Knuckles has 300 more VFX shots than the first Sonic movie: “It shouldn’t be looked at like it’s this extra thing we did on the side”

Knuckles showrunner Toby Ascher reveals how the Sonic spin-off races past the first movie

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Knucklesshowrunner Toby Ascher has revealed the scale of the upcoming Sonic spin-off – saying it has hundreds more VFX shots than 2020’sSonic the Hedgehog.

“We shot it back-to-back with Sonic 3. It’s the exact same animation quality,” Ascher, who is also a producer on Sonic the Hedgehog 3, tells GamesRadar+.

“It’s actually bigger than Sonic 1 from a VFX standpoint. We have 300 more shots in Knuckles than Sonic 1. It’s a TV show but feels and plays out like a big extra movie.”

Ascher, who says the six-episode Paramount Plus series operates “basically” as “Sonic 2.5” is also at pains to point out that Knuckles isn’t being treated as a stopgap or quick cash grab before the box office main event of Sonic 3 this December.

“If you love what we’re doing with this franchise, this shouldn’t be looked at as something that’s an extra thing that they did on the side and the animation is not that good,” Ascher notes. “We really strove hard to make sure the animation quality on the show is as good as the movie.”

Sonic, infamously, had to quite literally go back to the drawing board in 2019 for a redesign of its main characterafter a major outcry from fans. Now, it seems, lessons have been learned and the animation has stepped up in a major way – which is something Knuckles aims to continue.

Knuckles is premiering on Paramount Plus on April 26 in the US and April 27 in the UK.

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I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

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