Sonic the Hedgehog (character)#Characteristics

File:Mr. Hedgehog Ohshima concept art.png, under the moniker "Mr. Hedgehog"]]

While Sega was seeking a flagship series to compete with Nintendo's Mario series, several character designs were submitted by its research and development department. Many results came forth from their experiments with character design, including an armadillo, a dog, a Theodore Roosevelt look-alike in pajamas (who would later be the basis of Doctor Eggman's design), and a rabbit (who would use its extendable ears to collect objects, an aspect later incorporated in Ristar).{{cite video|title= Sonic the Hedgehog GameTap Retrospective|url= https://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=9FDFDA14B6D95A9E|access-date= February 21, 2009|archive-date= July 31, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130731093446/http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=9FDFDA14B6D95A9E|url-status= live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.kafka-is-silly.net/sonicworld/angel_island_interviews/interviews/1992/sonic_1992_unknown_1.htm |title=Sega Visions Interview with Yuji Naka |date=October 1992 |access-date=June 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010746/http://www.kafka-is-silly.net/sonicworld/angel_island_interviews/interviews/1992/sonic_1992_unknown_1.htm |archive-date=September 28, 2007}} Naoto Ohshima took some of these internal designs with him on a trip to New York City and sought feedback by asking random passersby at Central Park their opinions; of the designs, the spiky teal hedgehog, initially codenamed {{nihongo|"Mr. Hedgehog"|Mr.ハリネズミ|Mr. Harinezumi}},{{multiref2|{{Cite tweet |last=Naka |first=Yūji |user=nakayuji |number=1353259189389332480 |title=悔しいのでもう一度挑戦しましたがもっと判らなかった感じです。「セガの看板キャラクターであるソニック。世に出る前に彼に付けられていた名前を選べ」と言う問題が判りませんでした。作った人なのにね セガい共通テスト受験終了！ https://segatest.sega.com/segatest/share/jp/finish.html #SEGA60th #セガい共通テスト #SEGATEST}}|{{Cite tweet |last=Okunari |first=Yosuke |user=okunari |number=1353265118465822720 |title=これ、大島さんのラフの横に書かれた「Mr.ハリネズミ」という文字をアメリカ人が英訳した表現を言っているので、「ミスター・ニードルマウス」だと生みの親であっても日本人には？？？となりますよねw}}|{{Cite tweet |last=Naka |first=Yūji |user=nakayuji |number=1353274025393352705 |title=なんだそれ。Mr.ハリネズミだとMr.hedgehogになるのでは？誰がミスターニードルマウスと言ったのかなあ}}|{{Cite tweet |last=Okunari |first=Yosuke |user=okunari |number=1353275479625588737 |title=多分ソースは北米ファンサイトがどこかの雑誌か映像から拾った画像かと思われます http://info.sonicretro.org/Mr._Needlemouse}}|{{Cite tweet |last=Naka |first=Yūji |user=nakayuji |number=1353276720011386881 |title=これファンが言っていたのだとすると、世に出る前と言う問題はおかしいよね？ まあ「はり」「ねずみ」をそれぞれ英訳したんだろうけど、使った覚えのないミスターニードルマウスって違和感あるよ。まあ正解はしたけどね。}}

}}{{efn|"Mr. Hedgehog" is commonly, but inaccurately, translated literally as "Mr. Needlemouse".}} led this informal poll, followed by Eggman and the dog character. Ohshima felt that people selected it because it "transcends race and gender and things like that".{{cite web | url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/-i-sonic-the-hedgehog-i-s-origin-story-according-to-the-devs-who-made-him | title = Sonic the Hedgehog's origin story, according to the devs who made him | first = Alex | last = Wawro | date = March 21, 2018 | access-date = March 21, 2018 | work = Game Developer | archive-date = February 1, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220201110459/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/-i-sonic-the-hedgehog-i-s-origin-story-according-to-the-devs-who-made-him | url-status = live }} On return to Japan, Ohshima pitched this to the department, and the hedgehog was ultimately selected as the new mascot.

The detailed design of Sonic was aimed to be something that could be easily drawn by children and be familiar, as well as exhibit a "cool" attitude, representative of the United States at the time. Sonic's blue pigmentation was chosen to match Sega's cobalt blue logo, and his shoes evolved from a design inspired by both Santa Claus"Regarding the red shoes, Naoto Ohshima, who was the character designer felt that red was a necessary color from a game standpoint. While thinking about the design, he referenced images of Santa Claus." Takashi Iizuka - Sonic the Hedgehog (2020 film) - The Blue Blur: Origins of Sonic (Blu-Ray extra) and Michael Jackson's boots with the addition of the color red, which was inspired by the contrast of those colors on Jackson's 1987 album Bad; his personality was based on then-Governor of Arkansas and later President of the United States Bill Clinton's "Get it done" attitude.{{cite web | last=Sheffield | first=Brandon | work=Gamasutra | publisher=UBM plc | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4208/out_of_the_blue_naoto_ohshima_.php?page=2 | title=Out of the Blue: Naoto Ohshima Speaks | date=December 4, 2009 | access-date=February 15, 2012 | quote=The original Nights was chiefly made with the Japanese and European audiences in mind -- Sonic, meanwhile, was squarely aimed at the U.S. market....[Sonic is] a character that I think is suited to America -- or, at least, the image I had of America at the time. ... Well, he's blue because that's Sega's more-or-less official company color. His shoes were inspired by the cover to Michael Jackson's Bad, which contrasted heavily between white and red -- that Santa Claus-type color. I also thought that red went well for a character who can run really fast, when his legs are spinning. | archive-date=July 16, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716002842/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4208/out_of_the_blue_naoto_ohshima_.php?page=2 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | author=Yahoo Playback | publisher=Yahoo, Inc. | url=http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-94/1380785 | title=Yahoo Playback #94 | access-date=December 13, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222030512/http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-94/1380785 | archive-date=December 22, 2009}}{{cite web | author=Brian Ashcraft | publisher=Kotaku | url=http://kotaku.com/5420201/sonics-shoes-inspired-by-michael-jackson | title=Sonic's Shoes Inspired by Michael Jackson | date=7 December 2009 | access-date=December 13, 2009 | archive-date=30 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030030210/http://kotaku.com/5420201/sonics-shoes-inspired-by-michael-jackson | url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D9h-4vQUHM&t=245s|title=Sonic the Hedgehog GameTap Retrospective Pt. 1/4 (Watch in HD!)|author=GameTap|publisher=YouTube|date=February 6, 2009|accessdate=April 23, 2024|quote=If there was a problem, Bill Clinton took action right away. I saw that American attitude on TV. That was the kind of character I wanted to make.}} To help sell the idea to Sega's higher-ups, Ohshima pitched the concept framed by a fictional fighter pilot that had earned the name "Hedgehog" due to his spiky hair, and had decorated his plane with images of Sonic. When this pilot retired, he married a children's book author, who wrote stories about the Sonic character, the first which became the plot for the first Sonic game; Ohshima stated that this influence can be seen in the logo of the game, which features Sonic in a pilot's wing emblem.

