The Bizarre Modern Reality of Sonic the Hedgehog

[@Mbeluba]

I love how Jakes parents messy divorce is a mundane fact of life, but Sega cancelling Dreamcast is a life shattering event.

[@flashfilibuster5382]

That's the reality for a lot of kids of before and since. Life can be a bummer as kid and escaping through video games and media makes it livable. Reality can deliver a swift kick to the balls and you deal, but everybody gangsta till their escapist mediums are jeopardized. That's life and death.

[@dequentinmiller9086]

@@flashfilibuster5382 you right asf

[@averageanon5504]

Priorities my dude

[@javierortiz82]

Scapism is real, I ran from the reality of my father hitting me at every opportunity since age two by immersing into the world of videogames, it helped cope with my other realities, having my mind floating around the world of Megaman and Donkey Kong made life easier, and the moments I snapped from them it was hell all over again. Took time to balance things out.

[@ARJUN-ll1pu]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@Naokarma]

"I have been quarentining for 5 weeks" oh, the innocence of the past.

[@jesusdavidgarciaretana6567]

"Don't worry the quarantine will last only 3 to 4 weeks" they say

[@leovillant768]

Lol

[@jellybean1528]

2021 is almost here😭

[@edwinv1464]

2 months ago

[@MizfitZer0]

2 weeks to slow the spread.... we are currently on what, week 46?

[@dylanchouinard6141]

90s eggman: a legitimately intimidating villain 2020s eggman: I’VE COME TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT-

[@theslotherin1831]

I see this as an absolute win

[@jexim_kymaria]

I've pretty much memorized the entire monologue

[@BabeeGravy]

@@jexim_kymaria OoF thanks for the correction

[@jexim_kymaria]

@@BabeeGravy np fam

[@randomnerd3402]

@@jexim_kymaria Wait wtf is that from? Is it from some ridiculous cursed fanfic I've never heard about.

[@strawbrryblood]

learning for the first time that the "your actions have consequences" kid was actually ranting about Sonic has just made my day in a way i cannot describe

[@Dizma_Music]

Same here. :D

[@zyaicob]

Right there with you

[@Ducklolly]

He was right though

[@Skokapus]

also he was being ironic but that doesn’t matter

[@rotron8818]

NGL, the character development of jake is what made me cry. " I don't play those games anymore"

[@parksunghoonyes]

it made me real sad, it's the reality, many of us, just lost our childhood friends because of silly arguments or just different tastes.. or something, a story.

[@mycupoftea583]

"Last online 7 years ago"

[@ricky-sanchez]

@@parksunghoonyes I lost all my childhood friends to drugs. Sucks.

[@parksunghoonyes]

@@ricky-sanchez damn I'm sorry, it would rlly suck, I hope you are doing okay, life goes on bud.❣️

[@ricky-sanchez]

@@parksunghoonyes thnx. That was like 15 years ago though...😏

[@cameronjadewallace]

"The fanbase is.... Diverse." "You mean it's fuckin weird." "It's a matter of perspective, really."

[@officialprincelouie]

True

[@ricky-sanchez]

It wasn't always weird. The weird stuff came when sonic kept making bad game after bad game. The kids who grew up with sonic 06 and after are to blame. All they remember is bad sonic games. Even if they go back and play the old games, they still can't appreciate the now dated gameplay styles and concepts. All they remember is that sonic was weird

[@cameronjadewallace]

Yeah.... It's a TFS quote 🤷‍♂️

[@ricky-sanchez]

@@cameronjadewallace What is tfs?

[@cameronjadewallace]

@@ricky-sanchez team four star, they did DBZ Abridged and Hellsing Abridged, among other things

[@belakitu8331]

Man, seeing how Sonic and SEGA treat their fans' work vs how Nintendo treats fanwork is honestly depressing...

[@foxmccloudizsexy]

Because Nintendo doesn't need fan work to be recognized, while SEGA desperately does. Same reason why Bethesda relies on modders to make their games strong while Nintendo doesn't.

[@profsrlojohn635]

@@foxmccloudizsexy in addition, one of Nintendo's biggest assets is their characters, and they can't afford to have someone see a fan game, especially of the more esoteric kind like some of the Sonic ones, and then assume it's representative of Nintendo's products.

[@foxmccloudizsexy]

@@profsrlojohn635 Oh they can afford it, its Nintendo. People making fan games are using their property ( characters, items, and such) and there isn't a benefit Nintendo can get from it, so they will close down any projects unless there is an official liscensing agreement to use their assets.

[@knox1392]

@@foxmccloudizsexy it's still not very cool to do. They took it way too far

[@foxmccloudizsexy]

@@knox1392 As much as I agree with you, it is illegal to use copyrighted material. I can't think of a good example, but if someone "borrows" something of your's without consent, you have every right to put a stop to it.

[@tumultuousTuna]

That reveal of Hesse being the redesigner for movie Sonic actually made me cry. What a way to start; memes made on irony, probably out of a love for the characters, to being hired for the official movie- it's really poetic and powerful! Fans make their fandoms, and fans grow up into creators for those IPs or their own creations inspired by them. It's comforting, it's beautiful

[@Slutlyfe]

Tears here too

[@rolandkatsuragi]

The level of thought and effort put into the hypothetical friend "Jake" worries me for some reason.

[@Kinzokugia]

The Bizarre Reality of Jake: COME BACK MAN I MISS YOU

[@crimsonwolf8174]

How the fuck does this comment have so many likes but only 1 reply? (Now 2)

[@leovillant768]

Y E S

[@leovillant768]

@@crimsonwolf8174 Magic

[@Frostgiantbutsmall]

*middle school intensifies

[@eggguy20]

Everyone forgetting that Tails gets trolled ended up having a storyline where some individual trolls ended up getting Redemption arcs during the beginning of the troll tournament Arc and the fall of the troll king

[@rimoluna4213]

I'm pretty sure you're lying

[@TheFreddie306]

@@rimoluna4213 he isnt

[@rimoluna4213]

@@TheFreddie306 I must have missed some of the later parts, then, my bad

[@polimpiastro9857]

D-Didn't it suddenly end in the middle of a fight between a troll and the guy with no ears of something?

[@rimoluna4213]

@@polimpiastro9857 that's what I was thinking

[@dropsofmarsarchives1823]

I think there's two reasons why Sonic has withstood the test of time despite all the failures. Most companies gave up on their animal mascot characters but... 1. Sega never gave up on sonic. Even when they were ABSOLUTELY blowing it they kept at it. They showed faith in their character even when most wouldn't. 2. Sonic always had versatile potential. Even through failures they understood this, as do the fans. So even when the franchise fell flat on its face, both the fans and Sega looked to whatever could be next for Sonic.

[@Inkanymby]

If Sonic taught me anything aside from the team work is that fans will always come to the rescue if they feel you important

[@cri4921]

@@Inkanymby That's kinda low lel

[@sega32xxx14]

Sonic has almost taken on this invincible quality where no matter how many games have been ruthlessly criticized or fan depictions mocked, his earning potential somehow always remains. This is extremely rare for a character like this.

[@D.AblosFamilia]

I mean, SEGA has shitted the bed a few times (not budging on the release date for 06 for example), but so far they care. You have companies like Bandai Namco that I can't remember the last time Pac-Man got a game, and Capcom that legit forgets Mega Man doesn't exist.

[@MrMarinus18]

I think right now Sonic being stale is when he's in danger. Say what you will about the early 2000's games but they all had their unique identity and they committed to those identities all the way. There is just a passion to Sonic games that regardless of quality makes them stand out.

[@ViiZedek]

the fact i played sonic in the mega drive, and got too poor to keep on with the releases i got, but then years later, work on the very movie of one of the first characters i've ever played a game with felt like a reunion with an old esteemed friend. sonic(and tails) shaped so much of my childhood. you did an amazing job with this video. sonic is a very important franchise to me, even if we got so many years apart.

[@jugginfinesse]

if u don't mind me asking what did u work on with the movie?

[@ViiZedek]

@@jugginfinesse i did the brazilian Portuguese voice of Tails

[@IMakePeopleSaltyApparently]

​@@ViiZedekoh so you got to be in sonic 2 as well! That's cool you got in both

[@ThatPhantomGuy]

@@ViiZedekSério? Você dublou o Tails?

[@ViiZedek]

@@ThatPhantomGuynos filmes, sim

[@kamilee4123]

Sonic is dead and we’ve killed him. And then we resurrected him apparently.

[@ClintEPereira]

He's our own. Personal. Jesus.

