shirubae

[shirubae]

my goal is to get the video out by the end of summer. thought i'd share a little intro i cooked up (i have zero experience making cool edits, just messing around in DaVinci).

[shirubae]

What is the canon version of how Silver and Blaze met?

The "canon" version is that they met in Silver's destroyed future (under currently unexplained circumstances). The first time we ever see them together is the opening of Silver Episode in Sonic 06, and it's clearly not their first meeting. So they met some time before that, off-screen.

At the end of Sonic 06, time is reset so that the Solaris Project never happened. This makes it so that Blaze and Silver didn't meet (which means that Iblis' presence was required somehow). But as we know, those events did happen. They don't know they happened, but we do. So they're canon. But everyone forgot about them.

Case in point...

Makes sense, right?

It's not something to be sad about, imo. Sure they forgot about each other, but they were freed from a terrible fate! Kind of like the ending of JJBA Part 6, if that helps.

The first meeting that Silver and Blaze actually remember is in Sonic Colors on DS. They meet off-screen again, in Sweet Mountain at Eggman's amusement park. Blaze says the Sol Emeralds suddenly sent her there, and Silver explains he's just there to see the park... fishy. Then Sonic and Tails come across them trying to go on a ride together.

So their first canon meeting is in Silver's future. But the meeting that they remember is at Sweet Mountain. Both times, we don't see it happen. It's perfect fanfic fuel lol.

[shirubae]

Infinite is mostly a rival to the other hedgehogs, but I honestly think he's a perfect adversary for Silver.

Infinite...

Is obsessed with bringing fear and despair to the world. Relishes in being a villain and ruining lives.

Was once an arrogant "ultimate mercenary" surrounded by minions, who spiraled into hateful insanity after experiencing a modicum of the suffering he inflicted on others.

Alters reality, granting himself unfair advantages that seem to outplay psychokinesis and defy all laws of reality.

Relies on the Ruby for his powers.

Exhibits moral weakness, always selfishly taking the easy route and cutting corners on important tasks.

Is colored black and silver and red.

Silver...

Strives to bring hope and light to the world. Doesn't care about being a hero, just wants to see people smile.

Was once a humble survivor who was totally alone, surrounded by fear and hardship, growing into a stronger and more kind person to defy it.

Works within the laws of reality (physics and time), using his psychokinesis to get creative with his surroundings in combat.

Can innately use his powers(?).

Exhibits moral strength, staying honest and always working for the greater good. Although pragmatic and headstrong at times, he has come to value others and is not selfish.

Is colored white and gold and blue.

I mean come on, you've gotta admit there's potential for an interesting dynamic.

[shirubae]

guys, i might have cracked it... at its core, Sonic 06 is about love, death, and grief! it seems so obvious in hindsight.

you'll see what i'm talking about soon!

[shirubae]

Yes! In both of their debuts, they had very clearly anti-heroic traits. They were pragmatic and ready to kill (Silver vs Sonic, Blaze vs Eggman). And they had serious personal flaws to work through: Silver's reckless obsession (06) or abrasive determination (Rivals), and Blaze's self-imposed isolation (Rush) or disregard for her subjects (Rush Adventure). But over time, Silver becomes a shining beacon of hope to those around him, and Blaze becomes the beloved ruler of her people. They're still not perfect and maintain many of their darker traits, but are unquestionably heroes.

i like how Silver and Blaze have different principles from other heroes. they aren’t anti-heroes because they’re committed to justice, duty and helping people but they’re also more ruthless than other heroes and willing kill and fight dirty to save the day

[shirubae]

Blaze calls Silver naive (aoi 青い = blue/green)... Silver's psychic powers are literally greenish blue... not just a coincidence!

Silver is probably such a powerful psychic BECAUSE he’s so emotional. since his emotions affect his powers

[shirubae]

I hate to say it folks, but this is probably misinformation. The URL that allegedly links to a Shun Nakamura blog at "shunnakamura.sonicteam.jp" is fishy. While creators at Sonic Team did sometimes have blogs or interviews posted, they would more likely be at "sega.jp" or their own domains. There was a short blog series about Sonic 06 by Nakamura called "Soleanna News", but it doesn't have any of this text.

Take it as a fun theory or headcanon, but do not spread it as official lore until we get a better source. I would love to be proven wrong, since I do like this theory, but so far it's looking fake. Sorry guys, fun police here cracking down on canon!

Silver’s PsychoCuffs lore

This is supposedly from Shun Nakamura’s old blog

未来のタイムラインの深部にある秘密の研究所で、科学者たちは世界に迫る脅威に対抗するための高度な技術を開発していた。その中には、着用者の潜在的な精神能力を増幅させるように設計された特別な手袋とブーツ、サイコカフスが含まれていた。このカフスは、古代文明の遺跡で発見された希少な精神的に共鳴する金属から作られており、精神能力を強化し、安定させることができた。 既に自然なサイコキネシス能力を持っていたシルバーは、その卓越したポテンシャルのため、最初のカフスのテスト対象者に選ばれた。手袋とブーツは彼の力を増幅させるだけでなく、彼のサイコキネシスを精密に制御できるようにした。これにより、以前は不可能と考えられていた偉業を成し遂げることができた。 未来を救う使命の中で、シルバーはこの技術を使用して時間を超えて旅をし、彼の世界を荒廃させる災害を防ごうとしている。サイコカフスは、彼の職務とそれを作り出した者たちの犠牲を常に思い起こさせ、彼の生来の才能と融合して、悪に対抗する強力な力を生み出している。

Translation:

In a secret laboratory deep in the future timeline, scientists are developing advanced technology to combat threats to the world. These included special gloves and boots, the Psychocuffs, designed to amplify the wearer's latent psychic abilities. The cuffs were made from a rare spiritually resonant metal found in the ruins of an ancient civilization, which could strengthen and stabilize mental abilities. Silver, who already possessed natural psychokinesis abilities, was chosen to be the first Cuffs test subject due to his outstanding potential. The gloves and boots not only amplified his powers, but also allowed him to precisely control his psychokinesis. This allowed him to accomplish feats previously thought impossible. In a mission to save the future, Silver uses this technology to travel through time and try to prevent a disaster from ravaging his world. The Psychocuffs are a constant reminder of his duty and the sacrifices of those who created them, and when combined with his natural talents, create a powerful force against evil.

