Key Takeaways
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 needs to juggle Shadow’s dark backstory with Sonic’s comedic persona.
- The film should balance Shadow’s tragic past with humor to avoid alienating viewers.
- By allowing Sonic to be the voice of reason against Shadow’s drama, the film can maintain a good tonal balance.
As Sonic the Hedgehog 3 draws nearer, the introduction of Shadow to the story is sure to switch up the tone. While the first two films, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, were filled with witty one-liners from the playful Sonic, and wild antics from Dr. Robotnik, many fans are used to the lack of seriousness in the Sonic franchise.
However, Shadow the Hedgehog is known to be an angsty character with an inherently tragic past, without much of a capacity for comedy. Though some of his interactions with Sonic can be entertaining, they are usually spawned from Sonic’s mischievous tendencies. With such a darker backstory coming into play, will Sonic the Hedgehog 3 struggle with its tone? With so much being introduced in the new trailer, there’s a lot to unpack about how the film will be able to juggle the tragic and dark story of Shadow and properly mesh it with the kid-friendly and comedic side of Sonic.
This article contains spoilers for the second Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer.
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 needs to raise the stakes if it wants to deliver on Shadow’s potential.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Will Need to Strike a Proper Balance Between Darkness and Light
The Sonic the Hedgehog Films Have Been Known For Their Kid-Friendly Vibe
As many fans of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise know, Shadow is a character who is essentially the exact opposite of Sonic, and his own stand-alone games have a significantly different tone and vibe. These games were often geared towards an older audience as well, while Sonic centered around younger players. As many fans can tell from the new Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer, the franchise seems to be opening up a path to the dark and gritty side shown in the Shadow games, which can be quite hard to juggle, especially with the consistently light-hearted films previously released.
This means that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has a high possibility of tonal issues, with two completely opposite storylines coming together that could easily clash. The film will need to strike a good balance between Sonic’s comedic persona, and Shadow’s gritty personality. This will be incredibly difficult to do, as they won’t want to swap the tone too much throughout the film, as it could give fans a confusing viewing experience. Another issue with the introduction of a more serious narrative is that it could easily alienate a few different groups of viewers, especially young children who will struggle to understand the gravity of Shadow’s grim past, including losing Maria Robotnik, someone he cared about deeply while on the Space Colony ARK where he was created.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Will Need to Give Shadow His Deserved Storyline
In order for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to properly give Shadow his deserved storyline, while still keeping the right tone, the best approach to go for would be to create a story similar to the Shadow the Hedgehog video game. Despite Shadow’s dark past, the film will be able to handle the tone changes by making Shadow’s personality inherently funny on its own, leaning into the melodramatic aspect of his attitude paired against Sonic.
If the film can allow Sonic to be more of the voice of reason in the film when Shadow throws out a dramatic line, this will give the tonal balance that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will need to keep audiences engaged. The chaotic set pieces that seem to be featured in the trailer will serve as another great contrast against Sonic’s more lighthearted atmosphere, as long as they are able to strike a good balance.
The more you talk, the harder I want to hit you. — Shadow
However, although it is possible for them to properly mesh these two different tones together, there is a chance that it will fall flat. If the film goes too dark with Shadow’s story, which could be a possibility due to the ominous music present in the trailer, it could make it difficult for the film to resonate with a younger audience. If the film franchise wraps up after this entry especially, it could leave viewers wanting more, or a return to the playful nature of the previous films. Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will need to make sure it finds its footing to avoid any tonal issues that could lead to alienation, while still giving Shadow his deserved screentime.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 releases in theaters on December 20.
Directed by Jeff Fowler, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sets up a new threat for Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails by introducing Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow presents such a big danger to planet Earth, that the heroes have to team up with Dr. Robotnik.
- Release Date
- December 20, 2024
- Director
- Jeff Fowler
- Cast
- Jim Carrey , Ben Schwartz , James Marsden , Tika Sumpter , Idris Elba , Colleen O’Shaughnessey , Natasha Rothwell , Keanu Reeves
- Writers
- Pat Casey , Josh Miller , John Whittington
- Production Company
- Sega Sammy Group, Original Film, Marza Animation Planet, Blur Studio
- prequel(s)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Based On
- Sonic the Hedgehog Games