Sonic the Hedgehog (film)

"Welcome to a whole new level of speed"

- Tagline

Sonic the Hedgehog  is a 2021 American Computer Animated Action Adventure Comedy based on the video game of the same name published by Sega and is produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation with additional animation work being done by Marza Animation Planet and distributed by Sony Pictures releasing, the film is directed by Peter Ramsey & Bon Persichetti and written by Jeff Rowe. It stars Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog with Micheal Cera, John Cena, J.K Simmons and Tom Kenny serving as supporting roles. The film follows Sonic, An Anthropomorphic Hedgehog who can run supersonic speeds, reluctantly teaming up with a two-tailed fox named Miles “Tails” Prower to stop Dr Eggman and his henchman Snively Robotnik from using the Master Emerald which can be used to take over the world, both who have the aid of Knuckles the Echidna to find the Emerald in Angel Island.

Development for a Sonic film began in the 1990s but did not leave the planning stage until Sony Pictures acquired the rights in 2013 and began production in 2017. The film was planned for a late 2020 release but was delayed due to production issues, This allowed the film to have a similar visual style to Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse and also to avoid competition/comparsions from the Super Mario Bros Movie. The film is dedicated to Keisuke Nagai, who was a licensing manager for Sega.

The film released on June 23rd 2021 on Sonic's 30th Anniversary in 2D and Real 3D formats. The film received positive reviews from critics with praise given to it’s faithfulness to the original source material, Action Sequences, Voice Acting and received acclaim for it's Music, Visual Style and Animation however, but was criticised for it’s pacing with critics and most casual viewers deeming it inferior to the Super Mario Bros Movie released the previous year. However Sonic fans reviewed the movie a lot more positively, with particular praise given to the characters, musical score (using songs/tracks from previous games) and environments. The film was commercial success, grossing over $580 Million over a production budget of $90 Million. A sequel is in the works which include characters such as Shadow The Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat.

Premise
"Sonic The Hedgehog is a new animated movie that features the video game’s most famous Hedgehog in the world through an Action-Packed, Comedy filled, Fanatical, Sci-Fi Adventure featuring the voice talents of Ryan Reynolds, Micheal Cera, John Cena, JK Simmons and Tom Kenny. When Sonic the Hedgehog was a Baby Hedgehog, his lovely home of Green Hill was destroyed by the Echidna Clan, he was left all alone in the Big City of Station Square. Several Years later, Sonic becomes a masked vigilante named the “Blue Blur” protecting Station Square to the dismay of the Freedom Fighters. one night, he runs into a Rouge G.U.N Agent/Scientist named Dr Robotnik (whose Nickname is Eggman) and his assistant/nephew Snively Robotnik who declare their plans for world domination using their Robotic Badnik/Egg Pawn Army and a Super Weapon named the Death Egg powered by finding the mystical relic known as the Master Emerald in Angel Island. After a deadly and emotional run-in with the two, Sonic driven by a sense of rebellion decides to go on a mission to stop Eggman and his plans but is joined by a Young, Cowardly but Intelligent Two Tailed fox named Miles Prower. The Both reluctantly team up and must go through the Special Zone then to the exotic but deadly Island of Angel Island where they are caught in the middle of the crossfires between Eggman’s Army and the dishonoured Prince of the Echidna Clan named Knuckles who is the last of his kind named. The 2 must team up and face their personal demons of trust, courage and self-worth to save the entire world from danger."

