The UNSETTLING Babification of Sonic The Hedgehog
KotyTang
3,588 views
The Sonic Franchise has been making major changes since 2020. It's no longer franchise for everybody. SEGA are going for a specific demographic.. and it's most likely not yours.
My Shadow Generations Review! A Story We’ve LOST Forever | Sonic x Shado...
Start the IDW Series from the very beginning! IDW Sonic STRUGGLES to Start | Sonic IDW 1...
Check out my Full Reviews of Each IDW Saga! How IDW Sonic FUMBLED the Metal Virus Saga
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===================================
0:00 Intro
0:27 Sonic is for Babies
7:42 Sonic Fans Don’t Like Discussion
33:27 How Sonic Became for Kids
20 Comments
@MangoFluids 3 hours ago
15:19 it’s their ties to SEGA that stops them from being too cynical about the series, they don’t want to lose their perks like random gifts and being invited to red carpets.
@teezzmegee972 6 hours ago
This can be spoken of within numerous applications outside of the Sonic franchise towards even how we articulate our words, attatch ourselves towards things, the acceptance of being explained to or given the thoughtpoints of others for you, the way we treat others that are different than us and much more. Even in seemingly serious discourse towards the masses, they often treat them like children...
And with how much we are given exposure to and the lack of geninue methods to be of an adult (taking on responsiblities that are arbitarliy placed, taking care of oneself, cultivating a community/family, and what-not) and certain correlations that would get this comment banned... the future is not looking bright chief.
And with how much we are given exposure to and the lack of geninue methods to be of an adult (taking on responsiblities that are arbitarliy placed, taking care of oneself, cultivating a community/family, and what-not) and certain correlations that would get this comment banned... the future is not looking bright chief.
@itmesammylawrence 3 hours ago (edited)
I seen what happens to a fandom when try to stop people from haveing different Opinions idk what happens when there nothing
@M4GD1ELG4MER 4 hours ago (edited)
Yo, this is what I was looking for! Glad to see someone out there willing to say something! I'm not even a youtuber, and I was seriously thinking about starting my own channel just to say what you're saying!
Interesting enough, Blade of Courage, while being for "kids" it also brings back the Sonic from the earlys 2000s! He is just like the Sonic from SA2, Sonic Unleashed and etc. So, why it is so hard for SEGA to make Sonic cool again and st the same time make him for kids?
PD: You're right bro, what I mostly watch on YouTube is showcasing fangames, like Sonic Daybreak. I'm even trying to redesign the Sonic cast just to make them cool again. (BTW, I used one of my draws as my profile icon).
I'd really love to have more people like you. Keep going and never give up!
Interesting enough, Blade of Courage, while being for "kids" it also brings back the Sonic from the earlys 2000s! He is just like the Sonic from SA2, Sonic Unleashed and etc. So, why it is so hard for SEGA to make Sonic cool again and st the same time make him for kids?
PD: You're right bro, what I mostly watch on YouTube is showcasing fangames, like Sonic Daybreak. I'm even trying to redesign the Sonic cast just to make them cool again. (BTW, I used one of my draws as my profile icon).
I'd really love to have more people like you. Keep going and never give up!
@lewisherron6842 7 hours ago
Oh my god I feel so understood watching this video. Seeing the state of the Sonic series today, I find it so hard to believe that this is even the same franchise as the one I grew up with. I remember we used to get things like SATAM, the Fleetway & Archie comics, Sonic X, and games that shared a similar tone with those said things. Hell I know AOSTH was quite kiddy, but even that show had a couple adult jokes (eg. Grounder nearly commentating on Eggman's robo-wife's massive knockers). There was always a balance with this franchise which made it so that nobody would feel left out, but I guess SEGA will do anything to make sure Sonic sells. I don't want Sonic to become like Disney, because Sonic wasn't supposed to BE like Disney. He was always edgier and anti-authority. But by becoming like Disney, this franchise is essentially becoming the very thing it tried to compete with in the first place.
