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My Little Pony: The Elements of Harmony: Friendship is Magic: The Official Guidebook

Page 2

by Brandon T. Snider


  friends as beautiful on the

  outside as she knows they

  are on the inside. Though

  she may seem entitled

  and prissy, Rarity has a

  heart as pure as gold.

  “It’s

  really easy

  to label [Rarity] as

  emotional, superficial, and

  materialistic, but she’s one of

  the more complex characters on

  the show…. She’ll pine for the

  attention of a prince, but

  drop everything to help

  out a friend in need.”

  —Brian Lenard,

  Hasbro Studios

  Character concept art

  by Lauren Faust

  APPLEJACK is Ponyville’s resident farm gal! She

  lives just outside town at Sweet Apple Acres with

  her family. Applejack has come to be known as the

  most down-to-earth, resourceful, and dependable

  pony around. A talented arboriculturist, Applejack

  is the kind of pony who ain’t afraid to get her

  hooves dirty. This hardworking Earth Pony is

  family-oriented and always ready to help Granny

  Smith or her little sister, Apple Bloom. Incredibly

  honest, Applejack would never stoop to telling

  a lie. However, her honesty and practicality keeps her from being as

  sensitive to others’ feelings as she could be, despite her best intentions.

  Although Applejack can be a bit set in her ways, her friends know they

  can always count on this trustworthy pony to come through for them

  when they need her most.

  “My favorite [friendship] lesson is from

  [the episode] ‘The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy

  6000,’ when Applejack writes to Celestia to tell her

  she didn’t learn anything! Not exactly a ‘true’ lesson,

  but one of the funnier ones!”

  —Jim Miller, storyboard supervisor

  Character concept art

  by Lauren Faust

  FLUTTERSHY is a natural beauty with

  gentle, serene ways. Despite her shy and

  unassuming nature, Fluttershy has a unique

  gift with animals. Her sweetness and

  sincerity can charm every animal, from

  tiny woodland creatures to the most

  powerful of mythical beasts, making

  her a valuable asset to her friends in

  all their adventures. Although she’s

  afraid of heights (very embarrassing for

  a Pegasus) and shies away at the slightest

  sound, Fluttershy has no problem

  confronting grumpy manticores or

  scolding greedy dragons. While she

  lacks confidence, she has an inner

  strength that comes out when others

  are in trouble. Fluttershy has a lot of fears to overcome, but one day

  her strength of character and enormous heart will make her a force to

  be reckoned with.

  “I think Fluttershy has shown a

  lot of growth. She is constantly struggling

  against her shy nature. And she’s really making

  strides. She’s confronted dragons, she’s stood up to

  ponies who try to step all over her, and she’s braved

  making a tornado. This is quite a lot for a pony who

  would rather just be having a picnic with woodland

  creatures.”

  —Amy Keating Rogers, writer

  Character concept art

  by Lauren Faust

  PRINCESS CELESTIA is the wise and kind ruler of

  Equestria. Governing her subjects from her castle

  in Canterlot, she emanates a commanding presence

  with both a Unicorn’s horn and magnificent

  Pegasus wings. Princess Celestia is

  profoundly magical, and some say she is

  more than one thousand years old. With

  the help of her sister,

  Princess Luna, she

  makes sure the sun

  and moon rise and

  set each day.

  Canterlot development art by Dave

  Dunnet and Martin Ansolabehere

  Princess Celestia’s younger sister, PRINCESS LUNA, has a history of

  difficulty living in her older sister’s shadow. So difficult, in fact, her

  jealousy turned her into the villain Nightmare Moon! Fortunately,

  Luna was reformed and her heart softened by the ancient and

  powerful Elements of Harmony. Luna and Celestia have forgiven each

  other and are loving sisters

  once again, but Luna still

  has trouble adjusting to

  modern Equestrian life

  after her thousand-year-

  long banishment in the

  moon. Still speaking with

  ancient formality and finding

  it hard to move beyond her once

  fearsome image, she may struggle,

  but her intentions are pure and she is

  certain to find the happiness she seeks

  one day soon.

  Development art by

  Lynne Naylor. Note that Luna’s

  original name was Selena.

  PRINCESS CADANCE is the ruler of the Crystal

  Empire. She is the former apprentice of Princess

  Celestia, who practically adopted her

  as a niece. Her love has a magical

  quality that combines with the

  magic of her husband, Shining

  Armor, to make them nearly

  unstoppable. She was the

  foal-sitter of a very young

  Twilight Sparkle, and the

  two remain great friends. They

  even have a secret hoof-shake. Her wedding day was nearly

  ruined by an evil imposter, but the love between Cadance and Shining

  Armor conquered all. Cadance is now happy to grace the Crystal

  Empire with her kind spirit, potent magic, and unselfish nature. Her

  full name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.

  Featured in “A Canterlot Wedding, Parts 1 & 2,” “The

  Crystal Empire, Parts 1 & 2,” “Games Ponies Play.”

  SHINING ARMOR is the Unicorn captain

  of the Canterlot Royal Guard as well as the

  coleader of the Crystal Empire alongside his

  wife, Princess Cadance. He’s also Twilight

  Sparkle’s protective older brother, whom

  she affectionately calls her “BBBFF” (Big

  Brother Best Friend Forever).