This gels with the old lore about psychic powers being common in Silver’s future and Silver’s gear having the same markings as ancient echidna technology in Sky Sanctuary and the Nocturne from Sonic Chronicles.

[shirubae]

Sonic 06 Profiles for Silver and Blaze

There are lots of different character profiles for Sonic 06, so I've decided to compile all of Silver and Blaze's here (mostly for my own reference). Japanese sources have the original text, plus an English fan translation; those for which I couldn't find fan translations will have reviewed machine translations for now.

"SONICNEXT_allscript.xls"

Before the game's release, a tester leaked an early internal script for the game online. The file, "SONICNEXT_allscript.xls", is a spreadsheet containing some neat details. Most of it has likely been rendered irrelevant, but it gives us some insight into the intention behind these characters, especially Silver, who was still being solidified. The file comes with an English translation, but it's spotty, so I made a new one based on Windii's retranslation. Can be downloaded from Sonic Retro or TCRF.

Silver

（仮）荒廃してしまった未来を変えるべくやってきた少年（ハリネズミ）荒廃した未来から来たにもかかわらず性格は前向きで、平和な世界は必ず取り戻せると考えている。少し突っ走りやすいところがあり、今回はそこをメフィレスに突かれることになる。超能力を持っており、それによってエメラルドの力を引き出すことができる。なぜその力を得たのかは謎。 簡単にたとえるなら、トランクス？

(Temporary) A hedgehog boy who came to change a devastated future. Despite coming from a devastated future, he has a positive outlook and believes he can restore peace to the world no matter what. He tends to get reckless, and in this story he's confronted with Mephiles. He has psychokinetic powers and can draw on the power of the Chaos Emeralds. How he got these powers is a mystery. Simply put, think Trunks?

Blaze

「ソルエメラルド」（仮・カオスエメラルドと対になるアイテム）を操り、かつ守護する役目を担う。異世界に於けるソニックとナックルズの役割を併せて担うキャラ。普段は沈着冷静、しかし内に秘めた感情を理性で抑えているような感じ。怒りに燃え、いったんタガがはずれると相当コワい。ツンデレ型。人見知りが激しく、まず人と自分との間に壁を作ってしまうタイプ。（そのかわり壁を越えると必要以上に親密意識を増す）通常時はマントを羽織っている。炎を操る自分の能力のせいで幼少時にいじめられたトラウマと、成長した今もそれをむやみに使うまいとした自戒の意味をこめて身につけている。しかし、ひとたび事が起こったときにはマントを脱ぎ捨て意外とアクティブな一面を見せる。 マントの下に隠されているのは宝塚ライクなコスチューム！実はムネが無いのを気にしているらしい…（そこをツッコまれると激しく怒る）

The guardian and controller of the Sol Emeralds (temporary - items that are counterparts to the Chaos Emeralds). She comes from another world, where she plays a role similar to that of Sonic and Knuckles combined. Normally calm and collected, but it seems she's suppressing her hidden feelings with reason. She is quite terrifying when she loses control, burning with anger. Terribly shy, she is someone who will initially put up walls between herself and other people. (On the other hand, if you cross these walls, her sense of friendship will increase more than is necessary). Typically, she wears a cloak. This is because of her trauma of being bullied as a child for her ability to control flames, and she makes a point only to use them when necessary. However, when push comes to shove, she casts off her cloak and shows a surprisingly active side. She hides a Takarazuka-like costume under that cloak! She is secretly insecure of her small chest... (she will become enraged if it is mentioned).

Japan website (early 2006)

This early website only had info on Sonic, Shadow, and Silver, in an attempt not to spoil too much. As of posting, it's still functional on the Wayback Machine.

今回、新たに登場する「シルバー」 未来から来た謎の多い彼の能力はESP(超能力)。様々なものの物体運動を制御する力を持つ。サイコキネシスやレビテーション、ものを曲げたり･･･。様々なアクションでソニックとはまったく違う新しいプレイが体験できる。

Now, the newcomer Silver. He is a mysterious individual from the future who has ESP (supernatural powers) and the power to control the movement of various objects. Psychokinesis, levitation, bending objects, and more. Experience a whole new way to play with a variety of actions that are completely different from Sonic.

Japan website (late 2006)

An updated website with profiles for most of the cast. Archives of the site on the Wayback Machine can't open the .swf files for the character profile section, so I had to open them externally using JPEXS in order to see the text. Sorry they're ugly lol.

Silver

サイコキネシスで物体の運動を制御する超能力を持つシルバー未来を破滅させる元凶、“イブリース・トリガー”を倒し、 未来の世界を変えるため、現代世界にやってくる。 果たして、シルバーは未来を変えることができるのか!

シルバーの超能力でゲームはさらに面白くなる! シルバーの特徴は超能力で、様々な物をサイコキネシスで動かしたり、 飛んでくるミサイルを受け止めて敵に投げ返したりと、多彩な攻撃が可能です。 次世代の物理エンジンにより実現されたこれらの新しい遊びは、 ゲームをさらに面白く盛り上げてくれます。詳細は順次公開される“ESPアクション”をチェックしてください。

Silver has the supernatural power to move objects with psychokinesis. He comes to the present day to defeat the "Iblis Trigger", the mastermind behind the destruction of the future, to change the world of the future. Will Silver be able to change the future?

Silver's superpowers make the game even more exciting! Silver's special feature is his psychic powers, allowing him to use psychokinesis to move various objects, catch incoming missiles and throw them back at the enemy, and perform a variety of other attacks. These new gameplay features, made possible by a next-generation physics engine, make the game even more fun and exciting.

Blaze

「ソルエメラルド」(カオスエメラルドと対になるアイテム)を操り、 かつ守護する役目を担う。普段は沈着冷静だが、実は秘めた熱い感情を持っている。自分に厳しいところがあり、他人に対しても人見知りをするプレイズだが、 行動を共にするシルバーには仲間として、また弟のような感情を抱いている。

崩壊した未来でシルバーと共に戦う仲間、ブレイズ!ブレイズの特徴は炎を操る事ができ、炎を身にまとい回転しながら攻撃する「スピニングクロー」や、炎のツメを使って攻撃を繰り出す「ファイアークロー」など様々な攻撃方法を持つ。一見クールに見えるが仲間を思う気持ちは強い。

She controls and protects the Sol Emeralds (the counterparts to the Chaos Emeralds). Although she is usually calm and collected, she secretly harbors passionate emotions. Although she is strict with herself and shy around others, she cares for Silver, whom she travels with, like a friend and a younger brother.

