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Sunset Shimmer, or more simply known as Sunset is one of the main characters of My Little Pony Equestria Girls film series.
She is a female unicorn-turned-human student of Canterlot High School who was a former student of Princess Celestia, and the co-lost fire princess of the Fire Kingdom in the Adventure Time universe.
She is voiced by Rebecca Shoichet, who also voiced Queen Lorelei in Barbie: The Pearl Princess. In the Japanese dub from the movie, she is voiced by Ami Koshimizu.
Roles[]
In Movies[]
She is the one-time main antagonist of My Little Pony: Equestria Girls, later neutral character-turned-deuteragonist of My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks, the main protagonist of My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Friendship Games, the deuteragonist in My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree, and one of the main protagonists of the rest of the series.
In Shows[]
She also serves as one of the six tritagonists of Rollercoaster of Friendship, one of the two deuteragonists (alongside Twilight) of Spring Breakdown, one of the two main protagonists (alongside Pinkie Pie) of Sunset's Backstage Pass, and one of the seven main protagonists of Holidays Unwrapped and a cameo character in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series finale.
Oficcial Descriptions[]
- "Twilight Sparkle thinks she can win Fall Formal Princess over me? HA! I'm going to rule this school once I get that crown!"
- — Thought, Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle doll packaging
- "When you're having a bad day talking to your BFFs will make it ok. When having a good day talking to your BFFs will make it great!"
- — Text message, Hasbro.com
Appearance[]
Sunset Shimmer in her pony form has a light amber coat, a mane and tail with matching colors of red and yellow, and a cutie mark of that depicts a red and yellow shimmering sun.
Sunset Shimmer in her human form has a light amber skin, her hair having the same colors as her mane and tail but as wavey as it is.
In the first two movies, Sunset wore a black leather jacket, dark pink shirt with her cutie mark, orange skirt with pink and light yellow lines and black and pink boots.
Starting with My Past is Not Today, Sunset wears a black leather jacket with two orange stripes on the sleeves, a teal dress, blue jeans and black heeled boots that match her jacket.
In Equestria Girls: Better Together, Sunset wore a updated version of her first outfit. Her outfit consists of a black leather vest with yellow spikes, a orange shirt with the same cutie mark, a pink skirt and new black boots.
In Summertime Shorts and Forgotten Friendship when swimming, she wears a black bikini reminiscent of her vest with her cutie mark, a red and yellow gradient sarong, and black and gold sandals.
Personality[]
| “ | Sunset Shimmer, a former student of mine. She began her studies with me not long before Twilight. But when she did not get what she wanted as quickly as she liked, she turned cruel and dishonest. I tried to help her. But she eventually decided to abandon her studies and pursue her own path. One that has sadly led her to stealing your crown. | „ |
| ~ Princess Celestia telling The Mane Six about Sunset's dark past. |
During the first film, Sunset Shimmer is shown to be self-absorbed, condescending, manipulative, and dishonest. She frequently insults and belittles others and thinks little of it. According to human Fluttershy, Sunset makes life miserable for "anyone who stands in her way." As a result, most of the Canterlot High School student body is afraid of her. She is also not above making threats and blackmail in order to realize her goals.
When Sunset puts on the element of magic, she transforms into a demonic visage of herself. While in this form, she becomes more ruthless, going so far as attempting to dispose of Twilight. After she is defeated, Sunset Shimmer, beaten and extremely pissed, lashes out at Twilight Sparkle before attacking her, blaming her for making her this way. but Twilight says, in the end, that it was Sunset that put on that crown in the first place, so she is the only one to blame for the consequences of her own choices, ending with "NOW LIVE WITH IT!!!!!" before finally knocking her down.
In the My Little Pony: Equestria Girls Holiday Special comic, Sunset Shimmer displays a forgiving and compassionate side when she forgives the Cutie Mark Crusaders for framing her as the rumormonger "Anon-a-Miss".
In Sunset Shimmer's Time to Shine, Sunset displays a considerable level of intelligence, being ahead of her friends and classmates in school and smart enough to develop various computer applications. Her affinity for science and research is also seen in The Science of Magic, where she explains she prefers a hands-on approach to studying magic over "studying ancient books".
In The Art of Friendship, Sunset has a fondness for sunflowers that she expresses through her painting in art class. Her artistic side is further shown in Display of Affection and Super Squad Goals.
A Fine Line shows that she likes to play video games, and she is excited to get the new game Tirek's Revenge.
Sunset is shown to be serious, selfless, and has a no-nonsense attitude, but she is also shown to have some anger issues at times, especially when she is stressed out; she is also very competitive and hates losing.
Powers and Abilities[]
Throughout most of the film, Sunset is in human form and devoid of magic, relying on trickery and bullying to get her way.
