Afterbeing announced prematurely late last year, Netflix’s 3DSonic the HedgehogshowSonic Primehas been officially revealed. Produced by WildBrain Studios and Man of Action Entertainment, this 24-episode show will see Sonic racing through a strange new multiverse to save everything within.
It sounds like somewhat of a departure from the usualSonicsetting, which is all well and good — but it can’t all be new.Sonic the Hedgehogis a massive franchise that’s been around since 1991, and there are some iconic aspects from it that need to be inSonic Prime.
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Sonic’s Friends
The massive cast of theSonicfranchise has long been a point of contention in the fandom, but a TV show could finally give them a chance to shine.Tails could return as Sonic’s sidekick, building gadgets and going through his usual character arc of learning to believe in himself. Knuckles would make an ideal bumbling, friendly rival, as Shadow’s backstory is heavily tied to the plot ofSonic Adventure 2, and that would not be relevant in a whole new setting. And most of all, the extendedSoniccast, including Mighty, Ray, Bean, Fang, Bark, Amy Rose, Vector, Charmy, Espio, and all the rest could show up for an episode or two each. This could bring all kinds of fanservice, and would give some of the more obscure cast members a chance to finally step back into the spotlight.
The Eggman Empire
Of course, no great hero is complete without his villain.Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik is just as iconicas Sonic himself, and could be the reason why the Blue Blur is travelling through the multiverse. Eggman provides an easy antagonist for anySonicproduct, being both charming and threatening (but not too charming or threatening) and bringing with him a host of machines that can do basically anything.
Indeed, Eggman’s forces can bring enormous amounts of flavor and story possibilities to the forefront, even if Eggman isn’t there to lead them. If the good doctor just sits back at his home base and throws his machines through whatever portal Sonic fell in to start the plot, the possibilities are still essentially endless.Metal Sonic could serve as a no-nonsense assailant, following Sonic relentlessly to stop him from fixing whatever problems Eggman has caused. He’s also the best candidate for providing hyper-kinetic fight scenes, where two of the fastest characters in gaming throw down with each other. If not Metal, then the various Egg Pawns and animal-themed robots filling Eggman’s army will more than suffice.
A Set of Tools
TheSonicseries has many staples, and chief among them are the items that Sonic picks up throughout his adventures. Whether they be the countless rings Sonic finds throughout stages, or the shields and other powerups found in various games, there’s always some sort of item at play. Even a single elemental shield could make a great centerpiece in an action scene, providing either a means to solve the present problem or a way to make it worse. Wisps,from fan favoriteSonic Colors, could show up as the inhabitants of a world and do the same thing, just with more characterization.
Items could even be at the source of the plot. Throughout theSonicfranchise, mystical gems known as theChaos Emeralds have been able to empower individualsand even cross space and time. Gathering them to undo whatever has thrown Sonic into the multiverse while also using them to travel through it is a sensible series goal. Reference could even be made to the series’ Warp Rings, special giant rings that have appeared since the first game, and they could be implemented as a portal network leading to other worlds.
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The Rockin’ Soundtrack
If there’s one thingSonicgames are known for more than their speed, it’s their sound.Sonicsoundtracks have been praisedas some of the best in the game industry, and it’s commonly reiterated among fans that even the worstSonicgames have some great music. Hearing new remixes of some of those iconic tracks would be delightful and would instantly bring a lot of character to the new worlds, whether they look familiar or be brand new.
Even without the iconic tracks themselves, music that’s trying to sound like it belongs in aSonicgame still has a lot of potential.Old, crunchy Sega Genesis soundbyteswould go great with establishing a nostalgic tone, and the electric guitar and techno riffs of newerSonicgames would inject a lot of energy into the show. And of course, there is no discussingSonicmusic without bringing up the many vocal tracks that define the modern era. While gettingCrush 40, Cash Cash, orHoobastankto compose some music isn’t very likely, they provide some good examples of music that can instantly drum up hype in anySonicfan.
Speed!
Above all else,Sonic the Hedgehog is known for running fast. Sonic’s entire list of platforming tricks are focused on maintaining or increasing his speed, and the level design endemic to theSonicseries encourages it. Spindashing, boosting, and lightspeed dashing provide Sonic with the chance to fly through environments at incredibly high speeds, and even reach areas higher up. Sonic’s somersault and sliding kicks give him good grounded combat options, and his spin shield and iconic homing attack let him blast through enemies in the air.Sonic: Lost Worldeven put parkour on the table, something that’s always exciting to watch when the pace picks up.
As long as Sonic’s sense of speed is maintained, there’s not much more to ask for out of aSonicshow other than a good time. An audience cheering for Sonic as he runs around a giant loop-de-loop is whatSonic Primeshould be aiming for. Even though it won’t quitemakeSonic’s 30th anniversary,Primeis seemingly planned to be a late present. Hopefully, all that and more will be waiting whenSonic Primearrives next year.
Sonic Primewill be airing on Netflix in 2022.
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