The origins of Sonic can be traced farther back to a draft created by Naoto Ōshima in 1989, which years later turned into Sonic. Yuji Naka implemented the idea of a character running inside loops with an algorithm that allowed a sprite to move smoothly on a curve by determining its position with a dot matrix. This concept was subsequently fleshed out by designer Hirokazu Yasuhara.{{cite magazine|author=GI Staff|title=Sonic's Architect: GI Interviews Hirokazu Yasuhara|magazine=Game Informer|issue=124|volume=13|date=August 2003|pages=114–116}}

Sonic was created without the ability to swim because of a mistaken assumption by Yuji Naka that all hedgehogs could not do so.{{cite web |url=http://www.videogamer.com/news/revealed_why_sonic_cant_swim.html |title=Revealed: Why Sonic can't swim |date=February 2009 |access-date=February 27, 2009 |archive-date=June 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601175650/https://www.videogamer.com/news/revealed_why_sonic_cant_swim.html |url-status=live }} A group of fifteen people started working on the first Sonic the Hedgehog game, and renamed themselves Sonic Team. The game's soundtrack was composed by Masato Nakamura of the band Dreams Come True. Sega sponsored the group's "Wonder 3" tour, painting Sonic on the tour bus, distributing pamphlets advertising the game, and having footage of the game broadcast above stage prior to its release.{{cite web|url=http://www.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_sonicteam.php?article=nakamura|publisher=Sonic Central|title=Masato Nakamura interview|format=flash|access-date=February 7, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223022942/http://www.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_sonicteam.php?article=nakamura|archive-date=December 23, 2008}} The original concepts gave Sonic fangs and put him in a band with a human girlfriend named Madonna. However, a team from Sega of America, led by Madeline Schroeder, who calls herself "Sonic's mother", "softened" the character up for an American audience by removing those elements. This sparked a heated issue with Sonic Team. Naka later admitted that it was probably for the best.

Sonic's appearance varies greatly depending on the medium and the style in which he is drawn. In the video games, Sonic's original design by Ohshima was short and round, with short quills, a round body, and no visible irises. Artwork featuring this design and drawn by Akira Watanabe was displayed on the package artwork for Sonic the Hedgehog.{{cite book|title=Sega Video Game Illustrations|year=1994|publisher=Nippon Shuppan Hanbai (Deutschland) GmbH|isbn=3-910052-50-9}} Sonic's proportions would change for the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on the Mega Drive; Sonic's head to height ratio was changed from 1:2 to 1:2.5. For the 1998 release of Sonic Adventure, Sonic was redesigned by Yuji Uekawa as a character with longer legs and a less spherical body, longer and more drooping quills, and green-colored irises. For the 2006 game, Sonic was redesigned to make him look adult-like and taller to appeal to the next generation players.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-nKwLLB6Yg| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203060551/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-nKwLLB6Yg| archive-date=2014-02-03 | url-status=dead|title=Sonic 06 Developer Interview |work=Sonic Team USA|access-date=October 21, 2013}} This was also done because Sonic would interact with humans more often and his design was supposed to fit.{{cite web|url=http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1590/E3-2006-Sonic-Team-Interview/p2/|title=E3 2006: Sonic Team Interview|publisher=GameSpy|date=May 24, 2006|access-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022060541/http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1590/E3-2006-Sonic-Team-Interview/p2/|archive-date=October 22, 2013}} An alternative "Werehog" form was introduced in Sonic Unleashed, placing more emphasis on Sonic's melee skills rather than speed. Although Tetsu Katano acknowledged the large negative fan response to the Werehog, he believes it could return in a future game.{{cite web|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/89847-Sonic-Unleasheds-Werehog-Will-Return|title=Sonic Unleashed's Werehog Will Return|publisher=Escapist Magazine|date=March 2, 2009|author=Ng, Kaeng|access-date=October 21, 2013|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726061010/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/89847-Sonic-Unleasheds-Werehog-Will-Return|url-status=dead}}

Bob Raffei, CEO of Sonic Boom developer Big Red Button, stated that Sonic Boom{{'s}} Sonic is "very different... both in tone and art direction." That version has blue-furred arms, more quills, and wears a brown neckerchief around his neck and athletic sports tape on his wrists and shoes.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/2/6/5386746/sonic-boom-wii-u-nintendo-3ds-sega|title=Sonic Boom gives Sega's series a new look, two new developers|website=Polygon|date=6 February 2014|access-date=February 10, 2019|archive-date=18 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418134936/https://www.polygon.com/2014/2/6/5386746/sonic-boom-wii-u-nintendo-3ds-sega|url-status=live}}

File:Roger Craig Smith (52551095867).jpg (pictured in 2022) has been the voice actor for the character in most English language media since 2010.|left]]

Sonic originally had a few voice samples in Sonic CD, with designer Masato Nishimura providing the voice.{{cite web|title=Masato Nishimura (Mazin) on Twitter: "あ、それから、プレイ中にコントローラ放置してるとソニックが飛び降りて行ってしまう時のセリフは「I'm outta here」ではなく「I'm outer here」って言ってます。あばよ！ってニュアンスのセリフですね。ちなみに1up時のYES!も含め私が声をやりました。"|url=https://twitter.com/Mazin__/status/884013547952328704|date=July 9, 2017|publisher=Twitter|access-date=April 12, 2025}}{{cite web|last1=Terell|first1=Connor|title=The Many Voices Of Sonic The Hedgehog|url=https://www.cultureslate.com/explained/the-many-voices-of-sonic-the-hedgehog|date=February 11, 2025|publisher=CultureSlate|access-date=April 12, 2025}} Sonic's first true voice actor was Takeshi Kusao for the arcade game SegaSonic the Hedgehog, with Junichi Kanemaru continually voicing the role beginning with the release of Sonic Adventure. Kanemaru also voices Sonic in Sonic X, Sonic Boom, and the Japanese dub of the Wreck-It Ralph films.{{cite web|url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1458548005|title=ソニック役でお馴染み、金丸淳一さん声優30周年！ オリジナルアルバム再販記念ロングインタビュー|publisher=Animate|work=Animate Times|access-date=April 12, 2025|date=March 21, 2016 |language=ja |trans-title=}} In Sonic Unleashed, Sonic was voiced by Tomokazu Seki while in Werehog form. Jaleel White voiced the character in the DiC animated series Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic SatAM, and Sonic Underground.{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Patrick|date=September 30, 2015|title=A hedgehog for all seasons: Our guide to 20 manic years of Sonic cartoons|url=https://www.avclub.com/a-hedgehog-for-all-seasons-our-guide-to-20-manic-years-1798284993|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030183427/https://games.avclub.com/a-hedgehog-for-all-seasons-our-guide-to-20-manic-years-1798284993|archive-date=October 30, 2019|website=The A.V. Club}} Sam Vincent provided his singing voice in the latter DiC cartoon.

