tirsdag 31. mai 2022

"Sonic the Hedgehog" - The Sega Mascot and Videogame Character Who`ve Made the Transition to the Movies

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies. 

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With the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, it would be perfectly appropriate to discuss the iconic videogame character that the movie is based of.
 
 
 
Unlike Mickey Mouse, I have five
fingers :)
Let`s pretend that we`re playing
Tekken :)


 




















I`m trying to get out of this
cake :) But I`m stuck :)
Movies and videogames are two different entities in the Entertainment Industry. However, the Showbiz is cynical enough to adapt each other to each mediums. Often video games based of movies as consumer products are made to milk the movies. But more often there are movies made of videogames. But regarding the issue, there was a time where those movies based of video games had a reputation of being lackluster. Whether that stigma has really disappeared, it`s still never stopped Hollywood to continue to adapt videogame properties. For obvious, commercial reasons (duuuh).
My lifting finger is my new
trademark :)
As to the date this entry was written, the latest videogame property to undergo this transition was Sonic the Hedgehog. But we`ll have to remember that Sonic has gone through this transition before, with his TV shows and previous movies. However, Sonic is first and foremost a videogame character. Who fills the function for Sega just like Super Mario does for Nintendo: Being the official maskot of the Company. And Sonic has been an Iconic and recognizable character more than 30 years.
This is my version of
Wonderland :)
But regardless of what purists think of Sonic`s transition to movie and tv shows, at least his previous movie turned out to be pretty Successful Commercially. Which is the reason for why I`m even publishing this entry. And sure, Sonic is far from being the first Videogame Character to even transition to movies. But as for now he`s relevant (and yes, this was the second time that I`m making an entry of a videogame. After having previously published one of Kingdom Hearts the previous month. But at least Hearts was based of movie characters, unlike Sonic).












General History About Sonic the Hedgehog & Soundtrack

Sonic the Hedgehog was created by Sega Japan in 1991 in order to compete with Super Mario Bros and Nintendo, who was the most dominant Videogame Company at the time. And also to focus on an American Audience (and yes, it had the code name Defeat Mario). Suggested by Hayao Nakayama, despite how Sonic wasn`t the first property to be created to compete with Mario, as Alex Kidd in Miracle World were (which was too similar to Mario).
Red will be the trend
from now on :)
Sonic's first appearance was in the racing game Rad Mobile (1991) as an ornament hanging from the driver's rearview mirror. Five months before the release of his game. As Sega thought it would be fun to be in all of their properties. Sonic was presented to the world at the 43rd International Cosumers Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 1991. Sonic was launched with Genesis` second year. With a free copy with every Genesis release when Super Nintendo was released. The creators wanted to give it a 3D look despite being in 2D (by generating the renderings). Another innovation with it was how to rotate the screen. And it proved to be a huge success, making Sega one of the big boys in the Videogame Industry. It won the CES Award for Innovation by Electronic Industries Association. It`s sequel was released the following year, 1992 and was a success as well.
My shoes are shaped
like rockets :) But
don`t blame me, I
didn`t make them :)
Artist Naoto Oshima came up with Sonic`s design (first in black and white). Originally he was going to be a rabbit and a armadillo, but a Hedgehog was chosen in order to roll along and protect itself (the speed being the irony of all this). Originally he was named Supersonic, but shortened Sonic to intrigue players (the name meaning "relating to sound", but it`s often associated with speed). Sonic's blue color was chosen to match Sega's logo (while he was going to be lighter blue, he didn`t syncronize with the backgrounds colors). And his red and white shoes were inspired by Michael Jackson's Bad cover (yes, it`s true). Despite how the Americans thought that the character looked ridiculous and stupid due to his color and small size. His personality was based on Bill Clinton's "can-do" attitude.  
I may not be in a
MMA game, but I
wanted to show my
fists :)
We`re surfing on...
something :) We
don`t know what it
is :)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sonic`s Storyline, Supporting Characters & Design
 
