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Sonic the Hedgehog (character)

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This article is about the character. For other uses, see Sonic the Hedgehog.
Sonic the Hedgehog
'Sonic the Hedgehog
 character
File:Sonicrun 2006.png
Sonic has been Sega's mascot for over 16 years.
First gameSonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)
Created byNaoto Ōshima
Yuji Naka
Hirokazu Yasuhara
File:002sonic.jpg
Sonic depicted in Sonic X, same appearance in Sonic Adventure

Sonic the Hedgehog (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ, Sonikku za Hejjihoggu), trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog,[1] is a video game character and the hero of the video game series released by Sega, as well as numerous spin-off comics, cartoons and books. The first game in the franchise was released on June 23, 1991 in order to provide Sega with a mascot to rival Nintendo's flagship character Mario (see 1991 in video gaming).[2] Since then, Sonic has become one of the world's best-known video game characters, with his series having sold over 45 million copies.[3] In 2005, Sonic was one of the first game character inductees into the Walk of Game, alongside Mario and Link.[4]

Artist Naoto Ōshima, designer Hirokazu Yasuhara and programmer Yuji Naka are generally credited with the creation of the character,[5] a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog, whose ability to run faster than the speed of sound[6] is a major part of the gameplay of the series.

Conception and creation

File:Sonics.png
Sonic's Original Design, from Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)

Sega wanted a game capable of selling over two million copies and a character to replace Alex Kidd as the company's mascot. Several character designs were submitted by its AM8 research & development department, including an armadillo (which then developed into Mighty the Armadillo), a dog, a Theodore Roosevelt look-alike in pajamas (which would later be the basis of Eggman's design), and a rabbit (intended to use its extendible ears to collect objects; these aspects were later incorporated into Ristar).[7] Eventually, Naoto Ōshima's spiky cerulean hedgehog, initially codenamed "Mr Needlemouse",[2] was chosen as the new mascot. Sonic's blue pigmentation was chosen to match Sega's blue logo. A group of fifteen started working on Sonic the Hedgehog, 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.[8]

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 Oshima was quite short and round, with short quills, a round body and no visible irises. Artwork featuring this design and drawn by Akira Wantabe[9] was displayed on the package artwork for Sonic the Hedgehog, and most subsequent Sonic video games featured similar designs. Beginning with Sonic Adventure in 1998, Sonic was redesigned by Yuji Uekawa as a taller character with longer legs and a less spherical body, longer and more drooping spikes, and green-colored eyes. Further subtle changes to the character's design have been made in subsequent games. Spin-off media such as comics and cartoons have featured variations on all these video game designs, with restrictions set by the standardized model sheets.[10]

Game appearances

Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog (series)

Sonic's first appearance in the gaming video was in the platform game Sonic the Hedgehog (sometimes referred to simply as Sonic 1) for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, which also introduced his nemesis Dr. Ivo Robotnik (named Dr. Eggman in Japan, and, since Sonic Adventure, also in the West). His two-tailed fox friend Miles "Tails" Prower joined him in the game's 1992 sequel Sonic 2. Sonic CD, released in 1993, introduced Sonic's self-proclaimed girlfriend Amy Rose and his robotic doppelgänger Metal Sonic (not to be confused with Mecha Sonic an alternate model made later by Dr. Robotnik) as Sonic traveled through time to ensure a good future for the world. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and its direct sequel Sonic & Knuckles, both released in 1994, saw Sonic and Tails battle Robotnik again, with the additional threat of Knuckles the Echidna, tricked by Robotnik into fighting Sonic.

Other two-dimensional platformers starring Sonic include Sonic Chaos (1993), Sonic Triple Trouble (1994), Sonic Blast (1996), and Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure (1999). Sonic Advance in (2001), Sonic Advance 2 (2002), Sonic Advance 3 (2004), Sonic Rush (2005) Sonic Rush Adventure (2007), and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008). He will also appear in the Bioware game, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008).[citation needed]

