History Anime / SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie

Being co-produced and supervised by Sega, along with Creator/YujiNaka and Naoto Oshima of Creator/SonicTeam, this anime possibly served as the true vision of what they had intended the series to be at the time, a feat that couldn't be fully realized with the hardware limitations of the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis. As such, it's suggested the many key elements found in later games like ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'', the aforementioned ''Sonic Adventure'', and ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' were likely inspired by this anime.

** The game that both Robotnik and Sara are seen playing is reminiscent of Sega's 1992 arcade game, ''Holosseum''. The difference is that the game is being played on a UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn-esque console and has a monochrome color similar to that of the UsefulNotes/GameBoy.

* BondVillainStupidity: Robotnik is clearly one of those grandiose super villains who doesn't want to simply kill his foe, but first defeat him in something resembling a fair fight. Hence the scene where Robotnik, taking advantage of Sonic's and Tails' distraction, whips out a handgun and shoots Tails' wrist-radar: even though [[BoomHeadshot Tails' head]] must have been an equally clear shot.

An hour-long anime [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVA]] starring [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog everybody's favorite blue hedgehog]]. Produced by Creator/StudioPierrot and Creator/{{Sega}}, it was originally released in Japan in 1996 initially as the two half-hour VHS tapes ''Journey to Eggmanland'' and ''Sonic vs. Metal Sonic''. While one of the original previews of the OVA was featured in 1997's ''VideoGame/SonicJam'' in all regions, a proper English dub by Creator/ADVFilms was released on September 7, 1999, two days before ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' internationally hit the shelves.

Sonic and Tails are chillaxing on the beach when they receive a dispatch from the President of South Island: he and his daughter Sera are being held hostage ([[AffablyEvil for a given value of "hostage"]]) by Dr. Robotnik. Oddly enough, what Robotnik wants is Sonic's help: he's been forced out of his base by the evil(er) Metal Robotnik, who has overloaded the power generator of Robotropolis. In less than a day, the generator will explode and cause [[EarthShatteringKaboom the end of Planet Freedom as we know it]]. Sonic and Tails fly off to the city; along the way, they're joined by the free-roaming treasure-hunter Knuckles (and his hat), who just happens to be in the area.

Being co-produced and supervised by Sega and Creator/SonicTeam respectively, and both Creator/YujiNaka and Naoto Oshima being production directors, this anime possibly served as the true vision of what they had intended the series to be at the time, a feat that couldn't be fully realized with the hardware limitations of the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis. As such, it's suggested the many key elements found in later games like ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'', the aforementioned ''Sonic Adventure'', and ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' were likely inspired by this anime.

* DarkerAndEdgier: In terms of the classic series, this like both ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'' and ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' was the beginning of the series pushing the bar on how dark and serious it could get, especially compared to most of the other continuities at the time. Some of the fight scenes are brutal, Sonic is nearly killed several times, and Robotnik now wants to destroy the planet instead of simply conquering it.

* AbnormalAmmo: Metal Robotnik's glue gun, which happens to be located in is... nether regions.

** Then comes The Rollan Nolan's ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zja-kAZUbY0 Sonic the Abridgehog]]''.

* ContinuityCameo: [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 A lone Crabmeat, a swarm of Buzzbombers,]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 A Caterkiller-colored Crawlton,]] [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles and a recolored Snail Blaster]] badniks all make appearances throughout the movie.

* TheCameo: [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 A lone Crabmeat, a swarm of Buzzbombers,]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 A Caterkiller-colored Crawlton,]] [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles and a recolored Snail Blaster]] all make appearances throughout the movie.

* DubNameChange: The official English dub renames Dr. Eggman to Dr. Robotnik for one of the last few times, as it was released in 1999. To go along with it, Eggmanland was renamed Robotropolis (as a ShoutOut to [[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM one of the Saturday morning cartoons]]), and Black Eggman was renamed Metal Robotnik. In addition, official marketing [[SpellMyNameWithAnS spells Sera's name as Sara]], though in practice they're both pronounced the same; her and Eggman's names are still displayed clearly in the fighting game gag, as well. The official subtitles included in the DVD release go with the Japanese terminology and retranslate the script more accurately to boot.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Her name is Sera in the original Japanese, and Sara in the English dub. "Sarah" is right out.

* AcrophobicBird: When trying to reach the unstable power generator, Sonic is caught on a treadmill that prevents him from running closer. Tails rushes in and becomes stuck running on the same treadmill until Sonic reminds him that he can just fly over it.
-->'''Sonic:''' Tails, come on, fly!\\
'''Tails:''' Oh, you're right!

%%* BadassAdorable: Tails.

