Sonic is an 18-minute long Fan Film based on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. It was written and directed by Eddie Lebron, and released by Blue Core Studios, the same company that released the fanmade Mega Man film. The film was developed to see how Sonic would look in a live action environment, and faced the high expectations of the Sonic fanbase.
On the peaceful Planet Mobius, the evil Dr. Robotnik, formerly acclaimed roboticist Julian Kintobor, declares war on the world. He begins his path of destruction by wiping out all intelligent animal life on South Island. Three months later, the Robotnik Empire now occupies Station Square, often taking over the city's television networks to spread propaganda. Robotnik faces opposition from G.U.N. units, who are vastly overwhelmed by his robotic forces; however, an unknown hero dubbed the "Blue Blur" allies himself with the underdog and rescues a number of units in the fight against Robotnik. Three weeks on, Robotnik and four G.U.N. soldiers discover the identity of the freedom fighter — a surviving South Islander who's a wisecracking, laidback, blue hedgehog called Sonic that can run at supersonic speeds.
The film gained a lot of attention, particularly when it was announced that Jaleel White was reprising his role as Sonic after voicing the character in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) and Sonic Underground.
It was originally first released at MAGFest 2013. On January 10, 2013, it was uploaded
to YouTube by the filmmaker.
This is not to be confused with the official film adaptations from Paramount or the OVA Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie.
This fan film contains examples of:
- And the Adventure Continues: The film ends with Robotnik needing four more Chaos Emeralds for some Evil Plan, Sonic finding Green Hill Zone, and Knuckles watching from afar and muttering that Vagueness Is Coming.
- Another Dimension: The seven Chaos Emeralds emerge from a giant Gold Ring at the beginning of the film.
- Artistic License – Gun Safety: One of the G.U.N. soldiers just swings an automatic rifle around by the handle.
- Badass Army: G.U.N. shows signs of this considering they willingly venture into the wilderness to blow up one of the Egg Carrier fleets.
- Bald of Evil: Robotnik is both bald and the villain.
- Big Bad: Robotnik is of the "sit in his lair a lot" variety, and all the other bad guys report directly to him.
- The Cameo:
- James Rolfe, Craig "Stuttering Craig" Skitimas, Doug Walker and Brent Black
- In terms of a character cameo, Knuckles appears as well.
- Canned Orders over Loudspeaker: Robotnik and his followers do this on Station Square's television network.
- Cool Ship: The Egg Carrier fleet and the gigantic flagship.
- Darker and Edgier: Much like the Mega Man fan film before it, Sonic puts a significantly darker spin on the normally lighthearted franchise. Robotnik is a foul, sinister antagonist (going so far as to even electrocute a G.U.N. soldier prisoner and attempt to have a forest G.U.N. soldier executed in cold blood), and some elements of racial inequality have been added in as well (represented by a G.U.N. soldier despising Sonic as a South Islander). Robotnik also seems to be on a much more active head-hunt in regards to Sonic, explicitly ordering his robots to "kill it".
- Dull Surprise: The G.U.N. soldier prisoner being interrogated by Robotnik. Also, the confused expressions of the Station Square citizens upon seeing the fleet.
- Emergency Presidential Address: President Bushnell addresses the Mobian crisis instigated by Robotnik.
- Emperor Scientist / Evil Overlord: Robotnik, who is seen in his high-tech base all the time.
- Exty Years from Publication: The date is January 9, 4013 - exactly 2000 years after the film's release date.
- Fan Film: Done by Eddie Lebron and Blue Core Studios.
- Fantastic Racism: Robotnik openly hates South Islanders. And one of the G.U.N. soldiers openly expresses prejudice against islanders.
- Final Solution: Occurs when Robotnik decides to wipe out all intelligent animal life on South Island.
- The Hero: Sonic is pretty much a classic hero.
- Human-Focused Adaptation: It takes 5 minutes for Sonic to show up at all, and the human cast is focused on frequently.
- Killer Robot: Robotnik's robots (E-100 battle droids, Buzz Bombers and Moto Bugs) are seen threatening and/or attempting to shoot and kill people.
- Mythology Gag:
- The basis of the plot is taken from Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM), with Robotnik having basically already made his conquest and facing rebels.
- Dr. Julian Kintobor comes from Dr. Ivo Robotnik's former name in Archie Comics, Julian Kintobor of the House of Ivo.
- Sonic's catch phrases like "Way past cool!" and the concept of roboticisation are taken from western media, too.
- The seven Chaos Emeralds emerge from a giant Gold Ring.
- The planet of Mobius (from Sonic the Comic, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM), and Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics)) is the main setting, along with South Island and Station Square.
- Robotnik's fleet consists of about half a dozen Egg Carriers. The fleet flies over Station Square in a scene directly inspired from a similar one in Sonic Adventure.
- The E-100 battle droids are based on E-102 Gamma.
- During President Bushnell's speech, the date given is futuristic, and he implies that Mobius arose from a unity of nations. This may be a reference to Archie Comics, where Mobius was depicted as a future version of Earth.
- Sonic mocks Robotnik by calling him "Eggman" and "Robuttnik" at one point.
- G.U.N. was introduced in Sonic Adventure 2. Additionally, the Commander is briefly mentioned.
- Buzz Bombers and Moto Bugs — The Goombas first seen in the original game — make appearances.
- There is a subtle Take That! to the controversial Interspecies Romance of Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).
- Sonic rides a missile to redirect it back at its owner, just like in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie.
- Sonic comes across the Green Hill Zone at the end of the film, and is viewed from afar by Knuckles.
- Ominous Floating Spaceship: The Egg Carrier fleet flying over Station Square.
- One-Word Title
- Sacrificial Lamb: The G.U.N. soldier prisoner, who is taken away to be roboticised after being interrogated by Robotnik.
- Sequel Hook: Robotnik gains three Chaos Emeralds, Sonic comes across the Green Hill Zone, and Knuckles watches from afar contemplating the consequences of Sonic's actions.
- Shout-Out: President Bushnell's name seems to be a nod to Nolan Bushnell, one of the brains behind Atari.
- Standard Sci-Fi Fleet: Robotnik's air fleet of Egg Carriers.
- Stripperiffic: In a behind the scenes extra, Doug as Sonic.
- The Stoic: Robotnik for most of the film shows little emotion during most of his dialog and speeches to the public...
- Not So Stoic: ... But the sight of Sonic riles him up per usual.
- Stunned Silence: All of the G.U.N. soldiers are stunned by Sonic's appearance when they encounter him.
- Take That!: A joke about the Interspecies Romance plot of Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). Sonic "flirts" with a human woman, but then says that the two are incompatible since she's a human and he's a hedgehog (though in the recording session, there was a deleted version of this scene where Sonic flirts with the brunette GUN soldier, saying "You never hooked up with a hedgehog before.''").
- Totally Radical: Jaleel White brings a new charm to his old role as Sonic.
- Unwilling Roboticisation: Though the process is never shown, roboticisation is a Fate Worse than Death for anyone who opposes Robotnik, who enjoys it fondly.
- Vocal Evolution: White's voice in the film is noticeably deeper and raspier than the one he had in the shows (though understandably, considering how much older he is now).
