SONIC - A Question of Character
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- Опубликовано: 21 янв 2024
- Brace yourselves. This video will REVEAL Sonic's secret origins, as well as how culture has influenced the character from adaptation to adaptation.
#Sonic #SonicTheHedgehog #SonicFrontiers #SonicPrime #SonicMovie
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Sonic the Hedgehog[a] is a video game series and media franchise created by the Japanese developers Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima, and Hirokazu Yasuhara for Sega. The franchise follows Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who battles the evil Doctor Eggman, a mad scientist. The main Sonic the Hedgehog games are platformers mostly developed by Sonic Team; other games, developed by various studios, include spin-offs in the racing, fighting, party and sports genres. The franchise also incorporates printed media, animations, feature films, and merchandise.
Naka, Ohshima, and Yasuhara developed the first Sonic game, released in 1991 for the Sega Genesis, to provide Sega with a mascot to compete with Nintendo's Mario. Its success helped Sega become one of the leading video game companies during the fourth generation of video game consoles in the early 1990s. Sega Technical Institute developed the next three Sonic games, plus the spin-off Sonic Spinball (1993). A number of Sonic games were also developed for Sega's 8-bit consoles, the Master System and Game Gear. After a hiatus during the unsuccessful Saturn era, the first major 3D Sonic game, Sonic Adventure, was released in 1998 for the Dreamcast. Sega exited the console market and shifted to third-party development in 2001, continuing the series on Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation systems. Takashi Iizuka has been the series' producer since 2010.
While Sonic games often have unique game mechanics and stories, they feature recurring elements such as the ring-based health system, level locales, and fast-paced gameplay. Games typically feature Sonic setting out to stop Eggman's schemes for world domination, and the player navigates levels that include springs, slopes, bottomless pits, and vertical loops. Later games added a large cast of characters; some, such as Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, and Shadow the Hedgehog, have starred in spin-offs. The franchise has crossed over with other video game franchises in games such as Mario & Sonic, Sega All-Stars, and Super Smash Bros.
Sonic the Hedgehog is Sega's flagship franchise and one of the bestselling video game franchises, selling over 140 million units by 2016 and grossing over $5 billion as of 2014. Series sales and free-to-play mobile game downloads totaled 1.6 billion as of 2023. The Genesis Sonic games have been described as representative of the culture of the 1990s and listed among the greatest of all time. Although later games, notably the 2006 game, received poorer reviews, Sonic is influential in the video game industry and is frequently referenced in popular culture. The franchise is known for its fandom that produces unofficial media, such as fan art and fangames.
Link to intro music: • Micheal Jackson x Brun... 
Игры
The one question that summarises this topic:
*What the F$&K is a Sonic?!?!*
By far the best will always be his punk portrayals in the OVA and Sonic and the Black Knight.
That comic with Sonic’s origin is a reference to a Japanese way of life called Shinto. In Shinto, there are these mystical creatures called Kami. The Kami are mainfestations of nature and good and protect the world and those who do right by it. Sonic in that comic was a Kami, he manifested to the girl to save her.
Just a little fun fact.
Is that Oshima meant when he said that Sonic's a Fairy?
SONIC - Dont Question the Character or else the Fandom will destroy you
I don’t like how accurate this is
Sonic: I agree.
Now its time for you to perish 🤜🏻
@@yehgo2 GYATT no
Fair. But most people behind internet anonymity share opinions with the intent to argue. If someone says they dont like Spider-Man 2 on RUclips/Twitter, that comment is made daring people to argue
It definitely boils down to tastes in character. My personal favorite Sonic is the black night\Frontiers\IDW Sonic, more stoic and a hero to all that brings out change in everyone who definitely has a bit of an attitude yet is still sort of an enigma so a mix of both but a bit more Japanese. I’m actually really glad Sonic has that weird American-Japanese mix to him, it helps him stick out amongst other western superheroes. Another thing I like about the current iteration of Sonic is how private he really is, to the point where it borders internalization, and how flawed is moral code can be when you take a good hard look at it. It makes him feel a lot more like a character with these subtle traits showing the audience that he’s not as perfect as he seems.
(I also love that there are multiple continuities, one of them technically being the main one, where Sonic is somehow royalty in the West)
But again it’s really just a personal preference and interpretation on the character, you could prefer X Sonic, or movie Sonic, or Boom Sonic, or SATAM Sonic and it’s all completely valid, they’re all Sonic.
THANK YOU!!!
I perfer Sonic being cocky, caring, and secretive.
I feel like there should be a balance. I like both elements from Japanese and Western because both have their merits. I do not think one should think one should be put under rug for another.
I agree
That's basically Archie Sonic.
They’ve made so many alternate sonics that not just with shows and spin off titles but Archie literally gave us their own Multiverse
Hell, considering the Archie Comics, Tailstube, and the Paramount movies acknowledged the multiverse at different points, my headcanon is that all the different Sonic continuities are alternate universes.
@@johnnygyro2295 yeah also Japan has their own continuities like the Manga
@A-0-K-GAMER
Exactly! One of the universes Tailstube mentioned, where Sonic was part of a band, was in the same comic as the story gaiden.