Starting with Sonic Adventure, Sonic was voiced in English by Ryan Drummond. Drummond was replaced by Jason Griffith starting from Sonic X, with Griffith voicing Sonic within the games starting with Shadow The Hedgehog in 2005. Griffith was replaced by Roger Craig Smith, starting with Sonic Free Riders and Sonic Colors.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.sega.com/sonic/2010/07/15/out-of-the-mouths-of-hedgehogs/|title=Out of the mouths of hedgehogs|access-date=July 15, 2010|date=July 15, 2010|publisher=Sega|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524063124/http://blogs.sega.com/sonic/2010/07/15/out-of-the-mouths-of-hedgehogs/|archive-date=May 24, 2011}} Smith announced on his Twitter account on January 29, 2021, that he would no longer voice Sonic, with his departure confirmed by Sega the same day.{{cite web |last1=Tuff |first1=Adam |title=Roger Craig Smith Hints Departure from Sonic Voice Acting Role |url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/2021/01/roger-craig-smith-hints-departure-from-sonic-voice-acting-role/ |website=The Sonic Stadium |access-date=29 January 2021 |date=28 January 2021 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128165309/https://www.sonicstadium.org/2021/01/roger-craig-smith-hints-departure-from-sonic-voice-acting-role/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite tweet|number=1354805293369024520|user=RogerCraigSmith|title=Welp, 10 years was an amazing run. Onward to new zones! Much love to the fans who've been so kind. 💙 It's been an honor. 🦔 |date=28 January 2021|author=Roger Craig Smith|author-link=Roger Craig Smith}}{{Cite tweet|author=Sonic the Hedgehog|number=1354942087536381958|user=sonic_hedgehog|title=For over 10 years, Roger Craig Smith has been an integral part of the SEGA family. He brought the voice of Sonic to life, and we are forever grateful for his never-ending enthusiasm in helping the community and spreading joy. Thank you, Roger, for all you've done for Sonic.|date=28 January 2021}} On May 26, 2021, Smith and Sega confirmed that he was voicing Sonic once again.{{Cite tweet|number=1397582815873490948|user=RogerCraigSmith|title=I can't fully express my gratitude for the @sonic_hedgehog crew and community. 🙏 I hope to honor your support and passion as I'm officially back voicing #SonicTheHedgehog in games. Can't wait for ya to see what we have planned! THANK YOU...from the bottom of my blue heart. 💙|author=Roger Craig Smith|author-link=Roger Craig Smith|date=May 26, 2021}}{{Cite tweet|author=Sonic the Hedgehog|number=1397587955410112512|user=sonic_hedgehog|title=💙🦔|date=May 26, 2021}} Ben Schwartz voiced Sonic in the 2020 feature film and its 2022 and 2024 sequels.{{cite web |last1=Gartenberg |first1=Chaim |title=Sonic movie delayed to February 2020 so they can fix Sonic |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/24/18638637/paramount-live-action-sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-delay-february-2020-cgi-fix |website=The Verge |access-date=July 17, 2019 |date=May 24, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617004949/https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/24/18638637/paramount-live-action-sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-delay-february-2020-cgi-fix |url-status=live }}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18259086/fullcredits |title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) - IMDb |access-date=2024-08-28 |via=www.imdb.com}} Canadian actor Deven Mack voices Sonic in the Sonic Prime animated series.

{{Clear}}

{{see also|Sonic the Hedgehog|List of Sonic the Hedgehog video games|l1=Sonic the Hedgehog|l2=List of Sonic the Hedgehog video games}}

File:SuperSonic.pngSonic's first shown appearance in a video game was in the 1990 arcade racing game Rad Mobile, as a decorative ornament hanging from a rearview mirror.{{Cite book|title=The Sega Arcade Revolution, A History in 62 Games|last=Horowitz|first=Ken|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2018|isbn=9781476631967|pages=182–184}} This was followed by an unlicensed appearance in The Adventures of Quik & Silva as a villain. Sonic's first playable appearance was in the platform game Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, which also introduced his nemesis Dr. Robotnik. His two-tailed fox friend Tails joined him in the game's 1992 sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. When all the Chaos Emeralds have been collected, Sonic can transform into Super Sonic by collecting 50 rings. Super Sonic is nearly invincible, runs faster, and jumps farther, but loses one ring per second and reverts to normal when his rings are depleted.{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/sonic-the-hedgehog-2/| url-status=live | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211111/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/sonic-the-hedgehog-2/| archive-date=November 11, 2021 |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=April 13, 2021 |date=July 6, 2018}}{{cbignore}} Sonic CD, released in 1993, introduced Sonic's self-appointed girlfriend Amy Rose and recurring robotic doppelgänger Metal Sonic as Sonic traveled through time to ensure a good future for the world. Sonic 3 and its direct sequel Sonic & Knuckles, both released in 1994, saw Sonic and Tails battle Robotnik again, with the additional threat of Knuckles, who is tricked by Robotnik into thinking Sonic is a threat. Sonic 4 (2010–2012) continues where the story of Sonic 3 left off, reducing Sonic to the only playable character and releasing in episodic installments. The second episode sees the return of both Tails as Sonic's sidekick and Metal Sonic as a recurring enemy.

Other two-dimensional platformers starring Sonic include Sonic Chaos (1993), Sonic Triple Trouble (1994), Sonic Blast (1996), Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure (1999), Sonic Advance (2001), Sonic Advance 2 (2002), Sonic Advance 3 (2004), Sonic Rush (2005), Sonic Rush Adventure (2007), Sonic Colors (2010), and Sonic Generations (2011), all in which were released for handheld consoles.

Sonic Adventure (1998) was Sonic Team's return to the character for a major game. It featured Sonic returning from vacation to find the city of Station Square under attack by a new foe named Chaos, under the control of Dr. Robotnik (now known as Dr. Eggman). It was also the first Sonic game to feature a complete voice-over. Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) placed Sonic on-the-run from the military (G.U.N.) after being mistaken for Shadow the Hedgehog. Sonic Heroes (2003) featured Sonic teaming up with Tails and Knuckles, along with other character teams like Team Rose and Chaotix, against the newly rebuilt Metal Sonic, who had betrayed his master with intentions of world domination. Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) features Sonic in the city of water, "Soleanna", where he must rescue Princess Elise from Dr. Eggman while trying to avoid a new threat to his own life, Silver the Hedgehog. He is the only playable character in Sonic Unleashed (2008), in which he unwillingly gains a new personality, "Sonic the Werehog", the result of Sonic being fused with Dark Gaia's power. He gains strength and flexibility in exchange for his speed, and new friends including a strange creature named Chip who helps him along the way. In Sonic Colors (2010), Eggman tries to harness the energy of alien beings known as "Wisps" for a mind-control beam. Sonic Generations (2011) features two playable incarnations of Sonic: the younger "classic" Sonic, whose gameplay is presented in a style reminiscent of the Mega Drive/Genesis games, and present-day "modern" Sonic, who uses the gameplay style present in Unleashed and Colors, going through stages from past games to save their friends. Sonic Generations features various theme songs including modern and retro versions that are able to be selected from throughout Sonic's twenty-year history.{{cite web | url=http://kotaku.com/5861124/sonic-music-video | title=A Look Back at 20 Years of Music History with Sonic | date=19 November 2011 | publisher=Kotaku | access-date=July 18, 2013 | archive-date=16 December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216120635/https://kotaku.com/5861124/sonic-music-video | url-status=live }} In April 2013, Sega announced that Sonic Lost World would launch in October 2013 for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.{{cite web | url=http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/16/sonic-lost-world-plots-a-path-to-retail-october-22/ | title=Sonic: Lost World plots a path to retail October 22 | publisher=Joystiq | access-date=July 18, 2013 | archive-date=February 2, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202053143/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/16/sonic-lost-world-plots-a-path-to-retail-october-22/ | url-status=live }}

Sonic and the Secret Rings (2007) features Sonic in the storybook world of One Thousand and One Nights. A sequel, Sonic and the Black Knight (2009), continued the storybook theme, this time taking place within the realm of the Arthurian legend.

