are today. Evolution puts limits on exactly what animal forms are naturally possible at a point in time, so it's also a handy guide for anyone who wants, for example, to simulate natural realism. [[User:Hawthorn|Hawthorn]] 18:21, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

File:Insect-wings-example.PNG

2007-09-09T22:01:31Z

Hawthorn: adding public licence

A picture of insect wings, pencilled by me, scanned, cleaned and colour added in Paint, for the [[wing]] page.
{{PDImage}}

File talk:Insect-wings-example.PNG

2007-09-09T22:00:27Z

Hawthorn: New page: I didn't realise I forgot to add the license. It should be public domain. However, it is pretty sucky, so I wouldn't complain if someone makes a better one. :) ~~~~

I didn't realise I forgot to add the license. It should be public domain. However, it is pretty sucky, so I wouldn't complain if someone makes a better one. :) [[User:Hawthorn|Hawthorn]] 22:00, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

Wing

2007-09-08T16:57:35Z

Hawthorn:

[[Image:Yamavu with wings.jpg|thumb|200px|Canid furry with feathered wings]]
A '''wing''' is a body part which acts as an aerofoil, typically allowing its owner to fly, although the wings on some [[character]]s are strictly decorational. Wings typically come in pairs, one each for the left and right side of the body.

== Types of wings ==
===Bat-like wings===
[[Image:Dragon-wing-example.PNG|thumb|256px|Dragon wing]]
A [[bat]]-like wing consists of a modified foreleg supporting a membrane, as in bats. The membrane is supported by elongated 'fingers', which can bend to alter the wing geometry. In bats, the thumb is still present as a hook-like [[claw]] at the top of the wing, which is sometimes used to grip surfaces.

[[Dragon]]s tend to use a very similar style of wing, in some cases with the same kind of thumbclaw.

=== Feathered wings ===
[[Image:bird-wing-example.PNG|thumb|256px|Bird wing]]
Feathered wings are those seen on [[bird]]s. Typically these wings give a character an [[angel]]ic appearance. The feathers are attached to a muscular, reduced forelimb, which lacks all digits except for the 'thumb', which holds a clump of feathers called the ''alula'' to reduce stalling in low speed flight.

===Insect wings===
[[Image:insect-wings-example.PNG|thumb|256px|Insect wings]]
[[Insect]] wings are those seen on insects: typically those of flies, bees, wasps, and beetles, which are traditionally oval in shape, translucent, flat, and have a pattern of wrinkles. Fairies are commonly depicted with this kind of wing.

Unlike bat and bird wings, it is not uncommon to have two pairs of insect wings at once.

====Butterfly/moth wings====
These can be classed as insect wings; however, they are often strikingly coloured and shaped, in butterflies. Moth wings are more stealthy, and covered in soft, noise-damping, camouflaged scales.

Fairies are also commonly depicted with butterfly wings.

===Pterosaur wings===
Although seen on few if any furs, this is a style of wing seen in fossils of [[pterosaur]]s, an [[extinct]] family of flying [[reptile]] descendants. Resembling the bat wing, but unlike bat wings, pterosaurs usually only have one long digit holding the triangular membrane, in many cases small claws are found where the bat's single claw is, usually accompanied with atrophied digits for each claw.

{{Anatomy}}
[[Category:Anatomy terms]]

Wing

2007-09-08T16:56:26Z

Hawthorn: added insect pic

[[Image:Yamavu with wings.jpg|thumb|200px|Canid furry with feathered wings]]
A '''wing''' is a body part which acts as an aerofoil, typically allowing its owner to fly, although the wings on some [[character]]s are strictly decorational. Wings typically come in pairs, one each for the left and right side of the body.

== Types of wings ==
===Bat-like wings===
[[Image:Dragon-wing-example.PNG|thumb|256px|Dragon wing]]
A [[bat]]-like wing consists of a modified foreleg supporting a membrane, as in bats. The membrane is supported by elongated 'fingers', which can bend to alter the wing geometry. In bats, the thumb is still present as a hook-like [[claw]] at the top of the wing, which is sometimes used to grip surfaces.

[[Dragon]]s tend to use a very similar style of wing, in some cases with the same kind of thumbclaw.