@@johnnygyro2295 it weird I want to see a sonic across the sonic verse
@@A-0-K-GAMER
That's what some people thought Sonic Prime was going to be.
A video about Tails would be cool! I feel like everyone gives Sonic the analysis machine while Tails just gets the typical "he was better in adventure" schtick.
I’d actually argue most of the sonic cast are basically static characters at this point as well. A static character is just someone who stays the same at their core but that doesn’t mean they can’t have any interesting character moments, flaws, and/or development. Most of the cast started out as non-static characters but then became what they are now after meeting sonic. Tails and Amy become more confident, Knuckles/Shadow/70% of sonic villains go from antagonists to protagonists/working alongside the protagonist, etc. After their initial introduction stories/games, they don’t change all that much unless it’s for some sega mandated reason. People view Sonic, and even Eggman, differently because they don’t have a game that explains their origins/backstory so how they are now is all we’ve known.
I'm not a big fan of Sonic, though I do like the movies, but I find it funny that the fans argue about what Sonic is, when he is so inconsistent. I mean I get it. I'm a Thomas fan (Please don't insult me), and we all argue about his only theatrical feature and it's pretty divided in unusual ways
I see your point, it really does as you said boils down to context both in a narative and personal way to which version of the characther you like more, I think I prefer idw sonic , he's still a cocky and impatient guy in idw, to me his confidence on winning you talked about, really does come from his background in the story , cause you know how many time he has won in the past, so when you see him lose it makes all the more impactfull, like his last fight with surge, him getting exhausted in the metal virus arc, or even the winter issue they did last month which was funny seeing him break down, because of that I overall just enjoy it more than others and that's kinda it.
Each version has their purpose for being the way that they are and all are valid so long as it is still clearly Sonic. If there’s a more serious game focused on somber themes? Then the Japanese sonic would probably work as to not get in the way in that. A story centred around his friends or more personal stuff? Then American sonic is the way to go. A less stupid story that’s just tryna have a good time. Then Boom/Pontac with elements of American would work best. Like characters like Batman and Spiderman, the reason we keep coming back is cuz there’s so many versions that focus on different elements whilst still have the familiarity of the same foundations
Sonic Unleashed and Black Knight, in my opinion, are the best iterations of Sonic we've gotten.
Those two felt like they had just the right balance between his cocky devil may care attitude, his genuine heroism and the occasional nuggets of wisdom he can impart. While also showing him to still be a *flawed* person.
Frontiers is *definetly* a step in the right direction again, he's more serious and melancholy because the situation IS serious and he stops with the power of friendship and terrible jokes he was depicted with in Colours and Forces.
Ideally, I think we need a balance between the two lines of characterisation and I feel like Movie Sonic arguibly does it the best.
He's a flawed character, but he grows and is able to inspire the people around him to be the best versions of themselves they can be, something we saw clearly with movie Tails & Knuckles and will likely see with Shadow in the upcoming movie.
THANK YOU!!! Even in the games Sonic isn’t as perfect as some may think. And yes, flawed people can still inspire others.
I think this video really highlights why talking about sonic can be so difficult. There are so many versions of sonic that any of them can be someone's favorite. Ultimately I agree with pup; I like the western take on sonic a lot more because its what I grew up with and I think it's the best take, personally.
I've always had my own idea of what if Nicky the Hedgehog and Sonic the Blue Blur a.k.a Needlemouse the Hedgehog (Fun fact: It’s Sonic's real name in the original concepts of the video games) were separate characters and cousins with Sonia and Manic being Sonic's older siblings and Sally and Sonic raising Tails like their son. 😉👍
To me, black knight Sonic is just the perfect character. There's so many little complexities that goes into his general simplicity. They got his cool factor exactly right while showcasing what makes him such a one of a kind, unique character even by today's standards.
He doesn't fight for truth, justice, and a better tomorrow, he doesn't uphold the belief that with great power comes great responsibility.
Sonic doesn't have a philosophy. He's just a guy with a love for adventure and an attitude to do what he wants.
Sonic just is.
"I just gotta do what I've gotta do, that's all!"
Edit: Maybe I should clarify, when I described sonic as a perfect character, I meant that he's just my favorite character ever, that's all! Sonic ain't perfect (as much as IDW will tell you he is, he isn't) but I think we all like his imperfections.
FACTS!!!
TRUTH! I miss the dark age charactization of sonic and shadow so much. it pains me its never gonna return.....
I disagree That’s just not as interesting I do think that If sonic had his Textbook Impatience he could probably be a more versatile Character but That would affect The perfect character that’s built up in these people’s heads
He does have a philosophy, from the very moment he saves animals from capsules. Otherwise he wouldn't bother doing anything.
-Astounding that people upvoted this, if only for how borked your description of Black Knight Sonic is.-
-There is no way you'd say he's the perfect character if Black Knight Sonic just started punting babies because he's -_-"just gotta do what I've gotta do"-_- and with the way you've described him, it wouldn't be out of character for him to do that so long as its adventurous and what he wants. Which again, wouldn't be out of character with the way you describe him, especially since something like punting babies would be pretty freaking adventurous.-
amazing video, the ending hit the nail on the head
no interpretation of sonic is more invalid than the other, and prime and the movies are naturally going to have different interpretations, it just happens, they aren't made by the game crew, they have their own ideas of what sonic should be, and i think that's totally fine
This is a really insightful way of looking at the fundamentals of Sonic's characters that I haven't heard before, it's awesome.
