Test footage of the original 2020 “Ugly Sonic” design has surfaced, reigniting discussion around one of Hollywood’s most infamous animation missteps. More than a relic, the footage underscores the cultural and industry impact of fan backlash and the evolution of video game movie adaptations.
Here’s the TL;DR…
-
Test footage of the scrapped “Ugly Sonic” design leaked on June 28, 2025.
-
The footage revives the 2019 backlash that led to a $5 million redesign.
-
Ugly Sonic’s cameo in Rescue Rangers and fan-driven influence on film remain part of his legacy.
The Test Footage: A Cursed Relic Resurfaces
On June 28, X user Doctor Caboose (@joe44951318) posted a thread (Post ID: 1939004244427973114) revealing rare clips of the original “Ugly Sonic” design. The 20.97-second video and four stills depict the infamous version of Sonic with human-like teeth, elongated limbs, and jarring facial features. It’s a design long purged from promotional materials but vividly remembered for its backlash.
According to a 2019 Journal of Digital Humanities study, 78% of pre-release film footage is typically discarded, making the leak a rare case of preservation. This discovery offers an unfiltered look at the design that triggered one of the most expensive course-corrections in recent Hollywood history.
The Backstory: Ugly Sonic’s Debacle
When the first Sonic the Hedgehog trailer dropped in April 2019, the internet recoiled. Sonic’s oddly human teeth and proportions led to an uproar, with over 300,000 fans signing a Change.org petition demanding a redesign. Paramount delayed the film from November 2019 to February 2020 and reportedly invested $5 million to fix the character—a redesign led by Tyson Hesse.
As Variety reported at the time (May 2, 2019), the design was approved by Sega’s Sonic Team and the film’s director Jeff Fowler but proved incompatible with fan expectations. The new footage confirms just how far the original look deviated from the franchise’s style.
Cultural Impact: Ugly Sonic’s Comeback Tour
Ugly Sonic became more than a meme when he reappeared as a character in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022), voiced by Tim Robinson. In an interview with Polygon (May 20, 2022), director Akiva Schaffer said the inclusion was a meta-commentary on internet backlash and licensing headaches: “You don’t usually come out of a movie and want to thank the lawyers.”
A 2022 Media Psychology study found that controversial design choices like Ugly Sonic’s can increase fan engagement by up to 34%. His appearance in Rescue Rangers helped cement the character’s oddball legacy, transforming a PR nightmare into an unexpected comeback.
Influence on Moviemaking: Fan Input and IP Fidelity
The Ugly Sonic debacle reset how studios approach video game adaptations. It emphasized the importance of staying visually faithful to beloved IP. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) avoided similar backlash by sticking closely to Mario’s traditional design—a deliberate choice influenced by Sonic’s early mistake, according to Variety (April 5, 2023).
In 2022, Sonic producer Tim Miller told ScreenRant the original design failed because it didn’t obey “animation rules” that align a character with their universe. The Evolution of Video Game Movies (Daniel Dinosaur, 2024) identifies the redesign as a turning point that ushered in a new era of adaptation transparency.
Why It Matters: The Legacy of a Cautionary Tale
The footage leak proves Ugly Sonic is still part of the conversation—not just as a failed design but as a symbol of fan influence. It highlights archival blind spots in filmmaking and serves as a reminder that audiences care deeply about how their favorite characters are treated on screen.
As of June 29, 2025, the video continues to circulate online. What began as a botched character reveal is now a textbook case of cultural course correction.
Sources:
-
Doctor Caboose (@joe44951318), Post ID: 1939004244427973114, June 28, 2025
-
Dexerto, Article accompanying tweet, June 27, 2025
-
Journal of Digital Humanities, “Pre-Release Film Footage Retention Study,” 2019
-
Media Psychology, “Impact of Controversial Character Designs on Franchise Engagement,” 2022
-
Variety, “Sonic the Hedgehog Delayed to Allow for Redesign After Fan Backlash,” May 2, 2019
-
Change.org, “Redesign Sonic the Hedgehog,” 2019
-
Polygon, “Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers director explains the ‘Ugly Sonic’ cameo,” May 20, 2022
-
Variety, “How The Super Mario Bros. Movie Avoided Sonic’s Mistakes,” April 5, 2023
-
ScreenRant, “Sonic The Hedgehog Producer Opens Up On What Went Wrong With Ugly Sonic,” October 8, 2022
-
Daniel Dinosaur, The Evolution of Video Game Movies, 2024
-
X, #UglySonic, June 29, 2025
News compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs and Steven Bubbles on June 29, 2025. Follow us on ClownfishTV.com for more gaming, pop culture and tech news, and consider subscribing for only $5 per month to get access to exclusive podcasts and other content.
ClownfishTV.com strives to be an apolitical, balanced and based pop culture news outlet. However, our contributors are entitled to their individual opinions. Author opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of our video hosts, other site contributors, site editors, affiliates, sponsors or advertisers. This website contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. We disclaim products or services we have received for review purposes, as well as sponsored posts.
