My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Wiki
For this character's human counterpart, see Rarity (EG).
Rarity
Kind Unicorn
Sex Female
Residence Carousel Boutique, Ponyville
Occupation Fashion designer
Shopkeeper
Seamstress
Pony Tones soprano singer
School of Friendship generosity teacher (S8E1 onward)
Council of Friendship member (S9E26)
H.O.O.F. Summer Mentor Program mentor to Charity Sweetmint (Rarity and the Curious Case of Charity)
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Rarity is a female unicorn pony and one of the main characters of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. She is Sweetie Belle's older sister and the subject of Spike's long-term crush. Rarity works as both a fashion designer and a seamstress at her own shop in Ponyville, the Carousel Boutique. She has a white Persian cat named Opalescence. She represents the element of generosity.

Development and design

Development concept of Rarity back in 2008 by Lauren Faust.

Lauren Faust's childhood Glory and Sparkler toys.

Lauren Faust was inspired to create Rarity by her childhood toy G1 ponies Glory and Sparkler.[2] Rarity uses Glory's color scheme, Sparkler's cutie mark and appearance, and some mannerisms of G3 Rainbow Dash, like the Trans-Atlantic English accent and a tendency to flip her mane and say "darling". She shares her name with a G3 pony who was voiced by Cathy Weseluck, who currently voices Spike in the new series. Concurrently with G4, a G1 version of G3 Rarity has been introduced in IDW Publishing's Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Issue #13. Rarity's tail is inspired by the hairstyle of the character Margaret Wade from the comic strip Dennis the Menace.[3]

Spike's crush on Rarity was not planned out from the beginning. When Lauren Faust was writing Rarity's introduction scene in the pilot, she wanted the audience to understand that she's very beautiful even though she is visually very similar to the other ponies, except the style of her mane and her eyes and eyelashes. To let the audience understand that she is beautiful, Faust made Spike become smitten with her, which developed into his crush on Rarity.[4]

Rarity's eye design is less frequently used than most other designs: Lotus Blossom and Aloe share the same eye design as Rarity, including color, shape and design of upper and lower eyelashes. During running sequences, Lemon Hearts has the same eye shape as Rarity as well. In The Best Night Ever, Rarity puts fake eyelashes on before going to the Grand Galloping Gala. She is seen wearing fake eyelashes again in MMMystery on the Friendship Express while being interrogated by Twilight Sparkle.

Rarity's dressmaking shop, the Carousel Boutique, is designed after a toy of the My Little Pony line sold by Hasbro. In Lauren Faust's "pitch bible" for the show, the boutique was named the Carousel Couture, and it specialized in carousel-inspired designs. Rarity was originally the "Element of Inspiration",[5] but this was considered "too tough for kids to wrap their heads around."[6] Faust stated that Audrey Hepburn was her biggest influence on Rarity.[7]

Depiction in the series

History

Filly Rarity trying to make another set of costumes for the play.

In Sweet and Elite, Rarity states she was born in Ponyville. During The Cutie Mark Chronicles, Rarity retells her story of her life as a filly to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The flashback starts on an outdoor theater near the Ponyville Schoolhouse, where some fillies are practicing for a school play, dressed as various foods. The teacher compliments Rarity on her costume design, but the perfectionist Rarity insists that the dresses don't meet her expectations and tries to create new ones to no avail. Almost immediately, a light ignites in her horn, and it drags Rarity leftward until she stumbles into a very large, geode-like boulder. Rarity, having thought her horn would help her find "[her] destiny", is deeply unsatisfied. Then, Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom occurs, causing the boulder to split in two, revealing it to be filled with gemstones. Rarity decides to add these to the existing costumes to jazz them up, earning both the admiration of the crowd and her cutie mark.

Rarity is responsible for the decor during the Summer Sun Celebration. When she sees what Rainbow Dash accidentally did to Twilight's hair, she is compelled to give the latter a makeover. She also develops a fascination with Twilight when she hears she is from Canterlot. Twilight flees the Carousel Boutique in fear of the thought of Rarity dying her coat a new color.

Rarity's daydream in The Ticket Master.

Rarity daydreams in The Ticket Master about meeting Princess Celestia's dashing "nephew" at the Grand Galloping Gala, with her fantasy culminating in marriage and induction into royalty. Upon attending the Gala in The Best Night Ever, she spots a stallion, depicted with the same character design as the one in her fantasy, who is identified as Prince Blueblood. Although handsome and initially charming, Blueblood turns out to be conceited, rude, and narrow-minded. He expects Rarity to care for him while doing nothing in return. Rarity tries to be patient with the prince's manner, but his selfish ways finally exhaust her patience when Blueblood uses her as a shield from an incoming cake. She then angrily declares him to be "a royal pain" and splatters frosting all over him.

Sweetie Belle

Rarity and Sweetie Belle having overcooked breakfast with their parents.

Sweetie Belle is introduced as Rarity's little sister in Stare Master. Her clumsiness, paired with an insistent willingness to help, tests Rarity's patience and she eventually asks Sweetie Belle to let her work in peace. Sweetie Belle "borrows" important supplies from Rarity in Stare Master and The Show Stoppers, using her most expensive fabrics to make amateurishly-stitched costumes for her friends. Even though Sweetie's eagerness to help often unintentionally causes messes, she and Rarity truly do love and care for each other. At the end of Sisterhooves Social, they agree to embrace and love each other's differences and send a letter to Celestia describing how being sisters is mainly about having fun, but that it also requires compromises and work to keep a strong relationship.

