Neon Lights

Neon Lights (Rising Star)
Unicorn Alicorn Human Neon Lights in Leap of Faith Neon Lights as an Alicorn in Rarity Takes Manehattan Neon Lights' human counterpart in My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games
Kind	Unicorn Human (EG)
Sex	Male
Other links	Neon Lights image gallery

More info
Eyes	Moderate cerulean
Mane	Dark gray
Coat	Light opalish gray
Magic aura	Brilliant cerulean
Cutie mark

Neon Lights, or Rising Star, is a male background unicorn pony who appears in several episodes throughout the series. He has a bluish gray coat, dark gray mane, blue eyes, and a cutie mark of three white stars. He is not named in the show, but he is named "Neon Lights" with a trademark symbol and "Rising Star" in various depictions and merchandise.

Development and design

A mustached unicorn stallion almost identical to Neon Lights.

Neon Lights shares his coat and eye colors, cutie mark, and occasionally tail and pony kind with "Sir Pony Moore". He resembles "Top Notch" in color scheme, cutie mark, pony kind, and sometimes mane style. Neon Lights also shares his mane and tail styles, eye color, and cutie mark with Twilight Sky, shares his design with Dark Moon, S02E26 Unnamed Unicorn Stallion #1, "Purple Stuff", and "Flank Sinatra", shares his mane and tail styles with "Cosmic", shares his mane style and sometimes tail style with Star Hunter, and shares his tail style and sometimes pony kind and mane style with Shooting Star.

In a storyboard by Sabrina Alberghetti for Call of the Cutie, an episode of the season prior to Neon Lights' debut, he appears instead of the finished episode's Cherry Fizzy.

Hasbro used the name "Neon Lights" for a G1 Pony Wear outfit and reused this name for the G4 character. The name "Rising Star" was used by fans^{​[​specify​]​} for the G4 character more than two years before the release of Enterplay's collectible card game card of the character.

Depiction in the series

Season two

Neon Lights in Sweet and Elite.

Neon Lights first appears in The Mysterious Mare Do Well, watching Rainbow Dash stop the out-of-control baby carriage and cheering for her afterward. In Sweet and Elite, he appears at the Wonderbolts Derby, wearing a hat. Later in the episode, during Rarity's fantasy and Becoming Popular (The Pony Everypony Should Know), he wears a jacket and sunglasses. He then appears briefly in Hearth's Warming Eve, listening to Spike as he narrates the pageant.

In The Last Roundup, Neon Lights is in the crowd when Applejack gives a speech before leaving for the rodeo competition. In The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, he watches the cider competition between the Apple family and the Flim Flam brothers and later refuses the brothers' cider after they win. He also appears briefly in A Friend in Deed, It's About Time, and A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2.

Season three

In One Bad Apple, Neon Lights is seen polishing the cucumber float that Dr. Hooves, Royal Riff, and Amethyst Star ride on, and he later drives the float during the Summer Harvest Parade. In Magical Mystery Cure, he appears both sunburned and frostbitten during Rarity's verse in What My Cutie Mark Is Telling Me.

Season four

Neon Lights appears in Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1 and at the Summer Sun Celebration at the end of Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2. He also appears at various points in Rarity Takes Manehattan; at one point, he appears as an Alicorn pony due to an animation error. He attends the Goof-Off and Rainbow Dash's birth-iversary party in Pinkie Pride and the Cutie Mark Crusaders' play in For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils.

Neon Lights in Leap of Faith.

Neon Lights appears again in Leap of Faith among the audience of ailed ponies at Flim and Flam's show and later at the swimming pool where the bit he uses to purchase the Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic from Silver Shill eventually becomes Applejack's key to the Tree of Harmony chest. In Trade Ya!, he is among the crowd of ponies welcoming Princess Twilight to the Traders' Exchange, later seen walking around the Exchange with "Star Bright" as well as at the trial at the end of the Exchange. In Inspiration Manifestation, he is among the ponies blinded by Rarity's gold-covered road and both among the participating athletes and the spectators in Equestria Games.

In Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1, Neon Lights is sapped of his magic by Lord Tirek on two separate occasions, and he appears in the crowd of ponies visiting Twilight's castle in Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2.

