An Easter egg in theSonic the Hedgehog 3trailer brings a classic video game character to life in the movies in an unexpected way. The highly-anticipatedSonic the Hedgehog 3’srelease dateis only a few months away, and it will beexciting to see how the franchise continues to dive into the vibrant world of the Sonic video games, introducing iconic characters to movie audiences. Keanu Reeves' Shadow is the most notable takeaway from the new trailer, but he’s certainly not the only character fans will get to see on the big screen.

Themovies see the titular blue hedgehog brought into the real-world, with James Marsden’s Tom being one of the mainSonic the Hedgehogmovie characters. While the previous two installments explored Sonic’s integration into the human world with Tom being a prevalent figure,the upcoming movie seems to be incorporating far more lore elements from the gamesand reducing the real-world side of the story. As the franchise develops, it will likely continue to dive into its unique world-building beyond just references for fans to catch.

Still from the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Includes The Chao As Animatronics

Three Large Chao Can Be Seen In The Trailer

At 2:29 in theSonic the Hedgehog 3trailer, viewers may have noticed three massive Chao standing on a stage. These appear to belarge, animatronic versions of the classic game species, who were first introduced to the franchise in 1998’sSonic Adventure.They were also essential to the Sonic/Shadow dichotomy examined inSonic Adventure 2, which should be the main source of narrative inspiration for the upcoming movie adaptation. Audiences who’ve seen theSonic Xcartoon may also remember the Chao, Cheese, as the companion to Cream the Rabbit.

Chao are small, fairy-like creatures who typically behave like human babies in various iterations of the series. Like most characters in the Sonic franchise, Chao can take various forms. InSonic Adventure 2, players were able to raise Chao as “Hero Chao” or “Dark Chao,” depending on their choices, serving as a representation for Sonic and Shadow, which is likely why they’re appearing in this movie.

Sonic and Shadow from Sonic the Hedgehog 3

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There Could Be More Chao In The Movie Franchise’s Future

If there are animatronic versions of the Chao in this world, it undoubtedly implies that real Chao exist. The trailer snippet is primarily an Easter egg, butit suggests that they exist in some larger capacity for the series to explore further in the future. There are several characters theSonicmovie franchise needs to introduce, and Cream could be a fun way to bring the Chao to the big screen in a fun way. Perhaps there’s room for that in the next installment afterSonic the Hedgehog 3.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.

The Chao garden in Sonic Adventure 2

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