Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 features a wide collection of exciting Easter eggs, video game references, and more. Featuring Team Sonic as they clash with the “live-action” debut of Shadow the Hedgehog (voiced by Keanu Reeves), the third Sonic movie adapts several elements from the classic games from SEGA, particularly Sonic Adventure 2. To that end, there are several great nods to the 2001 game, alongside many other fun references to the first two Sonic movies, pop culture, and more.
Inspired by Shadow’s first appearance in Sonic Adventure 2 alongside Eggman’s grandfather Gerald Robotnik (Jim Carrey), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 adapts several core elements of the darker hedgehog’s origins, such as his relationship with Maria Robotnik, Gerald’s granddaughter. As such, plenty of exciting game connections can be found in the new Sonic movie alongside more typical references audiences have come to expect from the franchise. With that in mind, here are 35 of the biggest Easter eggs and references we found in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
35
Prison Island
From Sonic Adventure 2
At the beginning of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Shadow is shown waking up from stasis 50 years after he was put to sleep by GUN. As such, Shadow wakes up in a facility on Prison Island off the coast of Tokyo. Prison Island was a location in Sonic Adventure 2 where GUN held Sonic captive.
34
The Lonely Island’s Jorma Taccone
(He Directed An Episode of Knuckles)
Jorma Taccone plays the GUN officer who’d been in charge of watching over Shadow’s stasis chamber. Best known for being a member of the comedy music trio The Lonely Island with Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone also directed the fourth episode of the Knuckles series, which featured the hilarious song “The Flames of Disaster” (starring singer Michael Bolton).
33
Sonic’s Race With Knuckles and Tails
Multiple Game References
Sonic’s race in the forest with Knuckles and Tails features multiple classic game references, such as the ending victory race music when Sonic crosses the finish line and the spinning goal post. The holograms of Knuckles and Tails are also shown tapping their feet, a classic idle character animation from the games.
32
Team Sonic Exiting a GUN Helicopter
The Beginning of Sonic Adventure 2
Recruited by GUN to go after Shadow, Team Sonic jumps out of GUN helicopter before skydiving to the city of Tokyo below. This mirrors the beginning of Sonic Adventure 2 when Sonic is shown escaping GUN by similarly jumping out of a chopper (and using one of its doors as a surfboard).
31
Shadow’s Bike and Gun
References To Shadow’s Solo Game
Driving a motorcycle and firing a pistol at a pursuing Sonic, Shadow makes quite an entrance during his first showdown with the classic blue hedgehog. Likewise, the bike and gun are references to Shadow’s solo game released by SEGA in 2005 (and could serve as an epic spin-off movie).
30
“1.21 Gigawatts”
Back to the Future
Custom Image by Dhruv Sharma.
After Sonic and Shadow’s major clash that temporarily shuts down the city’s power grid, a dazed Sonic is helped by Tails and Knuckles while muttering “1.21 gigawatts…”. This is a reference to Back to the Future, the amount of power needed for the classic DeLorean to travel through time.
29
Chao Gardens
Seen in Multiple Sonic Games
Image via EW
Regrouping, Tails brings the team to Chao Gardens, a popular restaurant in Tokyo featuring the classic fairy-like creatures from the games. In the game (like Sonic Adventure 2), multiple chao gardens are featured as places where the little creatures can be taken and cared for once found.
28
Detective Pikachu
Another Great Video Game Movie
Tails gets mistaken by some kids as Detective Pikachu, much to Knuckles’ amusement. Like the Sonic movies, Detective Pikachu was another successful video game adaptation that blended CG game characters with real-life human actors and environments.
27
Shadow, The Ultimate Life Form
His Classic Name
Meeting with Team Sonic at the restaurant, Commander Walters confirms that Shadow was part of a secret GUN project dating 50 years back when they recovered a meteor containing “The Ultimate Lifeform “. This is Shadow’s classic name from the games and comics, a testament to his impressive powers and abilities.
