Summary
- Multiple attempts were made to get Sonic's visuals just right, with the initial design being deemed horrifying.
- The redesign of Sonic saved the franchise, highlighting the importance of listening to audiences for success.
- The Sonic the Hedgehog movies have become beloved due to fans' power in influencing positive changes.
The Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise has proven to be a monumental success, with the trilogy grossing a combined $1.2 billion at the global box office. With a fourth movie already in the works, it is clear that this video game adaptation was one risk worth taking for Paramount.
Sonic the Hedgehog has beautifully blended live-action with CGI in a way that feels seamless while also being energetic and full of action. However, the original designs for Sonic were anything but that, which led to a huge redesign before the original movie was released, and new leaks have proven just how close the movie came to being a disaster.
A Sonic The Hedgehog Spinoff Could Remove A Controversial Part Of The Franchise
A controversial element of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise could be removed in a future spinoff movie.
Sonic The Hedgehog Was Originally Going To Look Horrifying
Lost Media Leaks Have Proven Just How Bad The Visuals Would Have Been
Paramount did a good job with the visuals for Sonic, but it took multiple attempts to get that. The original design for the character was something that left fans frustrated with what had been created, and now a new leak has provided further glimpses at just how bad the design was. Dexerto released some footage that is considered to be "lost media" that the public wasn't supposed to see, giving a better look at how Sonic was going to appear, and it has left people stunned at the idea.
While there has been a tease of more footage to come, from what people have seen already, it's evident that Sonic the Hedgehog wouldn't have worked in this way. There has to be an element of cuteness to the character to bridge the gap between the video games and the movies, as people wanted to see Sonic in a similar format to the games. There were always going to be tweaks, and eventually, Paramount got it just right, and that saved the franchise. Had the lead character been one with horrible visuals that audiences hated, it would have proven to be a difficult sell, and that's why the alterations that were made proved to be important.
The Redesign Of Sonic Likely Saved This Franchise In The Long Run
The Original Design Was Trying To Make Sonic Appear Lifelike
The original images of what had been planned for Sonic left fans extremely worried when the original trailer dropped for the 2020 movie. Given that video game adaptations have previously struggled at the big screen, the expectation was that this would become the next example, as audiences vocally shared their horror and disgust at how Sonic had been made to look. The problem was that Paramount seemingly tried to humanize Sonic in many ways, with the longer torso and limbs that made him more like a human boy than anything else. Plus, there was a lack of emotion in his face, which meant the delivery of Sonic's lines wouldn't have come across in the same manner that they ended up doing, which was with charm and humor.
The Sonic The Hedgehog Franchise Has Benefited From Listening To Fans
These Movies Have Ended Up Being Beloved By Audiences
The redesign of Sonic highlights the type of power that audiences still have within the movie industry, as without their complaints at the first trailer, it's unlikely that any alterations would have occurred. Without those changes, it's hard to imagine Sonic the Hedgehog having worked, let alone leading to a further two movies, as the character looked creepy rather than being relatable and family-friendly. The original design wasn't inviting to young viewers, who are ultimately the core target audience, and that's why the film wouldn't have been as successful. On top of that, the merchandise sales wouldn't have been anywhere near as good either, as the original design was anything but marketable. That would have also hurt the franchise, as the ability to sell toys and t-shirts is a big part of growing a family-friendly movie such as this, ensuring that the intellectual property constantly surrounds people.
The fact that Paramount took the time to listen and respect what the hardcore Sonic the Hedgehog fans were saying ended up being crucial, as the changes were positive. The redesigned version of the character was charming and compelling enough to work as the lead, and the fact that audiences have flocked to see all three films is proof of that. It showcases the importance of listening and adjusting to audiences, particularly when using video game characters like Sonic, who have a pre-existing fanbase that is passionate and dedicated to the games and worlds that have been created. The entire Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has felt like a giant fan service, with nods to specific games and various characters being pulled into the movie universe. There have been a lot of examples where Paramount has connected to the fans in a bid to please them. The redesigns are the greatest and most important example of that, and other movies would benefit from learning lessons from Sonic the Hedgehog moving forward.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- February 12, 2020
- Runtime
- 99 minutes
- Director
- Jeff Fowler
- Writers
- Worm Miller, Patrick Casey, Oren Uziel, Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima, Hirokazu Yasuhara
Cast
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James Marsden