Her abilities as a unicorn are never demonstrated, but since she was Princess Celestia's personal student, it can be assumed they would be approximately on the same level as Twilight Sparkle's (before the latter became a Princess). Because of her Cutie Mark and her color scheme, it can be theorized she has an affinity to fire magic.
When Sunset Shimmer used the Element of Magic, she turns into a powerful, winged demonic entity with a fiery look. In this form, she has immense magical powers, despite being in a non-magical world. She is extremely proficient with both Dark and Fire spells. She is able to effortlessly destroy walls through the movement of objects, turn her associates into demons, brainwash large groups of people at once, and conjure powerful fireballs. Her only weakness in this form is that the Element is not "loyal" to her since she does not grasp the magic of Friendship. When she tried to destroy Twilight and her best friends rush to her rescue, the magic of the Element refuses to harm them, instead imbuing the friends with power, despite Sunset Shimmer still wearing the crown.
Natural Skills[]
Leadership: Having most experience in magic, everyone puts their trust in Sunset to know what to do when Princess Twilight isn't available. Despite self-doubt and feelings of guilt, she has managed to resolve multiple conflicts using her natural charisma. She knows how to offer moral support and rein in others if they step out of line, reminding them of what's important. despite this, she is able to respect others' decisions when they want to let things be for now.
Genius-level Intelligence: Sunset possessed a brilliant mind that rivaled that of even Twilight. She has been shown to be excellent at topics like math and chemistry, commenting that it is similar to spell-work. She's a good enough academic to face Twilight Sparkle in a math-off. Though Twilight manages to beat her, it is just barely.
Strength: Sunset was shown to wield notable physical strength. Able to carry a sledgehammer, and compete in many athletic activities.
In other Media[]
She appears in comics and a lot of media.
IDW Comics[]
An eight-page featurette included with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #9 and My Little Pony Annual 2013, titled The Fall of Sunset Shimmer, details Sunset Shimmer's last days as Princess Celestia's student.
Like Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer is a magical prodigy. However, unlike Twilight, she's quite boastful and condescending toward others, despite Celestia's lessons about humility. Celestia shows Sunset the Crystal Mirror; in it, Sunset sees herself as a powerful Alicorn—one who could rule Equestria. Sunset briefly sees something else in the mirror, but Celestia guides her away from it before she gets too curious. During the weeks that follow, the mirror is all Sunset can think about, and Celestia repeatedly tells her that she'll learn about the mirror and other lessons "when [she's] ready".
Not convinced, an undeterred Sunset Shimmer begins researching the mirror in a dark magic library behind Celestia's back but is soon caught by the princess and her royal guards. Sunset berates her teacher for hiding such magic from her and demands to be made a princess. Celestia refuses, saying that being a princess must be earned, and removes Sunset from her position as her student and banishes her from Canterlot Castle. She has the royal guards escort Sunset out of the castle, but Sunset overpowers the guards and escapes through the mirror.
As Celestia has the mirror moved to her throne room, Sunset Shimmer emerges in the human world as a teenage girl.
In the Equestria Girls comic of IDW's Annual 2013, Sunset Shimmer interviews Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack for a story for the school paper, but her expression at the end of the comic suggests a far more sinister motive.
On page 12 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #12, the binding of one of Princess Celestia's books reads "Progress on Sunset Shimmer". Twilight Sparkle mentions Sunset on page 19 of Friendship is Magic Issue #17, and Celestia mentions Sunset on page 3 of Friendship is Magic Issue #18.
In the My Little Pony: Equestria Girls Holiday Special comic, Sunset Shimmer has no one close to be with during the holidays. Her friends cheer her up with a series of slumber parties. In the wake of this, an online persona named "Anon-a-Miss" starts making disparaging posts and comments about Canterlot High students in social media, and Sunset is the prime suspect. Through Twilight Sparkle's advice, Sunset convinces her friends that she isn't "Anon-a-Miss". Later, when "Anon-a-Miss" is revealed to be the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Sunset forgives them for their misguided actions.
Sunset Shimmer appears as a pony on the original version of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #44 Fried Pie Comics cover portraying the "Dorothy" role in a Wizard of Oz parody. She was replaced by Starlight Glimmer in the final version. In Issue #50, Sunset appears as a pony in a photograph on page 15. She also appears as a filly on Issue #68 page 17. On Issue #71 page 2, she appears celebrating Nightmare Night in Ponyville with Starlight Glimmer and Trixie.
On My Little Pony: Nightmare Knights Issue #1 pages 12-13, Sunset Shimmer appears in Princess Eris' casino.