  Featured in “A Canterlot Wedding, Parts 1 & 2,”

  “The Crystal Empire, Parts 1 & 2,” “Magical

  Mystery Cure.”

  Ponyville Ponies

  GRANNY SMITH is the wise matriarch of the Apple

  family and loves to tell a tale or two about the days of

  yore. Her memory may be fuzzy, but Granny’s wit is

  as sharp as a tack. She was even one of the founders

  of Ponyville!

  BIG MCINTOSH, also known as Big Mac, is

  the protective older brother of both Applejack

  and Apple Bloom. The soft-spoken colt

  generally doesn’t have much to say, but he’s

  always keeping an eye

  on his family.

  If you’re visiting Appleloosa, you’re likely to be

  welcomed by BRAEBURN.

  Featured in “Over a Barrel,” “Apple Family Reunion.”

  The extended APPLE FAMILY TREE also

  includes Aunt and Uncle Orange, Apple

  Bumpkin, Apple Cider, Apple Cobbler, Apple Fritter, Apple Pie, Apple

  Strudel, Apple Tart, Buttercream, Caramel Apple, Golden Delicious,

  and many others!
<
br />   Featured in “Apple Family Reunion.”

  See Apple Bloom and Babs Seed.

  THE CAKE FAMILY are the

  proud owners of Sugarcube

  Corner, Ponyville’s most

  delicious bakery. The

  store is run by the kindly

  MR. CARROT CAKE and his wife, MRS. CUP CAKE, who make

  the tastiest sweets for every occasion. Pinkie Pie loves working

  in the bakery and often watches over the Cakes’ twin foals,

  POUND CAKE and PUMPKIN CAKE.

  As the mayor of Ponyville, MAYOR MARE is

  always prepared to do whatever it takes to

  help her people.

  Featured in “Applebuck Season,” “Winter Wrap Up,” “The

  Mysterious Mare Do Well,” “The Last Roundup,” “Magic Duel.”

  CHEERILEE loves being a teacher at the

  Ponyville Schoolhouse.

  Featured in “The Show Stoppers,” “Call of the Cutie,”

  “Hearts and Hooves Day,” “Ponyville Confidential,”

  “Family Appreciation Day.”

  Foal concept art

  by Lauren Faust

  FILTHY RICH and his wealthy family date back to the

  very founding of Ponyville. His daughter is Diamond Tiara.

  Featured in “Family Appreciation Day.”

  DR. HOOVES

  ACE

  DAISY,

  LILY VALLEY,

  and ROSE

  NURSE REDHEART

  and DOCTOR

  LOTUS

  BLOSSOM

  LYRA

  HEARTSTRINGS

  SWEETIE

  DROPS

  BLOSSOMFORTH

  SMARTY PANTS

  GOLDEN

  HARVEST

  MINUETTE

  MADAME LEFLOUR,

  ROCKY, and

  SIR LINTSALOT

  MARKET

  SALESPONY

  BOWLER

  PONIES

  Canterlot Ponies

  As Canterlot’s resident fashion guru, HOITY TOITY’s

  been known to harshly critique the works of others,

  especially Rarity, who longs for his approval.

  Featured in “Suited for Success,” “Green Isn’t Your Color,”

  “Sweet and Elite.”

  PHOTO FINISH catches all the hot looks as

  Equestria’s top fashion photographer. This

  trendsetter keeps an army of impressionable

  attendants with her at all times.

  Featured in “Green Isn’t Your Color,”

  “Sweet and Elite.”

  SAPPHIRE SHORES is known for her music

  throughout Equestria as the Pony of Pop. The

  fashion-forward celebrity has a taste for Rarity’s

  jeweled creations.

  Featured in “A Dog and Pony Show,” “Sweet and Elite.”

  FANCYPANTS is a high-society Unicorn who

  is fascinated with lower-class ponies, who he treats as

  novelties, though he claims no ill will toward them.

  Featured in “Sweet and Elite,” “A Canterlot Wedding, Part 2”

  “Too Many Pinkie Pies.”

  JET SET and his wife, UPPER CRUST, are

  Equestria’s trendiest married couple. They

  have a taste for the extravagant and can be

  unapologetically snobbish about it.

  Featured in “Sweet and Elite.”

  When a party needs the hottest music in Equestria,

  there’s only one pony to call: DJ PON-3!

  Featured in “Suited for Success,” “A Canterlot Wedding, Part 2.”

  PRINCE BLUEBLOOD may

  be of a noble background, but

  he’s also quite vain, which is

  no doubt why Rarity once had a crush on him.

  Featured in “The Ticket Master,” “The Best Night Ever,”

  “Sweet and Elite.”

