The following contains spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, now playing in theatersSonic the Hedgehog 3's cast of characters are given more depth and evolution than one would expect.

This is even true to the film's other main villain, Gerald Robotnik. Despite having a surface-level basic villain plan, Gerald's emotional motivations play into the film's overarching themes about grief, love, and growth, It's a very effective way to play with the film's emotional arcs, and helps give the story a sense of natural finality even while the ending leaves the door open for more Sonic the Hedgehog sequels and expansion of the franchise.

Do Shadow & Robotnik Die In Sonic The Hedgehog 3's Ending?

Shadow May Return, But This May Be The End Of Robotnik

The ending of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a deceptively meaningful one, with Shadow and Dr. Ivo Robotnik seemingly sacrificing their lives to save the world. For much of the film, Shadow and Robotnik follow the goals of Gerald Robotnik to enact revenge on GUN for their previous actions fifty years ago. This leads to the launching of the Eclipse Cannon, a space station capable of unleashing a laser blast that could wipe out all life on Earth. Both Shadow and Robotnik ultimately decide to protect the world, even if it means they can't escape the space station before it explodes.

While Shadow will likely return in future entries of the franchise, this seems like a natural endpoint for Robotnik.

While the post-credits' scene teases Shadow's survival, there's no indication that Robotnik could have escaped the explosion that consumed the station. In fact, Robotnik's final scene sees him stream a message to Earth where he apologizes to Agent Stone and calls him a friend. This gives the scene a sense of finality and underscores the themes of the film about the bonds people form, all while giving the goofy villain a surprisingly endearing heroic moment to go out on. While Shadow will likely return in future entries of the franchise, this seems like a natural endpoint for Robotnik.

Gerald Robotnik's Plan & Death In Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Explained

Gerald Wants To Bring Down The World At Large, Even If He Has To Die With It

Gerald Robotnik is Ivo's grandfather and the chief scientist who was researching Shadow when he first arrived on Earth half a century before the events of the film. While the full scope of Geralds' intentions at the time were left unclear, his rage over the death of his granddaughter Maria drove him to spend fifty years plotting his revenge. After giving GUN the designs for the Eclipse Cannon, Gerald was able to escape their confinement. His mission is to wipe out humanity as revenge for Maria's death, with the Eclipse Cannon prepared to wipe out Earth as well as himself.

Jim Carrey plays both Ivo Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik.

Gerald's rage at the world reflects the central theme of the film about grief. While Sonic is able to overcome his pain and Shadow eventually follows suit, Gerald is too consumed with anger and loss over the death of Maria. This leads him to commit atrocious acts, even actively trying to murder his other grandchild. This makes his sudden death after being flung into the Chaos Energy generated by Shadow far less tragic than it could have been otherwise. Gerald's plan is malicious and world-ending, but stems from a genuine emotional turn, giving the character more depth.

Why Dr. Robotnik Turns On Gerald In Sonic 3's Ending

How Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Gives Dr. Robotnik A Heroic Turn

Dr. Ivo Robotnik has been the overarching villain of the Sonic the Hedgehog films, and that carries on to a certain amount of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Despite briefly working with Sonic, Ivo is quick to side with Gerald when he realizes their family connection. The film leans hard into Ivo as an isolated and tragic character. Despite his goofy exterior and over-the-top villainous impulses, Ivo is shown to be a lonely man who grew up without friends or family. Even Sonic its pity for him at one point, wondering what Ivo could have been like if he had connections.

Ivo's decision to turn on Gerald in Sonic the Hedgehog 3's ending stems from a mix of those two aspects of the character. While he's content to take over the world with the space laser, he balks at the idea of actually wiping out humanity. Gerald insults his grandson, saying his only true family died with Maria. Ivo betrays Gerald out of anger over his grandfather's treatment of him, but the moment also highlights an unexpected element of nobility to the character that turns the tide of the climax.

What Really Happened To Maria & How She Died

Maria's Death Is One Of The Story's Biggest Emotional Reveals

The death of Maria before the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 serves as the impetus for Gerald and Shadow's rage, laying the seeds for the film's central conflict. Maria is introduced in the film and established through Shadow's many flashbacks, revealing the bond the pair formed while he was under observation and experimentation from GUN. However, after Gerald warned the pair that GUN intended to take Shadow away, their attempts to escape were thwarted by GUN soldiers. An errant shot set off a container of Chaos Energy, and Maria was killed in the resulting explosion.

Maria Robotnik is played by Alyla Browne, who previously appeared in Furiousa: A Mad Max Saga.

Maria's death is the key dramatic beat in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and is the reason that both Gerald and Shadow want revenge on the world at large. It's also largely similar to her fate in the original games, as depicted in Sonic Adventure 2. In both versions of the story, a GUN soldier fires after her while she's trying to help Shadow escape captivity. However, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 adds the explosion of Chaos Energy, whereas she was herself shot by a GUN soldier in the video game.

How Sonic The Hedgehog 3's Ending & Post-Credits Set Up A Sequel

Two Post-Credits Teasers Hint At The Future Direction Of The Franchise

The ending of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and its two post-credits scenes tease the direction of the series' future. The film ends with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles successful in their efforts to save the world. However, in the first post-credits scene, it's revealed someone has been constructing a horde of Metal Sonics, which could pose a serious danger to the world. Metal Sonic is one of the most consistent and dangerous foes in the Sonic universe, setting the stage for the beloved villain to be a big deal in any prospective cinematic follow-up.

Any sequel would also likely contain more Hedgehogs. While the second credits scene reveals Shadow survived the conclusion of the film and could get his own spin-off, the Metal Sonic attack also serves as the film's introduction Amy Rose. Introduced in Sonic CD, Amy Rose is one of the franchise's more important ing characters. In the games, she's a well-meaning young hedgehog with a massive crush on Sonic. Amy seems to have been given more agency and combat skills in her cinematic incarnation, and she could be the key to establishing the rest of the Hedgehogs in this universe.

The Real Meaning Of Sonic The Hedgehog 3

The Importance Of Overcoming Grief

At its core, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is about overcoming grief and focusing on the love in one's life. Sonic is revealed to still mourn his adopted mother Longclaw, but has found comfort in her memory. This resonates with Shadow, who is forced to reflect on the impact Maria had on him instead of his rage at having lost her. Gerald is the worst-case scenario for grief, someone so consumed by the loss of a grandchild that he's unable to genuinely love his other one. Even Robotnik reflects this arc, openly grieving his lack of connections to others.

Ivo's big heroic moment comes when Gerald calls him out for having no one he cares about on Earth, and Robotnik silently realizes that he does value Stone. This realization propels Robotnik to save the world and finally become a hero. Sonic almost gives in to grief when Tom is injured by Shadow, but he re the love Tom shared with him and relents — saving the world in the process. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a surprisingly emotional story about overcoming grief, and it gives the video game movie more depth.