In My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #79, Sunset Shimmer makes a surprise appearance at the anniversary party celebrating the founding of Ponyville.
Chapter Books[]
Sunset Shimmer is featured as the main antagonist in the My Little Pony Equestria Girls film screenplay novelization My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Through the Mirror. In chapter 18, "Back to Equestria", "Twilight had noticed Sunset going around the gym, apologizing to several students. Luckily, most of them had no idea what she was talking about because they'd been in a trance during her little fiery tantrum. But it still showed that she wanted to change."
Sunset Shimmer is featured as a protagonist in the My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks film screenplay novelization My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks: The Mane Event. In chapter 20, "Battle of the Bands", her half-pony transformation includes wings.
Sunset Shimmer is featured as the main protagonist in My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Sunset Shimmer's Time to Shine. Wanting to find her place in a world without magic, she decides to become a "magic investigator" and study her friends' pony transformations in great scientific detail. She also helps her friends organize a school fundraiser to raise money for new Wondercolt uniforms.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Princess Celestia/Principal Celestia
- Princess Luna/Vice-Principal Luna
- Princess Candece/Decane Candece
- Flash Sentry
- Micro Chips
- Sandalwood
- Snips and Snails
- Shadowbolts:
- Sour Sweet
- Sunny Flare
- Lemon Zest
- Sugarcoat
- Indigo Zap
- Gloriosa Daisy
- Timber Spruce
- Wallflower Blush
- Vignette Valencia
- Kiwi Lollipop
- Supernova Zap
- Starlight Glimmer
Enemies[]
- Princess Twilight Sparkle
- Rarity
- Rainbow Dash
- Fluttershy
- Applejack
- Pinkie Pie
- Spike
- The Dazzlings
- Adagio Dazzle
- Aria Blaze
- Sonata Dusk
- Abacus Cinch
- Midnight Sparkle
Quotes[]
From Equestria Girls[]
| “ | You must be new here. I can speak to anyone any way I want. | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer to Twilight |
| “ | Obviously it's going to be MY coronation. I'm running unopposed. | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer to Pinkie Pie and Applejack, believing that she will win the coronation. |
| “ | Can't believe I didn't recognize you earlier. Should've known Princess Celestia would send her prized pupil after my crown, and her little dog too! | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer approaching Twilight. |
| “ | I want you to follow her. Bring me something I can use just like I did with the last girl who thought she could challenge me. | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer ordering Snips and Snails. |
| “ | Take those off! I have something I want you to do. | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer, after noticing Twilight Sparkle's song. |
| “ | Isn't this just awful? And after Pinkie Pie worked so hard to make things so perfect! Why would Twilight Sparkle do something like this? | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer framing Twilight. |
| “ | You're lucky she was able to pull this off. Next time I ask you to make a mess of things, try to show a little restraint! I need this Formal to go on tonight as much as she does. | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer, after witnessing Twilight cleaning up her mess. |
| “ | You don't belong here. Give me the crown and you can go back to Equestria tonight. Or keep it and never go home. Tick-tock, Twilight. The portal will be closing in less than an hour. So, what's your answer? | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer, threatening Twilight about destroying the portal. |
| “ | What?! Equestria! Your friends! Lost to you forever! Can't you see what I'm about to do to the portal?! | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer, after Twilight refused. |
| “ | I'll take that! At last, more power than I could ever imagine! | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer, before putting on the crown. |
| “ | I've had to jump through so many hoops tonight, just to get my hands on this crown, and it really should've been mine all along. But let's let bygones be bygones. I am your princess now, and you will be loyal to ME! | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer, after being turned into a demon. |
| “ | Spoiler alert: I was bluffing when I said I was going to destroy the portal. I don't want to rule this pathetic little high school. I want Equestria! And with my own little teenage army behind me, I'm going to get it! | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer, revealing her plans to Twilight. |
| “ | Gee, the gang really is all back together again! Now step aside! Twilight has tried to interfere with my plans, one to many times already! She needs to be dealt with! | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer to Twilight and her friends. |
| “ | So, what? You're on the side of good now?! You made me this way, and you get to be the princess of the Fall Formal and I don't?! | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer to Twilight Sparkle, after being defeated and reverting back to normal. |
| “ | I don't care! I WON'T let you win! I'D RATHER DRIVE EVERYONE APART AND SHATTER THEIR WORLDS FRIENDSHIPS, THAN ACCEPTING HELP FROM YOU!!!! | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer, irredeemably swearing her revenge against Twilight Sparkle in their last fight. |
| “ | Why not? Adora gets to be She-Ra, and everyone else gets to be the princess and I don't even have one! You know, I had everything after I became very popular and started to rule the school with an iron fist, but then Princess Celestia's prized student had to butt in and ruin everything! It's not fair! I. WANT. ONE! I want to be a princess! I want my own army! I want my own crown! I want my own kingdom! I deserve it! I'm just as important as YOU!'' | „ |
| ~ Sunset Shimmer to Queen Angella. |
Trivia[]
- Her personality bears a number of similarities to Tony Stark from Iron Man: Armored Adventures. She is smart, creative, laughs in the face of danger, and can be reasonably brash and arrogant at times, and has also been shown to have a bit of a temper, especially in the face of an imminent threat.