I'm not sure which version of Sonic's my favorite, since I like characters and concepts from different continuities, but I am excited to see where the Sonic Cinematic Universe is heading. Especially if the third movie isn't the end?
I feel like there’s a sort of stigma around “static” characters but I think the best sonic stories are the ones that take that approach with him. The reason why some of the western media can come off as weird or unhinged when trying to “humanize” sonic is because even just within western sonic media there is no baseline for what his character should be. Japanese sonic is more consistent by virtue of him being “static” but that doesn’t mean he’s just some blank slate character with no flaws like some seem to think the term suggests. He has gone through moments of introspection and weakness which, like pup said, feels more genuine because it happens less frequently. Whereas, with western sonic it often feels forced and it’s hard for me to connect with that. Even with what you said at the end about modern sensibilities, i’d argue there’s more to explore with how sonic already is rather than newer interpretations of the character that sometimes feel to me as throwing flaws on sonic for the sake of “character development”, but it rarely feels earned imo.
Sonic and the Secret Rings' Sonic, to me, is the best depiction of Sonic I've seen, along with Black Knight, Unleashed and Sonic X. And I think it's criminal that you didn't mention it given it has one of the best moments in Sonic's history.
This might be your best video
Hope it does well
damn, pup, this one's good. connecting the dots with the aviation origin is wild, i never thought about these things that way 👀
I personally love most characterizations of Sonic individually. Of course, I have my personal favorites, but I can mostly anything really.
42:26 I agree with this, I usually interpret someone who never breaks as someone who is repressing themselves. Although I still prefer japanese Sonic, I headcanon that he suppresses his own emotions consciously so that he can focus on helping others through his actions. It just makes sense in my head, and I think it's an endearing idea.
I personally like a mix of both myself( like a mix of adventure and movie)
where does The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic fall under?
(besides unconscious)
It's like IDW. Western-made but confirming more to JP Sonic. That being said there's an everyman quality to him in that game we don't often see.
There are multiple game versions I like, but my favorites are the Archie comic and the Boom TV show (yes, really). Archie embodied the best aspects of the character with more depth, and Boom Sonic was just brilliantly acted and written.
I liked the boom portrayal as well.
@@trippettfamily4686 He's great.
Man, I actually like this, movie sonic is my favorite version of sonic too.
The Archie line never should have ended, it will take a miracle to see those characters again in the games or IDW. Sally, the Freedom Fighters, Enerjak, Scourge, Julie-Su, Mina
A tragedy really. All these awesome stories. So much potential. World building. Character development. Lore and Locations and so many unique and special characters and they were all gone.
There's a part of me that also misses seeing those characters, but, ultimately, I think it was for the best that those comics were dropped. The shadow of all the controversies looming over Archie's handling of the IP (Penders) as well as an absence of direction from Sega (until recently) led me to have a split attitude towards the entire series. There was something very special with the Archie comics, but it was convoluted with no limits, breeding a ton of inconsistencies that needed to be purged. Yeah, the complete reset with the IDW line hit me like a truck, but I finally feel like the series has reached a stable point, especially since more and more of the current comic-related characters are being shown in media. I can only hope the momentum keeps building.
It should have ended though
Archie Line ended for a reason. Ken Penders seems to be good at karate. Better to avoid that
@@Aktzinthats a problem related to the skill of the writer. Take "Shadow the Hedgehog" game. Was the writing bad because the writers are less skilled? Or is the writng bad because Shadow is a Sonic game?
Bro sonic wagging his finger. All I imagine was sonic saying Nuh uh. 😂
A shame this video does not have all that many views, it could really give people who spend time arguing about characterization in Sonic as a whole a much better picture and make people at least a bit less prone to saying "This is the correct character" without any critical thinking.
The video is a reasonable take. The people arguing are unreasonable.
Boom and 2009 Sonic is my favourite. Also Boom Sonic had Developement. Knuckles said : Another Win for Team Sonic" but Sonic said : How about just Team?
I mean yeah, it is one noteworthy piece of development in that game.
12:34 finally gonna learn something about this version of sonic
I thought this was a sonic oc who was a female
My take on this and what I think Sega is aiming to do now is to merge these two takes on Sonic and merge them into one. Because both of them have good merits that people enjoy about him, the meta era Sonic made so may people mad because he did'nt feel like either version of Sonic really. The other charachters did'nt have arcs so his staticness grew stale while his more cocky witty side was dialed up and not funny at all. Frontiers feels like a good balance of both or at least a good first step which is why I'm so happy with it. The main thing Sega should take from the movies and prime though is that it's ok for Sonic to show his emotions, it's ok to give him his own arc that'll let him grow and develop too. Infact they have the perfect set up for that with how Frontiers went, he was constantly taking on the burden for the others without really caring for his own well being and it almost killed him. A good writer can do alot with that for the next game.
I like to think this franchise as an ongoing experiment that’ll probably never get figured out. And it kind of makes things more so interesting even if it’s stressful at points.
