Oh sorry, did I hurt you're feelings? forgets sake it's an innocent kid's show about ponies that's one thing that is not ok as research.
yes, go tell all the lolicon artists who draw actual youngsters and see what they think
the last thing anyone cares about is that the research they are creating is based of a little kids show
research is research. the characters are technically adults (until you get to the fillies, then it's a double dosage!).
though i sometimes wonder why people do it for free. that stuff is profitable