There was a simpler time on the internet, back before…the “Sonicontroversy.” Does that work? I’m trying to make it a thing. It flows a lot better than having to say a whole spiel about how universally panned the look of Sonic was during the world’s first gander at that lackluster Sonic the Hedgehog trailer. For six, maybe seven days now, the web has been festooned with disturbing, disgusting, dastardly redesigns from “fans,” turning the plucky video game character into a Lovecraftian horror. Needless to say, this whole week has been, uh, exhausting.
The poor reception of Sega’s golden boy, and their subsequent, ridiculous announcement that they’ll be redesigning the character before the late summer release, has received such a huge backlash that fellow CGI-Monster Creator (TM) Rob Letterman, director of the upcoming Detective Pikachu film, had something to say about it:
“It would be very difficult for us to redesign anything. We spent a year designing all the characters ahead of shooting so that we could get it all right. If we were off by an inch on Pikachu, [actor] Justice Smith’s performance would go right out the window. For us, it would have been impossible — but that doesn’t mean they can’t do it. I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes — they’re in a difficult spot.”
I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes, either; did you see that huge pile of beat up Nikes Sonic had in his little tree…forest…cave…thing? Yikes! I mean, okay, sure, a subtle redesign at the behest of fans has worked before. Specifically, earlier this year, with Alita: Battle Angel, and her weird, giant anime eyes that were tuned down into more palatable giant anime eyes. But to change the entire thing in a matter of months? Much like Sonic, those poor animators gotta go fast.
Did you guys have any thoughts about the Sonic the Hedgehog trailer, Jim Carrey’s mugging, or Ben “Benny Schwaa” Schwartz’s meowing, though? Let us know in the comments section down below.
