The Sonic OVA: Strange Isn't It

 I'm not gonna lie, I was kinda stumped on what to write about this time around. A lot of bullshit is really hampering the processes. So, I was thinking about doing something with TV and Movies again. Initially, I was going to go in a much different direction focusing on media literacy, but I have decided to talk about the Sonic OVA instead, or Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie for US people and others who had this cut. One of the big reasons I have decided to go in this direction is the appreciation for this early take on the Blue Blur. There is so much personality and characterization that I feel many adaptations of Sonic seem to lack. 

It's a version of Sonic that is absolutely indicative of the time and culture. So, I find it funny that the OVA was produced at Studio Pierrot, known for Naruto and Bleach, and not Toei Animation, known for Dragon Ball and One Piece. Given the obvious relation to Dragon Ball in general and how the OVA is reminiscent of the Sonic CD animations that were produced by Toei Animation. But I'm not complaining. Studio Pierrot gave Sonic fans something to grow up with and be inspired by. 

There are a myriad of aspects that make the Sonic OVA stand out among the crowd. You have the phenomenal soundtrack composed by Mitsuhiro Tada to the amazing environmental design for the Land of the Sky as well as the Land of Darkness. It just reminds me of how pretty and melancholic older animation would look. Especially when the audience typically would have been younger kids or teenagers. The audience was allowed to feel a little unsettled.

Not to mention that another main highlight of the Sonic OVA is the antagonist, Metal Sonic. A character that fully embodies everything Sonic is. From his appearance, to even his personality at times. But what makes him stand out, is that coldness. Metal Sonic shows up and is immediately an obstacle. He knows everything that Sonic is going to do, and Sonic knows everything he is going to do. Strange, isn't it?

So, to me, there has never been a better onscreen effort for the character. Not even Metal Sonic's grandiose return as the Metal Overlord could compare to this outing. And the main difference for me is that emotional connection. The Metal Sonic in the OVA vs the Metal Overlord is like comparing apples to oranges. They are just too different in terms of motivation and connection to their fleshy counterpart.

Metal Overlord wants revenge, plain and simple. He's upset at losing and playing second fiddle to Sonic. And so his goal is to take him and his friends out by luring them in with the threat of world domination via an Eggman robot that he created to really sell the Heroes on the facade. While Sonic Heroes has a myriad of other issues going on, the bland story really didn't help it. To follow up the bat-shit craziness of Sonic Adventure 2 with Sonic Heroes felt underwhelming in retrospect. So, you end up with a Metal Overlord who is barely present in a game where he is the main antagonist. 

Does that immediately vault OVA Metal Sonic to the top? No, what puts OVA Metal Sonic over Metal Overlord and other incarnations of the character is that connection to OVA Sonic. They are having the same thoughts and sometimes the same actions. They are not only identical in a mental sense, they are virtually the same person. This particular detail adds a trait that is often found in other forms of media involving Robots, Androids, and the like. That trait is Metal Sonic eventually learning to express emotions or humanity in a sense, empathy if you will. 

These feelings allow for him to do what Sonic would do. That means putting his life on the line for the greater good. Because while Sonic values freedom above most things, he is still willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good and well-being of others. And this is a core aspect behind the character that should be fundamental when designing stories for him. To have Metal Sonic perform this aspect of the character shows that he is indeed him. Right down to the cold, calculating optic devices. 

Now, I think that I have talked enough about Metal Sonic. So, let's return to some of the other important aspects that make the Sonic OVA special. The first one that I want to discuss is the world. The Land of the Sky is this beautiful, serene setting that I think about constantly. It reminds me of an eternal summer. The way that the water glistens and reflects  the world around it. It reminds me of a time where animators and artists had to hand-draw and paint these works. Not to say that there is something wrong with digital, but the essence and palettes are just too different. 

Anime and animation in general are missing that scrappiness. The perfect look can be all too jarring at times. But not every studio falls into this trap. I still see this kind of uniqueness constantly from Science Saru for example. All of the projects from that studio have a flare to them that I wish was present in others. Sadly, the issue is not that creativity is stagnant elsewhere. It's the conditions. The animators and other artists are not allowed this kind of freedom. And that is quite tragic. Considering that we aren't allowed more fun adaptations like how they used to. But even then, some works really suffered from people just being given the keys and going off in their own direction. Ultimately, it boils down to having the perfect storm. 

That perfect storm was definitely formed with this soundtrack. The composer Mitsuhiro Tada really nailed the sounds of Sonic and his world. Everything feels natural. It gets in your head and you can't stop thinking about it. One of my favorites is the track, Rushing to Eggmanland. It starts playing after Sonic and Tails crash the Tornado (Tail's Bi-Plane) in the Land of Darkness. So, you get a fairly long sequence of Sonic and Tails running through traps and enemies in a foresty area that feels like it's straight out of the games. And I would argue that the whole soundtrack feels like this. The music evokes so much of that Sega charm. It is quite remarkable really. 

Yet, I cannot end the music talk without mentioning the theme song for the OVA itself. Look-A-Like performed by Riyu Konaka is an absolutely, phenomenal piece of music. I would place this above most Sonic songs for the sole reason that it rips. There was no reason for the song to be this good, but it is. Given how goofy the lyrics can be, it is remarkable how much the arrangement and vocals are able to form this tour de force. Even if you never watch the Sonic OVA, listening to the music is such an experience. I just wish that Sega cared enough to utilize it in other media. It deserves the same acclaim that other Sonic music has gotten. 

However, the Sonic OVA is not this perfect piece of art. There are clear pacing issues in the story. This makes sense because they only had two 27 minute episodes to make something. That's just how it be sometimes. And I would say that the English Dub version leaves some things to be desired. Some awkward line deliveries and timings bog it down a bit, but not enough for it to be a constant issue. So, despite these issues, the OVA stands above and beyond many of its cohorts. It does not overstay its welcome or waste your time. In fact, I think it needed a bit more time to fully flesh out some of the kinks. 

But that is the charm of the Sonic OVA. A unique piece of Sonic and video game media from a well-known studio that stands the test of time. I still enjoy watching it after all these years. An easily quotable piece that lives in the heads of fans. I hope that Sonic will get more things like this. It's been a while and it seems that Shadow is helping to increase the popularity of the franchise. So, the future is bright for the Blue Blur. Maybe even Metal Sonic can make his return as something more than the child of Eggman. But for now, he is just a Look-A-Like. 

And remember to Free Palestine, Free Congo, Free Sudan, Free Venezuela and to Free Lebanon from the onslaught of their oppressors. Never stop talking about them. They think that we don't care, but we see everything. Never forget that. They are trying to suppress our voices because they matter, remember that.