The comrade who fights alongside Silver in the ruined future, Blaze! Blaze's special ability is her ability to control fire, and she has a variety of attacks, such as the "Spinning Claw," which wreaths her in flames and attacks while spinning, and the "Fire Claw," which attacks using flaming claws. She may appear cool at first glance, but cares deeply about her companions.

Europe website

The only English website with character profiles. Some info is inaccurate: it says Silver saw the start of the crisis in the future, and that Blaze hides her flames under a cape (like in the leaked script). So, take these with a grain of salt. As of posting, it's still functional on the Wayback Machine.

Silver

Silver lives light years in the future where psychic abilities are the norm. The happy people of his planet are very powerful and they regularly move objects with their mind using telekinetic powers. There Silver witnesses the start of a cataclysmic event that will surely wipe out his entire planet. Without hesitation, he races back in time to stop what he calls the Iblis Trigger. With the very future in his hands, he will use all his power to defeat this evil-doer. Does he have the wrong guy?

Blaze

Blaze is a queen from another dimension who protects and controls the Sol Emeralds - a role similar to that of Sonic and Knuckles combined. She has the power to control flames with her body, but since she was teased about it when she was younger, she wears a cape to disguise her abilities. However, when needed, she will toss the cape in a heartbeat.

Japanese manual

The game manual for the final release of Sonic 06 in Japan. PDFs can be found online.

Silver

超能力で物体の運動を制御する能力を持つハリネズミ。諸悪の根元「イブリース・トリガー」を倒し、未来の世界を変えるため、現代にやってくる。はたして、シルバーは未来を変えることができるのだろうか･･･?

A hedgehog with the ability to move objects with his psychic powers. He comes to the present day to defeat the root of all evil, the "Iblis Trigger," and change the world of the future. Will Silver be able to change the future?

Blaze

ソルエメラルドの守護者。一見クールに見えるが、熱い感情を内に秘めている。シルバーと行動を共にすることになる。

The guardian of the Sol Emeralds. She appears cool at first glance, but has passionate feelings inside. She works alongside Silver.

English manual

The game manual for the final release of Sonic 06 in English areas. PDFs can be found online.

Silver

A hedgehog with telekinetic powers. The mysterious hedgehog, Silver, travels back in time to the present day to save the future from the destructive evil of the Iblis Trigger.

Blaze

Calm and level-headed feline that's quick on her claws.

[shirubae]

New info about Silver! This was reported from the Sonic Fan Club meeting at Indonesia Comic Con 2024:

Apparently Silver was originally planned to be an alien from outer space, instead of being from the future. Fascinating. It got touched on again in another fan meeting in Taiwan, not long afterwards:

Shun Nakamura elaborated that he had an idea for a video game about teenagers fighting aliens, and that this inspired Silver. I wonder how exactly, since he didn't go into it. My guess is that Silver being from the future is kind of like him being from space (mysterious outsider with advanced powers/technology, also there seems to be a connection between aliens and ESP in Japan). And him fighting Iblis monsters is kind of like fighting aliens (mysterious monsters that cannot be reckoned with). Who knows what he really meant.

And it sounds like Nakamura-san is talking a lot about Silver and Sonic 06 lately. They're his babies, after all. At both fan events, when he was asked about porting or remaking old games, he said that he specifically wants to do another Silver game or remake 06.

This report, of course, started a war about whether or not 06 needs a remake... never change, twitter.

But still. Very interesting context about the creation of Silver! I hope Nakamura gets a chance to work on a game with him soon, he seems very passionate about it and I've always found Silver and his future to be an untapped resource.

[shirubae]

Silver got mentioned in Shadow Generations lol.

So Gerald warns Shadow that he shouldn't say anything about the future, at risk of causing a time paradox. If he warned them about their fates (since they're from a time before the raid on the ARK), it could change Shadow's entire life... for better or worse.

Gerald is afraid of things going wrong if they touch the timeline, so he asks Shadow to just let things play out. It sounds like he has accepted that a tragedy is coming, respectfully treating the timeline as a sacred, self-regulating entity. But this big spiel about the nature of time reminds Shadow of Silver. He tells Gerald, and this is his response...

Gerald is like "well, that kid should really not be doing that" and moves on LOL. Makes me wonder if the games will ever touch on the repercussions of Silver traveling through time so much...

Anyway, don't overthink it. This is funny.

[shirubae]

This is one of Silver's Japanese quirks. In Japan, crossing your legs while in certain company is informal or even impolite. Such body language closes you off to others and could be taken as a sign of arrogance. Just another example of Silver not being a polite little cinnamon roll all the time...!

that sitting pose of his

[shirubae]

Explaining Silver the Hedgehog's character (Updated)

To truly understand Silver's character you need to understand not one, not two, not three, not even four but the ten different cores of his character. Starting with...

A Strong Sense of Justice - The Hedgehog of Justice

Silver is driven by a strong Sense of Justice. This is his defining trait mentioned in almost all character bios. Silver is a righteous person driven to right wrongs in the world and will always stand up for others. This can make him quite Confrontational as he has zero tolerance for injustice or wrongful suffering and will take on anyone on the spot to fight for what he thinks is right. Silver will always settle the score. Silver however doesn't wish to punish evil but rather to simply maintain peace.

Silver's sense of justice is more important to him than nearly any other character as it is the source of his drive and mission to make things right in the world. Unlike other guardian characters, Silver's sense of duty to protect the future is driven entirely by his personal sense of justice rather than imposed responsibility like Blaze, Knuckles and Ariem..

A Determind Optimist

Silver's other most defining trait is his noted Optimism. Silver has a positive outlook no matter the circumstances. During peaceful times Silver spreads positivity and seeks to make people smile however he can and during dark times Silver rallies and inspires hope in others. If Sonic represents Freedom then Silver represents Hope and will never give up no matter how dire or impossible the situation may seem.

