Summary
The next live-actionSonic the Hedgehogmovie is coming soon, and some fans are now the proud owners of an ugly Christmas sweater based on the popular character’s now-infamous original cinematic design. So far, theSonic the Hedgehogfilm series has been a big success, spawning three movies and a Paramount Plus-exclusive spin-off series centered around Knuckles the Echidna. The latest entry,Sonic the Hedgehog 3, will hit theaters on December 20 and see the live-action debuts of Shadow the Hedgehog and his creator, Professor Gerald Robotnik.
Given the warm reception of the previous films and growing excitement forSonic the Hedgehog 3, it can be easy to forget that fans were initially less than thrilled at the idea ofSega’s hyperfast platforming mascotracing onto the big screen. The original trailer for the firstSonicmovie was met with severe backlash, with the primary reason being Sonic’s bizarre design. The controversy generated by “Ugly Sonic” was so great that Paramount had the character redesigned into the more faithful look that viewers know today. Still, “Ugly Sonic” would live on in infamy, even making a surprise appearance in 2022’sChip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangersmovie.
Now, theoriginalSonic the Hedgehogmovie designis coming back in the form of an ugly Christmas sweater, which was recently offered as a prize as part of a promotional giveaway forSonic the Hedgehog 3. This now-concluded contest was dubbed ‘The 12 Hours of Sonic Giveaway,’ which took place earlier in December. Included among the possible prizes was an exclusive holiday sweater emblazed with the unsettlingly realistic face of Sonic as he is discovered by his soon-to-be human ally Tom “Donut Lord” Wachowski.
Ugly Sonic is Now a Christmas Sweater
The Ugly Sonic Christmas sweater was just one of the prizes offered during the 12-hour sweepstakes. Fans also had the chance to win a Shadow-themedSonic the Hedgehog 3movie poster signed by Keanu Reeves,PS5 download codes forSonic X Shadow Generations, a special Sega Genesis cartridge themed after the upcoming movie, Sonic-colored Reebok sneakers, and even candy canes that taste like Sonic’s favorite Chili Dogs. The main prizes included a Vive Focus Vision VR headset and a trip for two to the premiere ofSonic the Hedgehog 3.
Ugly Sonic probably won’t appear in the upcomingSonic the Hedgehog 3movie, but it is wild to think that the design that almost doomed the series before it began has become an enduring internet meme nowimmortalized as an ugly holiday sweater. Sadly, the contest to win these sweaters is now over, but at least someone will have a fun and festive outfit to wear to the cinema whenSonic the Hedgehog 3arrives on December 20.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a prolific game franchise that started life on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. Covering both 2D and 3D iterations through the generations, Sonic is known for speedy movements and interesting platforming mechanics.
