My name is Ben, and I like ponies.

Hey everyone. Long time no write. Well theres a reason for that. This post took a lot to work up to. (Ok Ben, you can do this. Deep breath.) I would like to introduce my new obsession:

Yeah I can you laughing right now, but I don't care. And I'll tell you why.
As most men might have, I outright dismissed this on the platform that it was ponies, and only that it was ponies. But someone I subscribed to on YouTube started uploading the episodes, and one day (around the time episode 12 came out) curiosity got the best of me and I watched one. And then it was 4 AM and I had seen nearly every episode I could, and I knew there was no going back. I started doing a little research, and I wished I started watching earlier. Turns out the Executive Producer of the show was Lauren Faust. 
Don't recognize the name? Well I didn't at first, but what if I told you she was an animator and writer for the Powerpuff Girls where she meet her husband Craig McCracken? She hated the way 'girls cartoons' were written with nothing but tea parties and sharing your crayons can solve all the problems in the world. She based the characters on the personality's she gave her toys as a kid, and the rest is history. I'm paraphrasing, (and butchering it horribly) but you can read it in her own words here. And bravo to you Faust. You have made a show that appeals to more demographics then I thought possible. The show has taken over the internet like I have never seen before. And yet Hasbro is being really crapy with the toys.

Princess Celestia is not pink! You give us a horribly burned Anakin Skywalker, but can't give us a properly colored pony?! 
Wait, you didn't see that!
But enough about the background, let's get to the characters. First up is Twilight Sparkle.

Yes, Twilight Sparkle. Go ahead and get the vampire jokes out of way now. She ends up being the 'POV' character for the most part. She's socially awkward, loves reading and is great with magic. Twilight is voiced by Tara Strong, and if you watched 3 animated shows in the past 10 years you already heard her voice 5 times.


Next up, Rarity.

A unicorn with great artistic talent. A fashionista, but also very generous . Her reaction to a 'fashion fopa' is to make you a new outfit. Voiced by Tabitha St. Germain.


one of the more popular characters, Rainbow Dash.

A brash, loud showoff jerk with a heart of gold. She may be lazy at times, but is always there when her friends need her.


Now a real Kountry Gentlepony, Applejack

She comes from a long line of apple farmers. Kind hearted and always willing to lend a hoof, but sometimes too stubborn to accept one in return. Both her and Dash are voiced by Ashleigh Ball.


My favorite, Fluttershy

The ultimate introvert and the towns animal caretaker. As her names says, very shy, at least around other ponies. But if need be, will stand up to her greatest fears to protect her friends.


This next pony needs no introduction. But here it is anyway. Pinkie Pie,

The ultimate extrovert and a real party animal. Her first instinct on meeting someone? Throw them a party. Someone feeling blue? Throw them a party. Someone Acting like a jerk and getting on her bad side? Throw them a party, because they just need to relax. Ironically, both Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are voiced by Andrea Libman. Hmm, I wonder who else she did?

X23?! She played X23?! Wow. You learn something new every day.
Man this post is getting long. I'll wrap it up for now.
Well season 1 just finished, and I have to say I learned somethings. First, I learned not to judge something on preconceived gender stereotypes, judge it on it's own merits. It also made me think about the difference you can make in a persons life and the importance of being a friend. I'm not saying I didn't know this before, but sometimes it's the simple things that we need be reminded of, and sometimes that reminder can come from a  little pink pony. So in the end, this show features great characters, great humor, great (great) animation and great songs:

Wait, why was it so hard for me to write about this in the first place?

Oh yeah, there ponies. Well you know what? Ponies are awesome, and I don't care who knows it! In fact, I have the whole set!

Wow, I actually like something. This feels weird.
In conclusion, (for the third time in a row) I love this show. It gives me some time to think about the small things in life and how important they can be. it reminds me that the world isn't as bad as some people say. And it makes me feel just plain happy.

Yes yes, I know. As a counter point, my friend Rob has this (paraphrase) to say: "It's an annoying girlie show about ponies and I don't want to watch it." And this comes from a guy who owns a Katy Perry CD.

UPDATE May 24 2011: What are the odds:

And yes, this is from the official site. It is at least 20% cooler then the original song if I do say so myself.

UPDATE OVER

Unfortunately, Lauren Faust has stepped down as executive producer and after season 2 will no longer be working on the show. While a sad turn of events, I have faith the the rest of the crew will do fine. And I would like to say thank you  Lauren Faust, and I look forward to whatever you do next.
I have to stop. I think I'm getting a cavity from all the sweet things I've said about this. I promise the next post will have more sarcasm then you can shake a stick at. Or at least more sarcasm then this guy can shake a stick at:

Hey, I'm getting back in the groove already! Till next time, I'm Dollar Ben and that's my two cents.