Bright Mac and Pear Butter (2024)

Not to be confused with MLP/Transformers 01 Unnamed Mare - Heart and Pickle.

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Eyes	Moderate harlequin
Mane	Brilliant red
Coat	Pale, light grayish olive
Relatives	Pear Butter (wife) Granny Smith (mother) Grand Pear (father-in-law) Applejack (daughter) Apple Bloom (daughter) Big McIntosh (son) Sugar Belle (daughter-in-law) 'Big Sugar' (future grandson) Apple family
Cutie mark
Voice	Bill Newton (English) Frederik Haùgness (French) Petrus Kähkönen (Finnish) Mateusz Kwiecień (Polish) Eugen Neag (Romanian) Anton Savenkov (Russian) Tommy Rojas (Latin American Spanish) Andriy Tverdak (Ukrainian)

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Eyes	Brilliant turquoise
Mane	Brilliant gamboge
Coat	Pale gamboge
Relatives	Bright Mac (husband) Grand Pear (father) Granny Smith (mother-in-law) Applejack (daughter) Apple Bloom (daughter) Big McIntosh (son) Sugar Belle (daughter-in-law) 'Big Sugar' (future grandson) Apple family Pear family
Cutie mark
Voice	Felicia Day (English) Saara Lehtonen (Finnish) Annaïg Bouguet (French) Paulina Łaba (Polish) Anda Tămășanu (Romanian) Darya Frolova (Russian) Lupita Leal (Latin American Spanish) Anna Chyzh (Ukrainian)
Singing voice	Ambre Grouwels (French) Anastasia Romanova (Russian) Roxana Puente (Latin American Spanish)

Bright Mac, full name Bright Macintosh,^{[note 1]} and Pear Butter are the married Earth pony parents of Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big McIntosh. They physically appear in flashback in the season seven episode The Perfect Pear, and they are alluded to in other episodes and media.

Development and designs[]

In December 2011, Lauren Faust mentioned that the whereabouts of Applejack's parents had not been planned and that the show was unlikely to mention that they've passed away.^[1] Faust stated that while she wanted it to be the case, she "didn't think they would allow it."^[2] At the 2016 Middle Equestrian Convention in Poland, My Little Pony character designer Kora Kosicka stated in response to a fan question that Applejack's parents are dead.^[3]

Bright Mac's color scheme is similar to those of Strawberry Sunrise, Don Neigh, "Special Delivery", "Nolan North", "Gingerbread", and male Starburst, and he shares his coat and mane colors with Apple Bloom.

Pear Butter's nickname is the same as the name of Buttercup, was previously used as the name of a G2 Earth pony, and is also the same as the name of the basis of Friends Forever 16 Unnamed Filly - Buttercup.

On November 17, 2012, Tim Stuby joked about Applejack's parents being played by John Stamos^[4] and Nancy Kerrigan.^[5]

When asked on Twitter about his "Favorite mom of the Mane 6" in late May 2017, Jim Miller replied "AJ's."^[6]

According to M. A. Larson in October 2020, Pear Butter was originally named Honeycrisp and written for an earlier scrapped episode titled "Mother Country",^[7] in which a satyr gave her the ability to make anything grow by touching it but she left home after realizing she could no longer touch her children.

Pear Butter as a young mare has a similar build to Plaid Stripes, "Pearly Whites", "Thunderstruck", filly Fluttershy, later filly Applejack, later filly Derpy, and Crystal Hoof.

Depiction in the series[]

In the season three episode Apple Family Reunion, a pair of shooting stars appears twice flying through the sky over Sweet Apple Acres. According to then-storyboard artist Sabrina Alberghetti,^[8] who implemented it,^[9] the shooting stars are meant to represent Applejack's parents; this was also hinted at by Tim Stuby.^[4]

In the season five episode Crusaders of the Lost Mark, Applejack tells Apple Bloom after she receives her cutie mark, "If Mom and Dad were here, they'd be so proud of ya."

In the season seven episode A Royal Problem, Applejack's parents briefly appear in a dream bubble holding an infant Applejack while Princess Celestia observes ponies' dreams.

In The Perfect Pear, the Apples' parents' love story is revealed and detailed through flashbacks. As infants, Bright Macintosh of the Apple family meets and becomes friends with Pear Butter of the rivaling Pear family, nicknaming her Buttercup. As they grow up together, their friendship slowly turns into mutual romantic affection, despite the disapproval of Bright Mac's mother, Granny Smith, and Pear Butter's father, Grand Pear.