In Sleepless in Ponyville, Sweetie Belle invites Rarity to go on a camping trip with Apple Bloom, Applejack, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash. Rarity refuses at first, since she does not usually enjoy being around nature, but she reluctantly agrees to go after seeing some disappointed faces made by Sweetie. Though Rarity is not necessarily mean towards Sweetie Belle, she makes her carry all of her luggage on the trip and wait on her after they set up camp. Later, Rarity shows compassion towards Sweetie Belle, such as letting Scootaloo carry her luggage in order to give Sweetie Belle a rest, comforting her when she's frightened by Rainbow Dash's ghost stories, and happily racing with her at the end of the episode.

Parents

Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles.

In Sisterhooves Social, Rarity and Sweetie Belle's parents make a brief appearance. The two have a mid-American accent and are carefree, with personalities that are vastly different from Rarity's. Her father is a white unicorn (shown for the first time on My Little Pony: The Elements of Harmony page 145, shown for the second time on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #9 page 16, and shown for the third time in Inspiration Manifestation) with a brown mane and mustache and very thick eyebrows compared to other stallions. Her mother is a pink unicorn with a body and mane design similar to that of Mrs. Cake, although her mane color is a slightly lighter shade of Rarity's royal purple mane.

Opalescence

Opal

Rarity has a cat named Opalescence, who is supportive in Suited For Success. In Stare Master, however, Rarity seems to have trouble with the cat and asks for Fluttershy's assistance. In The Best Night Ever, Opalescence scares away the mice that Twilight Sparkle had turned into horses to pull their carriage to the Gala. Opal makes her first season two appearance when Rarity dresses her with her shrunken wool sweater in Sisterhooves Social. Her next appearance is in May the Best Pet Win!, where she is shown as one of the trials for Rainbow Dash's potential pets. She appears again in Sweet and Elite, accompanying Rarity on her trip to Canterlot where she tries to remind Rarity to work on Twilight Sparkle's new birthday dress when Rarity becomes too caught up in social obligations. When her friends come to her suite at the castle, Rarity quickly douses Opal in water to support her made-up excuse she gave as to why she couldn't make it to Ponyville for Twilight's birthday, much to Opal's dismay.

Spike

Spike and Rarity hugging in A Dog and Pony Show.

Spike develops a crush on Rarity the moment he sees her in Friendship is Magic, part 1, calling her "beautiful". He admits to having a crush on Rarity in Green Isn't Your Color and is seen wearing a shirt that has a picture of Rarity superimposed on a heart. In Owl's Well That Ends Well, Rarity calls Spike "simply amazing" and gives him a bow tie laden with jewels.

Spike and Rarity's relationship becomes stronger in later episodes. In Secret of My Excess, Spike generously gives Rarity a fire ruby that she covets. In gratitude, she kisses him on the cheek and calls him "Spikey-wikey." During Spike's birthday party, they affectionately rub their cheeks together. Later in the episode, when Spike returns to normal after growing into a monstrous dragon and he and Rarity plummet to the ground, Spike very nearly confesses his feelings for her, but Rarity stops him mid-sentence and gives a teary smile at him, and Spike smiles back. After they are rescued by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, Rarity calls Spike her hero and kisses him on the cheek again.

Oh, my little Spikey-Wikey!

Rarity shows a more caring and sensitive side towards Spike in Dragon Quest and still calls him "Spikey-wikey." She stands up for him when Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash pick on him and when Spike decides to join the dragon migration, Rarity tries to change his mind, telling him that she doesn't want him to get hurt by the other dragons. Later, she even threatens to hurt the older dragons if they harm Spike.

In Spike at Your Service, Rarity pretends to eat Spike's disastrously burned pie to make him happy. In Simple Ways, Spike helps Rarity in her attempts to win the heart of Trenderhoof, despite his own feelings for her.

In Inspiration Manifestation, Spike assists Rarity as she designs a puppet theater for the Foal and Filly Fair. She thanks Spike for his help, defining him as one of her dearest and most supportive friends and calling him her "favorite dragon". When Rarity's theater is met with harsh reception and she falls into a depression, Spike helps by finding a spell from a hidden spell book to bring Rarity's ideas to life. However, Rarity is corrupted by the spell, and Spike worries that telling her to stop will cost him her friendship. Spike soon tells Rarity the truth about her actions, breaking the spell, and Rarity tells Spike he should never be afraid of telling her the truth, and the two share a friendly hug.

In some situations, Spike is even submissive in his devotion to Rarity. In Green Isn't Your Color, he gladly offers his body as a pincushion for Rarity to use while she designs a dress. In Party of One, he takes out Rarity's garbage and addresses her as "most beautiful one". He looks at her lovingly even after she says he smells "like a rotten apple core that's been wrapped in moldy hay and dipped in dragon perspiration." In Rarity Takes Manehattan, Spike carries Rarity's bags to the train station and through the streets of Manehattan. During the song Generosity, she buys him a carrot dog as a sign of gratitude.

In Castle Sweet Castle, Spike is seen waking up holding a beanie version of Rarity. In Scare Master, Rarity, out of fear of Flutterbat possibly about to attack, caresses Spike.

In The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 2, in an alternate timeline where Equestria is ruled by Nightmare Moon, Spike attempts to talk to Rarity, who is working as Nightmare Moon's royal decorator, but since she does not recognize him, she snubs him.