Sonic Adventure (1998/1999) 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, very powerful foe named Chaos, under the control of Dr. Robotnik. This was also the first Sonic game to have a complete voice-over. Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) placed Sonic on-the-run from the military (G.U.N) after being mistaken for a new enemy, Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Life Form. Sonic Heroes (2003) has Sonic teaming up with Tails and Knuckles (along with other characters) against the newly rebuilt Metal Sonic, who had betrayed his master. Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) features Sonic in the city of water, "Soleanna", where he must rescue Princess Elise from Dr. Robotnik while trying to avoid a new threat to his own life, Silver the Hedgehog. Sonic and the Secret Rings (2007) features Sonic in a story book world of the "Arabian Nights" where he must help a ring genie, "Shahra", regain the seven World Rings in order to defeat the evil Erazor Djinn. He will be appearing in the upcoming game Sonic Unleashed. Little is known about the plot other than Sonic will have to deal with himself becoming a Werewolf (or rather "Werewolf Sonic") and will be aided by a new ally.[citation needed]

Sonic has also been featured in games of many genres other than 2D and 3D platform games. The first of these was a pinball game, Sonic Spinball (1993), which expanded upon the pinball sequences in the first three platform games. Sonic has also appeared in "2.5D" isometric platformers (Sonic Labyrinth (1995) and Sonic 3D Blast (1996), racing games (Sonic Drift (1994), Sonic Drift 2 (1995), Sonic R (1997), Sonic Riders (2006), Sonic Rivals (2006), Sonic Rivals 2 (2007) and Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008), and fighting games (Sonic the Fighters (1996), Sonic Battle (2003), and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)).

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 generally cameos in most of these titles, even going as far as assisting a boss in Shadow the Hedgehog.

Video game cameos

He has made cameo appearances in numerous other Sega games such as Crusader of Centy, Daytona USA and Christmas Nights. Sonic also stars in the sports title Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games appearing alongside characters from Nintendo's Mario series for the first time. He appears in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an unlockable character and is the second third party character to appear (the first being Konami's Solid Snake). In Brawl, Sonic is able to use a homing attack, his spin dash, and jump using a spring. His Final Smash enables him to turn into Super Sonic, which allows him to fly freely around the arena. His controls become hypersensitive but he becomes extremely fast, and damages opponents by touching them.[11] Sonic also appears in the end of "The Subspace Emissary" Adventure mode where he attacks the final boss, Tabuu, and causes one of his wings to break, therefore weakening his "Off Waves". Sonic has also appeared in Sega Superstars[12] and now appears in Sega Superstars Tennis.[13]

Television appearances

File:Sonicaosth.PNG
Sonic as he appeared in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog was the first animated series to feature Sonic, where he was voiced by Jaleel White.[14] It had a very comical take on Sonic and Tails's adventures and battles against Robotnik. Pierre De Celles, an animator who worked on Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, described the show as "fun and humorous."[15]

In the darker and more serious series Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic was again voiced by Jaleel White.[16] This series featured Sonic and his "Freedom Fighter" friends fighting to free their planet from Robotnik's tyrannical rule. In this particular series, he has a growing crush on Mobian royal Princess Sally Acorn, whom he had been friends with since they were children 10 years ago in the series proper. It was unclear who was the leader of the Freedom Fighters, although Sonic was said to be at times.

Sonic Underground featured the introductions of Sonic's siblings Sonia the Hedgehog and Manic the Hedgehog, as well as his mother Queen Aleena, the four of whom were destined to defeat Robotnik and rule Mobius as the "Council of Four". Jaleel White returned to voice Sonic for the third time as well as voicing Sonic's siblings, with Samuel Vincent providing Sonic's singing voice.[17] In this series, Sonic came equipped with a magical medallion that expanded into an electric guitar.

Additionally, there was a Sonic the Hedgehog anime OVA in Japan, which featured Sonic, Tails, Robotnik, Knuckles and Metal Sonic. Sonic was voiced by Masami Kikuchi in Japan, and Martin Burke in the United States.[18]

Sonic X, was an anime in which Sonic, voiced by Jun'ichi Kanemaru in the Japanese version, and by Jason Griffith in the English version, is teleported to Earth by Chaos Control, caused by the Chaos Emeralds.