Season five

Neon Lights appears at the beginning of The Cutie Map - Part 1, walking toward the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom castle with Lemon Hearts. In Slice of Life, he watches DJ Pon-3's mobile DJ station speed through Ponyville. In Princess Spike, he appears at the Grand Equestria Pony Summit, later among the ponies queuing to speak with Twilight Sparkle while she is sleeping.

In Party Pooped, Neon Lights reacts to Twilight Sparkle frantically flying through Ponyville. In Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?, he appears in Ponyville's shared dream, where he is captured by a carnivorous plant before Applejack lassos it shut. In Canterlot Boutique, he is among the ponies visiting Canterlot Carousel for its grand opening. In The Mane Attraction, he appears in the audience for Coloratura's performance at the Helping Hooves Music Festival where he is one of the unicorns who lights his horn as she performs The Magic Inside. In The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 1, he appears in the audience for Princess Twilight Sparkle's lecture on cutie marks at the School for Gifted Unicorns.

Season six

In A Hearth's Warming Tail, Neon Lights appears in Canterlot during the titular story helping decorate the city for Hearth's Warming during Pinkie's Present and later attending the Hearth's Warming Party at Snowdash's house. In Spice Up Your Life, he makes background appearances in Canterlot's Restaurant Row during It's Gonna Work and later sits in a Restaurant Row diner with an unnamed stallion at night as Rarity advertises the Tasty Treat, causing them and other ponies to follow her to the grand re-opening of the restaurant where he is one of the ponies who cheers for the owner of the Bake Stop. In The Cart Before the Ponies, he makes a background appearance spectating the second running of the Applewood Derby in Ponyville.

Season seven

In Parental Glideance, Neon Lights appears in the audience for the Wonderbolts' showcase in Canterlot. In Fame and Misfortune, he appears wearing a shirt with Rarity in a heart and matching hat in the mob of angry ponies arguing over the Mane six's published Friendship Journal. In It Isn't the Mane Thing About You, he appears in the crowd of ponies in front of the Quills and Sofas store in Ponyville.

Season eight

In The Maud Couple, Neon Lights appears laughing with Daisy in Ponyville as seen through Pinkie Pie's binoculars. In Horse Play, he appears in the audience for the play at the School of Friendship. In Marks for Effort, he makes a background appearance walking down an alley in Ponyville. In Yakity-Sax, he makes background appearances spectating the Wonderbolts' Derby in Canterlot, walking in Ponyville, and holding Pinkie Pie-shaped balloons during Pinkie Pie Appreciation Day. In The Washouts, he appears in the audience for the titular group's first show in Ponyville and lines up for an autograph after the show. He later appears in the audience for the Washouts' second show in Ponyville. In A Rockhoof and a Hard Place, he appears sifting through rocks with a pan as part of Professor Fossil's archeology team as they excavate Rockhoof's old village and later appears walking outside the Ponyville Day Spa as Bulk Biceps runs out of the spa screaming in pain. In Father Knows Beast, he appears walking in Ponyville with "Cayenne" while talking to her and later appears wearing a sunhat and sunglasses with Daisy while watching as Rainbow Dash simulates snow outside the Castle of Friendship during a sunny day.

Season nine

In Sparkle's Seven, Neon Lights appears in the audience for Apple Chord's concert in Applejack's fantasy. In Common Ground, he appears in the audience for one of Team Ponyville's games during a buckball tournament in Appleloosa. In The Summer Sun Setback, he appears in the audience for the final Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot. In A Horse Shoe-In, he appears in the audience for Octavia Melody's concert with DJ Pon-3.

Appearances

Times are approximate.