In Gauntlet of Fire, Spike accompanies Rarity to a bat-filled gem cave to serve as her bodyguard. In Honest Apple, he helps her put up flyers around Ponyville, claiming that he "just happened to be walking past" Carousel Boutique. In Father Knows Beast, Spike's beanie version of Rarity can be seen again in his bedroom.

In Dragon Dropped, Rarity gets jealous when Spike starts spending all of his time with Gabby and lures him into spending time with her by offering trips and games. When she realizes what this does to Spike and Gabby's friendship, Rarity helps them make amends and learns to share Spike with others.

Personality

Love of beauty

Rarity imagining silk PJs on a Sunday morning.

When Rarity meets Twilight Sparkle for the first time, she is busy decorating Ponyville's pavilion for the Summer Sun Celebration. As soon as Rarity turns to look at Twilight, she expresses concern for Twilight's messy mane and practically forces on her the first of many makeovers while the besotted Spike looks on.

Rarity cares for her own beauty as well. She tries to show up Trixie in Boast Busters by making herself a dress from Trixie's curtain, but Trixie retaliates by ruining Rarity's mane, making her burst into tears and run away. Rarity is also particular about her cleanliness: she panics while trying to avoid getting muddy in Look Before You Sleep and tries to keep herself from getting soaked in the rain to avoid it messing up her mane. This causes some conflict with her friend Applejack, who is, by contrast, not at all bothered about getting muddy or wet. Her fashion consciousness extends even to times of peril: in Dragonshy, she wears a scarf on the way to the dragon's lair, wondering if she should carry a tiara to match. She indulges in a full spa treatment with Fluttershy in Green Isn't Your Color as part of their "weekly get-together", and she puts on eyelash extensions as part of her gala preparations in The Best Night Ever. In MMMystery on the Friendship Express, she wears false eyelashes, and in the latter part of the episode, she wears her hair in such a way to prevent this becoming known to her friends, having lost one of them while trying to make her escape from Pinkie Pie.

In Campfire Tales, Rarity also accentuates the value of inner beauty, as showcased in her story about Mistmane, who gave up her own beauty to save her friend and dedicated her life to spreading beauty across Equestria. When her mane gets ruined in It Isn't the Mane Thing About You, Rarity falls into a state of depression, but when her friends remind her of all she has accomplished, she brings her own inner beauty to the surface with a brand new look that becomes popular and inspires a new fashion trend.

Center of attention

Enjoying the admiring looks for her extraordinary wings.

Rarity expresses admiration of Fluttershy's grace and poise during Green Isn't Your Color and implores Fluttershy to model her clothing despite the fact that Fluttershy doesn't enjoy putting herself in front of others and only asks her because Photo Finish is scheduled to come photograph her work. When Rarity loses the spotlight to Fluttershy, she attempts to overcome her envy and remain very supportive of Fluttershy. However, the same could be said of Rainbow Dash and Rarity in Sonic Rainboom. After Rainbow Dash expresses disappointment that the others would not be able to go to Cloudsdale to cheer her on in the Best Young Flyer competition, Rarity insists that they all find a way to go there and support her, and has Twilight test a spell on her that would allow her to fly in Cloudsdale. Rarity gains a lovely pair of butterfly-like wings thanks to this spell, but she steals the spotlight, showing them off to everyone and even entering the competition herself, sending Rainbow Dash into a nervous breakdown. Rarity eventually falls from the sky after burning her wings from flying too close to the sun, much like Icarus of Greek legend. Rainbow Dash spots Rarity as she falls and flies to save her, performing a sonic rainboom in the process. Rarity later apologizes to Rainbow Dash for her behavior and calls her the greatest flier in Equestria.

Mannerisms

Rarity after Twilight's sleepover is ruined by a broken tree and a messy bookcase.

Rarity's mannerisms are similar to those of Scarlett O'Hara, the histrionic anti-heroine of Gone With the Wind. Many of Rarity's lines are rephrased from lines Scarlett says in the 1939 movie. Her vocabulary is formal, and she is prone to use complex words and more sophisticated, refined phrasing than her friends. As a fashionista, she often uses French-based terms in her vernacular. She speaks with a cultivated trans-Atlantic dialect, and shares some mannerisms with similarly accented Hollywood actresses, such as Katharine Hepburn.​[​dubious – discuss‍​]​

Rarity sometimes gets carried away with her attention to detail. In Look Before You Sleep, she has difficulty tearing herself away from fixing a messy bookcase despite the much bigger problem of a tree that crashed into Twilight's bedroom. In Winter Wrap Up, she becomes so preoccupied with fixing Twilight's messy bird's nest that she spends nearly the entire day on it, when she was supposed to be producing nests in large numbers.

Rarity shows herself to be tough and resourceful in dealing with the Diamond Dogs in A Dog and Pony Show. Even though the others are worried she would panic over how dirty the underground was, Rarity takes control of the situation quite well, manipulating the Diamond Dogs into releasing her and even letting her have several carts full of gems. Rarity's prim ways and aversion to disorder and dirt clashes with Applejack's brashness in Look Before You Sleep. They bicker throughout the episode about each other's attitude, but they finally unite in the face of adversity when a tree crashes into Twilight's library. They work together and eventually come to enjoy the company of one another, which becomes more apparent in later episodes. In Over a Barrel, Rarity is baffled at the level of care Applejack bestows on Bloomberg, an apple tree being taken to Appleloosa for planting. Rarity complains that the tree received a private coach; however, Applejack takes this in stride and takes no offense at Rarity's complaints. Rarity later provides Applejack with much-appreciated support in their attempts to protect Appleloosa from a buffalo stampede. Rarity even comes to compliment Applejack's manners when she doesn't charge Rarity for food from her stand at the Grand Galloping Gala in The Best Night Ever.