Printed appearances

Main article: List of Sonic the Hedgehog printed media

Sonic's first comic appearance was in a promotional comic printed in Disney Adventures magazine (which was also given away as a free pull-out with a copy of "Mean Machines" magazine), which established an origin for Sonic involving the transformation of kindly scientist Doctor Ovi Kintobor into the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik. It also shockingly established that Sonic was originally brown. Numerous British publications, including "Sega handbook" Stay Sonic (1993), four novels published by Virgin Books (1993–1994) and the comic book Sonic the Comic (1993–2002) used this premise as their basis.

The American comics published by Archie Comics, Sonic the Hedgehog (1993–) and Sonic X (2005–) are based on the settings established by earlier animated TV series, the ABC "SatAM" cartoon and the Sonic X anime 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,

In Japan, Sonic manga have also been published.[citation needed]

Character

Personality

Sonic embodies the wind: a drifter who lives as he wants,[19] and making life a series of events and adventures.[20] Sonic hates oppression and staunchly defends freedom.[21] Although he is mostly easy-going[19] he has a short temper[19] and is often impatient with slower things. [22] Sonic is a habitual daredevil who is honest, loyal to friends, keeps his promises,[20] and dislikes tears.[23] In times of crisis, he focuses intensely on the challenge[22] as if his personality had undergone an astonishing change.[20]

Abilities

File:SuperSonicArt.png
Super Sonic.

Sonic is known best for his speed, with the ability to run at speeds higher than Mach 1[6] (higher than roughly 761.2 mph). He is known as "the fastest thing alive," and can run backwards just as well as forwards, as shown in the Team Sonic opening cutscene of Sonic Heroes, in an episode of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Underground, and near the end of the first episode in Sonic X.

Many of his abilities are variations on the tendency for hedgehogs to roll into tight balls for protection. Since his introduction in the first Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic's primary offensive maneuver is the basic Spin Attack (or "Sonic Spin Attack"). As Sonic jumps or runs, he curls up and spins into a spiky ball that can damage, destroy or burrow through many obstacles. Later games in the series expanded on this basic attack. Two of these enhancements have become mainstays of his: the Spin Dash was introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and involves Sonic spinning on the spot before blasting off at full speed, and the Homing Attack, officially introduced in Sonic Adventure, although unnamed variations of it appeared in Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Sonic 3D Blast, in which Sonic dashes in midair toward a target.

The Peel Out or Figure 8 Dash made its debut in Sonic CD, but since has only had minor recurrences in the Archie Comic series and anime. In the Figure 8 Dash, Sonic stands still and his legs run fast enough to create the illusion of an infinity symbol (more correctly a Mobius strip) beneath him in red. He holds this and then blasts forward. One of Sonic's taunts in Super Smash Bros. Brawl involves him spinning his legs fast enough to make this move while commenting on his opponents being "too slow." The Peel Out is also his running animation in Brawl.

With a Chaos Emerald, Sonic can warp time and space with Chaos Control. And by using all seven Chaos Emeralds, Sonic can initiate a super transformation into Super Sonic. For more information, see Super transformation. When using the Chaos Emeralds, Sonic can become Super Sonic,which first appeared in Sonic the hedgehog 2 and with the Super Emeralds Sonic can become Hyper Sonic,which appeared in Sonic 3. In addition, the World Rings introduced in Sonic and the Secret Rings allow Sonic to become Darkspine Sonic, a powerful form powered by his negative emotions. As Darkspine Sonic, Sonic turns purple and has two white stripes between his eyes.

Weakness

Sonic is incapable of swimming which causes him to sink like a stone in water [23], although, if hitting the water while running, he can dash across the water's surface, completely bypassing the hazard. (an exception being in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, in which all characters are able to swim, but he can only swim for a brief period of time before drowning) In most media, he is shown completely avoiding water. In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games when Sonic competes in Aquatics events, he is the only character who wears a lifevest.

Home

Sonic had most of his adventures at a location known as South Island during Sonic the Hedgehog, and was originally born on Christmas Island.[24] Throughout the course of the series however, he travels from place to place in search of adventure. However, during the intro of Sonic and the Secret Rings he's seen lying in his living room, which means that he does have a house somewhere.

In three of the four Sonic cartoon series, namely The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Underground and Sonic X, it is implied that Sonic simply travels all over the world instead of living in a certain location.

On the other hand, in the Archie comic book series Sonic's home is located in Knothole Village where the Freedom Fighters reside. The same goes for its respective television series. In Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, Sonic's home appears to be on a Floating Island in the Land of the Sky.

