Warning: this article contains spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 32024 was a very exciting year for movies, and one of the most anticipated releases of the year was Sonic 3's reviews focused on the film's introduction of one of the most iconic characters in the franchise, Shadow.

While Sonic the Hedgehog 3's ending also teases what is coming for Sonic 4, so the differences between the second and third films may indicate how Sonic 4 will switch things up.

Shadow's Prison In Sonic 3 Is Very Different From Sonic 2's Post-Credits Scene

Both Scenes Show A Very Different Prison For The Ultimate Lifeform

After Robotnik is defeated at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, there is a post-credits scene where Commander Walters discusses files with a subordinate that give details on Project Shadow while the camera cuts to Shadow the Hedgehog in some sort of containment unit. However, Prison Island, one of Sonic 3's many video game references, is visually very different, with one of the big differences being that Sonic 2 shows Shadow frozen in ice, while in Sonic 3 he is in a liquid containment unit.

The post-credits scene is also strange in the context of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, because Commander Walters is seemingly learning about where Project Shadow is for the first time, acting surprised that they found files relating to it, when the newest film makes it seem as if Shadow has been in G.U.N captivity since the death of Maria 50 years prior to Sonic 3. Shadow is kept on a small prison island that seems to be entirely dedicated to keeping him secure, but Sonic 2's post-credits scene implies that G.U.N had no idea where he was.

Sonic 3 Retcons Shadow Waking Up In Sonic The Hedgehog 2's Credits

Shadow Is Still Unconscious At The Start Of Sonic 3

Another change from Sonic 2 to Sonic 3 is that, in Sonic 2, Shadow's eyes open and sparkle with energy right as the film ends, obviously implying that the character woke up at that moment, and that the next film will pick up right where the previous ended. However, clearly, that didn't happen, as Sonic the Hedgehog 3 takes place a few years after 2, and Shadow has supposedly been asleep for the last 50 years, and only wakes up when Gerald Robotnik hacks G.U.N's systems and frees him.

Simply relying on the audience's knowledge of what happened at the end of the last movie would probably leave a lot of moviegoers a little lost, at least for the first act.

The reason for this disconnect between the two films is likely simply a desire to generate hype at the end of Sonic 2, but then the filmmakers found that they wanted Shadow to have his own bespoke introduction during the third movie. It makes sense, as Shadow's prison escape is a great scene, though not quite as epic as Sonic 3's final battle, and simply relying on the audience's knowledge of what happened at the end of the last movie would probably leave a lot of moviegoers a little lost, at least for the first act.

Even How Shadow Is Restrained Is Different In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

There Are Very Few Similarities Between The Two Depictions

Sonic 2's post-credits scene shows Shadow on ice, but he is also restrained in multiple ways, with two large restraints around his wrists, two around his legs, and then a large cuff around his stomach keeping him in place. However, in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Shadow is in a G.U.N facility, and there are no restraints keeping him in place, as he is simply floating asleep in a tank. The difference in his conditions is odd, but not entirely unexpected, especially considering the other changes made to his prison.

While the changes seen between the two versions of Shadow's prison are very stark when comparing them directly, in the actual movie, it doesn't come off as a surprise, and fits quite naturally with the spirit of the world and characters that the previous two entries in the Sonic franchise set up. Even Shadow's design is quite fundamentally different when directly compared, but Sonic the Hedgehog 3's major changes to Shadow's introduction still don't take away from how excellent they are.