[@firefist330]

Clint Pereira but Sonic won’t hear our prayers. Sonic won’t care.

[@franklinturtleton6525]

We also have our own Cyber Sonic Jesus called Sonic Robo Blast 2, which is the single greatest 3D world sonic iteration to date.

[@patata6868]

@@firefist330 Yeah, or maybe we should reach out and touch faith

[@binglee8000]

Indeed

[@yeghyasahbaz1570]

The whole Jake story arc is the best thing about this video

[@Skooter-ko1yj]

My thoughts exactly

[@bigbadseed7665]

For anyone wondering why Sonic Unleashed was a thing: Sonic Unleashed was originally going to be a regular Sonic game that revolved around running and speed. They even developed a whole new physics engine around that idea. But then a Sega executive told them to rip of God of War instead, since those games were popular at the time. The reason the "werehog" has stretchy arms is because they couldn't think of how else to rip off Kratos' chains.

[@googleuser9383]

I always did woner why I wherewolf would be stetchy...

[@MrWTFgameplay]

I loved that game for the werehog mechanics, never thought that highspeed 3d thing was a good thing, but the stretchies were comically good. AND THE JAZZ

[@brandonporter8509]

Did t someone make a sonic generations mod that remakes sonic unleashed using the mechanics of the modern stages in generations? Also I will defend unleashed as being good in three words (Daytime Rooftop Run)

[@deathegg9474]

They should of just make Knuckles the werehog mode. That probably was an idea since Shadow and Knuckles were rumored to be in it... that probably would been successful if they went that with that instead of the werehog

[@nicolle2126]

this seriously explains so much about that game

[@coolandlongmusicalbumsmusi3666]

BRUH, when you mentioned "Super mario Bro Z" I got hit with a world of nostalgia. I remember watching that with my little brother. I didn't really know what it was at first, but I got more and more into it! Until I forgot about it later... Until now.

[@gregvs.theworld451]

I wonder if that reboot Earthworm tried to make ever went anywhere.

[@aaringriese8312]

Every time I hear "newgrounds" I get flashbacks.

[@DryPsylocibin]

It wasn't gone into in depth in this video, but the official Sonic Twitter account could probably fill a video on its own. Sega made the brass balls decision to not distance themselves from the weirdness of the sonic memery, but entirely embraced it and just board the ride. The result was one of the most honest and authentic corporate Twitter accounts ever, putting out legitimately hilarious content. It's so fascinating to see how they remain almost polar opposites to Nintendo all these years later.

[@arthas640]

Nintendo: if you release an unofficial fan made patch to a 20 year old Nintendo game we'll sue you into oblivion Sega: you wanna wank to Sonic and Knuckles? knock yourself out

[@Helperbot-2000]

On par with chester cheetah

[@olliek8235]

recently that account tweeted “everything is canon.” and it’s the best thing to ever happen i think

[@phantomblue2798]

@@arthas640 Sega is basically the cool uncle.

[@somuchtocook9159]

@@arthas640 funny thing is that moment with metal sonic in the video that actually happened in an official game so quite literally Nintendo: sorry but you used a character we forgot you’re sued Sega: oh umm these are interesting ideas for forgotten characters you made let’s make our own version so that it’s official

[@r0w5tortion84]

I just realized that sonic's history is a very weird analogy of growing up. Starting up as an innocent kid who just wants to have fun and entertain others, going through that weird period in which he struggles to assert his own identity, until finally coming to the realization that the things that matter are decided by everyone individually, that there's nothing wrong with enjoying the things you used to love as a child, that life's too short to waste it on pointless struggles and it's better to find as much enjoyment in life as you can Beautiful, insightful video as always, wolf

[@karlandersson4350]

Sonic of today is a god damn drunkard failure.

[@r0w5tortion84]

@@karlandersson4350 not anymore, I'd say he's on detox & recovery right now

[@DanieleMulas-up7np]

@@r0w5tortion84 No, he's still a fucking drunkard fumbling around and lying to himself. The movie did not outsell Pikachu and no one is talking about it already, the IDW comics are trash, Mania was an overrated ROM hack made to advertise the garbage that was Forces. Sonic is currently like that neurotic drunkard who pretends everthing is fine, while the house is burning down and his work results is sinking faster than the Titanic. Wake the fuck up already, you tool. Sonic is irrelevant. Thanks to SEGA's incompetence and to its moronic fans, included the idiot in this video.

[@piratesageviazard1]

Daniele Mulas ...that’s a bit of an exaggeration in my opinion

[@DanieleMulas-up7np]

@@piratesageviazard1 And you're vastly underestimating the situation. Just a little head up : the last 3-4 Sonic games, from Mania and Forces to the Olympics games and TSR barely rounded up to 800k copies sold this year. Not exactly a successful number. twitter.com/knux333jw/status/1295436769408757767

[@TheDigitalWatcher]

"The year is 1991. Like the radical dude you are, you skateboard to your local park to tell you best friend Jake about beating Super Mario World." Ah yes, those things I did as a radical fetus.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

"I know a lot of you weren't alive back in 1991, and that frightens me in a way that I don't quite understand."

[@EpicB]

My parents weren't even together at that point. I know for a fact they played the original Sonic on the Genesis back in the day though.

[@thegmanofEAP]

Yeah I'm probably one of the older people here and I would have been...2? I think? Time is meaningless.

[@muggins2279]

That's just the kind of radical dude I was, hittin the bowls as a wet fetus

[@Helperbot-2000]

Me not existing for another 12 years:

[@ubergonk]

I remember there used to be a period of time on Google that it was near impossible to find a picture of knuckles on a human hand without the image results being flooded by the sonic character, and that you would have to use a very specific search term to bypass all the sonic pictures.

[@robokill387]

That's still true.

[@pdninja3338]

Using [-Sonic] right?

[@WindowsDrawer]

still true

[@gekigami1791]

And god forbid you foolishly, mistakenly search "human knuckles" instead

[@JaredConnell]

​@@gekigami1791just out of curiosity i tried that and less than 10% of results were about the human hand, the rest were knuckles in human form. Just typing 'knuckles' resulted in nearly all the character. You have to type 'knuckles body part' to get, well, knuckles the body part

[@theZinator]

You only touched on this briefly but I think the reason there’s so much Sonic fan media, including the weird and creepy stuff, is because SEGA is super lenient with fan creations. Nintendo, for example, would never allow their fans to create an entire new version of Mario with old code or a wild VR game like Dream Collection. In fact SEGA might have the best relationship with its fans of any video game company. That’s why Sonic has retained its popularity all these years, after so many failed video games. SEGA lets the fans take over, thank them for it, and ask them to come and work on official things.

[@NuiYabuko]

You act like that's commonplace. Also Lonk was a thing, Bowsette was a thing.

[@mcgfn]

@@NuiYabuko how do mario's balls taste?

[@1_Limbo]

@@NuiYabuko Bowsette was an uncontrollable mistake comparable to an oil spill on the pacific

[@Phantom-kc9ly]

@@NuiYabuko none of that stuff was endorsed by Nintendo.

[@isumkitchens5329]

@@NuiYabuko not only was it not endorsed by Nintendo, they actively hated it and had to re explain how the crown power up or whatever worked just to show it wouldn't affect Bowser that way lol

[@jasonwoods3168]

Did you just make a whole narrative about two friends losing touch and then reconnecting over a discourse about the Sonic fandom? Because holy shit this is amazing.

[@Cloperella]

I love Eyepatch Wolf's ability to talk about the absolute weirdest parts of a fandom and talk about the psychological parts of it in a constructive way. So, when are we getting a look into Among Us?

[@Biolumi_the_guy]

PLEASE DO IT

[@mirmarq429]

The amogus meme is still evolving. I suspect it'll be with us forever, like Loss.

[@Flesh_Wizard]

@@mirmarq429 among loss

[@mlemx3]

oh god xd

[@clonetrooper2003]

Yeah this and his Undertale LEGIT might be one of my favorite vids on youtube

[@Ted4321]

I just wanna know why Jake is a 10 year old smoker

[@astracrits4633]

It was the 90's. *Everyone* was a 10-year-old smoker.

[@supereyepatchwolf3007]

Let me tell you about 90s Dublin

[@Jurgir09]

because its Radical Dude!

[@Adam_Zielinski]

@@supereyepatchwolf3007 90's Dublin but you say Mall, huh

[@Red-wc1br]

@@supereyepatchwolf3007 I'll wait for the video on 90s dublin

[@LegamSSF]

I kinda like how this video sidesteps the whole "love vs hate" Sonic argument and simply observes how society has changed the perception of Sonic.