When the escalating feud between the Apple and Pear families threatens to split Bright Mac and Pear Butter apart, they have a secret wedding, officiated by Mayor Mare, with Burnt Oak and Mrs. Cake (their respective best friends) in attendance. Granny Smith and Grand Pear soon find out about their marriage, and when Grand Pear refuses to accept Pear Butter's love for Bright Mac, she renounces her family ties to be with the Apples.

Bright Mac and Pear Butter's eventual fate is unknown, but their legacy lives on through Applejack's honesty, Big Mac's humility, Apple Bloom's intuition towards others' special talents, and a large tree that grows both apples and pears, the seeds of which they planted on the night of their wedding.

In the holiday special My Little Pony Best Gift Ever, Applejack mentions that she got her hat from her father Bright Mac.

In season nine, Bright Mac and Pear Butter briefly appear in a flashback in Going to Seed, with Bright Mac giving his yoke to a young Big Mac and Apple Bloom as an infant riding on Pear Butter's back. They are also mentioned by Applejack as she tells Apple Bloom before she falls asleep about how they told her the story about the Great Seedling. In The Big Mac Question, they are mentioned by Big Mac when he apologizes to Sugar Belle for not making things perfect like his parents did, but Sugar Belle reminds him that Bright Mac and Pear Butter had to handle tougher situations and were still together in the end. As a tribute to them, Big Mac and Sugar Belle both propose to each other and get married at the same tree planted on Bright Mac and Pear Butter's wedding.

In The Last Problem, Bright Mac and Pear Butter briefly appear in Applejack's group shot during The Magic of Friendship Grows.

Other depictions[]

IDW comics[]

Bright Mac and Pear Butter are mentioned by Applejack on My Little Pony: Ponyville Mysteries Issue #4 page 8. In My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issue #72, Applejack recreates her mother's famous apple pie recipe, and Bright Mac and Pear Butter are also featured in several flashbacks. In Issue #89, Zecora alludes to Pear Butter when trying to explain to Applejack her feelings about being expected to return to Farasi.

Chapter books[]

In Applejack and the Honest-to-Goodness Switcheroo, Applejack's mother is mentioned, though not by name, when Granny Smith gives Applejack a notebook that used to belong to Applejack's mother.

PonyChat[]

In the fifth episode of PonyChat, "BRIGHT MAC" and "BUTTERCUP" are included on "APPLEJACK'S FAMILY TREE" presented by Elle on the Inside.

Software[]

Bright Mac, Pear Butter, and their younger selves are characters in Gameloft's mobile game, and serve as helpers during "The Perfect Pear" event.

Mobile game descriptions[]

Bright Mac:
Applejack's dad always had a strong sense of responsibility... Just like Big Mac!
Pear Butter:
Applejack's mom always had a passion for helping ponies find their true talents... Just like Apple Bloom
Young Bright Mac:
Pear Butter first met him when they were just foals. It would be the start of something truly special...
Young Pear Butter:
Bright Mac took to calling her "Buttercup" -- but not when her dad was around!

Appearances[]

Personality[]

Bright Mac and Pear Butter are a loving, loyal, and resilient couple whose romance persists in spite of the feud between their families. Bright Mac is described as having a strong sense of responsibility while being gentle towards Pear Butter. According to Burnt Oak, he is also known for his honesty (a trait his daughter Applejack would inherit), admitting his fault to Grand Pear so that Pear Butter does not take the blame for his actions. Pear Butter is kind and supportive to both Bright Mac and her friend Chiffon Swirl. She is the one who helps Chiffon Swirl discover her talent for baking (a passion Apple Bloom would later exhibit). She is also gifted in music, composing a song for Bright Mac.

Quotes[]

The Perfect Pear

Young Bright Mac: [whispering] My mom says if you hold a buttercup under your chin, it'll make your chin glow. But it doesn't work on me. See?

Young Pear Butter: [whispering] Does it work on me?

[heart beating]

Young Bright Mac: It sure does, Buttercup.

Young Pear Butter: Buttercup. I like that name.

Pear Butter: I can't help it. We just sorta... happened.

Bright Mac: Happy one hundred and thirty-one thousand, four hundred and fifty-six hour anniversary, darlin'.

