Maria Robotnik was the granddaughter of Gerald Robotnik. While her grandfather was investigating the alien Shadow the Hedgehog, Maria developed a deep bond with the hedgehog until G.U.N. invaded the laboratory, causing an explosion that led to Maria's death.
By 1974, Maria Robotnik was moved from home to a laboratory to live with her grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. As she roller-skated through the facility with her belongings, she was stopped from entering the section where scientists were experimenting on Shadow the Hedgehog. However, Captain Walters allowed her access, reminding her to remove her skates and directed her to her room.
Once inside, Maria discovered Shadow in a pod. Hesitant but curious, she approached the pod and attempted to place her hand on it. Shadow turned to glare at her warily, prompting Robotnik to glare back playfully. To break the tension, she drew a face on the pod, amusing herself. Seeing Shadow relax, she placed her hand on the pod again. Shadow mirrored her gesture, and they shared a smile, forming a bond.[1]
"Wow. Look at all those stars. They're like diamonds. My grandfather says it can take hundreds of years for the light of a star to reach Earth, and by the time you see it, the star might not even exist anymore. Isn't that crazy?"
Robotnik and Shadow quickly became close friends, with Robotnik teaching him how to dance. She often snuck him away from the researchers, with one escape where Shadow pulled her through the building on her skates. They ended in a crash with people carrying a tray of food and Robotnik burst into laughter, making snow angels in the spilled mess.
One night, Robotnik and Shadow spent time watching a movie together. However, Robotnik noticed Shadow growing sad when the movie described an "alien creature" as dangerous. She decided to take Shadow to a field at the top of the laboratory to stargaze, captivated by how the stars sparkled like diamonds in the sky. She explained to Shadow that the light from stars takes hundreds of years to reach Earth, and that some stars might no longer exist by the time their light is seen. Shadow pondered this, remarking that even if a star is gone, its light still shines. Robotnik asked which star he came from, to which he replied that he didn't remember his home planet. When Shadow hesitantly asked if she thinks he's dangerous, Robotnik gently reassured him, saying he could be whoever he wanted to be and affirmed that Earth is his home. Comforted, Shadow took her hand, and the two continued gazing at the stars together.[1]
One day, as Maria played guitar while Shadow listened, Gerald interrupted them saying they had to leave immediately. As Gerald, Maria, and Shadow were running towards the exit, an army of G.U.N. soldiers behind them began to take aim at the group. Captain Walters rushed in to stop a soldier from shooting, yelling that they're children. After a struggle, the soldier's gun accidentally went off, and shot a capsule containing chaos energy and exploded. Maria was caught in the explosion and killed, while Gerald and Shadow were knocked unconscious.
Shadow later came to and discovered Gerald kneeling over Maria's body. Both mourned the death of Maria, as G.U.N. soldiers came up with rifles raised, imprisoning Gerald in a top-secret penitentiary and, per Walters' order, placing Shadow into stasis on Prison Island in Tokyo, Japan. The death of Maria sent Shadow into a vengeful spiral, reliving the incident as he was forced to lie dormant, and also sent Gerald spiralling into a depression, causing him to vow revenge against the world.[1]
"Oh, Ivo, you're no Maria. The moment I lost her, my family was gone forever. The only way to give Maria's life meaning is to destroy the world that took her from me, so I'm burning it all down!"
After Robotnik's death, Gerald and Shadow began to resent humanity and wanted to enact revenge on the world. Decades later, Gerald released Shadow from his containment at Prison Island and began to plan the destruction of Earth using the Eclipse Cannon, with Shadow promising to avenge Maria.[1]
Shadow's Acceptance[]
"The love we felt for each other... That's what you need to hold on to, Shadow. Maria might be gone, but your love will always remain."
After Sonic the Hedgehog convinced Shadow that saving the planet would honor Robotnik's memory, the two teamed up to stop the Eclipse Cannon. As Shadow pushed the cannon away from Earth, he reflected on the happy times with Maria, successfully saving the world and finally freeing Shadow of his mental anguish.[1]
Personality[]
"You're my friend. And you can do or be anything you want, not because of your powers, but because of who you are in here."
Maria was a friendly and playful girl who loved to play with Shadow the Hedgehog. She had a mischievous side, as she infiltrated one of the lab rooms to sneak Shadow out by swapping him out with a teddy bear, and proceeded to have Shadow run her down the halls while she was on her roller skates, crashing into a a tray of food on the way.
Maria was also well-mannered and kind. Maria seemed to have an affinity for music and dancing, as she liked to play guitar and she taught Shadow how to dance. She was also very understanding and empathetic with other people. She consoled Shadow when he expressed worry over his origins and purpose, and she assured him that he can be whoever he wants to be no matter where he came from. Maria had a strong interest in the stars as well.
Equipment[]
Roller Skates: Maria often traversed using roller skates. Though she would be asked to take them off, she'd use them to play with Shadow the Hedgehog.
Gerald Robotnik's Laboratory: When her grandfather became the project leader at a G.U.N. facility, Maria would subsequently moved into the laboratory, being given a room to reside in.
In the video game series, Maria Robotnik was the terminally ill cousin of Doctor Eggman and the granddaughter of Gerald Robotnik. Dying by a direct gunshot, she sacrificed her life to rescue Shadow the Hedgehog, her best friend next to the Commander.
Her death as shown in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was likely changed as to maintain the film's PG rating.
Prior to Maria's creation, The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog TV series introduced a similarly related character of Doctor Warpnik, Robotnik's lunatic cousin whom he banished to the Warp of Confusion.
Due to her death, Maria is the only human character who doesn't meet or interact with Team Sonic, the Wachowski family, and Wade.
Prior to the release of the first trailer, it was presumed that Alyla Browne, then casted in an undisclosed role, was to play Maria Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.[2]
She revealed that she was portraying a person by the name of Maria on February 16, 2024.[3]