Sonic has also been featured in other games of many genres other than 2D and 3D platform games. These include Sonic Spinball, Sonic Labyrinth (1995), the racing games Sonic Drift (1994), Sonic Drift 2 (1995), Sonic R (1996), Sonic Riders (2006), Sonic Rivals (2006), Sonic Rivals 2 (2007), Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008), and Sonic Free Riders (2010), the fighting games Sonic the Fighters (1996) and Sonic Battle (2003), the mobile game Sonic Jump (2005), and the role-playing video game Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008). Critics and fans have occasionally questioned why Sonic uses vehicles in several of the racing games, given his latent speed; however, it has been explained by Sega and in some official Sonic media that he does so in order to compete fairly with others in races.{{Cite web |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=2006-02-24 |title=Sonic Riders |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/24/sonic-riders |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sato |date=2018-06-04 |title=Sega Explains Why Sonic Rides A Car In Team Sonic Racing, Shares More On Its Characters |url=https://www.siliconera.com/sega-explains-sonic-car-team-sonic-racing-shares-characters/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Siliconera |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Taylor-Kent |first=Oscar |date=2025-02-16 |title=Sonic driving a car in Sonic Racing: Crossworlds makes perfect sense, and after 30 years I'm sick of explaining why |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog/sonic-driving-a-car-in-sonic-racing-crossworlds-makes-perfect-sense-and-after-30-years-im-sick-of-explaining-why/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}

Video games such as Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (1993), Knuckles' Chaotix (1995), Tails' Skypatrol (1995), Tails Adventure (1995), and Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) starred supporting characters of the Sonic series, although Sonic himself cameos in most of them.

Sonic makes cameos in various other games, such as Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg as a power-up, in the main hallway in Phantasy Star Universe, and in the 2008 remake of Samba de Amigo. He is also a playable character in Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams. Nintendo, Sega's former rival, references Sonic in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, by showing Sonic's shoes next to a trash can that reads "No Hopers" on the Cranky's Video Game Heroes screen.{{cite web | url=http://www.sonicworld.net/site/games/cameos/ | title=Sonic Cameos | publisher=Sonic World | access-date=July 18, 2013 | archive-date=June 7, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607133300/http://www.sonicworld.net/site/games/cameos/ | url-status=live }}

Sonic has appeared in several crossover games, including playable appearances in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008), Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2014), and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018), Lego Dimensions (2015),{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Lucy|date=June 9, 2016|title=New LEGO Dimensions Expansion Features The Goonies, Sonic, E.T. & More|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/09/new-lego-dimensions-expansion-features-the-goonies-sonic-et-more|access-date=June 9, 2016|archive-date=April 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423221437/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/09/new-lego-dimensions-expansion-features-the-goonies-sonic-et-more|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Machkovech |first1=Sam |title=Smash Bros. Ultimate hands-on: We put new fighters, new features to the test |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/06/smash-bros-ultimate-hands-on-we-put-new-fighters-new-features-to-the-test/ |website=Ars Technica |date=14 June 2018 |access-date=June 27, 2018 |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525202758/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/06/smash-bros-ultimate-hands-on-we-put-new-fighters-new-features-to-the-test/ |url-status=live }} and Cookie Run: Kingdom (2021). He appears in the crossover party game series Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games and is also a playable character in all three Sega Superstars games.{{cite magazine |title=Sega Superstars Tennis: Sega serves up fan love |last=Nelson |first=Randy |magazine=PlayStation: The Official Magazine |issue=3 |date=February 2008 |page=36}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/26/tgs-2004-sega-superstars-hands-on |title=TGS 2004: Sega SuperStars Hands-On |last=Lewis |first=Ed |date=September 26, 2004 |website=IGN |accessdate=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=September 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927014617/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/26/tgs-2004-sega-superstars-hands-on |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.feralinteractive.com/en/news/332/|title=Feral Interactive: Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing release announcement|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2013-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513120126/http://www.feralinteractive.com/en/news/332/|url-status=live}} An official Sonic the Hedgehog skin is available in the platformer battle royale game Fall Guys.{{cite web|last=Bishop|first=Rollin|date=October 14, 2020|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/fall-guys-sonic-the-hedgehog-costume-release/|title=Fall Guys' Sonic the Hedgehog Costume Is Now Available|publisher=ComicBook.com|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=April 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410182209/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/fall-guys-sonic-the-hedgehog-costume-release/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Cryer|first=Hirun|date=October 14, 2020|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/fall-guys-gets-a-sonic-the-hedgehog-skin-later-today/|title=Fall Guys gets a Sonic the Hedgehog skin later today|publisher=GamesRadar|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=April 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424003249/https://www.gamesradar.com/fall-guys-gets-a-sonic-the-hedgehog-skin-later-today/|url-status=live}} Sonic appears as a playable character in Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 via free update. An official Sonic the Hedgehog world with skins are available with DLC in Minecraft.{{Cite web|last=Blog|first=Windows Experience|date=2021-06-22|title=Sonic the Hedgehog DLC now available for Minecraft for Windows 10|url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/06/22/sonic-the-hedgehog-dlc-now-available-for-minecraft-for-windows-10/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Windows Experience Blog|language=en-US|archive-date=2023-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411050125/https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/06/22/sonic-the-hedgehog-dlc-now-available-for-minecraft-for-windows-10/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|date=2021-06-22|title=Sonic the Hedgehog is in Minecraft now|url=https://www.polygon.com/22545586/minecraft-sonic-the-hedgehog-dlc-sega|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-date=2023-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423221440/https://www.polygon.com/22545586/minecraft-sonic-the-hedgehog-dlc-sega|url-status=live}} He is also appears as an unlockable playable character in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD, Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania and Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble.

The first three animated series featuring Sonic were created by the international company DiC. The first of these series, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, premiered in 1993, and depicts Sonic and his friend Tails opposing Doctor Ivo Robotnik and his robots on the planet Mobius. Another animated series premiering the same year, simply titled Sonic the Hedgehog, depicts Sonic and a group of rebels aiming to defeat Robotnik in a futuristic version of Mobius. The third animated series, Sonic Underground, premiered in 1999, and features Sonic as the protagonist alongside his siblings Sonia and Manic.

