Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers director says landing his ‘Ugly Sonic’ cameo was rough

polygon.com:

Meme fans and popcorn-munching drama-watchers may have fond memories of a particular moment in 2019, when the first images from Paramount Pictures’ Sonic the Hedgehog appeared online, and the internet went bananas. The character’s original CG design provoked a wave of vocal disgust over his naked, gloveless blue hands; his tiny, beady little eyes; his chunky, triangular blocks of head-fur; and worst of all, his weirdly detailed, tiny human teeth. In the wake of the public response, the character was quickly and substantially redesigned for the actual film release.

Now “Ugly Sonic,” the original design, is back. The character, voiced by I Think You Should LeavestarTim Robinson, has a surprisingly substantial role in the Disney Plus movie Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, a Who Framed Roger Rabbit-style live-action movie teeming with recognizable animated characters who live alongside humans, and co-star with them in movies and television. First introduced at a fandom convention, signing autographs and coasting on his internet notoriety, Ugly Sonic (he bills himself that way, complete with a giant “Ugly Sonic” banner for his booth) comes across as a little smug and a little bitter about his brief, curtailed movie career. The role only gets bigger from there.

Director Akiva Schaffer, a Lonely Island member who previously directed Hot Rod and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, tells Polygon that Ugly Sonic’s presence was a highlight of the film for him, but that he can’t discuss what went into licensing the character. “It’s one of my favorite [cameos in the film],” he says. “I can speak to that. It’s one of my favorite things in the movie. And I’m very excited for people to see it … I don’t know what I should, what I’m allowed