Pear Butter: What? [laughs] That's way longer than we've been together.

Bright Mac: I know, but it's the anniversary of the first time I called you "Buttercup". It's okay if you didn't get me anythin'.

Pear Butter: Actually... I did.

Bright Mac: A guitar? For me? But... [strums guitar] I don't know how to play.

Pear Butter: Quiet, you.

Bright Mac: I don't want to be apart from you. Ever. I'm not sure what we'll do, but I'm sure of us. So sure that I'd marry you today.

Pear Butter: I would, too!

Pear Butter: The Apples are my family now, too.

Gallery[]

Bright Mac and Pear Butter image gallery

See also[]

• Characters with a similar name (Bright Mac): Big Mac, Bright Smile, Bright Bulb, and Bright Bridle.
• Characters with a similar name (Pear Butter): Buttercup, Buttercream, Old Mare Butterwick, Grand Pear, Mare-ion Pear, Mrs. Pearblossom, and Mr. Pearblossom.

Notes[]

References[]

v•d•e Characters
Leading characters (G4) Twilight Sparkle • Spike Applejack Fluttershy Pinkie Pie Rainbow Dash Rarity
Leading characters (G5) Sunny Starscout Izzy Moonbow Hitch Trailblazer Pipp Petals Zipp Storm
Supporting characters Cutie Mark Crusaders Sweetie Belle Apple Bloom Babs Seed Scootaloo Gabby Royalty Princess Celestia • Princess Luna • Princess Platinum • Princess Cadance • Shining Armor • Prince Blueblood • Princess Amore • Prince Rutherford • Flurry Heart • Ember • Princess Skystar • Queen Novo • Queen Haven The Apple family Big McIntosh • Granny Smith • Braeburn • Aunt and Uncle Orange • Hayseed Turnip Truck • Apple Strudel • Auntie Applesauce • Apple Rose • Goldie Delicious • Bright Mac The Sparkle family Twilight Velvet and Night Light The Pie family Limestone Pie and Marble Pie • Igneous Rock Pie and Cloudy Quartz • Maud Pie The Shy family Mr. and Mrs. Shy • Zephyr Breeze The Cake family Mr. and Mrs. Cake • Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake The Rich family Diamond Tiara • Filthy Rich • Spoiled Rich The Pear family Pear Butter • Grand Pear School-age ponies Silver Spoon • Twist • Snips • Snails • Sunny Daze and Peachy Pie • Pipsqueak • Featherweight • Rumble • Filly Guides • Zipporwhill • Tender Taps • Toola Roola and Coconut Cream • Wind Sprint Celebrities Hoity Toity • Photo Finish • Sapphire Shores • Fancy Pants • Jade Singer • Daring Do • Prim Hemline • Trenderhoof • Coloratura • Zesty Gourmand • Songbird Serenade Antagonists Shadowbolts • Boy Bullies • Diamond Dogs • Flim and Flam • Queen Chrysalis • King Sombra • Lightning Dust • Big Boy and Runt • Sunflower • Mane-iac (henchponies) • Suri Polomare • Lord Tirek • The Dazzlings (Adagio Dazzle • Sonata Dusk • Aria Blaze) • North Star • King Longhorn • Principal Cinch • Wind Rider • Svengallop • Gladmane • The Storm King • Cozy Glow • Sludge • Princess Eris • Grogar • Opaline Reformed: Gilda • Trixie • Discord • Ahuizotl • Garble • Larry • Sunset Shimmer • Snips and Snails • Buck Withers • Dr. Caballeron (henchponies) • Starlight Glimmer • Shadow Lock • Juniper Montage • Stygian • Tempest Shadow • Grubber • Wallflower Blush • Chancellor Neighsay • Vignette Valencia • Kiwi Lollipop and Supernova Zap • Sprout • Posey • Misty Wonderbolts Spitfire • Soarin • Blaze • Surprise • Fire Streak • Misty Fly • Silver Zoom • Fleetfoot • High Winds • Thunderlane Physicians Nurse Redheart • Dr. Horse • Dr. Fauna • Doctor Horse • Nurse ponies Pillars of Old Equestria Star Swirl