Whenever Rarity finds herself in a stressful situation, she has a tendency to eat large amounts of ice cream, as seen in Inspiration Manifestation, P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View), or It Isn't the Mane Thing About You.

Generosity

"Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of GENEROSITY!"
— Twilight Sparkle

Rarity cuts off her tail to help the sea serpent in Friendship is Magic, part 2.

While Rarity cares about her appearance quite a bit, being averse to stepping in mud or risking getting herself messy, she is not above getting her hooves dirty when it comes to helping her friends or creatures in need. She slices off her own tail to calm down the sea serpent in Friendship is Magic, part 2, willing to sacrifice her beauty to help restore the distressed serpent's "fabulosity". This action earns her the element of generosity, and later, when she activates the element, her tail is restored.

The episode Suited For Success heavily revolves around Rarity's generosity, as she is willing to not only make five unique dresses for her friends for the Grand Galloping Gala but additionally re-work and redesign them as her friends desire. The overworking runs Rarity ragged and, despite her friends' designs being horrible fashion-wise, she continues making them in order to satisfy her friends. At the end of the episode, Rarity's friends realize that her original dresses were beautiful and perfectly matched for each of them, and that they should not have taken advantage of Rarity's generosity.

Rarity with an illusory diamond she names Tom.

Rarity is hypnotized by Discord into believing a large boulder is actually a giant diamond in The Return of Harmony Part 1. For a short moment she resists the temptation, but soon she becomes brainwashed, obsessively protecting her "diamond" and refusing to let anybody near it, as she becomes possessive and greedy. This continues in The Return of Harmony Part 2, where she refuses to part with the boulder and names it "Tom", while additionally hoarding other items she sees as valuable, such as the jewelry of the Elements of Harmony themselves. After the brainwashing is cured, she throws the boulder away and tells her friends to "never speak of this again" in a hushed but assertive whisper.

In Sisterhooves Social, Applejack mentions to Rarity that sisterhood is a give-and-take relationship that requires compromise. To this end, Rarity takes part in the Sisterhooves Social with Sweetie Belle while disguised as Applejack.

Rarity's generosity is a major plot point of Rarity Takes Manehattan. The unscrupulous fashion designer Suri Polomare uses it against her by asking for some of the unique material Rarity made to "accentuate" her own dresses. Instead, Suri uses the material to copy Rarity's designs. Rarity beats Suri in the end, and pledges not to let the experience sour her on being generous in the future.

In My Little Pony The Movie, Rarity extends her generosity to Capper when she fixes up and adds gold buttons to his coat, causing him to reconsider his con artist lifestyle and help her and her friends by throwing Tempest Shadow off their trail.

Career

"Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique."
— Rarity's shop slogan in A Dog and Pony Show

Rarity sewing clothes.

Rarity works as a fashion designer at Carousel Boutique. Rarity's work is so important to her that during the parasprite crisis in Ponyville in Swarm of the Century, she yells in panic and rushes to her boutique once she realizes the parasprites might get there and eat her work.

Rarity's work ethic and dedication to her customers is depicted in Suited For Success. She initially sews dresses of her own design for her friends, but when they're not satisfied with the result, she sews them brand new dresses under their direction.

Rarity stresses herself into making a new set of dresses the way her friends want them, going as far as following all their instructions instead of her own instincts. She is unhappy with the results, even though her friends are very satisfied. When these dresses are devastatingly criticized by "the bigwig fashion hotshot" Hoity Toity, she locks herself in her room, lamenting her ruined career; luckily for her, her friends are able to convince Hoity Toity to hold another fashion show, this time with the original dresses.

In the episode A Dog and Pony Show, the pony pop sensation Sapphire Shores visits Rarity's boutique. She claims that she makes "it a point to know all of the up-and-coming designers", and "Clothes Horse magazine simply raved about [Rarity]."

Spike with a Rarity T-shirt.

Rarity is quite willing to let Spike help her out with her work, and shows some concern for his welfare. They go gem-hunting together in A Dog and Pony Show, and she rewards him for his assistance with "the finest reward", a gem, which he holds very dear to him simply for being a gift from Rarity. At the end of the episode, once she has several carts full of gems, she lets Spike indulge on a great number of them. He willingly gives himself as a pin-cushion in Green Isn't Your Color and says he "can't feel a thing" thanks to his thick scales.

She designs the wedding dress for Princess Cadance and the bridesmaid dresses for herself and her friends in A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1 and A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2.

In Rarity Takes Manehattan, Rarity places first at a fashion show hosted by Prim Hemline as part of Manehattan's Fashion Week, despite the machinations of fellow designer Suri Polomare. She manages to wow the crowd with a fashion line made only from fabrics in the Mane Six's hotel room, created with her friends' help in less than a day.

In For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils, Rarity regularly designs for Sapphire Shores.

Canterlot Carousel

Twilight says in Canterlot Boutique that Rarity designing for Sapphire Shores' Equestria-wide tour led to the opening of Canterlot Carousel. At the end of the episode, Rarity lets her former fashion connoisseur Sassy Saddles manage Canterlot Carousel while she manages Carousel Boutique on the grounds that Sassy Saddles has learned Rarity's entrepreneur ways. Rarity states that her guidelines are only to be applied in Canterlot Carousel.