[@bigtom4279]

This guy was the type of guy that would give the best presentations in class

[@UltimateAnimeGamer]

He'd give the best presentation, but he'd go over the time limit often.

[@tuckernutter]

The guy from 16:38?

[@samt3412]

@@tuckernutter but when will they learn?

[@hadriandwyer2191]

Yeah, but the teacher would have to cut him off whenever he started going off into tangents about furry porn.

[@ultimadum7785]

I guess you are new to the video essay community lol

[@localcompanion]

The fact SEGA allows their fans to be so open and moldy with Sonic is what makes them a great company. It's amazing to see how far it's all came over the past (nearly 30) years. It really goes to show what good things can happen when companies actually listen to their fans. Like the Sonic movie going from a laughing stock to a blockbuster blowout, all because the executives sat down and said, "You know what? The fans know what they want better than we know what they want. We should let them decide what gets to happen with Sonic. He belongs to them now."

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

I mean SEGA themselves have never stuck on a consistent portrayal of the character.

[@frannyfantastic8193]

Don't think too badly of Jake for his abrupt departure. Sometimes, you just gotta go fast.

[@genmaicha.lapsang]

Jake sends one last text at the end of the video.

[@lmao2302]

The problem with going faster than light is that you only live in darkness.

[@Neostrius]

He swore that he'd left the series behind. The only problem is, the series never left him.

[@johanwairissal1067]

@@lmao2302 daaaammmnnnnn.....

[@flashfilibuster5382]

@@lmao2302 that was unprecedentedly deep. I shouldn't have read that.

[@koopa309]

The plot between Jake and us is so much better than every thing that has plot in existence and is making me tear up

[@nanahuatli2144]

When you say it like that it makes me realize it's a self-insert fic.

[@mikata_mark_official5306]

Hey It's Jake I saw the Sonic Movie... I miss you. *cries*

[@Connorses]

This has so much more weight when you realize it was said by a Mario fan.

[@bigbrowski410]

I swear I still can’t hear the name “Christian” in anything Sonic related without fight or flight kicking in

[@thebigbingbongboss8777]

DKing me too

[@idioticcontrarian7083]

Me, a confused Christian boyo:

[@d3-penguin954]

Chris chan flashbacks...

[@idioticcontrarian7083]

@@d3-penguin954 oh.

[@punchysonichu5395]

Hi!

[@manuelmialdea5127]

It's fun to think that the fandom and public perception on Sonic are now changing. Frontiers turned out to be an actually good game making bold, intelligent decisions with the characters. I wonder what the future holds for the blue hedgehog.

[@MaminakaMrpaperbag]

according to Kishimoto himself, the third DLC of Frontiers will be a prototype for Sonic Team's next mainline project. Perhaps that DLC will be a sneak peek of Sonic's future

[@conorandkanohi]

2022 was a GREAT year for the Blue Blur

[@hanezutchins2786]

​@Conor&Kanohi Ain't that the truth?! Sonic 2 movie, Sonic Origins, Sonic Frontiers and Sonic Prime. We ate good! Henry VIII style of good

[@Lunacorva]

This isn't just a video on Sonic. This is an honest look at all fandoms.

[@WhatDillionYT]

especially fnaf and godzilla

[@MelonTeee]

love the decision to film in a corner of your house, very cool

[@pokeymaster9415]

Wow it's you? I watch your video I didn't know you are a sonic fan too

[@karameru880]

ayy its teee

[@hanselfinn8946]

You're here cool

[@JEMA333]

shut the fuck up

[@thedude2733]

@@JEMA333 no u

[@BlazingAzureTheta]

Jake at age 40 and with a kid of his own: "hey champ, why don't we play a game together? I used to love this series as a kid" *boots up sonic mania 2 with child*

[@axie545]

I was legit sad we didn't get to see what became of Jake, thanks.

[@shanescott5847]

Don't think Jakes gonna be having kids any time soon...

[@grizzlyowlbear3538]

Fuck you, I didn't want to cry today

[@lwyhuyfee]

I'm feeling more sonic mania, but 2 is good too

[@thequinndom6250]

@@axie545 lmao someone didn't watch til the end of the video it seems

[@vsGoliath96]

No mention of the fact that the famous Sanic image appears in the official Sonic movie? I think it really adds to the bizarre depth and bleed through of fanbase and reality.

[@zqfmgb4335]

When you think about it, "Super Eyepatch Wolf" sounds like a good name for a Sonic OC.

[@RockSolitude]

I bet he has some stashed away in a folder somewhere.

[@tictacterminator]

super eyepatch wolf sounds like a good name for someone who animates FNAF porn on source filmmaker

[@PiousMoltar]

Sounds more like a Sonic-clone game for the SNES.

[@JohnSmith-co1zv]

Something tells this guy created his account back when he was a furry.

[@urielkosovo5177]

you guys (me too) got worked up about the image of sonic but I don’t see these people (not me) not get worked up be of being told to lockdown? I.E. you guys care more about this then questioning what society tells you do to? TF

[@smokingsnake8276]

I swear to god, when he said "it's 1991 and..." I thought he would say "the soviet union has just fallen

[@darthmomo6548]

@Alexander Steel we will rise

[@Glue_Eater06]

@@darthmomo6548 please don't

[@darthmomo6548]

@@Glue_Eater06 there is no stopping us

[@Glue_Eater06]

@@darthmomo6548 okay, but please at least postpone your comeback for a long time

[@darthmomo6548]

@@Glue_Eater06 yeah.....sure...👀

[@TotallyNotMark]

Ah yes, the director's cut!

[@LjuboCupic1912]

Totally Not Mark Nice to see you here!

[@rossbarr-scragg4076]

Yeah boss to see you here. SEPW & TNM remind me of one another

[@krxxc.kk6]

Why are you on everything-

[@barletbeqiri1125]

Totally Not Mark hey, it's great to see you here too! You're one of my favourite youtubers :)

[@VenomRaven]

No, the director's cut is the OG version. This is what the version that the suits made him edit it down into.

[@gordonexperience4859]

I think one thing worth mentioning is the way the humor of the series has helped it stay alive. Between Sonic Boom being an entertaining cartoon that was accessible to a newer and younger audience while still having jokes and references for older viewers and the SnapCube fandubs skyrocketing to popularity off of their unique and hilarious interpretations of the characters and the absurdity of some of the series, I think it sorta speaks to an innate humor and silliness in the series that has helped it hang on in the public consciousness. Great video Wolf!

[@MasterAnimit]

I miss my wife Tails

[@Thwap23]

That Tony the Tiger bit was hilarious, I've never heard of that.

[@YourTypicalMental]

Internet Historian did a really good video on that whole mess.

[@josh8012]

Here's the link if you are interested kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqXWgqqfmMemr5Y

[@christophergordon6250]

People can be super creepy sometimes.

[@SolidRaiden2655]

I was really freaked out but also found it hilarious.

[@IronFreakV]

fucking furries

[@majorbruhmoment5711]

The story of Jake is genuinely depressing and beautiful. His heartfelt story clearly makes him one of the great characters of our time. Can’t wait for the fanfiction set in the JCU (Jake cinematic universe)

[@LaBerengenaAtomica]

I'm waiting for a sequel in which it is revealed that he always loved Sonic, to this day, but was shaped by society to not enjoy ''such things'', yet overcame his ''adultness'' and managed to come back to the thing he loved the most thanks to a newly released masterpiece Sonic game and he reconnects with his old friend to kick back and play some games, maybe even introducing their children to the franchise (or better yet, not having to since it sprung back up itself and reached contemporary children) so they all get together and play, like they once did when they were their children's ages.

[@alembic1105]

You know what I find so ridiculous, all people ever wanted was just another normal Sonic game like on the Megadrive. That's all the had to do for 99% of Sonic fans. No stories, no cutscenes, no personality reinvention. Just more Sonic, and yet we had to wait between Sonic&Knuckles and Sonic Mania just to get that. Even in 3D that might have been fine, but we never even got that. Where was the straight up 3d Sonic game? It's like they could never understand, just make more of the thing that people like.

[@Ettrix]

​@@LaBerengenaAtomica I'm waiting for the sequel in which Jake was wearing a suit, because he was the Sega Exec in charge of all the failed sonic media

[@LaBerengenaAtomica]

@@Ettrix Lol pls don't make my try at a feel-good conclusion a nightmare.

