Spoilers Alert: This article contains spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.best video game movies ever made.

Sonic 3 has been released to a highly positive reception from critics and has set a playing two characters in Sonic 3 was "very difficult" for him and pushed his acting skills to their limit. Carrey has described Gerald Robotnik as very different from his grandson and is the driving force behind the ultimate showdown between Sonic and Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Gerald Robotnik's Goal In Sonic 3 Is To Wipe Out Humanity

Gerald Robotnik Headed Project Shadow Before Its Destruction

In Sonic 3, after being overpowered by Shadow during a battle in Tokyo, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are forced to form an alliance with their old rival, Doctor Robotnik. They manage to trace Shadow to the old G.U.N. experiment base, where they unexpectedly encounter Gerald Robotnik. The surprise appearance of Gerald results in Ivo ending his brief truce with Sonic and co. and ing his grandfather. Sonic 3's trailer shows hints of the Robotniks' familial relationship and Shadow's connection, and it's revealed that Gerald was the one who released Shadow from his suspended animation and recruited him for his plans to destroy humanity.

In Sonic 3, Gerald Robotnik was a skilled scientist and served as the head of Project Shadow, a secret government project that explored the possibility of immortality, 50 years before the events of the movie. He is also the creator of Shadow the Hedgehog. As Project Shadow progressed, however, the government decided to shut down the project, which resulted in the destruction of the laboratory. While it initially seems that Gerald merely plans to destroy the G.U.N. headquarters, it's eventually revealed that his true plan is to use one of his weapons, the Eclipse Cannon, to completely wipe out humanity.

Maria's Death Is Gerald's Motivation To Destroy Humanity

Gerald & Shadow Are Both Haunted By Maria's Death

Throughout Sonic 3, Shadow's backstory is explored and looks at Shadow's origins are similar to Sonic's, except while Sonic eventually formed a family on Earth, "Shadow only found pain and loss." When he returns to the ruins of Gerald's old laboratory, Shadow discovers an old skate that belonged to Maria, which brings back painful memories of their time together and the loss he felt at her death. This plays a large factor in Shadow's life as depicted in other entries of the Sonic franchise.

Maria was able to see a side to Shadow that nobody else saw and Shadow came to regard Maria as his only friend during his time in the laboratory.

During his time in isolation at Gerald's laboratory, Shadow formed a close bond with Maria and her kindness brought out comion in him. Maria and Shadow are shown sneaking out of experiments to play, dance, and watch movies together. Maria was able to see a side to Shadow that nobody else saw and Shadow came to regard Maria as his only friend during his time in the laboratory. Their bond is tragically cut short when G.U.N. invades Gerald's laboratory. During an escape attempt, the gunmen inadvertently cause an explosion and Maria is killed.

Shadow is devastated by Maria's death, which causes him to lose all faith in life; he later reveals to Sonic that he blames himself for her death and believes that he broke his vow to protect her. The loss of Maria also deeply impacted Gerald Robotnik and resulted in him spending the next 50 years constructing a plan to enact revenge on the organization that caused her death. Both Shadow and Gerald are shown to be consumed with hatred towards humanity because of Maria's death, which serves as Gerald's primary motivation to destroy humanity.

Gerald's Full Plan With The Eclipse Cannon Explained

Gerald Plans To Use The Cannon To Destroy Earth & Wipe Out Humanity

In one of several power of the Chaos Emeralds, introduced in Sonic 2.

The full revelation of his plans to Ivo shows that Gerald has fully given in to his desire for revenge and no longer cares who dies in the process.

In a change from the video game, Sonic 3 sees the Eclipse Cannon requiring two keycards to work. Once the keycards are acquired, Ivo and Gerald launch the cannon into space for the final stage of the plan. While Ivo suggests to his grandfather that by "combining their geniuses, they can rule humanity" with the power of the cannon, Gerald reveals that he intends to use it to turn Earth into "a flaming pile of rubble." The full revelation of his plans to Ivo shows that Gerald has fully given in to his desire for revenge and no longer cares who dies in the process.

Why Gerald's Plan Fails In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

The Extent Of Gerald's Evil Plans Cause Shadow & Ivo To Turn Against Him

With the initial help of Shadow and Ivo, Gerald manages to launch the Eclipse Cannon and directs it to destroy Earth. His anger and desire for revenge, which have lingered for 50 years, cause Gerald to sink into an ultimate low; by the time he has the Eclipse Cannon in place, he no longer cares if he lives or dies with the rest of humanity. However, Gerald Robotnik's plan to wipe out humanity is ultimately ruined after both Shadow and Ivo turn against him, and help with the ultimate destruction of the cannon and the end of his schemes.

Sonic's words allow Shadow to finally let go of his anger and unite with Sonic to stop the Eclipse Cannon.

The movie largely explores how Shadow's character arc is similar to Sonic in that they have both suffered the loss of a loved one and struggled to move on. After their Sonic 3, Shadow talks about how he has held onto the pain over Maria's death for a long time and that "it's all he knows." Sonic reflects on the loss of his guardian, Longclaw, and tells Shadow that while he still feels pain, he learned that "the love they had for each other" was stronger and that Shadow should hold onto love rather than pain.

Ivo Robotnik also undergoes a similar transformation in Sonic 3. Ivo expresses delight at reuniting with his grandfather and is initially more than happy to participate in Gerald's plans. However, upon learning the true extent of these plans and realizing there would be nothing left, Ivo turns against Gerald and, with the help of Tails and Knuckles, vaporizes Gerald in the energy field. In an act that turns Doctor Robotnik into a hero, he sacrifices himself, along with Shadow, to destroy the cannon and save Earth.

Throughout the franchise, Ivo Robotnik is shown to be a lonely individual who secretly wishes for somebody to care for him and, upon finding Gerald, believes that he has finally found the love and he has craved all his life. But by the end of Sonic 3, Ivo understands his grandfather never truly cared for him and used him and Shadow. Meanwhile, Sonic's words allow Shadow to finally let go of his anger and unite with Sonic to stop the Eclipse Cannon, leading Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to end with Earth being saved and Gerald Robotnik's plans in ruins.