The Sonic OVA: Does It Hold Up?

[@NezumiVA]

The pinned comment question of today is: what is _your_ favorite animated incarnation of Sonic the Hedgehog? What would your ideal _new_ Sonic animation be like?

[@MemeDogger]

Favorite: SONIC From "SONIC CD" ideal look: would say basically just like the one from Sonic CD '93 with a little lift in height like the one in the OVA '96 - '99 and then make it a little bit more polished on colors a bit, and that would be a nice *Sonic*

[@TeleTails]

NezumiVA ok hear me out: Sonic boom(Tv series)

[@vocaploid]

i really like sonic

[@JulianAP_music]

I’m thinking the IDW sonic comic should have a tv series

[@TankEngine_12]

Favorite: Sonic Boom (don’t @ me) Ideal: IDW on TV

[@FancifulDancingStar]

I don't think the people that made the OVA didn't know Knuckles isn't a mole, it's just that something was lost in translation. Sera actually calls him "Mogura-chan", and "mogura" does translate into "mole". However, "echidna" in Japanese is "harimogura" (needle mole).

[@SpiderandMosquito]

Insightful, thanks mate

[@robertlupa8273]

So that's why they chose an echidna as a rival to a hedgehog. It's needle-mouse ("harinezumi") versus needle-mole ("harimogura")!

[@BillehBawb]

yes. it does.

[@NezumiVA]

Hey man, spoilers

[@BillehBawb]

I just rewatched it yesterday and besides sara... existing (she really should have just been amy or something) it was still really good

[@hurt4322]

Why wasn't it Amy? The OVA is CLEARLY based off of Sonic CD.

[@shanetaleday9148]

because Eggman x amy🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤢🤮🤢🤮

[@hurt4322]

@@shanetaleday9148 Eggman marrying a teenage half cat girl isn't any better

[@saarj]

The English OVA voices of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Robotnik are my canonical voices of the Classic cast, despite the problems they have to others.

[@darlingyouidiot]

Same, Martin Burke is actually pretty slept on, so is the voice for Eggman in this one. And the voice actress of Tails WAS ACTUALLY sick during the recording, so... duh. She did her best, and the voice is not all that annoying. The dub is funny, too.

[@kattjukebox6352]

Everytime I see the old, rotund design of Robotnik during this age, I always feel a bit of serotonin in my bones. Idk why, but it's honestly a really cute design imo Also, I really wish bigger companies like Sega had certain departments where they research websites and videos circling around Sonic to determine what they should go through with. Personally, I'd love an actual continuation of this OVA, especially since the series has more material to work with. If that happens, I really hope Metal Sonic shows up again; he's my favorite from all of the cast. You can do so much with him and how he functions as a clone that *_wants_* to be Sonic but just...can't. He's an interesting bot, I'll say that for sure. Another great video! Love your short video essays and hope to see more!

[@edgardeitz5746]

I agree with that; they should do such research...

[@LowellLucasJr.]

Honestly my favorite Sonic animated incarnation would always be the Sonic CD animation. It first gave him his ultimate free form style to really show how dynamic he is before his OVA version.

[@edgardeitz2784]

I feel the OVA *and* the Sonic CD / Mania cinematics are part of the same series, or should be...

[@LowellLucasJr.]

@@edgardeitz2784 Definately should be if they aren't already( I'm not sure of it canonically but it rocks.)

[@williammartin9585]

The Sonic CD animation really screamed “ITS NOT A MOHAWK” to the US audience

[@Lyric061791]

Okay, I love Tails voice, she sounds like a cute kid brother just wanting to be in the mix.

[@theHedgex1]

Knuckles: I know the perfect and best place to destroy this planet. Me: red is sus.

[@Giggles_iJest]

KZbinr, you’re a genuine person. You’re not afraid to express yourself and I respect that.

[@Bunni89]

OH MY GOD WE FINALLY HAVE A SOUNDTRACK SOURCE?! thank you so much for spreading the word! The songs are suchhhhh bangers ive had the partial version of South Island theme in my faves since I was a kid it's awesome to hear more!

[@CuddIebone]

i love this ova so much.... when i found out it existed as a kid i think something unlocked in my brain giving me consciousness

[@fyrewatermelons]

This OVA Movie was the first time I was ever exposed to Sonic the Hedgehog. It looked like a cool cartoon to rent from the local movie rental store (yes, that long ago).