[@seestars2020]

Alembic not exactly 99%

[@zigzagzoom369]

Why am I this invested in Narrator and Jake's relationship? I only just noticed on the second watch that there's another text from Jake at the very end of the video and it got me in the feelings.

[@sukidable]

"A character struggling against a twisted parody of himself." A thing Sonic has canonically dealt with more than once!

[@SuperLlama42]

Sonic, the only character to have MULTIPLE different robot versions of himself.

[@Neo-Metal17]

⁠@@SuperLlama42AND non-robotic versions, even his other versions have other versions

[@dank_smirk2ndchannel200]

When you’ve fallen to your lowest point, the only direction you can go is up.

[@connorp3764]

That's what the koala bear in sing said, before he got mugged by bears.

[@Ezixea]

its such a long way down

[@Mantosasto]

Not really. You can walk in the bottom.

[@xen3588]

sonic forces 2 coming 2021

[@CTHD13]

No. When you hit the lowest point, you can always start digging.

[@barbershopbible]

Jake: Deepest character arc in media

[@Nova1Duke]

so i guess the porn got removed huh

[@VenomRaven]

I'm not surprised. It was so awkward to watch even with the censoring.

[@GaijinEncarmine]

It's everyone's loss.

[@CatManThree]

Shit, now I am legitimately curious over what it looked like.

[@KapitanPazur1]

@@VenomRaven Speak for yourself. I did enjoy that part.

[@arekusu.]

@@CatManThree the original video is still up, it's just unlisted. He left the link in the description

[@arthurdurham]

Got to hand it to John, makes an entire video about Sonic just so he can tell the heart wrenching story about his first love, Jake.

[@AHuman-qf5tv]

This felt like a documentary, a story about the complexities of a franchise, a broken image, the world of fan art and creativity, and your friend jake who hasn't been online for 9 years. Its a wonderful story and a must watch, not only for sonic fans but for anyone who loves characters and story 10/10 Imdb

[@cale0176]

"However, the king of the sprite-based animations..." me: Ohhhhh he's gonna talk about it "...Super Mario Z" I've never felt so validated.

[@stoicbartender]

Amen my friend

[@Haispawner]

Mäga nut.

[@radicaledward3783]

People are like, "sonic started in the 90s, what children could be making sonic ocs in 2020?' and I'm here thinking: hey, look, i was born in '97 and i only remember digimon because my sister made me watch it with her, when i was like 9 or 10 i started rewatching it on youtube because i was actually interested in it. Older media is so much easier for people to access now in the information age.

[@givecamichips]

Sonic Mania came out 3 years ago, not to mention the Sonic Boom cartoon which was actually good. There are even die-hard fans of Sonic 06 et Al.

[@BlackSheepNara]

True. I was born in '92 but thanks to streaming/the internet, I can finally watch 70's/80's cartoons and old tv shows. No matter how old a series gets, thanks to modern tech, it'll always have new fans.

[@Mimiki203]

I was also born in '97. I'm constantly discovering older media thanks to the internet and even old VHS tapes. I had a ton of the 80s Care Bear cartoon and Sailor Moon on tape when I was younger (the "but you were an aughts kid, you didn't grow up with those shows!" group bothers me. It's almost like they forget vhs tapes are a thing and that poor families are almost always at least 5 years behind in technology and things around the house. I may not have been born yet when the n64 came out but that doesn't mean that that wasn't my main childhood console despite living in the ps2/GameCube era), and thanks to the internet I've discovered stuff like Jem and the Holograms and a whole bunch of old anime like Ranma 1/2 and Creamy Mami.

[@juanrodriguez9971]

Older media is really good, like, I never understand why people thinks "old ≠ bad", when isn't always the case, like, a good work will always be a good work, even if it has problems aging, it can be always a good work.

[@Puppies03b3eleyyMichaelJackson]

@@Mimiki203 I was born in '92, but i grew up with hand me down and flea market tapes of '80s cartoons too! Rainbow Bright, Care Bears, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were basically all I saw since the rual area in Tennessee I grew up in didnt even offer dial-up internet until about 2006, and I didnt have cable or internet until about 2008-9 when I could pay for it myself!

[@zoeystauber9801]

The story of Jake & MC is a cinematic masterpiece

[@clonetrooper2003]

Infinitely better written than MCU phase 4

[@TheMrGmk]

As a sonic fan this video can get so emotional. After all the depressing and disturbing stuff depicted in the video, seeing that glimpse of positivity at the end literally made me broke into tears, not gonna lie. I want to hope in a brighter future for the blue hedgehog, in wich he finds new life by the love of his fans. Love your content man, keep up the good work

[@steelhert4363]

All sonic fans want a good future for Sonic. But its not going to come by itself, you know. We need to make it.

[@goofygoob420]

As long as your not making sonic erotic fan fiction your good

[@ChevySamk]

the sonic fanbase everyone

[@galaxy_kitten95]

Same here. While watching this video, I couldn't help but tear up at some parts, especially with the whole "Jake" story. Even though I don't play the games as much anymore, it made me realize that I was still a fan of Sonic at heart (even though saying that has lots of negative connotations from an outsider's perspective). I still have a love and appreciation for the character. I want Sonic to succeed, game wise. Sonic games can be good and enjoyable. Hopefully Sega has something tolerable in store this year since it will mark the franchise's 30th anniversary.

[@norishimogawa6125]

im not even much of a sonic fan and i still got emotional...

[@void9938]

damn, the reveal at the end about how those fans became a part of the official team just really got me teary. and I have never even played a sonic game. keep it up eye patch wolf, these are amazing.

[@Gatorade69]

You should play Sonic Mania, it's on most consoles and on sale a lot. It really captures the feel and mafic of the original 3 games plus knuckles.

[@rompevuevitos222]

I also find it kinda sad, it really shows that it wasn't just "It's a very ambitious game and it's too hard to make right" as some excused the many failures of the Sonic games And with the latest release of Yuji Naka (Balan Wonderworld) it's clear that the issue is Yuji Naka and he REALLY refuses to learn from basic development guidelines TL;DR: Sega either puts the franchise in the fans hands or sinks it, Yuji Naka ran out of time on learning how to make good games (i mean, he had more than 20 years)

[@RiotMonster]

I got kind of emotional too 🥺

[@themeatman6984]

Only real fans remember the five minutes of sonic porn in this video.

[@norinori6414]

I'd rather not remember

[@mistersureshot1749]

Its just part of my collection

[@muichirotokitou2615]

Oh yeah, can anyone lend me a mind erasing gun?

[@yeahthatsright33]

anywhere I can see the original edit?

[@Lear-Siy-Deral]

@@yeahthatsright33 check the description

[@QueenA.G.]

I gotta appreciate what u said about some folks using Sonic OCs to “try and find their own identity” because that ended up happening the more my fam character developed, I tried to make her not too typical, OP or edgy but now she became a vessel for story writing practice.

[@clonetrooper2003]

Tbf, I want to make a Star Wars OC so I actually respect those who make OCs

[@memyselfandinobodyfromnowh9087]

I love Sonic because I used to wake up to the sound of my mom playing it. I lost track of it, and a lot besides, when she died, so I was pretty disconnected from all this until around when the movie was announced. I knew the fandom had saved the movie, but I didn’t know how literally and thoroughly that was true. Thank you for explaining

[@aegisreflector1239]

My condolences. Your mom sounds cool. I never in a million years would find my mom playing videogames let alone Sonic

[@Bruh.Master]

what a mom mine tells me she'll kill me someday and that I'm a burden, she's wakes me up by pulling my hair cuz she hates my hair... RIP to your mom bro 👊

[@alfredosilvaneto]

I played Sonic, Streets of Rage and Golden Axe with my mother on the Sega Genesis when I was a kid.

[@Longviewer17]

I’m so sorry man. God rest her soul! 🙏

[@hurmshmundle]

@@Bruh.Master contact child protective services friend

[@tehawsumninja]

"dude, Sega canceled the dreamcast" I felt a knot in my stomach at the sheer visceral flashback to my 7 year old self playing Crazy Taxi and my older cousin telling me that they weren't making any new games for the system I was playing this masterpiece on and just fucking bawling my eyes out for a whole day.

[@sandk7969]

I remember my friend saying dreamcast would be awesome and I already own a PS. I was like I need to have dreamcast after watching the ads. But then it didn't happen, bought the new PS2 happy with GoW series.

[@17-MASY]

Sega Heroes was announced to be over a while ago 😿

[@urielkosovo5177]

tehawsumninja you guys (me too) got worked up about the image of sonic but I don’t see these people (not me) not get worked up be of being told to lockdown? I.E. you guys care more about this then questioning what society tells you do to? TF. You also have guys like this guy who feels “knots” in his stomach because of VG console? Again, TF man.

