Exclusive: RianaLD Speaks on ASR Art Discovery

“I guess in the end, I am pretty honored”

Before DeviantARTist RianaLD posted more of her thoughts on the presence of her Sonia fan art in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing late last night, she spoke exclusively to TSSZ News and clarified her stance on the matter.

“I guess if I were mad about anything, is that someone was paid to put an element of my picture into one of their works,” she explained to TSSZ News. “I do consider it plagiarism on a technical level, but even then I’m not so sure how things work over there and if they even require permission. All this copyright stuff is really confusing to me, to be honest. I don’t know if and where I have any rights.”

On the whole, however, RianaLD says she is pleased to have the work featured, even if it was by accident.

“It’s everyone’s dream to have their fanart in an official video game,” she explained.

RianaLD also clarified to TSSZ News that her boyfriend and the one to break the news to her, Sonic scener Tirann0, was only expressing satirical distaste at the news, and that he wasn’t actually mad.

“”I couldn’t agree more (with him), especially since one day I would like to have a profession in doing video game artwork,” RianaLD said.

The artist also explained in greater detail the timeline of events on her end in learning about the lift.  She believes Sonia’s resemblance to Amy Rose as interpreted in her fan art may be why it was mistakenly chosen by Sumo for the game:

I wasn’t totally awake when my boyfriend told me what happened, but I know it felt really surreal. My first initial reaction was, “Hm, I don’t remember giving anyone permission to do that,” but then I thought, “Well, maybe someone stole the artwork and had it be put in the game to be in some sort of fanart section.” Naturally, I was very curious as to how my artwork was in the game.When I saw the footage and the image of the card with Sonia’s head on it, it felt even more surreal. I know it didn’t feel like something bad happened, and it was kinda cool. My boyfriend told me that whoever took my drawing must’ve thought it was Amy. It’s completely understandable, because someone who isn’t a Sonic fan probably wouldn’t know the difference. Why the developer chose my picture out of all the fanart and official artwork of Amy Rose, I don’t think I will ever know.

In light of the discovery, RianaLD would still like to talk with Sega or Sumo representatives, if time permits.

“I wouldn’t mind discussing the matter to a SEGA or Sumo Digital official about this, however I have little time to do so and I have no idea where to start,” she elaborated. “I also don’t think I can do anything about it legally because I don’t own anything in my artwork other than the fact that I drew it. Sonia isn’t my character.”

Though Sonia isn’t hers, and debate has emerged whether she ultimately is property of Sonic Underground producer DiC Entertainment, her wish of discussion should quickly come to fruition.  Earlier this morning, ASR executive producer Steve Lycett said Sumo would be in touch with her on the matter, calling the slip up “entirely unintentional.”

For the record, Lycett did respond to TSSZ News’s request for comment this afternoon after we published his initial statement, but he only referred us to that statement, and nothing more.

All things considered, after a wave of emotion, RianaLD settled on one reaction.

“I guess in the end, I am pretty honored that it was in the game, ” she said.