The Age Dispute »

          Character age has always been a frenetic factor in the ongoing continuity of the Sonic series. One character's age back then suddenly changed for the new generation. Now, that would make perfect sense if the new age was perhaps a higher number. Some were. While some ages increased by one year, another age increased by four. Others stayed the same. If all of the characters were deliberately re-designed as older versions of themselves for the new generation, every one of them would've aged the same amount of years.

           But what is probably the most peculiar part of this plothole is that two of the ages actually went backwards for the new generation. Why this was necessary was most likely to have the character fit the new style or continuity much more, well, appropriately, I guess.

           First thing we need to do is figure out which of the classics made their comebacks into the new generation and were actually affected by this plothole (which is why Metal Sonic and Eggman will not be shown since their ages were unknown before, or are unknown now), and by order of prestige in the fandom, we will delve into what happened between the old and new generations.

Sonic the Hedgehog

          Sonic is a fine example of this plothole at work. Sonic's original age in his '91-'97 appearance was actually an estimate. It was 15~16, making his new appearance much more easy to deal with as far as the plothole goes. Sonic's age in the new generation is 15, and that is according to two official sources: the Sonic Heroes game manual and the Sonic Channel Sega of Japan Sonic website (link: http://sonic.sega.jp/top.html — must have Japanese IE language packs installed, which can be found here: Link

          Weird that Sonic Central doesn't list the ages. Anyway, so we know he is 15 in the new games, and in the old games? Either 15 or 16. So if he was 16, that means his age backtracked a year for the new generation. If he was 15, then his age didn't change at all.

This screen capture from an official History of Sonic video shows that Sonic's original 1991-1997 age was actually an estimation.

Miles "Tails" Prower


          As for Tails, just like his appearance, his age didn't change much between the old and new generations. In fact, his age didn't change at all. Tails' age remained as 8 in the old generation and stays 8 in the new generation.

This screen capture from an official History of Sonic video shows that Tails' age in his 1992-1998 appearance was 8, just like his current portrayal.

Knuckles the Echidna


          Unlike how his appearance hadn't changed virtually at all (with the exception of the eye color), Knuckles is another one of the examples of how the age goes forward. Why this happened or why it was necessary is simple. It's because Knuckles fits more as an older character than Sonic when taking into account his serious and antisocial personality that has a more mature and adult feel to it than Sonic's. Knuckles age in his 1994-1997 appearance was 15, while his current age is 16. He has aged one year between the old and new generations. His new age can be proven at the official Sonic Channel Sega of Japan Sonic website: http://sonic.sega.jp/top.html

This screen capture from an official History of Sonic video shows that Knuckles' age in his 1992-1998 appearance was 15.

Amy Rose


          Amy is one of the much more extreme examples of this plothole. Along with her dramatic appearance change came a dramatic age change. Her original 1993-1997 appearance was 8 years old, matching her up with Tails as far as age group goes. But then, come her new appearance in Sonic Adventure, they kicked her age up a nice four years so she is now 12 years old. The age change was probably decided after her new design was confirmed, since her new design matches her new age much more suitably than her old one ever would hope to.

          Amy's four year boost also created a very famous solution for this plothole as a way to mesh the new age characters with the old age ones. Maybe they all aged four years between their debuts and Sonic Adventure? As extreme as that may sound, it does have some sense and rationale to it. Who knows, really?


Vector the Crocodile


          Along with Amy, Vector was another dramatic age change, although his appearance change wasn't as different (although still fairly distinguished). Vector went from one of the younger Sonic characters to the oldest known one (that isn't a robot, human or created artificially). His original age in the Chaotix manual was 16. His current age, according to the Sonic Heroes game manual is 20. So, like Amy, he has aged four years. This adds fuel to the fire that maybe all of the characters DID age four years, meaning that Sonic was 11 in the old games, and Tails was a little four year old. Although this theory isn't very plausible when considering the current younger characters such as Tails and Charmy (that'd mean Charmy was 2 in Chaotix), for those who believe it, it is comforting to know that there is a good way the old generation splices with the new.

This cropped image of a scan from the Chaotix manual shows that Vector's age in his 1995-2002 appearance was 16.

Espio the Chameleon


          Espio is the first example of how the ages backtracked (unless Sonic was actually 16 in the old games) between his original and current portrayals. His appearance change wasn't as extreme as his attire change and neither was his age. He simply aged back a single year. In the Chaotix manual, Espio's age was 17, while the Sonic Heroes manual lists Espio's current age as 16. Why this change was necessary was to perhaps even out the age group in the Chaotix (even though subtracting the age by one barely makes a difference).

          Espio and Charmy's backtrack aging proposes the possibility that the Chaotix were never introduced before, and that Sonic Heroes is when they make their true first appearance in this new generation's continuity. As disappointing as that idea may be (since it takes away the luster of their return), it's probably true. The age switching is what supports the idea, but what goes against it is the fact that Vector is so much like his original portrayal. Plus, Espio was a detective himself in the original Chaotix game… maybe he started the Chaotix detectives? And last but not least, when you're battling Metal Overlord, Vector tells Knuckles to use his powerful punches and strength to prevail. How exactly would Vector know that Knuckles is powerful if he never met Knuckles before?

