Sonic the Hedgehog 3 just hinted at an epic crossover that has been desired by many for 26 years. The ending of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 teased another of these major video game moments for fans with the confirmation that Shadow the Hedgehog would appear in the sequel. Now, the story of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is looming closer as the marketing for the film picks up speed.
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If Sonic the Hedgehog 3's cast was not exciting enough, primarily thanks to Keanu Reeves as Shadow, the trailer raised anticipation even more. Shadow's inclusion and his scuffles against Team Sonic look epic enough to spawn even more live-action Sonic movies and shows beyond the trilogy. Similarly, the interplay between the characters looks just as hilarious, with a snippet of this in the most recent Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer hinting at a crossover 28 years in the making.
Sonic 3’s Detective Pikachu Reference Means Pokémon Exists In Sonic The Hedgehog’s World
A Throwaway Tails Joke Could Be The Gateway To A Larger Video Game Universe On Film
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The opening of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer shows Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails hanging out at a place called the Chao Garden, another reference to the Sonic video games. Two young girls come to their table and ask Tails if he is Detective Pikachu, causing Knuckles to laugh and remark that Tails does look like a Pokémon. While this is obviously intended as a meta reference to the wider world of video games, it confirms that Pokémon exists to an extent in Sonic the Hedgehog's world.
This joke, as casual as it is, could lay the foundations of a Sonic and Pokémon crossover in live-action. This has been a theory since the two franchises were translated into live-action and has also been a common debate since the late 1990s and the release of the first Pokémon game. With the confirmation in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 that Pokémon exists, what was a seemingly impossible crossover between the two franchises is now more likely than ever.
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Sonic 3 Referencing Detective Pikachu Is Even Better Due To The Comparisons Between TheFranchises
The Live-Action Versions Of The Franchises Have Long Been Compared
To make the reference to Detective Pikachu in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 even better, the movies have long been compared. Detective Pikachu was released worldwide in March 2019 and the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie was released less than a year later in February 2020. Given their proximity and the comparable nature of the two franchises in the video game world, Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog became somewhat rivals.
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Detective Pikachu
PG
A loose adaptation of the video game of the same name, Detective Pikachu follows former Pokémon trainer Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) and Detective Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) as they set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Tim's father, Harry. Tim's investigation takes him and Detective Pikachu into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens to shake their native Ryme City - and the entire Pokémon world - to its very foundation.
- Director
- Rob Letterman
- Release Date
- May 10, 2019
- Writers
- Rob Letterman , Nicole Perlman
- Cast
- Ryan Reynolds , Suki Waterhouse , Bill Nighy , Chris Geere , Omar Chaparro , Ken Watanabe , Kadiff Kirwan , Justice Smith , Kathryn Newton , Rita Ora , Bernardo Santos
- Runtime
- 104 minutes
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Many praised Detective Pikachu for its translation of Pokémon into live-action, which was only increased when Sonic the Hedgehog's infamous "Ugly Sonic" design was unveiled. The two movies faced endless comparisons from their initial designs to their respective box office and critical reception. With all of these comparisons in mind, it makes the Detective Pikachu reference in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 even better. In a way, this reference proves that both franchises can rise above the comparisons placed on them by fans and coexist in the world of video game movies.
Tails Does Look Like A Pokémon From Detective Pikachu When You Think About It
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The final element that makes the Detective Pikachu reference in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 even better is that it is grounded in truth. Rather than being a throwaway reference to another popular franchise for the sake of it, Tails actually could pass for a Pokémon in Detective Pikachu's live-action world. When viewing Tails in comparison to the Pokémon games, this joke would fall somewhat flat. However, the design techniques used for the live-action Pokémon in the 2019 film are similar to those used for Tails, Sonic, Shadow, and Knuckles.
One of the more shocking, yet deceitfully realistic, design elements of Detective Pikachu was that the titular character had fur. The fluffiness of Pikachu and other Pokémon took audiences by surprise, as the 2D sprites in the games did not convey this. That said, with Pokémon being based on animals like dogs, wolves, cats, and mice, in Pikachu's case, these fluffy designs begin to make sense when depicting how the various Pokémon would look in a real-world setting.
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Related
Every Pokémon In Detective Pikachu
Detective Pikachu is packed with Pokémon of all different types, particularly from the first generation, from a “detective Pikachu” to Mewtwo.
Concerning Tails, his design looks more like a fluffy Pokémon than the likes of Sonic, Knuckles, and Shadow. The latter three are based on spiky animals, whereas Tails is supposed to be an anthropomorphic fox. Therefore, the fluffy design works for Tails but does bring to mind the titular character of Detective Pikachu. To add to this, Tails has, well, tails that look akin to animals like Ninetales and Vulpix. This proves that the Detective Pikachu joke is grounded in truth in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, all while teasing that a long-awaited crossover could finally happen.
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3
PG
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the sequel to the 2022 comedy-adventure movie that featured the Blue Blur and his companions on an adventure to stop Dr. Robotnik from taking over the world. The new film sees the new antagonist Shadow the Hedgehog, arriving to cause trouble for the newly formed trio of heroes, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, as they adjust to their earthly lives.
- Director
- Jeff Fowler
- Release Date
- December 20, 2024
- Writers
- Pat Casey , Josh Miller , John Whittington
- Cast
- Ben Schwartz , Colleen O'Shaughnessey , Idris Elba , Keanu Reeves , Tika Sumpter , Lee Majdoub , James Marsden , Jim Carrey
- Runtime
- 109 Minutes