- Sony Pictures Animation

Voice Cast

 * Ryan Reynolds as Sonic The Hedgehog: An 15 Year Old anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds, but cannot swim. He wants to use his powers to help others but is brash and irresponsible. Upon learning of a plan that endangers the entire world lead by Dr. Robotnik, Sonic resolves to stop him by teaming up with his new friend Tails.
 * Michael Cera as Miles “Tails” Prower: An 12-Year-Old anthropomorphic yellow-orange fox who can fly with his two tails. Tails is a humble but cowardly genius who invents gadgets. After finding inspiration in Sonic's bravery against Robotnik, he leaves his home and quickly becomes Sonic’s friend during their adventure in Angel Island
 * John Cena as Knuckles the Echidna: An 17 year old anthropomorphic red echidna warrior with super strength. He is serious, aggressive, and quick-tempered, but has a strong sense of honor. He is the dishonoured last prince of the echidna tribe due to his weaker strength and initially works with Robotnik to retrieve the Master Emerald. However, after Robotnik dishonors their deal and betrays him, Knuckles befriends Sonic and Tails, and aids them in defeating Robotnik. Cena prepared for the role by exploring the character's backstory and identity. The Directors wanted the film's portrayal of Knuckles to be reminiscent of his early appearances, and said "his entire existence is about honour and about being a warrior", describing him as "a force of nature"
 * JK Simmons as Doctor Ivo Julian Robotnik/Eggman: An 40-Year-Old a mad, uncontrollable, selfish, egotistical, immature and villainous doctor who was a dishonoured G.U.N Scienetist and wants to rule the world using the Master Emerald
 * Tom Kenny as Snively Robotnik/Colin Robotnik: Robotnik’s smart but cowardly/shy assistant who is Robotnik’s Nephew, and is Serious and intelligent and is loyal to Robotnik but doesn’t like him very much
 * David Bradley as Sir Charles the Hedgehog: Sonic’s Wise Uncle who’s the leader of the Blue Hedgehog Tribe, home to the Blue Chaos Emerald

Additonally, Alison Brie plays Amy Rose, A bubbly and excitable Hedgehog with a Giant Hammer who runs a Tarot Card/Fortune shop in Station Square. Gina Rodriguez,John DiMaggio, Grey DeLisle and Rob Paulsen portray the Freedom Fighters consisting of Sally Acorn, Rotor, Bunnie Rabot and Antoine.

Prior Efforts
Development for a film adaptation of the Sonic the Hedgehog video games began in 1993 during production of DIC Entertainment's television show Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Michealene Risley, the newly appointed consumer products director who helped license Sonic for Adventures, negotiated with several Hollywood producers. Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske was wary of damaging the brand, citing the commercial and critical failures of the Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter films. Despite Kalinske's concerns, Sega was enthusiastic. In August 1994, Sega struck a development deal with MGM and Trilogy Entertainment Group, with Pen Densham as executive producer.

MGM and Sega hired Richard Jefferies, an associate of Risley from her days at Marvel Comics, to write a film treatment. At the time, Sega was developing the video game Sonic X-treme (which was canceled in late 1996) for its next console, the Sega Saturn, and asked Jefferies to feature the Saturn in the screenplay. Jefferies' treatment, Sonic: Wonders of the World, was submitted in May 1995. While the draft received a positive response among MGM and Sega executives, Sega COO Shinobu Toyoda suggested Kalinske replace Robotnik with a meaner villain. MGM canceled the project after a failed attempt to revive it at DreamWorks. Jeffries suggested that the film was scrapped as both Sega and MGM wanted a higher share of the profits, while Densham said it followed creative differences between Sega and Trilogy.

In 2002, Ben Hurst consulted DIC Entertainment about the possibility of making an animated Sonic film to serve as a continuation of the animated Sonic the Hedgehog television series, in which he worked as a writer. DiC put Hurst in contact with a Sega executive interested in the idea. Hurst was contacted by Ken Penders, writer of the Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series, who had been alerted of Hurst's plans. Though Hurst told him his strategy and offered to include him in his effort, Penders told Sega that Hurst was trying to co-opt the franchise, leading Sega to dismiss Hurst and his proposal. In September 2003, Penders pitched his own concept for a Sonic film, Sonic Armageddon. In Penders' words, the movie would have been an origin story and a series reset, resolving the plot threads which began in the animated Sonicshow and continued in Archie's comic series. The project was dropped in 2007 due to a corporate upheaval and the death of Sega licensing manager Robert Leffler, who had supported Penders

Development
In 2013, Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired the rights to produce and distribute an Animated Sonic film.