Alternate versions

Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog (comic character)

The Sonic the Hedgehog comic features Sonic with alternate dimensional versions of himself. One such version is Scourge, originally known as "Evil Sonic", who hails from Anti-Mobius (in a parallel dimension). He is as brash and arrogant as Sonic, but is self-important, ruthless, pextized, and sadistic with a desire for mayhem, truly making him Sonic's opposite or "Evil-Sonic".[citation needed] The comic recently bore witness to an evolution of Evil-Sonic when he tried to siphon off energy from the Master Emerald, thus becoming Scourge, a green, half super-powered hedgehog. He bears a scar on his chest that resembles the roman numeral II, left there when Locke knocked him off the Master Emerald with his bare knuckles, which symbolizes that he is #2 a.k.a. Sonic's "double."

Another version of Sonic was the temporary separation of Super Sonic as his own entity. When Sonic was lost in the vastness of space, he came across an alien planet that had six red Chaos Emeralds. Unlike the original green Chaos Emeralds on his homeworld, these split him in two with Super Sonic becoming its own entity obsessed with power and destruction, and Sonic himself trying to stop the new menace that he unleashed. But like the original Chaos Emeralds, the effects were only temporary, thus the separate entity vanished.

Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic the Comic)

In Sonic the Comic, Super Sonic is depicted as rather homicidal, usually causing chaos whenever it is unleashed within Sonic. At one point, it is separated from Sonic and is later trapped in the Omni-viewer and is sealed in a foam asteroid in the Special Zone. When it is unleashed in Mobius, as part of a plan by Sonic to shut off all of Robotnik's machinery due to the electromagnetic pulse his arrival causes, Super Sonic loses his memory, and his power, becoming shy and timid. He makes friends with the black cat Ebony. Towards the end of the official storyline, Super Sonic regains his power due to being near Chaos and becomes a psychopath again. Ebony reunites him with Sonic. Also in the comic, Sonic encounters an alternate reality where he became evil instead of Kintobor. King Sonic and his Badniks ruled this alternate Mobius until Sonic forced him to turn into Super Sonic, who (in his reality) was a mellow hippie.[citation needed]

In the forthcoming game Sonic Unleashed, Sonic turns into a werewolf.[25]

The video games have featured several theme songs or leitmotifs for the character. Sonic is mostly associated with the rock or even Pop Metal and Pop Punk genres, although jazz music is also associated with many of his non lyrical themes.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl also includes classic themes of "Green Hill Zone" and "Scrap Brain Zone" from the first Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as the classic "Emerald Hill Zone" theme from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Popularity and references in other media

For game cameos, see List of games featuring Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic has proven to be among the most popular video game characters in the world. As a result of this popularity, he has been referred to in various parts of culture, some even going as far as creating new forms or even making their own characters that are related to him. One of a class of genes involved in fruit fly embryonic development, called hedgehog genes, has been named "sonic hedgehog" after the character.[27]

Sonic has sometimes appeared in relation to various sports teams Sega have sponsored. Between 1993 and 1997, Sega sponsored the JEF United Ichihara Chiba football team, during which period Sonic appeared in the team's uniform. 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. Sonic was featured in the cars, helmets, and rival McLaren used to paint a squashed hedgehog after winning races over Williams.[28] The 1993 European Grand Prix featured a Sonic balloon and Sonic billboards. The trophy was a statue of the hedgehog.[29]

File:SSB Sonic Mario.PNG
Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Sonic has also made appearances as a character in parades. In 1996, Sonic was the first video game character to be seen in a Rose Parade. Sonic was also in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade;[2] the only other video game character to ever be in the parade was Pikachu from Nintendo's popular Pokémon series.[30]

Sonic also made a small appearance in the family-themed ride "Toyland Tours" at the Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire, UK. The section contained several TVs of Sonic games (Mainly Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic CD). Other parts include a moving Sonic plastic figure, seemingly tapping his foot and moving a lever, as well as some glowed ring effects. There were also several sound effects and themed music to accompany his section in the ride. The ride has since been closed down.

