Ponyville Confidential: The History and Culture of My Little Pony, 1981

by Sherilyn Connelly

Overview

Beloved by young girls around the world, Hasbro's My Little Pony franchise has been mired in controversy since its debut in the early 1980s. Critics dismissed the cartoons as toy advertisements, and derided their embrace of femininity. The 2010 debut of the openly feminist My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic renewed the backlash, as its broad appeal challenged entrenched notions about gendered entertainment.

This first comprehensive study of My Little Pony explores the history and cultural significance of the franchise through Season 5 of Friendship Is Magic and the first three Equestria Girls films. The brand has continued to be on the receiving end of a sexist double standard regarding commercialism in children's entertainment, while masculine cartoons such as the Transformers have been spared similar criticism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476662091
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	03/28/2017
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Sherilyn Connelly is a San Francisco-based writer and librarian.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part 1: Family Appreciation Day (1981–1998)
Ponies: Grosser by the Gross
A Foal Is Born
From Dream Valley to the Devil’s Backyard
I Don’t Know Your Name, But the Mane Is Familiar
My Little Pony, Destroyer of Cinema
My Little Pony, Destroyer of Television
My Little Pony, Destroyer of Everything
The Long Dark Saturday Morning of the Soul
Ponies What Are British
Part 2: The Lost Generations (1998–2010)
Rebuilding the Stable
Generation the Third
Pony Conventions Lead to Press Confusion
The Promenade to Equestria
The Worst News Ever
Part 3: Twilight’s Kingdom (Friendship Is Magic and Equestria Girls Reference Guide)
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3 and My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
Season 4 and My Little Pony: Equestria Girls—Rainbow Rocks
Season 5 and My Little Pony: Equestria Girls—Friendship Games
Part 4: The Foal Free Press (2010–2015)
Ultra-Feminine Yet Vinegary Ponies
Ponies: Harbingers of Even More Doom
Judging a Pony by Her Corporate Website
Yes, Really, Bronies Exist. Seriously.
Phantom Tea Parties, and Selling Toys to Young Girls Is Bad…
…Unless They’re Toys from ­Boy-Friendly Franchises
Are You Now or Have You Ever Been a Brony?
Hasbro Catches Up
Part 5: Battles of the Brand (2012–2016)
World War Derp, Part I: The Eyes of the Gray Mare
World War Derp, Part II: Muffins Triumphant
No (Equestria) Girls Allowed, Part I: ­Two-Legged Terror, and Daily v. Girls, Round 1
No (Equestria) Girls Allowed, Part II: Sunset Rising
No (Equestria) Girls Allowed, Part III: Daily v. Girls, Round 2
Future Twilight
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

A witty romp through the history of My Little Pony that anypony can enjoy, with helpful episode guides and references.”—Tara Prescott, editor of Neil Gaiman in the 21st Century; “Never in a million years did I think My Little Pony had anything to offer me as a feminist, activist or fangirl. I’ve been Pony-averse since childhood. Since reading Sherilyn Connelly’s hilarious, insightful and information-packed Ponyville Confidential, I’ve never been more excited to be proven wrong. Ponyville is Magic.”—Holly Payne, writer, creator, and producer of What Happened? on Comic-Con HQ.

From the Publisher