Paramount Revives 'Ugly Sonic' Design for Sonic 3 Holiday Promotion

A limited-time giveaway features an 'Ugly Sonic' Christmas sweater, celebrating the franchise's evolution since its controversial 2019 debut.

Paramount Pictures has brought back the original 'Ugly Sonic' design for a promotional giveaway tied to the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie, releasing December 20.
The promotional giveaway, called '12 Hours of Sonic,' included an 'Ugly Sonic' Christmas sweater alongside other themed prizes like signed posters and Sonic-themed merchandise.
The original 'Ugly Sonic' design, heavily criticized for its unsettling appearance in the 2019 trailer, was redesigned before the first film's release, contributing to the franchise's eventual success.
The sweater marks one of the few official acknowledgments of 'Ugly Sonic' by Paramount since the design's internet infamy, though the character also appeared in Disney's Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers in 2022.
The Sonic movie franchise has grown into a successful series, with Sonic 3 featuring returning cast members and introducing Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog.