My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Sunset's Backstage Pass

The Equestria Girls travel to the Starswirled Music Festival, a two-day live music event. Sunset Shimmer and Pinkie Pie are excited at the prospect of a reunion performance by PostCrush, their favorite pop duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Kiwi Lollipop (K-Lo) and drummer Supernova Zap (Su-Z). Throughout the first day, Sunset deals with a number of minor annoyances, many of which have to do with an easily distracted Pinkie. The two are thrown out of the festival after Pinkie destroys a churro vendor's cart, and Sunset angrily rejects Pinkie's attempt at an apology. As she sits despondently on a hilltop overlooking the site, a blast of magical energy suddenly washes over her.

When Sunset wakes up the next morning, she finds that she is reliving the first day of the festival. She tries unsuccessfully to keep Pinkie from being sidetracked, and Pinkie again breaks the churro cart and gets both of them thrown out. On the next repetition of the day, Sunset leaves Pinkie behind and gets a front-row spot to see PostCrush perform, unaware of Pinkie's heartbreak and the other girls' disapproval over her decision.

Sunset is shocked to discover that she is still reliving the same day time after time, despite having achieved her goal, and blames Pinkie for the situation. She commandeers the recreational vehicle in which she and her friends are camping and tries to flee the site, but it breaks down and leaves her stuck in the time loop. The next day, Sunset sends a message to Princess Twilight Sparkle in Equestria. In a reply, Twilight tells Sunset that the time loop is caused by a magical Equestrian artifact called the Time Twirler, which can loop time. Sunset then makes up her mind to find whoever is using the artifact and bring an end to the time loop.

The lyrics of a song by the Dazzlings lead Sunset and her friends to believe that they are using the Time Twirler, but Adagio Dazzle explains to Sunset that they never regained their magic after losing it and have nothing to do with the time loop. Resolving to treat Pinkie better, Sunset indulges her in a range of activities on the next repetition. The two sneak backstage to meet PostCrush and discover that the pair found the Time Twirler on the night before the festival. They have been using its spell to reset the day every time something goes wrong with their set, in order to deliver a flawless performance.

A security guard throws Sunset and Pinkie out at PostCrush's request, but later readmits them. They confront the duo just as the show begins; Pinkie knocks the Time Twirler off K-Lo's hair bow and Sunset destroys it, permanently breaking its spell. K-Lo and Su-Z despair over no longer being able to repeat the day, but Sunset reassures them that their fans just want to see them performing and having fun. The duo expresses remorse for their actions and reconcile, putting on a lively show with Sunset and Pinkie.

The next morning, Sunset is relieved and overjoyed to discover that it is now the second day of the festival. Remarking that she has been stuck in the loop for three weeks, she sets out to enjoy the day with Pinkie.

• Rebecca Shoichet as Sunset Shimmer
• Tara Strong as Twilight Sparkle and Princess Twilight Sparkle
• Ashleigh Ball as Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Lyra Heartstrings
• Andrea Libman as Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Bon Bon (Sweetie Drops)
• Tabitha St. Germain as Rarity and Announcer
• Lili Beaudoin as Kiwi Lollipop (K-Lo)
• Mariee Devereux as Supernova Zap (Su-Z)
• Kazumi Evans as Adagio Dazzle
• Diana Kaarina as Aria Blaze
• Maryke Hendrikse as Sonata Dusk
• Kathleen Barr as Puffed Pastry
• Lee Tockar as Snips

The singing voices for K-Lo, Su-Z and Aria Blaze are provided by Marie Hui, Arielle Tuliao and Shylo Sharity respectively. Shannon Chan-Kent provides the singing voice for Pinkie Pie and Sonata Dusk.

The special also features minor speaking roles with Michael Dobson as a security guard, and Tockar voicing a festival artist and a festival intern respectively.

A novel adaptation titled My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Make Your Own Magic: Starswirl Do-Over was published on February 5, 2019.[1]

Sunset's Backstage Pass aired on July 27, 2019 on Discovery Family. The special was edited down into a cut of six episodes on the official My Little Pony YouTube channel. Its first episode was uploaded on September 17, 2019 and its last episode on October 13.