[@xXCrashTXx-1]

@@urielkosovo5177 I think you need Allah in your life, He could make you very happy. read the Quran

[@purplehaze2358]

To this day, the only thing to come out of sonic I actually enjoyed was a quote to the effect of “The problem with traveling faster than the speed of light is that you always dwell in darkness.”

[@somuchtocook9159]

Hey umm doctor bright should you probably not be here

[@ThisIsABadIdeaSrsly]

@@somuchtocook9159 One more entry to the list of things Dr. Bright isn't allowed to do.

[@ironicirony8824]

pretty sure that was a meme

[@fpsapt3204]

Juujjjj uh huuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhjhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@fpsapt3204]

@@somuchtocook9159 hujhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhuhh

[@draco_lunae]

The fact that several Sonic fan comic artists like Evan and Gigi-D have become actual official artists and writers for first the Archie and now IDW comics is so cool to me, seeing the way that fans are appreciated and given the opportunity to work on something they love so much. Same with Sonic Mania!

[@bocodamondo]

actually, the original sonic adventure comics are still around in tyson hesse's deviantart account, though the comments are disabeled haha but it is impressive how its more or less thanks to those comics as to why tyson worked with SEGA to make the intro for sonic mania and the animated shorts

[@supernerd5781]

And then finally getting to redefine Sonic for a modern audience.

[@setsers1]

HOLY FUCK

[@bassbaine]

NEWGROUNDS!!! Haven't heard that name in years

[@jegnawbanjaw8353]

Come back boc, to me.. To us. I don’t watch your content but I said that lol.

[@Madhattersinjeans]

Life is just a simulation isn't it? What's the point of having a simulation become aware it's a simulation? Are we here just to suffer?

[@safe-keeper1042]

Oh my god, Tails gets Trolled is amazing. The way it keeps introducing more and more universes is hilarious, and the humour is genunely good. It's so weird, though, it reads like something written by a child, but the drawing style and overall plot speaks of an author, or authors, who are someone much older. It's also such a good nostalgia trip. Thank you for introducing me to it.

[@BobSmith-cg2ek]

"Hi i'm spyro and i'm a fucking dragon"

[@AroundTheBlockAgain]

As a Sonic fan since literally 1992, it has been a weird ride as you described but never? depressing?? Not for me anyway. I quickly got used to the idea that people made weird things on the internet. I got my hopes up and then dashed a few times (like who even remembers Sonic 4 anymore). I learned how to hold back, make some popcorn, and just wait. But ever since Mania, the IDW comics, the movies, and ESPECIALLY Frontiers... The Inmates Are Running The Asylum and we're doing pretty good, honestly.

[@alexandrecampos1391]

"We must embrace pain, and use it as fuel for our journey." - The Hedgehog, Sonic

[@Trickle_Official]

Am I the only one crying over the final Jake scene?? Gosh, this was so well done

[@retrohill5848]

No

[@plumemoth293]

@Scarlet Dani there is something after the credits

[@alexandram5845]

I think Sonic Unleashed is Tyson Hesse’s favorite Sonic game. I found that in an interview he did about Sonic Mania Adventures Edit: From an interview with Forbes “Naturally, finding out what was their favorite Sonic the Hedgehog game was obviously important and Tyson’s choice was not something I was expecting. ‘When I was a broke college student, I couldn’t afford to buy video games regularly. Barely at all, really. But when I heard the new Sonic game Sonic Unleashed was coming out I saved money all year to buy a used Xbox and a copy of the game. At the time it played unlike any other Sonic game before it, since it introduced the boost feature into a 3D game. I got totally addicted to the boost sections, playing over and over to beat my times. It was almost a year before I could afford to get another game, so it was just me and Sonic Unleashed for countless hours and it brought my passion back to Sonic after a few years of missing his games.’”

[@2la84me]

It was fun at the time! I wont die a hill for it like I do for Shadow the Hedgehog's gameplay (which was fun even if it wasnt very good) but I will give it that much. Character Design and Story not withstanding of course.

[@smhsophie]

Sonic unleashed is the best sonic game by far

[@silverkujo]

I was born in 2001, and still got to experience the beauty of Mario Bros Z, even after its prime and I still felt like it was mind blowing at the time. At one point, they were on youtube but then stopped getting uploaded and I wanted to see the next episode and I was really sad. Seeing a story with two of my favorite series that was like a TV show was amazing.

[@culturehub2628]

They recently made a remake still in production which is happy but the original storyline still never got the conclusion it deserved 😢

[@highjumpstudios2384]

Same. Honestly. I kept checking for years.

[@Kurisu545]

Somehow this video made me feel very emotional, it's weird to think about how the fanbase dirtorted this franchise to an unrecognizable mess, but at the same time, saved it.

[@lemomlemen5366]

This entire video is just "You literally can't kill Sonic the Hedgehog because whilst his fans can be weird, they're literally so talented as well," and I think that's beautiful.

[@lemomlemen5366]

@Yasin Syrkett Jeff Fowler, Tyson Hesse, Christian Whitehead, Mike Pollock, Ian Flynn, Evan Stanley all say hi right back.

[@yaeven4943]

I don't know what purpose 'literally' serves here, let alone twice, but OK..

[@jettweddle2067]

@Yasin Syrkett sonichu is a masterpiece. What are you talking about

[@robertanderson9447]

@Yasin Syrkett Quit using that tired crutch to degrade Sonic fans. Chris's issues go far beyond Sonic.

[@android19willpwn]

"I believe what doesn't kill you only makes you... stranger." - Joke the Hedgehog (Original character, do not steal)

[@thayenryan7448]

I have a few things to say. 1. How could you not mention the uprise and near-immediate downfall of creepypasta, specifically Sonic.EXE parts 1 and 2, but more specifically Tails Doll? 2. It’s amazing that the fandom took action to revive Sonic to such high prestige once more. 3. Keep up the awesome work Wolf!

[@Nphen]

My first grader and her kindergarten sister found that sonic.exe crap on You Tube and I am so mad that junk even exists! Seeing how tortured the Sonic fandom had become is one of the reasons I clicked this video to try and gain insight. I quit console gaming around PS3 era and hadn't been following Sonic for years at that point despite loving the cartoons and Game Gear version as a kid. I'm glad to see there's a good recent game & fan content, and wish I'd seen the movie in theaters.

[@embercoral]

Maybe because he didn't want to give JC Hyena any more attention. That fan in particular is still a prick, last I heard. I shouldn't be that surprised that there are folks still avidly defending such hilariously garbage literature, but here we are...

[@thayenryan7448]

@@embercoral I’m not defending them, don’t take me for a fool. I was merely expressing what I wanted to see and saying what I wanted to say. Plus, younger me was an idiot, so…

[@rustyjones7908]

I was waiting for Sonichu to appear.

[@Grion007]

Wrong. Yt kids has so much. Exe content and my brother keeps watching them

[@steviealbarne4247]

In my humble opinion, everyone needs to watch your videos. Thought-provoking, informative, entertaining, and at times, funny, and all of these in arguably some of the best ways possible. Id never been so invested in the history of Sonic, or in any other such topics as Liminal horror, fake psychics or Garfield, but this content has made me more interested than i could've ever expected.

[@1Gengar]

"So distorted and corrupted by the internet, that just googling Sonic can lead to a bizarre world of insanity" That's why i make sure to download every good piece of Sonic fanart i find. Making sure i never have to go through that again

[@beeperonithe2nd]

Damn bro, what's your folders like? You got sub-folders in you sub-folders?

[@1Gengar]

@@beeperonithe2nd that would be a great idea actually

[@toxoplasmagondi]

same. i remember losing an actually very good sonic fanart once when i was like 15 and having to go through the search in deviantart to find it. never again

[@1Gengar]

@@beeperonithe2nd oh hey i just found out you can actually put folders in folder folders so i started doing that

[@alvr3461]

@@1Gengar good to know.

[@ginaweaver4119]

Now all we need is The Bizarre Modern Reality Of Garfield.

[@wafflekd-f5o]

The Bizarre Modern Reality Of Shrek

[@Overdoseplus]

Look up Gorefield

[@Ramsey276one]

GUNS WON’T WORK, JON

[@theactualTVB]

The Bizarre Modern Reality of Tomb Raider. There.

