While adapting popular characters on screen, the first important task is to present them correctly. Video game adaptations face an even harder challenge here, as the fans themselves have invested enough time with these characters to build a connection. Jeff Fowler took this risk when he directed Sonic the Hedgehog in 2020.
As a kid who grew up loving Sonic and Star Wars, the Oscar-nominated animator got the lesson that the original material should be respected and fans’ feedback should be listened to. His response to the first backlash did not only save the film, but also helped create one of the best video game film franchises.
Jeff Fowler’s response to fan feedback changed Sonic the Hedgehog‘s fate
The first trailer of Sonic the Hedgehog was released on the internet in April 2019, and the viewers were not satisfied. Originally in Sonic’s design, the teeth were much more humanlike, the proportions were wrong, and the eyes were small, giving him more of an evil look rather than a playful one. The backlash was quite intense, and fans started calling the character ‘Ugly Sonic.’
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This made Jeff Fowler reconsider rather than justify his designs. In an interview on MovieMaker podcast (via MovieMaker Magazine), he admitted that before getting back to work, he allowed himself “a good hour of feeling sorry.” Fowler said,
The fact that the message was so clear really made our job kind of easy. There almost was no debate: We need to fix this. We need fans to love this and be in our corner. So it actually ended up being really simple, if a little challenging at the time.
The instructions from fans were clear, and the studios agreed to do so. To redesign Sonic meant delaying the movie’s expected release from November 2019 to February 2020. This was a risky step that could have affected the movie’s business. But Fowler and his team had much more confidence in the film itself. He said,
Everybody was feeling really great about the movie and excited about the movie, and we just didn’t want the perception of the movie to live or die based on the character design. If we could get fans on board with the character design, we felt like we had a really great movie.
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The move proved to be rewarding as the new design was well-received by fans. In a recent interview with Deadline, Fowler admitted, “We now have this amazing relationship with our fans.” It is due to this relationship that the movie earned over $319.7 million (via Box Office Mojo), and the success led to two sequels.
How fan power influenced Sonic 3
After controversies arose at the early stages of the production of the design, Fowler has remained extremely sensitive to fan response. This is seen in the way he handled the use of Crush 40’s iconic song Live and Learn from Sonic Adventure 2. In an interview with GamesRadar+, Fowler talked about the song’s importance to fans. He said,
You fire up your Dreamcast and Sonic Adventure 2 and the first thing you’re hearing is licks from ‘Live and Learn’ and Crush 40.
The director then jokingly added,
I just felt there was no version of this where we weren’t going to make that a strong presence in the film. The fans would hunt me down if I didn’t. Not only did I do it out of fear of my own life, but also because it’s an awesome song and we’re happy to get to use it.
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The song is first heard as a subtle riff on Maria Robotnik’s guitar during the first flashback scene of the movie, and then it grows up to be the theme song associated with Shadow. The full version is used at the end of the movie when Sonic fights Shadow.
Sonic 3 is now running in theaters.
Sonic 1 and Sonic 2 are available to stream on Paramount+.
Frequently asked questions
Why did fans criticize the first Sonic the Hedgehog trailer in 2019?
When the first trailer debuted in 2019, fans objected to Sonic’s design, pointing to his humanlike teeth, off proportions, and small eyes that made him look unsettling rather than playful. The widely mocked look earned the nickname “Ugly Sonic” online.
How did director Jeff Fowler respond to the backlash over Sonic’s design?
Rather than defending the original look, Jeff Fowler chose to redesign the character. He has said there was almost no debate about fixing it, framing it as wanting fans to love the movie and be in the filmmakers’ corner.
Did delaying and redesigning the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog film pay off?
Yes. The redesign pushed the release from November 2019 to February 2020, but the revised Sonic won audiences over. The film grossed roughly $320 million worldwide and helped launch an ongoing franchise of sequels.
