Spirit / Swift Wind

Featured Images taken from the episodes “He Ain’t Heavy”

Spirit and Swift Wind are voiced by Lou Scheimer
First seen in the episode “Beast Island” / “She-Ra Unchained”

Spirit transforms into Swift Wind, the mighty winged unicorn, when struck by a blast from the jewel in She-Ra’s sword.

Spirit was simply Adora’s humble horse before the day that changed her life – which, in turn, also changed his.

Moments after Adora first transformed into She-Ra and freed her brother from Hordak’s Magna Beam Charger, the Princess of Power leapt out of the Fright Zone and plummeted through the roof of the Fright Zone stables, landing directly on top of Spirit.

She expected the horse to run for Whispering Woods to warn the Great Rebellion of Hordak’s attack – but instead, Spirit rose onto his hind legs and transformed into Swift Wind.

From that moment on, Spirit was able to speak, both as a horse and in his new form, as a winged unicorn. [03]

However, Spirit only gains in power and ability when he is Swift Wind.

As well as the ability to fly, the magnificent Swift Wind also possesses powers of telepathy through the horn on his head.

He can communicate with She-Ra, [58] other flying horses [91] and other unicorns, [36] with whom he also maintains a unique bond – a bond that was finally sealed in the last ever installment of the show. [93]

Swift Wind – surprisingly undeveloped considering his importance to the series – was to become a father in She-Ra’s swan song story. [93]

His mate, Star Wind was to give birth to Swifty’s child, but she was captured by Hordak and Mantenna and taken to Beast Island, as part of a trap to capture She-Ra.

The Horde was defeated, and the baby born. However, according to ancient legend, a unicorn child born anywhere other than Unicorn Island would not become a unicorn at all, so Swifty’s baby was birthed as a simple winged horse.

Thanks to the magic of Grayskull, though, She-Ra was able to transform the young foal into a winged baby unicorn – although his parents made a point of mentioning that they would have loved him either way.

Had the series continued, Swifty might have been given some more well-deserved development, but instead is left as the least developed regular of the series.

One of a few things we do know about Swifty is his loving bond with She-Ra.

He has faith in her every ability [18, 04, 09] and helps the Princess of Power out of his own choice. [36]

Their love is rarely expressed – as Swifty is depicted most often as a simple means of transport – but when it is, it is done with a touching sincerity. [22, 49]

Swift Wind’s physical strength should not be underestimated.

Without him, She-Ra may never have accomplished some of the amazing feats we witness in the series.

Moving a giant dome from over the Whispering Woods was largely the work of Swift Wind, [13] as was carrying an enormous Horde warehouse across the night sky [86] and – most impressively – moving one of the Etherian moons to save Castle Bright Moon from a Horde attack. [28]

Swifty is also incredibly fast, his speed allowing him to accelerate well ahead of Sea Hawk’s flying ship falling from the sky [40] and even to fly backward so fast he managed to bend the time continuum and end up in the past! [73]

She-Ra and Swift Wind have developed a unique ‘attack language’ between them, where She-Ra chooses a particular ‘move’ and Swifty complies with the instruction accordingly.

Over the course of the series, we witness three destructive ‘maneuvers’ (numbers 19, 36 and 55), suggesting there are others in between. [33, 40, 52] At least 52, to be precise!

Spirit’s lack of character development is even more staggering than Swift Wind’s.

It is possible that Spirit’s newfound powers as Swifty granted him some sort of extra sense, as he seemed more aware of impending Horde attacks than Adora in some episodes. [05, 11, 30]

He also indicates on one occasion that he is quite old [50] – whereas Swift Wind was ‘born’ when She-Ra was, Spirit may be notably older – and proves himself as a caring confidant to others, as demonstrated when Kowl extradited himself to the Valley of the Lost. [48]

When not transformed as Swift Wind, Spirit continues to possess the strength of a grown horse, as one Horde Trooper found out when Spirit tripped his vehicle up without any problems! [30]

Finally, possibly the most peculiar assumption made about Spirit is that he turns into a bird when transformed into Swift Wind – the comment, incidentally, came from the so-called ‘know-it-owl’ Kowl [48] (or perhaps a misinformed writer).

Cartoon Appearances: Spirit

Season One – Total: 49/65

Beast Island
She-Ra Unchained
Reunions
Battle for Bright Moon
Duel at Devlan
The Sea Hawk
The Red Knight
The Missing Ax
The Prisoners of Beast Island
The Peril of Whispering Woods
The Laughing Dragon
King Miro’s Journey
Friendship
He Ain’t Heavy
Return of the Sea Hawk
Horde Prime Takes A Holiday
Enchanted Castle
The Crystal Castle
The Crown of Knowledge
Small Problems
Book Burning
The Eldritch Mist
Bow’s Farewell
Play It Again, Bow
The Reluctant Wizard
Friends Are Where You Find Them
A Talent for Trouble
The Unicorn King
The Anxious Apprentice
Zoo Story
Treasure of the First Ones
Glimmer’s Story
Enemy With My Face
Welcome Back, Kowl
The Rock People
Huntara
Micah of Bright Moon
The Price of Power
Birds of a Feather
Just Like Me
My Friend, My Enemy
Unexpected Ally
The Light of the Crystal
Loo-Kee Lends a Hand
Jungle Fever
Anchors Aloft Part I
Anchors Aloft Part II
Darksmoke and Fire
Magicats

He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special

Season Two – Total: 16/28

Return Of The General
Out Of The Cocoon
Something Old, Something New
Loo-Kee’s Sweety
The Time Transformer
Above It All
Brigis
The Caregiver
When Whispering Woods Last Bloomed
Romeo And Glimmer
Shera Makes A Promise
Bow’s Magical Gift
Sweet Bee’s Home
Glimmer Come Home
Portrait of Doom
The Bibbet Story

Cartoon Appearances: Swift Wind

Season One – Total: 53/65

She-Ra Unchained
Reunions
Battle for Bright Moon
Duel at Devlan
The Sea Hawk
The Red Knight
The Missing Ax
The Prisoners of Beast Island
The Peril of Whispering Woods
The Laughing Dragon
King Miro’s Journey
Friendship
He Ain’t Heavy
Return of the Sea Hawk
Horde Prime Takes A Holiday
Enchanted Castle
The Crystal Castle
The Crown of Knowledge
Small Problems
Book Burning
The Eldritch Mist
Bow’s Farewell
The Price of Freedom
Play It Again, Bow
The Reluctant Wizard
Friends Are Where You Find Them
A Talent for Trouble
Troll’s Dream
The Unicorn King
The Anxious Apprentice
Zoo Story
Treasure of the First Ones
Glimmer’s Story
Enemy With My Face
Welcome Back, Kowl
The Rock People
Huntara
Micah of Bright Moon
The Price of Power
Birds of a Feather
For Want of a Horse
Just Like Me
My Friend, My Enemy
The Wizard
Unexpected Ally
The Light of the Crystal
Loo-Kee Lends a Hand
Of Shadows and Skulls
Black Snow
Anchors Aloft Part I
Anchors Aloft Part II
Flowers for Hordak
Wild Child

He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special

Season Two – Total: 18/28

Return Of The General
Out Of The Cocoon
A Lesson In Love
Something Old, Something New
Loo-Kee’s Sweety
The Time Transformer
Above It All
Brigis
The Caregiver
When Whispering Woods Last Bloomed
Romeo And Glimmer
Shera Makes A Promise
Bow’s Magical Gift
Sweet Bee’s Home
Glimmer Come Home
Portrait of Doom
Assault On The Hive
Swifty’s Baby