A deleted scene in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 explained how Dr. Ivo Robotnik survived Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Jim Carrey’s return as Dr. Robotnik in the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie was not an absolute certainty given his character’s ambiguous fate in the previous installment. Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘s ending seemingly included Robotnik’s death after Ivo fell off the top of his giant robot. Once it became known that Carrey would return for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, there was an expectation that the film would explain how Robotnik survived Sonic 2.

The setup for Robotnik’s survival came in Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘s post-credits scene. Members of GUN are at the wreckage of Robotnik’s battle with Team Sonic, and they mention that Ivo’s body has not been found. This was followed by Agent Stone, disguised in the GUN uniform, hearing the agents say that no one could survive that fall. Although Robotnik is very much alive in the threequel, no explanation is given for how this is possible. It turns out that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 originally planned to explain this plot point, but it was cut out of the film.

Agent Stone Saved Robotnik After Sonic 2’s Ending In A Sonic 3 Deleted Scene

Robotnik Had Several Injuries From His Fall

As part of the film’s home video and digital release, every Sonic the Hedgehog 3 deleted scene can now be seen. While some of them are just funny gags, one called “Stone Saves Ivo” is incredibly important. The 44-second scene includes the explanation for how Robotnik survived Sonic 2. As suggested by the deleted scene’s тιтle, it revolves around Agent Stone saving Ivo Robotnik from the wreckage and nursing him back to full health. Stone is shown pulling pieces of the robot off of Robotnik’s body and then carrying him away from the location.

The Sonic 3 deleted scene shows that Robotnik’s survival was a bit of a miracle. He had to have multiple surgeries in Mexico as a result of the fall. According to Stone, Robotnik “broke every bone and punctured every organ in his body” during the sequel’s ending. The scene even shows Ivo in a full-body cast as Stone serves him food as part of his recovery. Based on the context of the scene, the explanation was meant to come when Team Sonic first discovers that Robotnik is still alive and sees him in his crab mech.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s Explanation For Robotnik’s Survival Creates A Plot Hole

GUN Is Made To Look Incompetent

Knowing how Robotnik survived is great, but Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s explanation is not perfect. The issue here is with how it makes GUN look. Finding Robotnik was the organization’s top priority at that point, even if they learned of Project Shadow shortly thereafter. Whether Robotnik was ᴅᴇᴀᴅ or alive, GUN would not have left the scene without confirming with absolute certainty that the villain was ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. Having Stone find him first could have worked, but the deleted scene makes GUN just look incompetent.

This is because Robotnik is not that difficult to spot among the wreckage. The scene shows only a single piece of metal lying on top of Robotnik before Stone finds him. He did not have to search through a pile of debris to find the scientist, so the GUN agents should have found him relatively quickly. The fact that they did not and Stone could carry Robotnik away undetected doesn’t make sense. Even if this rescue may have happened at night based on the darker lighting, GUN agents could have found Robotnik before Stone.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Shouldn’t Have Cut This Robotnik Survival Scene

It Was A Necessary Piece Of The Story

Setting the plot hole aside, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 should have included this scene in the final cut. How Robotnik was still alive was a big question for audiences and characters alike. Not addressing how he survived only meant that there was a mᴀssive unanswered question still lingering by the time Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s ending wrapped up. And since Ivo dies (or so it seems), there was no indication that this plot point would ever be resolved.

It would be more forgivable for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to ignore the specifics of Robotnik’s survival if it was something the filmmakers never wanted to explore. Knowing that there is a deleted scene that directly answers the question changes that. This scene could very easily have been included in the film without sacrificing much. Adding less than a minute to the runtime would have been worth it. The only real silver lining is that the franchise is not beholden to this explanation going forward. Perhaps that’s why it was cut, as a future installment could offer a different answer.