Principal Abacus Cinch, commonly known by her surname Cinch, is the main antagonist featured in the 2015 film Friendship Games and is the former principal of Crystal Prep Academy.
Portrayers[]
Iris Quinn previously played Cinch in Friendship Games, but from New Witch on the Block and up, Sigourney Weaver plays both Cinch and Apple Dumplin from Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures.
Personality[]
Principal Cinch is the haughty, abusive and manipulative principal of Crystal Prep Academy. She takes pride in her students and reputation, especially the awards that her school receives when winning the Friendship Games, and largely considers their legacy of winning her own. She also considers Sci-Twi her most prized student due to her test grades.
Depiction In Equestria Girls[]
Friendship Games[]
Cinch appears in Friendship Games as the principal of Crystal Prep Academy. She demonstrates great pride in her school and its reputation as the undefeated winners of the Friendship Games every 4 years, so much pride, in fact, that she views rival institute Canterlot High School's recent boost in athletics and academics as a threat. In order to maintain Crystal Prep's reputation, Cinch forces her brightest student Twilight Sparkle (Sci-Twi) to compete in the Games, going as far as to threaten revoking Twilight's application for an independent study program to ensure she competes.
During her visit to Canterlot High School, Cinch displays considerable disdain toward the school and its choice of Games competitors, comparing their selection process to a popularity contest. She interrupts the welcome party that the school holds for their rivals to assure everyone that Crystal Prep will win the Games like it always has.
♫ So then why can't we do the same? ♫
During the Tri-Cross Relay event of the Games, Cinch witnesses Twilight's amulet open a dimensional rift and release a carnivorous plant and she watches Rainbow Dash pony up. She accuses Principal Celestia of cheating and when Celestia suggests ending the Games in a tie, Cinch refuses, determined to prove that Crystal Prep can win regardless of the presence of magic.
In the final round of the Games, Cinch and the Shadowbolts pressure Twilight into releasing the magic from her amulet and using it against the Wondercolts, justifying it as fighting fire with fire. Her hubris results in the creation of Twilight's evil alter ego Midnight Sparkle. As Midnight slowly destroys the world around her, Cinch retreats into hiding.
After Twilight is returned to normal, Cinch demands that Principal Celestia forfeit the Friendship Games, citing Canterlot High's unfair advantage of using magic. However, the Shadowbolts turn on their principal and blame her for Twilight's wicked transformation. Cinch says that she plans to report the incident to the school board, but Celestia, Vice Principal Luna and Dean Cadance inform her that no one would believe her story. In an effort to save face, she leaves the school with calm dignity. She last appears in a photograph with Dean Cadance and the Shadowbolts during the film's end credits.