In The Gift of the Maud Pie, Rarity expresses her desire to open up a new boutique in Manehattan, which she will call "Rarity For You." The opening of her Manehattan boutique is depicted in flashbacks during The Saddle Row Review, which turns out to be a huge success despite several obstacles and disasters.

Rarity wears a pair of reading glasses while sewing. In Molt Down, she says that she talks to herself while she sews, which apparently helps her think.

Skills

Magic

Rarity using magic.

As a unicorn, Rarity performs magic. While it may not be up to the standards of Twilight Sparkle, she uses it in connection with making things "fabulous", like gem-finding, dressmaking, and topiary art. She magically attaches her sheared tail hair to Steven Magnet's mustache in Friendship is Magic, part 2, and she also reattaches a large branch to a tree in Look Before You Sleep and magically trims its foliage into topiaries. She puts on an impressive light display for the fashion show she holds for Hoity Toity in Suited For Success. She uses sewing and cutting tools through telekinesis with the precision needed to make her dresses, manipulating multiple items at once. In Lesson Zero, she telekinetically pulls a couch from her home within a matter of seconds in order to dramatically swoon and collapse upon it. She also repairs the broken wheel of a taxi cab in Rarity Takes Manehattan.

Rarity also uses her magic to expose underground gems, which is a major plot point in the episode A Dog and Pony Show. Twilight copies this spell in the same episode; Spike says that Twilight "can copy Rarity's gem-finding spell," and Twilight says that "Rarity showed [her] how she did it a while back." Unlike Twilight, who had to learn it, Rarity's gem-finding ability developed on its own: her story in The Cutie Mark Chronicles shows this ability activating by itself without her knowingly casting a spell. This spell does not come up again until Gauntlet of Fire, in which Rarity and Spike are on a gem hunt in a bat cave.

In The Beginning of the End - Part 2, she uses her magic to blast away vines in the Everfree Forest with Twilight. In The Ending of the End - Part 2, she creates a hexagonal shield and combines her magic with Spike's fire breath to counter Queen Chrysalis' magic.

Close combat

Rarity's martial art skills.

Despite Rarity's delicate nature and formal personality, she shows a propensity for brute force. Like the other ponies, Rarity gets into physical conflicts throughout the series: she delivers a kick to the manticore's face in Friendship is Magic, part 2, knocks away Twilight with a whip of her flank in Sonic Rainboom, and delivers a flying kick with a martial arts stance to Applejack with a karate yell in The Return of Harmony Part 2. In Dragon Quest, she threatens the teenage dragons, viciously telling them that she will "rip [them] to pieces" if they try to hurt Spike. Additionally, she knocks Soarin, Spitfire, and Misty Fly unconscious in mid-air while falling in Sonic Rainboom, though the kicks were part of her violent thrashing as she fell through the air, and in Ponyville Confidential, she kicks open the door to her bedroom in order to confront Sweetie Belle. She defeats several changelings using various hoof-to-hoof combat moves in A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2.

Feminine charms

Rarity has a talent for charming male ponies to help her and her friends. In The Best Night Ever, she talks two stallions—Caramel and Lucky Clover—into pulling the carriage to take her and her friends to the Grand Galloping Gala, and in Putting Your Hoof Down, she sweet-talks another—Gizmo—into selling her his piece of asparagus, which Fluttershy needs for Angel's salad. In Castle Sweet Castle, Rarity convinces Spike to keep Twilight from coming back to the Castle of Friendship. In Rarity Investigates!, Sassy Saddles says that Rarity can sweet talk a filly out of candy after Rarity coaxes a delivery stallion—"Package Deal"—into making an extra delivery.

Music

In Filli Vanilli, Rarity is the soprano member of the Pony Tones. In Honest Apple, she demonstrates the ability to shred a mean guitar.

Depiction in Equestria Girls

Main article: Rarity (EG)

My Little Pony Equestria Girls

Rarity in Equestria Girls.

In My Little Pony Equestria Girls, Rarity accompanies Twilight to her first princess summit in the Crystal Empire, and she witnesses Sunset Shimmer steal Twilight's crown. In an alternate world, Rarity's human counterpart appears as a high school student.

Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

Rarity briefly appears in the sequel My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks at Twilight's castle, where she hears the legend of the sirens.

Equestria Girls: Forgotten Friendship

In Forgotten Friendship, Rarity appears on a stained glass window in Canterlot Castle.

Depiction in My Little Pony The Movie

In My Little Pony The Movie, Rarity is in charge of decorations for the Festival of Friendship in Canterlot. When the city is invaded by the Storm King's forces, led by Tempest Shadow, Rarity and her friends escape to seek out the "Queen of the Hippos"—later specified to be Queen Novo of the Hippogriffs—for help. During their journey, they are nearly sold into slavery by Capper, but Rarity's generosity makes him reform, and they are nearly thrown overboard Captain Celaeno's airship. In the underwater kingdom of Seaquestria, Rarity and her friends almost convince Novo to help them save their home from the Storm King, but Twilight's attempted theft of Novo's Pearl of Transformation gets them banished from Seaquestria.