In 1996, a two-part OVA, Sonic the Hedgehog, was released in Japan. For the American release, the two episodes combined and released as Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie by ADV Films.{{cite web |year=1999 |title=Full credits of "Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie" |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237765/fullcredits |publisher=IMDb |access-date=2018-07-01 |archive-date=2015-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721001852/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237765/fullcredits |url-status=live }} A new series, Sonic X, began airing in 2003. The 78-episode anime series detailed Sonic's struggle to protect the Chaos Emeralds from Eggman and new villains. Featuring a cross-world and interstellar journey, Sonic X depicted Sonic and his human friend Chris Thorndyke in quests to save the world. Sonic: Night of the Werehog is a short film produced by Sega's VE Animation Studio, released to coincide with the release of Sonic Unleashed. In the film, Sonic and Chip enter a haunted house, and must deal with two ghosts trying to scare them in attempt to win the heart of the girl ghost. Sonic also makes multiple cameo appearances in the Disney films, Wreck-It Ralph (2012) and its sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018).{{cite web |last1=Workman |first1=Robert |title=Sonic the Hedgehog Coming Back For 'Wreck-It Ralph' Sequel |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/08/29/sonic-the-hedgehog-wreck-it-ralph-sequel/ |website=ComicBook.com |date=29 August 2018 |access-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829202110/https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/08/29/sonic-the-hedgehog-wreck-it-ralph-sequel/ |url-status=live }}

In October 2013, Sega announced a CGI animated series, Sonic Boom.{{cite web|url = http://blogs.sega.com/2013/10/02/sonic-boom-working-title-a-new-animated-series-coming-fall-2014/|title = Sonic Boom (Working Title) – A New Animated Series Coming Fall 2014|last = Parker|first = Kelli|date = October 2, 2013|access-date = February 24, 2014|website = SEGA Blog|publisher = Sega|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150905185122/http://blogs.sega.com/2013/10/02/sonic-boom-working-title-a-new-animated-series-coming-fall-2014/|archive-date = September 5, 2015|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}} The show ran for 104 11-minute episodes between 2014 and 2017 on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and the UK, and Canal J and Gulli in France. Sonic makes several appearances in 2014 anime Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls{{Cite episode|title=Center-sensei's Center Exam|series=Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls|series-link=Sega Hard Girls|network=Animax|date=November 12, 2014|number=6}}{{Cite episode|title=Eggman vs. Sonic with the Sega Hard Girls|series=Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls|series-link=Sega Hard Girls|network=Animax|date=November 19, 2014|number=7}}{{Cite episode|title=We'll Always Be Connected!|series=Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls|series-link=Sega Hard Girls|network=Animax|date=December 24, 2014|number=13}} and guest-stars in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode "Let's Meet Sonic".{{cite tweet|user=cartoonnetwork|number=1152293064771297280|title=GOTTA GO FAST to keep up with this legendary duo! 💥🥊 Watch the epic crossover episode of OK KO x Sonic the Hedgehog Sunday, August 4th at 4:45p (ET/PT) | date=July 19, 2019 | access-date=July 19, 2019}}

In February 2021, Sonic Prime was announced by Netflix with a 2022 release window,{{cite web |title=Sonic the Hedgehog Speeds Over to Netflix in the All-New Animated Series 'Sonic Prime' |url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-speeds-over-to-netflix-in-the-all-new-animated-series |website=Netflix Media Center |access-date=1 February 2021 |language=en |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601064127/https://about.netflix.com/en/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-speeds-over-to-netflix-in-the-all-new-animated-series |url-status=live }} though the series' development was initially revealed in a deleted tweet in December 2020.{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=New Sonic the Hedgehog animated series coming to Netflix |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/12/10/22167777/netflix-sonic-the-hedgehog-new-animated-series-date |website=Polygon |date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201192302/https://www.polygon.com/2020/12/10/22167777/netflix-sonic-the-hedgehog-new-animated-series-date|archive-date=February 1, 2021}} The show is primarily for children ages six to eleven, as well as longtime fans of the franchise.{{cite web|title=Netflix's Sonic Prime animated series confirmed for 2022|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-02-01-netflixs-sonic-prime-animated-series-confirmed-for-2022|first=Wesely|last=Yin-Poole|website=Eurogamer|date=February 1, 2021|access-date=2021-02-05|archive-date=2021-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201155153/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-02-01-netflixs-sonic-prime-animated-series-confirmed-for-2022|url-status=live}} In October 2022, Netflix set its release for December.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-prime-release-date-character-posters-netflix|title=Sonic Prime: Exclusive Release Date and Character Posters Reveal for Netflix Animated Series|last=Griffin|first=David|website=IGN|date=October 27, 2022|access-date=October 27, 2022|archive-date=October 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030123816/https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-prime-release-date-character-posters-netflix|url-status=live}} In the series, after recklessly breaking the Paradox Prism which breaks the entire universe and creates several alternative dimensions and versions of his friends, Sonic desperately seeks to restore them and embarks on a mission to find the shards of the Prism and fix it.

{{main|Sonic the Hedgehog (film series)|l1=Sonic the Hedgehog (film series)}}

File:Sonic Film original design.jpg to resemble his video game design more.]]

On June 10, 2014, a film based on the Sonic series was announced. Simply known as Sonic the Hedgehog, it was produced by Neal Moritz on his Original Film banner alongside Takeshi Ito and Mie Onishi, with Toby Ascher as executive producer. The film was written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller and produced as a joint venture between Paramount Pictures and Marza Animation Planet. The film is a live-action and CGI hybrid.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sonic-hedgehog-movie-races-paramount-1044819|title='Sonic the Hedgehog' Movie races to Paramount (Exclusive)|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=October 22, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=October 22, 2017|archive-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003041014/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sonic-hedgehog-movie-races-paramount-1044819|url-status=live}} The movie was filmed in 2018, with a release date initially set for November 8, 2019. Upon the release of the film's first trailer in late April 2019, however, Sonic's appearance was heavily criticized, leading to the director, Jeff Fowler, to announce a redesign of him, pushing back the release date to February 14, 2020. The second trailer for the film was released on November 12, 2019, featuring the redesign, which drew in a far more positive response from both fans and critics alike. In the first film, it centers on Sonic, born with supersonic speed powers and abilities, who befriends the sheriff named Tom Wachowski, to stop the villainous Dr. Robotnik who plots to have Sonic's speed powers for world domination.{{Cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/new-sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-trailer-shows-his-redesign-1839796777 |title=New Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Trailer Shows His Redesigned Face |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |date=November 12, 2019 |website=Kotaku |access-date=November 12, 2019 |archive-date=November 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112122721/https://kotaku.com/new-sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-trailer-shows-his-redesign-1839796777 |url-status=live }} Particular issues with his design included his teeth and legs. According to Paramount marketing president Marc Weinstock, the negative reaction to the original design resulted in a change to how video game adaptations are handled at the company.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/ugly-film-sonic-changed-how-hollywood-makes-video-game-movies |title=Ugly film Sonic changed how Hollywood makes video game movies |work=Eurogamer |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=April 2, 2024 |accessdate=December 23, 2024}} A sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, was released on April 8, 2022, and it centers on Sonic and Tails on a race to prevent Robotnik and Knuckles from getting the hands on the Master Emerald.{{Cite web|last=Goslin|first=Austen|date=2021-02-10|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is officially racing to theaters in 2022|url=https://www.polygon.com/movies/2021/2/10/22276207/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-movie-tails-release-date-2022|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Polygon|archive-date=2021-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210151005/https://www.polygon.com/movies/2021/2/10/22276207/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-movie-tails-release-date-2022|url-status=live}}

