You guys really want to know why so many people love MLP so much?
Because it is the only current non-epic, non-adventuring, non-superhero show, aimed for children... whose characters speak like normal people would instead of retarded dialogue just so all kids can understand. Each character has their own quirks, the jokes are funny, the world in itself is interesting... It's one of the only slice-of-life cartoons I've ever seen where they've got everything. From KISS and David Bowie references, to jokes on how ponies are yokels who think clouds moving by themselves is creepy.
I'm curious, have you ever watched
Hey Arnold? I know you said current cartoon, but I found it interesting that almost every single thing you mentioned about the show in this quote, is
exactly the way to describe Hey Arnold. I've actually re-watched the entire series a few months ago on Youtube recently to relieve my childhood, and It can get
so realistic and mature that you wouldn't even guess it's a kids show.
[spoiler][youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKL1ffelnNk&feature=related[/youtube][/spoiler]
To be fair though, MLP has a fantastical setting, while Hey Arnold has a realistic urban setting, so the comparison might be a little weird. If you never got the chance to watch it way back when, I recommend you do so. Anyway, I don't want to derail the thread anymore, so... *poof*
(also, I attempted to watch the first episode of MLP but couldn't finish it. I'll give it another chance if it really is that good....)