Rarity and the rest of the Mane Six have a falling-out with Twilight over her actions, but they—along with other friends they made during their journey—return to Canterlot to rescue her when she gets captured by Tempest. After sneaking into the city and fighting past the Storm King's forces during which she and Capper defeat several Storm Guards by tying them up with fabric, the Mane Six reunite and make amends, and they eventually succeed in defeating the Storm King. In the end, the Friendship Festival resumes, and Rarity and her friends befriend Tempest.

Depiction in My Little Pony: Pony Life

Rarity appears as one of the main characters in Pony Life.

Depiction in comics

Nightmare Rarity on the cover of Issue #8.

In the second story arc of the IDW comics, the Nightmare Forces convince Rarity that others will eventually abandon her for someone better. Rarity is manipulated into becoming the Nightmare Forces' queen, causing her to transform into a new dark form.

In Issue #7, Nightmare Rarity speaks of Rarity as if they are two separate characters by saying Rarity was her specific choice as a vessel. She also speaks as if she is the original Nightmare Moon by saying that the ponies have defeated her before. In Issue #8, Rarity is restored by the rest of the Mane Six with the power of friendship and Spike's love for her, and the evil force possessing her is destroyed. Nightmare Rarity also appears on Issue #32 Larry's Comics cover RE, Issue #68 page 8, Issue #78 page 16, and Issue #100 cover RE, while an alternate universe version appears on My Little Pony: Nightmare Knights Issue #1 page 12.

An alternate universe version of Rarity appears in the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #20 Reflections mini-comic "Elsewhere in alternate Equestria..." In Issue #20, Rarity adopts the wrestling persona "Diamante Elegante" in a tag-team wrestling match with Cheerilee.

In Ponies of Dark Water, Rarity falls under the influence of a hot spring's dark magic and turns evil. She hides her perceived imperfections behind a cloak and mask, and she believes she is more fit to rule Ponyville than Twilight. An alternate universe version of this Rarity appears on Nightmare Knights Issue #1 page 12.

In My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #64, Rarity accompanies Fluttershy to Manehattan and discovers that old fashions are making a comeback. Initially worried that her new ideas can't compete, Rarity decides after a talk with Fluttershy to create a fashion line that combines elements of the old and the new.

In My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #82, Rarity is tasked by Princess Celestia to give Cerberus obedience training. In My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #89, Rarity chooses Big McIntosh, Maud Pie, and Mage Meadowbrook to join her on a friendship mission to the hidden kingdom of the Diamond Dogs. In My Little Pony Annual 2021, the group arrives in Caninia, having been invited to two separate castles. Upon learning of the feud between the royal sisters, Rarity and her group offers to help them. This leads to the discovery of another Tree of Harmony, with the reconciled sisters being the bearers of Caninia's Elements of Harmony. After the sisters use their newfound magic to save their kingdom, Rarity writes a letter to Twilight informing her of these events.

Other depictions

A promotional image posted both by Hasbro's My Little Pony Facebook page on March 1, 2015 and by the official European Spanish My Little Pony Facebook page on June 2, 2015 uses fanart of Rarity.[8][9][10]

A promotional image posted by the official European Spanish My Little Pony Facebook page on April 2, 2015 uses fanart of Rarity.[11][12]

Software

Several versions of Rarity are characters in Gameloft's mobile game, and Rarity also serves as an enemy minion, protagonist, boss, and boss battle helper during the Fake It 'Til You Make It, "Rarity's Retro Revolution", She's All Yak, and "Reflections of Harmony" events, respectively. Retro Rarity also serves as a boss during the Presentable in Periwinkle event, while Lunaverse Rarity and Future Rarity are boss battle helpers during the "Cutie Re-Mark: Lunaverse" and "The Crowning Achievement" events. Flawless Rarity is the protagonist of the "Ponies of the Dark Water" event, and serves as an enemy minion during the "Kid's Play" event. In "Kid's Play" Rarity also serves as a boss battle helper and boss, while Young Rarity is a boss battle helper. Diamante Elegante is a boss battle helper in the "E.W.H. Tournament" event.

My Little Pony mobile game descriptions

Rarity:
Representing the Element of Generosity, Rarity is Ponyville's resident fashion designer and seamstress.
Diamante Elegante:
Yeah, we don't know when Rarity had time to sew that custom wrestling mask, either.
Flawless Rarity:
Her generosity may have been twisted into vile vanity by cursed hot springs, but she's REALLY rocking that Mare in the Iron Mask look.
Future Rarity:
It isn't ours to speculate on Rarity's future, but creative fulfillment and a world full of new designs seem likely.
Lunaverse Rarity:
The version of Rarity that ended up as Nightmare Moon's chamberlain is...not particularly friendly. She still likes tapestries, though--so that's something!
Nightmare Rarity:
Pro tip: Try NOT to get possessed by nightmare creatures and transformed into a dark reflection of all your deepest insecurities. (Don't worry: Rarity got better eventually!)
Nosfurarity:
For Rarity, turning into a Vampire Pony was 30% about saving Ponyville, and 70% about wearing this awesome cape.
Pirate Rarity:
You needn't forsake high fashion entirely just because you HAPPEN to be a swashbuckling rogue, darling.
Retro Rarity:
In her snazzy purple ensemble, Retro Rarity is ready for a rad party!
Sombraverse Rarity:
Alt-universe Rarity's talents are wasted on sewing military uniforms. They don't even have those cool-looking epaulette things!
Young Rarity:
Just as generous--and genuinely tiny, too.

