A Brony Tale

The film doesn't try to ride on the shock factor of 18-30 year olds liking My Little Pony and it doesn't push these bronies away as if they are a zoo exhibit to be looked and laughed at. You see these bronies and you see people who just happen to like a cartoon that is well made.

From the opening credits to the end credits the film is upbeat and it doesn't let up. We meet voice artist Ashleigh Ball, voice of Rainbow Dash and Applejack, who is just as shocked as the audience is to find out that there are dudes that like her show about intrepid, magical cartoon ponies. Ashleigh is invited to BronyCon, a yearly convention for bronies, and decides to go.

Along the way we meet bronies from different walks of life, while occasionally coming back to Ashleigh. Ashleigh is just fun to watch. We meet her band, Hey Ocean, who just knows how to make great music... there music is great.

The directing from Brent Hodge is fantastic, the soundtrack is amazing and the conclusion is satisfying. Definitely recommend checking this one out.

Being as I'm a brony myself, I went ahead and had a look at this documentary. Managed to endorse the whole thing and best off, it was never boring. I even saw some familiar faces in there! Would be good for the whole family to watch; just has some thematic material so it would've most likely gotten a PG-rating by the MPAA (as the movie's not been given such a rating).

Like the one Ashleigh Ball said: "As long as My Little Pony exists, there will be Bronies."

Bronies are weird. Mostly. I found some of their stories interesting, particularly the military guy and the "manly" guy, but other than that the rest are guys in rainbow wigs. On top of that, the fandom is noted online for their creation of hardcore pornography based around the show. That's not touched on at all in the film. The film serves more as a biopic about Ashleigh Ball, and to that it does its job. But it's not a tale about bronies... not as they are in reality.

I think the real star of the show is Ashleigh Ball, who ends up being our vessel, essentially, for exploring this quirky fandom of grown men who like a cartoon for little girls. I even gave My Little Pony a shot after watching this doc and while it's not for me, I now understand the appeal. It's definitely a well made cartoon show (I only watched the first three episodes, mind you). Well done to Hodge and company.

Saw this surrounded by cheering, cool, nice (maybe a bit too talkative) people who describe themselves as Bronies. They were cool. Nice and true to themselves without a heir of pretension.

Wish the same could be said about the focus of "A Brony Tale."

She's a voice actress (and friend of the director), blonde and bland. Her band sucks.

A more interesting character appears, tells us of his boredom. Never feeling part of something. A loner. A true soul. A depressive state took over after serving in Iraq, with which he found relief in drawing ponies. Little Ponies.

Friendship Is Magic!