Chao in Space: Behind the Scenes/Issue 5

The Tikal Casting Calls is the fifth issue of Sonic Presents... Chao in Space: Behind the Scenes.

Summary
Set during the middle of the previous issue, Sonic the Hedgehog, Amy Rose and Desmond Wolf begin discussing about another important character: Tikal the Echidna, whose history with the Chao and their protector god Chaos could provide a very meaningful role for the movie. To do so, they ponder the question: who will they cast as Tikal?

Transcript

 * (issue opens with a flashback of Tikal the Echidna's origins)
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: (narrating) Tikal. Daughter of Chief Pachacamac of the Echidna Clan. The same Tikal who sealed her own soul with the Chao god Chaos to stop his first rampage. With one primary purpose: the safety of the Chao. (flashbacks of the events of Sonic Adventure also play; those include Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Big, and Gamma meeting Tikal in their visions) And whose spirit showed up to me and my friends to help us stop Eggman from indirectly committing the same disaster again. And also to stop Chaos's second rampage, before both of them disappeared to live their lives in peace. Whatever happened to them after all this, no one knows. And more likely, no one would even ask any questions about it. (scene shifts to present day, with Sonic and Amy in the hallways; both are looking at Tikal's picture and concerned) And now, here we are. Making a movie about the Chao, and considering adding Tikal in it. But with the actual Tikal gone, we're now left to wonder: how are we going to add her to this movie? And if the idea is to recast her... we're still asking the unanswered, and very hard question: who will we cast as Tikal?