Other references are present in television programs, including appearances in the "Marge Be Not Proud" and "That 90's Show" episodes of The Simpsons. Sonic has also appeared in a short segment on Robot Chicken, where he's running through the Green Hill Zone, when a spike strip laid out by two hiding police officers impales and kills him. [31]. Other humorous references to Sonic have appeared in TV series such as Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi (in the episode "Camp Capers"), Megas XLR, 15/Love, Bill Hicks's Arizona Bay album and Space Ghost Coast to Coast. He was also mentioned in an episode of the variety show MADtv, the sketch show Saturday Night Live, and the sitcom Roseanne. Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 was once referenced in the "Oddball" segment of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann. The Sonic character and games have also made brief appearances in films, including Jingle All the Way, Hitch and Wayne's World.

References

  1. ^ Kent, Steven. "Chapter 23". The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched our Lives and Changed the World. Roseville, California: Prima Publishing. p. 428. ISBN 0-7615-3643-4. the "t" in Sonic the Hedgehog is capitalized. Sega marketing wizard Al Nilsen had the "the" registered as Sonic's middle name.
  2. ^ a b c Kennedy, Sam. "The Essential 50: Sonic the Hedgehog". 1up.com. Retrieved 2006-06-03.
  3. ^ "Sega Announces Sonic's charge onto the Wii Console". Sega of America. 2006-05-09. Retrieved 2006-06-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Walk of Game 2005 inductees". Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  5. ^ Horowitz, Ken. "Sega Stars: Yuji Naka". Sega-16. Retrieved 2006-06-20.
  6. ^ a b Matte, Jared. "Sonic Encyclopaedia: Sonic the Hedgehog". The GHZ. Retrieved 2006-02-17.
  7. ^ "Sega Visions Interview with Yuji Naka". 1992. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. ^ "Masato Nakamura interview" (flash). Sonic Central. Retrieved 2006-02-07.
  9. ^ Sega Video Game Illustrations. Nippon Shuppan Hanbai (Deutschland) GmbH. 1994. ISBN 3-910052-50-9.
  10. ^ "Digest Number 1008". Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  11. ^ Masahiro Sakurai (2007-10-10). "Smash Bros. Dojo information for sonic". www.smashbros.com. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  12. ^ "Sega Superstars official site". www.sega.com. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  13. ^ "Sega Superstars Tennis official site". www.sega.com. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  14. ^ "Full credits of "Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog"". IMDb. 1993–1996. Retrieved 2006-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  15. ^ "Chris Wood (2007-07-25). "Pierre De Celles on Animating Sonic the Hedgehog and Other Tales". news.toonzone.net. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  16. ^ "Full credits of "Sonic the Hedgehog"". IMDb. 1993–1995. Retrieved 2006-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  17. ^ "Full credits of "Sonic Underground"". IMDb. 1999. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
  18. ^ "Full credits of "Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie"". IMDb. 1999. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
  19. ^ a b c Sonic's profile from the Sonic Heroes manual
  20. ^ a b c Sonic Team. "Sonic's official character profile". Sega of Japan. Retrieved 2006-04-12.
  21. ^ Sonic's profile from the Sonic Adventure manual
  22. ^ a b Sega of America. "Sonic's official character profile from Sega of America". Sega of America. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  23. ^ a b Sonic's bio in Sonic Jam's Sonic World museum profiles.
  24. ^ "Mary Garnet Story (translated from the Japanese original)". Retrieved 2006-03-14.
  25. ^ McElroy, Griffin (2008-03-23). "Sega confirms Sonic Unleashed after video and screenshot leaks". Joystiq. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  26. ^ "Sonic the Hedgehog: Angel Island Zone Remix". [www.smashbros.com]. 2007-12-25.
  27. ^ Yarris, Lynn (2005-11-05). "Sonic the Hedgehog and the Fate of Neural Stem Cells". Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Retrieved 2006-06-23.
  28. ^ "Formula One Motor Racing FAQ, part 2". Internet FAQ Archives. Retrieved 2007-01-05. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Matte, Jared. "1993: Year of the Mega Drive". The GHZ. Retrieved 2006-06-03.
  30. ^ Crecente, Brian (2006-05-22). "Giant Pikachu Runs Flights Through NYC". Kotaku. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
  31. ^ Gametrailers.com - Robot Chicken - Sonic by JunkyFM
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