Sonic Prime – this is Sonic’s sixth attempt at a TV show (pic: Netflix)
After the comedy focused Sonic Boom, Sonic Prime is not only its polar opposite but exemplifies why the franchise has thrived for so long.
Following the franchise’s 30th anniversary last year, 2022 has been an unambiguously successful year for Sonic The Hedgehog, much to the delight of its fans and no doubt Sega as well.
Between the second live action movie, the ongoing IDW comic book series, and Sonic Frontiers, things are finally looking up for the blue blur after years of mediocrity. So, fans have been crossing their fingers that the Sonic Prime Netflix series would keep up the trend and end 2022 on a high note for the franchise.
Having watched the current line-up of eight episodes, we can say that Sonic Prime is a perfectly enjoyable, above average show that little kids and diehard Sonic fans will get a kick out of. However, as we mulled it over, we realised that, perhaps unintentionally, Sonic Prime feels like a direct response to Sega’s last attempt at a Sonic TV show, Sonic Boom.
For context, Sonic Boom was a spin-off series consisting of games, comics, toys, and, of course, a television series aimed at Western audiences. Sonic has always performed better in the West than in Japan, so it made some sense to double down on marketing to where most of the money was coming from.
All in all, though, the Boom series didn’t quite take off the way Sega probably wanted. The tie-in games made little impact, aside from the abysmal, and unfortunately most prominent, Sonic Boom: Rise Of The Lyric. The comic book series lasted less than a year and even the TV show, despite being the best thing to come out of the whole experiment, was effectively abandoned after only two seasons.
Knowing all that, you have to wonder if Sega’s approach to Sonic Prime is motivated by just doing the exact opposite of what it did with Boom. While both shows are 3D animations and star Sega’s spiky blue mascot, that’s where the similarities end.
Aside from the fact that Sonic Prime isn’t trying to be spun out into its own subseries, with tie-in games and other merch, it clearly wants to embrace its source material while attempting new things, as opposed to the more distant Sonic Boom. Apparently, it’s even set in the same continuity as the games, whereas Boom was its own separate continuity.
This isn’t accusing Boom of being embarrassed of being a Sonic cartoon, far from it. The show was entertaining enough as it was airing, since it had some genuinely funny writing, but that’s precisely what its main priority was: to be funny.
Aside from the odd multi-part storyline and some surprising adherence to its own continuity, Sonic Boom focused on providing as many laughs as possible within its 11 minute episodes. The general synopsis may have said that it saw Sonic and friends defend their home from Dr Eggman, but the latter was never a bona fide supervillain and more of a grouchy neighbour.
Sonic Boom – if you can, it’s worth giving the Sonic Boom a cartoon a watch. Just avoid the Wii U game like the plague (pic: Sega)
Sonic Prime, meanwhile, is an ongoing multiverse adventure that sees Sonic hopping through different realities, meeting alternate versions of his friends as he tries to get things back to normal. While it’s plenty funny at times (at least as funny as a show aimed at little kids can be), there’s a sincere attempt to tell a story that isn’t just ‘Sonic saves the day.’ Even if its efforts to tackle certain themes and messages don’t always hit the mark, Sonic Prime wants to explore and develop its characters and not just be some crazy road trip.
Nine, a version of Tails from a dystopian city run by a council of Eggmen, is easily the best example. With him, the show posits what could have become of Tails had he never befriended Sonic, resulting in a far more cynical character unconcerned with the horrid nature of the world. Plus, his extra mechanical tails make for a striking character design and the show quickly sets him up as a pivotal figure for the show, with his own character arc.
Boom’s original characters, by comparison, existed solely to deliver punchlines. Given the show’s emphasis on comedy, that made sense, but it does mean they’re far less memorable. There was never much chatter or fanart for the likes of Dave the Intern or Fastidious Beaver even when the show was airing. Characters like the aforementioned Nine and Rusty Rose (an evil robotic version of Amy) struck a chord with fans before Sonic Prime even came out.
Some have critiqued the franchise in the past for getting a bit too self-serious, with some games featuring ancient gods, government conspiracies, and apocalyptic futures. It’s a series about a blue hedgehog that runs fast so why isn’t it just a Saturday morning cartoon? Sonic Boom came out during an era where it felt like Sega was actively trying to address that, with the games’ plots becoming much simpler in terms of story and characterisation.
It turns out, though, that Sonic fans really like it when the franchise takes itself a bit seriously, when it tries to sincerely tell new stories with its cast that aren’t just about stopping a mad scientist. Just look at Sonic Frontiers; that game’s sub-plot about Eggman growing attached to his new AI Sage, to the point of treating her like a daughter, isn’t played for comedy and, depending on who you ask, is genuinely emotional at times. Sage herself has also become popular, partially thanks to being an actual character with an arc and personality.
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Sonic Prime is nowhere near as po-faced as some Sonic games, but it’s also not afraid to take itself seriously. There’s no ironic bent to the drama or tension and no winking at the camera to assure its audience that even the characters think things are ridiculous. Sonic Prime has a story it wants to tell and a message to convey; the fact that said story features talking cartoon animals shouldn’t diminish that.
The purpose of all this isn’t to say Sonic Prime is inherently better than Sonic Boom. However, while Boom will probably remain the funnier show, Prime stands a better chance at being more fondly remembered, long after it ends, simply for being ambitious and doing more with these established characters than performing rapid-fire comedy.
That’s all in keeping with the franchise’s current approach, and so far it’s paying off. Let’s just hope the momentum continues in 2023.
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After the comedy focused Sonic Boom, Sonic Prime is not only its polar opposite but exemplifies why the franchise has thrived for so long.
