What does Twilight's cutie-mark truly represent?

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

Remember the way Twilight's friends' cutie-marks were switched, forcing them to act out each other's lives?  Then, by the time their cutie-marks are restored and Twilight finishes the unfinished spell, she fulfills her own destiny of becoming a princess.

 

Which has to make me wonder about Twilight's cutie-mark and what that represents.  Does it really represent her desire to study magic?  Or, does it actually symbolize her uniting all ponies under her leadership, just because it's five small stars (her friends) surrounding one larger star (Twilight herself)?

[Vexxy 134]

I think it represents her magic, and with friendship being magic, her friends are there. What I don't get is why there were six small stars around the big one in the bit where she became a princess, surely that couldn't be an animation error, right?

Edited May 6, 2013 by Vexxy

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

I think it represents her magic, and with friendship being magic, her friends are there. What I don't get is why there were six small stars around the big one in the bit where she became a princess, surely that couldn't be an animation error, right?

I investigated Alicorn Twilight's cutie-mark on the MLP wiki.  Turns out she still had five smaller stars surrounding the bigger star on her cutie-mark, and that it was just the shining star falling to the ground, as well as the flags, that had six stars surrounding one.  So yeah, definitely an animation-error.

 

And, I can also accept Twilight's cutie-mark representing her power to unite all ponies under her leadership, even if she originally thought it was to study magic, which turns out to be friendship.  You know like the subtitle, "Friendship is Magic"?

Edited May 6, 2013 by Commander_PonyShep

[Vexxy 134]

I investigated Alicorn Twilight's cutie-mark on the MLP wiki.  Turns out she still had five smaller stars surrounding the bigger star on her cutie-mark.  So yeah, definitely an animation-error.

 

And, I can also accept Twilight's cutie-mark representing her power to unite all ponies under her leadership, even if she originally thought it was to study magic, which turns out to be friendship.  You know like the subtitle, "Friendship is Magic"?

How could they miss something that big? D: It was the main focus on-screen for around 10 seconds! 

 

And yeah, that does makes sense. ^-^ 

[Sazama Ichida 2,367]

I always thought it represented magic...O.o I remember the episode where she first got her cutie mark and that was her talent.

[Princess Lona 382]

Magic is her talent and friendship is magic. Therefore friendship is a part of her talent. Friendship itself is a form of magic which is created by the elements of harmony which is why they are represented by the five stars in her cutie mark.

[9x18 24]

I agree with the assumption that the five small stars are about friendship/elements of harmony - seems pretty straightforward.

 

The base part of the cutie mark, the six-pointed star, could be some family representation of magic. Shining Armor's mark has the same star. The insignia he wore in A Canterlot Wedding also bears the same symbol, and it belonged to his "favorite uncle". Parents don't seem to have it, though.

Edited May 7, 2013 by 9x18

[Sairoch 22]

I investigated Alicorn Twilight's cutie-mark on the MLP wiki.  Turns out she still had five smaller stars surrounding the bigger star on her cutie-mark, and that it was just the shining star falling to the ground, as well as the flags, that had six stars surrounding one.  So yeah, definitely an animation-error.

 

And, I can also accept Twilight's cutie-mark representing her power to unite all ponies under her leadership, even if she originally thought it was to study magic, which turns out to be friendship.  You know like the subtitle, "Friendship is Magic"?

 

It seems unlikely that an animation error of that scale would make it through, into several different scenes and art assets; more likely, I think, is that her sigil is simply different from her cutie mark. What the significance of it is, I don't know. There was a rumor that there would be a 7th main character in the 4th season, but I think that was pretty conclusively debunked. Perhaps we'll find out next season.

 

I agree completely with the rest of your analysis. Leadership, friendship, magic, etc.

[Anadu Kune 668]

I investigated Alicorn Twilight's cutie-mark on the MLP wiki.  Turns out she still had five smaller stars surrounding the bigger star on her cutie-mark, and that it was just the shining star falling to the ground, as well as the flags, that had six stars surrounding one.  So yeah, definitely an animation-error.

 

And, I can also accept Twilight's cutie-mark representing her power to unite all ponies under her leadership, even if she originally thought it was to study magic, which turns out to be friendship.  You know like the subtitle, "Friendship is Magic"?

