The Sonic Canon and Does It Matter? | BLUE BLUR

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[@skymario1012]

The 2010s is where they just didn't really care for a timeline anymore and just did their own thing. But now they say that they care for a timeline, and say that there is one. But they haven't established where anything is taking place. They just say that things are cannon to the games, and just call it a day. Saga has said that sonic prime, and the idw comics, are in the same continuity as the games, but they don't establish where or when. So that leads everything to be stuck in this strange limbo, unless saga comes out with an office timeline, instead of just saying everything is cannon.

[@numbug1234]

I know this is a second comment but Rouge being with the gang in Sonic Prime is explained in the 1st episode, where she agrees to a temporary team up to stop Eggman from getting the Paradox Prism. Her being there isn't some gotcha against the show's canonicity.

[@Eris1987]

It is annoying that it is canon still

[@the120cxx]

As someone who is on their 10th iteration of a sonic timeline to take into account recent retcons as of Frontiers and the removal of split timelines (I been at this for a while), I get that it can be frustrating trying to make sense of all these games continuity wise with all the time travel issues, logic to game placements, and those in charge changing their minds so much on how the world even works (don't get me started on power systems and geography, this series never really tries there). All that being said, if we can get something close to what Sega has themselves for the timeline they have but aren't showing us, we just might have that much all figured out at least. Though it would not surprise me if their new lore manager be having as much of a rough time figuring it out as we are. Honestly, I sometimes wonder still if they should reboot the series like I thought a decade ago, they clearly didn't have a long term plan for how the series works beyond a surface level and fans kina just had to assume a lot to fill in the gaps in world building. I get there isn't a planned ending in mind but even something like pokemon has rules and such on how the world works with all the random stories they do that don't build up to some big narrative payoff that ends the story of that world. Can you imagine a version of sonic that establishes how the world is like from the start? From the remnants of many a lost civilization, to the modern world of the humans and animal folk, actually establishing how powers manifest (chaos energy being a big one since it could work as a power source for both technology and magic), there can still be a mystery to how stuff is but have some grounding in how things operate. Probably just wishful thinking on my part I suppose. I don't expect something on the level of most shonen I enjoy at this point (One Piece, Hunter x Hunter, etc.) but with how much sonic borrows from other IP already... it couldn't hurt to try.

[@numbug1234]

I don't know why you're arguing what "makes more sense" for Tails Adventure, when the Japanese manual just straight up says when it takes place (prior to meeting Sonic), and - due to the JP, US, and UK divisions of Sonic all having different continuities before SA1 just made them all use the JP canon - that manual's the only one whose information is relevant in regards to timeline placement. It just sorta comes across as arguing against the direct placement from an official source using conjecture that can't be proven. Afterall, if it's meant to be after Tails has become less timid, then it should be after SA1 despite still using the Classic design - except oops, Colours-Forces made him more timid all over again.

[@Eris1987]

The Encyclo-speed-ia backs this up

[@kenrichgumanid9235]

Continuity of stories told by different writers results in Dissociative Identity Disorder, and reality crumbling.

[@Themasktrooper]

They need to make a timeline to outline every official canon event

[@Eris1987]

Maybe if they make another Encyclo-speed-ia

[@DaveMan1K]

Neither IDW nor Prime were conceptualised as canon, they were just declared so after the fact, hense the inconsistencies.

[@greensoda123]

If IDW isn't supposed to be cannon though, than why is Sega being so restrictive with it? Like if they don't want it to be canon then why restrict the creative team so much with story possibilities. They can't do grand or big adventures or even develop the characters more. Wouldn't that be a possibility if it wasn't supposed to be cannon. The writers have expressed that they really want to tell some bigger stories in that book but Sega just out right says no to them. Like all im saying is why be so restrictive on a project that is not supposed to be cannon to the games. Why not let your creative team use everything you have to their potential if its a none cannon universe. Why not let the team use stuff like the Meterax, Freedom Fighters, Scratch, Grounder, Uncle Chuck or Sonic's family from the manga. Because they're honestly really only going to tell safe and daily life stories after a while. That and why restrict characters like Mighty and Fang to the classic universe if again, the comics' aren't supposed to be cannon.

[@greensoda123]

Also every franchise has its inconsistencies, just because things are inconsistent doesn't mean they're not cannon. Thats just insane honestly. Like so many comic, movie and tv shows have so many inconsistencies and are still canon. Like those original 3 Sonic games literally had a million inconsistencies in their manuals. People act like the Sonic franchise having continuity is such a revolutionary thing when it really isn't. Franchises have been doing that for years its just what you do when you make a series/project. Simpsons may be an episodic comedy cartoon but that series still had continuity in it. Its basic writing 101. giving a franchise continuity just helps it feel more lived in and alive.

