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The success of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is examined in greater depth. Clashing with Disney’s headliner release of “Mufasa: The Lion King,” ‘Sonic 3’ exceeded expectations in box office and critic reviews. Aashi Shinde analyzes the interwoven themes of loss, character morality, resulting in an emotional journey. Warning: This article contains spoilers. Proceed with caution. 

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” was released around the same time as “Mufasa: The Lion King.” As ‘Mufasa’ became… well, stuck in the former’s shadow, the movie’s earnings fell drastically short of expectations and received disgruntled reviews from critics and fans alike. Yikes.

“Sonic 3,” on the other hand, achieved the exact opposite — an over-pouring of enthusiastic reviews from dedicated fans of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ and expecting critics.

The million-dollar question is, what did “Sonic 3” get right? How could a movie from an innocuous video game company trample a hefty budget Disney-produced film, decked out with skillful CGI animation? It’s nothing short of a head-scratcher. After all, the predecessor, “The Lion King,” was a resounding success.

Many credit the movie’s acclaim to its introduction of one of the most popular characters in the ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ franchise, ‘Shadow the Hedgehog.’ Others praise the overall popularity of video game movie adaptations. However, I believe that at the core of ‘Sonic 3’s success is the compelling tale of two hedgehogs who enthralled viewers — ‘Sonic’ and ‘Shadow.’

‘Shadow’ is introduced as a radically different character from ‘Sonic.’ Sonic is fun-loving and positive, with a strong desire to protect his friends and family. Shadow is edgy, serious, and operates alone. Sonic works to save the world, while Shadow wants to destroy it in his path for revenge. Even their character designs tell a story—Sonic’s quills are a cheerful blue, giving him a friendly and approachable air, while Shadow’s are an ominous jet-black.

Despite these stark differences, much of “Sonic 3” is dedicated to highlighting their hidden similarities. One instance of this occurs when Shadow mistakenly attacks ‘Tom,’ Sonic’s pseudo-father-figure. Sonic sees Tom’s unconscious body and rushes to his side, desperately begging for Tom to wake up. This moment almost perfectly mirrors the scene where Shadow crouches over ‘Maria,’ his closest friend, after she was killed by an explosion. There’s a flicker of remorse in Shadow’s eyes when seeing Sonic’s despair before he hardens, placing his desire for retribution for Maria above any moral code.

Another instance is seen in the fight scene between Sonic and Shadow. Sonic is furious, seeking out Shadow to take revenge for Tom. Shadow even acknowledges the irony of this when Sonic attacks him. “Now you know my anger. The pain I felt for fifty years—and you made the same choice I did.” Sonic vehemently denies this (“I’m nothing like you!”). Desperation in his tone says otherwise—he knows, on some level, Shadow is right. However, to admit it leads to a far scarier conclusion for Sonic—he isn’t any better than Shadow despite constantly striving to be a hero.

Noticing something common? The interactions between Sonic and Shadow reveal facets of their characters not seen before. Up until “Sonic 3,” Sonic was portrayed as a bold and infallible hero, sticking to a strict set of morals. This type of character has been witnessed countless times in countless pieces of media. Shadow’s provoking remarks and their ensuing fight distinguish Sonic from other protagonists. His complexities are exposed. While he does willingly attack Shadow, he also grapples with the pressures of incoming world annihilation, a sense of responsibility towards his friends, and intense guilt over letting Tom be hurt. These are realistic, emotional burdens that transform Sonic from being a fictitious character into a person.

Shadow’s character is benefited in a similar way. His guilt over hurting Tom lends him humanity, turning him from a cold, malicious villain into someone crushed by the oppressive weight of grief. Shadow seeks to “make things right,” even if it involves the loss of others along the way. It doesn’t excuse his actions, but it certainly makes them understandable and deserving of sympathy.

These character plots connect with the audiences at a deeper level. We can feel Sonic’s desperation and rage when he attacks Shadow, and we can feel Shadow’s humanity when he realizes what he’s done—making their growth and story so much more powerful.

Finally, the climax — the most gut-wrenching moment. Sonic is ready to deliver the killing blow to Shadow, but hesitates, saying, “There are no winners with revenge.”

Shadow sees the error of his ways, and finally opens up about the pain he’s felt since Maria died. Sonic shares his own experience with grief and adds: “But over time, I’ve learnt there’s something even more powerful than pain—the love we felt for each other. That’s what you need to hold on to, Shadow. Maria might be gone, but your love will always remain.”

I’d argue that the conversation portrays Sonic’s character the best out of all the movies. His willingness to see the best in everyone is what ultimately transformed Shadow from a villain into a hero, one who willingly sacrificed himself to save the very planet he’d sworn to destroy.

At the end of the day, ‘Sonic 3’s success is due to the broader story at play. The loneliness of grief, the guilt and rage when a loved one is hurt, the wisdom gained from these experiences—to see these raw emotions depicted authentically captivates viewers who may have dealt with similar struggles. It’s their story, one way or another, being told. Characters like Sonic and Shadow may fade into obscurity, but the deeper meaning of their movie will remain.

 

All Images provided by Paramount Studios and SEGA Arts