PlayDate Digital

Rarity is voiced by Kimlinh Tran in PlayDate Digital's app Power Ponies.[1]

Hasbro.com description

Rarity could possibly be the most beautiful pony you've ever seen. As she prances down the street, her coat gleaming pure white and her royal purple curls bouncing, everypony's head is turning--- and boy does she love it! A talented fashion-designer, her biggest dream is to one day design for Princess Celestia. At first glance she may seem like a typical débutante, vain and entitled, but it's simply not so! Generous to a fault, she's believes so badly that the world should be beautiful she's all too eager to simply give away the designs she's worked so hard on and to offer anypony a custom Rarity makeover. And should you make it through one; you'll learn that Rarity's greatest beauty is her heart.

Hasbro.com second description

The beautiful and artistic Rarity has an eye for fashion that keeps her very busy at her dress shop: The Carousel Boutique. But she'll always find time to help her friends. She's quick to offer fashion advice and won't hesitate to follow a by generously giving of her talents. Rarity longs for the exciting life of high-society and would love to live in Canterlot. However, time and again, she's found her favorite place, is to be with her friends!

HubNetwork.com description

With her gleaming white coat and royal purple curls, Rarity is the most beautiful unicorn in Ponyville. And she knows it. After all, heads turn when she prances down the street. A talented fashion designer, Rarity loves to give the other ponies makeovers, and her dream is to design for Princess Celestia.

Teacher for a Day description

Finding another unicorn pony as beautiful as she would be a Rarity for sure! This talented fashionista almost always turns heads - and she loves every minute of it!

She dreams of one day designing a beautiful dress for Princess Celestia! Until then, she continues to prance around Ponyville like the belle of the ball.

This pretty pony is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside - and as generous and caring as she is talented! She loves to help her friends look and feel their best!

My Little Pony magazine description

  • Creative
  • Fashionable
  • Stylish

She's a beautiful unicorn and wants every pony to be beautiful, too. Rarity's fab at giving makeovers, hates getting dirty and faints at the sight of a bug!

The Elements of Harmony guidebook

RARITY could possibly be the most beautiful Unicorn you've ever seen, and she works hard to keep it that way—but she wants everypony to be beautiful, too! She uses her eye for detail, her creativity, and her Unicorn powers to find gems and make things sparkle! Her gorgeous designs are displayed at Ponyville's newest fashion salon, the Carousel Boutique. Rarity sees tremendous potential in her friends and always offers them makeovers and beautiful new clothes of her own design. Rarity's generous nature inspires her to make her 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.

Volume II guidebook

Glamour! Style! Sophistication! At first glance, one might assume a polished pony who commands the room would be superficial and shallow. That's not the case with Rarity. She's not just another pretty mane. Her boundless heart and giving spirit make her a fancy force to be reckoned with—just ask her friends. She's an ace at helping them through their toughest battles when she's not at her Carousel Boutique making dresses for Equestria's most prominent ponies. She's even solved a mystery or two in her day (and looked fabulous doing it!). It hasn't been easy balancing her career as a fashion designer with her mentorship of younger ponies. Regardless, a perfectionist like Rarity always finds a way to make it work.

Rarity and the Curious Case of Charity

In the chapter book Rarity and the Curious Case of Charity, when Spike displays infatuation toward Charity Sweetmint and Charity likewise dotes on him, Rarity shows signs of jealousy, especially when Charity addresses him as "Spikey-Wikey".

My Little Pony Project 2012

In the bonus feature "Hearth's Warming Eve" A Live Stage Reading on the DVD My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Season Two Disc 2, Susan Luque plays Rarity on May 12, 2012 at the Cinefamily Silent Movie Theatre.

Hot Minute

In Hot Minute with Rarity, one of the clips shown, from the episode Sweet and Elite, is of Rarity wearing her tiara from the beginning of the song Becoming Popular (The Pony Everypony Should Know).

The Art of My Little Pony The Movie description

RARITY is a beautiful Unicorn Pony who has a taste for the finer things in life. Though at times she may seem like a bit of a diva, Rarity has a heart as pure as gold. She's much more at home in her boutique designing gorgeous fashions for her friends than she is on epic adventures, but her friends know that Rarity always shines brightest when she's helping others. Rarity's generosity will earn her a new friend for life in My Little Pony: The Movie.

Rarity represents the Element of Generosity!

Appearances

See also: Character appearances
ExpandLegend
Season one
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N S Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Season two
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y N S Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y
Season three
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Y Y Y S Y Y Y S Y Y Y Y Y
Season four
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y M Y M Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y
Season five
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Y Y Y S Y N Y M S N Y B Y Y Y Y M Y Y N Y Y N Y S Y
Season six
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Y Y Y M Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y S S N B N Y Y N P Y S
Season seven
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
S Y N Y Y Y P M Y P Y N N Y N Y N N Y P P N N N Y Y
Season eight
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Y Y Y Y S M Y N S M Y Y Y Y B Y Y Y N Y Y P N Y Y Y
Season nine
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Y Y N Y N N Y P N M M B Y Y S N Y N Y B N Y N Y Y Y