[@nitrosherbert888]

The Garfield and friends TV shows basically equivalent of Sonic mania I remember captain kristians video where he said the Calvin is it hobs is so much more better than Garfield because it doesn't let bastardise adaptations become a thing And then I remember spamming the video reviews of Sonic How people care more about the peanuts Christmas special than that show

[@theskullraider5058]

Tails: Congratulations! Knuckles: Congratulations! Amy: Congratulations! Cream: Congratulations! Cheese: Ciao! Ciao! Ciao! (Congratulations!) Sally: Congratulations! Sonia: Congratulations! Manic: Congratulations! Rouge: Congratulations! Shadow: Congratulations! Omega: Congratulations! Big: Congwachuations! Froggie: ribbit (Congratulations!) Silver: Congratulations! Elise: Congratulations! Mephilas: Congratulations! Chip: Congratulations! Metal Sonic: Congratulations! Mecha Sonic: Congratulations! Dr. Robotnik: Congratulations! Mario: Congratulations! Sonic: ...Thanks, guys...

[@tap5263]

I don't have it off the top of my head but insert sonic doing the shinji credits rant

[@Gell-lo]

is this a jojo reference?

[@tsunmarie6058]

Wow bro, platinum comment (for real)...

[@Moss_Dude]

The fact that we don't know what he's being congratulated for makes this comment terrifying

[@EbonyIsAHellhound]

Where's Blaze?

[@HoneycombProductions]

small update on Evan Stanley (mentioned at 31:35). She is now the co-head-writer (along with Ian Flynn, the writer of Frontiers) of the IDW Sonic series.

[@foxuno100]

I literally got chills from this distorted hero journey of a franchise that I just saw

[@JamsandTea]

Aight as a child of divorce named Jake I am starting to feel a *little* called out

[@GreekDudeYiannis]

Did you grow up to not play those games anymore?

[@JamsandTea]

GreekDudeYiannis Hell nah, I’ve been playing Pokémon Shield and Final Fantasy 7 whenever I’m able. Other Jake can get fucked. I work retail and write books, so maybe I just don’t have a stick up my ass like my doppelgänger 🤧

[@GreekDudeYiannis]

@@JamsandTea will you two fight it out Highlander style?

[@JamsandTea]

GreekDudeYiannis Lemme get my claymore

[@cheeseocat8448]

69 likes i gonna ruin it

[@Lord_DeeBee]

Dude, this genuinely made me super sad towards the end until "Or so it seemed" . Great video

[@icarusgaming6269]

I think you missed a step. Part of the Adventure series was adapting Sonic's story into a more cinematic medium. Cute forest creatures saving the world from industrialization by the same villain over and over wasn't going to fly. With the introduction of voiceover and cutscenes, Sonic's story needed to grow with his audience. These games were instead serialized, unfolding epics with interpersonal drama that sometimes tackled mature themes, such as the favorite among Adventure fans, SA2B. At the age of around 12-14, this was the perfect storm for them to take this concept and run with it, culminating in the relentlessly edgy Shadow the Hedgehog as the final entry on the 6th generation and the Archie comics breaking away from the current mythos and re-envisioning Morbius as a gritty apocalypse plunged in a brutal guerilla war. Even Sonic X's final season was about hunting a colonial alien robot army that steals artifacts that hold planets together for their power, destroying all life on them in the process, Sonic giving into anger, and Tails losing the love of his life months after meeting her. No, seriously. The fan art of the time reflected this. Instead of comics and animations, it was often written like an amateur novel. The introduction of new characters caused OC culture to blow up, each with their own tragic backstory, which led to... things we both concluded probably shouldn't be discussed on KZbin. If you know, you know. This set the precedent for Sonic fans to take interest in adult themes, even if they didn't fully understand them. I had to radically restructure this comment as I got further in the video and you took the words out of my mouth, which is why it will now abruptly end

[@BrendanJSmith]

I think it's fair to say that Sonic Adventure BIRTHED the Sonic Fandom as we know it.

[@robokill387]

@@BrendanJSmith No, it existed before then.

[@BrendanJSmith]

@@robokill387 yes, there were Sonic fans before the Dreamcast, obviously. But they didn't get super weird and obsessive until the Adventure games came out. Without Sonic Adventure 1 & 2, the Sonic fandom would be a COMPLETELY different place!

[@totallynotmrsinister8705]

Morbius

[@christscrackers647]

So basically, sonic fans perfected sonic, then when sega started releasing shitty sonic games, sonic fans killed sonic, then resurrected him once again by literally directing most of his modern content. Sonic has the most balanced fanbase in all of existence.

[@LucOfLegends]

Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

[@florenmage]

Some fear the cringe. But I was born in it. I BECAME IT!!!... O_O

[@selfsatisfiedred]

blank blank honestly i'd say sonic killed cringe culture

[@LuisBrito-ly1ko]

ChristsCrackers “Shitty” in a very subjective way as most of the games they labeled as garbage are now praised.

[@MusicoftheDamned]

@@LuisBrito-ly1ko Citations are needed please. The majority of things are subjective, but that still doesn't mean "they" are suddenly talking about _Shadow the Hedgehog_ or _Sonic Unleashed_ or _Sonic 2006_ being hidden gems.

[@dabeastfromdaweast9788]

Jesus Christ I wasn't expecting Super Eyepatch Wolf to be a straight up Chad

[@corruptedteka]

For real, he jumped in the video and my actual reaction was " Woah. He's hot." I kid you not I was concentrating on him so hard.

[@NeoMetalSoniclordglitch]

what a chad

[@dabeastfromdaweast9788]

@D Zuke I train MMA too but I can promise you I'm not a chad

[@corruptedteka]

@D Zuke I just found this channel, god, relax. I literally first discovered this channel the same day I wrote these comments. Literally 3 days ago.

[@Kris_AB]

I know and guy's all, "Oh, I look bad, been self-isolating", meanwhile he's a flat-out STUD.

[@Aidenkun64]

Being a Sonic fan is like being in an abusive relationship, one I've been in for over a decade. In the replys, I've seen some genuinely fascinating takes on this concept. If you got any of your own I'd love to hear them. As for my status as a Sonic fan, I'm more of a casual one, I was obsessed with him at age 5 but now I just play the games, enjoy them, and that's as far as it goes for me nowadays.

[@cayden6057]

I compare it to more of an endurance test. The fanbase is heavily divided with arguments igniting on what the best form of Sonic is wherever Sonic is discussed, Sonic Team and SEGA continues to disappoint with mediocre games and a stigma caused by 06 that really hasn't left the franchise, all the while most of your friends are more interested in bigger, better games and the rest of the Internet continues to mock you for even having a passing interest in the games or comics. How much can one take before they give up?

[@googleuser9383]

Sonic fans are the abusers themselves. They beat their wife (sega) and blame her for trying to reinvernt herself. She desperately tries to please the fans in new ways going out of her way to do so. Sonic fans are losers. There I said it. Everything we critizise about Call of Duty or Assassin's Creed Sonic fans get a boner for. Eternally doing the same over and over again. I'd assume most people holding onto sonic are actually holding onto their own childhood because everything after that just went bad.

[@brendancorey7831]

Honestly, as a new person in this relationship (sorta, I owned a secondhand gamegear, with sonic 1 and 2 on it, along with ps2 heroes, and later mega collection. ) I am optimistic. Sure forces was crap, but I at least had fun. Same thing with 06, because it was like a bad movie to me. Sega themselves are being abused by fans. They act like they know what they want, but when they get it... Nothing. Or worse, anger. I love sonic and the stupid stuff it was. I hope that we can get a heroes style game soon. Lighthearted, but fun. I'd take a shadow the hedgehog type game even! Those are fun! Sega just needs to focus on gameplay first, then the aesthetic.

