Without Sonic the Hedgehog, there would be no Sonic movie franchise

The person who released oh so many memes and eventually a change in Sonic’s appearance c Sonic the Hedgehog movies came out of something Paramount Pictures would like to forget to an important touchstone in franchise history. And it’s all thanks to legacy fans of the beloved Sega video game who knew this Ugly Sonic wasn’t their sonic.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere for Sonic the Hedgehog 3the voice of Sonic in the film, Ben Schwartz, talks about how Ugly Sonic is something he’s embracing now: “Maybe sometimes you need a little push to really look in the mirror and hear the fans to really know if want to correct. And we did.”

Indeed, it was as if an internet audience of Sonic fans and casual moviegoers let out a collective shriek of horror at the teeth, eyes, and just plain sinister look of the movie’s failed abomination on top of Sonic’s classic look. Fortunately, the studio and creative team quickly worked to reformat the icon into its true form. “How often can you think of a movie that really listens to the fans and the studio takes money and time to change it because they think it will make the movie better? I think it’s rarely, if ever, happened before,” Schwartz said.

But Ugly Sonic never really died.

The memes continue and audiences are quickly shaking in fear of social discourse thanks to Ugly Sonic PTSD when it comes to making beloved characters live-action. One piece fans are holding their breath that Netflix isn’t making Ugly Sonic a live-action Tony Tony Chopper for example in a second season. Both How to train your dragonis toothless and Lilo and Stitch‘s Stitch have maintained their original appeal in recent teasers for their upcoming live features. It’s all really thanks to Ugly Sonic’s cautionary tale, because hey: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Ugly Sonic will continue to be featured as a supporting character in Disney’s 2022 hybrid film. Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers and was last seen in a Christmas sweater officially released by Paramount Pictures for giveaway. At the premiere, Sonic 3 director Jeff Fowler also gave credit to Ugly Sonic: “This beautiful trilogy of films, this phoenix, had to rise from the ashes of Ugly Sonic. It was a necessary sacrifice, but yes, thank you Ugly Sonic for the memories.”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theaters this Friday.

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