Line #93 WebAnimation/SonicManiaAdventures


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mv5bmjflmjy5ymqtmgrlzs00zdk1ltljyzetmtrkntdhymzmzmnmxkeyxkfqcgdeqxvynjmxnzq2ntq_v1.jpg]]
2
3	To go along with the release of ''VideoGame/SonicMania Plus'', ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' received a series of 5-minute shorts animated by Neko Productions and directed by Creator/TysonHesse. The original run consists of five of these shorts, with a sixth released later in the year.
4
5	''Sonic Mania Adventures'' features the Classic designs for the ''Sonic'' characters. It stars Sonic alongside Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, and Ray.
6
7	The series can be seen in full [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYvO8eaWJNc here]]. A sixth episode was released on Dec. 20, 2018 as a holiday special. It can be viewed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpfIblkRspQ here]]. The series in its entirety can be unlocked in the CompilationRerelease ''Sonic Origins''.
8
9	Compare to the ''WebAnimation/TeamSonicRacingOverdrive'' shorts which were made by the same team.
10	----
11	!!''Sonic Mania Adventures'' provides examples of:
12
13	* AchievementsInIgnorance: Dr. Eggman [[MythologyGag once again]] tricks Knuckles into thinking that Sonic is after the Master Emerald; this time by stealing the Tornado-1 and attaching the emerald to its rear. Knuckles goes to Eggman's base to confront Sonic and get the emerald back. By the time he gets there [[spoiler: Metal is getting ready to charge himself up with the emerald's power. Knuckles, so blinded by rage, mistakes Metal for the real Sonic and decisively punches him off the emerald, leaving with his prize in tow. The others can only watch dumbfounded as Knuckles leaves.]]
14	* AlternateContinuity: Officially, the series isn't canon, but rather an alternate take on the events of ''Sonic Mania Plus''. Granted, Creator/TysonHesse (the writer/director of these shorts) has stated his [[http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=37921&st=285 perspective]] that "if it needs to fit into any sort of timeline you could easily just say that it all happens during the time in that singular act in Angel Island and then Encore continues on from there for the rest of the game." Creator/IanFlynn further suggests its LooseCanon status via the ''Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia'' that which one is canon is entirely up to you, with the non-canonical choice potentially being dismissed as just another Phantom Ruby illusion.
15	* AntiClimax: [[spoiler:PlayedForLaughs. In Episode 5, Metal Sonic prepares to charge himself up with the Master Emerald... Only for Knuckles to arrive and knock him off of it and Eggman with him out of the base, resolving most of the strife in the series in under a minute. Sonic, Tails, Ray, and Mighty then go out and have chili dogs.]]
16	* ArtShift: Considering this is coming off the CGI made ''Sonic Forces'', it can come off like this, since the shorts are now back in traditional animation.
17	* AsideGlance: Metal Sonic gives a brief one in Episode 6 when he's put into an embarrassing situation.
18	* BattleAura: [[spoiler:Metal going Super is marked by him being enveloped by a golden aura (much like the Modern incarnations of Super Sonic) and his eyes changing from red to yellow.]]
19	* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame: [[spoiler:After years of defeating Eggman using the Chaos Emeralds as Super Sonic, Sonic is on the beating end of a super form thanks to Metal Sonic.]]
20	* BigDamnHeroes:
21	** In Episode 4, Mighty steps in to save Ray from being killed by Metal Sonic.
22	** [[spoiler:PlayedForLaughs. When Metal is about to power up with the Master Emerald, Knuckles suddenly rushes in at the last second and socks Metal in the face, sending him and Eggman flying. Knuckles hauls the Master Emerald away while Sonic, Tails, Mighty, and Ray stare in confusion.]]
23	* BloodKnight: Sonic gave an ecstatic look in Episode 5 before confronting [[spoiler: the powered-up Metal Sonic]], much to Tails chagrin.
24	* BottleEpisode: Episode 3 takes place in a small area in the forest, where Knuckles is trying to hide the Master Emerald.
25	* TheBusCameBack: The Christmas special is the first time in over 20 years where Classic Amy makes an appearance, being absent in all [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations the]] [[VideoGame/SonicMania other]] [[VideoGame/SonicForces games]] that starred Classic Sonic.
26	* CelShading: Some objects, notably the Eggmobile hoisting the Capsule, were modeled in 3D and rendered in 2D-like cel shading.
