Sonic 3 Director Jeff Fowler Celebrates 20 Years of Shadow the Hedgehog

In a latest X submit, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 director Jeff Fowler commemorated his 20-year historical past with Shadow the Hedgehog, noting that “one in every of my first jobs within the VFX industry was animating this wonderful character” for 2005 standalone online game Shadow the Hedgehog.

Certainly one of my first jobs within the VFX business was animating this wonderful character for his first #SEGA standalone online game. Twenty years later, I couldn’t really feel extra HONORED to carry SHADOW to the massive display in #SonicMovie3 ❤️🙏🖤 pic.twitter.com/VnkLP1cPKQ

— Jeff Fowler (@fowltown) August 27, 2024

Voiced by Keanu Reeves within the upcoming film, the weird failed navy experiment-turned-antihero Shadow the Hedgehog is a favourite among the many notoriously obsessed followers of the franchise. Even for those who’re lower than the minute on the intricacies of the long-running multimedia sequence, you will have seen the viral clip of the rapturous applause Shadow obtained upon his tease on the finish of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. After meals, air, water, and shelter, it appears Shadow the Hedgehog has overtaken sleep, well being, and security on the pyramid of human wants.

For Fowler—who additionally directed the earlier two entries within the franchise—the prospect to lastly introduce the character to his live-action movie franchise should both really feel like coming house once more or strolling over his personal grave. Earlier than his work on the Shadow the Hedgehog online game, Fowler was nominated for an Academy Award for his 2004 quick movie Gopher Broke. Afterward, the animator was employed for “analysis and growth” work on Spike Jonze’s movie adaptation of The place the Wild Issues Are, however by no means obtained the chance to direct a characteristic till 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog.

For higher or worse, it appears Sonic and his supporting forged have largely outlined the animator’s profession up this level; this consists of his work on Paramount+ spin-off sequence Knuckles. The place the powers that be will information Fowler—who has lengthy been connected to direct a live-action/CGI hybrid remake of The Pink Panther—from right here stays to be seen.

The synopsis of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as reported in Deadline: “Within the third movie based mostly on the Sega video video games, Sonic reunites with buddies Knuckles (Idris Eba) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) towards a robust new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers in contrast to something they’ve confronted earlier than. With their skills outmatched in each method, Workforce Sonic should hunt down an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and defending the planet.”

The remainder of the forged consists of Ben Schwartz as Sonic and Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik, in addition to James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Adam Pally, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Krysten Ritter, Cristo Fernández, Jorma Taccone, Alyla Browne, James Wolk, and Sofia Pernas.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is scheduled to launch this December 20.

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