@matthewsolecki9785 10 hours ago (edited)
4:56, 5:12
While I do agree with you that those are for kids, I feel like these stick closer to what we got in the 2005-2010 era (which I call the Jason Griffith era and my favorite point in Sonic's history). They still had a light-hearted feel but weren't afraid to have more dramatic scenes. In the case of the Jet Black Hedgehig (I know there was another sonic Manga prior to this but I hadn't seen it, so let me apologize if I confuse the two) it actually had one of the GUN soldiers trying to shoot Maria and Shadow catches the bullet and, after taking out a platoon, Maria gets shot. In the case of Blade of Courage, an entire kingdom gets turned to stone, a kind of soft death. To me I put Sonic in the same category as 2000's Teen Titans Avatar the Last Air Bender, OG Ben 10/UAF and I'm also throwing films like Lion King and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. There is a sweet spot where you CAN have some made for kids, but STILL have the story deep or serious topics. There is a difference between making material for a younger audience and treating the audience like kids. To use the two films for and example, both deal with death... DEATH!
AND WITH LAST WISH ONE CHARACTER IS LITERALLY NAMED DEATH!!!
With Lion King, it's part of life. In Last Wish, don't let the fear of death rob you of enjoying life. There's nothing that says you can't, just pick a topic, build the story around it, give it the franchise's flavor, but give the story the weight of the moment when it's needed. Good example, Troq from Teen Titan dealt with racism. It had its funny moments but it allowed the more serious moments to hit when needed. I feel that if they go this route of "Babification", as you put it, it's going to make them loose a vast majority of the fan base.
And on a small note, to so that media for younger demographic can still talk about serious topics (and I apologize for stay on the topic of death, but this video is bringing out my inner edge lord for some reason). Anyone here remembers Sesame Street of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood? You know, those popular series in the preschool demographic? SS: Season 15 "Farwell, Mr. Hopper" the actor that played Mr. Hopper dies and the show runners decide to center that episode on processing grief. There was an Elmo centered episode in 2010 that dealt with the death of his uncle and him helping his cousin process that grief. MRN: There was an episode that after the Kennedy assassination, and it was used to explain assassination... THOUGH A SOCK PUPPET NAME DANIEL STRIPPED TIGER!!! And in Last Wish? There is a character named Perrito. He his a chipper, happy-go-luck Chihuahua, wanting to be a therapy dog. His family in that movie (only mentioned through dialog), and go look this up if you think I'm joking or being morbid, tries... to... drown... him. In other words, 2 preschool show featuring sock puppets, even for just a few episodes, and a kids movie featuring a derpy Chihuahua, are somehow more mature and more butch compared to IDW Sonic, where we had a full on zombie apocalypse... let that sink in. I think is also shows that kids, even preschoolers, can handle more serious material what most think of we just be real. Don't go full blown pessimistic, but don't sugar coat it either.
While I do agree with you that those are for kids, I feel like these stick closer to what we got in the 2005-2010 era (which I call the Jason Griffith era and my favorite point in Sonic's history). They still had a light-hearted feel but weren't afraid to have more dramatic scenes. In the case of the Jet Black Hedgehig (I know there was another sonic Manga prior to this but I hadn't seen it, so let me apologize if I confuse the two) it actually had one of the GUN soldiers trying to shoot Maria and Shadow catches the bullet and, after taking out a platoon, Maria gets shot. In the case of Blade of Courage, an entire kingdom gets turned to stone, a kind of soft death. To me I put Sonic in the same category as 2000's Teen Titans Avatar the Last Air Bender, OG Ben 10/UAF and I'm also throwing films like Lion King and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. There is a sweet spot where you CAN have some made for kids, but STILL have the story deep or serious topics. There is a difference between making material for a younger audience and treating the audience like kids. To use the two films for and example, both deal with death... DEATH!
AND WITH LAST WISH ONE CHARACTER IS LITERALLY NAMED DEATH!!!
