Starswirl Academy



Starswirl Academy is a romantic Visual Novel developed by Zap Apple Project, part of Rosin (archived). While the characters are based on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, it features an original story. In development since 2012, two demos have been released thus far.

Tom has been accepted into the prestigious Starswirl Academy, thanks to her friend Tài's recommendation. Confused by the lack of direction in his life, he will make new friends and discover who he truly is.

Get the demo on itch.io.

Main Game
"Tom: I was the one who got hit, you know... Robin: So did I! And I didn't even have a helmet, I could'a been killed!"
 * Blatant Lies: At the track, Tom can decide the winner of the race between Annabel-Jean and Robin, and thus lie, even though it's obvious who won. Justified, since Tom is scared of the reaction Tài might have on him (she chose Annabel-Jean as the winner).
 * But Thou Must: If you choose "We really should get to the headmaster's office" during Polly's tour, a conversation will occur, but the tour will still continue.
 * Continued urging will actually let you skip most of the tour.
 * Captain Ersatz: All the main characters have features that are lifted from their pony counterparts.
 * Childhood Friends: Tom and Tài. Their relationship can change depending on the chosen route.
 * Cloudcuckoolander: Polly, in spades.
 * Comically Missing the Point: (Board Meeting):


 * Crash Into Hello: (Board Meeting) Robin, riding on a skateboard, crashes into Tom, who was on the way to the Headmaster's office.
 * Elaborate University High: The titular academy.
 * Ice Cream Koan: On Polly's ending, her musings on the "ceiling", crossing with Insane Troll Logic and Space Whale Aesop.
 * Mythology Gag: A pony unicorn statue can be seen in Headmaster Solomon's office.
 * Ordinary High School Student: Tom
 * Prolonged Prologue: The entire demo, barring additional scenes, is this.
 * Reasonable Authority Figure: Headmaster Solomon. When meeting her, Tom and Tài are surprised at how caring she is.
 * Running Gag: Polly's tour's name changes every time she says it.
 * Satchel Switcheroo: Because of a mishap by Dixie, Tom and Tài's luggage were brought to the wrong dorms.
 * School Festival: The "Stargazing Festival".
 * You Gotta Have Blue Hair: In accordance with the character designs from the show.

Once a Year (Bonus Scene)
""Guess the artists got lazy, huh?""
 * Breaking the Fourth Wall: Polly, through the power of Medium Awareness, has one instance of this in each ending, with Tom having no clue what she's doing:
 * If you say yes for the party, Tom will say he's surprised his room has not been painted pink, like he feared. Polly then comments:

"Polly: "Tom... You know I'm not taking no for an answer. This demo wouldn't be as fun if you said no!""
 * If you say no instead:

"Tom: So what now? Polly: I dunno, end the scene? Tom: End the scene? What- (Smash to Black)"
 * In the Gummy Ending:

"Polly: And for those of you out there watching us, Starswirl Academy will come out in- (Smash to Black)"
 * In the Granola Ending:

""Okie dokie, I'll get the battle axe and the edible confetti!""
 * (Yes, that happened.)
 * Easter Egg: If you say "No" to Polly for the party ten times,
 * Get Out!: (Chips Ending) Tom's reaction to Polly, after receiving an empty bag of chips as a gift, the same one she ate.
 * Noodle Implements When Tom reluctantly agrees to Polly's party proposition, she says:


 * Voodoo Shark: Played for Laughs. When Tom wonders how she cooked the homemade cookies he received as a gift so fast, Polly replies with no irony that she's from the future. Tom has no words.