The original design of Sonic from the first movie's initial trailer appears in Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, voiced by Tim Robinson. Named "Ugly Sonic", he is portrayed as a washed up actor looking to make a comeback after he was kicked off the film.{{cite web|last=Milici|first=Lauren|date=May 20, 2022|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/chip-n-dale-ugly-sonic-cameo-akiva-schaffer/|title=Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers director Akiva Schaffer talks that very ugly cameo|publisher=GamesRadar|accessdate=May 20, 2022|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520161130/https://www.gamesradar.com/chip-n-dale-ugly-sonic-cameo-akiva-schaffer/|url-status=live}}

Sonic briefly appears as a player's avatar in the 2018 film Ready Player One.{{cite web| url=https://segabits.com/blog/2018/03/07/sega-in-the-media-sonic-the-hedgehog-cameos-in-ready-player-one/| title=SEGA in the Media: Sonic the Hedgehog cameos in Ready Player One| date=7 March 2018| access-date=8 January 2023| archive-date=27 March 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327171243/https://segabits.com/blog/2018/03/07/sega-in-the-media-sonic-the-hedgehog-cameos-in-ready-player-one/| url-status=live}}

{{main|List of Sonic the Hedgehog printed media|l1=List of Sonic the Hedgehog printed media}}

Sonic's first comic appearance was in a promotional comic printed in Disney Adventures magazine (and also given away as a free pull-out with a copy of Mean Machines magazine), which established a backstory for the character involving the origin of his color and abilities and the transformation of kindly scientist Dr. Ovi Kintobor into the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Numerous British publications, including "Sega handbook" Stay Sonic (1993), four novels published by Virgin Books (1993–1994) and the comic book Sonic the Comic (1993–2001), published by Fleetway Publications/Egmont Publishing, used this premise as their basis.{{cite web |url=http://www.ogrecave.com/interviews/jameswallis.shtml |title=Interviews: James Wallis |author=Allan Sugarbaker |date=September 24, 2001 |work=OgreCave.com |access-date=January 22, 2012 |quote=I teamed up with Carl Sargent and Marc Gascoigne to produce four more Sonic books, novels this time, for Virgin Publishing, under the pseudonym of 'Martin Adams'. |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926013526/http://www.ogrecave.com/interviews/jameswallis.shtml |url-status=live }}

The American comics published by Archie Comics, Sonic the Hedgehog (1993–2017), Sonic X (2005–2008), and Sonic Universe (2009–2017) are based on the settings established by earlier animated TV series, the ABC "SatAM" cartoon, the Sonic X anime, and an expansion to the series, respectively. The former series is currently the second longest-running licensed comic series in the history of American comic books, second only to Marvel's Conan series (first issue released in 1970).

In France two comic books named "Sonic Adventures" were published by Sirène in 1994. Guinness World Records recognized Sonic comic as the longest-running comic based on a game. Archie Comics also released a twelve part crossover with Mega Man beginning in 2013.{{cite news | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-07-10/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-Mega-Man-crossover/56118040/1 | title=Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man team up for first time | newspaper=USA Today | access-date=July 18, 2013 | date=July 10, 2012 | archive-date=December 27, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227095920/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-07-10/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-Mega-Man-crossover/56118040/1 | url-status=live }} The Archie comics were later succeeded by a new comic series by IDW Publishing in 2018, which is currently ongoing.

Sonic has also been featured in two different manga. One series was simply called Sonic the Hedgehog, and featured a story about a normal hedgehog boy named Nicky who can change into Sonic.{{cite web | url=http://www.theghz.com/museum/1992.html | title=1992 | publisher=The Green Hill Zone | access-date=July 18, 2013 | archive-date=October 22, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022111623/http://www.theghz.com/museum/1992.html | url-status=live }} The other series was a compilation of short stories and was separated into two volumes, the first being called Dash and Spin, and the other called Super Fast Sonic!!.

According to various official materials from Sega, Sonic is described as a character who is "like the wind": a drifter who lives as he wants,Sega (2004). Sonic Heroes instruction manual, pp. 6 and makes life a series of events and adventures.{{cite web |author=Sonic Team |publisher = Sega of Japan |url=http://sonic.sega.jp/chara/sonic/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731123231/http://sonic.sega.jp/chara/sonic/ |archive-date=July 31, 2008 |title=Sonic's official character profile |access-date=April 12, 2006}} Sonic hates oppression and staunchly defends freedom.Sega (1999). Sonic Adventure instruction manual, pp. 18 Although he is mostly quick-witted and easygoing, he has a short temper and is often impatient with slower things.{{cite web |author=Sega of America |publisher=Sega of America |url=http://www.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_allabout.php?article=soniccharacters |title=Sonic's official character profile from Sega of America |access-date=March 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305082053/http://www.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_allabout.php?article=soniccharacters |archive-date=March 5, 2005}} Sonic is a habitual daredevil hedgehog who is honest, loyal to friends, keeps his promises, and dislikes tears.Sega (1997). Sonic Jam, Sega Saturn. Sonic World's Character Profiles (in English) He took the young Tails under his wing like a little brother,{{cite web |author=Sega of America |publisher=Sega of America |url=http://www.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_allabout.php?article=soniccharacters |title=Tails's official character profile from Sega of America |access-date=June 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305082053/http://www.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_allabout.php?article=soniccharacters |archive-date=March 5, 2005}} and is uninterested in marital proposals from Amy Rose.{{cite web |author=Sega of America |publisher=Sega of America |url=http://www2.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_allabout.php?article=soniccharacters |title=Amy's official character profile from Sega of America |access-date=June 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224081425/http://www2.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_allabout.php?article=soniccharacters |archive-date=February 24, 2010}} In times of crisis, he focuses intensely on the challenge, as if his personality had undergone an astonishing change.

Sonic's greatest strength is his running speed, being known in the game's universe as the world's fastest hedgehog. Many of his abilities are variations on the tendency for hedgehogs to roll into tight balls for protection with the addition of spinning his body. Since his introduction in 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic's primary offensive maneuver is the basic "Spin Attack" (or "Sonic Spin Attack").Sega (1991). Sonic the Hedgehog instruction manual, pp. 3 Later games in the series expanded on this basic attack and two of these enhancements have become mainstays of his: the Spin Dash which was introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and involves Sonic spinning on the spot before blasting off at full speed,Sega (1991). Sonic the Hedgehog 2 instruction manual, pp. 6 and the Homing Attack, officially introduced in Sonic Adventure, in which Sonic dashes toward a target in midair. Sonic's only weakness is that he cannot swim, sinking like a rock if plunged to a deep body of water. The reason for this is because Yuji Naka had a misunderstanding about hedgehogs not being able to swim.{{Cite web |last=Shirey |first=J. Brodie |date=2022-08-27 |title=Sonic The Hedgehog Creator Reveals Why Sonic Can't Swim |url=https://screenrant.com/sonic-hedgehog-cant-swim-creator-reveals-why/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103164735/https://screenrant.com/sonic-hedgehog-cant-swim-creator-reveals-why/ |url-status=live }} The only exception is that he can swim in the Sonic the Hedgehog Adventure Gamebooks.{{cite web |title=Sonic's Vital Statistics |url=https://gamebooks.org/scans/Sonic/sonic1sheet.gif |access-date=November 17, 2017 |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221190308/https://gamebooks.org/scans/Sonic/sonic1sheet.gif |url-status=live }} When the seven Chaos Emeralds are collected and used, Sonic transforms into {{nihongo|"Super Sonic"|スーパーソニック|}}, a faster, stronger and invulnerable version of himself that can fly.{{cite web |author=Sonic Team |publisher = Sega of America |url=http://sonic.sega.jp/chara/supersonic/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701142150/http://sonic.sega.jp/chara/supersonic/index.html |archive-date=July 1, 2008 |title=Super Sonic's official character profile from Sonic Team |access-date=June 25, 2008}} In Super Sonic form, Sonic's irises turn red and his body becomes golden.

