Rainbow Dash

**Rainbow Dash** is one of the most prominent characters in the *My Little Pony* franchise. Debuting in 2003, Rainbow Dash appeared in several films, TV shows, video games, comic books, stage productions, and manga. Originally a fashion-designer and business owner, Dash has evolved into a tough, tomboyish, but loving and tender character who cares deeply for the safety of others, especially her pet, Tank, and her dearest friends.

## Appearances

### Films

#### 2000s

* **A Charming Birthday (2003)**

**Main:** Venus Terzo
Rainbow Dash's debut appearance in media. Her generation 3 counterpart is fairly infamous for being the stark opposite of her generation 4 counterpart, as she was a fashion-centric character during this period.

* **Dancing With the Clouds (2004)**

**Main:** Venus Terzo
Dash plays a role at the beginning and ending of the special.

* **Friends are Never Fare Away (2005)**

**Main:** Venus Terzo
Dash plays a very minor role.

* **A Very Minty Birthday (2005)**

**Main:** Venus Terzo
Dash was the previous Christmas host.

* **The Princess Promenade (2006)**

**Main:** Venus Terzo
Dash is a supporting character

* **Greetings from Unicornia (2006)**

**Main:** Venus Terzo
First appearance where Rainbow Dash was a major character.

* **The Runaway Rainbow (2007)**

**Main:** Venus Terzo
First appearance where Rainbow Dash is a primary character in a major special; was a playable character in the video game adaptation.

* **Twinkle Wish Adventure (2009)**

**Main:** Anna Cummer
Only portrayal of Dash in Gen 3.5 media.

### Films

#### 2010s

* **My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (2013)** (sometimes rendered as "Equestria Girls: Through the Mirror")

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
First appearance of her human "Equestria Girls" appearance. Dash plays a fairly brief but major role in helping reuniting the titular Equestria Girls when Princess Twilight Sparkle comes to her world to stop Sunset Shimmer from using the Element of Magic to take over their world.

* **Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks (2014)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Helps form the precursor to the The Rainbooms. This film establishes Dash's role as the main guitarist for the band.

* **Equestria Girls: Friendship Games (2015)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Helps establish Dash's character in this universe as an athletic thrill-seeker by showing her talents in motorcycle-racing.

* **Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree (2016)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Dash doesn't have a sizable role in this film, mostly appearing when the rest of the girls appear.

* **Tales of Canterlot High (2017)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Based off the Rainbooms and Shadowbolts' careers as musicians after *Friendship Games*

* **Equestria Girls: Forgotten Friendship (2017)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Dash doesn't have a major appearance in this special.

* **My Little Pony: The Movie (2017)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
The first film in the *My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2010-2019)* series. Dash becomes the main character during the 'pirates' section of the film where she accidently alerts the Storm Empire of their presence because she was being flashy. Typical Dashy.

* **Equestria Girls: Rollercoaster of Friendship (2018)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Rainbow Dash goes on a rollercoaster before being sent to the phone dimension.

* **My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever (2018)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Dash tries to buy a gift for Spike but is tricked by the Flim Flam brothers to buy him something cheap and badly-designed instead.

* **Equestria Girls: Rollercoaster of Friendship (2019)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Rainbow Dash's biggest appearance in the films; she stars as the main character as she's bored that her spring beak vacation is 'boring' (no monsters or evil to fight) and ends up traveling to a magical island where she and Sci-Twi travel to Equestria. Notably the only film to not really feature any antagonistic characters, instead, an antagonistic force in the form of a magical storm.

* **My Little Pony: Rainbow Roadtrip**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Dash befriended two foals in the town of Hope Hollow and teaches them tricks to help bring happiness back to the small town.

* **Equestria Girls: Sunset Shimmer's Backstage Pass (2019)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Adapted from the book, *Equestria Girls: Make Your Own Magic: Starswirl Do-Over*. Dash doesn't have a major appearance.