42:38 I really like this point, but I’ll say despite it’s MANY problems Sonic Prime handled Sonic’s emotional moments pretty well. Specifically the 2 scenes of him in s3 where he wipes his eyes that I’m sure hints at him slightly crying but in a “In-character” way. I’d appreciate it more if the story of the show was better but I’ll give credit where it’s due. I’d say that and a few other small moments like in the Metal Virus arc, Frontiers, and ESPECIALLY the movies are seeming to let Sonic loosen up when it comes to how he feels. I’d like to see more within the first two examples, but I’m still happy with the little we got.
It’s Funny how The top comments are Black Knight is the best or Archie.
Oh man I had a feeling after that tweet you made and the discussion from Person108 there would be a video about this. I honestly agree with your Tweet on Sonic.
fanta is supposed to be dark orange... right?
No, you're drinking liquid evil.
I still feel like Archie Sonic was the best version of his character, or at least my ideal version of Sonic. I like seeing Sonic that can be emotional, have flaws to overcome, and allowed to be in a relationship. And have witty dialogue and openly caring rather than being stoic and mysterious. Movie Sonic is definitely a close 2nd though. 🦔👍
My favorite sonic, Unleashed Sonic.
Heroes Sonic's way of speech is pretty memorable.
Frontiers sonic is epic.
Movie sonic is most relatable.
Awesome video 👍
Everyone has their own views on how this character should be characterized, drawn, played, animated, and showcase.
It’s fine if you don’t like a curtain interpretation of a character, but to say the character (Especially if they weren’t THAT consistent in the first place) isn’t acting like themselves NOW, it’s really hard to argue what SELF there is to come back to. Because even in the games there are so many different SELVES for these characters in their own canon universe.
From Classic to Adventure, Unleashed, Colors, and Frontiers.
(If that makes any sense)
Everyone’s opinions are valid at the end of the day. At least we all have a version of this character we can love and appreciate
38:41 Inattentive, Hyperactive, or somewhere between?
I think both. On one hand, you've got his general hyperactivity, but dude got distracted from everything over a rubberband ball. Being me isn't the reason I love this version of Sonic but God damn it, that is so me.
Might be your best video to date Pup. SO good job! One thing I would like too add that you kinda touched on, but I think its putting more emphasis on it is that different mediums require different styles of writing and/or story types. Video Games tend to favor more episodic storytelling, as this just one new adventure in Sonic's life. Even though SA2 is a sequel to SA, there is very little that connects the two as two direct events. Monthly comic books/television/movies often favor, especially in current pop culture, more serialized story telling. Not to say that these mediums can't be done successfully in episode storytelling, but they favor a more serialized approach.
Great video ChannelPup! If you do not mind, what is the name of your intro song? It is quite catchy!
I'm honestly fairly indifferent about how Sonic himself is portrayed. It's how his friends are portrayed that I'm often iffy about, particularly where Tails and Shadow are concerned.
and one more thing i want to say , a lot of sonic characteristics such as being cocky , a bit of a jerk , making fun of his enemies , and making jokes were never attempted to be part of his character from the begening , they were just changes made by sega of america to appeal to western audience , great video by the way
Woah it's been a while since I've watched a channel pup video . When did u get so raunchy? Geez . Great video though
I love sonic because of his cool cockiness and his ability to adapt to his situation when it’s serious
I still feel like IDW Sonic is at his absolute best during the Metal Virus arc, it was a fascinating look at what happens when Jp Sonic is pushed to a near breaking point.
I like both sonics but I didn't fully understand the divide until now although I do think japenese sonic is a bit less approachable
If sonic gonna have past it’s going to be multiple choice.
Yknow I showed a huge war nerd the sonic fighter pilot story and he couldn't help but absolutely despise the story even being considered, especially since this is all right around the end of the cold war. Though maybe he exaggerates a little, I'm kinda glad this didn't go through as an army test pilot doesn't... really have much to do with a sonic game, even conceptually.
Fantastic video! I love this really objective analysis on how the Sonic character is handled across different media; the dichotomy of Japanese vs Western media is an interesting one and I never noticed the specific trends that crop up specific to those respective regions.
I think something important for people to acknowledge is that Sonic's character is always going to be malleable like this, because he's a rather straightforward character that has existed for decades whose appeal spans across the world. I've never been sure what my "ideal"' take on him is, I think I might side with you on somewhat preferring when he's taken as someone with his own personal flaws that isn't always on top of things. Definitely much more of a "superhero" take on the character, which I guess makes sense that this is what we see in so much western media.
@ChannelPup Rank all the suits in Spider-Man PS4 (I’m surprised you haven’t done that already😅😅)
38:42 As someone with ADHD who does nothing but cosplay as Spider-Man and wishes to be a superhero, who inspires others And save people who cannot save themselves, I am both honored and offended
Hey I only say it because it's true of me too. 😂
@@ChannelPup you wanna be Spider-Man too?!?!,
Everyone wants to be Spider [hypen] Man. I did too as a kid, I even suited up as him on a Halloween.
Now I want to be Batman.