[@dragonmaster3030]

Ha,.reminds me block buster was a thing, sadly that's died quite awhile ago

[@scientistservant]

I gotta disagree with you on Tails' dub voice, I really like how it sounds like he has a cold. It's adorable, and it fits the fact that he's a child to me.

[@dannyfoxboi]

Yeah, people tend to crap on the voices too much. I don't think they're as bad as people say they are.

[@clairehislop5873]

I really liked the voices

[@LevelZeroSage1]

Nezumi: Does the OVA still hold up? Me: In my heart. Duh✌🏾

[@Sydney_Angelyt]

I really like Knuckles’ English voice as it sounds a lot like an Australian voice. Which is what Knuckles is.

[@Sydney_Angelyt]

prickly pear Echidnas are native to Australia, there is an Angel Island in Australia.

[@Rexy_THE_T-REX]

Cool

[@edgardeitz2784]

The owl character is very underrated; I want to see more fan art of him. Sprite sheets too.

[@Bunni89]

Old Man Owl is like a good robotnik, honestly Same kind of adorable as the classic robotnik design! I always liked him a lot as a kid and wished he'd return

[@mrkaji8913]

I love metal sonic redemption

[@MILDMONSTER1234]

Imo this is the only piece of Sonic media that did Metal right. Metal is supposed to be a robot who lools AND ACTS like sonic....not just a robot who looks like Sonic.

[@ItsSherbb]

Unpopular opinion: I actually really like tails's voice in the english dub of the ova. I think he sounds like an adorable 8 year old.

[@killerpizza17]

I really wish this got picked up for a show. :(

[@ozioni2553]

"nobody knows what an echidna is" I do, it's a cute baby

[@FunnyFany]

... i like sonic underground... What? It's obnoxiously 90s, but it's entertaining!

[@Helicopter7]

I loved sonic underground as a kid but I will admit watching it nowadays it isn’t that good honestly

[@lizzyobrien2376]

Sonic Underground is a piece of hot garbage. But it’s still fun.

[@edgardeitz2784]

12:03 - The continents chained together bit ended up used in Sonic Unleashed.

[@dereknight861]

I remember getting SO EXCITED to pick this old Tape up in FYE and going home to watch it and...WOW. Oh my god That childhood memory is a blast ^^

[@FulsomeFrog]

The fact that sonic both talked in the sonic OVA and the cartoons and he never talks in games like generations, sonic forces and also sonic mania adventures frustrates me.

[@bubbykins4864]

He also talks in CD. He says, "Yes!" whenever he gets an extra life, and says, "I'm outta here!" when he's fed up with waiting for you to make a button input (or pause the game) and abandons his own game because you didn't pause it when you needed to go off to do something else for three minutes!

[@heysoupboi13]

The SONIC OVA was (besides sonic 2) what I would call a great first impression for a newbie(at the time) sonic fan and every time I decide to have popcorn for no reason I always put this on. I will always feel nostalgic for a time when I was so dumb I thought the cut scenes from SONIC CD were deleted scenes from this and when this and a certain someone's LPs were all the sonic media I had

[@DemonDethchase]

I do wish we could have gotten a full anime like this, X is good, but I would still have like more of this and I would glad trade Boom for more any day of the week!

[@missilelaunched]

omg i watched this OVA a couple weeks ago in my discord server bc one of my friends felt like watching it.... i was so confused bc i was 1) not a sonic connoisseur so i had no clue what was going on 2) the pacing was so weird to me but i rlly liked the animation at least!!!!! also knuckles in a cowboy hat was rlly cute so. lol!

[@frankenfreakie]

20:30 YOU JUST MADE ME REMEMBER THAT EDWIN NEAL PLAYED ROBOTNIK IN THIS!!! AKA NUBBINS SAWYER AKA THE HITCHHIKER FROM THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974). Texas Chainsaw (and slasher by extension) occupies the same level of autism special interest to me as an adult as Sonic and Pokemon both did when I was a small child, and when I first found this out maybe 3-4 years ago(?) I straight up couldn't believe it! Eggman and Hitchhiker share a voice! It makes my big autistic Sonic & horror nerd heart so so happy you don't even understand. Total geek out moment lol

[@theslomoguy5664]

I KNOW EVERYTHING YOUR GOING TO DO BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING SINCE YOU KNOW EVERYTHING IM GOING TO DO. STRANGE ISN'T IT?!?!? GRRRRRRRRRRRRRE

[@tiagocervera5661]

17:59 the reason it sounds like that is bacuase she actually got a cold during voice work

[@chocobomaster210]

22:40 I wonder if that plane has good air conditioning.

