The latest trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 offers a deeper dive into the world glimpsed in the first teaser, revealing a surprising connection to the Pokémon franchise. The initial trailer confirmed the inclusion of the Chao Garden, a beloved feature from Sonic Adventure 2, reimagined as a themed restaurant within the Sonic Cinematic Universe. While Chao appear to be fictional characters marketed towards children in this universe, the new trailer reveals that Pokémon seemingly share a similar status.
The trailer opens with Knuckles, still adjusting to life on Earth, expressing his bewilderment at the Chao Garden restaurant. His confusion quickly turns to amusement when two children approach their table. One child inquires if Tails is “Detective Pikachu,” much to Knuckles’ delight. He exclaims that Tails “does look like a Pokemon!”, prompting a less-than-thrilled expression from the two-tailed fox as Knuckles attempts his best Pikachu impression.
Knuckles imitating Pikachu in Sonic the Hedgehog 3
The Detective Pikachu reference is humorous in itself, but the connection between the two franchises adds another layer of amusement. Pokémon: Detective Pikachu held the title of highest-grossing video game adaptation until the first Sonic the Hedgehog film surpassed it shortly after its release in 2020. While likely coincidental, this reference provides an interesting link between the two successful film series.
While Pokémon exist as a pop culture phenomenon in Sonic’s world, the two have crossed paths in video games, most notably in the Super Smash Bros. series. Sonic has battled alongside Pokémon like Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and Mewtwo. Adapting this crossover fighting game franchise to film would be a significant undertaking, but not an impossible one. Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler expressed interest in directing a Super Smash Bros. movie during a 2022 interview, acknowledging the legal hurdles involved in “getting Mario and Sonic in the ring.”
Whether Pikachu and Sonic will ever share the silver screen remains uncertain. However, with the popularity of cinematic universes, the possibility shouldn’t be dismissed. For now, fans must content themselves with video game crossovers and the occasional cinematic nod.
In conclusion, the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer provides a fun and unexpected reference to the Pokémon franchise, highlighting the shared success of both video game adaptations. While a Super Smash Bros. movie remains a distant dream, the potential for future collaborations between these iconic characters continues to spark excitement among fans.