File:Porto Alegre Sonic Graffiti 2011.jpg, Brazil in 2011]]

As Sega's mascot and one of the key reasons for the company's success during the 16-bit era of video game consoles, Sonic is one of the most famous video game characters in the world. In 1993, Sonic became the first video game character to have a balloon in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Kennedy|publisher=1up.com|title=The Essential 50: Sonic the Hedgehog| url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3134008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040822083659/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3134008| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 22, 2004|access-date=March 8, 2015}}Davis, Cameron and Shoemaker, Brad [https://web.archive.org/web/20070715195921/http://uk.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_sonic/ The History of Sonic the Hedgehog], GameSpot. Retrieved June 16, 2008. In 1996, Sonic was also the first video game character to be seen in a Rose Parade. Sonic was one of the three game characters inducted on the inaugural Walk of Game class in 2005, along with former rivals Mario and Link (both from Nintendo).{{cite web |url=http://www.walkofgame.com/inductees/inductees2005.html |title=Walk of Game 2005 inductees |access-date=April 2, 2008 |archive-date=January 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121064109/http://www.walkofgame.com/inductees/inductees2005.html |url-status=live }} One of a class of genes involved in fruit fly embryonic development, called hedgehog genes, has been named "sonic hedgehog" after him.{{cite web |first=Lynn |last=Yarris |date=November 5, 2005 |url=http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sb/Nov-2004/04-sonicthehedgehog.html |title=Sonic the Hedgehog and the Fate of Neural Stem Cells |publisher=Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory |access-date=June 23, 2006 |archive-date=December 23, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223131927/http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sb/Nov-2004/04-sonicthehedgehog.html |url-status=live }}

On the other hand, Sonic's apparent romantic relationship with Princess Elise in the 2006 video game resulted in major criticism.{{cite web|last1=Klepek|first1=Patrick|title=Remember When Sonic Kissed A Woman?|url=http://kotaku.com/remember-when-sonic-kissed-a-woman-1731219760|website=Kotaku|publisher=Gawker Media|date=September 17, 2015|access-date=June 8, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128194335/http://kotaku.com/remember-when-sonic-kissed-a-woman-1731219760|archive-date=January 28, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/8-wrongest-romances-video-games/|title=The 8 wrongest romances in video games|last=Meikleham|first=Dave|date=February 11, 2015|website=GamesRadar|publisher=Future Publishing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206033514/http://www.gamesradar.com/8-wrongest-romances-video-games/|archive-date=December 6, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=May 31, 2017}} Sonic's characterization and relationship with Eggman in Sonic Boom earned a positive response by Patrick Lee of The A.V. Club and Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media.{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Patrick|title=A hedgehog for all seasons: Our guide to 20 manic years of Sonic cartoons|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/hedgehog-all-seasons-our-guide-20-manic-years-soni-225993|website=The A.V. Club|date=Sep 30, 2015|access-date=August 7, 2017|archive-date=August 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831104219/https://games.avclub.com/a-hedgehog-for-all-seasons-our-guide-to-20-manic-years-1798284993|url-status=live}}

Sonic has also been used as a symbol for Sega's various sponsorships. Between 1993 and 1997, Sega sponsored the JEF United Ichihara Chiba football team, during which period Sonic appeared in the team's uniform.{{cite web | url=http://kotaku.com/5825815/the-long-strange-history-of-video-games-sponsoring-football-teams/ | title=The Long, Strange History Of Video Games Sponsoring Football Teams | publisher=Kotaku | access-date=July 18, 2013 | archive-date=February 22, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222155412/http://kotaku.com/5825815/the-long-strange-history-of-video-games-sponsoring-football-teams/ | url-status=live }} During the 1993 Formula One championship, Sega sponsored the Williams Grand Prix team, which won the Constructors' Championship that year, as well as the team's lead driver, Alain Prost, winning the Drivers' Championship.{{cite web | url=http://kotaku.com/5870698/the-day-a-sporting-legend-became-an-unwitting-sonic-the-hedgehog-icon | title=The Day a Sporting Legend Became an Unwitting Sonic the Hedgehog Icon | date=23 December 2011 | publisher=Kotaku | access-date=July 18, 2013 | archive-date=3 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903114944/http://kotaku.com/5870698/the-day-a-sporting-legend-became-an-unwitting-sonic-the-hedgehog-icon | url-status=live }} Sonic was featured in the cars, helmets, and their rivals McLaren used to paint a squashed hedgehog after winning races over Williams.{{cite web | url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/04/11/1993-european-grand-prix-donington-park-sennas-great-race/ | title=Today in 1993: Senna's last great race at Donington | date=11 April 2013 | publisher=F1 Fanatic | access-date=July 18, 2013 | archive-date=23 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623074426/http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/04/11/1993-european-grand-prix-donington-park-sennas-great-race/ | url-status=live }} The 1993 European Grand Prix featured a Sonic balloon and Sonic billboards. In 1992, according to Sega of America marketing director Al Nilsen, Sonic was found to be more recognizable than Mickey Mouse in the six-to eleven-year-old demographic, based on the character's respective Q Scores, although this claim could not be confirmed by Q Score developer Marketing Evaluations, Inc.{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-sonic |title=The Essential 50 Part 28 -- Sonic the Hedgehog from 1UP.com |access-date=July 7, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523204203/http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-sonic |archive-date=May 23, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Hester|first=Blake|url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/2/8/10756318/sonic-the-hedgehog-great-rocky-history|title=Sonic the Hedgehog's Long, Great, Rocky History|work=Polygon|date=8 February 2016|access-date=March 14, 2016|archive-date=13 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713000802/https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/8/10756318/sonic-the-hedgehog-great-rocky-history|url-status=live}}