@@AlexanTheMan 1. I turned 21 on the last day of October last year. (it’s literally in my username.) I am far from a kid fyi
2. Now I want to be a fusion of Spider-Man Michelangelo from rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
@@BirthweenBoi of course I wanna be Spider-Man.
the reason i am a sonic fan is his friends , there are a lot of sonic characters that i love but sonic himself is not one of my favorites and that is because sonic is a usually a flat character and i am not a fan of them ( but i totally understand that flat characters have their fans as well ) and because of that i consider sonic a gateway to meet the other sonic characters , and because of that Archie Comics has my favorite version of sonic because he is a flawed person that slowly becomes a better version of himself ( but i understand that some people would hate him because of how different he is ) .
For me, Sonic X is the best portray of Sonic. What made Sonic so popular is his snarky attitude, sass, coolness, etc. Sonic X checks most of that for Sonic while also add some interesting moments like Sonic being clever back at the Egg light bulb episode, being honorable by rejecting the President's invitation cuz he promised Helen (Wheelchair girl) to travel with him, and transform into Dark Sonic which shows thar he won't always stay cool and will use angry if he sees his friends get brutally hurt. While Sonic X mostly portrays Sonic as an inspirational hero, still he has show flaws before like his obvious weakness for water, can get too cocky in situations n may get in trouble through Eggman's bs, and can crack in angry if his friends get hurt which kinda interesting to see an inspirational mc have a dark side. Also while X also give more shine to other characters compared to Sonic, I actually like that cuz it gives more special moments for Sonic's gang interact with humans like Chris' grandfather kinda being a good mentor to Tails and even gave him on final special device once Tails was home n in trouble with Eggman again. Also have Rouge n Topaz underrated partnership which at the end I enjoy Rouge actually giving a special gem to Topaz for their final goodbye. Shows Rouge can care for others and I enjoy their buddy agent partnership throughout the show. Knuxs, honestly the only thing X done great with him was him versing Shadow and actually manage Shadow to take off his rings to take hin out which showcases Knuxs strength. Amy, ya same thing, X haven't done any favors for her besides the Adventure storyline where Amy stood up to Sonic to protect Gamma. Cream n Cheese, suprisingly their moment was when they team to defeat Gmerl, which was kinda weird that they learn how to fight but still cool they worked together to defeat Gmerl. Team Chaotix, I just enjoy their silly moments of being detectives n X inspiring Sega to keep the Vector n Vanilla ship. And finally Shadow which honestly thxs to X, it cleared some things up for SA2 and more lore to Shadow's power which Sega used for the games. Plus Shadow just being the badass throughout the story
What if I told you that much of JP Sonic that was written in Sonic Adventure through Sonic and the Black Knight has been lost in translation because there was a lot of mistranslation. I bet that one thing that a lot of you don't know about JP Sonic is that he is an introvert. Well to some degree. He will not show or tell what he really feels, he is not good with hugs, and he really is good at putting on a poker face. Most of the time, it does crack sometimes.
There is such thing as character and then there is such thing as flat character arc. Sonic will also not tell you unless you ask him to.
I know some who really understand the core of JP Sonic (The True Sonic) and really like it to the point they dismiss or even reject the American Sonic because, in their eye, that's not Sonic. They also take the issue of Flynn's writing in IDW comics cause in their eyes, Ian Flynn doesn't understand the core of JP Sonic and he writes Sonic wrong.
I grew up with Sonic being a wise cracking badass. Now he tells dad jokes to preschoolers.
3:30 fin.
"Instances of desperation"
How fitting, given that the entire plot of Sonic Lost World is itself an instance of desperation.
As in, the story of that game is f*cking DESPERATE.
Still better than the story of Forces, though (like that's actually a noteworthy compliment...)
9:00 This man’s FBI agent is traumatized
I just really really really wanted to find a way to put hentai in one of my Sonic videos, because I'm an absolute jackass. Love it or loathe it, it's a part of Sonic's history. Imagine doing a character analysis for that. Who knows what we'd uncover?
My favorite sonic is the IDW/Frontiers sonic
19:49
to be honest there is something i wanted to tell for a while , which a bunch of statements NOT made by me but from a certain analysis made by a twitter user named Sephy regarding sonic's character after he watched a youtube video named "whay is it about sonic" that i believe every one need to hear :
I highly recommend this video, especially to people who do not understand the problem of characterizations and are really interested in knowing why it is important that they write a "blue rat that runs a lot" well. By the way I will develop a little more
The themes linked to characters that he talks about is not something new... In fact, it is intrinsically linked to shonen manganimes (that's why you have seen me comment several times that Sonic IS a Shonen).
One of the things that characterize Shonen is that they normally seek to convey messages to their audience, which are generally teenagers, through their characters and stories.
The themes tend to vary but they almost always touch on topics such as friendship, self-improvement, teamwork, and what sets us apart from others. Surely some of this is going to sound like the most regulars to the genre
Since there are some ideas that want to be transmitted, the stories they tell cannot give rise to gray areas. There is always a part that represents good, and another that represents evil. No nuances. without chiaroscuro
This is not to say that their characters are flat, it is not that they are always good or always bad. It means that in these stories it must be clear what is right and what is wrong.
What's more, in general they always tend to play with the good/evil duality in the characters.