Quotes

"Out of my hair? What about your hair?"
Friendship is Magic, part 1
"EMERALDS?! What was I thinking? Let me get you some rubies!"
— Friendship is Magic, part 1
"Take that, you ruffian!"
Friendship is Magic, part 2
"I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected."
— Friendship is Magic, part 2
"I used to be somepony. I used to be respected! I made dresses. Beautiful, beautiful dresses. But now, everypony is laughing at me. I'm nothing but a laughing stock! ...Leave me alone! I want to be alone! I want to wallow in, whatever it is that ponies are supposed to wallow in! Do ponies wallow in pity? Oh, listen to me! I don't even know what I'm supposed to wallow in! [sobbing] I'm so pathetic!"
Suited For Success
"Look upon me, Equestria, for I am Rarity!"
Sonic Rainboom
"Now back to work. I lost a lot of time, and I cannot have anymore interruptions. WHAT NOW?!"
Stare Master
"Whining? I am not whining, I am complaining, do you want to hear whining? This is whining. Oh, the harness is too tight, it's going to chafe, can't you loosen it? Ugh! It hurts and it's so nasty, why didn't you clean it first? It's gonna leave a stain and the wagon's getting heavy. Why do I have to pull it?"
A Dog and Pony Show
"Mules are ugly. Are you saying that I too am ugly? [cries]"
— A Dog and Pony Show
"Thank you, Twilight. But don't get any ideas about my gem! I know where you live."
The Return of Harmony Part 1
"Mine!"
The Return of Harmony Part 2
"Oh, Fluttershy? Could you be a dear and fly faster please."
— The Return of Harmony Part 2
"Of all the worst things that could happen, this is the! Worst! Possible! Thing!"
— Three times in Lesson Zero
"They may not be as sophisticated as some of you Canterlot ponies, but they are my best friends. And they are without a doubt the most important ponies I know."
Sweet and Elite
"I've been inspired by the generosity of my little Spikey-wikey, who gave me this beautiful fire ruby, one of the kindest acts I've ever experienced."
Secret of My Excess
"Pegasi are BRUTES!!"
Hearth's Warming Eve
"When I get back, you're gonna get it, Rainbow Dash!"
The Last Roundup
"Fighting's not really my thing, I'm more into fashion, but I'll rip you to pieces if you touch one scale on his cute little head!"
Dragon Quest
"I'll destroy her!"
Ponyville Confidential
"Fine, I'm guilty! I wear false eyelashes! Oh, and I took a bite of the cake."
MMMystery on the Friendship Express
"It's mine!"
A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2
"I do so wish it was permanent! Did you see how my mane just absolutely sparkled?"
The Crystal Empire - Part 2
"(Sing-song voice) I-de-a!"
— Multiple episodes
"Isn't friendship magic?!"
Rarity Takes Manehattan
"Oh, Spike, how could you ever know what it's like to be totally obsessed with a pony only to find out they're obsessed with somepony else?"
Simple Ways
"Then let's go shopping!"
Trade Ya!
"Dearest Spike, you should never be afraid to tell me the truth. We're friends, remember?"
Inspiration Manifestation
"I couldn't help myself! It was just begging for the personal touch!"
Castle Sweet Castle
"Crochet is knitting's poorer cousin."
— Quoted by Sweetie Belle, On Your Marks
"And I gained tons of new ideas for a new line of camouflage clothing! I think I'll call it "Camo-Maud"!"
Gauntlet of Fire
"Oh, darling, that food isn't fit for a pony of proper breeding, darling, and refinement, darling!"
P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View)
"Without my mane, I simply can't shine as I once did, and ponies treat me like the sad, invisible pony I've become."
It Isn't the Mane Thing About You
"I'm "Plainity", and I love bland old normal stuff. No frills for me."
Friendship University
"The hat is indeed for somepony very special. And I couldn't bear to see him part with it. But if I hear you call yourself a nopony again, you shan't be my guest for Fashion Week in Manehattan."
— To Pistachio, My Little Pony Best Gift Ever
"I'm saying your brother will win. No matter how brilliant your plan is, no matter how many variations you try, it will be something your brother expects, and he'll always win! Unless... when the perfect chance comes along, you do something he can't expect. Then you'll win."
— To Twilight, Sparkle's Seven

Gallery

Content Rarity S02E09.png

Rarity image gallery

See also

References

  1. Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 Kimlinh Tran (2014-07-17). KimlinhTran: I can now say that I got to.... Twitter. Retrieved on 2014 July 18.
  2. Lauren Faust (2013-11-29). Rarity's predecessors -- Glory and Sparkler. Twitter. Retrieved on 2013 December 2.
  3. PonyCon 2016 Character Development Panel with Lauren Faust. YouTube (2016-02-18). Retrieved on 2016 March 12.
  4. PonyCon 2016 Character Development Panel with Lauren Faust. YouTube (2016-02-18). Retrieved on 2016 March 12.
  5. Lauren Faust via Twitter. Retrieved on 2013 March 15.
  6. Bronycon 2012 - Q & A with John, Lauren and Tara (2012-07-05). Retrieved on 2012 July 12.
  7. Sethisto (2013-05-27). Lauren Faust Answers a Bunch of Questions. Equestria Daily. Retrieved on 2013 June 24. “Q: Lauren, what was your biggest influence on Rarity? A: Audrey Hepburn”
  8. Rarity- You look dashing fabulous!. DeviantArt (2012-09-16). Retrieved on 2015 March 5.
  9. My Little Pony (2015-03-01). Timeline Photos. Facebook. Retrieved on 2015 March 5.
  10. My Little Pony (2015-06-02). Timeline Photos. Facebook. Retrieved on 2015 June 3.
  11. MLP: Fabulous Rarity is fabulous. DeviantArt (2012-11-17). Retrieved on 2015 April 3.
  12. My Little Pony (2015-04-02). Timeline Photos. Facebook. Retrieved on 2015 April 3.