Silver's very presence radiates positivity. In Sonic Channel stories Silver is said to engage in Cheerful Activities after the historical change in 06 and have both a "positive way of life that inspires people and makes them want to watch over him and cheer him on forever…" and an "Honest, unpretentious and kind demeanor" that makes him a warm and inspiring influence. This even extends to real life as this illustration by Tomoko Hayane spontaneously inspired everyone in her office to high five Silver on the screen the day it was made. In Sonic Channel stories Silver also has a very warm smile that fills Princess Elise with trust and joy during the height of her anxiety in one story and a recipient can't say no to in another story. (He's low-key a pretty boy)

Linked to Silver's optimism is supreme Determination. Silver will not give up no matter how impossible the odds are or how badly he's hurt, even when Solaris destroyed the entire space-time continuum and was explained to be nigh-invincible Silver simply resolved to destroy him in the past, present and future all at once and roused everyone back into action when they had all completely lost hope. Silver again rouses hope into the Resistance in Sonic Forces when Sonic and Tails were thought to be lost. Silver doesn't give up easily in general as it took 40 tries for him to cut exact Silver cut apple slices. It is this spirit that allows Silver to fight through the hopeless apocalyptic future. Silver's hope, optimism and determination are best exemplified in the Japanese version of Sonic Forces where he says this:

There is hope! As long you don't give up!

A Kind Hearted Hedgehog

Silver is an Altruist. An altruist is a person who is unselfish and concerned for the well-being of others, even if they don't gain anything by doing so. Silver not only has a strong desire to help others but he also has great Empathy for both people and environments and wants to see them in a happy state. Silver loves Smiles, he can't help but smile when he sees other people smile and his greatest joy is making other people happy. Silver wants to make people happy because he grew up in an apocalyptic future that was filled with despair as stated in Sonic & Silver on Sonic Channel. Silver's altruism is not only the motivation behind his mission to protect the future but also the only thing that can make him break from it as he will drop his current mission to help people as he does with Amy in Sonic 06 and the understaffed post office of Soleanna in Sonic Pict as Silver cannot say no to a sad face. Silver's reason for aspiring to become a hero is to be someone that can protect smiles as he states in Sonic & Silver.

Focused On Saving The Future - A Focused Agent

The very first thing Silver is described with in 06 design documents is Focused on Saving The Future. Silver is a driven and focused agent that becomes very determined and serious when it comes to saving the future and dealing with potential threats. Like Sonic's other rivals Silver is very skilled in many regards from skillfully doing various odds jobs in Soleanna in Town Missions to getting one of the highest sharpshooting scores in Soleanna's 1500 year history(Town Mission 6) to becoming a "genius" skating coach celebrity in the Otherworld Comedy series to the general use of his powers(Silver takes offence to being treated like an amateur for a reason). Silver is a veteran fighter from his apocalyptic life of battling Iblis and is able to and quickly learn things he's never done before like Chaos Control and car racing after only seeing them once. Silver trains regularly and is said to make steady efforts to improve in the 2022 wallpaper comedy series. Silver is a Fly/Technique type character so he specialize in technical sports like ice skating, uses a high balance car in Team Sonic Racing and is possibly the fastest flyer in the series as he's able to keep up with Sonic in Generations and is able to fly at light speeds with his Teleport Dash ability. Silver is very Proactive in his pursuits as in the opening of his story in Sonic 06 he states that he always asked people in his apocalyptic future how the world was destroyed but could never get a direct answer, hence why he listens to Mephiles.

Silver is noted to be intuitive and perceptive. He sees through Eggman Nega's disguises by noticing small details in his mannerisms. In Sonic Rivals 2 he turns his fight with Sonic into a race to collect Chao and advance his mission instead. In Otherworld Comedy Act 8 he intuits Blaze trying to control her powers when seeing them for the first time. Silver solves problems through thinking in all of his major game appearances from figuring out how to revive Sonic in the last episode of 06 to uncovering Eggman's plot in Team Sonic Racing.

Despite his naivete, Silver Isn't Very Trusting. His respect and trust has to be earned as he doesn't work with anyone in the Sonic Rivals series until they prove useful to him. In Sonic Generations Silver doesn't trust Sonic as being real and he is almost immediately suspicious of Dodon Pa. While he can take things literally at times the same deception that works on Knuckles won't work on Silver as Eggman learned in Team Sonic Racing. Even when working with Mephiles, Silver did not initially believe in time travel and did not fully commit to his plan until he was physically thrown back in time and still began questioning it after being confronted by Amy, only continuing to go along with the mission after it was reaffirmed by both Blaze and Mephiles as the only option to save the future.

Silver is very Goal Focused and has a Straight To The Point Mentality as part of his forthrightness. He doesn't like distractions, petty details or things getting in his way and prefers to concentrate on his current goals. Silver can also be somewhat Ruthless as he has done many things to protect the future including sneaking past Soleanna guards(Town Mission 11), mugging Tails and attempted assassinations all with little reservation. Despite having something of an honor code against cowardice Silver is also willing to fight pretty dirty such as when he played possum to hit Sonic in 06.

Forthright Purity

One of Silver's original design document descriptors is that he is very Forthright. This actually entails multiple different things about Silver that all deal with his Purity. As his name suggests, Silver is themed with purity as a character with his silvery white colors, youthfulness, innocence and forthright nature. Silver is forthright in every sense of the word including being Straightforward and Honest. Honest to a fault as Silver is so honest that he can't even lie(though he can change the subject as he does in Sonic 06 and Sonic Rivals 2). Direct and Outspoken as Silver hides almost nothing about himself(he only tries to hide his problems as when he tries to dismiss his worries in TSR as nothing) and speaks his mind as well as Going Straight to the Point as discussed above. This is why in Playstation Magazine Japan, Silver was officially given the birthday May 9th and with it the star sign of Taurus which is associated with determination, directness and honesty. Silver wears his heart on his sleeve and has a certain innocence to him that permeates his character.

With this purity however comes Silver's Naivety. He has a somewhat simplistic Black and White Perspective. Silver can sometimes take things literally and expects people to believe any outlandish things he tells them simply because he knows them to be true. Silver can also be unfamiliar with things in the present due to living in the far future where everything is either long destroyed or far more advanced.

The flip side of that forthright purity however is...

The Brash Antithesis of Eggman Nega

On the flip side of being straightforward and honest, Silver is also Blunt and Rude. Just as Silver wears his heart on sleeve he also has no filter and will say whatever is on his mind which can make him Abrasive and quick to insult. Silver will call you an idiot to your face if he thinks you are one and often trash talks opponents in in-game dialogue(literally calling defeated enemies trash in 06). Silver's rudeness is even more apparent in Japanese where he uses many informal impressions including addressing himself with "Ore"(おれ) and others "Anta"(あんた, the ruder version "Anata") which signifies that he speaks bluntly. Silver often points directly at people he speaks to(This is considered much more rude in Japan) and crosses his legs while sitting in a way that is roughly the Japanese equivalent of putting your feet on a table. Silver acts very casually with others without introducing himself which can be very informal and rude as Knuckles calls out during their meeting in Sonic Rivals 1. This can make Silver even more rude than other brash characters in a technical sense as he's just blunt and acts without a filter. This is a key difference between Silver and Future Trunks who was largely a shy and polite mannered individual.