the Bearded • Rockhoof • Mistmane • Flash Magnus • Somnambula • Mage Meadowbrook Young Six Sandbar • Gallus • Smolder • Yona • Ocellus • Silverstream Other pony characters 8-bit • All Aboard • Alphabittle • Angel Wings • Autumn Blaze • Barley Barrel • Blossomforth • Bow Hothoof • Bulk Biceps • Chancellor Puddinghead • Charity Sweetmint • Cheerilee • Cheese Sandwich • Cherry Jubilee • Claude • Clear Skies • Clear Sky • Cloud Chaser • Clover the Clever • Coco Pommel • Commander Hurricane • Cookie Crumbles • Coriander Cumin • Dahlia • Davenport • Double Diamond • Fawn Doo • Feather Bangs • Firelight • Flash Sentry • Flax Seed • Fleur de Lis • Flitter • Fluffy Clouds • Gaffer • Gallant True • Gizmo • Golden Gavel • The Headless Horse • Aunt Holiday • Hondo Flanks • Hoofbeard • Hooffield and McColt families • Mr. and Mrs. Hoofington • Inkwell • Inky Rose • Jack Pot • Jazz Hooves • Jet Set • Joe • Junebug • Kerfuffle • Lily Lace • Auntie Lofty • Luster Dawn • Mane Allgood • Marcie Pan • Mare Do Well • Mayor Mare • Method Mares • Moody Root • Moon Dancer • Mr. Breezy • Mr. Paleo • Mr. Stripes • Mrs. Paleo • Ms. Harshwhinny • Ms. Peachbottom • Mudbriar • Night Glider • Open Skies • Party Favor • Petunia Paleo • Petunia Petals • Pickle Barrel • Plaid Stripes • Pony Pickers • The Pony Tones • Ponyacci • Power Ponies • Private Pansy • Quibble Pants • Radiant Hope • Randolph • Roma • Royal guards • Saffron Masala • Sassy Saddles • Sheriff Silverstar • Silver Frames • Silver Shill • Sky Stinger • Smart Cookie • Snap Shutter • Spa ponies • Spearhead • Starstreak • Steamer • Stellar Eclipse • Stellar Flare • Sugar Belle • Sunburst • Sunny Skies • Sunshower • Sunspot • Swan Song • Teddie Safari • Torque Wrench • Tree Hugger • Trouble Shoes • Upper Crust • Vapor Trail • Wheat Grass • Windy Whistles Non-pony characters Steven Magnet • Zecora • Little Strongheart • Chief Thunderhooves • Cranky Doodle Donkey • Matilda • Iron Will • Gustave le Grand • Mulia Mild • Seabreeze • Scorpan • The Smooze • Grampa Gruff • Greta • Thorax • Pharynx • Capper • Captain Celaeno • Terramar • Tree of Harmony • Sky Beak • Ocean Flow Equestria Girls characters Humans • The Rainbooms (Fluttershy • Pinkie Pie • Applejack • Rarity • Rainbow Dash) • DJ Pon-3 • Sandalwood • Micro Chips • Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon • Flash Sentry • Miss Cheerilee • Photo Finish • Cutie Mark Crusaders • Principal Celestia • Big McIntosh • Trixie and the Illusions • Granny Smith • Vice Principal Luna • Cranky Doodle • Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops • Bulk Biceps • Maud Pie • Pony Pickers • Violet Blurr and Pixel Pizzaz • Shadowbolts (Twilight Sparkle (Sci-Twi) • Sunny Flare • Sour Sweet • Indigo Zap • Sugarcoat • Lemon Zest) • Gloriosa Daisy • Timber Spruce • Canter Zoom • Chestnut Magnifico • Zephyr Breeze Animal companions Constance • Angel • Winona • Opalescence • Gummy • Philomena • Owlowiscious • Harry • Tank • Peewee • Spike • Smoky's family Creatures Dragons • Griffons • Parasprites • Phoenixes • Windigos • Timberwolves • Cerberus • Changelings • Plunderseeds • Breezies • Seaponies and mermares
