The influence of anime on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise continues to resonate in the series’ latest installment, Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The movie, which expands its cast and delves deeper into the lore of the iconic video games, also introduces numerous Easter eggs, including notable nods to anime classics such as Dragon Ball and Akira.
Anime Influence on Sonic’s Evolution
Dragon Ball has long been an inspiration for the Sonic the Hedgehog series, a connection that fans of both franchises are well aware of. Patt Casey, one of the screenwriters for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, acknowledged that this anime influence was significant in the development of the first Sonic movie. “The Chaos Emeralds and going supersonic, all these concepts were introduced to America in the Sonic games, but the Dragon Ball manga was already out in Japan,” Casey explained to IGN. “Sonic was parodying Dragon Ball even at that time. But for us in America, we experienced it first in Sonic before Dragon Ball hit. So the influence has always been there.”
Historical Roots in the Video Games
The influence of Dragon Ball on Sonic dates back to the early days of the franchise. The reference was first made apparent in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Genesis, where players collect seven Chaos Emeralds to unlock Super Sonic, a form of the hedgehog that bears a strong resemblance to the Super Saiyan transformation seen in Dragon Ball. Yasushi Yamaguchi, a former Sega graphic artist and the designer of Miles “Tails” Prower, confirmed that the dynamic between Sonic and Tails was inspired by Dragon Ball characters Piccolo and Gohan. “Without Dragon Ball, the relationship between these two characters would not have existed to this day,” Yamaguchi said, paying tribute to Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball.
Ongoing Influence in the Franchise
The Dragon Ball legacy extends beyond the video games and into the Sonic movie franchise as well. Several elements from Dragon Ball Z, such as fight mechanics, have influenced other popular video games, including Street Fighter, Tekken, and Pokémon. Within the Sonic universe, characters like Shadow the Hedgehog and Silver the Hedgehog were inspired by Dragon Ball’s Vegeta and Future Trunks, respectively. According to Josh Miller, another writer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, fans can expect to find more subtle references to Dragon Ball in the new movie. “I’m sure it’ll be the same for 3. When Sonic 2 came out, a bunch of websites pointed out Easter eggs, and I was like, ‘Oh, I didn’t even know about that one,'” Miller said.
Anime References in Sonic 3
The writers also confirmed that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 features more anime-inspired moments, particularly in the portrayal of Shadow. A memorable scene in the film, where Shadow rides a motorcycle, was inspired by the iconic “Akira slide” from the 1988 Akira movie. Miller recalled, “Jeff [Fowler, director] said at some point, ‘We’re going to be in Tokyo, and Shadow’s going to get on a motorcycle. We’ve got to do the Akira motorcycle slide.’ It’s amazing.” He also mentioned a YouTube compilation showcasing various instances of the Akira slide in TV shows and films, which has garnered significant attention for its cultural impact.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now showing in theaters, while both Dragon Ball and Akira are available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The continued integration of anime influences demonstrates the lasting impact of these iconic series on modern video games and film adaptations.
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