Similar to Jet the Hawk, Silver is Juvenile both in his age designation and general level of maturity. Due to this Silver can be quite Brash similar to Sonic but even more so due to his aggression and bluntness/lack of filter. He can be snotty, sneering, sarcastic and is even stated to have a mischievous side in the Commemorative Illustration series. Though he is generally humble Silver has a confident, somewhat smug attitude about his powers and is very Competitive. Almost fighting Blaze as they begin one upping each other over who could deal with Orbot & Cubot on their own when they first meet in the Triumph cutscene Sonic Colors DS. Silver is also Headstrong, almost fighting Blaze again when she treats him like an amateur in the Otherworld Comedy series. Despite his share of hedgehog prickliness however Silver isn't a hostile or mean spirited person(as long as you're not in his way or being unjust that is). Just as Eggman Nega being polite does not make him a good person being rude does not make Silver a bad one as he maintains his goal of helping others at all times. When not focused on a mission Silver is shown to be a fun loving, reliable and protective friend. Silver cherishes his friends and is willing to do anything for them. Silver can also be just as quick to praise or call something cool as he is to insult someone and he strongly believes in the abilities of the people that have earned his respect as when he recruits Sonic to help him with the Revival Bridge situation in Sonic & Silver and is genuinely grateful for Espio's help in saving the world in Sonic Rivals 2. This side of Silver can be very similar to Sonic from Sonic SatAM. Combined with his naivety and determination this side can also make him similar to a Looney Tunes character called Henery Hawk. (He's naive but he has a blunt "What's so funny?" attitude about it)

Due to this nature, Silver has bold explosive responses to even the most impossible challenges, stating "I'll show you how crazy I am" when Knuckles calls him crazy in Sonic Rivals 2, "Come on, Espio! We can take them all on!" when confronted with Knuckles, Rouge and Eggman all at once in Sonic Rivals 2, and "If you say it exists in the past, present and future, I'll destroy them all at once!" when facing the impossible challenge of Solaris(He drops pretty hard lines when things get tough). Silver has this attitude against even things that outmatch him such as Infinite's mighty power.

Silver is described as "young and immature" by his creator Shun Nakamura so despite his general seriousness he can still have somewhat childish moments.

Almost all of Silver's traits are also diametrically opposed to those of his Sonic Rivals series nemesis Eggman Nega(currently the only other character from Silver's future), down to the colors they're themed after Black and White.

Silver is Rude and Blunt out of sheer earnestness while Eggman Nega is overly Polite as a form of mind games. Silver is Warm and Pure while Eggman Nega is Cold and Twisted. Silver is Honest to a fault while Eggman Nega is extremely Deceitful. Silver is Kind while Eggman Nega is Cruel. Silver is Naive while Eggman Nega is Sophisticated. Silver is Reckless while Eggman Nega is Calculating. Silver is Practical while Eggman Nega is Petty. Silver desires Peace and Prosperity while Eggman Nega desires Chaos and Destruction. Both are willing to sacrifice themselves for those ends in ways that seem crazy to other characters.

Riled Up - A Passionate Emotional Beast

One of the descriptions for Silver in design documents, Riled Up, alludes to Silver's highly emotional nature. Silver is a High Spirited person that is also emotionally immature.

Like Blaze, Silver can be Easily Angered and have a pretty Wrathful Temper. However unlike Blaze who is repressed in her feelings, Silver has no filter and can get loud or carried away when he is overly angered, excited or saddened(He's autistic...) which can primarily be seen in his animations and dialogue in the Olympic Games series. Silver puts his all into any activity he gets invested into(I'm giving this all I've got!) because of how Passionate he is.

It is the strength of his feelings that can make Silver Impulsive or Rash as often noted in his character bios.

Sometimes Silver tends to deal with things too head-on because of the strength of his feelings, or he tends to take everything on himself, but this is an aspect of his purity and an endearing virtue. ~ Sonic & Silver Sonic Channel story

This separates Silver from Sonic and Shadow who are both calm and cool in most situations while Silver has very little emotional regulation and can be blinded by his feelings. This can make him rather Reckless at times as he can deal with things too head on and will throw himself at problems when he gets overtaken by his feelings.

While Shadow is calculating and detached, Silver is controlled by powerful emotion and is impulsive and obsessive. This causes them both to be incredibly straightforward, mission oriented, and viscous, but for entirely opposite reasons. Sonic on the other hand falls in between. He cares, but he's not nearly as impulsive and manic as Silver. He's also cool-headed and easygoing, but not out of the detached stoicism of Shadow. SSS are quite different emotionally.

This Hot-blooded emotional nature is why Silver often has very Stoic partners like Blaze, Espio or Shadow to calm him down and pull him back. This dynamic is alluded to in the Japanese version of Sonic 06 where Blaze states that she shouldn't let Silver run wild on his own(in the English version she states that he's insecure when alone though that is contradicted within both 06 itself and the Rivals series).

An Aggressive Warrior

Due to his apocalyptic background Silver is a fierce and aggressive Warrior with many violent aspects to him. The Sonic Channel Sonic & Silver character introduction story states that Silver fought and struggled for half his lifetime which implies that he fought the forces of Iblis since he was seven years old.

Silver was born into a literal Hell on Earth where people lived without hope and he had to constantly battle against the minions of Iblis and put out disasters caused by it's existence such as flame tornadoes, storms and tides of lava destroying everything in a world where everyone lived in Eternal Darkness and suffering. Silver fought for most of his life to bring peace to the world. Due to this life of constant violence and devastation Silver is devoted to and deeply appreciates Peace but also has a violent personality because of it. This is why Silver has intense determined expressions and aggressive body language as he constantly makes fists and aggressive stances even when he's happy. Silver also punches things when he's frustrated and gets up using his fists in Sonic Forces. This not only shows his determination and emotional nature but his baked in aggression from a life of fighting through the apocalypse. Shadow notes Silver as a fighter in Team Sonic Racing dialogue. As covered above Silver can be something of an attack dog and needs to be held back at times.

