First off, My Little Pony has as much to do with anime as Avatar or Teen Titans. The creator of the show, Lauren Faust, cited several animes as an inspiration, including Sailor Moon and other magical girl shows. There are several episodes that really play out more like a magical girl anime than an American cartoon, including the first two episodes.

And yes, we are the Anime Club, but Smash Bros. isn’t anime, nor is Catan, Dominion, League of Legends, Magic the Gathering, BlazBlue, Marvel Vs. Capcom, Mario Party, or Mario Kart. Today, we decided to show some American shows inspired by anime. There were no complaints about Avatar or Teen Titans being “not anime,” not even by those who refused to watch MLP on the same grounds.

Saying that Anime only tackles adult subjects is just blatantly wrong.There are no mature themes in Ika Musume, Sgt. Frog, Kill Me Baby, Toradora, Working!!, or several dozens, if not hundreds more animes, many of which are some of our members favorites. You have to realize that it’s not because MLP is a children’s show that it’s devoid of “mature themes” it’s that it’s a COMEDY. There’s no real mature themes in Seinfeld, is it for children?

And now to the last argument, the big one. “I also believe that this cartoon focuses too much on projecting a stereotype of the homosexual community. I don’t approve of how they portray the ponies in a manner that is almost offensive.”

Excuse me but… what the hell does that even mean? There’s nothing even remotely stereotypical about this show. Not even one small bit is offensive to the homosexual community. We have homosexual members who love My Little Pony who found your comment infinitely more offensive than the show. There is nothing offensive about the portrayal of the ponies in MLP. I really want to hear your arguments on this. I have not found even a single thing offensive in my many, many viewings of the series.

I appreciate the discussion on the matter, but I believe that you are letting the social stigma of watching things “age-inappropriate” cloud your judgement. You’re letting the fact that you’ve been indoctrinated to hate children’s programming by the “mature” society block out any possibility of enjoying the show. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic takes it’s audience seriously. Sure, it’s targeted demographic is children below the age of 10, but you know what? So was Avatar. Is it wrong to enjoy Avatar because it’s “for kids”? No. It’s got great characters, an amazing plot, a creative world, and occasionally adult subject matter. MLP is no different. This argument is the same as gamers who play only Call of Duty or Madden saying that games like Super Smash Bros or Mario Kart are for babies and anyone playing them above the age of 12 is gay or a manchild. It’s just offensive. Not just to the fans, but to the entire genre, to the entire medium of animation. Saying that a show can’t be made for children and adults alike is just offensive to the people who have poured their hearts and souls into creating it. Because, at the end of the day, shows like My Little Pony, Teen Titans, or Avatar: The Last Airbender are made by us. Adults who love cartoons, American or Japanese, and want to impart that sort of magic they feel into their own creations, to give something for future generations to love, and maybe inspire them to make more. If their adult creators can enjoy their own creations, why can’t we, as adult animation fans, do the same?

Love and Tolerance.
~digi

In any case Michael, your best potential argument is the one about show projecting homosexual stereotypes that could be offensive. If that is the case, then I hope the club considers this the next time a day like this comes around.