I`m using the number
two as a weapon: As
it doesn`t look
dangerous :)
The premise of Sonic the Hedgehog is about our Blue, Anthrophomorpic Hedgehog living in Green Hill Zone (a level remade countless times) who can run at incredible speeds (for two reasons: The creator wanted to win the game fast and create a ultrafast game. Who caused problems with the games at first). And battling his nemesis Doctor Eggman (who`s named Ivo Robotnik in some lands, as Sega of America's Dean Sitton changed it without telling the Japanese team). Eggman schemes to obtain the Chaos Emeralds, who`s seven emeralds with mystical powers. The Emeralds can turn thoughts into power and warp time and space with a technique called Chaos Control. And give energy to living things, and be used to create nuclear or laser-based weaponry. But yeah, belive it or not, the storyline was originally going to be like Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Where Sonic was the lead of a rock band and yeah, had a girlfriend named Madonna (and yes, Sonic was actually presented with Madonna herself at the Tokyo Toy Show).
Don`t get fooled, my
nose is sharp to cut
ya :)
Sonic CD introduced Amy Rose, a pink hedgehog and Sonic's girlfriend. And Metal Sonic, a robotic doppelgänger of Sonic created by Eggman. Sonic 3 introduced the guardian of the Master Emerald. The latter controls the power of the Chaos Emeralds. Knuckles' Chaotix introduced the Chaotix, wth Espio the Chameleon, Vector the Crocodile and Charmy Bee. Other characters as Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel from SegaSonic the Hedgehog and Fang the Sniper from Sonic Triple Trouble (1994), faded into obscurity, although they sometimes reappear. Other characters are Big, a large cat who fishes for his pet frog. And the E-100 Series of robots, Shadow, a brooding black hedgehog, Rouge, a treasure-hunting bat, Blaze, a cat from an alternate dimension, and Silver, a telekinetic hedgehog from the future.
I was destined to look
like a hybrid of
Mickey and Pluto :)
Despite how Sonic was designed hastily, the crew fell in love with his design at once. But despite being a videogame character, Sonic is designed with typical cartoon features: With a big head, huge eyes and a beady nose. And looks like a cousin of Felix the Cat or Mickey Mouse. But in other media, Sonic displays his traits more, as being cocky, mischevious and wisecracking. But despite this, he`s mostly a good character with good values at the end. 











Sonic`s Previous Movies and TV Shows

Don`t worry, I won`t give you
too much stuff in your bag.
Like Mrs Potato Head did :)
But as for Sonic`s previous appearances in both movies and TV Shows, it`s happened way before this recent reboot of Sonic movies. In 1993 came two Sonic TV series: Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (which received mixed reviews and made by Ren & Stimpy director Kent Butterworth) and Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic SatAM). Both were approached by Sega, inspired by the success of He-Man. And produced by DIC Entertainment. But SatAM was canceled after two seasons. Sonic Underground was also made by DIC in 1999 to promote the Sonic Adventure games.
At least we`re not Robin Hood
or any criminals :) We`re
wanted for the opposite
reasons :)
 
 
 
 
 




 
 
 
 
The New Live Action Sonic Franchise

Don`t be surprised,
even I can be a
detective :)
But for this purpose of this entry, Sonic finally graced the Silver Screen in 2020`s Sonic the Hegdehog. It`s astonishing that it`s taken so long before Sonic to reach the big screen (despite how attempts were made in 1993, by having Sonic coming to the real world of a kid named Josh. But was dropped due to creative differences). Sega of America CEO had mixed reactions, both skeptical (of damaging the brand) and excited. Released when the World was entering the Covid19 Pandemic that changed the world, Sonic was a commercial hit, despite that the critical reception was mixed.
In fact, it`s easy to compare Sonic to another movie made the year prior, Detective Pikachu. Since both are Videogame adaptations with CGI characters interacting with humans (and has received comparisons). Ted from the Ted films was used as reference. Ben Schwartz (who`s a fan of the games) stars as Sonic and also did the facial motion capture (it was rumored that Paul Rudd would be Sonic, but it was just a rumor). James Mardsen plays Tom Wachowski and Jim Carey plays the villain (in a role that resembles his previous parts).
Since I`m fast, I can
do this quick :)
This light separating
us is actually
dangerous :) But we
don`t care :)
Due to the success, it`s no surprise that a sequel was announced. Released April 8th in 2022. But the sequel had it`s purpose, as it introduced Tails and Knuckles. Idris Elba voices Knuckles (Jason Momoa was offered the part first). Shot in both Vancouver and Hawaii. Critics liked it better than predecessor. It has grossed over $385,539,000 million Worldwide, surpassing the sequel. The plot is inspired by the Sonic 2 and 3 games, despite not being a direct adaptation of them. As for the purpose of both films, there`s no denial that they`re essentially pure fluff and mostly made for commercial purposes. But at least they`re both enjoyable and endearing in their own way. And yes, personally, I`ve found the sequel superior than it`s predecessor. As to this date, a third movie is on it`s way in 2024...










Epilogue
 
Yes, even I can be an
angel :) An
ambiguous one :)
At the end, Sonic the Hedgehog is a beloved and cherished videogame character who`s iconic in Pop Culture. Whether Sonic is going to live in the shadows of his counterpart Mario is another case. But it still has never stopped his popularity and appeal. However, a relevant question is whether the character should be perceived as being different from the games vs. the movies. Which is something that would make purists scrutinize about. No matter how Sonic should be perceived, at least we can be happy that it has brought such great joy and memories to many gamers. And regardless of how the latest movies may not be the definite version of the character, at least it has made the him more popular, anyways. Which is something that we all can be grateful for.




I know that it`s humilitating for
you to be saved, Sonic :) But
sometime you`ll have to be
saved :)
Don`t worry, I`ll get out of here
soon :) I just had to pose first :)























References:
The History of Sonic the Hedgehog (Marc Pétronille, William Audureau)
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