This is also reflected in the pointed design of his eyes which in Japanese character design represents sharpness and intensity in a character. These points are easy to miss due to how his eyes are modeled and the way they align with the quills that act as bangs over the upper corners of his eyes.

Silver is incredibly powerful, being able to defeat armies of enemies in Town Missions in Sonic 06 and shown to have a tally of the number of times he single-handedly defeated the gigantic Iblis in a Sonic Pict wallpaper. When they fight in 06 Silver is as physically strong as Shadow who himself can easily lift 18-Wheeler G.U.N. Trucks and other house sized objects with one arm.

Silver also Enjoys Fighting and fights for fun as seen in his friendly Rival Battles in Sonic Generations. Silver is willing to fight anybody if he feels slighted and I do mean anybody as he's been shown willing to fight everything from skyscraper sized monsters like Iblis and Ifrit to small children as he has no qualms with fighting Tails or Bowser Jr(something he shares with Shadow). Silver is said to “sometimes call forth great power without mercy” in Sonic & Silver on Sonic Channel.

Tying into his selfless and reckless nature, Silver is also Extremely Brave. As stated for the Pumpkin Trigger Sonic Comic, Silver has no regard for his own safety and will immediately throw himself at any danger or sacrifice himself at a moments notice especially if it means protecting those around him. Silver had to fight the colossal Iblis and its endless spawn in a dark hellscape by himself for most of his life(as it has been revealed Blaze wasn't born in the future in 06). Silver also has very high pain tolerance owing to his determination and violent life of fighting Iblis. Angrily continuing to attack after being kicked in the head by Shadow in 06, shredded and bounced across the street by Sonic in Generations and enduring agonizing pain beyond description caused by overusing his powers in Sonic & Silver. Silver also seems to value being brave and dislikes cowardice going by his remarks in the Sonic Rivals series and the Team Vector Nintendo Dream interview which has interesting implications for his backstory.

When surprised in Sonic Generations Silver instantly has a fight response as he grew up in a world where Iblis minions could attack at any moment. (He's feral)

A Sentimental Person

Silver also has a very quiet side. He can be Introspective and Sentimental. This is shown throughout Sonic 06 with the non-verbal processing of events around him. After his fallout with Amy, he sits quietly by himself unengaged with his mission to destroy the Iblis Trigger and contemplates the morality of hurting one person to save the world. He silently takes in the events of the Solaris Project as he finally learns the truth about the destruction of the world he always asked about. Silver feels grief and contemplation quietly as shown when he's left solemn and silent over his moral dilemma and Blaze's sacrifice. Silver appreciates little things and finds beauty in simple parts of the world that most people take for granted.

Silver also has a certain curiosity to him and sometimes takes interest in new things ("Interesting"), so he also enjoys new experiences, facing challenges and going sightseeing.

The Hedgehog of Peace

The absolute core and purpose of Silver's character is World Peace. Silver lives for and fights to protect world peace at all costs. This primarily includes his drive to protect Smiles and Blue Skies. Because of Silver's Empathy he wants to see the world and it's people prosper and could not stand the devastated of his destroyed future even before he experienced any true peace. Silver's quills are patterned after a Japanese Maple Leaf which represents peace.

In contrast to the apocalyptic devastation, darkness and suffering he grew up with, Silver feels at peace when seeing clear blue skies, beautiful environments or people living in prosperity. Due to hailing from a devastated future even something as simple as a desert is beautiful to him because it's intact and the people are happy. Because his feelings reflect the world around him, seeing these things in ruined states saddens and upsets him while seeing them thrive takes his breath away. When Silver sees people smile he can't help but smile. Silver's mission is to protect and maintain a happy future with a blue sky.

This is also reflected in Silver's heavily implied favorite food, apples as apples represent Good Fortune and Prosperity. It was even revealed in Sonic Pict and a how-it-was-made special that Silver ate apple flavored calorie bars in his destroyed future.

To recap. The ten core aspects of Silver are:

A Strong Sense of Justice

The Optimistic Determinator

A Kind Heart

Forthright Purity( with Naivete)

A Focused Agent

An Emotional Beast

The Brash Antithesis of Eggman Nega

The Aggressive Warrior

A Sentimental Person

The Hedgehog of Peace

This post complies information about Silver from all his canon appearances, manuals, the Mario & Sonic series, Nintendo Dream and PlayStation Magazine interviews, design documents and cultural research by myself and others. Particularly the Sonic Channel Story called Sonic & Silver that is meant to introduce Silver's character and the Team Vector Interview from Nintendo Dream Magazine.

Some believe that Silver is an experimental character that changes from from game to game but all ten of these core aspects have been with Silver since his very inception in Sonic 06 and have been indicated in character bios/design docs since the beginning and are simply shown to different extents throughout the series. Silver is a very complex and abstruse character that can be difficult to grasp due to his lack of focus and the obscurity of most things he appears in post 06. I hope this post has given you a deeper understanding of him.

[shirubae]

WHY was Blaze in Sonic 06?

In my analysis of Sonic 06 I promised not to touch lore or canon. But this single question has plagued me for years, and I can't run from it any longer: why was Blaze in the future with Silver in Sonic 06? It literally keeps me up at night. It is a core moment in her identity, yet it remains one of the biggest unaddressed mysteries in the series.

To answer this question, we must also answer: who is Blaze? She's a princess from another world. Easy, right?

Buckle up. Forget everything you know. This is a long one.

Blaze's Debut

Let's step back in time. The year is 2005.

Blaze debuted in Sonic Rush, which released on November 15, 2005. She was created by the game's writer and director, Akinori Nishiyama, as a contrasting character to Sonic. It introduced Blaze as a cat from another world who is the guardian of the Sol Emeralds.

Fun fact: Blaze being a princess was originally a twist! Nothing in Sonic Rush ever indicates that Blaze is a princess - no dialogue, no supplementary material - until the very end of Extra Story where she mentions her duties as a princess while she heads home.

How crazy is that? When you hear about Blaze nowadays, you're like "oh duh the princess" but she was not always known as such! More importantly, this is the first example of Blaze's identity being a mystery.