26
Robotnik’s Spanish Soap Opera
First Seen in The Knuckles Series (Starring Cristo Fernández)
Revealed to be alive and in hiding in a giant robot crab, Jim Carrey’s Eggman is shown overeating and watching a Spanish soap opera entitled “La Ultima Pasión” starring Ted Lasso’s Cristo Fernández in the dual role of rival twin brothers. However, the show itself was first referenced in Knuckles episode 5 when the echidna briefly watches the show in his Reno hotel room.
25
Knuckles’ Fear Of Ghosts
Likely A Reference To Pumpkin Hill
Exploring the abandoned GUN faculty where Shadow lost Maria, Knuckles attempts to deny his fear of ghosts. This could be a reference to Pumpkin Hill, a Knuckles-centric level in Sonic Adventure 2 that did feature a collection of ghosts.
24
Keanu Reeves’ Speed
The Movie That Inspired Keanu’s Shadow Casting
Upon meeting Gerald Robotnik for the first time, Eggman tests his supposed grandfather’s intellect with trivia and equations. One such equation involves dividing the speed of light and time with the speed of the bus from Speed, the 1994 movie starring Keanu Reeves that Sonic watches in secret with Tom and Maddie Wachowski in the first movie. As such, Sonic’s professed love of Keanu in Speed helped motivate his future casting as Shadow for Sonic 3.
23
Robotnik’s Eclipse Cannon
An Incredibly Powerful Superweapon
Jim Carrey’s Gerald reveals to Jim Carrey’s Ivo that he built a massive superweapon for GUN known as The Eclipse Cannon. This is the same superweapon built by Gerald in the games’ continuity and was used by Eggman decades later in Sonic Adventure 2.
22
Ivo and Gerald Robotnik In Eggmanland
First Appeared In Sonic Labyrinth
Spending some quality time together using VR, Ivo and Gerald are shown riding a roller coaster together at “Eggmanland”. Appearing in multiple games, Eggmanland is a classic location that’s a city/theme park hybrid, a robotic utopia in the eyes of Eggman himself.
21
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
A Classic Spy Movie Referenced By The Wachowskis
While planning to break into GUN HQ in London, Team Sonic enlists the help of Tom and Maddie, who are eager for some action. Excited about infiltrating the base, Tom and Maddie refer to themselves as “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, referencing the classic Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spy movie of the same name (which did receive a recent series reboot starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine).
20
Classic Sonic Character Select Screen
During The Heist Planning
As Tails goes over each person’s roles in the heist, a character select screen is briefly shown. It very much resembles the ones seen in the classic Sonic games like Sonic Adventure 2.
19
Shadow’s Revenge Guac
“Guac, Guac, Guac”
While the Robotniks infiltrate GUN HQ, Shadow is forced to wait with Stone who offers him guacamole. Responding that it would be “revenge guac”, this is a reference to the first Sonic movie when Sonic mentions just how weird the word “guac” truly is.
Related
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play
Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s soundtrack includes songs from across decades and genres, including a fan-favorite track pulled directly from the Sonic games.
Posts
18
Cameos From Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Rachel and Randall
Using holographic disguises, Tom and Maddie infiltrate the base as Maddie’s sister Rachel (Natasha Rothwell) and her GUN agent husband Randall Handel (Shemar Moore). Rachel and Randall were both featured in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, celebrating their wedding in Hawaii.
17
“A Classic 90’s Trick”
Blowing On SEGA Cartridges
When Tails’ USB drive doesn’t work, Tom blows on it and puts it back in, solving the issue. Confirming that it’s “a classic 90s trick”, this is undoubtedly a nod to the classic gaming solve of having to blow on old game cartridges when and if they’re initially unresponsive, like those for a SEGA Genesis.
16
Sonic Walks Down Abbey Road
“John, Paul, George, The Other One”
While running to make it through GUN’s temporarily lowered shields, Sonic takes a moment to recreate the classic Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover. However, he does make a subtle dig at the often-forgotten Ringo.