Ponyville Confidential

<p> Beloved by young girls around the world Hasbro's <I>My Little Pony</I> franchise has been mired in controversy since its debut in the early 1980s. Critics dismissed the cartoons as toy advertisements and derided their embrace of femininity. The 2010 debut of the openly feminist <I>My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic</I> renewed the backlash as its broad appeal challenged entrenched notions about gendered entertainment.</p><p> This first comprehensive study of <I>My Little Pony</I> explores the history and cultural significance of the franchise through Season 5 of <I>Friendship Is Magic</I> and the first three <I>Equestria Girls</I> films. The brand has continued to be on the receiving end of a sexist double standard regarding commercialism in children's entertainment while masculine cartoons such as the Transformers have been spared similar criticism.</p>