[@JulianAP_music]

In my time zone this premieres at freaking 12:00 am

[@bunslinger]

i know everyone loves jaleel white but i think martin burke would've worked REALLY well as the voice of classic sonic in generations (when they intended for him to have one)

[@calistusjay60]

You sound so similar to Penny Parker, I legit couldn't believe it wasn't Snapcube when I looked at the channel name! Awesome video too, very good analysis and opinions. Plz do more reviews like this!

[@sauzeefy]

all these voices are my preferred voices for these characters

[@clairehislop5873]

Same here, loved Robotnik's voice in particular

[@jackhumphries1087]

I find it kind of funny that this was pretty much the last iteration of classic sonic pre-adventure.

[@nicotoonzanimationz]

I feel like the voice cast did OK in both versions, but I think the Fandub did an actually great job. Sonic and Knuckles sound correct while Tails sound the closest to the recent games. Sera in my opinion sounded better in the fandub than the actual dub.

[@Badwolfwho1]

I've only ever seen the Metal Sonic fight scene from the end but child me always thought that was super rad, since you say the rest of it holds up I might have to check out the whole thing some time

[@Badsy_the_Edgecat]

pulling another archie sonic? well, fun thing to note: apparently SatAM was ALSO going to have this plotpoint revealed in season 3

[@光-h7c]

which plotpoint?

[@Badsy_the_Edgecat]

@@光-h7c the 'mobius is postapoc earth' thing

[@lydiasteinebendiksen4269]

I love the 06 fandub refrence.

[@casualskeleton3589]

Honestly I can’t watch this movie without smile on my face Tails does sound like he has the sniffles though

[@cliffturbo2146]

Sonic will never again be a pain in my eeeeegg!!!

[@NetGreen123]

'Tails accidentally learns what Groping is' AAH MY SIDES

[@cameurysm]

the sonic OVA is genuinely one of my favorite portrayals of these characters and i adore it so much

[@sanicsanic6890]

I've watched this thing so many times I play it in my head when I'm bored

[@krspykreame1]

I was a huge Sonic fan as a kid but never saw this one. Just watched it on KZbin and it was pretty damn good

[@Sonicanimefan1]

I' used to have the VHS for this one, until it got stuck in my vhs / tv combo thing..> then I started to watch the Japanese dubbing of this.. the Japanese dub on this one rocks

[@fisherdotogg]

I remember thinking the voice acting in this OVA (English, of course) was pretty bad as a kid. Now as an adult I realise that mooooost of it is pretty great, the worst one being Tails but like as bad as that voice is it does at least *fit.*

[@nintendogamecube5278]

Aw I loved this vid, would love to see a rerelease of the OVA sometime!

[@cfroi08]

It's something that we took advantage of, back in the day it was competing with Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop. But now we see that even the subpar standard of the late 90's had way more quality than anime today.

[@mellio6730]

The Sonic 2020 movie is a good movie, but the Sonic OVA is a great Sonic Movie

[@FrostTheHobidon]

great review

[@megareavermickeybot7985]

I'd totaly love a brand new Sonic Anime ^^ maybe they could make one based on IDW?

[@sanicsanic6890]

The President was probably there to pick up his daughter after he picked up the owl dude

[@outofthisworldgaming9539]

You when you get a gift "i go inside now"

[@mrkaji8913]

I like metal sonic being an anti hero

[@hunnybunni7680]

honestly yeah the ova is good i love it i watched it a long time ago and rewatched it and i still love it

[@smaximationsmotions]

10:53 im pretty sure god is WAY too late on that one chief...

[@NezumiVA]

We can still hope...........

