I ranted about this on Twitter now I must on Tumblr
She ra and Sonic Similarities:
Shadow the Hedgehog and Catra Applesauce MeowMeow
P.S.: Just to let it be known, this is plainly for fun and isn't meant to be a too heavy deep dive into each of the character's history that much. There's a lot of Sonic content out there and I don't know everything so please remember this is just for fun and a way for me to yap more than what I have said from Twitter. Thank you so much for your time, let's get in! <333
Both affected by a promise
In Season 1 in the Episode 'Promise' Catra reviews a memory within the First Ones Castle that reveals the promise that Catra and Adora made to each other when they were younger in the Horde. Promising the following: "You look out for me and I look out for you. Nothing really bad will happen as long as we have each other." Considered one of the main groundings for Catra and catalyst towards Catra's arc as she felt as though the promise was broken by Adora and still kept by her in her own definition til the later duration of the series.
In Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow the Hedgehog gets introduced as an antagonist to Sonic and ally to Dr. Eggman in an attempt to destroy Earth after believing it was part of his promise to his long lost friend, Maria Robotnik. After 50 years of being in stasis, he learns later on within the game the actual following promise/wish from Maria to him: "For all people who live on that planet... give them a chance to be happy... Let them live for their dreams. Shadow, I know you can do it. That's the reason why you were brought into this world. Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog." Her promise ending being the driving factor to him helping Sonic to save Earth by the end of the game, & considered his main drive to protecting Earth after the events of Sonic Adventures 2.
Both attempted to end their world from their pain/anger
With the events of Catra's betrayal from Shadow Weaver, her exile from the Horde to the Crimson Waste, and learning that Shadow Weaver abandoned Catra for Adora, Catra pulls the lever to activate a portal that collapses time in on itself after bringing back the sword back to Hordak and Entrapta, and turning on the portal. After the portal is activated and the collapsing starts, out of her rage and pain prefers for the world to end rather than return time and space back to its normal state, preferring to burn along with the rumble than go with Adora.
After being in stasis for 50 years, after the death of Maria, Shadow teams up with Dr. Robotnik to get revenge on the military organization, G.U.N, after being the reason for Maria's death. Essentially aiming to exact revenge on GUN & destroy humans for what happened to Maria, leading to perception of revenge, anger, and grief. This was also readdressed in Sonic x Shadow Generations within Shadow's story arc within the game by Maria directly to pull Shadow away from the path of revenge and anger:
Similar Color Palette/Shape Language
Triangle Shape Language; Sharper features throughout the character design to indicate power, strength, purpose, and stability
Honestly similar pose; "Lesbian Pose"
Dark main secondary color
Yellow accent color (Catra's eye, Shadow's Inhibitor rings)
Pointy ears; Cause I wanna add that
Both are classified as "Anti-Heroes"
Both Shadow the Hedgehog and Catra are considered and identified as Anti-Heroes from their unconventional ways of saving their respective worlds along with their main reasonings for such actions being away from the stereotypical reasonings of a heroic character. With Shadow saving the world as of means of continuing to fulfill Maria's wish to Catra trying to primarily save Adora from the Heart of the Etheria, both define against the main stream meaning/reasoning of saving the world through establishing their reasons as a personal attachment to their mission, rather than solely their main expectation or "destiny". They define their own reasoning and focus more on accomplishing what's important to *them* than the whole world, regardless of how those means are met.
"Left Behind" by Loved Ones
Despite the promise was for both Maria and Shadow to visit Earth, Shadow gets sent away by Maria and left behind on Earth after Maria's death. Beginning the catalyst to being in stasis for 50 years before being released by Dr. Robotnik, starting the story of Sonic Adventures 2.
With She ra's identity being revealed to be Catra's best friend, Adora, Adora defected from the Horde leaving Catra behind as she begins to fight with the princesses. Despite Adora's plea for Catra to join her, Catra refuses in the account of Adora choosing the words over two strangers to "do what's right" over her childhood friend who've been affected by the same organization that the Princesses get attack by.