With Lion King, it's part of life. In Last Wish, don't let the fear of death rob you of enjoying life. There's nothing that says you can't, just pick a topic, build the story around it, give it the franchise's flavor, but give the story the weight of the moment when it's needed. Good example, Troq from Teen Titan dealt with racism. It had its funny moments but it allowed the more serious moments to hit when needed. I feel that if they go this route of "Babification", as you put it, it's going to make them loose a vast majority of the fan base.
And on a small note, to so that media for younger demographic can still talk about serious topics (and I apologize for stay on the topic of death, but this video is bringing out my inner edge lord for some reason). Anyone here remembers Sesame Street of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood? You know, those popular series in the preschool demographic? SS: Season 15 "Farwell, Mr. Hopper" the actor that played Mr. Hopper dies and the show runners decide to center that episode on processing grief. There was an Elmo centered episode in 2010 that dealt with the death of his uncle and him helping his cousin process that grief. MRN: There was an episode that after the Kennedy assassination, and it was used to explain assassination... THOUGH A SOCK PUPPET NAME DANIEL STRIPPED TIGER!!! And in Last Wish? There is a character named Perrito. He his a chipper, happy-go-luck Chihuahua, wanting to be a therapy dog. His family in that movie (only mentioned through dialog), and go look this up if you think I'm joking or being morbid, tries... to... drown... him. In other words, 2 preschool show featuring sock puppets, even for just a few episodes, and a kids movie featuring a derpy Chihuahua, are somehow more mature and more butch compared to IDW Sonic, where we had a full on zombie apocalypse... let that sink in. I think is also shows that kids, even preschoolers, can handle more serious material what most think of we just be real. Don't go full blown pessimistic, but don't sugar coat it either.
@neptune-sonic06-enjoyer 6 hours ago (edited)
sega tried to catch any demographic as possible that the fandom itself has internalized conflicts whatever it's should be the ideal creative direction for the franchise.
between the official low bar is that is disney media and the fanmade high bar that is the expectation of black knight's characterazation with bleach-level of foreshadowing when it comes to story writting, people just can't agree what sonic should be about onward, thats it.... just disagreedments.
between the official low bar is that is disney media and the fanmade high bar that is the expectation of black knight's characterazation with bleach-level of foreshadowing when it comes to story writting, people just can't agree what sonic should be about onward, thats it.... just disagreedments.
@deppo436 6 hours ago
Sonic got to survive after the lacklustre reception of Forces put the entire IP into a make or break situation, completely banking on either the success of the next Sonic game which was eventually Frontiers, or the 2020 film. And it was thanks to the success of the movie mostly that Sonic had managed to survive the brink of "death" and get back on his feet. But at what cost?
I've felt like this for a while but even before projects like Sonic & Friends appeared, it seemed Sonic was leaning towards a younger demographic more due to the success of the movies, and even the tone of Sonic Prime, a show I was initially excited to watch but after the first season dipped off. last Sonic games I've played were Shadow Gens which I thoroughly enjoyed, and Murder Of Sonic which I'm fighting the urge to play again because visual novel point and click styled games is a genre I struggle to sit through at times.
It seems odd to be speaking on the whole situation because when I look back, I was introduced to Sonic at a young age. From games like Mega Collection and Sonic Adventure DX, to the Archie Sonic comics, but especially Adventures Of Sonic The Hedgehog, a show that was arguably aimed to a very young demographic. I had been exposed to Sonic media that was aimed at all sorts of audiences, and the older I got I came to understand that Sonic, like any other big series, could be malleable and adjusted to whatever setting for any kind of project aimed at different age groups.
Initially I was dismissive about the conversations surrounding the new show, because from afar it really is nothing new for Sonic to step into. he's had shows, books, and even games aimed to younger audiences in the past before I was even conceived!
However even after watching the video fully can you blame them though? Sonic was the laughing stock of pop-culture and it's own community for more than a decade for daring to go outside their usual conventions in the past to try something different, and SEGA themselves just didn't know what to do with their blue rat, always changing up styles, tones, lore retcons and so on. These last few years have probably been the most consistently successful time for Sonic in a very long while.