[@smaximationsmotions]

@@NezumiVA For Sonic x OC ships. We are already too late ;-;

[@edgardeitz5746]

1) There should've been at least a few *more* episodes of the OVA... 2) Through the various series' use of multi-dimensionalism (esp. "Sonic Prime", "Sonic Forces / Frontiers" and the fan movie "Sonic Villians"), I'd imaging the continuities were meant to be fractals of a single, whole dimension. 3) The old man owl character is one of the favorite characters of the entire Sonic franchise. Why not use him in some games?... 4) The "land of darkness" could've partly been a result of the "bad" ending to a "Master System" game called "Assault City". Likewise, the IDW concept of the aquatic mobians could be mixed with the "Ecco the Dolphin" series. They could've even mixed the game "Zaxxon" and it's sequel ("Super Zaxxon") into "Sonic X"'s season four; as well as "Astro Warrior", "Fantasy Zone" and "Ristar". "Sambo de Amigo" could even have been a guest star in "Sonic Underground"... 5) *There should've been at least a few **_more_** episodes of the OVA...*

[@sanicsanic6890]

Metal was actually collecting data to find the most efficient way to destroy the planet while Tails and Knuckles were talking to the pres

[@AmeliaPlayz]

Hey, I came here from Sonic Paradox. You make good videos and express your opinions very well! Keep it up dude!

[@taxiiswith2is]

ice and water

[@NezumiVA]

Steak and cow

[@taxiiswith2is]

autumn this year and last year

[@lloydthehedgehogirving6049]

100th Comment: I remember watching this... so many hilarious quotes!

[@BUNN1ST1MZ]

fun fact, the sonic ova was the first thing i ever watched on youtube as a young babi

[@MemeDogger]

Ngl, you kinda have the voice of Sonic OVA..

[@NezumiVA]

Kind of ironic, considering I voiced Sonic for a parody _of_ said OVA, several years ago. Lol.

[@diamondsdump2391]

I can't wait I love your videos!

[@KnucklestheEcidna]

I still rewatch this on a regular basis. and as cheesy as the dialogue can be at times. aside from Sonic X. I still think that the OVA is still way better then ANY modern sonic tv show adaptation we get today.

[@backslash_bks]

I actually like Tails' voice in the ova more than any game va of tails

[@Swig_Chmeese]

*insert strange isn’t it grrrrr*

[@williammartin9585]

It took me a few watched to understand that they were linked and that Sonic could see thru metal’s eyes I thought he was acting goofy because he landed on his crotch

[@soulsearcher9620]

The dub would've gotten a lot more of a positive view from me if "Land of Darkness" had been renamed to "Badlands" And "Metal Robotnik" renamed to .... well anything that didn't have Robotnik in it lmao.

[@nicholaskearns6669]

Yes it does

[@mayday2825]

Very good video ngl

[@NubXd-ym3ti]

tilted at the towers

[@sanicsanic6890]

I actually prefer the English dub but that's probably bc I'm used to it like with the Adventure games

[@Synerco]

so ... why doesn't the magma melt the glaciers?

[@MrPenetroso]

Weird science, I guess? 🤷‍♂️

[@PanAndScanBuddy]

Too far down

[@SlickEvan]

👏🏽

[@cartooncrusader2231]

YOU MAY KNOW EVERYTHING I’M GOING TO, BUT THAT’S NOT GOING TO HELP YOU SINCE I KNOW EVERYTHING YOU’RE GOING TO DO! STRANGE ISN’T IT? GGGGGRRRRRHHHHHHHH

[@cyberneticsilver1754]

“Gay accent”

[@dwainsimmons3447]

Way better than Sonic x

[@RosheenQuynh]

14:56 I hate it, actually. I think the hat is stupid. I didn't know he was just a treasure hunter and not a guardian, so it makes sense that he's wears it (since not exactly the same Knuckles we kno) but I still don't care for the hat.

[@StickGuy2554]

are you a female

[@PanAndScanBuddy]

Of course she is

[@NonStopKnocks]

Ova is trash

[@WaterKirby1994]

Sega hasn't been playing it safe with Sonic at all in the 2010s Decade. Sonic was reduced to the joke of the gaming industry & SoA wanted to cash in on how bad the series was, while the Japanese Branch was focusing on Yakuza & other series. Sonic has been a parody of himself since Sonic Colors in 2010 & the games have been mediocre at best with maybe 2 exceptions during the 2010s. They forgot that Sonic was supposed to be cool, let people with no knowledge of the series at all become its lead writers for the 2010s decade, & made a few questionable voice casting decisions.

[@heinrichfletcher6954]

Fact: Edwin Neal who voiced Robotnik and the President in this was known to played the Hitchhiker from Texas Chainsaw Massacre and bonus, Edwin also had done some voice works throughout.

[@dwainsimmons3447]

Wait what