Manipulated by 'authority' figures
Shadow originally worked with Black Doom (Shadow the Hedgehog 2001) and Eggman (Sonic Adventure 2) under the false belief that revenge was what Maria wished for to Shadow. Throughout the different pathways in Shadow the Hedgehog 2001, Black Doom wishes to mold Shadow to work with him to conquer Earth & take revenge on humans. Additionally, Eggman uses Shadow in order to take over the Earth in Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic X before his change of heart to save Earth
Catra has been raised and later work under both Shadow Weaver and Hordak in order to continue the Horde's work of conquering Etheria. Shadow Weaver has shown examples of mental and even physical abuse in order to keep Catra in line. As well as manipulated Catra in order to escape to Brightmoon in the season 2 episode 'Light Spinner'. Additionally, Hordak has threatened Catra's life and suffocated her in order to prevent her being 'useless' to him and his operation & for lying to him about Shadow Weaver's escape.
Say what you will but both characters are badass asf. Both are intelligent characters with very good attention to details and often are able to think on their feet. They're strategic fighters that also just have a badass aura. Like have you SEEN them?!
Inferiority Complex is defined as "a basic feeling of inadequacy and insecurity, deriving from actual or imagined physical or psychological deficiency.” At its core, it is a feeling used to denote a strong sense of being less than," according to the American Psychological Association
Shadow reflects this through his feeling of inadequacy to heal and help Maria, his primary purpose under Doctor Gerald Robotnik, which goes unaccomplished after the death of Maria. As a way to accomplish his purpose, he continues to hold the promise of giving the world a chance to be happy through protecting Earth under the military agency G.U.N (Guardian Units of Nations). In addition to his questioning of whether he's any different to the other Black Creatures also associated by Black Doom, his constant goal of perfection, and at some cases beating Sonic the Hedgehog
Through the constant comparison to her childhood best friend, Adora, and the lack of acknowledgement to her achievements, Catra has been directly taught verbally and through example that she's considered inferior compare to her other cadets ("You've never been anything more than a nuance to me"). Often never acknowledged for the skills she has and has often been overshadowed by her best friend, Adora. Which lead to the official spilt between her and Adora during the season 1 episode, 'Promise', where she express her desire for independent from Adora and establish her own sense of superiority through the title of 'Force Captain'.
Rivals/Enemies to the Main Protagonists before allyship
Shadow is first introduced as an opponent/enemy to Sonic the Hedgehog in Sonic Adventure 2 when it's discovered that Sonic has been falsely accused for the crime of stealing a Chaos Emerald in Sonic Adventures 2. Starting the initial enemy territory between Sonic and Shadow, especially after it's found out that Eggman and Shadow are working together to destroy Earth. However, after being reminded of Maria's wish to give people a chance to be happy, Shadow later teams up with Sonic to stop the machine from destroying Earth, leading to the sacrifice of Shadow the Hedgehog before his return in Sonic Heroes. Afterward, Sonic and Shadow's relationship depiction has been one of respected rivalry throughout the decades. With some shipping included.
Starting out as childhood friends, Catra and Adora within the beginning part of the series spilt off into the opposing forces of the Princess Rebellion and the Horde. After Adora discovers the realities of the Princesses and the Horde, she defects her home to join the Princess Alliance & become one of the leaders of the Rebellion. In contrast, Catra remains in the Horde and gets promoted to Force Captain after Adora's departure. Throughout the 4 seasons and part of season 5, Catra and Adora remain enemies til the season 5 episode, 'Corridors'; where Catra sacrifices herself as a mean to save Glimmer and Adora from Horde Prime. Leading to the eventual team up with the Best Friend Squad (Bow, Glimmer, and Adora) to help them save Etheria from Horde Prime.