[@sipeb587]

I also remember making weird comics about sonic but thankfully, those weirds comics that came out of my mind where destroyed shortly after in an accident surrounding a match and fire. Srry for my bad english

[@connorp3764]

Sonic is best compared to tacos. The new taco joint comes muscling into your town, beating out the goddamn spaghetti restaurant down the street, obviously using chef Boyardee. Now in this particular town, there were no taco joints up until this point, but tacos were lauded all over the world already, so this was some serious stuff. Everyone flocked the place and soon people all over the world came cause those tacos were just muah. But then, the spaghetti restaurant started using actual tomato sauce. People were eating tacos once a week at this point, so they decided to mix things up. Things started going downhill from there. Sushi restaurant opened, and all eyes turned towards them and business was booming. The taco restaurant was in some serious stuff now. In order to compete with these restaurants, the taco joint decided to add more salsa to their signature dishes. Now-some people love salsa, but others turn noses at the sight, so they started turning their attention to the spaghetti and sushi places. But for a brief period the salsa lovers united in harmony. But then, disaster struck. The sushi and spaghetti restaurants decided to expand their pallets with different cuisine's, and a burger joint was being planned down the road on top of all that. The sushi restaurant then did the unthinkable-they made tacos-with optional salsa. That spelled the end for the taco restaurant. They switched to being a side part for the spaghetti-tex mex and sushi-tex mex restaurants. Then they decided to experiment. They tried olives on tacos-no luck Extreme habenaro hot sauce-nothing Anchovies-definetly not The tacos were bad now. More taco joints moved in now, replacing the old, with the spaghetti, sushi and burger restaurants now basking in victory. Resistance was futile. The taco joint rebranded to make many different foods. But many fans still remember the tacos of the glory days. They still remember and savor the moments. They actively fight with the people who liked the idea of anchovies on tacos for gods sake, only to be obviously disappointed. A civil war is raging, as a broken taco shell lay where a great mexican meal once was.

[@aarondubon8883]

Surprising how you went through this entire video speaking about the weirdness of Sonic's internet fandom, withouth mentioning *You know who* and his/her infamous webcomic. Probably the most iconic fancomic of all time.

[@evilforhire]

Well, you piqued my curiosity, and so i went looking. Man...i wish I hadn't.

[@annamari5738]

​@@evilforhirewhat is it called and why is it so bad?

[@mattshaman668]

@@annamari5738 trust me you will gain nothing from finding it. I solidly respect Eyepatch Wolf's decision not to put them in the video. They're talked about way way too much online as it is (in some circles at least)

[@annamari5738]

@@mattshaman668 jeez atleast could you tell me what happens and why is it so infamous

[@BrendanJSmith]

​@@annamari5738Just look up CWC. Don't say we didn't warn you.

[@strystyl]

Was not expecting the bit at the end where sonic fans eventually made it their life's work to reform and shape the thing they love so much. Nice work.

[@johnseymore4774]

You know what they say. "If you want a job done right..."

[@barrettbirks1058]

the guy who made Ghosts of the future is a Sonic fan, the man that made Sonic's Big Fat Adventure is not and only wants to destroy it

[@zhanehoyle8269]

@@barrettbirks1058 He the reason why we have sonic animated shorts and movie sonic's redesign. Everyone knows Sonic's Big Fat Adventure is a parody.

[@barrettbirks1058]

@@zhanehoyle8269 but that what Sonic is now, it's a parody of itself, I just miss the days when Sonic could take itself seriously and not shame fans for liking it that way

[@zhanehoyle8269]

@@barrettbirks1058 I can see that you've have not mature as a fan. Then again, you have a scourge icon, so that's a dead give away.

[@callumjohn6622]

I'm in this video, somewhere. I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome from an early age. When I reached high school, I gained access to learning support; a special area of the school for disabled students. I spent most of my break times in there, and noticed that a lot of the other pupils liked to draw pictures. Eventually I plucked up the courage to talk to this one girl who was scribbling someone with animal ears and a big fuzzy tail. I was impressed! We got talking and she mentioned that she spent a lot of her time on deviantart. I signed up for an account, and instantly got ensnared in the Sonic fan community. I did it all. Mile-long roleplay threads, writing sappy journal entries, and yes, creating my own original character do not steal (never did any porn though, I was way to much of a conservative prude for that). I participated for many of the reasons mentioned in the video. I played Sonic on the Mega Drive at a point where I was too young to remember it. I spent hours playing the PC port of Sonic Heroes at 3FPS with its awkward-as-hell default layout. I watched a lot of Sonic Flash cartoons. So when I hit my teenage years and learned there were hundreds of other people just like me, and all I had to do to get them interested in me was sacrifice Leonardo and Botecelli on a pike, I couldn't say no! Sonic also has a lot of appeal for the nervous artist; it's simple to remember. You don't need references or a lot of theory to _think_ you can draw him, and for most people, getting started is the hardest part. These days, I look back at this time in horror! Not only in fear of what I created, but also what everyone else created alongside me... but it wasn't all bad! I came out of my shell a little, picked up an interesting hobby that persisted into adulthood, and hopefully learned a thing or two... I like to think my art has gotten a little better since then. And that girl I mentioned? I'm still in contact with her and we're pretty good friends! Funny how these things always seem to work out in the end...

[@mememinimalism]

I also have Asperger's syndrome, and my childhood was also defined by Sonic. Some of my earliest, fondest memories are of me watching Sonic Underground on TV, playing Sonic Mega Collection Plus and Sonic Heroes on the Xbox, playing Sonic Adventure DX and Sonic Heroes on the PC, playing Sonic Unleashed and Sonic and the Black Knight on the Wii, watching Sonic flash animations on Newgrounds (especially Sonic Paradox's, the Super Mario Bros Z series, and Roger van der Weide's Sonic in Minutes series), reading article after article on the Sonic Retro wiki (which, last I checked, was sadly very broken), playing Sonic ROM hacks and trying to make them myself. Through Sonic, I discovered YTP channels like Mr. Pasquale, gaming KZbinrs like the Game Grumps, Peter Knetter, and Radical Soda, and discovered Simple Plan, the second band I ever listened to (after Crush 40). Sonic has defined my life and changed it for the better, and my gratitude to Sonic, Sega, and the Sonic fandom is beyond my ability to express in words.

[@ShadowLibrarian]

A series that has literally seen everything.

[@barrettbirks1058]

you don't even know the half of it

[@prince_nocturne]

@@barrettbirks1058 I do. I've been there since the beginning. o_o I've been in the fur community for over 20 years. I've... I've seen what it's done. My soul is tainted forever. (Though while I discovered it thanks to Sonic, it wasn't why I joined. Blame Freya Crescent from FF9 for that)

[@BlackSalamander439]

@@prince_nocturne Furry 🤮

[@prince_nocturne]

@@BlackSalamander439 As stated, yes. But I'm of the old school. Before it became about porn and... stranger porn. I'm not happy with the current ilk. Not in any way. I'm the old man now, shaking my cane at those kids to get off my subculture's lawn.

[@Willowposting]

@@prince_nocturne I think current day furries are still pretty awesome people regardless of all the weird pornography and drama. Not a furry myself, but a few of my really close friends are and have introduced me to more furries that they hang out with, and for the most part they're amazing people. Never understood the hate for furries personally.

[@Revantaker]

The fact that they introduced Ugly Sonic in the Chip n' Dale movie, add a new layer to Sonic history and its fandom.

[@PeiceofNick]

It definitely dose.

[@vsGoliath96]

Ugly Sonic, Uglier Crimes!

[@PeruvianPotato]

Too bad the film is just seen as yet another case of crossover hell

[@kazimierzliz8280]

It really is awesome how much Sega embraces the Sonic community, from the awesome to the weird, warts and all

[@friendlyastronaut6462]

I know right. They even hold online fan conventions every year that show off stuff the fans create (SAGE 2020). It's insane that SEGA of all companies really embrace there fan culture and let it thrive instead of DMCAing everything that has sonic's name attached to it.

[@sirebellum0]

"How far down the Sonic rabbit hole did you go to make this video?" Super Eyepatch Wolf: "Yes."

[@smort123]

What did it cost? Everything.

[@enaltamar]

Wow guys we have a comedian here, what a killer joke

[@TypetwoAbsolute]

You're inviting in the horde of demons when you say things like sonic rabbit hole

[@Wazzen563]

@@enaltamar Your response has even less value than you think the joke does.

[@Ptmkn]

35 minutes of Sonic and zero mention of Chris-chan. Thank you, that's actually refreshing in this day and age.

[@animejunky100]

thats true i was waiting for a mention of chris chan i was suprised

[@sainoshua-angel]

Probably because most people have moved on from talking about that person.

[@rakshithanand8262]

Chris-Chan isn't really relevant to the mainline sonic fanbase, since Sonichu diverged from any semblance of being connected to the Sonic reality (or indeed, any form of reality at all) shortly after its initial "publication"

[@Kingdom850]

@@rakshithanand8262 But this video went over the entirety of Sonic's history. Chris-Chan was a fan from the very beginning.

[@rakshithanand8262]

@@Kingdom850 a fan perhaps, but he had little impact on the fan culture. People mainly focused on *his* idiosyncratic behaviour and not on Sonichu as a creative project in its own right.