* **Equestria Girls: Holiday's Unwrapped (2019)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
The main character of "Dashing Through The Mall", where she tries to find the perfect gift for Fluttershy and instead has an encounter with Zephyr Breeze, whom she was established to have a strained friendship with in *Equestria Girls: Better Together*.

### Television

#### 2010s

* **My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2010-2019)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
The first appearance of her "Friendship is Magic" incarnation, which would be the basis of characterization for future versions of the character. A kind-hearted daredevil whose bravery and tenacity is utterly unmatched, Dash is among the "Mane Six" or "Elements of Harmony" and represents the Element of Loyalty, a title that is often tested but Dash often proves that she earned such a distinction.

* **MAD (2010-2013)**

**Main:** Tara Strong and Kath Soucie
Appears in skits in seasons 2 and 4. Stars in her own skit.

#### 2020s

* **My Little Pony: Friendship is Forever (2020)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
The sequel to *Friendship is Magic*. Mostly a clip-show, but has original animation as a framing device.

* **My Little Pony: Pony Life (2020-present)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Based off her *Friendship is Magic* characterization, but sillier and more light-hearted.

### Web series

#### 2010s

* **Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks shorts (2014)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
A prelude to *Rainbow Rocks*. Mostly music videos but some side-stories as well.

* **Equestria Girls Minis (2015-2018)**

**Main:** None
No voice lines, just noises.

* **Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks shorts (2015)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
A sequel to *Rainbow Rocks*.

* **Equestria Girls: Friendship Games shorts (2015)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
* **Equestria Girls: Summertime Shorts (2017)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
* **Equestria Girls: Better Together (2017)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
Helped establish the more slice-of-life aspects of Dash's life, such as her relationship with her pet, Tank, her talents and her hobbies.

#### 2020s

* **Hello Pinkie Pie (2020-)**

**Main:** Unknown
A fictional talk-show, Dash has been portrayed in a handful of episodes, but her performer has not been credited.

### Plays

#### 2000s

* **My Little Pony Live: The World's Biggest Tea Party**

**Main:** Venus Terzo
#### 2010s

* *My Little Pony Musical (2016)*

**Main:** Vivienne Smith
An adaptation of *Rainbow Rocks*

* **My Little Pony - Crown of Friendship (2019)**

**Main:** Unknown
A Chinse production, very little English-language information exists.

#### 2020s

* **My Little Pony Live (Unknown air date)**

**Main:** ???
Dash's actor has not been revealed but was likely casted as music from the play have been released online.

### Video games

#### 2010s

* **My Little Pony: Magic Princess Quest (2012)**

**Main:** Ashleigh Ball
A series of mostly original stories and adapations of comic storylines Dash is featured in a number of events and stories.

* **My Little Pony: Luna Eclipsed (2014)**

**Main:** Brittany Lauda
An adaptation of the *Friendship is Magic* episode of the same name.

* **My Little Pony: Twilight’s Kingdom (2014)**

**Main:** Brittany Lauda
An adaptation of the *Friendship is Magic* episode of the same name.

* **My Little Pony: Power Ponies (2014)**

**Main:** Brittany Lauda
An adaptation of the *Friendship is Magic* episode of the same name.

## Portrayal stats

* Top performers:
	+ Ashleigh Ball: 22 portrayals
	+ Venus Terzo: 9 portrayals
	+ Brittany Lauda: 3 portrayals
* Two one-off performers: Anna Cummer and Vivienne Smith
* Works with unidentified performers: *Hello Pinkie Pie (2020-present)*, *My Little Pony Live (air date unknown)*, and *My Little Pony - Crown of Friendship (2019)*.

## Notes

* Iro from *Crush Crush* is based off her.
* In-universe, Rainbow Dash was portrayed by a unnamed actress in a biography about the lives of the Man Six.
* Dash herself has portrayed a number of (in-universe) fictional and historical characters, such as Fairy Bootmother and Commander Hurricane.