Season two
1	None
2	None
3	None
4	None
5	None
6	None
7	None
8	3:12, 3:26, 3:32 - cheering for Rainbow Dash after she saves Cream Puff
9	5:12 - in Rarity's fantasy; 5:44 ~ 6:47 - in the crowd at the Wonderbolts Derby; 10:05, 10:16 - appears during Becoming Popular (The Pony Everypony Should Know)
10	None
11	3:46 - in the audience at the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant
12	None
13	None
14	3:36 - in the crowd listening to Applejack's speech
15	15:41 - watching the cider competition; 19:20 - next to Shoeshine and Twinkleshine; 19:54 - visibly saddened over the Apple family leaving Ponyville; 20:26, 20:30 - refusing Flim and Flam's cider
16	None
17	None
18	5:01, 5:21, 5:34 - seen during Smile Song
19	None
20	6:21, 6:30 - seen when Cerberus appears in Ponyville
21	None
22	None
23	None
24	None
25	None
26	20:36 - watching Shining Armor and Princess Cadance leave in their "Just Married" carriage

Season three
1	None
2	None
3	None
4	13:06 - polishing a cucumber float; 15:10, 16:38 - driving the cucumber float
5	4:03 - leering at Trixie Duplicates: one at 4:03
6	None
7	None
8	None
9	None
10	None
11	None
12	None
13	4:09 - appears sunburned and frostbitten during What My Cutie Mark Is Telling Me

Season four
1	7:58
2	20:29 ~ 21:21 - in the crowd at the Summer Sun Celebration
3	None
4	None
5	None
6	None
7	None
8	2:25 - in line to see Hinny of the Hills; 2:35 - flying through Manehattan (Alicorn version); 3:32 - standing next to Royal Pin; 15:24, 15:46 - in the Fashion Week audience
9	None
10	None
11	None
12	15:48 - seen during The Goof Off; 16:32 - seen when Pinkie Pie forfeits the Goof Off; 19:38 - seen during the reprise of Pinkie the Party Planner; 19:51 - at Rainbow Dash's birth-iversary party
13	None
14	None
15	None
16	None
17	None
18	None
19	3:42 - at the Cutie Mark Crusaders' play; 9:11, 9:28 - in Sweetie Belle's dream
20	4:42, 5:10 - seen during Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic; 16:44, 16:48 - buying tonic from Silver Shill
21	None
22	0:36 - welcoming Princess Twilight to the Traders Exchange; 8:03, 11:56 - next to "Star Bright"; 19:47 - at the Traders Exchange trial
23	16:44 - blinded by Rarity's gold-covered road
24	6:10 - awaiting the lighting of the Equestria Games torch; 6:49 - in the Equestria Games crowd; 8:20 - listening to Shining Armor; 18:38 - watching the ice cloud fall
25	13:44, 20:12 - having his magic stolen by Lord Tirek; 19:53 - in an auditorium crowd
26	20:19 - walking up to Twilight's castle; 20:30, 20:38, 20:57 - seen during Let the Rainbow Remind You

Season five
1	0:01 - walking toward Twilight's castle with Lemon Hearts
2	None
3	None
4	None
5	None
6	None
7	None
8	None
9	15:18 - observing DJ Pon-3 and Octavia Melody
10	0:01 - entering Canterlot Castle; 10:49 - in a line of summit delegates
11	14:11 - watching Twilight Sparkle fly through Ponyville
12	None
13	15:33 - in Ponyville's shared dream
14	6:43 - in the audience for Rarity's fashion display
15	None
16	None
17	None
18	None
19	None
20	None
21	None
22	None
23	None
24	None
25	None
26	None

Season six
1	None
2	None
3	None
4	None
5	None
6	None
7	None
8	13:31 - helping ponies string up some bells and a wreath
9	None
10	None
11	None
12	2:51 - talking to Lemon Hearts; 2:54 - talking to Twinkleshine (black jacket and shades); 11:31 - standing in a crowd of ponies; 18:05 - talking to S05E10 Unnamed Unicorn Stallion #1 in a diner; 20:37 - sitting at The Tasty Treat
13	None
14	21:13 - watching the do-over of the Derby
15	None
16	None
17	None
18	None
19	None
20	None
21	None
22	None
23	None
24	None
25	None
26	None

Season seven
1	None
2	None
3	None
4	None
5	None
6	None
7	10:50 - in the stands of the Wonderbolts arena
8	None
9	None
10	None
11	None
12	None
13	None
14	17:09 - arguing with Lemon Hearts
15	None
16	None
17	None
18	None
19	11:31 - in the crowd outside the Quill and Sofa store
20	None
21	None
22	None
23	None
24	None
25	None
26	None