It's unfortunate but from a business perspective I get why they're steadily picking a younger audience more often, or going for the safer and less riskier routes. Coupled with the notoriety and respect Sonic is getting in Japan which was something SEGA was desperately longing for since his very conception. Ironic for a character designed to primarily appeal to the west. You take away all that edge and attitude, and there's nothing that stands out about Sonic anymore from his competitors.
I'm glad Sonic's thriving again but if it's at the cost of what made this series so unique to begin with, completely warped into something entirely unfamiliar, then I guess this would be my stop. A shame.
I've felt like this for a while but even before projects like Sonic & Friends appeared, it seemed Sonic was leaning towards a younger demographic more due to the success of the movies, and even the tone of Sonic Prime, a show I was initially excited to watch but after the first season dipped off. last Sonic games I've played were Shadow Gens which I thoroughly enjoyed, and Murder Of Sonic which I'm fighting the urge to play again because visual novel point and click styled games is a genre I struggle to sit through at times.
It seems odd to be speaking on the whole situation because when I look back, I was introduced to Sonic at a young age. From games like Mega Collection and Sonic Adventure DX, to the Archie Sonic comics, but especially Adventures Of Sonic The Hedgehog, a show that was arguably aimed to a very young demographic. I had been exposed to Sonic media that was aimed at all sorts of audiences, and the older I got I came to understand that Sonic, like any other big series, could be malleable and adjusted to whatever setting for any kind of project aimed at different age groups.
Initially I was dismissive about the conversations surrounding the new show, because from afar it really is nothing new for Sonic to step into. he's had shows, books, and even games aimed to younger audiences in the past before I was even conceived!
However even after watching the video fully can you blame them though? Sonic was the laughing stock of pop-culture and it's own community for more than a decade for daring to go outside their usual conventions in the past to try something different, and SEGA themselves just didn't know what to do with their blue rat, always changing up styles, tones, lore retcons and so on. These last few years have probably been the most consistently successful time for Sonic in a very long while.
It's unfortunate but from a business perspective I get why they're steadily picking a younger audience more often, or going for the safer and less riskier routes. Coupled with the notoriety and respect Sonic is getting in Japan which was something SEGA was desperately longing for since his very conception. Ironic for a character designed to primarily appeal to the west. You take away all that edge and attitude, and there's nothing that stands out about Sonic anymore from his competitors.
I'm glad Sonic's thriving again but if it's at the cost of what made this series so unique to begin with, completely warped into something entirely unfamiliar, then I guess this would be my stop. A shame.
@dbomb8825 7 hours ago
The difference between DB, PPG 2000s, MLP, Redwall, Tiny toons, Dexter Laboratory, Ben Ten, Almost any Scooby Doo, The Super Hero Squad Show, etc is that they're good. Why do you think there are Bronys?
24:25 I remember that video the actually criminal stuff was a f^(*ing foot foot note. It made stop watching any long drama videos.
What heck does Sonic have to do with the LBGT? A lot sonic fans are furries so that would explain it.
39:11 Cause it had a sexy ghost girl(Sage) that had a famous VA voicing her.
I feel like a lot modern media has no soul or presentation behind it including sonic. Look at almost everything a before Sonic Forces.
24:25 I remember that video the actually criminal stuff was a f^(*ing foot foot note. It made stop watching any long drama videos.
What heck does Sonic have to do with the LBGT? A lot sonic fans are furries so that would explain it.
39:11 Cause it had a sexy ghost girl(Sage) that had a famous VA voicing her.
I feel like a lot modern media has no soul or presentation behind it including sonic. Look at almost everything a before Sonic Forces.
@mondaindoodles8667 6 hours ago (edited)
This video is definitely needed for the fanbase, I just hope that Sonic Team doesn't forget the E10+ demographic of the fans and not make so much childrens content that they they'll start to only focus on that demographic, also the Sonic Movies are like general audience material and the CoroCoro Shadow Manga is like for peeps 10 and up cause we see Maria get shot in the second chapter and you can't show something like that in something meant for stuff targeted to little kids whether there's blood or not the latest chapter of the Blade of Courage manga is definitely the most childish, other than those points your point was still made well.