This is where the video comes in and it explains very well that Sonic himself represents the good and good that is in each of us, and I agree 100%. He places a high value on protecting and saving anyone in need.
From the very Sonic 1 his main motivation is to save animals and at all times he does not hesitate to help those who need it. But he doesn't do it because he wants to be a hero. He does it purely and simply because he wants to. He comes naturally to him.
But I would like to dig a little deeper, because the character is much more unique than just being "the good guy" by virtue of being it and that's it... and thus avoid falling into the trap that everything he does is good just because he does it " the good".
Sonic 1 shows us something more than good and bad embodied in Sonic and Eggman... It shows us nature vs. industrialization... And specifically of a value that has been present in any Sonic work where they have respected the character as it should be: FREEDOM vs CONTROL
Freedom is one of those values that define Sonic, and he carries it as a banner. His actions, to a greater or lesser extent, always have to do with protecting this freedom from those who want to control everything. Just as Sonic considers himself to be someone free and that it is he who decides for his own actions, for him and for him, he also recognizes and what is most important, PROTECTS the right to freedom of others. However, he is not someone naive, and he does not ask or expect anyone to change anything that does not come from themselves, because he himself often does not know what is correct and what is not. He does not brag about being the good guy or believe he possesses the truth or the status of being above others. And this is why he is never seen recriminating the actions of others... he never criticizes or reproaches the past actions of other characters, not even Eggman. He only does what he thinks is right at that moment and if he has to stop someone he does it. This is why he never blames Knuckes for anything that has to do with his duty as a guardian, not even if he decides not to lend him a hand at any given time.
This is why he never reproaches Silver for not having helped him earlier in 2006. And the one that I think is most evident: he never blames Eggman for being the way he is... He knows full well that he is evil and that he wants to control the world, but that does not mean that he violates his right to choose what he wants to be and what want to do. And why is this? Because it is going totally against the theme of freedom that is trying to be transmitted with the character. Sonic knows that he cannot and should not decide for the decisions of others. And this is something that is also reflected in his own vocal theme of Adventure and the theme of Open Your Heart. Sonic proposes this in his own character, a message of freedom and deciding for oneself, quite unique and sincerely, I am very sorry that this, which is so fundamental from the beginning of the character, is being lost
I definitely prefer when Sonic has more flaws and doesn't always know how to solve a problem. I feel like if the games are going to have more in-depth stories, Sonic needs to act more realistically to keep me engaged and invested in his journey. I've been working on a rewrite of Frontiers' story in my free time, and something I'm striving to do is go more in depth with how much of a toll the journey is taking on Sonic and how much he connects with his friends beyond just inspiring them to do better.
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My favorite origin of sonic is sonic underground 🎹🎸🥁🎤🎵🎶 if they try to use that show for his origin story I will be very happy 😊😊. Who doesn't love his family we all do 💚🩵🩷💜
Ova is canon, change my mind
Princess sarah doesn't exist in the main cannon🤓
@@trippettfamily4686 hyper metal and knuckles hat does
Remember kids, Sonic canon is baloney.
🦔🦔🦔
Channel Pup. In Sonic CD, Sonic rejected Amy because she is 8.
Where does it say this? I generally don't really take the manuals into consideration as they have no bearing on the actual product, and they're not made by the original designers, etc. The Sonic bible determines Sonic would be 18, Cindy Robinson at one point estimated that Amy would be 17, Sonic Heroes' manual says Tails is 8, yet other things say he's 12. Infinite claims Sonic has fought Eggman for decades. Classic Sonic is 16 years old in Sonic Jam, yet he's younger than modern Sonic who is 15 in Sonic Heroes. They can all drive and some of them have homes.
I think there's a reason why Sega completely disregarded all info regarding the characters' ages. It's only ever been a trivial detail made for supplementary media but to all intents and purposes, they're ageless.
15:15 what the fuck? xD
Honestly, I think my favorite characterization for Sonic is either the Movie universe or even Prime. I don't think Sonic should be a static character. I especially love how Prime amplified his flaws, (impatience and ego) and the fact that he struggled through the entire show was really inspiring. Movie Sonic also got me into the franchise because of how it was a reimagining of his lore.
Unhinged channelpup is built different 💀
SONIC'S SO FAAAAASSSST WOOOOOW WOOOOOH VVVVVVRRRRROROOOOOMMMMMM
Archie Sonic is the best Sonic characterization in the franchise imo.
Ian's version of Sonic is more akin to the characterization of Sonic during the "dark ages" I found. That confidence and jovial nature couples with moments where he's subtle getting more serious. However even his serious face is him smirking.
I disagree with a character who's knows he's going to win is boring since that like most characters. Sonic doesn't pick fights he knows he's not going to win. Hence why he never tries to fight Amy lol.
It's compelling to see why a character fights not that he's going to win. Stakes are usually too high for him to lose anyway.
Twitter users are getting a girlfriend and feel watching hi video!
Except Batman should be willing to kill! Lol
I’ve been tired of the constant “war” between people being overly critical of who Sonic is in a given medium and people who write it off as being insignificant so this was a nice watch. I like Sonic when he has more than just badass confident hero but the Western iterations tend to be a bit too much for me. Boom & Prime especially felt off to me and didn’t capture the same energy that made me like this franchise. Archie Sonic had a lot of great ideas but the way Sonic acted felt like it was purely for drama.
