Was Sunset Shimmer the Main Protagonist in Rainbow Rocks?

[Photon Jet 5,491]

Hiya bronies! Photon Jet here! I've got something that came up in my mind after remembering watching the awesome Rainbow Rocks. Was Sunset Shimmer the main protagonist out of the Mane Si-I mean, Seven?

 

Let's think about this for a bit. After being a villain in the first movie, her role was reversed in Rainbow Rocks.  As the movie went on, she had a problem she was facing and most of the screen time focused on her more than the others. Come to think of it, although she wasn't in the band, she was the one who helped the other Mane Six get together again.

 

So it could be true that Sunset Shimmer was the main protagonist in the movie but that's my theory. What do you think? Was she the mane character instead of Twilight Sparkle?

Edited November 28, 2014 by Photon Jet

[Unikitty 1,212]

Sunset Shimmer was easily the lead protagonist. Twilight was a critical piece of the plot, but the movie was more about Sunset Shimmer trying to deal with her new life. The focus is put on Sunset Shimmer significantly more than anyone else, even though the rest of the Mane 6 got a fair dosage of screen time. I would even argue to put Twilight in the same category as the other mane 6, because even though she had a larger amount of input, she was still just a supporting character alongside the rest of the group.

She wouldn't even be there had Sunset Shimmer not been able to find a way to reach her. Also noting that plenty of focus is put on Sunset's inclusion, before Twilight even appeared in the movie.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,162]

That isn't a bad theory and I think there is enough support for it to merit a discussion.

 

I would agree in a sense, but to say she was the main protagonist would be stretching it a bit; IMO. Of course, you could say she was the star of the movie which I would heartily agree with!

 

As it stands, Sunset Shimmer is just a protagonist amongst a group of protagonists; only with MUCH more development. The Mane 6 also had important parts to play as well. Without them, Sunset either wouldn't have developed as she did or she would've reverted. At the same time they had to truthfully come to accept her. More than once they made a reference to her past (even freakin' Twilight did that) which doesn't help her all that much.

 

Only when did the Mane 6 finally overcame that barrier did it allow Sunset Shimmer to truely shine. So yeah, I wouldn't call her the main protagonist; just the most developed from a group of protagonists.

[Photon Jet 5,491]

I see.  So she was the centre of attention in some scenes. You know, I'm actually glad she got fully developed in the end. It's like she's part of the Elements of Harmony now. But then again, that's just me.

 

I like Sunset Shimmer the way she is now then she was last time. Hope to see more of her anytime soon.

Edited November 28, 2014 by Photon Jet

[PoisonClaw 8,166]

I would say yes. Even after Twilight showed up, a large portion of the movie remained focused on Sunset following her redemption. Even though all of them had ample screen time, it was Sunset Shimmer who not only helped the others make up after The Dazzlings made them fight amongst themselves, but it was also Sunset who stepped up in the end to ultimately win the day. This was her movie more than anyone else.

[Jangocoolguy 433]

It certainly FELT that way...

[Arctofire 227]

Yeah and it was AWESOME. It made the worst villain of MLP into an awesome character, and is possibly hinting that now that she's a full time princess, the show will begin to move away from Twilight Sparkle and focus more on background ponies.

Edited November 28, 2014 by Arctofire

[Photon Jet 5,491]

We could possibly see more potential from the other Mane characters. Maybe...just maybe Sunset Shimmer could be the Mane protagonist in the rumoured Equestria Girls TV series.

 

All we have to do is wait and encounter what lies ahead of us. 

[Zekromic 1,054]

I can't say that Sunny was the ABSOLUTE main character of RR, all the human 7 shared equal spotlight in the movie. It just that, we pay more attention to her because, she's the first character  outside of the Mane6, Spikey-Wikey, our the CMCs, who was formally made a main character in almost 4 years by the time RR was released. In fact, Vinyl Scratch is worth a mention too, she's also the first background character who played a mayor role in kicking buttes 

[KatonRyu 1,033]

In my mind, she certainly was and she deserved to be. She's just too adorable in the movie and she really played a central role in the story. I think you could easily call her the main protagonist of the movie considering her role. She even fills the almost-standard role of being nearly universally hated at the start and fully accepted later that marks a true protagonist.

[Photon Jet 5,491]

Yeah. Sunset Shimmer turned over a new leaf and helped the other Mane Six save the day from the Dazzlings. Who knows? She might be up the ranks with Twilight Sparkle (the best princess) soon enough.

 

In all honesty, she's cute every time she smiles.

[FlutterAether 421]

Sunset Shimmer was just amazing and come to think of it when you said she helped the mane 6 get together again....could she be the new Element of Friendship? In the S4 finale Cadance states Twilight is the Element of Magic but her main role is the princess of friendship in our beloved pony world, with that being said it's safe to say at the end of Rainbow Rocks Sunset Shimmer is Twilight's student although only to an extent, as we see her writing in her journal and sending messages to Twilight about her progress and what she's learnt about friendship.

 

So is it possible Sunset Shimmer is the Element of Friendship in the EQG world? Basing this on the support she gave to the mane 6 and then fully being recognised at the end....

 

Sorry for long post it just sprung into my mind 

Edited December 5, 2014 by FlutterAether

[Silver Letter 1,832]

Even though no marketing is done to show Sunset as a main protagonist (and if one didn't know better, they might not even know she was in the movie at all), she likely is the main character here, easily eclipsing Twilight which does little to nothing in regards to developing a counter spell against the Dazzlings. In fact, she had essentially no affect on them and might as well have not shown up. I think Sunset was the critical part of the story and her friends (Pinkie and the others) are important but I assumed that much of their contributions were behind the scenes (before what we saw in the film itself such as trying to incorporate Sunset into their group. We didn't see that). I further assume that Twilight's role in the next film (safe to say there will be one) will be even further reduced but there might be a reference at least just to justify calling it "My Little Pony". That's probably neither here nor there though....

[Nature's Spell 526]

Since Princess Twilight is not really part of that world it makes sense her role to be lessened. She's almost a guest star, however, it's possible that Human Twilight will have a much larger role and Princess Twilight will be a cameos.

[Tao 8,035]

It would be nice to have a off shot of the MLP FIM cartoon for the EQ to have its own show  with Shimmer being the

main protagonist. Personally I like her more than Twilight and given her past and how she changed gives some real

depth to her as a character in truth.  You don't get many well,  say evil mares who turned over a new life and grow

so much as I would say Shimmer (and not dissing Trixie),  thing also is when Twilight did pop up in the Rainbow Rocks,

Shimmer seemed to be push to the side.  Now given she didn't fall back into her evil ways and fought to stay beside

her friends does show how much well stronger she is over all and I would love to see more of her if anything!

[Vendi 407]

yah, twilight sparkle's role in the movie was pointless.

[Singe 2,111]

I would say so. At the same time the Mane 5 got so little progress done with helping Sunset fit in that she was still an outsider to the group for most of the movie.

[Sazama Ichida 2,367]

Isn't it obvious? Because she needed to redeem herself and prove she had changed of course.

EDIT: Nevermind. For some reason I read the title as "Why Was Sunset Shimmer the Main Protagonist in Rainbow Rocks?"

Edited December 23, 2014 by Asbel Lhant

[jolliapplegirl 6]

I would definitely call Sunset the Main protagonist. Despite Twilight being a main character, she is by no means the protagonist. For one thing, the story mainly focuses on Sunset and her journey in the aftermath of the first movie.