=== Feathered wings ===
[[Image:bird-wing-example.PNG|thumb|256px|Bird wings]]
Feathered wings are those seen on [[bird]]s. Typically these wings give a character an [[angel]]ic appearance. The feathers are attached to a muscular, reduced forelimb, which lacks all digits except for the 'thumb', which holds a clump of feathers called the ''alula'' to reduce stalling in low speed flight.

===Insect wings===
[[Image:insect-wings-example.PNG|thumb|256px|Insect wing]]
[[Insect]] wings are those seen on insects: typically those of flies, bees, wasps, and beetles, which are traditionally oval in shape, translucent, flat, and have a pattern of wrinkles. Fairies are commonly depicted with this kind of wing.

Unlike bat and bird wings, it is not uncommon to have two pairs of insect wings at once.

====Butterfly/moth wings====
These can be classed as insect wings; however, they are often strikingly coloured and shaped, in butterflies. Moth wings are more stealthy, and covered in soft, noise-damping, camouflaged scales.

Fairies are also commonly depicted with butterfly wings.

===Pterosaur wings===
Although seen on few if any furs, this is a style of wing seen in fossils of [[pterosaur]]s, an [[extinct]] family of flying [[reptile]] descendants. Resembling the bat wing, but unlike bat wings, pterosaurs usually only have one long digit holding the triangular membrane, in many cases small claws are found where the bat's single claw is, usually accompanied with atrophied digits for each claw.

{{Anatomy}}
[[Category:Anatomy terms]]

File:Insect-wings-example.PNG

2007-09-08T16:54:18Z

Hawthorn: A picture of insect wings, pencilled by me, scanned, cleaned and colour added in Paint, for the wing page.

A picture of insect wings, pencilled by me, scanned, cleaned and colour added in Paint, for the [[wing]] page.

Wing

2007-09-08T16:40:08Z

Hawthorn: added bird wing pic

[[Image:Yamavu with wings.jpg|thumb|200px|Canid furry with feathered wings]]
A '''wing''' is a body part which acts as an aerofoil, typically allowing its owner to fly, although the wings on some [[character]]s are strictly decorational. Wings typically come in pairs, one each for the left and right side of the body.

== Types of wings ==
===Bat-like wings===
[[Image:Dragon-wing-example.PNG|thumb|256px|Dragon wing]]
A [[bat]]-like wing consists of a modified foreleg supporting a membrane, as in bats. The membrane is supported by elongated 'fingers', which can bend to alter the wing geometry. In bats, the thumb is still present as a hook-like [[claw]] at the top of the wing, which is sometimes used to grip surfaces.

[[Dragon]]s tend to use a very similar style of wing, in some cases with the same kind of thumbclaw.

=== Feathered wings ===
[[Image:bird-wing-example.PNG|thumb|256px|Bird wing]]
Feathered wings are those seen on [[bird]]s. Typically these wings give a character an [[angel]]ic appearance. The feathers are attached to a muscular, reduced forelimb, which lacks all digits except for the 'thumb', which holds a clump of feathers called the ''alula'' to reduce stalling in low speed flight.

===Insect wings===
[[Insect]] wings are those seen on insects: typically those of flies, bees, wasps, and beetles, which are traditionally oval in shape, translucent, flat, and have a pattern of wrinkles. Fairies are commonly depicted with this kind of wing.

Unlike bat and bird wings, it is not uncommon to have two pairs of insect wings at once.

====Butterfly/moth wings====
These can be classed as insect wings; however, they are often strikingly coloured and shaped, in butterflies. Moth wings are more stealthy, and covered in soft, noise-damping, camouflaged scales.

Fairies are also commonly depicted with butterfly wings.

===Pterosaur wings===
Although seen on few if any furs, this is a style of wing seen in fossils of [[pterosaur]]s, an [[extinct]] family of flying [[reptile]] descendants. Resembling the bat wing, but unlike bat wings, pterosaurs usually only have one long digit holding the triangular membrane, in many cases small claws are found where the bat's single claw is, usually accompanied with atrophied digits for each claw.

{{Anatomy}}
[[Category:Anatomy terms]]

File:Bird-wing-example.PNG

2007-09-08T16:36:37Z

Hawthorn: A picture of a bird wing, pencil drawn by me, scanned, cleaned, and coloured in Paint, for the wing page.

