The Sonic The Hedgehog Movies Have Gotten Sonic Wrong (But Sonic 3 Proves It Was The Right Call)
The live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movies have changed Sonic’s personality from the start, but Sonic the Hedgehog 3 proves that was the right decision all along. Adapting a beloved franchise like Sonic the Hedgehog will always come with difficulties. Fan expectations are so high that it feels impossible to meet them. Surprisingly, the creative team behind the Sonic movies rose to the occasion, creating one of the best video game adaptations of all time.
Although they’ll appeal to a wide audience, the target audience for the Sonic the Hedgehog movies is clearly fans of the video games, like me. One way that they’ve managed to win over fans is by including onscreen versions of the Sonic characters that stay true to video games, with one notable exception. The titular main character, while extremely enjoyable to watch, feels very different from Sonic in the original Sonic the Hedgehog games.
Live-Action Sonic Doesn’t Feel Like The Sonic We Know From The Games
Sonic Is Much More Immature And He Wants To Be A Hero
Although they have some similarities, the live-action Sonic character also feels extremely different from the games, which could feel “wrong” to anyone expecting a one-to-one copy of the original character. Movie Sonic acts less mature and frequently makes childish decisions that the video game version never would. The big-screen character doesn’t have much foresight for the consequences of his actions, which feels like a direct contrast to the video game Sonic. The live-action blue hedgehog is insecure, lacking the confidence and composure of the video game character.
Sonic’s entire drive in the movies is the desire to be a beloved hero who saves people, which feels like the dream of a child who reads comic books. This fits with his boisterousness and desire to be the center of attention. On the other hand, the video game character simply enjoys adventure and unpredictability. Danger tends to find him rather than him seeking it out. The only time he really takes action is when he’s trying to protect the environment – the biggest trait I personally miss from the video game.
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Another significant difference is the fact that he clearly wants the stability of a family and a home in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, which is essential to the characters of Tom and Maddie Wachowski. The video game Sonic is a nomad of sorts, never staying in one place for too long. He also has a deep appreciation for alone time, even when it comes to his friends and loved ones. However, there’s a good reason for the differences.
Why It Makes Sense For Live-Action Sonic Not To Act Like The Sonic We Know
The Sonic Video Games And Movies Needed Different Types Of Characters
From a functional standpoint, the differences between the live-action Sonic and the game Sonic make sense because the mediums have different requirements. The games needed a static character so that fans would experience consistency in constantly changing levels and stories. We generally know what to expect while playing the character Sonic in each game, even if the setting is different.
In contrast, movie franchises require character development and growth over time. Most films need a dynamic character that responds to the events that unfold around them. It would be boring to watch three Sonic movies where the main character doesn’t react to the environment and events in any meaningful way. The character would also become aggravating to watch if Sonic makes the same mistakes repeatedly across different films without learning anything.
The movie version of Sonic is not and will never be the video game Sonic, and I’m okay with that.
Additionally, from a narrative standpoint, the live-action and video game Sonic’s different personalities seem entirely logical. The character in the movie is around 12 or 13 years old in the first movie, but Sonic is 15 or 16 in the earliest video games. This results in reasonable differences in skill and maturity levels. The live-action Sonic also adds a major childhood event that shapes his insecurity and desire for stability. Sonic the Hedgehog sends the blue alien to Earth as a baby, leaving him completely alone. Meanwhile, the video game Sonic doesn’t have this kind of backstory to shape him.
After Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Sonic Is Closer Than Ever To His Game Counterpart
Sonic Has Become More Mature And Confident Like The Video Game Version
The movie version of Sonic is not and will never be the video game Sonic, and I’m okay with that. They don’t need to be the same for fans to enjoy both versions. However, it’s nice to see the movie character take on the more mature traits of the original character in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, creating a great amalgamation that’s fun to watch.
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The plucky main character has become slightly more jaded by the world and his experiences, and he’s more motivated by helping others instead of getting praise or attention. He also steps into a leadership role in Sonic 3, a core part of Team Heroes in most of the games. Sonic is also significantly more confident in his abilities in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 than he was in the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie. He hasn’t quite gotten to the point of being cocky like the video game Sonic; however, he’s much more self-assured in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
On top of these changes, Sonic is also slowly, and I mean very slowly, starting to recognize that he can rely on his friends. While Sonic is mostly a static character in the video games, he does grow when it comes to being a team player. This is one of the most significant ways he changes. It feels nice to see the movie Sonic moving on a parallel path.
Getting To See Sonic Grow Has Been One Of The Best Things About The Movies
I Feel Proud Watching Sonic Grow In The Sonic the Hedgehog Movies
The movie version of Sonic has an innocence and naivety that is extremely endearing. Because he’s introduced to the audience as a baby leaving Longclaw for Earth, we get to see his growth from the very beginning. This makes him easy to root for – a perfect trait for a movie main character. Every success and moment of growth elicits a feeling of pride that I can only compare to watching a child accomplish something. Every failure brings a small ounce of sadness, but hope that next time will be different.
I love the video game Sonic. He’s cool and fun, but he doesn’t elicit those same kinds of feelings for me. Instead, my focus in the video games is on the story, not the eponymous main character. Ultimately, the fact that I can emotionally invest in the main character and see him grow is the best part of the Sonic the Hedgehog movies.
8/10
- Release Date
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December 20, 2024
- Runtime
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110 minutes
- Director
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Jeff Fowler
- Writers
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Josh Miller, Patrick Casey, John Whittington
- Producers
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Neal H. Moritz, Tim Miller, Toru Nakahara, Tommy Gormley, Toby Ascher, Haruki Satomi, Hitoshi Okuno, Yukio Sugino
