Lauren Faust/Gallery

"When I submitted the premise for the pilot, there was concern that facing a Manticore would be too scary for kids, so I designed him kind of dopey to help ease worry. Imagine my surprise when I got the note that he didn't look threatening enough! It's not often that you're happy to get a note, but I was. I like the final one better."

"To address worry that things would be too scary, I skewed the dragons kind of pretty at first. Might have been an interesting direction...."

"These were just random Fillydelphia residents. I wanted Ponyville to be Fillydelphia originally. Obviously that didn't pan out, but I was glad we got to use the name somewhere else."

"Her original name was indeed Appleseed. Ran into some copyright issues, and now she is Apple Bloom. In the original bible, she was solo in her quest for a Cutie Mark, and "seed" signified that she still needed to grow. CMC's Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were developed later."

Flutterstare.

Fluttershy looking at a birdy.

"I heard Snow White going "oh!" when I drew this one."

"You all have seen Pinkie as a Pegasus, now see Fluttershy when she was an Earth pony."

"I imagined she was telling RD how cockamamy her idea was..."

"This sketch was based off a fantastic sketch Paul Rudish did for me!"

"I have no idea how she uses that shovel..."

Applejack and the frog.

Up late studying.

"Note original cutie mark--- a variation of the 80's Moondancer, which I always liked as a kid."

Zecora

Fluttershy and Manticore sketch.

Main cast sketch

Lauren Faust's preliminary sketches

Twilight Sparkle

Applejack

Pinkie Pie's older design

Rarity

Derpy

Discord Sketch done by Lauren Faust.

Pinkie Pie is annoying Rainbow Dash.

Gilda sketch, who was originally Grizelda.

Surprise!

Pinkie used to have wings, but then switched kinds with Fluttershy.

Ursa Major sketch.

Big McIntosh, who used to be called "Big Apple" by Lauren

Rainbow Dash

Upside down

Rarity

"A couple from Cloudsdale for the 2008 MLP:FiM pitch bible. Veeeerrrry loose sketch...."

Rarity

Rainbow Dash

Rarity

Princess Celestia- Originally Queen Celestia, but later changed at Hasbro's Request.

Pony Pedi

This sketch eventually was reused for many rainbow banner effects.

Sneaking

"Sugar high"

Studying

Princess Celestia

Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake (originally named Paddy Cake)

Sketch drawn by Lauren Faust at San Diego Comic-Con 2012 for a fan.

Lauren Faust's ponysona, drawn for an interview with Equestria Daily.

"Rarity's predecessors -- Glory and Sparkler"

"Posey inspired Fluttershy. I did that tail-do when I was 8!"

"My Firefly. Inspiration for Rainbow Dash."

"Twilight became Twilight"

"I'm not saying who this inspired. It's a secret!"

"100 points if you know who this is and who she inspired"

"SURPRISE!!! A Pegasus inspired Pinkie Pie"

"Poor Majesty not looking quite as majestic as Celestia...."