The positivity trap of the franchise I think started with Frontiers being like the saving grace and want to push for highs for the franchise and doesn't want to acknowledge the bad things because of the negative backlash the series has gotten for so long.
(I miss Jevzone cause I really enjoyed that Frontiers video)
I grew up with Sonic and I'm getting tired of this positivity trap and Sonic Team being stagnant, we seriously need proper criticism and actually serious and properly made video games and stories for peeps E10+ and for the general audience like the early 2000s sonic games and stories (even when they aren't perfect both gameplay and story) and not have baby stuff being pumped out as some safety net for the franchise and sad and tired, I joined the franchise because of its coolness and mature tone hell you can say it's almost in the similar demographic of shows and movies as old Ben 10, Spectacular Spider-Man, Generator Rex and more but now it's just some laughing stock and I don't want to feel ashamed that I liked hell even LOVED this franchise.
Thanks for making this video, I'll be sure to spread it around.
The positivity trap of the franchise I think started with Frontiers being like the saving grace and want to push for highs for the franchise and doesn't want to acknowledge the bad things because of the negative backlash the series has gotten for so long.
(I miss Jevzone cause I really enjoyed that Frontiers video)
I grew up with Sonic and I'm getting tired of this positivity trap and Sonic Team being stagnant, we seriously need proper criticism and actually serious and properly made video games and stories for peeps E10+ and for the general audience like the early 2000s sonic games and stories (even when they aren't perfect both gameplay and story) and not have baby stuff being pumped out as some safety net for the franchise and sad and tired, I joined the franchise because of its coolness and mature tone hell you can say it's almost in the similar demographic of shows and movies as old Ben 10, Spectacular Spider-Man, Generator Rex and more but now it's just some laughing stock and I don't want to feel ashamed that I liked hell even LOVED this franchise.
Thanks for making this video, I'll be sure to spread it around.
@heyguysxd 2 hours ago (edited)
Technically you are the only Sonictuber I am subscribed to so I am fully unaware of any Drama or anything. Anyway, you definetly have a point the kids stuff is really popular while the more mature stuff is ignored. Even though I got into this franchise because of the more insane stories. Technically the first time I actually got into this franchise was Chariii5s eww Shadow the Hedgehog video. I knew Shadow from Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games and thought he is cool lets watch it. I did not really understand much but the insanity of it all made me laugh and made me curious. I never ever even interacted with the kids media side besides the comics. The DC crossover makes me genuinely furious but in hindsight its kinda obvious it would turn into that mess. Sonic is mainly aimed at kids with a little maturity tossed in. Exactly like Star Wars. IDW is basically the Sonic version of the Clone Wars anyway. You definetly have a point.
@ashesGeek 5 hours ago
22:48 to be fair, most American and other English speaking Sonic fans don't watch Japanese side of Sonic at all and Sonic isn't really that popular in Japan itself so no wonder the views are that low
@franklycentral48 10 hours ago
Wait... Toad has a game!??? Is it good!? I might need to check this out.
The UNSETTLING Babification of Sonic The Hedgehog
KotyTang
3,588 views
The Sonic Franchise has been making major changes since 2020. It's no longer franchise for everybody. SEGA are going for a specific demographic.. and it's most likely not yours.
My Shadow Generations Review! A Story We’ve LOST Forever | Sonic x Shado...
Start the IDW Series from the very beginning! IDW Sonic STRUGGLES to Start | Sonic IDW 1...
Check out my Full Reviews of Each IDW Saga! How IDW Sonic FUMBLED the Metal Virus Saga
Join The Eggman Empire Discord!
Discord: discord
===================================
0:00 Intro
0:27 Sonic is for Babies
7:42 Sonic Fans Don’t Like Discussion
33:27 How Sonic Became for Kids
Be sure to like, comment, share the video, and ask for people to react it! Get this conversation started!
Join the discord! https://discord.com/invite/yMaqWXwWAM