Blaze Returns

Blaze's next appearance was in Sonic 06, which released on November 14, 2006, exactly one year later. This game depicted Blaze as the curt companion of Silver, fighting Iblis in a destroyed future of Sonic's world. Huh? Yes. The game never mentions her alternate dimension nor the Sol Emeralds. Blaze is Silver's well-dressed friend now. You think that's confusing today? Try being a kid who just got to know her in Sonic Rush a year prior.

Because of how the game treats Blaze, some fans assumed that Sonic 06 was a reboot of the series, or that it was at least retconning Blaze's backstory into her being a denizen of the future alongside Silver. There are zero official sources to support this rumor, but it gained traction anyway, and people started citing it as gospel. It's wrong.

Blaze's official Sonic 06 backstory can be found in other sources, like the official websites and the Japanese manual. They are pretty consistent with Rush: she's from another dimension and guards the Sol Emeralds (despite their total absence in this game). None of them say she was born in the future.

The English website calls her a "queen". Close enough, it indicates that Blaze is still royalty in this game.

However, there's also some odd details, like her wearing a cape, so it may come from an early draft of Sonic 06's plot and not be entirely accurate. Maybe they were planning on her royalty being more important than it ended up (I theorize that it's why she could absorb Iblis where Silver failed).

Let's wrap up the princess thing. The first game to obviously establish Blaze as a princess was Sonic Rush Adventure, which released another year later on September 14, 2007. Blaze being a princess is brought up a lot because it is a pivotal fact in her character arc in this game.

Around the same time, fans noticed that Blaze doesn't seem to recognize Sonic at all in Sonic 06. In their only scene together in Kingdom Valley, she doesn't say a word. If this is the same Blaze from Rush, why doesn't she know him? (Mind you, Sonic doesn't acknowledge her either). This discrepancy only fuels the "future Blaze" rumor, and it's still never been properly explained. Despite being discussed again and again, we haven't had a clear answer. So, let's at least go over the answers that we have received.

Takashi Iizuka at Sonic Boom

Takashi Iizuka is the current (2024) head of Sonic Team. He's worked on many games in the series, though notably not Sonic 06 nor Rush. Still, during the Q&A panel at the live event Sonic Boom 2012, one of the many fan-submitted questions requested he clarify some lore regarding Silver and Blaze.

Here's a transcript, since the crowd in the video is pretty loud:

Speaker: "Iizuka-san, can you please clear up the story of Silver, Blaze, and Eggman Nega? Are they from an alternate dimension, or the future? Not to mention, in Sonic Rush, Sonic Rivals, and Sonic 2006, they all know each other, but in Sonic Colors, they've never met?"

Takashi Iizuka (via translator): "So, everyone probably already knows this... but Silver and Eggman Nega are from the future, and Blaze is from an alternate dimension. That's the official story. But in 2006, basically what happened was everyone kind of had like, amnesia. That's how that kind of played out."

The guy was put on the spot to answer a big question regarding two characters from games that he didn't even work on, plus the translation barrier! He handled it well, all things considered. This at least debunked the "future Blaze" rumor, but it didn't answer why she was in the future in the first place. Let's check another source...

Shiro Maekawa on Twitter

Shiro Maekawa is a former Sonic game writer who worked on the Shadow and Silver Episodes for Sonic 06 (but not Rush). This means he wrote for Blaze; naturally, some curious fans have reached out to him with questions. His responses may give us some insights into what was intended with her in 06.

First of all, Maekawa confirmed that he intended to connect Rush to 06. He's said this in multiple tweets. What exactly he means isn't totally clear.

A fan once made a neat tumblr post delving into this connection; I don't totally agree with everything said, especially the "future Blaze" stuff, but it's definitely a valuable perspective (unfortunately the author has deleted their blog after harassment... good job guys).

He also says that he intended for the place that Blaze gets sent to in Silver Episode to be her alternate dimension. That makes sense; just sending her home! But he admits that his ideas are not official, so it's up to Sonic Team to decide.

Furthermore, Maekawa supports the theory that Iblis remains sealed within Blaze's soul to this day. Fans have taken it a step further by theorizing that the reason Blaze can become Burning Blaze is because of her connection to Iblis - this makes sense, given the fiery aura and the fact that Blaze briefly goes Burning in the cutscene when she absorbs it. If that theory is true, and she goes Burning in Rush, then it would force 06 to be a prequel to Rush.

Since it's confirmed Blaze isn't from the future in 06, she must have gotten sent there somehow - maybe by the Sol Emeralds? They do teleport her on their own in Rush. That would mean Blaze hasn't met Sonic yet, so she has nothing to say to him. Then in the ending, she forgets everything and goes home, later meeting Sonic for real in Rush. Boom, easy! For a long time, this placement in the timeline seemed fair.

There was a tiny hole: an unused audio file of Blaze dialogue in 06.

Blaze says: "Sonic...?", expressing familiarity with the blue blur. So maybe she did know who he was...? It's not clear. And it's unused, so it technically shouldn't count, but it does raise some alarms. On the other hand, this game also has the "Book of Darkness" and "head to Wave Ocean" bloopers, so maybe its audio files aren't to be trusted. Problem solved?

No. Not until a certain someone speaks...

Ian Flynn on Bumblekast

Ian Flynn went from writing the Archie Sonic comics, to the IDW comics, and now the games. He's been working on Sonic properties for a very long time, and is even consulted as part of the mythical "Sonic lore team" at Sega-Sammy. Those folks work on piecing together the canon, including the chaos of 06's timeline placement (imagine being paid to write stuff like this lmao).

This means he receives lore knowledge from on high, from the top dogs at Sonic Team. At the moment it's fairly secretive, but on Ian's Q&A podcast, the Bumblekast, he often lets fans in on tidbits.

What Ian has shared so far supports a lot of theories discussed with Maekawa. He has entirely confirmed that Blaze went Burning Blaze as she absorbed Iblis and went home, and has dubiously confirmed that she still has Iblis in her soul (he doubts it will ever be brought up again).

But the prophet has spoken: Sonic 06 is officially set after Rush in the timeline. Say what you will about Ian's writing or understanding of the characters; like it or not, he's received this info from Sonic Team. So, our timeline theory is debunked.

Ian even acknowledges that there are plot holes with this timeline placement, like why Blaze and Sonic ignored each other in Kingdom Valley, and why she didn't think to find her old friends for help. But he has no say over it. He'll just have to find a way to write around it, I guess.