- On that note and quite ironically, she bares the same red and gold color scheme as Iron Man.
- It is unknown how she knew about Twilight's crown since she went to the human world when she left Celestia's studies, though it's possible she knew about it from her time as Celestia's student, or she learned about it when she returned to Equestria.
- It is unknown if she is orphaned or has parents, though in the comics she revealed that she was never close to them.
- It is unknown if she still has feelings for Flash Sentry or not, though there have been several signs that their relationship is rekindling.
- According to Twitter communication, Katrina Hadley refers to Sunset's glowing eyes whenever she uses her magic geode powers as an "empathy flash."
- Sunset is the first major female antagonist in the series who is not a monarch, the second being the Dazzlings, Starlight Glimmer, Principal Abacus Cinch, and Midnight Sparkle. Notable, none of the Equestria Girls antagonists are monarchs as of now.
- Rebecca Shoichet, who does Sunset Shimmer's voice, also does the singing voice of Twilight Sparkle.
- She's definitely the opposite of Twilight and her friends in human world.
- Twilight Sparkle, for while Twilight was kind, humble and never expected to become an alicorn princess, Sunset was cruel, ambitious and desired to become a princess more than anything. Twilight represents the bond of the Humane Six, while Sunset represents the breaking of the Humane Six's bond.
- Some fans have speculated she is what Twilight may have become had she not discovered friendship and its meaning.
- Rainbow Dash, for while she is very loyal towards her friends, Sunset is willingly to betray others to get her way.
- Applejack, for while she is mostly honest and honorable, Sunset is a skilled cheater and manipulator.
- Pinkie Pie, for while she is optimistic and fun-loving, Sunset is very cold-hearted and ruthless.
- Fluttershy, for while she is a kind-hearted innocent, Sunset is a sadistic bully at her core.
- Rarity, for while she is very generous to others, Sunset is very selfish and always cares about herself.
- Twilight Sparkle, for while Twilight was kind, humble and never expected to become an alicorn princess, Sunset was cruel, ambitious and desired to become a princess more than anything. Twilight represents the bond of the Humane Six, while Sunset represents the breaking of the Humane Six's bond.
- Sunset Shimmer is the first main villain of a part of the series written by Meghan McCarthy who unambiguously survives.
- Sunset Shimmer along with the Dazzlings, Principal Cinch, and Gaia Everfree are the only major antagonists to not appear in the two-part Season 5 final "The Cutie Remark," which only included villains who were a threat to Equestria.
- When Sunset turns into a demon, she has an actual tail, as opposed to the other transformations which simply have hair extensions that look like the ponies' tails. The only other transformation to come with a tail is Midnight Sparkle. Of note, both are the only evil transformations in the series (not counting the Dazzlings, whose personalities stayed the same when they transformed). When Sunset turns into both her Anthro form and Daydream Shimmer, she has a hair extension.
- Her singing vocal style is similar to Taylor Swift.
- Some fans have complained about Sunset Shimmer's reformation being rushed at the first movie, this is possibly due to her regretting everything she's done without even showing any feelings or any proper emotions.
- At this point, some fans will arguably wish that Sunset Shimmer stayed evil for good and gets no redeeming qualities whatsoever, thus making her as an popular psychopathic villain in the Equestria Girls series, and possibly the biggest one of all time.
- Her personality was somewhat similar to "popular high school girl" and "queen-bee" stereotype.
- She is the first antagonist who never intended to be evil, as she stated that she is not a monster.
- In Equestria Girls, her demonic-looking winged humanoid form plays homage to Black Lady from Sailor Moon, Catra from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Dark Bloom from Winx Club.
External links[]
- Sunset Shimmer on the Antagonists Wiki
- Sunset Shimmer on the Guile Heroes Wiki
- Sunset Shimmer on the Inconsistently Heinous Wiki
- Sunset Shimmer on the Near Pure Good Wiki
- Sunset Shimmer on the Magnificent Baddie Wiki
- Sunset Shimmer on the Villains Wiki
- Sunset Shimmer on the Heroes Wiki
- Sunset Shimmer on the My Little Pony Wiki
- Sunset Shimmer on the Equestria Girls Wiki
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 Heroes
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