Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s first trailer contains hints that might resolve an unanswered mystery from the original movie. The first film introduced a group of minor villains called the Echidna Tribe, who attacked Sonic and his guardian Longclaw the Owl. The reason for this unexpected assault is never explained. Strangely, the Echidnas are neither seen nor referenced again after the opening scene, but the upcoming sequel has an opportunity to explain the Echidnas’ true intentions.
The first Sonic the Hedgehog movie adapts the plot of the well-known video game series, featuring the eponymous lead character Sonic as he fights the nefarious scientist Dr. Robotnik, joined by his army of deadly machines. The sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, appears to involve even more elements familiarized in the game: the trailer shows Robotnik planning to acquire the Master Emerald, a mystical gem with unprecedented power, and aided by Knuckles, a hot-tempered echidna wielding incredible strength. Sonic and his partner Tails, a mechanically inclined fox, face perilous odds in order to stop Robotnik’s plans.
Throughout the trailer, multiple details point to the possibility that the Echidna Tribe will play a larger role in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. In the original games, Knuckles is the tribe’s sole-surviving descendant, and the Master Emerald is an object so sacred to the tribe that they protect it with their lives. One particular detail in the trailer could be a clue regarding why the Echidnas attacked Longclaw in the first movie. In a brief shot of the Master Emerald’s sanctum, ornate owl-like images can be seen in the background, hinting to the possibility that these images represent Longclaw and suggesting that her past connects her to the Echidnas.
The designs on the sanctum’s walls could imply that Longclaw was a former ally to the Echidnas. Given her compassionate demeanor, it would not be uncharacteristic for her to help their civilization thrive. If this is the case, then the owl-like imagery may have been made by the Echidnas as a sign of reverence toward Longclaw. While this would indicate that the tribe was on friendly terms with Longclaw, it would not be unlikely for them to turn against her, as the Echidna Tribe became obsessed with power in the original games. The wise owl sought to protect all living things, while the Echidnas sought only conquest, creating a schism between the two.
Additionally, the Echidna Tribe’s warlike temperament justifies why Longclaw gave Sonic her portal-summoning Rings. Longclaw gives the Rings to Sonic to use when he is in danger, but also to keep them out of the hands of the Echidnas. The Rings allow users to open up portals that can transport them from one world to another, which would make them invaluable to the tribe’s power-hungry conquests. By sending Sonic to Earth with the Rings, Longclaw ensures that the tribe cannot invade other worlds.
With Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s release still months away, it may be some time before theories regarding the enigmatic Echidnas can be confirmed. Nothing is certain regarding the movie’s future, but the story that has been established so far allows for an abundance of possibilities. Until more information has been revealed, the truth of the Echidna Tribe remains a mystery.