My favorite iteration of the character are X, BK, and SA2. In these he’s at odds with authority and stands his ground even if it means he’s seen as a bad guy. He finds enjoyment in these times despite being at odds with those around him. I love when he’s sassy to everyone; friend or foe. Him not being on screen for long amounts of time is a genuine flaw but I do like that he just does his own thing and isn’t just waiting around for Eggman. Usually the games end off on that but it’s nice to see it actually happen. Usually Sonic has his anti authority be against near objective bad guys so seeing it in instances like when Eggman has a secret plan with the government is nice. IMO a lot of his “edge” has been lost over time and I think he should have more moments of him acting on his beliefs regardless of if it puts him at odds with others. Finally I really enjoy how natural his lessons to other characters come off. As you said, IDW Sonic feels too preachy at times when he goes on about his morals in the middle of a fight. Frontiers is the first time I’ve actively enjoyed his character since BK and I hope it stays that way (minus the lack of subtlety with his morals and awkward references to past games).
I just think it can be a middle ground, we dont need to have a super attidute guy with one liners and being a funny 100% of the time but also we dont need a super hero good 2 shoes, when i see people bring the dark knight sonic just makes me think "wait he is was not like that all the most of the time?" Because for me most of his principles and moral hasn't changed that much and i guess people are just overreacting om the new changes but like we need more time to see if is will be good or bad in the future.
I dislike the Messiah like personality of idw Sonic
THIS VIDEO ABOUT TO BE SO MISGUIDED 🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥
DID IT LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS?
@@ChannelPup No 😒 It was a good history lesson on how Sonic was portrayed over the years in Japan and US. Good video! I still don’t agree with your take that the US version is what Sonic should be like in the future, mainly because that would make him into a generic superhero and kill everything that was unique about him.
@@Tawbay-cr5bw I mean honestly I'm happy with both versions co-existing as they always have. I think they honestly enrich each other. USA Sonic is just my preference and I understand why most non-interactive media skews in that direction.
My favorite Sonic is Unleashed Sonic. 💙 My least favorite Sonic is the 2010 version, at least the way he was in the games in the 2010s, look Boom Sonic is alright in the Sonic Boom tv series I guess, but, the Sonic in the 2010 games was lame in my opinion. 😒👎
I want Sonic to be a mix of how he was during the Adventure era with the attitude of his OVA and SatAM self. That would be the perfect personality for him imo. Sonic without his snark isn't Sonic, but he's also intelligent, and he isn't a jerk to his friends, unlike how he was in Sonic Boom. That childish naivety they gave him in the movie, IDW and Prime doesn't work. They need to stop doing that to him.
Sonic isn't a character that needs a character arc. He is fully devloped from the get-go. Sonic being a static character isn't a bad thing.
"That childish naivety they gave him in the *movie* , IDW and *Prime* doesn't work"
The success of the Movies and Prime begs to differ, even if Prime's is falters into poorly written, that's an issue of writing quality and not character archetype. UTl;dr* , this idea that a non Static Sonic is bad and cannot work is just plain shortsighted.
That being said, realistically its likely is wisest and safest for Sega to stick to Static Sonic, regardless of how much he himself easily falls into being a uninteresting character without others to support him like in Sonic X or Adventure 1 and 2. Especially since they can only do for so long before smashing headfirst into issues without changing continuity like how some properties do.
@@Sone01TheFirst The reason why the movies were so successful is because they were made for the general audience. They weren't made specifically for Sonic fans. It's kinda obvious considering how they made Sonic come into the "real world," and there was a great focus on human characters that were original for the movie.
In a perfect world, the Sonic movie would have been more centered on Sonic's world and didn't have a live action thing going on with it like the Mario movie. Any long-time fan of the franchise like myself knows that Sonic was neutered in the movies. At the very least, they could have written him to be like how he was in Sonic X, but they made him a fearful loner who was too anxious to even approach humans. Then, when he got comfortable, he acted like a 12 year old boy instead of a cocky and confident teenager. So basically, they made Sonic act like Tails before his character arc in Sonic Adventure. It was weird and out of character, but we all excused it because it's technically an alternate universe.
Also, it was an intentional choice. The same goes for Sonic Prime and the IDW comics. It wasn't a writing quality issue. They're intentionally trying to mess with Sonic as a character. Sonic Prime's synopsis said that the show was supposed to be a "deconstruction" of his character. That's how it was marketed. The only problem is that it's a deconstruction of a version of Sonic who is too naive, but then we're led to believe that version of Sonic is allegedly the same as Sonic from the games. It just doesn't work. You can disagree all you want, but I'm not going to change my mind. I think that the current vision for Sonic is not even close to getting things right, and Sega needs to take a step back and look at how things were done before. This new Sonic ain't it.
@@Irina-lv5bd *I'm not going to change my mind*
Screw your mind, this isn't about you. I don't want people to be swayed by poorly thought out arguments, the Sonic community throws around enough arguments devoid of critical thought as it is.