An hour-long anime {{OVA}} starring [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog everybody's favorite blue hedgehog]]. Produced by Creator/StudioPierrot and Creator/{{Sega}}, it was originally released in Japan in 1996 initially as the two half-hour VHS tapes ''Journey to Eggmanland'' and ''Sonic vs. Metal Sonic''. While one of the original previews of the OVA was featured in 1997's ''VideoGame/SonicJam'' in all regions, a proper English dub by Creator/ADVFilms was released on September 7, 1999, two days before ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' internationally hit the shelves.

->''"Finally! The only thing left to be done is to capture the essential life data from your counterpart, then you'll be complete, my Hyper Metal Sonic! When you awaken... kill him!''

* EarlyAdaptationWeirdness: Since the movie was released only five years into the franchise's life, there are some moments that would nowadays be considered majorly [[OutOfCharacterMoment out of character]], such as Sonic telling Tails to shut up, and Knuckles describing himself as "Sonic's best friend". While Knuckles clearly respects Sonic, and they get along (most of the time), he's much too gruff to say something like that. Sonic is also depicted as somewhat quick-tempered, contrasting his cool and laidback portrayal from later games, who is described as being "always cool under pressure" by official bios. The setting itself is also unusual, with society living on floating islands while the ground level of the planet is a desolate wasteland.

* StupidStatementDanceMix: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9fHGdR1IyM Planet Freedom, Planet Freedom, they conquered Planet Freedom.]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giCpc4XGiKw We're going to the North Pole, North Pole, North Pole. That means Tails finally found the point of Planet Freedom, yes!]]

** Later games such as ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' did away with all ambiguity by calling it "Earth" and showing Sonic traveling from city to city, [[LightNovel/KinosJourney Kino]]-style, and interacting with humans. Would that the OVA thought up such a mundane solution!

* BareYourMidriff: Sera during the first half of the movie shows off her middle, but not so much after she dons her dress later.

* WorldPillars: The Land of the Sky is connected and supported by specific contact points with the Land of Darkness. The second half of the movie's plot centers around Hyper Metal Sonic trying to destroy those points and cause the Land of the Sky to be hurled off into space.

* DistressedDamsel: Sera... sort of. She plays the role of hostage when Sonic's around, but she treats Robotnik like a friend the rest of the time. She also gives the doctor a very hard time in spite of her and her father's predicament.
-->(''Sera and Robotnik are playing a fighting video game. Sera loses.'')\\
'''Sera''' (''hysterical''): No no no no no it's not fair you always beat me every time! (''abruptly regains her composure'') Alright, one more!\\
'''Robotnik''': Just give up! We've played a hundred times!\\
'''Sera''' (''devious''): I'll stop being your hostage.\\
'''Robotnik''': Alright, start it again...

Being co-produced and supervised by Sega and Creator/SonicTeam respectively, and both Creator/YujiNaka and Naoto Oshima being production directors, this anime possibly served as the true vision of what they had intended the series to be at the time, a feat that couldn't be fully realized with the hardware limitations of the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis. As such, it's suggested the many key elements found in later games like ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'', the aforementioned ''Sonic Adventure'', and more recently ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' were likely inspired by this anime.

Being co-produced and supervised by Sega and Creator/SonicTeam respectively, and both Creator/YujiNaka and Naoto Oshima being production directors, this anime possibly served as the true vision of what they had intended the series to be at the time, a feat that couldn't be fully realized with the hardware limitations of the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis. As such, it's suggested the many key elements found in later games like ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'', aforementioned ''Sonic Adventure'', and more recently ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' were likely inspired by this anime.

** The idea of Knuckles being a treasure hunter, which is first seen in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' and more throughly explored in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''.

* RhetoricalQuestionBlunder: When Sonic accuses Robotnik of kidnapping the President's daughter to force them to comply to his demands, the latter faux-innocently asks if Sonic thinks he's capable of something that underhanded. Robotnik's own robots immediately answer with a resounding "Yes!"

* RethoricalQuestionBlunder: When Sonic accuses Robotnik of kidnapping the President's daughter to force them to comply to his demands, the latter faux-innocently asks if Sonic thinks he's capable of something that underhanded. Robotnik's own robots immediately answer with a resounding "Yes!"

* SceneryPorn: The movie includes a lot of scenic shots showing off the Land of the Sky's drifting, forest-covered floating islands, the dark and foreboding mountains and wastes of the Land of Darkness, the huge ringed planet glowing in the sky, and the elaborate ic formations of the frozen north.

* HiveCity: Robotropolis is a quat, conical mass of industrial buildings, metal frameworks and machinery towering high above the skyscrapers of the modern city whose ruins it's built among. Passage through is done through tunnel-like passages rather than through streets.

--> '''Knuckles:''' TAILS! Get off!
--> '''Tails:''' ''[Immediately leaps off her with an embarrassed look]'' I'm so sorry!
--> '''Knuckles:''' I never thought you'd stoop that low!
* AdaptationalHeroism: Downplayed with [[spoiler: Metal Sonic. While he is still an antagonist for most of the film, he does end up making a HeelFaceTurn and [[RedemptionEqualsDeath sacrifices himself to save the president and old man owl]] in the end, something that Metal Sonic would never do in the games.]]

