The Bizarre Modern Reality of Sonic the Hedgehog

For the last four weeks I have thought more about Sonic the Hedgehog than any human ever should. Enjoy. (This is a reupload)
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This is an edited version of the original video which ran into youtube trouble for some of its content, you can find the original edit here:
t.co/mGSjuq96gA?amp=1
Lets Fight a Boss Podcast:
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Sound Cloud: / letsfightaboss
KZbin: / @letsfightaboss
Other Super Eyepatch Wolf stuff
Instagram: / super_eyepatch_wolf
Twitter: / eyepatchwolf
Links:
Sprite Animations:
Sonic Final Fantasy - www.newgrounds.com/portal/vie...
Super Mario Bros Z - • Super Mario Bros. Z (O...
Fan Comics:
Hangin Out - www.deviantart.com/hydroxianc...
Ghosts of the Future - www.deviantart.com/evanstanle...
Sonic Skyline - www.deviantart.com/drawloverlala
Sonics Big Fat Adventure - t.co/Vm9L7BZP1K?amp=1
Tails Gets Trolled - www.tailsgetstrolled.org/
Fan Games
Sonic Smackdown - sonicfangameshq.com/forums/sh...
Sonic Utopia - sonicfangameshq.com/forums/sh...
Sonic Dreams Collection - sonic-dreams-collection.en.so...
Animations
Sonic Mania fan animation collab - • Sonic Mania - Settin' ...
Sonic Vs Sanic - • Sonic vs Sanic
Movies:
The Hedgehog - vimeo.com/117371025
Adult stuff
- I have a feeling linking any adult stuff here would get the video demonetized/ potentially be illegal, so just search the characters name in the search engine shown in the video.
Sources:
Gametap Sonic Retrospective:
• Sonic the Hedgehog - G...
www.polygon.com/2016/2/8/1075...
www.polygon.com/2019/3/6/1825...
www.theverge.com/2019/5/2/185...
nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/...
www.destructoid.com/sega-give...
ottawacitizen.com/life/life-s...
www.usgamer.net/articles/soni...
kotaku.com/a-look-inside-the-...
Song List:
imgur.com/a/osObB2n

[@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

[@sirenskin5304]

@@jexim_kymaria OoF thanks for the correction

[@jexim_kymaria]

@@sirenskin5304 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

[@DUXLOL]

He was right though

[@Skokapus]

also he was being ironic but that doesn’t matter

[@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

[@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]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@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

[@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.

[@jugginfinnese]

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

[@ViiZedek]

@@jugginfinnese 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

[@ThatPhantomGuy0408]

@@ViiZedekSério? Você dublou o Tails?

[@ViiZedek]

@@ThatPhantomGuy0408nos filmes, sim

[@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?

[@Bismuguy]

PLEASE DO IT

[@mitchmarq428]

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

[@mikeoxmall69420]

@@mitchmarq428 among loss

[@mlemx3]

oh god xd

[@clonetrooper2003]

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

[@cameronjadewallace]

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

[@nocturnaliism]

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

[@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

[@hgyuuuuhj098]

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

[@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

[@sukidable]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@michaellooks8397]

*middle school intensifies

[@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.

[@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

[@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...😏

[@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...👀

[@localvaultcompanion3516]

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."

[@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.

[@daisyaustin6723]

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

[@justanotherchannelwithauno7580]

And also like a Mario romhack

[@auraemerald8434]

*Stop*

[@v.k.rt.m.6030]

@@auraemerald8434 yes. Along with the Sonic Praise

[@MoostachedSaiyanPrince]

Or an attitude filled mascot knockoff of Sonic by one of Sega's 90's competitors/imitators.

[@3ftninja132]

*SILENCE*

[@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:

[@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!

[@zoeystauber9801]

The story of Jake & MC is a cinematic masterpiece

[@clonetrooper2003]

Infinitely better written than MCU phase 4

[@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?

[@IMRamos-ul8ms]

@@yeahthatsright33 check the description

[@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!

[@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.

[@sophialillian8508]

31:56. "It's their willingness to embrace their own fan culture." So, the complete opposite of Nintendo.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@yeghyasahbaz1570]

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

[@Skooter-ko1yj]

My thoughts exactly

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@barletproductions]

Anyone wanting an update, the lad is doing so much better now, going on 3 movies, frontiers breaking the internet, and a mobile game that has done the same with a roblox game that has been a great hit, as people said, sonic has his rise and is back baby!

[@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

[@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.

