A BRONY TALE

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Coming to theatres July 8th and on VOD July 15th from director/writer Brent Hodge and Hodgee Films, along with Morgan Spurlock, is a look at life from A BRONY TALE.

This documentary covers a little known to the laymen but huge story of Bronies. What are Bronies you ask? Good question, but first a little background. Hasbro is a company known for bringing iconic animated stories to families since I was a kid.

My Little Pony was created in 1982 with different ponies available. I know this especially since my daughter (who is now in her late 20’s) had many of them. From twinkly ponies with rhinestones to ponies with long manes to brush they overtook her room. In her later teens she came too enjoy them again as many of her friends did as well. From tee shirts, hats and even tennis shoes, My Little Pony kept making a comeback.

In the 1980’s, My Little Pony made it’s way to animation as well with MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE followed with MY LITTLE PONY N’ FRIENDS becoming a television series and has continued every since including MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC.

That is where we come in with Bronies. The name Brony is a combination of Brother and Pony making a Brony (although the actual term is debated among other Bronies). A Brony is considered to be a person 18 to 30 years who like MY LITTLE PONY and – are male. From two Brony psychologists the statics (if your into that) are that a Brony is 14-47 with the average age of 21, 85% male (also 15% are female who call themselves Pegasisters), 35% high school, 65% college and 84% are heterosexual, 1.5% homosexual and 10% bi-sexual.

So now that the statistic nonsense is out of the way – where can a Brony be found? That’s just the thing, in A BRONY TALE Hodge introduces us to a Harley mechanic who falls into the stereotypical big guy with lots of tattoos and into Monster trucks who has no problem proclaiming he is “the manliest Brony in the world”.

We are also introduced to a soldier who has served in Iraq who tells his story of serving his country and finding joy in his life once again. His art comes back to him with MY LITTLE PONY as his muse. There is also college students from Northwestern University who have a group that meet up are social with other Bronies.

The audience also gets an opportunity to hear from Ashleigh Ball. This young lady is responsible for the voices of Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash with Hasbro’s MY LITTLE PONY: Friendship is Magic. Having no idea she would have fans all over the world, she is asked to be on a panel at a Brony Con.

What she discovers that fans of MY LITTLE PONY each have life lessons, have found acceptance in each other and are a group of friends throughout the world who are thrilled to be called Bronies! As the manliest Brony in the world put it, ‘just good people who like a kids cartoon show’.

A BRONY TALE is the type of documentary that finally informs people first of all of what a Brony is but more importantly who they are. They are everyone from every age group and walk of life. No matter what statics may say this isn’t about data, its about people finding a common joy in their life and sharing it with others who feel the same.

Finding friends and gathering to celebrate and actually meeting in person are part of the joys Bronies experience. I am all for anything that gets people away from their cell phones, etc. to bring them face to face.

Hodge brings to audiences an experience that shares that joy of being together brought on by the voice of Ashleigh Ball and the wonderful and exciting animation of Hasbro. So next time you hear the word Brony – consider yourself educated and maybe even hang out with what looks to be a fantastically fun group of people!

In the end – it’s about the courage to be yourself!