Season eight
1	None
2	None
3	3:58 - talking to Daisy
4	None
5	None
6	None
7	13:28, 16:04, 20:21 ~ 20:38 - in the audience for the play
8	None
9	None
10	None
11	None
12	7:16 - walking past Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie
13	None
14	None
15	None
16	None
17	None
18	Yes
19	None
20	Yes
21	Yes
22	None
23	None
24	9:59 - walking with "Cayenne"; 11:07 - watching Rainbow Dash pour fake snow
25	None
26	None

Season nine
1	None
2	None
3	None
4	Yes
5	None
6	Yes
7	None
8	None
9	None
10	None
11	None
12	None
13	None
14	None
15	None
16	None
17	Yes
18	None
19	None
20	Yes
21	None
22	None
23	None
24	None
25	None
26	None

Depiction in Equestria Girls

Equestria Girls: Friendship Games

Neon Lights' human counterpart appears in My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games as a student of Crystal Prep Academy and member of the Shadowbolts. He first appears on the bus to Canterlot High School, and during Canterlot High's welcome party for Crystal Prep, he interacts with "Indigo Wreath" until Principal Cinch puts an end to the party. In the Friendship Games' academic decathlon, he is partnered with Jet Set in the home economics portion, and they produce a sloppy-looking cake.

Before the Friendship Games' final event, he is among other Shadowbolts pressuring human Twilight Sparkle into releasing magic from inside her pendant. He later witnesses the battle between Daydream Shimmer and Midnight Sparkle.

Equestria Girls: Better Together

In A Fine Line, Neon Lights appears waiting in line for the Tirek's Revenge video game at the Canterlot Mall.

Equestria Girls: Forgotten Friendship

In Forgotten Friendship, Neon Lights briefly appears in Applejack's memories of the final event of the Friendship Games.

Equestria Girls: Holidays Unwrapped

In the "Dashing Through the Mall" segment of Holidays Unwrapped, Neon Lights makes a background appearance standing at a line to a pet store at the Canterlot Mall.

Other depictions

Neon Lights, wearing his jacket and sunglasses, appears in the My Little Pony Friendship is Magic animated short "Rarity's Fashion Police".

Friendship is Magic shorts

In Sundae, Sundae, Sundae, Neon Lights appears in the crowd of ponies attending the grand opening of the Sugarcube Corner Ice Cream Museum.

Storybooks

Chapter books

In Canterlot High Stories: Twilight Sparkle's Science Fair Sparks, Twilight Sparkle's partner "for the first-ever Canter-Crys science fair" is "a charming new Crystal Prep boy named Rising Star. But as Twilight falls under his spell while they create their own party mood modificator, Flash Sentry, Sunset Shimmer, and the rest of her friends suspect Rising Star is up to something wicked."

Software

My Little Pony (mobile game)

Neon Lights is a playable character added in the Bugfix update in Gameloft's mobile game. His in-game description states, "With his mohawk mane, starry cutie mark and his cool black shades, Neon Lights is one bright star waiting to be made!" Shadesy Townspony was added in a later update. His bio states, "He may have gotten those oversized novelty sunglasses as a free giveaway at a cute-ceañera, but he still thinks they look spiffy."

Merchandise

A mini-figure toy of Neon Lights has been displayed at the 2014 American International Toy Fair. The toy was released as part of the eleventh wave of mystery pack toys and collector cards and named with a trademark symbol. The toy uses the same mold as that of DJ Pon-3, and the collector card states "NEON LIGHTS loves to have his picture taken!"

In Enterplay's collectible card game, Neon Lights is named "Rising Star" on his own card α #75 C, which attributes to DJ Pon-3 the quote "Rising Star? Yeah, his music is pretty sick. And the louder you play it, the better it sounds."

Gallery

Neon Lights image gallery

See also

• Rising Star, In the Spotlight on the Collectible Card Game Wiki
• Neon Lights on the Fan Wiki
• Neon Lights on the My Little Pony Gameloft Wiki
• Pony with a similar name: Neon Brights.