Series Review: “Sonic Prime” Is a Fun, Safe, Family-Friendly Good Time
Written by: Adam Vaughn | December 15th, 2022
Sonic Prime (Eric Wiese, 2022) 2½ out of 4 stars.
The fury blue hedgehog is back, coming to Netflix in his new show, Sonic Prime. In this series, Sonic accidentally shatters a magic crystal called the Paradox Prism, sending himself, and all of his friends (and foes!) into alternate dimensions with twisted realities. In order to return to his own world, Sonic must speed through dangerous universes where his friends are no longer the friendly animals he once knew, and retrieve the broken shards of the Paradox Prism in order to restore the multiverse.
Sonic Prime serves to reintroduce Sonic to a television platform, utilizing the latest in CGI animation to give the blue hedgehog elegant imagery and action. Sonic Prime is an homage to the latest SEGA/Nintendo games of the franchise, with vast and colorful settings and design, humorous quips from Sonic and supporting characters, and an easy-enough plotline for the younger audience to follow. Just as in the two Sonic the Hedgehog films from Paramount, Sonic retains his family-friendly tone.
As a work of cinema, and animation cinema at that, Sonic Prime essentially goes through the motions, hitting familiar storytelling tropes and simply playing with the current trend of “multiverse” tales in Hollywood. Hopping on the train along with Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Everything Everywhere All at Once, Sonic’s new show adds to the popular theme of crossing through dimension and battling variant characters. No real surprises await the viewer, and it is clear that Sonic Prime has intentions to entertain the kids with spunk and heroism.
While Sonic Prime may not break any new cinematic ground, there’s no doubt that fans will marvel over the multiverse journey, and this first season of the show absolutely leaves the viewer wanting to see where Sonic’s adventure takes him next. Being a multiverse, the possibilities are endless, and I have no doubt the animation artistry will continue to dazzle. Needless to say, Sonic Prime will most likely stay in its lane without taking any risks or exploring any deeper meaning, but so long as it pleases its audience, Sonic will certainly remain a source of excitement and high entertainment.
Adam Vaughn
Adam Vaughn is a graduate of the Film & Moving Image program at Stevenson University, with a focus in Cinematography and Production. He also has a minor in Theater and Media Performance. Adam works as a freelance photographer and videographer, focusing his craft on creating compelling photographic and cinematic imagery. Adam is excited to join the Film Festival Today team and explore the world of cinema and visual arts.