Background characters Earth ponies Ace Point • Amira • Apple Brown Betty • Apple Bumpkin • Apple Cider • Apple Cinnamon • Apple Cobbler • Apple Dumpling • Apple Fritter • Apple Honey • Apple Leaves • Apple Munchies • Apple Split • Barber Groomsby • Beauty Brass • Berry Dreams • Berryshine • Bill Neigh • Blueberry Curls • Bumblesweet • Bushel • Business Savvy • Candy Apples • Candy Mane • Caramel • Caramel Apple • Cathy O'Mara • Charged Up • Chelsea Porcelain • Cherry Berry • Cherry Fizzy • Cherry Gold • Count Caesar • Crusoe Palm • Daisy • Dance Fever • Dane Tee Dove • Dr. Hooves • Eclair Crème • Eiffel • Emerald Green • Felix • Fetter Keys • Fiddly Twang • Florina Tart • Gala Appleby • Globe Trotter • Golden Delicious • Golden Harvest • Goldengrape • Green Jewel • Haakim • Half Baked Apple • Hughbert Jellius • Jeff Letrotski • Joan Pommelway • Jonagold • Lady Gaval • Lavender Bloom • Lavender Fritter • Leadwing • Lilac Links • Lily Valley • Long Shot • Luckette • Lucky Clover • Lucky Star • Lyrica Lilac • MandoPony • Meadow Song • Minty • Mjölna • Mr. Greenhooves • Mr. Waddle • Neighl Page • Noteworthy • Octavia Melody • Parcel Post • Parish Nandermane • Peachy Sweet • Pearly Stitch • Pegasus Olsen • Perfect Pace • Perfect Pie • Purple Wave • Pursey Pink • Raven Inkwell • Real Article • Red Delicious • Red Gala • Rivet • Roger Silvermane • Rose • Royal Riff • Ruby Splash • Sand Trap • Savoir Fare • Screwball • Screwy • Sealed Scroll • September • Serena • Shoeshine • Shooting Star • Silver Berry • Sir Pony Moore • Snappy Scoop • Spring Forward • Star Gazer • Star Spur • Strawberry Ice • Sweetie Drops • Tall Order • Tealove • Theodore Donald "Donny" Kerabatsos • Twilight Sky • Vidala Swoon • Walter • Wensley • Wisp • S01E26 Unnamed Earth Mare #1 Pegasi Big Shot • Buddy • Celena • Cloud Kicker • Compass Star • Crafty Crate • Derpy • Diamond Rose • Drizzle • Eff Stop • Fast Clip • Foggy Fleece • Helia • Honey Rays • Jack Hammer • Jetstream • Lilac Sky • Lily Blossom • Mane Moon • Meadow Flower • Merry May • Orange Swirl • Parasol • Pizzelle • Prim Posy • Rainbow Blaze • Rainbow Swoop • Rainbowshine • Sassaflash • Serenity • Silver Script • Silverspeed • Spring Step • Sprinkle Medley • Star Hunter • Starburst • Starry Eyes • Stormfeather • Strawberry Sunrise • Sugar Grape • Sunny Rays • Sunshower Raindrops • Surprise • Thorn • Tracy Flash • Warm Front • Whiplash • White Lightning • Whitewash • Wild Fire Unicorns Amethyst Star • Apple Stars • Banana Fluff • Bittersweet • Blue Moon • Burning Heart • Cayenne • Charm • Cherry Spices • Citrus Blush • Comet Tail • Dark Moon • Diamond Mint • DJ Pon-3 • Electric Sky • Fine Line • Firecracker Burst • Four Step • Holly Dash • Juno • Lemon Hearts • Lemony Gem • Love Melody • Lyra Heartstrings • Magnet Bolt • Minuette • Moonlight Raven • Neon Lights • North Point • Peachy Pitt • Pinny Lane • Ponet • Press Release • Rainbow Stars • Rare Find • Royal Pin • Royal Ribbon • Sea Swirl • Silver Spanner • Star Bright • Sunshine Petals • Sunshine Smiles • Sweetcream Scoops • Top Marks • Twinkleshine • Whoa Nelly • Written Script Crystal Ponies Amethyst Maresbury • Autumn Gem • Bright Smile • Crystal Beau • Elbow Grease • Fleur De Verre • Ivory Rook • Night Knight • Rubinstein • Sapphire Joy Foals Apple Flora • Aura • Bolt • Button Mash • Candy Caramel Tooth • Cotton Cloudy • Dinky Doo • Finish Line • Hairpin Turn • Liza Doolots • Mango Dash • Natural Satellite • Noi • Piña Colada • Princess Erroria • Rainy Feather • Ruby Pinch • Saturnalia • Shady Daze • Strike • Sweet Pop • Tornado Bolt • Truffle Non-pony characters Giselle Equestria Girls characters Derpy • Octavia Melody