If I'm not mistaken the sixth star also showed up in Twilight's eyes when she realized how to solve the problem. It would seem the sixth star represented Twilight's heightened knowledge of friendship and magic.  As the five stars represented her friends, the inclusion of the sixth represents all of them in harmony. Its was included twice so it seems unlikely to be an error. 

[Mareinthemoon 348]

another fun fact is if you add up all the angles to her stars and divide by 6 (total amount of stars) you get 42...

 

if anyone here saw hitchikers guide to the galaxy you know what it means someone on da did the math

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

If I'm not mistaken the sixth star also showed up in Twilight's eyes when she realized how to solve the problem. It would seem the sixth star represented Twilight's heightened knowledge of friendship and magic.  As the five stars represented her friends, the inclusion of the sixth represents all of them in harmony. Its was included twice so it seems unlikely to be an error. 

What sixth star?  Are you referring to the large, magenta star surrounded by the five smaller stars?  Or, are you referring to the seventh star orbiting the larger star alongside the other five?

 

UPDATE: Never mind.  The problem was my lack of common sense.  Though the sixth smaller star could represent anything aside from greater experience in the magic of friendship.

Edited May 7, 2013 by Commander_PonyShep

[Anadu Kune 668]

What sixth star?  Are you referring to the large, magenta star surrounded by the five smaller stars?  Or, are you referring to the seventh star orbiting the larger star alongside the other five?

The latter. I refer to the smaller ones as stars.  The center one has more points so it then a traditionally drawn star shape which is my reason for doing so. Maybe we can just refer to it as the extra star to avoid confusion. 

Edited May 7, 2013 by Anadu Kune

[Mareinthemoon 348]

The latter. I refer to the smaller ones as stars.  The center one has more points so it then a traditionally drawn star shape which is my reason for doing so. Maybe we can just refer to it as the extra star to avoid confusion. 

 ok guys its simple the magenta star represents magic (obvious enough) and the five smaller white ones represent friendship..as posted at the top her cutie mark amounts to 'friendship is magic' and we have a toyline urm i mean show >.>...<.<

[Scootalove 10,689]

I think Twilight's cutie mark represents leadership, unity, and friendship. It represents what makes up her personality and her friends. It really does symbolize teamwork and unification.

[Pinkie4eeeever 38]

Ever since Twilight became a princess I thought her cutie mark represented the stars and how she was always destined to become the princess of the stars, like how Celestia is princess of the sun and Luna is princess of the moon.

[Nature's Spell 526]

The five smaller stars represent her friends and the larger one is Twilight herself. It's too perfect not to be true. It's also fair to say that it repersents magic (which she is) and of course friendship is magic.

 

The extra star in the sky cutie mark and standard represents leadership, which Twilight had to show to become a true princess. Remember what Celestia said.

 

Princess Celestia: Since you've come to Ponyville, you've displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrity, optimism, and of course, the leadership of a true princess. Notice six things.

Edited May 21, 2013 by Nature Spell

[Vermillion 613]

i think it represents the elements of harmony, twilight is the star in the middle and the stars around represent her friends

or it represents her magic and such  

[Justin ZW 396]

Ever since Twilight became a princess I thought her cutie mark represented the stars and how she was always destined to become the princess of the stars, like how Celestia is princess of the sun and Luna is princess of the moon.

The problem with this is that Luna is the princess of the night, not just the moon. Twilight is a princess, yes, but we don't know what she will rule over... if anything at all.

[CMC-Applebloom 3]

I think it represnts her and her 5 friends surrounding her, because in "the cutie mark chronicles" they are supposed to be connected like if in that moment she connect with her 5 friends.

[DippyOryan 6]

Twilight's cutie mark represents her very essence of magic. When Twilight tried to pass her entrance exam, Rainbow Dash's "Sonic Rain Boom" disrupted Twilight's magic aura. This caused an exponential burst of energy in which sent magical charges scattering every where. But this is her true talent, magic. And strong magic at that. 

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

As has already been stated, it represents her ability for leadership and magic, the magic of friendship being the main one. In addition to the smaller stars representing her friends and the other EoH, I would like to point out that the event that resulted in her cutie mark (the sonic rainboom) is the same event that demonstrated how the were fated to be friends from the start. This makes Twilight Sparkle the only pony to receive a cutie mark before understanding her true gift.

[Koelath 445]

Her mark represents magic. She says this. Others say it. She displays this talent. It's all incredibly obvious and incredibly basic.