"Bronies" are a growing group of male fans who love My Little Pony. The 80s cartoon was updated and released last fall on Hub TV and has since inspired a legion of online fans who gather to share fan videos, pony art and even chiptune music inspired by the kids' show.
Wired interviewed Lauren Faust, who created the new My Little Pony franchise, to ask her about the growing bronies phenomenon. "The fact that [men] were open-minded and cool enough and secure in their masculinity enough to embrace it and love it and go online and talk about how much they love it -- I'm kind of proud," she said.
Hub TV has even altered its advertising to appeal to the bronies market. The video above is Hasbro's reworking of "California Gurls" by Katy Perry, called "Equestria Girls." The animated ponies in the video sing about bronies rather than California girls.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Growing Male Fanbase
- The emergence of bronies, male fans of My Little Pony, highlights a trend of traditionally gendered media finding new audiences.
- Online Fandom Communities
- The rise of online communities centered around shared interests like My Little Pony creates opportunities for fan engagement and participation.
- Reimagined Advertising Strategies
- Hub TV's adaptation of its advertising to target the bronies market reflects a trend of brands catering to niche consumer groups.
Sectors Adopting This
- Entertainment
- The entertainment industry could explore new content creation and distribution strategies to capitalize on the expanding fanbase of shows like My Little Pony.
- Toy and Collectibles
- The toy and collectibles industry can tap into the bronies market by developing merchandise that specifically appeals to this growing fanbase.
- Advertising and Marketing
- The advertising and marketing industry can learn from Hub TV's targeted approach to reach niche consumer groups like bronies, creating opportunities for innovative campaign strategies.