*Where I was coming from in my initial point*
I believe in quality of writing writing first and foremost, the idea that a character(In this case Sonic) *has* to be one specific thing (In this case a Static Character) and can't be anything else is absurd and childish, especially when it comes to continuities outside the main one.
*Movies not made specifically for fans/Movie characters*
Assuming you meant it was not made with fans in mind instead of specifically for fans, I can neither agree or argue against this point without refreshing myself on the film.
*In a perfect world*
This seems incredibly subjective and more personal opinion. What matters is that its written well and is recognizably Sonic, not that it tries to copy the correct version Sonic beat for beat as much as possible.
*They neutered him/Sonic when adapted from games*
First they can't, its a new continuity, therefore its a new Sonic. Secondly, as an issue of adaption this is more subjective to each person(Which is not solely dictated by one's relation to the Sonic Franchise) , I'd argue what matters that Sonic is still recognizably Sonic as a character, which I dare say is generally not a issue, disregarding inconsistencies in writing within the same continuity.
*I'm a long-time fan*
Some long-time fans can be wise and open minded enough to be worth listening to, while some others(such as some Archie fans) are too locked into their bias. Your appeal to authority holds no weight.
*Sonic Prime Sonic is different from game Sonic*
1: Sonic Prime itself is so disconnected and inconsistent with the Games there is no reason to consider it cannon with the games, one of the writers or whoever saying its cannon holds shallow weight until the show and games(or Tailstube to an extent) actually apply that. Sonic fans can be dumb, don't assume something is true because they said so without evidence to back it up, see "OMG IDW is cannon!" from Ian Flynn saying "so long as there aren't inconsistencies it should be good" on the bumblekast.
2: Sonic colors to Sonic Forces are not that far apart from Prime's take, which should be expected given when Prime would've been made. Stuff like this is why I consider you shortsighted.
*They(IDW/Prime) want to change Sonic's Character*
Ok I'm unsure how to properly respond to this, it comes off as a conspiracy theory. Like are you seriously trying to tell me the writers are going into the Sonic IP thinking "How can we ruin this character". I've seen what that looks like plenty of times in entertainment and this ain't it. Its far more likely to say that the writers wrote Sonic however they did because either they concluded that is best direction to take him(Much like how you think Sonic should be taken in the direction of a strictly Static Character) or were mandated to handle him a certain way and so they wrote him that way.
Note: This was tiring, won't respond if you want to throw another word vomit of thought at me 6 minutes after I've posted this.
@@Sone01TheFirst I'm gonna be real with you, chief. There are ways to have an "argument" even though I don't actually care about your opinions since you can't seem to make a good comeback without insulting me or coming off as overly defensive. You act like you're part of the writing team for Sonic Team or something. You also clearly didn't read anything I typed with proper comprehension if you actually thought I was coming across like I was presenting a conspiracy theory.
Oh no, I have criticisms about something you don't agree with. Grow up, lol. All because I don't mindlessly accept things with open arms doesn't mean anything, and it's not that deep. It just means I have my preferences. I'm not trying to claim some moral high ground or say that only I know what's best for the franchise.
Tl;dr
You sound like an overly emotional man child and I think you need to seek some kind of psychological treatment if you get this worked up and defensive when you interact with people who don't have the same opinions as you.
4th
Black knight sonic will always be the best sonic in my eyes. F*CK MODERNIZATION!!!
Reminder that the reason sonic boom was so bad is entirely segas fault and everything they didn't micromanage was actually good
Archie sonic is the BEST Sonic!!!
I'll always think the original 'adorable, nature defending, determined and cool' japanese Sonic is perfect. The cocky, wise-cracking teenager? Not so much.
Japanese Sonic is unique and unlike any other character and American Sonic is a diet version of your typical Marvel superhero. I really don’t want Sonic to be replaced by a generic superhero.
Before I watch the video, I want to get down my thoughts. Sonic is not the perfect hero like Mario. That’s why I hate IDW Sonic. Sonic is supposed to be cocky and arrogant. He should mock his opponents and throw fun jabs at his friends when appropriate. He never does this now. Some call it maturity, but it loses what made sonic sonic to me…rebelliousness and plain coolness
Sonic is not an avatar for the player to put themselves into as if it was their adventure. This is Sonic’s adventure and hes bringing us along for the ride with him
I can answer this one.
Japanese Sonic. He's the OG, he's what the creators intended. SEGA of America basically berated SEGA Of Japan and Sonic's creators and changed Sonic entirely. Localization had to stick with the Westernized Sonic because of SEGA Of America not allowing Sonic to be properly localized. So in America, Sonic is a cocky, egotistical, quippy, and punkish hero who loves chili dogs.
If Sonic fans genuinely want Sonic to be IN CHARACTER, it should be demanded that Sonic be written in Japan first and only localized in the West without major character change. But instead, fans literally begged for the opposite due to SEGA of America completely mistreating Sonic's creators back in the 90's. Sonic fans won't even bother to study the original Sonic. Y'know, the one thats STILL being written/rewritten to be consistent? Its utterly disrespectful.
You had me until the end with this mental health bullshit
Yeah I'll bet you disagreeing with that one point completely changed all the other points. That's how that works, right?