Spoiler: Admin stuff First of all, I did a quick search through previous threads and didn't find anything like this. Also, I thought that this was the right place to post it as it's about bronies in general, not the show itself. If I've done it wrong, please move or delete this thread. One of the only things that has been bugging me is that I'm only 16 and living with my parents, who won't let me buy merch or do many other pony-related things. By the time I will have the freedom to do what I want (when I go to university in 2 years time), I'm worried that bronies may die out and I would've never had a chance to truly get into the fandom. So when do you think the fandom will die out? Do you think we will end when the show ends or before/after that? If Friendship is Magic ends, will the next generation have just as many fans? I'm sure that another big thing will come across in the future but I'm still worried that I'll never get some merch.
Consider older shows like Courage, the Ed's, PPG or...the Simpsons. These have been going for an extraordinarily long time, with the Simpsons currently on season (24?) I am certain that with a following like ours, bronydom will take a very long time to flatline, let alone decrease.
I myself often think of this question as well. Season 3 was confirmed. Even when the show ends Hasbro still sells toys for awhile (at least they did for G3). As far as the community goes, many bronies will move on, but many will stay. The immense talent this community has will keep our fandom going; the art, music, especially those who have created high quality animations. I see them making fan episodes/adventures to keep us content. Not to mention the large amount of fan games in the works. Legends of Equestria, PonyKart, Fighting is Magic, just to name a few multiplayer ones. I see this fandom lasting way past the show, even until G5. Continue to try and persuade your parents for at least one pony toy. Even in two years time, I honestly don't see bronies dying out. This was fun to type on my phone
Put it this way, at the moment I think we're at our peak, and we could be at this peak for a very long time all things considered. My Little Pony itself has been around since the 1980s, and the original show didn't die out itself even for young children for whom it was designed for. And those were just the weaker series. Hasbro/Studio B wouldn't do a complete upheaval of the show if they know they're onto a winning formula, so don't expect them to drastically shun us in later series of the show.
Even at the end, the fandom will live on. That's what I believe. One day, it may die out, but there's bound to be some still into it, and others who might become bronies. Other shows still live on with thriving fandoms. Who doesn't, for example, love Only Fools and Horses. Bad example I know, but I'm lazy. It's possible and, judging on how popular MLP FIM is now, probable, that in the future people will still remember and like it, and people will still be giving it a try. Many old things are still popular, and I think this'll be another popular old thing. That's what I think, anyway.
Bronydom is eternal! We SHALL NEVER die out! It is the most friendly fandom out there! I highly doubt that something this good will die out!
Look at spongebob. It's going on its what? 9th Season? So 1999-2012 (13 years). And trust me, it isn't going to end very soon. Perhaps never. But i guarantee you it's mostly because of the fandom. Spongebob is definitely not spongebob anymore however. There is no longer a presence of heart, soul, or originality in any of the episodes that are aired. The first 3 seasons and the movie were the show's 'glory days'. Now it is dead. I think this proves even the more that the show is only airing simply out of demand. I just hope mlp doesn't end up the way that spongebob did. I don't know that it could though. But seriously, the fandom should remain fandom. it should not be incorporated into the actual show itself. That's what's wrong with all of the junk on CN now. They have become to concerned with the internet's brand of ritualistic trends that they have lost any true passion. So if/when mlp ends on these terms, i want it to end right. even if that would mean just 4 seasons. (Like hey arnold for ex.) Not like the new spongebob that has gone on just to put its original plot and creativity to shame.. burying the true spongebob.. and then spitting on its grave in the process.
Even after there are no new episodes, the fans will stay around, as it has happened for many other shows in the past. Firefly still has the Browncoats following online and they only had one season. Farscape still has a strong following. Both of these shows have been off the air for how many years now? There are lots of other examples, so I don't expect the Brony community to disappear anytime soon.
This is something that has bothered me too, I try not to think about it. If it does die out eventually then I for one will remain a brony to the death.
Thanks for everyone's opinions but I still think that it will die out eventually. Maybe I'll even leave the fandom before it dies down. Although I do hope that it'll live on. I don't think I could go back to regular music after listening to the fan-made music. Also, as for persuading my parents, that's not going to happen. They're too stubborn and full of themselves to do that.
I think it will end up that they change something about the show that makes it terrible (the SpongeBob effect), but if that doesn't happen, it will at most take 5 years.
well, fandom will die, but I don't think anytime soon. Take Chowder for example that ended almost 2 years ago, and there's still strong fandom around the show, even if it ended in 2010. People will still re watch old episodes and there will be new generations of bronies that will grow up with the show (even if that means only old episodes). Also, take some of old cartoon franchises like Mickey Mouse, or whole Warner Brothers cartoons. Yes, they have new and modern cartoons, but I know many fans of these cartoons that based fandom on old episodes that aired 30-20 years ago, and they don't even know that there's new episodes (for mickey mouse idk, but I saw commercial on CN that new episodes of Buks Bunny will be airing)
I seriously have doubts about this whole thing. It will probably die down in a few years, and the show may stop then. Hardly anyone I talk to even knows that theres a channel called the hub.
