Sonic the Hedgehog: Could This Character Carry A Spinoff Too?

Sonic the Hedgehog has been a massively iconic franchise since the 90s for several reasons. Whatever people say about the quality of his games and shows, Sonic's real success often comes from its beloved characters. The franchise has a near-perfect grasp of classic Saturday Morning Cartoon-level characterization. Sonic's effervescent 90s coolness pairs well with his straightforward allies and enemies. Miles "Tails" Prower is Sonic's most prolific and steadfast supporter, but his decades in the game have done little to grant him a chance to fly solo.

The Sonic the Hedgehog movies wisely sell themselves off the strength of their characters. No movie would have ever gotten away with the nightmarish depiction of the character in the initial trailers, but Sonic's grim portrayal was especially egregious. When Knuckles joined the cast with world-renowned star Idris Elba behind him, fans lost their minds in celebration. The same reaction followed Keanu Reeves' Shadow after the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Characters are the draw for this franchise, and it was wise of Paramount to lean into that.

Tails is underused in the Sonic movies

It's fair to say that Tails gets the least screen time of the animal characters in Sonic the Hedgehog. It would be more fair to say that Tails kind of gets the short end of the stick in nearly all Sonic media. He's a great sidekick, but his presence only works when he's a hanger-on to Sonic's much larger star. This isn't true of every Sonic character. From the days of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Tails was the "little brother" character that most players would consider a consolation prize. He allowed the player to enjoy the game, but the camera only followed Sonic, guaranteeing a distinctly diminished experience. A funnier example comes from Sonic's early 3D era. When Sonic Team started introducing unique theme songs for each character in Sonic Adventure and its sequel, all Tails' songs expressed his desire to live up to the example of his best friend Sonic. Most of Sonic's songs maintain his excellence as a lone wolf who accomplishes everything on his own terms. That mismatch carries through almost every iteration of the franchise. Cartoons, especially Sonic Boom, give Tails occasional opportunities to be funny, capable, and charming on his own terms, but they're the exception to the rule. Tails was the big reveal at the end of the first Sonic the Hedgehog film, but his appearance in the sequel became far less notable as soon as Knuckles appeared.

Knuckles got a standalone spinoff

Knuckles was a limited series that followed the eponymous echidna on a new adventure. It had very little to do with the first two Sonic movies, and though the third entry isn't out yet, it seems reasonable to assume that it won't affect it much either. Knuckles sought to give a spotlight to the second film's breakout character. Idris Elba's presence in the film drew a ton of attention, and his performance did not disappoint. A Knuckles-centric spinoff felt like a no-brainer. He's a fun, charming, and identifiable character with a stellar performer behind him. The show didn't exactly set the world on fire, but it was a long-awaited spotlight for a guy who hasn't led a solo game since Knuckles Chaotix, the 1995 predecessor to Chained Together. Still, there are other characters who could enjoy the same treatment.

Could Tails carry his own show?

The version of Tails who appears in the Sonic movies is both the most accurate adaptation from the games and the one that lacks the most nuance. He's almost everything he was in the early games, but the films never give him more than a moment to communicate his unique personality. A spinoff would be the perfect opportunity to let him spread his metaphorical wings and take to the sky. Tails is a mechanical genius, a dedicated friend, and a little kid. There's more to him than just inventing the things that get Sonic out of a jam. He's always been the second fiddle, and that's the position he's happy in. He's a natural sidekick, and he wouldn't generally strive to be more than that. There's something charming about a character who knows where they want to be and rigorously sticks to that position. Still, removing a character from the place they feel most comfortable in is the starting point of most stories.

The Sonic movies don't make especially complex characters. It's a franchise for children, but the hardcore fanbase loves every talking animal in the cast. Every character is someone's favorite. Tails has the unique traits it would take to carry a spinoff series, but there's no telling whether he'll ever get it. Miles "Tails" Prower is happy by Sonic's side, but a lot of fans would love to see what he can do on his own.