[@5192aaron]

Wolf: *Listing off characters with 90s Rebellious Attitudes* Me: ...are you making some of these up...

[@ClassikSprites]

29:27 You call it a: "gargled nightmarish version of green hill zone theme" I call it the: "angelic screech"

[@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

[@ethikore1131]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@tobios89p13]

29:23 a sonic "Fan game"😂😂 This is just garrys mod with addons.

[@ItsSkylah]

It's funny how he described nextbots like it's this scary thing.

[@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.

[@Lunacorva]

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

[@WhatDillionYT]

especially fnaf and godzilla

[@cerouluxray6394]

One thing that I do appreciate about Sega over Nintendo is the fact that Sega has respect for its fanbase where Nintendo doesn't. You'll find quality fan games and art made in both fanbases. Here we see that Sega not only appreciates the love the fans show (even on their Twitter page, throwing shade at Nintendo with the post shown), but they can recognize missteps and even hire the best of the community to work on their projects. Nintendo, however, has done the inverse, and have even taken to attacking fan artists with C&D orders. Honestly, I really wish Sega had won the console war with Nintendo at this point.

[@chubomikz7104]

Fan works being the reason for something being relevant (because if they didn't let them exist, what would they have besides their own mediocre output?) rather than its own merits, is *a* hill to die on, I guess.

[@cerouluxray6394]

@@chubomikz7104 Well, (just like Disney and their subsidiaries) if they can't learn to treat the fans with respect, then they will fade from relevance and crash. Without respect, we reject.

[@fatalfury28]

Back here after years and to this day I believe this was the greatest marketing strategy they've done, amassing so much audience due to the bad design but then revealing the true design after

[@MelonTeee]

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

[@pokuhmoo9415]

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

[@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

[@yotchki1469]

This is fantastic. The post-credit almost made me cry! Super-hyped to have discovered your videos

[@mckennanichols5050]

Its interesting how both Sonic and Garfield went through a phase of groundbreaking popularity, fall from grace and are now weirdly perverted versions of themselves

[@SunnyAznable]

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

[@KrolKaz]

Ok furry

[@SunnyAznable]

@@KrolKaz 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

[@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.

[@theplebe6342]

Eyepatch. How did you make this video without once mentioning Sonichu?

[@aidanmatthewgalea7761]

because the creator of that hellspawn is he, sorry... the bitch who shall not be named

[@ilikefood6512]

beacuse he'd need to do a whole nother video to to talk about it

[@Luca_Gamer-sb2xm]

I began to think about the “Sonic Vs. Sanic” video… it began to represent something to me! The idea of Sonic trying to fight against what he was becoming. Wanting to be good again! But he’ll never fully be great again… I noticed that in the clips that were shown, Sonic and Sanic had health bars. But, Sonic kept losing health. While Sanic never did. Showing the hopelessness of Sonic’s efforts to fight what awaits. No matter what he does… he’ll never be as good as he was. The golden days are gone… now he’s left with the aftermath

[@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.

[@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.

[@kneecaps3892]

I never knew that the iconic "your actions have consequences" meme came from a sonic rant 💀

[@GRaVITY2DX]

I don't know how I am just catching this video 2 years later but holy shit this was phenomenal .

[@sachizumi957]

Agreed

[@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

[@Exhithronous]

Sad fact. In Sonic Underground, "they made a vow their mother will be found". When it was cancelled. The mother never was found.

[@samuelvilz]

Thank you for going through the work of making this video. What a wild ride... And I love how you made it go full circle in the end 😊

[@ginaweaver4119]

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

[@wafflekingdor5376]

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

[@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.

[@pkmntrainerred4247]

Great vid, really summed up how Sonic's image was distorted, But It's surprising you didn't talk about Sonic.exe and Chris Chan

[@charli8815]

I wonder how many times I've watched this video now. It was my first video from you, and still one of my favorites. Regularly put in in the background for me. I hope you make more like this soon. The Garfield one is another favorite of mine.

[@rinna6575]

Tails Gets Trolled feels like it started out as ironic but then gradually became unironic.

[@davidhong1934]

Maybe it was ironically unironic

[@friendmaker9210]

It was unironic the whole time, the author actually just became better and better as time went on.

[@culturehub2628]

@@friendmaker9210 kinda wholesome in a way

[@barbershopbible]

Jake: Deepest character arc in media

[@TsumiMegami]

This video got me through waves of emotions Wow Having grown up loving sonic so much he was my idol as a 7 year old Seeing people grow up to be able to basically live that dream of being able to live in the sonic world by making it and giving it life It really brought me to tears

[@coyotix]

Evan Stanley's story always makes me tear up. We watch her art style grow through GOTF, up until her hiatus- which she's been taking because she's one of the main authors and artists in the official Sonic comics published under IDW.

