When Paramount Pictures first debuted the official look at Sonic the Hedgehog in the titular movie, many fans were left baffled some of the design choices. From Chiclet-esque teeth to a weird body shape, there was a lot about Sonic the Hedgehog to criticize from an adaptation perspective, so much so that the creatives behind the film promised to re-do Sonic to make him closer to the video game.

Now, several months after that Sonic the Hedgehog movie trailer and a major release date delay, the Sonic the Hedgehog redesign is apparently done. Speaking to Variety, Producer Tim Miller, whose Blur Studio is doing a lot of the effects work on the film, revealed that fans should be pleased by the changes made to Sonic’s design.

Unfortunately, Miller’s quotes do not include a look at this Sonic the Hedgehog movie redesign, only the claim that it will please fans. But it’s important to keep in mind that the producers and creative folks behind the first design didn’t see any issue with it before showing it to fans.

Still, the producers should have a good idea as to what fans are looking for from the Sonic the Hedgehog design. Several amateur designers and artists delivered concepts showing how Sonic could look with a design that better mirrored the video game version, and there were all well received. Obviously, they were low budget presentations but if Blur Studio can take those ideas and apply them to studio level effects, that might reach a concept that pleases fans.

sonic the hedgehog movie

When the Sonic the Hedgehog movie director first announced plans to redesign Sonic, many were concerned about the extra work necessary to get the project finished in time to meet a fall release date. With crunch concerns running rampant in the video game industry, gamers were particularly aware of the amount of time and man-hours necessary to get something of this magnitude done so quickly. Luckily, Paramount announced it would delay the Sonic the Hedgehog movie release date in order to give the effects team more time.

In a strange way, the awkward design of Sonic fit the tone of the trailer, which featured a unique rendition of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise.” With a more traditional design, however, the film might struggle in other ways.

Sonic the Hedgehog releases February 14, 2020.

Source: Variety