== Summary ==
A picture of a bird wing, pencil drawn by me, scanned, cleaned, and coloured in Paint, for the [[wing]] page.
== Licensing ==
{{PDImage}}

Muzzle (anatomy)

2007-09-05T16:46:38Z

Hawthorn: I disagree with this definition. Nuzzling can be done with any bit of the head, and does not have to involve a muzzle at all.

A muzzle is a part of the face that includes the nasal cavity, nose, jaw, and mouth.

In most animals, the muzzle is extended. The primary reason for this is the extension of the nasal cavity, which provides for an extremely acute sense of [[smell]]. A tangential benefit is the extension of the jaw, allowing for more teeth (and more specialized teeth) in a single species.

[[Canine]]s have the longest proportional muzzle, followed by [[feline]]s and [[mustelid]]s. [[Equine]] 'muzzles' are technically very short, although the entirety of their extended skulls are considered to be part of the muzzle.

A common problem in [[furgonomics]] is to deal with the issues of having a muzzle; for example, how facial expressions might be altered, or the 'motorcycle helmet' issue (how to protect the muzzle while not blocking vision).

{{Anatomy}}
[[Category:Anatomy terms]]

Wing

2007-09-05T13:55:27Z

Hawthorn: Added pic of dragon wing

[[Image:Yamavu with wings.jpg|thumb|200px|Canid furry with feathered wings]]
A '''wing''' is a body part which acts as an aerofoil, typically allowing its owner to fly, although the wings on some [[character]]s are strictly decorational. Wings typically come in pairs, one each for the left and right side of the body.

== Types of wings ==
===Bat-like wings===
[[Image:Dragon-wing-example.PNG|thumb|256px|Dragon wing]]
A [[bat]]-like wing consists of a modified foreleg supporting a membrane, as in bats. The membrane is supported by elongated 'fingers', which can bend to alter the wing geometry. In bats, the thumb is still present as a hook-like [[claw]] at the top of the wing, which is sometimes used to grip surfaces.

[[Dragon]]s tend to use a very similar style of wing, in some cases with the same kind of thumbclaw.

=== Feathered wings ===
Feathered wings are those seen on [[bird]]s. Typically these wings give a character an [[angel]]ic appearance. The feathers are attached to a muscular, reduced forelimb, which lacks all digits except for the 'thumb', which holds a clump of feathers called the ''alula'' to reduce stalling in low speed flight.

===Insect wings===
[[Insect]] wings are those seen on insects: typically those of flies, bees, wasps, and beetles, which are traditionally oval in shape, translucent, flat, and have a pattern of wrinkles. Fairies are commonly depicted with this kind of wing.

Unlike bat and bird wings, it is not uncommon to have two pairs of insect wings at once.

====Butterfly/moth wings====
These can be classed as insect wings; however, they are often strikingly coloured and shaped, in butterflies. Moth wings are more stealthy, and covered in soft, noise-damping, camouflaged scales.

Fairies are also commonly depicted with butterfly wings.

===Pterosaur wings===
Although seen on few if any furs, this is a style of wing seen in fossils of [[pterosaur]]s, an [[extinct]] family of flying [[reptile]] descendants. Resembling the bat wing, but unlike bat wings, pterosaurs usually only have one long digit holding the triangular membrane, in many cases small claws are found where the bat's single claw is, usually accompanied with atrophied digits for each claw.

{{Anatomy}}
[[Category:Anatomy terms]]

File:Dragon-wing-example.PNG

2007-09-05T13:51:50Z

Hawthorn: A picture of a dragon wing, drawn by myself in Paint, for the Wing article.

== Summary ==
A picture of a dragon wing, drawn by myself in Paint, for the [[Wing]] article.
== Licensing ==
{{PDImage}}

Gryphon

2007-08-04T19:19:10Z

Hawthorn: added a little about ears

[[Image:Gryphon.jpg |right]]
A '''Gryphon''' (also known as '''Gryffin,''' '''Gryphen,''' '''Griffin,''' '''Griffon,''' or '''Gryphin''') is a [[Wikipedia:Legendary_creature|mythical creature]]. Traditionally, it is a [[quadruped]] combination of an [[eagle]] and a [[lion]]. However, many different [[bird]]-[[mammal]] combinations are recognized in the [[furry fandom]], as well as more unusual variations.

