Eggman or Robotnik? The Many Versions of the Mad Doctor

The greatest villain of Sonic the Hedgehog has come in many shapes and sizes...and names. Today in "What's in a Name" we look at almost all the varieties of the good doctor and talk about what may be the greatest compromise in the Sonic franchise.

many thanks yet again to @Channel Pup for editing this sucker!

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[hsandco]

I personally loved how they set up a reason as to why sonic would call Jim's robotnik eggman, establishing the weird names with "donut Lord" and "pretzel lady" earlier on in the movie

[dylannolan]

I love both names, they both suit him in different ways. Robotnik is a name that was quite intimidating and showed his love for robots whilst Eggman is a name that shows his goofy side. Both of these characteristics are very true to his character which makes me think that's why Sega has kept both of them around.

[RoninCatholic]

Robotnik is and always has been better as a "real" name for such a fictional and cartoony person, and "Eggman" works really well as a nickname. Moreso for some versions than others.

[Mzamitla]

10:53 funny you mention this, because remnants of footage from the AOSTH pilot show that Jim Cummings was the first voice of that robotnik as well!

[HoboTron]

I think my favorite acknowledgment of the two names is in one of egg logs in sonic Frontiers. Eggman excitedly talks of how he reclaimed the name Eggman but then shuns the name baldy mc nosehair.

[Zenithal]

I've always preferred Eggman but I've grown to like the idea of Robotnik being a real named ignored for a more mocking nickname. It's a nice parallel to Tails where they have their physical characteristics mocked but they take it as new nicknames to empower themselves. I do like his old design's red eyes a lot.

[cherrypopscile]

I love how Flynn writes Eggman. He makes him intimidating while keeping him goofy. That, above all else, makes me excited hes writing the next game

[sonicnov]

As a younger fan who played the Adventure games first, I always called him Robotnik, and sometimes Eggman. It just feels natural to switch between the too. I bring it down to using Eggman when he’s being an idiot and using Robotnik when he’s actually makes a big brain move against Sonic.

[Saintbow]

It's funny how Jim Carrey predicted he would be playing Eggman in the live action movie...back in the 90's... for real, he did the cover song "I'm the walrus" and the line with him saying he was the Eggman came true.

[spinyjustspiny]

I love that they recontextualize the nickname "Eggman" in the films to be Sonic making an observation about all the sleek white machines he sends out and still ties it into Sonic's personality in that films being a bit more driven by childlike wonder and a lack of context for human society. Much like his adoptive dad Tom is "Donut Lord" ruling over a bunch of little donuts he dressed up and gives speeches to in his boredom, Robotnik is "Eggman" because he commands a bunch of weird metallic eggs.

[rynobehnke]

One of my favorite thing about his full name being Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik is that it fits well with Miles "Tails Prower.

[wanderlustwarrior]

One thing I'm surprised you didn't mention when you brought up the Kintobor backstory:
At least in UK canon, it wasn't just the last name that was reversed . His full name prior to the accident that warped him and Sonic was "Ovi Kintobor". Ovi is latin for "relating to an egg", for adjectives and such. That makes it clearer that the "Ivo" first name for Robotnik was itself an egg reference, and thus the character was always, quite literally, an egg-man in this canon.

[strikerevimus]

Having him be canonically called both names, and interchangeably as it is these days, is one of the most brilliant decisions Sega ever made. It's a fantastic decision that keeps the old fans happy and feeling validated while acknowledging the newer fans who know him by the more common name of this day and age. Granted, I do tend to call him Eggman more these days, but as a kid of the 90s who saw the original cartoons and read the Archie comics, I still call him Robotnik from time to time. Old habits die hard as they say.

By the way, where'd you get the music for SatAM and AOSTH? I've been looking forever for clean, accurate versions of those themes forever, and could never find them. I could find recreations, but not the actual versions of the music you used in your video.

[Sharikacat]

Robotnik, as a name, should feel more evil, especially as that's his name in Sat AM where he is unquestionably evil. Instead, it has an almost dignified air to it: Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Eggman has the weird capacity to be silly in one breath and sinister in another. Joke about his body shape, sure, but then you see the hundreds of airships he's managed to build in secret.

[themaddoctor]

Fun fact, Jim Cummings has a history of voicing ultimately evil doctors. He also voiced the Master in Fallout 1.

[Blandy]

I kinda like the Sonic Adventure approach where his name is Robotnik but Sonic & Co call him Eggman as an insult

[poweroffriendship.]

The name "Eggman" fits his character because he looks just like an egg as a joke, but "Robotnik" makes a lot of sense due to his passion of crafting robots and machine, hence the word "robot" in his name.

[thewinterprince]

I'm impressed you made a whole video about the origins of Eggman's names without mentioning the possible reference to the 80s/90s term "Egghead" which referred to "someone who is hilariously smart."

That said, I always liked the idea of Eggman being an insult/nickname and Robotnik being the real name. It makes more sense as a proper name, since it connects better to real naming conventions.

[lasercraft]

Sonic tried to insult Eggman and he really just went "oh hey, that name is WAY more marketable than Robotnik, I'm trademarking that."

[Nuhuhblud]

“He’s an absolute TREAT”
*Eggman shaking his ass*