27	* ChekhovsGun:
28	** Eggman's device from the first episode, [[spoiler:which ended up being used to depower Metal Sonic]].
29	** At the very start of Episode 6, Eggman and Metal Sonic hit a tree before faceplanting in the middle of a grassy patch after being punched by Knuckles in Episode 5. [[spoiler:When Amy discovers Metal Sonic a few months later, the tree, which was damaged on impact earlier, finally snaps under its own weight and threatens to crush Metal. Amy acts in the nick of time to save her nemesis.]]
30	* ChristmasEpisode: The sixth episode, which featured Amy Rose returning a barely-functioning Metal Sonic as a holiday gift for Eggman.
31	* ContinuityNod:
32	** Episode 1 starts out with Sonic returning from the events of ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', making the same pose and expression as when he left.
33	** In Episode 2, Tails throws Sonic at Eggman in a spinning fashion, similar to the opening of the game.
34	** From the same episode, Tails could be seen fixing the tornado at the begining, which is pretty necessary after it being destroyed by Heavy Magician [[spoiler:via disguising as Fang/Nack, Bean, or Bark]] at Mirage Saloon Zone in the main game.
35	** One of the people Knuckles thinks stole the Emerald is the Heavy King, since he did attempt to steal it in ''Mania'' in the Knuckles-only route.
36	** Tails and Ray shake their hands introducing themselves to each other for the first time.
37	** Considering after her experience of being kidnapped by Metal Sonic in ''VideoGame/SonicCD'', it's understandable that Amy is scared of him at first.
38	** While Amy drags [[spoiler:Metal Sonic]] across Angel Island in Episode 6, she passes through Mushroom Hill and Ice Cap before finally reaching her destination. The flowers that she carries are same ones seen in Collision Chaos, adding to the MusicalNod mentioned below.
39	* ADayInTheLimelight:
40	** Episode 3 is mostly centered around Knuckles.
41	** Episode 4 centers around Mighty and Ray.
42	** Episode 6 centers around Amy Rose and Metal Sonic.
43	* TheDayTheMusicLied:
44	** In Part 1, Level complete theme music playing after Sonic freed all the critters from the capsule, only to be interrupted when he got knocked over by it with a head-doll of Eggman.
45	** In Part 2, Sonic finds Eggman digging for the Red Chaos Emerald with a drilling machine. Sonic, in usual fashion, rushes Eggman while heroic music plays in the background... only for Eggman to effortlessly punt Sonic out of the way and continue his business.
46	** In Episode 5, [[spoiler:the ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' final boss music begins again as Metal Sonic starts charging himself with the Master Emerald, only to be interrupted by Knuckles punching him away]].
47	* DespairEventHorizon: Metal Sonic hits this in Episode 6 following his defeat in the previous episode and being abandoned by Eggman. When he's discovered in the same spot months later by Amy, he's completely lost the will to function and prefers to be left to rot. [[spoiler:It's only after Amy returns him to Eggman that he stands on his feet again, showing he was too depressed to stand up on his own earlier, and has gotten better]].
48	* DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength: Mighty's attempt to meet Ray's fist bump sends the poor squirrel halfway across the forest, much to Mighty's immediate regret.
49	* {{Facepalm}}: Tails' reaction to Sonic attempting to pick a fight with [[spoiler:the souped-up Metal Sonic]].
50	* FoodEnd: The series ends with Sonic, Tails, Mighty and Ray hanging out by the Tornado and eating chili dogs.
51	* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
52	** In Part 1, Sonic baits Eggman into getting caught and blown up by his own trap.
53	** In Episode 5, [[spoiler:Tails manages to hack into Eggman's computers and use the base's trap to strip Metal Sonic of the Chaos Emeralds]].
54	* HostageForMacGuffin: In Part 4, Metal Sonic threatens to hurt Ray unless Mighty gives him the last Chaos Emerald.
55	* ImmediateSequel: To ''Sonic Forces''. The first episode has Sonic fading in in the same pose he was in when waving goodbye to Modern Tails and the others once the Phantom Ruby was destroyed. Finding himself back on Angel Island, he once more sees Eggman up to no good.