==Griffie==

A dual meaning term, it is both a [[Wikipedia:Cuteness|cute]] variant to describe a gryphon (along the lines of "[[snowmew]]",) and a demeaning [[Anti-furry]] label for any [[furry fan]] and/or artist fond of such creatures.

==Anatomy==

A typical gryphon has the head, fore half, front legs and [[wing]]s of a bird, and the hind legs and rear half of a mammal. The wings are attached at the shoulders, and typically fold against the gryphon's back or sides when not in use. The avian and mammalian parts are scaled to compatible proportions. Being winged, gryphons are generally capable of flight, although like [[dragon]]s they may be too heavy to be physically able to fly and may use magical means.

A common feature of gryphons in the furry fandom is to have mammalian [[ear]]s (matching the gryphon's mammalian half species) rather than the avian ears, which are hidden under the feathers.

Gryphon tails often lie on the boundary between bird and mammal, and are subject to interpretation. Different variations include:

* Fully avian tail
* Fully mammalian tail
* Mammalian-avian hybrid tail (generally a mammalian tail ending in a fan of feathers)
* Two tails, avian and mammalian

==See also==

*[[Gryphon's Guild]]
*[[:Category:Gryphon characters]]
*[[Wikipedia:Griffin|Griffin]] at [[Wikipedia]]

==External links==

*[http://www.fanarchive.net/miavir/stories/key.griffin.html "Griffin" at Miavir's]
*[http://gryphguild.org The Gryphon's Guild -- The gathering place on the net for Gryph fans!]
*[http://www.gryphonpages.com The Gryphon Pages - all that you ever wanted to know about gryphons and didn't know you needed to ask!]

[[Category:Mythological species]]
[[Category:Avian species]]

Talk:Hexaped

2007-06-27T14:43:39Z

Hawthorn: question

Hexaped

2007-06-27T14:36:19Z

Hawthorn: Small rewrite

A '''hexaped''' is any type of furry [[character]] with exactly three pairs of the following, in any combination:

* walking limbs (legs)
* limbs that are modified from walking limbs (arms, which in [[nonmorphic]] species are equivalent to legs; also the [[wing]]s of [[bird]]s and [[bat]]s, which are evolutionary modifications of forelegs)

[[Tail]]s are not counted as limbs, even if prehensile, and non-skeletal wings are not counted. Any of the following would be considered a hexaped:

* A [[taur]] or [[chakat]] (four legs, two arms);
* A [[pegasus]] (four legs, two [[bird]] [[wing]]s), or any other winged version of a normally non-flying species with four limbs;
* A bat, bird, [[dragon]], or [[gryphon]] character who has both a set of arms and a set of wings;
* A non-taur [[pede]] character with three pairs of legs;
* An [[insect]] character, such as Herethroy from [[World Tree]]. (Insect wings are non-skeletal.)

Note that a [[hextaur]] is not a hexaped, but an [[octoped]].
{{Anatomy}}
[[Category:Anatomy terms]]

Template:Anatomy

2007-06-27T14:15:16Z

Hawthorn: move + addition

{| align="center" class="toccolours" style="text-align: center;"
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
! [[Anatomy]]
|-
|'''Forms''': [[Humanoid]] - [[Morphic]] - [[Multifurry]] - [[Non-anthro]] - [[Nonmorphic]] - [[Taur]]
|-
|'''Limb styles''': [[Biped]] - [[Hexaped]] - [[Octoped]] - [[Pede]] - [[Pentaped]] - [[Quadruped]]
|-
|'''Stances''': [[Digitigrade]] - [[Plantigrade]] - [[Unguligrade]]
|-
|'''Body parts''': [[Claw]] - [[Ear]] - [[Genitalia]] - [[Hoof]] - [[Horn]] - [[Muzzle]] - [[Paw]] - [[Tail]] - [[Whiskers]] - [[Wing]]
|}
<noinclude>[[Category:Related content directories|{{PAGENAME}}]]</noinclude>

Herbivore

2007-06-18T13:24:12Z

Hawthorn:

A '''herbivore''' is a term to describe any animal that consumes [[plant]] tissue.

