Detective Pikachu and Super Mario aren’t the only video game movies coming up—we also have Sonic the Hedgehog, based on Sega’s eponymous speedy mascot, which is being turned into a live action movie. So far we have only had glimpses at what Sonic’s design in the movie will be like, based on silhouettes and the like that leave far too much to the imagination. However, now, at last, we may have a leak of the full design.
This leak came from the website of the firm that will run the official licensing program for the merchandizing of the character and the movie. The page it was on has since been deleted (which only adds veracity to the leak), but the design itself has now been leaked and spread far and wide on the internet.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the world who isn’t familiar with SEGA’s beloved IP, Sonic the Hedgehog. But global reverence does come with a unique price,” the webpage read before it was nuked from orbit (like this Sonic design should be). “In creating a licensing and packaging program to be used worldwide and to be applied against targeting multiple audience demographics, it was necessary to strike a balance between staying true to the Sonic brand, while appealing to a global audience, and differentiating from previous Sonic merchandise packaging.
“The challenge of creating a global licensing and packaging program targeted to multiple demographics came with several strategic requirements: 1) signal a new modern take on the brand without abandoning its core essence, 2) appeal to a worldwide audience and 3) clearly differentiate from previous merchandising efforts.
“Our approach was to create a system that was versatile and modular, so that various Sonic IPs including Classic Sonic, Modern Sonic, Film Sonic, Animation Sonic, and other events could be integrated seamlessly within the baseline packaging look.”
You can see for yourself below what this movie Sonic will look like. He’s, uh… this isn’t a great look for him to be honest. Simultaneously, however, I have to say I feel palpable relief that it’s not quite as bad as I feared it could be. Still, I have to imagine there will be severe backlash given this is a beloved and iconic character who has been dealt such a dramatic redesign. And fan art. Oh god, the fan art…
