My transformative work is a (yet to be filmed) My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic meta fan film. It is a short film that specifically explores the brony fandom by showing what it may be like in a few years, once the hype has settled and the show is on the verge of completion. The film follows Nathan, a former brony, who is visiting a brony friend of his, Frank, to watch the series finale. From there, they talk about the show using information that is currently known, as well as information I have speculated could happen in the show’s future.
The main concept explored in my film, and the one we discussed in depth in class, is the idea of fan policing. The reason I explore this concept is because it seems to be particularly applicable to the brony fandom, especially recently. The show is not discussed as much now as it was when the fandom started, and whenever it is, the fandom is usually brought up, often in a negative light. On a personal level, I’ve found myself avoiding talking about the show, I don’t watch every new episode immediately as they come out any more, and I’ve certainly noticed fewer people wearing t-shirts featuring characters from the show. Even within the fandom, enthusiasm seems to be low, both out of growing disinterest in the source material and the apparent need for distance from the “less savory” aspects of the fandom.
In the film, the protagonist largely shies away from the brony fandom out of shame. He knows that there is nothing explicitly harmful or shameful about enjoying what he wants and reacts harshly to harsh judgment from his peers, but he still tries to tone down his expressed enjoyment of the show. In addition to this, he appears to show disdain for his friend’s vocal enthusiasm. However, Frank does not share Nathan’s shame, and that shamelessness spreads to Nathan. If I had to pinpoint a central argument that my film makes, it’s that shame is entirely at the discretion of the person feeling ashamed, and it is their call to judge whether they should feel ashamed or not.
Aside from this argument, my film also serves as a look at some of the conventions of the My Little Pony show, its consistency in quality, the stereotypes associated with bronies, why they like the show in the first place, and if the show’s fandom is simply a fad.










