Sonic Prime Season 1 (2022)
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Sonic Prime Season 1 Review
Sonic Prime is an animated television series that premiered its first season on Netflix in 2022. It’s a solid show, but it needs more work in the future.
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“The name is Nine!“
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The fate of a strange new multiverse rests in the gloved hands of the speedy, blue Sonic the Hedgehog. As a big fan of Sonic the Hedgehog video games, I have to admit that this is the only show that I’ve watched so far as I haven’t seen the previous five series until now. And overall, my opinion of this Netflix cartoon show is more mixed than great.
Yes, Netflix is incredible at adapting video games with ‘Castlevania’ and ‘The Cuphead Show’ being their best examples, but here they not only skewed too young, but they also made a story that is familiar and not as exciting. The main issue for me was the multiverse element. As somebody who has grown really tired of this trope in movies and shows, I found this element just as frustrating on this show too. It was too familiar and uninteresting.
With that being said, other elements really worked here. The voice acting for one is terrific as each person brought to life their character so well. The characterization is better than expected. Yes, many of these iconic characters get childish and off-putting one-liners as the dialogue here is quite mediocre, but at least some emotional engagement is brought in during their dynamics, which I strongly appreciated.
Sonic is terrific and very well developed. He’s great as the main hero. Tails is of course just as adorable as ever and my favorite character of the entire franchise. The friendship between the two is so endearing. Shadow is quite memorable and cool while both Dr. Eggman and all the female characters needed more screen time.
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The highlight of Sonic Prime obviously has to be the animation. Yes, it’s CGI, but it’s the style of the games themselves. The colors, the details and the designs all evoke the original games effortlessly while the world building is quite remarkable. Couple that with some wonderful Easter Eggs, including the Green Hill Zone and those rings, and you’ve got a great treat for the fans of the franchise.
Overall, Sonic Prime skews too young and its familiar storyline is uninspired and weak. The ending is also too much of a cliffhanger and some characters needed more screen time. However, Sonic, Tails and Shadow are all great and the technical aspects are excellent with the animation being particularly strong. The world building and Easter Eggs are the highlights here.
Worst Episodes: Shattered and Situation: Grim.
Best Episodes: The Yoke’s on You and There’s No ARRGH in “Team”.
