Sonic the Hedgehog turned 31 this year (do you feel old yet?), and he kicked the house out with a new game: Sonic Limits. While well received by game critics, this entry was praised not so much for its originality and quality, but for being a solid and playable game, something Sonic was able to do just a while ago. On the other hand, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will hit theaters in December 2024 and seals the success of its film universe after two popular prequels. Also that of Netflix sonic prime will be available to stream on Dec. 15, giving the blue mammal a healthy future in home media.
However, this has not always been the case. TV shows in the ’90s with the blue haze were pretty hit and miss. While some gained popularity, cult status, or both, other franchises failed to do justice to the decade’s best-selling video game entries. However, the equation seems to be turning today, with Sega’s mascot being more sought after by viewers than players. Has Sonic become a movie and TV hero instead of a playable character? Let’s focus on his late media appearances to ponder this question.
Despite the Sonic franchise being relatively popular from its inception until now, the blue blur has had its fair share of ups and downs. In the video game industry, since the first entry until today, a new entry was released almost twice a year, making it a popular character among kids for its sassy attitude and cool vibe. This allowed for a dozen TV series and movie images, allowing him to transcend the screen of the Sega Genesis owner. Almost every kid knew who Sonic was and was eager to hear the backstory of the fastest hedgehog around.
However, Sonic’s booming success came up against Sega’s complicated history as a player in the gaming industry. The company that used to compete with Nintendo struggled with the 3D age of consoles, losing its lackluster Dreamcast to the Nintendo 64 and Sony Playstation. Sega was unable to jump to the next generation and had to transform itself into a video game development company. Fortunately, the mascot was far from out of competition, but popular enough to survive this new era.
In addition, Sonic entered his dark phase. Games like Shadow The Hedgehog, unleashedand Secret rings were panned by critics, with most games of this era being considered the worst of the franchise. The Sega team seemed unable to catch a break, trying to please adamant fans without success. On the other hand, sonic xa TV series based on the last successful entry (sonic adventure), made a good impression on kids from the 2000s, spanning 3 seasons of an expanded universe. Characters like Amy, Knuckles and Shadow were popular with young viewers who may have never played a Sonic game but enjoyed the cartoon.
Nearly ten years later, Sonic Booma rather strange but interesting rebirth of the brand, once again made it through 3 seasons, while video games like sonic generations, Forces, or Lost world were not particularly successful on any console. These were strange times for the hedgehog, with an unclear future ahead.
The Little Sonic movie that could
At the beginning of 2019, the ball started rolling on an upcoming sonic mmovies. The air was tense as fans didn’t know what to think. Video games weren’t that great at the time, and a movie could be from Sonic ultimate flop that could make him a minor character once and for all.
Most importantly, the first teaser gave viewers a glimpse of Ugly Sonic, a poor blue haze design that failed to even impress Yuji Naka, its creator. Due to intense fan backlash, the film was delayed for a year due to redesign. The film finally hit theaters in early 2020. The result? A family movie starring Michael Marsden, Ben Schwartz and Jim Carrey that brought new life to the Sonic franchise.
Two years later, Sonic The Hedgehog2 was as laughable and popular as its predecessor. Set up a warm welcome for the soon-to-be Sonic Limits, the character had regained popularity due to his media counterpart. Probably one of the main draws is a fandom that grew up on the glory of Sonic’s 1990s video games, now parents of kids who love the blue haze. Nostalgia drives a crucial part of the hedgehog’s fans, while today’s gaming industry may offer more thrills than a speedy mascot. That is to say, his gaming reputation isn’t that bad, but he fell short from the first decade, when even Mario felt threatened by Sonic’s popularity. Twenty years later, his media appearances keep the character alive and lovable, extending his lifespan to a new generation.
Anyone who grew up with Sonic hopes that he will reinvent himself in the gaming industry. Sonic Limits is probably a step in the right direction, but it is far from the hedgehog’s main draw. It’s hard to say whether Sonic’s admiration will remain intact twenty years from now, but the next five to ten years are assured, not thanks to fast-paced video games starring the blue haze, but to an emerging film and TV career.
At the moment, Sonic is as well known for games as it is for movies, something that was unthinkable five years ago. Let’s ask the same question ten years from now and see what the answer is.