56	* {{Jerkass}}: Eggman is LaughablyEvil at the best of times but his treatment of Metal Sonic in episode 6 takes the cake, leaving his prized robot broken and alone for no reason other than disappointment in its performance. If Amy didn't come along, he wouldn't have cared if Metal Sonic never returned (and even then, it took months for him to be found at all, with the seasons changing twice and seeing Metal Sonic get covered with snow). [[spoiler: Even after Amy returns his metallic henchmen to him, he simply uses Metal as a foot rest while he sleeps]].
57	* KnightOfCerebus: Metal Sonic is portrayed as a fairly serious threat in Episode 4, forgoing most of the humor in favor of a [[NoNonsenseNemesis more straightforward]] fight, and threatening to, if not kill, then severely hurt Ray if Mighty didn't hand over the Chaos Emerald.
58	* MagicCountdown: When the time bomb in Episode 1 has 19 seconds remaining, it cuts to a long scene where Sonic realizes Eggman wants to play him for a fool. It then cuts back to the timer with 17 seconds remaining, showing only two seconds have passed in-universe. Sonic knocks on it out of spite and the countdown drops to 5.
59	* MegatonPunch: [[spoiler:Knuckles' punch is strong enough to send Eggman and Metal Sonic flying out of the base in Episode 5.]]
60	* MimeAndMusicOnlyCartoon: None of the characters in the shorts ever talk. Their expressions and MickeyMousing are what's used to tell the story.
61	* MistakenIdentity: When Eggman swipes the Master Emerald, Knuckles sees him flying away with it on the Tornado, which is emblazoned with Sonic's name, causing him to be enraged. Furthermore, according to WordOfGod, [[spoiler:Knuckles was so blinded with rage over "Sonic" (actually Eggman) stealing the Master Emerald '''''again''''' that he mistook Metal Sonic for the actual Sonic when he punched him into next week]].[[invoked]]
62	* MusicalNod: Like the main game, several nods to previous games appear in the musical score.
63	** The main theme from ''Sonic Mania'' and Angel Island Zone's theme from ''Sonic 3'' appear as recurring motifs across episodes. The traditional Chaos Emerald and Act Clear jingles also show up.
64	** Eggman's {{Leitmotif}} borrows the pizzicato strings and chord progression from his leitmotif in ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', with snippets of "Havoc Prognosis" and "Ruby Delusions" also included.
65	** Bits of ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sonic 2]]''[='=]s special stage theme play in Episode 2 when Sonic & Tails are about to smash Eggman's machine with their CombinationAttack.
66	** A snippet of "This Horizon", the title theme from ''Videogame/KnucklesChaotix'', is associated with Knuckles in Episode 3.
67	** A rendition of Knuckles' theme from ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3andKnuckles Sonic and Knuckles]]'' plays when Knuckles fights Eggman's badniks in Episodes 3 and 5.
68	** A rendition of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUyy1pimT5w Run Run Run!]]" from ''VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog'' plays when Ray first appears in Episode 3.
69	** When Metal Sonic shows up in Episode 4, the music played is a medley of the Japanese themes for Stardust Speedway and Metallic Madness in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]''.
70	** Mighty's appearance in Episode 4 is accompanied by a remix of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1YJF6FVcAs Trap Tower]]" from ''[=SegaSonic the Hedgehog=]''.
71	** A remix of the final boss theme from ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' plays during the fight with [[spoiler:the super-charged Metal Sonic]] in Episode 5.
72	** Amy's appearance in Episode 6 plays a small segment from the Japanese version of Collision Chaos from ''Sonic CD'' - her first appearance. After she finds Metal Sonic, a rendition of the the Good Future version of the song plays.
73	* MythologyGag:
74	** The rope trap Eggman sets on Sonic is designed after a crusher trap from the obscure ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt4Lg2E-cyE Sonic Ride]]'' video featured in ''Sonic Jam''.
75	** Before that, the Eggman head on a spring that surprises Sonic is very similar to the one that appears in the cut-scenes following the Egg Albatross in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''.
76	** Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are introduced in the series in the same order as their respective entry games.
77	** Episode 3 is naturally titled [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles "& Knuckles"]].
78	** The missing poster Ray takes out to show to Knuckles is the same one seen in the ''City Escape'' level from ''Sonic Generations''.
79	** In Episode 4, Metal Sonic's eye glows in a very similar way to his appearance in ''Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie''.
80	** In Episode 5, Eggman juggles his Chaos Emeralds the same way he did in the bad ending of ''Sonic 1''.
