WARNING: GETS VERY DEPREESING
I was watching AnimatedJames' Winter's Fucked Up music video today and it gave me so much nostalgia for 2014. I was 13 at the time, and I became a brony only a year and a half beforehand. Every time I watch en episode that aired before season 5 or watch a fanwork that came out before 2015, I tear up because MLP and the fandom was escapism for me. I was at a very rough stage in my life, and discovering MLP was the blessing of the century because it always helped me get through my day.
Watching old fanworks was so fun back in the day. The Mentally Advanced Series/Friendship is Witchcraft? MrPoniator? Snowdrop? Double Rainboom? Even Dusk's freaking Dawn. I remember the days when the entire fandom was talking about them, and it brings me back to the times when the fandom was more active.
Nowadays it seems like all of the animators stepped down. I remember actually crying when I found out AnimatedJames retired from making videos. But I still watch his videos on repeat to this day because it brings back memories. MrPoniator? Doesn't do anything anymore, which is a shame because those pony parody shorts were hilarious for their time, and I go back and look sometimes. Especially the What I Learned Today trilogy.
Now it seems like the analysis side of the fandom has taken over. I can only name 1 analyst that I actually watch and that's Joshscorcher. The rest of them are not favorable either because they're not entertaining or go months and maybe years on end without making videos.
Maybe it's the fact that the series is ending why I feel this nostalgiac. I'm 18 now. Responsibilites and shiz. But I long for that same escapism I got from MLP back in 2013-mid 2015. Probably the best part about MLP was it's fandom. Now that the series is coming to a close, I can only watch as the fandom dies down over time