He also acknowledges that Blaze's presence in the future and partnership with Silver are still completely unexplained, and he hopes to eventually touch on it... But he also states that there is an official reason why Blaze was in Silver's future. I'll write his quote here for reference:

Ian Flynn: "Here's the thing: working on something else, I actually did get a straight answer, and it was frustratingly simple. And it's like, 'that works, okay.' No, I can't get into it, that's all private work stuff but maybe it'll come to light, eventually. But there is an answer, and it works, and I kinda feel dumb for not thinking of it."

So it's currently classified. Where does that leave us? "That greedy Ian is selfishly sitting upon a hoard of gold, hiding his secrets from us!" "Ian is a filthy American, he has no idea what he's talking about!"

Well, we can guess to our heart's content. There are a few theories:

Maybe the will of the Sol Emeralds sent Blaze to help Silver. The strings of fate pulled her so she could help guide him and eventually absorb Iblis. This one is the most sentimental, so I like it...

Maybe Blaze got caught time-traveling during a fight with Eggman Nega, and was flung into the future. This would explain why Ian found it "frustratingly simple" (he hates Eggman Nega lol).

Maybe at the end of Rush, Blaze couldn't get back home from the Exception zone; instead, she ended up lost in Silver's future due to space-time shenanigans. Nothing in her ending truly confirms that she ever made it back home. Pretty simple.

These still don't explain why she and Sonic didn't recognize each other, but we have to just let Ian deal with that one lol.

Conclusion

Our best course of action is to wait. In many of the clips I've linked, Ian regularly expresses interest in addressing Blaze's mysteries in an issue of IDW comics or a TailsTube episode. We also know that Evan Stanley, a fellow comic artist-turned-writer, is a big fan of Blaze and Silver (check out her "Ghosts of the Future" fan-comic). Our cries for the truth do not fall on deaf ears.

Ultimately, Sega-Sammy will choose whatever is most profitable. They are a business operating in capitalism. If revisiting Silver and Blaze's backstory is somehow a good business decision, they will allow it. If it's not... they won't.

The "Fearless: Year of Shadow" campaign has given me hope. Its success is hopefully proving to Sega-Sammy that fans do care about characters besides the main Team Sonic, and that mysteries and lore of the past can be addressed in games like Sonic X Shadow Generations. Whether it results in more leniency with using the extended cast in future games, such as Blaze and Silver, remains to be seen. Maybe the two need to be teased in a movie before they can get more attention lol. But I have hope that one day, my patience will have paid off, and I can update this article with the official truth of the matter.

Patience and direction: that's what Blaze offered Silver in Sonic 06. She supported him through his recklessness, stabilized him, and reminded him of what he was fighting for. But she also loved his passion, his drive for peace, and value of the truth. She loved how "naive" he was in the face of his seemingly impossible mission.

We fans are all a little naive. So for now, let's just wait and see.

UPDATE: Just checking in, it's been a while. The truth still has yet to be revealed. First of all, the Sonic Channel timeline came out and confirmed more than ever that Rush happens before 06. However, I've come across an interesting idea from the IDW comics.

At this point, Sonic was just thrust across dimensions by the climax of the Metal Virus arc, and has ended up in Blaze's dimension with no memory. This plot point always seemed a little odd to me - obviously it's meant to echo the Mr. Tinker plot, but it gets resolved in two issues. Kind of a strange blip.

However, it does propose a hypothesis for why Blaze acted the way she did in 06: maybe she lost her memories! This story establishes that crossing dimensions can result in temporary memory loss, although it doesn't explore the idea very much. Maybe it only happens if one is sent across dimensions by force? We'll still have to wait and see how Blaze got to Silver's future before we can conclude anything, but it's something to consider for now.

[shirubae]

Hi! I absolutely love your deep dives into Silver and Blaze's relationship! I just wanted to ask if you would ever dive into their relationship in the comics, be it Archie and/or IDW, or would that be too big a beast to handle? (especially in the case of Archie).

Hey! I've actually written the first draft of an IDW comics analysis, but I am hesitant to publish it because the series is still regularly updated, and Silver and Blaze are currently developing a relationship. I'd like to wait for some context to build before I go too in-depth.

As for Archie comics, I haven't read much of them. Never been a big fan of the writing, and from what little I've seen, there isn't a whole lot of Silver and Blaze interaction at all. I could be very wrong though, so don't quote me on that! Maybe I'll get around to looking. Thanks!

[shirubae]

So, I’ve never actually been a Silvaze shipper, but just through your analysis of ‘06 I’m coming to appreciate the pair in a whole new way. Honestly, whether or not someone’s reading their relationship as romantic or platonic, the way that you describe it makes it SO clear that they aren’t just regular friends, but there’s an incredible closeness that I don’t think can be contained really in either romantic or platonic. All this to say I really enjoyed the analysis :]

Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it! All I ask is for people to appreciate Silver and Blaze a little more 🤍💜

[shirubae]

I don't wanna sound impatiant but- I really love your analiysis....when do you think you'll be able to post the next one?? i don't mean any rush, i just rly love reading your stuff

Oh, yeah I have no idea. Working a full-time job, preparing for school, and supporting my spouse takes up most of my time atm. I was working on a Team Sonic Racing and an "Otherworld Comedy" (Sonic Channel 2023) analysis, maybe I'll finish one of them soon. I also may be making my Sonic 06 one into a video essay...? Don't hold your breath, that wouldn't be done for a long time.

[shirubae]

Hi! First thing off, I've read every single one of your analysis! And I'm absolutely inlove! You've helped me understand the characters soo much better. Oki now my question: What do YOU think of Silvaze? Is there any other ships you like? (Sonamy, Knuxouge, Shadamy, etc.) (I mean the first question kinda obvious but- I'm just curious :3)

Thank you! I love Silvaze. I think I'm drawn towards the ship because I relate to both Silver and Blaze in many ways... maybe Silver more. So, that has naturally led me to pair them together haha.

As for other ships. I quite like Sonamy, but only in specific media cause their relationship can vary so much (Sonic X has my favorite Sonamy). Knuxouge is fun! Metamy and Shadamy both have very cool aesthetics. Sonadow is a classic, can't say no to it. I'm not the biggest Blazamy or Espilver fan - I get the appeal, but I just see my kids elsewhere haha. No hard feelings.

Anyway. Other ships are cool, but I don't ship anything like I do Silvaze, they get all my attention. I only have the time and strength to obsess this deeply over one fictional relationship haha.

Thanks for the question!