Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-28262674-20160606011530/@comment-27701762-20160611184755

ITSPATRICKYALLS wrote: Then who is Sans? Some shitty EarthBound fan? Plus UNDERTALE was formerly UnderTale, which brings us closer to an EarthBound connection. Sans is a skeletal monster who is the brother of Papyrus. He is interested in science and through his interest and studies has knowledge of the shifting timelines and likely also derives his ability to teleport from this knowledge. He is lazy, enjoys jokes and especially puns, and can be somewhat apathetic at times.

I imagine what you're referring to is the little badge in Sans's workshop. But nothing indicates that that badge is the Franklin Badge beyond the fact that it is a badge. Or perhaps you are referring to the fact that Sans and Papyrus made the "armor" that Papyrus wears, which has the little insignia that is very close to the insignia on a Starman's armor. But these can be explained as mere references to a franchise that Toby enjoyed, small Easter Eggs to be discovered by fans who have also played Earthbound (likewise with the original title similarity, which if Toby wanted to maintain the connection between his characters and the Earthbound universe, he would have left as is, rather than changing the title to UNDERTALE). There is no need to go with the conclusion that there is some larger theory at play about the origins of Sans and Papyrus, and under any real scrutiny any attempt to construct such a theory must fall apart. Add in that Toby has all but vehemently denied any connection between his Earthbound hack and Undertale, and we arrive at the conclusion that all these things about Sans and Papyrus are just references.