Some general groups of herbivorous creatures commonly represented in the [[Furry]] world include:

* [[Horse]]s
* [[cattle|Bovines]]
* [[Deer]]
* [[Rabbit]]s

All hoofed mammals are herbivores. While herbivores in general subsist on a PRIMARILY vegetative diet, their diet may include non-vegetative sources of nutrition.

==See Also==

*[[Carnivore]] - one who eats meat
*[[Omnivore]] - one who eats both/everything

[[Category:Animal terms]]

Talk:Hextaur

2007-06-14T11:14:43Z

Hawthorn: Hextaurs seem rare.

== Terminology ==

Either an article [[taurso]] needs to be created or the word "taurso" should be replaced with "lower torso" (which is what I'm assuming the word means) or similar in this article. The way it stands it looks very awkward, as I don't think the word is in common use (it isn't even mentioned in the [[taur]] article!). I don't know which would be more appropriate, so I'm leaving that up to someone else while noting that I think something needs to be done. --[[User:Quotingmungo|quoting_mungo]] 11:48, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

:I get very few hits for the term sixpaw, or taurso; also, from a picture I've seen of Tazel, he doesn't seem to be a taur, but a multifurry with six arms. Taur clearly implies a combination of morphic upper and nonmorphic lower. I have seen taur pictures which fit this description (insectoid taurs for example) but don't know any characters of this type. [[User:Hawthorn|Hawthorn]] 11:14, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

Fur

2007-06-11T22:33:42Z

Hawthorn: Added countershading

[[Image:Img 3594.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Synthetic fur, as used in a [[fursuit]]]]
The term '''fur''' refers to the body [[hair]] of non-human [[mammal]]s also known as the '''pelt''' or '''pelage''' (like the term ''plumage'' in birds).

The pelt is commonly made up of more than one time of hair. Some of the most prominent types of hair that make up the pelage include guard hairs (such as the defensive spines of porcupines), and bristles (which make up the mane of lions). The pelage is significant in several respects: as insulation; as a guard against injury; and, in its coloration and pattern, as a species adornment for mutual recognition among species members, concealment from enemies, or, in the case of many males, as a sexual allurement to promote courtship and mating

Fur usually consists of two main layers:

* Ground hair or underfur — the bottom layer consisting of wool hairs which tend to be shorter, flattened, curly and denser than the top layer.
* Guard hair — the top layer consisting of longer straight shafts of hair that stick out through the underfur. This is usually the visible layer for most mammals and contains most of the [[Wikipedia:Pigmentation|pigmentation]].

In the [[furry fandom]], the term ''fur'' can be used in several different ways. It can refer to a member of the [[fandom]] (''e.g.'', I'm meeting some furs for dinner). It can allude to a [[furry]] character in a story or movie (''e.g.'', ''[[Plonq]] often has disagreements with the other furs in his office.''). The term can also be used to describe a person's [[fursona]] (''e.g.'', ''Brightwings likes hanging out with other furs'').

== Fur (material) ==

Fur correctly refers to real fur, but is also commonly used to refer to artificial substitutes, used for [[fursuit]]s and [[plush toy|plushie]]s.

A general rule of thumb is that the better fur looks, the worse it actually feels, and the harder it is to keep looking good. Regular brushing of such fur is essential to avoid matting.

== Fur colors ==
Most furries model their [[fursona]]s after real life [[animal]]s, giving natural colored colors and patterns. Others like to be more individual or unique and include colors or patterns not found in nature.

A pattern can be stripes, spots, bars, bands, rings, or other similar feature of a lighter or darker hue than the base color.

The base color can range anywhere within the rainbow, though mammals typically have more earth-tone colors (brown, blond, black, grey).

A common feature of fur coats in wild animals is ''countershading'' - having the underside a lighter color than the upperside. This is a form of [[camouflage]] which offsets the shading effects caused by sunlight shining from above; it effectively makes their overall colourmore flat. This is possibly why many mammals have white or light fur on their chest and belly.

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:fur|Fur]] at Wikipedia, from which some of this article was derived

[[Category: Anatomy terms]]
[[Category:Fursuit materials]]