Both have their own team/group
The team Team Dark consist of: Shadow the Hedgehog, Rouge the Bat, and E-123 Omega; All formed a team up within Sonic Heroes with Rogue and Shadow working as coworkers when going after the Chaos Emerald and Omega and Shadow initially opponents before becoming allies
Super Pal Trio, coined by Scorpia, consist of: Catra Applesauce MeowMeow, Scorpia, and Entrapta Princess of Dryl ; They formed a group as they all work together to help Hordak collect First One Tech and work under the Horde through Force Captain Catra. Catra and Scorpia being originally assigned together through Shadow Weaver & Catra recruiting Entrapta to join the Horde as a mean for her to create & experiment with technology, robots, and weapons
Both convinced to reflect by Pink characters
"Shadow, I beg you. Please do it for them. Give them a chance": Near the end of Sonic Adventure 2, as the weapon beams near to destroying Earth, Amy Rose enters the same room as Shadow and begs for Shadow to help Sonic stop the weapon. She pleads for Shadow to give everyone on Earth a chance to be happy, repeating the same words that Maria wished to Shadow 50 years prior. With the realization of Maria's true wish, he goes to help Sonic protect and save Earth.
"Please, Catra. Do one good thing in your life!": Within the season 5 episode 'Corridors', Glimmer begs Catra to do one good thing after it's found out about Mara's ship where Adora, Bow and Entrapta are to save Glimmer from Horde Prime. After realizing the information through Prime not being able to track the ship, Catra is sent to receive information from Glimmer. After a squabble with Catra, Glimmer begs Catra to do something good in her life. Even after the advice was initially ignored at first, Catra later helps to save Glimmer and Adora through sending Glimmer to Adora as a sacrifice.
Both are Redeemed Characters
There are a variety of different definition of 'redeemed' in terms of characterization but the primary definition is "a character who has been selfish, amoral, or downright villainous makes amends for their mistakes and wrongdoings — usually with a heroic act of sacrifice."
Shadow sacrifices himself towards the end of Sonic Adventure 2 after becoming Super through the power of the Chaos Emerald along with Sonic to save Earth. In addition to his rekindled grief towards Maria during Shadow's Generation. Releasing the anger and hurt grief of Maria's death along with the contempt of fulfilling Maria's wish
Catra sacrifices herself in the season 5 episode 'Corridors' after sending Glimmer to Adora to prevent Adora from reaching Horde Prime's ship. After her sacrifice, she becomes part of Horde Prime's Hivemind and later gets rescued by Adora and her friends, later joining the Best Friend Squad and helping them through informing Horde Prime's plan, helping them get to Etheria, and fight against Prime's clones.
While Sonadow is techincally considered to be a 'black and blue' pairing color, because of Shadow's red accent colors many consider Sonadow to be a 'red and blue' pairing within fandom spaces. Just a little observation that was noticed in the making of this list. Shadow representing the fiery, headstrong type character with Sonic reflecting the calm but assertive aspect of his character that often compliments Shadow's more stubborn, headstrong approach to situations.
Catradora reflects a red-blue pairing through Catra's ambitious & determined personality complimented by Adora's more sturdy & straightforward mannerism and character traits. Both reflecting inverted complexities that both characters learn to break away in order to establish their own autonomy and personhood.
One of their main "catalyst" for their stories is a blonde hair, blue eye character
[I was no longer able to add photos]
Maria was Shadow best friend & sister of sorts. She represents a large integral part of Shadow's story and character. Through the making of Project Shadow in the beginning to the promise that Shadow continues to try to fulfill while making a few friends along the way.
Adora is the best friend and now lover to Catra. At first representing a golden child that could never be reached or competed against, now represents a person who never truly given up on Catra and her ability to change for the better. As they continue to grow along with Etheria, they'll learn to heal, adapt, and grow together with their friends along the way as well.
I adore their character, flaws, achievements, complexities, and all <333
I find Catra and Shadow's characters to be fascinating and ones that reflect the complexities of identity, personhood, and going through their own cycles and ways of grief. I adore both of them dearly and I highly appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read or skim through all the points. While I'm aware it's not the most deepest analysis I hope it still provided a perspective between Sonic and She ra because I love both franchises dearly. Thank you once again and I'll see you next time <33