This cropped image of a scan from the Chaotix manual shows that Espio's age in his 1995-2002 appearance was 17.

Charmy Bee


          Charmy is actually a weird one. Like Espio, he was another backtrack ager, but the Japanese Chaotix manual didn't list Charmy's age. It was the American manual that gave Charmy his age of 16 in his 1995-2002 appearance. Even though that is by all means official, it could be negligible since the Sonic Heroes revamps of the Chaotix are obviously based off of their portrayals in the Japanese version of Chaotix. But anyway, getting into technicality… yes, Charmy's age in his 1995-2002 appearance was a big 16 years. Charmy took on the most dramatic age change of any Sonic character, since the Sonic Heroes manual lists this little wacky bee as a 6 year old. His age was subtracted by 10 years.

          Like Espio, Charmy's age backtrack heeds evidence that Sonic Heroes was actually a re-introduction of the Chaotix into the current continuity instead of a return. Whether or not that is the case is unknown, but I personally think such a notion is rather discomforting. It completely craps allover the feel their comeback is meant to give you. It doesn't make sense either. Why revive the name and species of three classics that were once held dear if you intend to make it look as if they are actually brand new? That's like what Dodge did with the 2005 Charger.

On the right is Charmy's description in the Japanese manual. As expected, it is filled with more statistics and details. One of them, however, is NOT age. On the right is Charmy's description in the English Knuckles' Chaotix manual. The description says he is 16 years old. They probably had to give Charmy an age considering that Japan's versions lacks of an age for Charmy. Such a conclusion is drawn from the fact that in the English translation, Vector's, Espio's, and Mighty's ages are NOT listed, while in the Japanese one, they are.

          The preceding characters are the ones that were re-introduced in the new generation and were affected by this pesky age plothole. Eggman and Metal Sonic's ages were never known in the first place, and to this day are still not listed in any bio data. All of the other Sonic characters were either made during the new generation, meaning their ages haven't changed, or were scrapped, causing them to be inapplicable for this plothole.

          This age dispute will probably happen again for any other currently scrapped Sonic characters that may perhaps make a comeback, or even for current characters that will be revamped again for some future generation of Sonic the Hedgehog. Who knows?


Solution:

          Solution #1: With this solution, it is best to go with the notion that majority rules. And the most commonly used age switch formula with these characters is Amy's and Vector's: they both aged four years. So let's go with the average -- the solution is that you can simply apply this formula to all Sonic characters. Three to four years is a fairly long time. This would mean in the old games, Sonic was 11-12, Tails was 4-5, Knuckles was 12-13, Amy was 8-9, Vector was 16-17, Espio was 12-13, and Charmy was 2-3. Whether or not you use this solution is entirely up to you.

           Solution #2: Ignore it. Just ignore it all, and say that their ages the entire time were the ages they are currently given in the new generation, or at most a year or so around their current ages. This solution is ideal for the folks who like to keep it simple and conservative.

           Solution #3: Solution #3 revolves entirely around Chaotix, so you can combine this solution with either of the first two solutions you like to make the whole solution. Solution #3 is to say that Knuckles' Chaotix never happened and that Sonic Heroes is the Chaotix's official debut in the continuity. This is because of all of the little signs that the Chaotix shakes off in Sonic Heroes that heeds evidence that Knuckles' Chaotix never happened, such as Charmy asking who Dr. Eggman was. With both solution #1 and #2, he'd know who Dr. Eggman is if the plot in Knuckles' Chaotix actually happened. Saying Knuckles' Chaotix never happened is the only way to justify Charmy not knowing who Eggman is.

           Then there are those signs that show that the Knuckles' Chaotix plot DID happen such as Vector knowing about Knux's strength. And for those of you who think Sonic X is canon to the game storyline (and for the love of God, jackasses, no, I am NOT saying it is canon, I am being hypothetical), check out episode 39. Everytime Knuckles is mentioned, Vector gets all pissed off, and when Knuckles shows up on TV from the DVDs Charmy bought, they ALL suddenly look shocked and say they have no time to watch it. Now there is no reason why they'd be pissed at Knux, but why do they get all shocked and angered when HE shows up or is mentioned? PLUS, in both the English and Japanese dubs, Vector knows who Sonic is, and calls him an old friend. But that's for those of you who believe Sonic X is canon.

            Anyway, the problem with this solution is that it pretty much kills off the appeal the Chaotix originally had and heeds evidence that the old generation of Sonic isn't taken with as much importance in this new generation. If you do not like this solution, then you'll have to think of a way to justify why Charmy doesn't know who Eggman is. Maybe Charmy is an idiot and has random episodes of amnesia or maybe he has trouble making out Eggman's name. Remember, he is still very young, and VERY obnoxious and absent-minded. They say he is scatter-brained, afterall.