  OCTAVIA

  Canterlot

  preproduction art

  Cloudsdale Ponies

  THE WONDERBOLTS are an elite squad of

  Pegasus ponies who perform amazing aerial

  feats of derring-do at competitions across

  the lands of Equestria. SPITFIRE is team

  captain and a spirited competitor. SOARIN

  loves blazing a trail through the clouds—but

  only when he’s not chowing down on one

  of Applejack’s pies. Other team members

  include Blaze, Fire Streak, Fleetfoot, High

  Winds, Lightning Streak, Misty Fly, Rapidfire,

  Silver Lining, Surprise, and Wave Chill.

  Featured in “Sonic Rainboom,” “The Best Night Ever,”

  “Wonderbolt Academy.”

  FLITTER, STORMWALKER, THUNDERLANE, and LIGHTNING DUST

  Featured in “Hurricane Fluttershy.”

  MUSCLE PONY

  BOY BULLIES

  Cloudsdale

  preproduction art

  “My cutie mark would

  be a typewriter as, hopefully,

  it is clear that my special talent

  is writing. I’d go for a typewriter

  instead of the laptop I really use to do

  my writing since it is more fitting for the

  not-quite-as-technologically-advanced

  world of Equestria.”

  — Meghan McCarthy,

  story editor

  “Someone

  designed a cutie

  mark for me a while

  back. It’s a piano

  keyboard with a large red

  musical note in front of

  it. I quite like it!”

  —Daniel Ingram,

  song composer

  Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle

  hoped that by trying a bunch of different

  things together, they’d get their cutie marks

  lickety-split! So the three friends formed a

  secret club called the Cutie Mark Crusaders,

  whose members were dedicated to trying

  as many things as possible. Although the

  fillies have tried many diverse activities,

  like baking and magic, their cutie

  marks have yet to reveal themselves.

  Unfortunately, some intolerant ponies

  have mocked the young trio for not being

  able to find their proper vocations yet. Thankfully, wise ponies such as

  Princess Celestia have encouraged the girls to not lose hope and to keep

  experiencing as many things as possible.

  SWEETIE BELLE is a sweet-natured and sometimes

  spacey Cutie Mark Crusader with big dreams. Her quest

  for her cutie mark is not her only goal in life: Sweetie

  Belle longs for the praise and acceptance of her older sister,

  Rarity. Sweetie Belle has a blossoming talent for singing.

  APPLE BLOOM is Applejack’s little filly sister, and like

  her name suggests, she is full of potential but has a lot

  of growing to do. Although she is the leader of the Cutie

  Mark Crusaders, Apple Bloom truly has no idea what she

  is meant to do or who she is meant to be. As the “head

  crusader,” she comes up with most of their (unsuccessful)

  cutie mark missions and spearheads their many (failed)

  efforts.

  “My favorite story [in ‘The Cutie Mark

  Chronicles’] is Pinkie Pie’s. Playing against type is

  always fun, so having the most ebullient pony grow up on a dour,

  gray rock farm seemed like the right choice. It also provides a nice

  subtext to who Pinkie is. She has a soft spot in her heart for the ol’ rock

  farm and loves her family, but at her core (or, at her cutie mark),

  she is totally different from this upbringing.”

 
—Mitch Larson, writer

  In addition to earning her cutie mark,

  SCOOTALOO is determined to learn how to fly.

  In fact, Scootaloo has fashioned herself a special

  pony scooter, and she uses her Pegasus wings not to fly but to propel

  her wheeled contraption through the streets of Ponyville! Scootaloo

  idolizes the adventurous Rainbow Dash and often tries to imitate her

  “too cool” attitude as well as her athletic skill.

  BABS SEED is a tough-talkin’ Apple

  cousin from Manehattan and

  the newest member of the

  Cutie Mark Crusaders.

  Featured in “One Bad

  Apple,” “Apple Family

  Reunion.”

  “We wanted to create a

  character who could bully the

  Crusaders but whose behavior was the result

  of an insecurity that the Crusaders could relate to

  and ultimately help her to overcome. We’ve got our

  three Crusaders in Ponyville and didn’t want to add a

  permanent fourth, and we really liked the idea that

  Babs would come from out of town and be able to

  start up her own club with other ponies who

  hadn’t yet gotten their cutie marks.”

  — Meghan McCarthy, story editor

  Other Young Ponies

  DIAMOND TIARA and SILVER SPOON

  believe that money and expensive baubles

  can buy happiness. Together, the pretentious

  pair enjoy teasing young ponies who haven’t

  gotten their cutie marks.

  Featured in “Call of the Cutie,” “The Show Stoppers,”

  “The Cutie Pox,” “Family Appreciation Day,” “Ponyville Confidential,” “One Bad Apple.”

  TWIST was picked on because of her blank flank until

  she discovered that her true talent was making sweet

  treats when two peppermint candy canes appeared on her

  hindquarters—her cutie mark!

  Featured in “Call of the Cutie,” “The Cutie Pox,” “Hearts and Hooves Day.”

  SNIPS and SNAILS are two young Unicorns who are

  the best of friends. Snips is known for his enthusiasm,

  while Snails is known to be slightly more relaxed.

  Featured in “Boast Busters,” “The Show Stoppers,” “Ponyville

  Confidential,” The Mysterious Mare Do Well,” “Magic Duel.”

  PIP SQUEAK, or “Pip” to his friends, is an Earth Pony

 

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