[@reggielacey2235]

@@greensoda123 because they are

[@greensoda123]

@@reggielacey2235 exactly

[@DaYapGuy]

​​@@greensoda123They haven't been restricted : that's just the stories they want to tell. Source : Bumblekast.

[@reggielacey2235]

bro the conductor and barry still exists in the universe that doesn't mean they cant appear, hell barry literally starts a new job in murder of sonic and in each panel he shows up hes doing a different job in the comics also....sonic prime ep 1 literally tells why rouge is there, and failed to mention dream team but ok.....also ian flynn stated that the comics would go past frontiers at some point. also prime is after advanced 3

[@Axxidous]

I think Prime best fits between Lost World and Forces.

[@Eris1987]

I'd also assume the comics continue on after Forces due to the tie comic. Would have to be after Unleashed since Orbot and Cubot show up in Prime and SA-55 takes shows up in Unleashed.

[@reggielacey2235]

yes canon matters

[@DaYapGuy]

Hum... Sonic characters don't just exist in their debut game. It applies to some but others have had some involvment before their game.

[@jjkmike6583]

I agree with most of the timeline, but Tails Adventure should've stayed where it was before. It's stated in the JP manual that it takes place before meeting Sonic. Sonic The hedgehog 2 game gear would need to take place somewhere after Sonic 3&K, as Sonic 2 is considered the first time they've met. I'm thinking game gear sonic 2 Takes place before Sonic Chaos.

[@Eris1987]

The Encyclo-speed-ia backs up what you are saying about Tails Adventure. Yeah the Encyclo-speed-ia and Sonic Origins' cutscenes imply Sonic STH2 takes place right after Sonic CD.

[@jjkmike6583]

@@Eris1987 Hopefully we get a more updated Encyclo-speed-ia soon enough. It would be nice to get an official visual Timeline of all the games and different IDW comic arcs.

[@Mike-1911]

I really wish the current Comics where tied so closely with games cause not only you’re limited where the plot goes, but a good amount of characters are excluded like the classic and western created characters

[@Eris1987]

They probably wouldn't be allowed to use Mighty and Ray outside of the Classic comics they make, even though they are acknowledged to still exist. But overall the SATAM characters will like never show up outside of the Spinball easter egg.

[@outoffr4me]

They don't have an actual cannon They just pick and choose what is and isn't cannon for what they're making And then when fans have questions, Sonic Team does one of these two things: 1. Give some bs explanation 2. Just say what fans want (at the time)

[@Eris1987]

I mean STH2 take placing right before STH3&K shows there is a continuity and thus canon, in addition to SA and SA2 referring to the vents of games like STH3&K or the Little Planet. This would mean there was always a canon and it wasn't caused by the fans. Similar to how the Zelda Canon has always intended to be a thing and it wasn't caused by the fans.

[@outoffr4me]

@@Eris1987 what about every. single. time. that it breaks continuity They just seem to pick and choose stuff And then give a shitty explanation Like the SA2 Moon Or the Chaos Emeralds Unleashed cycle that doesn't make sense with Frontiers Or how they change Classic Sonic being from the past or another dimension Or the two planets stuff Or how the characters act in each game They keep changing stuff ALL THE TIME

[@outoffr4me]

@@Eris1987 Zelda Cannon always being a thing is kind of a stretch tho Like, I don't think they really had a cannon in mind with Link to the Past or Orcarina of Time and the GBC games. They seem more disconeted at the time of release

[@Eris1987]

@@outoffr4me SA2 Moon yeah that is a bad excuse but at the same time I am mostly referring to the fact there was a canon to begin with. But it can be mostly disregarded since they have been fixing those weird offhanded things. People have made sense of the Frontiers and Unleashed thing. The Classic Sonic thing was just weird but was fixed by having it where Tails was referring to time as a dimension and that Classic Sonic returned to his own time via a dimensional portal. 2 worlds was a weird thing but it was never said in game and was fixed easily. Final one blame bad executive decisions and bad writers. But keep in mind I am referring to the Classic games and games like SA already having the idea of a continuity in mind and thus a canon.

[@Eris1987]

@@outoffr4me read the manuals of the first 3 Zelda games and they show how they are connected to each other. Second there is a Ocarina of Time interview that mentions it's placement show they were thinking about this stuff back then.