** The OVA has its tone, music and art style rooted directly in the original Genesis titles (''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic 3]]'' in particular), but the explanation for the urban environments found in those games ([[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic Earth]] populated with anthropomorphic mutants who live in a sky kingdom ruled by...[[LittleBitBeastly cat people]], we guess) is ''completely'' different from anything else found in the series. Some exclusive characters pop up here and there, and there is no mention of the Chaos Emeralds anywhere. In addition, Knuckles is also depicted as a treasure hunter who lives for the thrill of his job, rather the guardian of the Master Emerald.

* AlienSky: A planet with Saturn-like rings is visible in the sky.

* AsYouKnow: Lampshaded; the writers seem to just admit to it - the characters even fall asleep listening to it.

* BadassAdorable: Tails.

* BashBrothers: Taking the characters directly from ''Sonic 2'' and ''3'' gives us Sonic and Tails, moreso than any other adaptation and even many of the games - a good amount of the movie is huge action scenes where Sonic and Tails engage in coordinated asskicking so effective only the most powerful enemies stand a chance.

* DeathCourse: The path to Robotropolis, though Sonic and Tails make short work of it.

* FearfulSymmetry: Portions of Sonic's fight with Metal Sonic.

* FloatingContinent: Between the plethora of floating landmasses and the cloud cover, the surface of Planet Freedom is largely shrouded in darkness; hence why it's called "the Land of Darkness". This is probably also the reason that the entire population lives on the outer layer, "the Land of the Sky".

--->'''Sonic:''' Pansy-ass blood elf!
--->'''Robotnik:''' SHADDAP! Blood elves are cool!

* HereWeGoAgain: Averted. [[spoiler:Robotnik reveals after the final battle that he still has the data of Sonic's DNA via a CD, which he'll use to make another Metal Sonic to combat Sonic again, without the hedgehog's original personality getting in the way...[[ChekhovsGag only for the missile turtle Robotnik fired away earlier to arrive on time and destroy the CD by accident]].]]

%% * LavaPit
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Hyper Metal Sonic.]]
* MakesUsEven:

** Throughout the Land of Darkness, Sonic and Tails are shown avoiding various spikes on the ground, followed by Sonic jumping onto a spring.

* NeverSayDie:
** Averted. "When you awaken... KILL him!" (cue EvilLaugh)
** Also averted when Robotnik meets Sonic at the Generator.
-->'''Robotnik''': You fell for my trap! You came all the way here and now you'll die here. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Good job, Sonic]]!

* NotSoDifferentRemark: Tails states that because Robotnik uploaded Sonic's bio-data into Metal Sonic, Metal is capable of having the same interests and personality as the real Sonic. While there are a few signs of this even when fighting each other, the biggest one was during his HeroicSacrifice to save Sara's father and Old Man Owl.
** Sonic lampshades this during his rematch against Metal:
--> '''Sonic''': You might know everything I'm going to do. But that's not going to help you, since I know everything ''you're'' going to do! STRANGE, ISN'T IT?!

** The idea of Knuckles being a treasure hunter, which was first seen in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' and more throughly explored in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''.

* RuinsOfTheModernAge: The "ancient relics" on the outskirts of Robotropolis/Eggmanland resemble an abandoned New York City.

* SceneryPorn: Damn, Planet Freedom looks pretty cool.

** During the view of the city of the Land of the Sky, there's a building with a design that looks suspiciously similar to the classic [[Creator/{{Rare}} Rareware]] logo.

* TakeMyHand: [[spoiler:Sonic to Metal when the latter is about to sink into lava. Metal declines, saying "There is only one Sonic..." and is then submerged and slowly melted.]]
* ThereCanBeOnlyOne: This, rather than Robotnik's order, is Metal Sonic's real motivation for trying to kill Sonic. [[spoiler:And ultimately, his reason for declining his LastSecondChance after losing to Sonic.]]

* AdamAndEvePlot: [[spoiler:The end point of Robotnik's scheme: [[{{Squick}} himself and Sera married]], and the only remaining inhabitants of Planet Freedom.]]

* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: You could point out that this was before the characters actually had voices in the games. Even so Sonic's voice in the English dub has a very bizarre, indeterminate accent. It sounds like a cross between a vague southern accent and a British falsetto, with the latter being obvious in the more frenetic scenes. Alternatively, it can be described as a texan trying to put on a surfer dude accent.

* WordSaladLyrics: The lyrics to "Look Alike," the ending tune of the film. While look-alikes are a theme in this movie, the rest of the lyrics are a bit... stream of consciousness.

* FearOfThunder: Tails reveals his astrophobia in a very brief moment. ''"I'm afraid of lightning!"''