Sonic the Hedgehog has had a long career. Not only has he starred in countless games, but he's also headlined a few TV shows and movies. Thus, many newer entries pay homage to that history.
Such is the case with Sonic Prime. This Netflix series has a slew of Easter Eggs. Many of these are callbacks to Sonic's past adventures. True to form, though, they come so quickly that fans may miss them just by blinking. Only hardcore devotees can snap them up before then.
7 Familiar Sounds & Visuals
Most obvious to Sonic fans is the wealth of images taken straight from the games. For instance, Sonic's running animation--red circles where his shoes should be--is exactly how it was in the old titles. Such a stylistic touch perfectly conveys the character's speed while being visually pleasing.
The show is similarly pleasant on the ears. It boasts several sound effects which fans should know by heart. The little chime whenever Sonic collects rings is the most prominent. These small touches do wonders for the authenticity. More than any show or movie, Sonic Prime feels like watching the game come to life.
6 Sonic At War?
This may be unintentional, but it's hard to ignore the coincidence. In the first dimension that Sonic visits, Dr. Eggman has taken over the world. He's turned Green Hill into a mechanized metropolis. Robots patrol the streets and subjugate the animal populace. Meanwhile, Sonic's friends lead an underground resistance against the doctor's tyranny. It's all eerily familiar.
That's because the hedgehog has confronted this scenario before. It's the same setup as the 1993 animated series (commonly referred to as Sonic SatAM). It also formed the foundation for Sonic Forces. These works may lack the dimension-hopping antics and use different characters, but they're still dystopian ground that the hedgehog has trod before.
5 Animal Power
Early in the show, Sonic trashes a handful of Eggman's robots. A Chao group suddenly emerges from one of these wrecks. They were apparently trapped inside the mechanical monstrosity. Later, the cyborg version of Amy reveals a similar power source: a bird. These aren't the first innocent creatures stuffed inside the mad doctor's metal minions.
The first Sonic game sees Eggman trap various woodland animals in his Badnik robots. Defeating these robots frees the furry friends. Evidently, Eggman has since moved up to Chao-powered tech. This doesn't make sense from a scientific standpoint, but it's good to know the hedgehog is still fixing Eggman's crimes against nature.
4 Sonic Meets Tails
Early on, the show changes its animation style. Sonic explains to an alternate version of Tails how they met in his universe. During the ensuing flashback, the aesthetic shifts to a 2D, 16-bit format. This isn't just a visual gag, though.
This scene carries far more meaning than meets the eye. The sprite style hearkens back to the original Sonic games on the Sega systems. More specifically, it's akin to Sonic the Hedgehog 2: the game where Tails debuted. Meanwhile, the scenario of the hero saving his sidekick from bullies comes from an animated segment in Sonic Origins. All in all, the scene is a neat blend of roots.
3 The Breakdance
Sonic has always been a cocky individual. That comes across through both jokes and body language. He's quick to pat himself on the back, which is why he sometimes does a little breakdance after pulling off an amazing feat. The move is especially prevalent after he S-ranks a level in Sonic Generations.
This time, though, the celebration comes at the beginning. While battling Eggman's mech suit in the first episode, Sonic pauses to taunt his foe. He then performs the iconic breakdance during his boast. Nothing invokes confidence quite like it.
2 Debut Dates
The 16-bit sequence isn't the only nod to Tails's origin. Accessing the fox's hideout here requires a password. The correct code is 1992, which is the year that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 came out. That's amusing enough, but the series also plays with other dates.
Such is the case with Big. Eggman's robots give this fat cat has a number in the citizenry. The number in question is 1998. This year saw the release of Sonic Adventure, where the dopey feline got his start. Unfortunately, it's also where his annoying frog came in. Sonic fans have learned to take the bad with the good.
1 Gotta Go Fast!
Talk about stating the obvious. When Sonic gets new gear from Tails, he's eager to try it out. The inventor cautions him against reckless action, but the hero pays him no mind. Later, he says that he's "gotta go fast." Truer words were never said.
In fact, he goes by the same words in Sonic X. The phrase acts as song lyrics in the anime's English opening. Sure, it's cheesy and on-the-nose, but it also undeniably catchy. As a result, it's practically become synonymous with the character, which is easy to see why. It perfectly sums up the Blue Blur's mantra.
Sonic Prime is now available to watch on Netflix