Nintendo Power listed Sonic as their sixth favorite hero, stating that while he was originally Mario's nemesis, he seems at home on Nintendo platforms. They added that he has remained as one of gaming's greatest icons.{{cite book |title=Nintendo Power 250th issue! |year=2010 |publisher=Future US |location=South San Francisco, California |pages=40, 41}} In 2004, the character won a Golden Joystick Award for "The Sun Ultimate Gaming Hero".{{cite web|title=Golden Joystick Awards 2004: Winners announced!|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=111477|publisher=Computer & Video Games|access-date=May 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317081951/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=111477|archive-date=March 17, 2007|url-status=dead}} The character's popularity declined in the mid-1990s, and Sonic failed to place in Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s Coolest Mascot of 1996 in either the editors' or readers' picks, being beaten out by not only competitors Mario and Crash Bandicoot, but Sega's own Nights; however, in a 2008 poll of 500 people, Sonic was voted the most popular video game character in the UK with a 24% vote while his old rival Mario came second with 21% of the vote.{{cite magazine |title=The Best of '96|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=92|publisher=Ziff Davis |date=March 1997|pages=90–91}}{{cite news|first=Matthew|last=Moore|title=Sonic voted favourite character in UK|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3233211/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-voted-favourite-computer-game-star.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3233211/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-voted-favourite-computer-game-star.html |archive-date=2022-01-11 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Telegraph|access-date=June 3, 2006|location=London}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cubed3.com/news/10881 |title=Sonic Trounces Mario in UK Favourites Poll at C3 News |publisher=Cubed3.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052937/http://www.cubed3.com/news/10881 |url-status=live }} Later that year, Sonic was ranked as the most iconic video game character in an MSN rankings list.{{cite web|first=Jane|last=Douglas|title=Top 10 iconic game characters|url=http://tech.uk.msn.com/gaming/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=10440923&imageindex=10|publisher=UK MSN Tech & Gadgets|access-date=May 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081102171445/http://tech.uk.msn.com/gaming/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=10440923&imageindex=10|archive-date=November 2, 2008|url-status=dead}} In 2011, Empire ranked him as the 14th greatest video game character.{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-greatest-video-game-characters/Default.asp?film=14 |title=The 50 Greatest Video Game Characters - 14. Sonic |work=Empire |access-date=August 2, 2013 |first1=James |last1=Dyer |first2=David |last2=McComb |first3=Alastair |last3=Plumb |first4=David |last4=Scarborough |date=May 26, 2010 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061511/http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-greatest-video-game-characters/Default.asp?film=14 |url-status=live }} And he was voted 10th out of the top 50 video game characters of all time in Guinness World Records 2011 Gamers' Edition.{{cite magazine |title=Guinness Names Top 50 Video Game Characters Of All Time |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/02/16/guinness-names-top-50-video-game-characters-of-all-time.aspx |magazine=Game Informer |access-date=February 19, 2011 |archive-date=February 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201201521/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/02/16/guinness-names-top-50-video-game-characters-of-all-time.aspx |url-status=live }} Sonic ranked ninth on GameDaily's Top 10 Smash Bros characters list.{{cite web |title=Top 10 Smash Bros. Characters - Page 2 |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-ten-super-smash-bros-characters/?page=2 |publisher=GameDaily |access-date=August 7, 2009 |archive-date=February 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080226073940/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-ten-super-smash-bros-characters/?page=2 |url-status=live }} GameDaily also listed his "next-generation stumble" in their list of video game characters' worst moments, using his relationship with a human female as one of the worst parts of it.{{cite web |last=Sliwinski |first=Alexander |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/bad-career-move-video-game-characters-worst-moments/?page=2 |title=Joystiq |publisher=Gamedaily.com |date=March 8, 2013 |access-date=March 13, 2013 |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624092858/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/bad-career-move-video-game-characters-worst-moments/?page=2 |url-status=live }} In 2024, a poll conducted by BAFTA with around 4,000 respondents named Sonic the Hedgehog as the fourth most iconic video-game character of all time, only behind Lara Croft, Mario and Agent 47.{{Cite news |title=Lara Croft Crowned Most Iconic Video Games Character of All Time, According to BAFTA Poll |url=https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/bafta-most-iconic-character-poll-results |work=BAFTA |date=4 April 2024 }}

Ken Balough, Sega's former associate brand manager, said that Sonic's appeal endured because the character is "a gaming legend, first and foremost" who originated "from a series of games that defined a generation in gaming history, and his iconic personality was the epitome of speed in the early '90s, pushing the limits of what gamers knew and expected from high-speed action and platforming games."GameSpot Staff. "[http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/projectneedlemouse/news.html?sid=6216990 Sonic the Hedgehog Q&A]." GameSpot. September 8, 2009. Retrieved on November 29, 2009.

A Japanese team developing the Radio & Plasma Wave Investigation (RPWI) instrumentation for the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer spacecraft, launched by ESA and Airbus in 2022, was able to gain Sega's approval to use Sonic as the mascot for the device.{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/actual-space-mission-picks-sonic-the-hedgehog-as-an-off-1838720190 | title = Actual Space Mission Picks Sonic The Hedgehog As An Official Mascot | first = Luke | last = Plunkett | date = October 2, 2019 | access-date = October 2, 2019 | work = Kotaku | archive-date = October 3, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191003011815/https://kotaku.com/actual-space-mission-picks-sonic-the-hedgehog-as-an-off-1838720190 | url-status = live }} Specifically, Sonic appears on the logo of the RPWI in his classic design, the rendition being a redraw of how Sonic appears on the Japanese and PAL box art for Sonic the Hedgehog.{{Cite web |title=木星氷衛星探査機に搭載の電波観測装置が「ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ」と共に木星へ｜お知らせ｜東北大学大学院理学研究科・理学部 |url=https://www.sci.tohoku.ac.jp/news/20191001-10464.html |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.sci.tohoku.ac.jp}}

{{anchor|Sanic}}

An Internet meme called "Sanic" has been used based on a poorly drawn Sonic; typically, the meme uses one of Sonic's catchphrases but with poor grammar. Sega's official Sonic Twitter account has made numerous references to it,{{cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/23/12008576/sonic-the-hedgehog-sega-twitter-interview-meme | title = Talking to the man behind Sonic the Hedgehog's incredible Twitter | first = Andrew | last = Webster | date = June 23, 2016 | access-date = November 25, 2017 | work = The Verge | archive-date = December 1, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043924/https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/23/12008576/sonic-the-hedgehog-sega-twitter-interview-meme | url-status = live }} and it appeared in official downloadable content for Sonic Forces on in-game shirts.{{cite web | url = https://www.destructoid.com/get-your-sanic-on-in-sonic-forces-with-some-free-dlc-474637.phtml | title = Get your Sanic on in Sonic Forces with some free DLC | first = Peter | last = Glagoski | date = November 25, 2017 | access-date = November 25, 2017 | work = Destructoid | archive-date = November 26, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171126061858/https://www.destructoid.com/get-your-sanic-on-in-sonic-forces-with-some-free-dlc-474637.phtml | url-status = live }} The meme also appears as a drawing in the theatrical film.{{cite web |title=Sonic movie Easter eggs: every cameo and reference to the games |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/sonic-movie-easter-eggs-cameos-references/ |website=gamesradar |language=en |date=14 February 2020 |access-date=13 March 2022 |archive-date=16 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216072824/https://www.gamesradar.com/sonic-movie-easter-eggs-cameos-references/ |url-status=live }}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Commons}}

• Official character profiles on [https://web.archive.org/web/20081218122800/http://www2.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_allabout.php?article=soniccharacters Sonic Central] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20080124074738/http://www.sonic-city.com/en/characters/sonic/index.html Sonic-City] (archived)
• [http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/character/sonic.html Sonic the Hedgehog on Sonic Channel] (in Japanese)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170511132234/http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0008405/ Sonic the Hedgehog] on IMDb

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