"'THE TIKAL CASTING CALLS'"
 * (then, we see the two in Desmond Wolf's office)
 * Desmond Wolf: (sees a picture of Tikal) Yes, this seems to be a very difficult task indeed. To find the ideal face and voice to perform as such a beautiful and young princess like lady Tikal...
 * Amy Rose: Really hard indeed, mr. Desmond. Even the motion capture that Knuckles is doing for general Solon with help from Whisper and her Wisps wouldn't do much of the trick. And obviously, we can't even ask Silver to just travel in time, and bring Tikal's past self in, because it would affect time terribly.
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: Yeah, that's... really terrifying.
 * Rouge the Bat: (coming in with a sketch of Tikal's costume) Well, no one's saying you actually need to recreate Tikal by making sure the actress looks exactly like what you saw in her.
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: And you're saying that we should simple pick like any female echidna and just cast her for the role?
 * Rouge the Bat: A young, cute one, perhaps. No need to share much of the same voice. Or... the same fur color.
 * Amy Rose: Either way, we have to try something. Or, no Tikal in this movie.
 * Taglines: Meanwhile...
 * (scene shows Lyla, a young orange Echidna and aspiring actress who looks exactly like Tikal, in a theater setting)
 * Lyla the Echidna: (upset) Is this some kind of a joke?! (next scene reveals that she is arguing with the director of a local theater production) I've been studying and rehearsing for this role for an entire month, hoping for a large role in the play, and you say I could portray just the "young version" of Cinderella?!?
 * Theater Director: Lyla, p-please. Calm down! W-we're still working on the script. We just need more time to...
 * Lyla the Echidna: "Still working on the script"?? (the director freezes in shock) What do you mean "Still working on the script"?! (the director begins to sweat as he tries to answer. Lyla realizes to her dismay of what happened, and walks off) I should've known. I trusted you, and you do this!
 * Theater Director: Please, my dear. It's... it's not what you think! I... we just...
 * Lyla the Echidna: (with angry tears) It doesn't matter anymore. You can have your precious prodigy take the role. I'm out! (storms off the theater setting. Outside, she is met with Cream the Rabbit's mother Vanilla)
 * Vanilla the Rabbit: Lyla? Is everything okay? (unable to answer, Lyla starting crying, and Vanilla comforts her) Oh, darling. There, there. What happened?
 * Lyla the Echidna: One month. One month preparing for something beautiful. And I went all this far for nothing! (continues sobbing)
 * Vanilla the Rabbit: (gives Lyla a handkerchief) Easy now, darling. Easy. (they resume to walk around) So, tell me what happened. Tell me everything, and we'll find a way to solve this.
 * (back in the studio, Sonic and Amy are checking the pictures of several young, female echidna actresses)
 * Amy Rose: That's a lot of actresses. Still not sure if they could fit in for the role.
 * Rouge the Bat: Yeah, some seem to be too old. Others are reported to be unavailable. And some are even said to mainly fit said to have better experience in romantic comedies. No good on space adventure movies.
 * Amy Rose: (sighs) Seriously, Sonic. This isn't getting any easier.
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: Yeah, I know. But that doesn't mean we're giving up. Not yet. There's gotta be a way.
 * Amy Rose: You're right. Although, just saying... only a miracle could provide us with the great solution for the problem. (Desmond comes by) Yes, mr. Desmond?
 * Desmond Wolf: It's Cream's mother Vanilla. And, she wants to talk to you, Amy.
 * (later, Amy is talking to Vanilla)
 * Vanilla the Rabbit: I hope there's still a place for more beautiful people in this movie you're making. Because, this young lady with me here is looking forward for a role she could fit in just fine. She's a bit shy, so... (introduces Amy to Lyla) be nice to her...
 * Lyla the Echidna: Hello, my name is Lyla. And... I heard you're looking for someone who could play your missing character...
 * Amy Rose: (stunned; on thoughts) Oh, my goodness! (in Amy's view of perspective, she imagines Lyla as Tikal) Her looks. Her voice. She's... (smiles gleefully) yes! She's the one!
 * Lyla the Echidna: (confused) Uhh... is everything okay?
 * Amy Rose: Oh..., yes, yes. Just... just a minute. (rushes back to the meeting room, and meets with Sonic, Rouge and Desmond; excitedly) We found her!!
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: (surprised) Wait, what?? Really?
 * Desmond Wolf: So soon?
 * Rouge the Bat: (smiling confidently) Well, it's about time.
 * Amy Rose: And you still got the sketches for the costume design. Right, Rouge?
 * Rouge the Bat: (winks) Give me 10 minutes, and I'll give you a Tikal.
 * (next scene shows Rouge in the fashion design room with Lyla; Rouge is shown taking Lyla's measurements, working with Omega and Tangle on the Tikal costume, and taking care of Lyla's makeup)
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: (narrating the above sequence) It really took like just a miracle to get us to this far. Just as we were about to call lots of actresses for audition, there soon came this new girl Lyla, who, surprisingly enough, looks and sounds a lot like Tikal. For a while, I thought it wouldn't work well by just casting her as Tikal because of said details. But more surprisingly enough, here's what Vanilla had to say...
 * (next scene shows Sonic, Amy, Desmond, and Vanilla in a hallway with Cream, Cheese and numerous Chao)
 * Vanilla the Rabbit: You'll all love Lyla's performance. I promise you will. She's been studying to be an actress for an entire year, and performed so beautifully in the stage plays. I'm telling you, she's got a real talent.
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: That's really promising, Vanilla. Also, what made her give up her other role? The one that she's been rehearsing for a month?
 * Vanilla the Rabbit: Oh, nothing. Just the foolish director "reworking the script" just as Lyla finished practicing through the one she followed. And she almost thought that she'd have to do everything over again until she was ready.
 * Amy Rose: That's... really disappointing, Vanilla. Really. Hopefully, we know Blaze and Shadow won't make that mistake. And everything will work well according to the plan. Right, Sonic?
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: Absolutely, Amy.
 * Desmond Wolf: I have high faith on that. (Tails comes by) How's our new star?
 * Miles "Tails" Prower: (excited) She's ready. And amazingly gorgeous!
 * Lyla the Echidna: (coming out offscreen, with everyone delighted) So, everyone... (we see her perfectly dressed as Tikal, and with Rouge (holding a body measure tape around her neck) next to her) How do I look?
 * Vanilla the Rabbit: Beautiful like an angel!
 * Amy Rose: And a real princess!
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: Just the way we remember Tikal!

"'DON'T MISS THE GRAND FINALE COMING UP NEXT!'"