Hi DA 
I recently scored some 3D models from a Sonic game and it got me inspired to revisit an old project I made maaaaaaaaany years ago. Plus I also wanted to see what I could do with the things I had learned since then XD
and
I made these back in 2006-2008. 
I have also been tinkering with a new story for Maria. Maybe I will write it all down at some point 
For now you get this little sample
----------------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND STORY
The new Maria has a different personality and story from my previous one. She comes from a reality where Shadow gave his life to safe her. Shadow gave her his heart, and to make her body accept it, Gerald made some genetic modifications on her, it was never the intention it would affect her appearance. Sadly Gerald died before the procedures was over, and she spend almost 60 years in coma a cryochamber. Much, much longer than planned and as a side effect the procedure affected her appearance as well. In the process she became the new ultimate lifeform.
She was freed and adopted by her cousin Ivo Robotnik, who nicknamed her “Ultimate lifeform 2.0”.
Maria has since devoted her life to become the protector of her planet. She is a fighter but a pacifist at heart.
She received lots of recognition when she defeated the “Black arms aliens” in her reality, and formed the organization “The guardian angels”.
---------------------------------------------------------
DESIGN:
First things first… My goal with my new take on a 3D mobian “Maria Robotnik” is to make her look as authentic as possible. My previous designs of her were more free interpretations. 
So I decided to look the 3D models to get a better understanding of the design and style.
My first observation was they had “free movement” in mind. Probably to compensate for their more extreme toony body shapes. (It is easier to animate humanoid characters that has more normal proportions.)
With the exception of Knuckles, none of the Sonic characters really have anything that “clutters”.
Amy’s dress is shaped like a lampshade so her legs can move freely without colliding with the skirt.
Making good colliders in 3D is hard, especially in games. Sonic and Shadow, often have dynamics on their spikes on their head, but it is a little easier to make, as it won’t have to deal with other body parts that often XD
I imagine Knuckles most have been a little trickier to do. As his dreadlocks are close to his arms.
Rouge has short hair so there is room for her wings to move.
In general I noticed her design stands out the most. She has long boots and gloves. She has thicker thighs and in general a more human shaped body. Also her fingers are thinner at the tip, making her look more feminine.
On the characters I also noticed there are different “interpretations” of fur.
For example Blaze and Tails has “spikes” like the other characters, but to illustrate it is fur there are smaller spikes on the tips.
Shadow and Silver has “actual” fur/hair. On the 3D model of Shadow, I can see his chest fur is made of “planes” with fur texture. It is a very common practice to make fur and hair like that in games. Even Eggmans mustache is made that way
--------------------------------------------------------------
My new take on a mobian Maria is a little different from before. I was a bit unsure what specie she should be, I wanted it to be something different from a hedgehog, because it has been used so many times before… I am no exception.
Then I thought what if she was “vanilla”? Like she didn’t have a “subspecies” just mobian?… Or she could be a mobian version of a human?
So… Sonic is a mobian hedgehog, Tails a mobian fox, the new Maria is a mobian human. I must admit that idea kind of grow on me XD
I have an overall idea where I wonna go with Maria’s design. However I have been struggling a bit how much I can allow myself to deviate from the other characters, before it becomes too obvious she is a fan-character.
So, do you have any thoughts or feedback?
UPDATE
Based on the feedback I got, I worked some more on her design.
l
