Warning: Contains SPOILERS for the Sonic the Hedgehog series!

The world of the live-action Paramount's live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie series, so here is everything you need to know, explained.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is on the way, and the film is set to be even bigger than the previous Sonic the Hedgehog live-action projects, with it finally adapting the story of Sonic Adventure 2. The introduction of Gerald Robotnik, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Project Shadow means that Sonic the Hedgehog 3's timeline will most likely be jumping around more than ever before, meaning that fans who don't have a firm grasp on the timeline may be a bit confused. A lot of events have occurred throughout the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, with each one of them being immensely important.

The Owls & Echnida War

Ages Before The Events Of Sonic The Hedgehog

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Knuckles explains the earliest point in the Sonic the Hedgehog timeline, with the war between the Giant Owls and the Echidna Tribe, which took place ages before the first movie. The Giant Owls were a bird-like alien species who lived on the planet Mobius, with them acting as intergalactic guardians. They shared peacefully Mobius with the Echidna Tribe until the Echidnas one day crafted a powerful artifact with the ability to turn any thought into reality: the Master Emerald.

Believing that nobody should hold such power, the Giant Owls attacked the Echidna Tribe, taking the Master Emerald and hiding it away on Earth. This started a multi-generational feud between the two groups, with the Echidnas hunting the Owls down and killing them off in an attempt to locate the Master Emerald.

This continued until 10 years before the events of Sonic the Hedgehog. At this point, there was only one Giant Owl left: Longclaw. Longclaw took care of a young Sonic the Hedgehog, with the two living in hiding on Mobius. One day, the Echidna Tribe learned of their existence. Longclaw was able to send Sonic to Earth to continue hiding, with this being the last that Sonic ever saw of her.

Project Shadow

50 Years Before Sonic The Hedgehog 2

The post-credits scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 revealed a major event that occurred 50 years before the time of the live-action movies, with this being Project Shadow. Project Shadow will play a major role in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, meaning that more information will be revealed about it there. In the games, however, Project Shadow was an experiment by Gerald Robotnik that had the goal of discovering immortality. Instead, Gerald created Shadow the Hedgehog, with G.U.N. then shutting the project down, imprisoning Shadow, and executing Gerald.

Sonic The Hedgehog & Knuckles' Origin Stories

Around 10 Years Before The Events Of Sonic The Hedgehog

After arriving on Earth as a child, a young Sonic the Hedgehog hid out in the woods for three years before moving into a secluded cave in Green Hills, Montana. Sonic eventually became lonely living in this cave, with him eventually resorting to running around town. At this point, humans became aware of Sonic's presence, including Tom Wachowski and Doctor Robotnik.

Meanwhile, Knuckles was a child when the Echidna Tribe located Longclaw, with him being aware of Sonic's existence. Longclaw eventually killed the rest of the Echidna Tribe, including Knuckles' father. This motivated Knuckles to become a great warrior, with him dedicating his life to searching the galaxy for Sonic the Hedgehog, leading to the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Sonic The Hedgehog 1

The First Movie In The Timeline

The events of the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie set the stage for everything that is to come. In the film, Sonic loses his bag of teleportation rings, with him and Tom going on a journey to San Francisco while Doctor Robotnik and the United States government are pursuing them. Doctor Robotnik manages to get one of Sonic's quills, leading to a battle known in-universe as the San Francisco Incident. Sonic manages to banish Robotnik to the Mushroom Planet, with him deciding to stay with the Wachowskis in Green Hills. Shortly after, Tails arrives in search of Sonic.

The Creation Of The Guardian Units Of Nations

In Between The First Two Sonic The Hedgehog Movies

The arrival of Sonic, the madness of Robotnik, and the aftermath of the San Francisco Incident meant that the United States government had to respond. In an effort to better prepare the country for extra-terrestrial threats, the government formed the Guardian Unit of Nations, led by Commander Walters. Sonic the Hedgehog's G.U.N. organization takes a militarized approach to dealing with massive threats like the return of Robotnik to Earth, with them also investigating Project Shadow after the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

One Year After The Events Of Sonic The Hedgehog

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic's quill attracts Knuckles to the Mushroom Planet, where he meets Doctor Robotnik. The duo agrees to work together, with them traveling to Earth in search of the Master Emerald and Sonic. Meanwhile, Tails arrives to tell Sonic about the Master Emerald, with them ing the hunt. Robotnik manages to find the Master Emerald, with him using it to give him ultimate power. Knuckles s Team Sonic as the trio fights back against Robotnik's giant robot. They defeat Robotnik, with Knuckles and Tails deciding to move in with Sonic and the Wachowskis.

Knuckles

Shortly After The Events Of Sonic The Hedgehog 2

The spin-off Knuckles TV show takes place between the second and third Sonic the Hedgehog movies, with it focusing on the friendship between Knuckles and Wade Whipple. In the show, Knuckles decides to train Wade to be the ultimate warrior, with them traveling to Reno so that Wade can face off against his estranged father in a bowling competition. Meanwhile, Knuckles has to face off against some former G.U.N. agents and a group of criminals who uses Robotnik's technology and Team Sonic's quills for evil.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Sometime After The Events Of Sonic The Hedgehog 2 & Knuckles

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hasn't been released as of the writing of this article, but the trailers and promotional materials have already revealed a lot about the film's story. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, G.U.N. discovers Project Shadow, with Shadow the Hedgehog breaking out of Prison Island. Team Sonic not only has to face off against this new threat, but the duo of Ivo Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik as well, who hope to use Shadow for their own nefarious purposes. The introduction of Project Shadow means that this will likely be the most consequential Sonic the Hedgehog movie yet.