[@RaoulWB]

Besides Evan Stanley, Tyson Hesse and Christian Whitehead, it's nice to mention that Sonic Dreams Collection developer Ben Esposito later became a successful indie developer working on titles like Donut County and Neon White.

[@nostalium]

I swear this guy can talk about a toilet seat and make me shed tears of joy.

[@RockSolitude]

He'd find a way to romanticize it I'm sure. Sometimes a toilet seat is just a toilet seat.

[@nostalium]

@John Waters Porn?

[@Papada00]

Yup. This guy story telling skills is among the highest ever. God tier story telling skills

[@adamwilliams4928]

Before Sonic, Star Trek fanfiction and porn used to be the most talked about. Recently, it was My Little Pony, then Steven Universe... :/ Sonic hate became such an essential part of the internet lexicon, though. Even after 20 years, it's still quite trendy.

[@SonofSethoitae]

@The Legend 27 Returns to KZbin Sonic hate was a thing before 2006

[@imarock.7662]

Sonic is pretty overhated honestly.

[@imarock.7662]

@The Legend 27 Returns to KZbin Nope. If that was true then he wouldn't be receiving so much attention. He wouldn't have gotten anymore games, he wouldn't have gotten a movie, he wouldn't have gotten a collaboration with Gfuel, he wouldn't have so many fan games, and people would've just moved to different franchises. Sonic isn't dead, bruh.

[@imarock.7662]

@I Am Sonichu !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, nope. I already laid out why that isn't the case. He may not be that relevant, but he's far from dead.

[@imarock.7662]

@I Am Sonichu !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spiritually? I dont follow. Did you forget Black Knight? Unleashed? Generations? Mania? Like, c'mon bruh. Lol Like, those games encapsulate his spirit pretty well.

[@Crawmerax101]

When you're faster than light, you can only live in darkness

[@LinkinMark1994]

Fuck dude That's deep

[@josephgotto2572]

Tachyon gang rise up!

[@MatchaTheVibeking]

Big props for going this whole video without mention of chris-chan cuz lord knows there's more than enough content about him in existence.

[@piccolofan24]

Super Eyepatch Wolf Drinking Game: Take a shot every time you hear: Strange Distorted Genuine/ly Bizarre I recommend drinking water.

[@OkamiG15]

Don’t forget “twisted.”

[@simon9902]

Or ''Bombastic''

[@CFood0]

down a whole bottle when he talks about jake

[@RukaGoldheart]

Hydrate bitch!

[@emlmm88]

Be wary of hyponatremia lol.

[@WintherMaw]

Excellent video. I'd like to expand upon the reason why Sonic fans have managed to survive through every poor release: the fact that even at its lowest, this series always had SOMETHING excellent going for it. Sure, one can't help but laugh at the concept for Sonic Unleashed, but the non-werehog stages were the first time that 3D Sonic really WORKED. They were FUN. Everyone who ran through the streets and on the rooftops of Spagonia remembers it to this day. Sonic 06? The most infamous title? Still had an awesome soundtrack. In fact, music is one of the most consistently stellar elements of the series. While the main games still struggled, Sonic Rush blossomed on the Nintendo DS, and many more 2D titles kept the Sega Genesis legacy alive well into the modern era. And so on... Sonic fans made it through and past every poor title by always finding the nuggets of gold hidden in each game and hoping that the next one would take everything its predecessors did right and cram it all into one game. For many, that title eventually turned out to be Sonic Generations. Some are still waiting for it.

[@juliusjohnson8046]

More people need to appreciate the Day stages in Sonic Unleashed. You replace all the werehog stages and you have an awesome game.

[@cybersushi4930]

i made it past the bad titles by just being dissapointed and waiting for a good sonic game, which i hope there will be one again, because the last good one was in 2017, 5 years ago, with sonic mania, and the last good 3d sonic game was sonic generations like, 11 years ago, and that wasn't even fully 3d because half of the levels were classic sonic levels which are 2d, and even the modern sonic levels have a lot of 2d in them, defeating the perpose in having both, if one of the game styles has 2d and 3d in it, and the last good only 3d game was unleashedm which had the boring werehog levels, and the last good 3d sonic game with no bad part that makes me able to say it's not fully good doesn't exist because 3d sonic has been rough, i mean sonic adventure 1 was mostly good, just with the exception of big the cat, which is like 10 minutes long, if you understand the controls, and really boring, and amy rose is not that bad, but it's not great, so basically, sonic good, kinda, idk man, some of 'em are fun, sonic 1 2 and 3 are really good, and mania, and sonic adventure is alright, maybe give them a try, sonic heroes isn't very good, but i don't hate it anymore, maybe play it, sonic generations and mania, you should play them, they're just good, not many problems with them, uh, that's about it, oh yeah, maybe try playing sonic the hedgehog for xbox 360 and playstat-

[@DqveX]

@Fish_Gaming420 facts. ion know why ppl hate the night stages so much but I really liked them. in fact i was playing on the wii version (which is worse lol) and still had a blast

[@grownpotato377]

Sonic is back bois with sonic frontiers

[@CerealExperimentsMizuki]

I remember when Sonic Unleashed was new and cool and now it's just one of the many steps that Sonic took to become 3D.

[@SunnyAznable]

A moment of respect for the HERO that tweeted "I'd F*CK that tiger"

[@BoleDaPole]

Ok furry

[@SunnyAznable]

@@BoleDaPole Boldly stated but consider this, Internet Denizen; -If I am Furry, your statement would not bother me because you’re some random internet goon. -If I am not a Furry, your statement would not bother me because you’re some random internet goon.

[@LS-kr3sh]

@@SunnyAznable what are you trying to say

[@alexisislas-gonzalez5991]

@Yest that means he is one of them. The internet goons not the furry shit

[@lostshade9513]

@@alexisislas-gonzalez5991 This thread has turned to some big clever circle going back, like clever play from a card game

[@tgpsonic]

As a sonic fan, I've cried 3 times during that video, it may seem weird but I think that encapsulates so well how talented you are at making these videos. Really glad I discovered your channel, love what you're doing

[@tjbonnes4936]

In regards to how the people who made all the parodies of Sonic went on to breathe new life into Sonic, This video reminds me of a quote from comedic legend Mel Brooks: "You only spoof the ones you love."

[@DanieleMulas-up7np]

No wonder Sonic is still shit, because these folks only treat it as low-tier meme material or hyper cutesy kiddy trash. Breathe new life my ass.

[@TheJadeFist]

A better example of this was Dragon Ball Z abridged may very well be credited for reviving the Dragon Ball franchise, beyond just a random fighting game every other year.

[@kaseycombs6968]

Daniele Mulas I’m guessing you’ve never read the new comics, then. Spoilers ahead... Eggman gets amnesia, and all the characters debate on whether or not to kill him while they have the chance. Sonic chooses to let him live his new life, but Eggman breaks from the amnesia, goes back to his old ways, and dumps a highly contagious virus around the world. A zombie apocalypse arises from the infections, taking a lot of characters, and as of right now, Sonic doesn’t know if he’s to blame for all the death and destruction. Amazing stuff, highly recommend.

[@DanieleMulas-up7np]

@@TheJadeFist Seriously? If that's the case, no wonder Super is shit.

[@DanieleMulas-up7np]

@@kaseycombs6968 I'm guessing you're too lazy to check other convos, because I KNOW the plot of IDW Sonic, you corporate shill. Eggman gets amnesia.....Completely off screen. The first 6 issues consist of Sonic going on a stupid fetch quest for his friends. Then we get a shittier rehash of Heroes. Then we come to this PATHETIC, tryhard to be dark and edgy zombot apocalypse bullshit. Eggman doesn't break from his amnesia, a flamboyant platypus Snively rip-off snaps him back to the old ways. And we still don't know where the fuck he comes from. Spare me the "death and destruction" crap, we ALL know everyone is gonna be cured and brought back. We KNOW there's gonna be a time skip ignoring the aftermath. And don't bullshit me with *SoNiC dOeSnT kNO wHEtHeR hEs To BlAmE oR NoT* . He spends like TWO panels in one issue. This shit is not great. It's shallow, pretentious, generic, lazy. There's no coherent worldbuilding, the characters are flat, the new characters are uninteresting and useless, this zombot apocalypse bullshit dragged out for way too long than what it was worth. Don't act like this is Black Hawk Down, because it's not. It's pretentious garbage. Worthless printed toilet paper. And looks like most people think the same, because sales are dipping instead of increasing.

[@mossasaur]

I’m glad that the Sonic Team is supportive of its fandom, seeing their comments on fan content like Sonic X reanimated makes me smile so hard :)