[@Crawmerax101]

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

[@LinkinMark1994]

Fuck dude That's deep

[@josephgotto2572]

Tachyon gang rise up!

[@worldcomicsreview354]

I had Sonic OC's in 1994! Only one I remember was FX The Fox, who was Fang with scars on his face, because that's hard and cool. I even jokingly made a "Sanic", my brother and I were doing deliberately bad drawings to amuse ourselves, and one was just a stick figure with spikes on the back.

[@johanhernandez4870]

That end credit scene really hit the feels. You got a new subscriber bro. Your videos are awesome.

[@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)

[@generalfishcake]

Super handsome guy: "Don't comment how I look like sh*t"

[@stevencates2069]

Anxiety is a bitch.

[@controllerfreak78]

London England I’d draw furry porn of him that’s for sure

[@AzureKnight2]

For sure. I've dropped 10 pounds and started exercising again during quarantine, and dude looks way better than I do. Dude looks better than I could make myself look in year.

[@bluehornet632]

Why is this thick healthy snack telling me it does not look good???

[@Madhattersinjeans]

@@AzureKnight2 I hope you find your money soon. good luck

[@sahasra_loveyourself_]

I love the video, you narrated it so well!! The editing and animations were also great 💗💗

[@Pengu69420]

I loved Sonic so much as a kid and I was born in 99 so kinda late for it too. But the design, edge, etc was everything to me. Sonic was even the "little dude that run along the car" during trips.

[@alexandrecampos1391]

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

[@freddy2nt]

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.

[@freddy2nt]

@John Waters Porn?

[@Papada00]

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

[@spacebread9334]

i love how jake calls gmod a fan game XD

[@SwissestCheese]

Technically it’s a half-life fan mod so it’s kinda correct

[@spacebread9334]

@@SwissestCheese well he was talking abt sonic fan games but i guess

[@shaldurprime7154]

18:23 ive seen that upper right panel before, it was a pretty common reaction image during the dawn of memes

[@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

[@deedelta9263]

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

[@WhiteThunder121]

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

[@Wellepay]

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

[@hallsyall]

oh my gosh the mention of hanging out made me so happy!! as a newer sonic fan it's one of my favorite pieces of fan content so it's cool hearing it mentioned here :D!!

[@user-ux7sq2ft2t]

Man, this is my second video I watched from this channel, and I realized that all the videos have a lot of life lessons. All with weird plots and I kinda love it. The first one I watched was the hour long Garfield video with the story of what the internet did to him, and now I've watched this video about sonic. Now that I've seen these videos...I've been left with a lot of inspiration...and a lot of realization....I love how these videos made me feel...I hope to see more stuff like these. (Also sorry about that, I just wanted to get that off my chest 😅. These videos are just fun and inspiring. Keep doing your thing Super Eyepatch Wolf. ❤)

[@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

[@beeperonithe2nd73]

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

[@1Gengar]

@@beeperonithe2nd73 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]

@@beeperonithe2nd73 oh hey i just found out you can actually put folders in folder folders so i started doing that

[@alvr3461]

@@1Gengar good to know.

[@Azzabackam]

"safe and inviting world of Super Mario" Where bombs can walk.

[@superchargethereal]

For real tho 😂

[@arthas640]

also where bowser tells his son that his mother is actually the woman he keeps locked in the dungeon and Luigi has to hunt down the ghosts of a bunch of dead people that are trapped in a mansion.

[@Jeff4theRaid]

Just check out the super Mario brothers super show

[@nikeneon3188]

Don't forgot about giant bullets that's like 10 times bigger than people

[@Unoriginality_Incarnate_stupid]

And where Mario can breath underwater forever while shooting fireballs

[@tgpsonic4821]

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

[@RicePalm]

Rewatching this a year later, your transformation has been insane, props to you

[@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.

[@STBill]

Googles "Bill the hedgehog." OMFG...

[@emeraldskeleton2540]

Son: Phoenix the hedgefox hahaha!!😂

[@the_black_fox9136]

I googled my name in front of the hedgehog, and I was concerned.

[@ballpitwater]

@@the_black_fox9136Me too, the colors were really, REALLY bad

[@the_black_fox9136]

@@ballpitwater Huh.

[@hirokimura1316]

Holy shit, they got my name.