Thelma is the pony at the center of Thelma the Unicorn, a little farm animal with big dreams. She’s voiced by Brittany Howard, the Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter.

“I used to have a pony when I was a child,” Howard told Netflix. “And when it comes to ponies, there’s one thing that I know. They’re mean. So, on the outside, Thelma is very fiery, but on the inside she’s just a tender, very sweet little pony who doesn’t like getting her feelings hurt — who does?”

This is Howard’s first acting role.

Otis is Thelma’s loyal friend and bandmate, a donkey with his own ambitions (namely, creating a tabletop role--playing game called Dungeons & Wagons). He’s voiced by comedian and actor Will Forte.

“How many actors can say they’ve played a donkey who can both shred on guitar and kick butt in their own DIY role-playing game?” Forte asked. “But what resonated with me the most about the role was Otis and Thelma’s amazing friendship. Throughout Thelma’s sparkly adventure into show business, Otis is there to remind her she’s perfect just the way she is. I hope everyone who watches the movie will remember that too.” 

Saturday Night Live, MacGruber, The Last Man on Earth, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Clone High, The Lego Movie, Booksmart

Vic Diamond is the sleazy manager who whisks Thelma to fame and fortune — but at what cost? He’s voiced by New Zealand national treasure Jemaine Clement, who’s adopted a memorable accent for the role.

“The voice is 45 % Robin Leech (host of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous), 10 % Julia Child and the remainder is just whatever comes out,” Clement said. “None of the managers I’ve worked with have been as unscrupulous as Vic. I deny any claims that Vic’s personification is based on any of my management team.”

Flight of the Conchords, Moana, Avatar: The Way of Water, Despicable Me, Rio, The Lego Batman Movie, What We Do in the Shadows

Nikki Narwhal is Vic Diamond’s former client, a whale superstar who’s quickly upstaged when Thelma opens for her in Las Vegas. She’s voiced by actor and singer Ally Dixon. 

“Nikki hasn’t learned how to trust what she brings to the table, so she fights tooth and nail (or horn and tail) to keep what she’s built because she’s not sure she’s enough without it,” Dixon said. “But no way she’ll admit that, she’s too busy being better than you.” 

The Croods: Family Tree, Them

Megan is Nikki’s loyal assistant, who’s willing to do anything to cut Thelma’s career short and restore her boss to center stage. She’s voiced by actor and writer Edi Patterson.

Knives Out, The Righteous Gemstones, Vice Principals, Partners, The Last O.G.

Peggy Purvis is a legendary musician and producer who serves as a mentor for Thelma. She’s a blind guitar player voiced by Maliaka Mitchell — who’s also blind.

“She’s influenced by a combination of my aunties and my grandmothers, their attitudes, that rambunctious, outgoing, outspoken personality,” Mitchell said. “The fact that there’s a desire to be inclusive in casting, that there’s actually a demand for that authenticity. It allows the world to see blind people for who they really are and how we're just as normal as everyone else.”

This is Mitchell’s first acting role.

Reggie is another of Thelma’s donkey pals in her band, the Rusty Buckets. He’s voiced by Jon Heder, who famously starred in Thelma the Unicorn director Jared Hess’ cult classic Napoleon Dynamite.

“Jared and I very much see eye to eye creatively, and I especially love and appreciate the way he’ll do his own impression of the character right before reading a line,” Heder said. “It really helps me understand the scene and cadence of Reggie when performing.”

Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory, Just Like Heaven, Surf’s Up, Monster House

Danny Stallion is Thelma’s fake celebrity boyfriend, a horse famous for gross viral videos. He’s voiced by sketch comedian and actor Fred Armisen.

Saturday Night Live, Portlandia, Los Espookys, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Mitchells vs. the Machines

By complete coincidence, the crusty trucker voiced by comedian and actor Zach Galifianakis sets Thelma on her road to success when his reckless driving delivers a payload of paint and glitter to her farm. 

The Hangover trilogy, The Lego Batman Movie, Between Two Ferns, Birdman, Puss in Boots, Due Date, Missing Link, Ron’s Gone Wrong