Review: 'Sonic Prime' Makes Bold Creative Decisions — Do They Pay Off?
This review was written based on the first 8 episodes of Sonic Prime, provided by Netflix for coverage.
Sonic The Hedgehog in Sonic Prime. Cr. Netflix © 2022.
The latest addition to the flood of recent Sonic The Hedgehog content, Sonic Prime is a fresh take on classic characters. The show picks up with an already-established crew of classic Sonic characters, featuring the blue hedgehog himself (Deven Christian Mack), Tails (Ashleigh Ball), Knuckles (Adam Nurada), Amy (Shannon Chan-Kent), Rouge (Kazumi Evans), Shadow, and Big the Cat (both voiced by Ian Hanlin).
We pick up with the gang during a run-in with Dr. Eggman (Brian Drummond), which results in a life-changing, multiverse-shattering event. We join Sonic as he’s forced to navigate these unfamiliar landscapes and gather his crew so they can save themselves and the world from the control of Dr. Eggman and his robotic army.
(L-R) Knuckles and Sonic The Hedgehog in Sonic Prime. Cr. Netflix © 2022.
The show’s intriguing premise fits into the era of multiverse-related titles we’ve gotten over the last year. This allows for an adapting narrative, putting these characters in positions we haven’t seen before. One of the most charming things about the show — and to the credit of the performers — is how every universe is unique, and the voice acting for each character, while clearly for the same character, varies throughout.
The show finds its biggest fault in its pacing. Opening with a 40-minute pilot, we’re shot right into an already evolving story, and even though we get a lot of information in the episode, we don’t go that far. This is the case with the following episode, but once the show leans into the enticing aspect of exploring different worlds, the pace picks up. Tonally, each episode feels consistent with its former and follower, but there are slight gaps and repetition every now and then, which can be chalked up to different writers picking up at different places.
The Eggman Council in Sonic Prime. Cr. Netflix © 2022.
For Sonic fans of any age, one of the most appealing things about Sonic Prime is its animation style, which makes you feel like you’ve dropped right in the middle of a Sonic game. The animation nicely lends itself to different environments, settings, and tones and carries the charm that radiates off of each character perfectly. Each location we visit feels reminiscent or exactly like the iconic places Sonic has run through before, creating a familiar tone throughout the series. On top of this, the series features great original music from Steffan Andrews and Mike Shields, which distinctly aids each character’s personality and the feelings associated with them.
Related:
Shadow in Sonic Prime. Cr. Netflix © 2022.
To briefly talk about storytelling and parallels, I wanted to note how the pilot episode and the last episode of this first release end in incredibly similar ways. This allows the creators to set up clashing themes and ideals when preparing us to launch into the second release entry for Sonic Prime. Unfortunately, the release dates for the next 16 episodes are not public knowledge, but keep an eye out for more details, hopefully coming soon.
Overall, Sonic Prime is a fun watch for fans of all ages. The first eight episodes of Sonic Prime hit Netflix on December 15.
Earlier this month, we sat down with Omar Spahi, one of the writers of Sonic Prime, and got to ask him about the creation of the show, and the team’s plans for the future, along with a little something extra.