PICTURE: The 'Botniks + A call to action

Today's featured storyboard theme is: THE 'BOTNIKS! Who are the 'Botniks? I'll explain you!

In my upcoming set of videos for Mashed, the big B-plot is going to star Orbot and Cubot. Or, rather, as you will come to know them, Orbotnik and Cubotnik. That's right! Somehow, they've ended up as the acting leaders of the Eggman Empire.

As I've said before, the duty of adding a whole Orbot and Cubot robot subplot was bestowed on me by one of the producers. Originally they showed up really briefly in the outline for this story because I assumed that was all that Mashed would want to see of them. But no, they see the light it seems. They understand the appeal of following hilarious robot henchman hijinks. Splendid!

As you can see from these images, upon assuming their new promotions, Orbotnik and Cubotnik get outfit upgrades. These were really fun to design. They're each wearing the classic and modern outfits for Eggman respectively. I thought the yellow cape looked good on Orbot's red, and the stylish little glasses make him look a bit more educated. Whereas the ill-fitting red modern jacket on Cubot was the obvious choice for him, really embodying the "kid wearing dad's clothes" aesthetic. Perfect for Cubot!

Look who else, too! It's Sage!! SAGE!!! WOOO!!!

I love her, honestly. It's been really fun creating this little side story starring the "Eggman family" as it were, albeit without Eggman. Orbot and Cubot are really bumbling and talkative, while Sage and Metal Sonic are very quiet, more observant, distant, cold, mechanical. They're kind of split down the middle, almost embodying the two sides of Eggman himself.

These boards don't come with any dialogue, but the little exchange between Sage and Orbotnik here is really funny I think. It's just a great moment. Can't wait for people to see it. I'm really overjoyed Sage got a little scene here. Monty, the voice actor, who probably does like half the voices on Mashed from what I've observed, did a pitch-perfect job.

Sage is obviously a newer character to the world of Sonic, even newer than Orbot and Cubot, so she's less recognizable than some of the others, but great nonetheless. I think people will be happy to see her. I will say, I was only slightly heartbroken getting notes on the Part 1 animatic and they just called her "What's-her-face." LOL. I mean come on, no respect... Well, now we have an extension to my campaign to make Orbot and Cubot big faces on the Mashed channel. We're adding Sage to that too. Orbot, Cubot, and Sage. I'll be their biggest ambassadors on this channel.

I actually made a story outline starring Sage that I think would work really well. Some slight elements of it were incorporated into this story, but, little enough that it wouldn't be redundant if I got to have it approved. Basically, like this story I'm currently boarding, it'd be another Sonic, Tails, and Amy story, but with Sage tagging along instead of Eggman. And instead of an Orbot and Cubot B-plot, there would be a Knuckles B-plot. Knuckles didn't really have much of a role in the one I'm working on now (though he appears at the very beginning) so it'd be nice to get to make a story where he's prominent.

A call to action.

When these videos come out, I might need you all to whoop and holler for Orbot and Cubot and Sage. They're all characters I want to do more with. We gotta let Mashed know that they're recognizable and charming enough to have starring roles, OK? I've had hesitance expressed my way concerning pitches starring less-than-blockbuster character roles, but having these characters' contributions met with excitement could change the producers' minds!