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| Status | Partially Found |
|---|---|
| Type | Animated Video |
| Genre | Dark Humor, Parody, Animated Violence |
| Creator | David "Krugar" Evans |
| Production Company | Krugar Animation Studios (defunct) |
| Date Uploaded | April 10, 2011 |
| Runtime | Approx. 9 minutes |
| Episodes | Episode 3 of 8 |
Background[]
Black Templars Crusade: Bronies is the third episode in the Black Templars Crusade series of Adobe Flash animated shorts created by David "Krugar" Evans under his Krugar Animation Studios banner. The series was known for its crude but distinctive animation style, dark humor, and often controversial subject matter, typically involving Warhammer 40,000's Black Templars Chapter engaging in comically violent crusades against various internet fandoms. The first episode, Black Templars Purge BFDI, was uploaded on March 14, 2011 and gained a moderate following on platforms like Newgrounds and YouTube. The series ultimately comprised eight episodes spread across two "seasons," with four episodes each. Krugar Animation Studios abruptly ceased operations in late 2015, and the studio's website and associated social media accounts were taken offline. This, coupled with the fleeting nature of early internet video platforms, contributed to the series' near-total disappearance. [1]
Production[]
David Evans, known online as "Krugar," was a self-taught animator operating out of his home in rural Pennsylvania. He reportedly used a pirated version of Adobe Flash CS5 and a basic USB microphone for voice acting. According to an interview given to a small, now-defunct online zine called Pixelated Mayhem in July 2011, Evans stated that each episode took approximately 2-3 weeks to produce, working on it in his spare time while holding down a part-time job at a local grocery store. [2] He described his animation style as "intentionally bad" to emphasize the comedic nature of the shorts. The voice acting was intentionally hammy and over-the-top. Early forum posts suggest the series may have been funded through small donations via a now-defunct Patreon account. Evans was known for interacting with his audience, often incorporating suggestions or responding to criticisms in subsequent episodes. The music used was typically royalty-free tracks found online, though some claim Evans sampled music from obscure 90's video games [3].
Synopsis[]
The plot of Black Templars Crusade: Bronies revolves around a squad of Black Templars, led by the zealous Brother Captain Erasmus (voiced by Evans himself), being dispatched to "cleanse" a brony convention of "heresy and degeneracy." The episode features graphic (albeit animated) violence as the Templars misunderstand and misinterpret various aspects of My Little Pony fandom, such as cosplaying, fanfiction, and the show's themes of friendship and harmony. A running gag involves Erasmus repeatedly mispronouncing "brony" as "baloney." Specific scenes that have been recalled include a Templar mistaking a plushie of Pinkie Pie for a "daemonhost" and attempting to exorcise it with a flamethrower, and another scene where Erasmus delivers a lengthy, nonsensical sermon on the evils of "pastel-colored equines." The episode culminates in the convention hall being destroyed, with Erasmus declaring their mission a success before the Templars teleport away. Eyewitnesses from that era recall that there was a particularly crude scene involving a life-sized Rainbow Dash piñata [4].
Availability[]
As of 2024, Black Templars Crusade: Bronies is considered partially found. While complete copies of the episode remain elusive, several clips and screenshots have surfaced online, primarily through archival websites and fan forums dedicated to obscure Flash animation. A user on the lostmediaarchive.org forums, going by the handle "Techpriest_Omega," claims to possess a partial backup of Krugar Animation Studios' website, which may contain additional assets or information about the series. [5] In 2018, a 30-second clip featuring Erasmus mispronouncing "brony" surfaced on YouTube before being taken down due to copyright infringement (ironically, the copyright claim was unrelated to Games Workshop). Several users have reported contacting David Evans directly through social media, but he has remained unresponsive. [6] The first episode, "Black Templars Purge BFDI", was rediscovered on a defunct Newgrounds account in 2021, raising hopes that the other episodes may eventually resurface. It is believed that David Evans still lives somewhere in Pennsylvania, possibly under an assumed name.
Possible Hidden Messages[]
Some fans have speculated that Black Templars Crusade: Bronies, and the Black Templars Crusade series as a whole, contains hidden messages or easter eggs. Given the context of the time it was made, some believe that the series is a commentary on internet culture, fandom toxicity, and the clash between different subcultures. Others claim that the show might contain references to David Evans' personal life or beliefs. These theories remain unconfirmed, and are largely based on speculation and interpretation of the series' often nonsensical and absurd content. One popular theory suggests that a sequence of seemingly random flashing colors in the background of one scene (recalled by multiple viewers) spells out a message in binary code [7].