81	** Also in Episode 5, Eggman throws a punch in the air when Metal Sonic gets the upper hand against Sonic. He did the same thing after he shot down Tails and the Tornado in ''[[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie The Movie]]''. What's also a clear nod to the movie is that [[spoiler: Tails stops Metal Sonic by hacking into him by using a small device that Eggman created]].
82	** [[spoiler:Metal Sonic (attempts to) use the Master Emerald to charge his power the same way Mecha Sonic did in ''Sonic & Knuckles''.]]
83	** The gang are all gathered together after the battle in Episode 5 eating chili dogs, which is Sonic's favorite food from ''Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM SatAM]]''.
84	** Amy has her hammer, which was originally from ''Sonic the Fighters'', which for a long time was the only time Classic Amy has been depicted with the hammer in a game, as all other appearances of the hammer come from her new design starting with ''Sonic Adventure''. It wouldn't be until the ''Sonic Origins'' [[CompilationRerelease re-release collection]] and ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'' that Classic Amy would be a playable character that has her utilizing her hammer.
85	** Additionally, Amy take a pity to Metal Sonic bring in mind with how she feel bad for E-102 Gamma in VideoGame/SonicAdventure despite both being Eggman's robot.
86	** In Episode 6, Eggman is wearing the pajamas he wore in the animated "''[[Anime/SonicTheAnimation Man of the Year]]''" short from ''Sonic Jam''.
87	* NiceGirl: While Amy ''does'' attack Metal Sonic at first (understandably due to the events of ''VideoGame/SonicCD''), she takes him back to Eggman with no strings attached, because he's in disrepair.
88	* OhCrap: Eggman's expression after [[spoiler:Tails defeats the powered-up Metal Sonic with his own base's trap]].
89	* PetTheDog: In Episode 6, Metal Sonic never tries to hurt Amy at any point and actually allows her to return him to Eggman. Justified in that he doesn't seem to have any orders or reason to engage her.
90	* SaveTheVillain:
91	** {{Subverted}}. At first, Sonic reluctantly takes pity on Eggman's PuppyDogEyes face and walks over to free him from his trap. Then Eggman drops a device that shows his plans to kill him and acquire all the Chaos Emeralds while at it. Not surprised with the whole thing, Sonic [[NoNonsenseNemesis simply speed up the time bomb countdown and leaves Eggman to be blown up again]].
92	** In Episode 6, Amy saves Metal Sonic from being crushed by a falling tree, then returns him to Eggman's lair for repairs.
93	* ShoutOut: In Episode 5, listen carefully to [[spoiler:the golden aura of [[SuperMode Metal Sonic, who is empowered by the Chaos Emeralds]]. It has the same sound effect as a [[Franchise/DragonBall Super Saiyan]]]].
94	* TheStinger:
95	** Part 1 ends with [[spoiler:Metal Sonic looking at the various broken trees and foliage]].
96	** Part 2 ends with [[spoiler:Eggman discovering Knuckles transporting the Master Emerald, and getting an idea when he sees the Tornado unattended]].
97	** Part 3 ends with [[spoiler:Metal Sonic locating a Chaos Emerald and speeding to it]].
98	** Part 4 ends with [[spoiler:Eggman grinning maniacally as he witnesses all parties converging on his headquarters]].
99	* SuperMode: In Episode 5, [[spoiler:Metal Sonic used all of the Chaos Emeralds to give himself a Super Sonic-esque power boost, making him strong enough to fight Sonic, Tails, Mighty, and Ray all at once. WordOfGod states that Metal did not actually go Super, although it would have happened if his Master Emerald backup plan went through]].
100	* SympathyForTheDevil: In Episode 6, while Amy does attack Metal Sonic at first, she stops when she realizes he's in no condition to fight after months of disrepair.
101	* ATwinkleInTheSky: In episode 3, Ray gets curious about the Master Emerald and tries to touch it. Knuckles responds by chucking him skyward.
102	* TheVoiceless: Everyone in this mini-series is mute and lets their actions speak louder to follow the game canon. While it's justified with [[HeroicMime Classic Sonic]], the classic version of Tails & Eggman also don't speak, unlike in ''Videogame/SonicGenerations''. The only pieces of "dialogue" are a snort by Sonic and a cough by Tails, both heard in Episode 5.
103	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Essentially the answer to this in regards to ''Sonic Forces'', as we see the continuation of ''Mania'' Sonic's story.

Context WebAnimation / SonicManiaAdventures