After being announced prematurely late last year, Netflix’s 3D Sonic the Hedgehog show Sonic Prime has 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 usual Sonic setting, which is all well and good — but it can’t all be new. Sonic the Hedgehog is a massive franchise that’s been around since 1991, and there are some iconic aspects from it that need to be in Sonic Prime.
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The massive cast of the Sonic franchise 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 of Sonic Adventure 2, and that would not be relevant in a whole new setting. And most of all, the extended Sonic cast, 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.
Of course, no great hero is complete without his villain. Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik is just as iconic as Sonic himself, and could be the reason why the Blue Blur is travelling through the multiverse. Eggman provides an easy antagonist for any Sonic product, 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.
The Sonic series 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 favorite Sonic 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 the Sonic franchise, mystical gems known as the Chaos Emeralds have been able to empower individuals and 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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If there’s one thing Sonic games are known for more than their speed, it’s their sound. Sonic soundtracks have been praised as some of the best in the game industry, and it’s commonly reiterated among fans that even the worst Sonic games 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 a Sonic game still has a lot of potential. Old, crunchy Sega Genesis soundbytes would go great with establishing a nostalgic tone, and the electric guitar and techno riffs of newer Sonic games would inject a lot of energy into the show. And of course, there is no discussing Sonic music without bringing up the many vocal tracks that define the modern era. While getting Crush 40, Cash Cash, or Hoobastank to compose some music isn’t very likely, they provide some good examples of music that can instantly drum up hype in any Sonic fan.
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 the Sonic series 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 World even 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 a Sonic show other than a good time. An audience cheering for Sonic as he runs around a giant loop-de-loop is what Sonic Prime should be aiming for. Even though it won't quite make Sonic's 30th anniversary, Prime is seemingly planned to be a late present. Hopefully, all that and more will be waiting when Sonic Prime arrives next year.
Sonic Prime will be airing on Netflix in 2022.
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