No matter what you might know him from, Sonic has become one of the most recognizable video game characters. The successful franchise has spanned decades and branched into several sucesfull spinoffs. As the blue bodied hedgehog stormed the globe, he’s raced into the hearts of millions with the games iconic catchphrase “Gotta Go Fast”.

What Is Sonic?

Sonic is a video game series that was created in 1991 by programmer Yuki Naka and artist Naoto Ohshima. The character was picked up by developer Sega to rival Nintendo’s mustached-leading man, Mario. Sonic quickly garnered a positive response globally due to his “accessibility” being a hedgehog, opposed a character cemented in race or nationality. His brightly colored blue skin and shiny red boots caught the attention of kids alike. Meanwhile, his “cool-kid” persona kept teenagers engaged in the franchise!

Characters

Sonic-

Sonic is the primary protagonist in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. He loves getting into adventure and trouble, leaving his home to pursue a life on the road. He was born to run and desires a life free of being weighed down or tethered to one place.

Doctor Eggman-

Doctor Eggman is the primary antagonist in the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise. A super genius with a 300 IQ, Eggman seeks to build his own city, with his sights set on world domination. Though his approach varies with each installment, Eggman’s end goal is always world domination and using his super human intelligence for evil.

Tails-

Tails makes his debut int the second Sonic video game and is Sonic’s best friend! He is a fox cub with dual tails, which allow him to fly by spinning them like a propeller! Tails quickly garnered attention as a fan favorite fox due to his charming personality and dedication to friend, Sonic!

Amy Rose-

Amy is Sonic’s female counterpart, a pink-hyper feminine hedgehog. She is Sonic’s self proclaimed girlfriend in the series and a pal to Tails! Amy makes her first appearance in 1993, in Sonic CD– a computer adaptation of the Sonic Series. She is borderline obsessed with being in love with Sonic, though she has a pure and large heart!

Knuckles-

Knuckles is a red bodied enchida. He is the last of the enchida species, and he is also one of Sonic’s oldest friends and rivals! Though he made his debut in Sonic 3, Knuckles rose to popularity in 2017 with the viral “Ugandan Knuckles” meme.

There are almost 100 total characters in the Sonic series!

Video Game Series-

There are over 60 games in the Sonic video game series, and Sonic has appeared in almost 90 games to date! Naturally, this can be a bit daunting if you’re trying to get into the franchise! Here are some of my personal all time favorites-

• Sonic Classic Collection– Ok, so I’ve already messed this up! The Sonic Classic Collection isn’t just one game- it’s four, but this is absolutely my favorite way to get into the franchise! The original Sonic game has had many adaptations over time, but the 3DS adaptation is the only one that has held up for me (granted- if you have a Sega Genesis than by all means, go play on that). This 4 game collection includes Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles! This is a great way to get your hands on four great games for a deal, and get acquainted with the characters!
• Sonic Generations– Surprise! I’m hyping up the 3DS again! Sonic Generations was a multi-platform release, being made available for the Xbox 360, PS3, 3DS and Windows! This game combines bosses and levels from past games, creating a yearbook for longtime fans of the series. But don’t worry! If you’re new to the franchise, this game is more of a survey bringing you the best of the best from each game. Long time fans will love the nostalgia from revisiting fan favorite journeys, and new fans get to sample multiple game aesthetics in one go!
• Sonic Frontiers– Ok, so it’s not out yet. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be excited! Sonic Frontiers launches on the Nintendo Switch November 8th this year! Long gone are the days of Sonic being made to compete with Nintendo. The game promises new mystery and intrigue as Sonic races across 5 over world islands. We can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks of this latest addition to the Sonic Franchise!

Tv Series-

Sonic the Hedgehog was adapted for an animated TV series in the mid 90’s! While the show only lasted two seasons, it rose to cult status ending on a cliff hanger. Great news though! The Adventures of Sonic The Headgehog is currently available for streaming on Netflix!

Film Adaptations-

In 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog made his big screen debut in Sonic The Hedgehog. With Ben Schwartz voicing the blue daredevil, James Marsden serving as his human pal, and Jim Carey giving an Oscar worth performance as Eggman- you don’t want to miss this darling film. The film iconically was reanimated after its initial trailer dropped and was…”panned” (roasted) by the internet, and thank god it was. The new animation led the film to become a beloved family classic, with a sequel that came out in 2022!

Meet Tails Voice Actor Colleen O’Shaughnessey this December at Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay!

Voice actor Colleen O’Shaughnessey will be at Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay this December! O’Shaughnessey has voiced Tails for the franchise since 2013. In addition to being the voice of Tails, she also voices Nelliel in Bleach, Ino Yamanaka in Naruto, Sora Takenouchi in Digimon and more! Meet Colleen O’Shaughnessey and more this December at Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay- A brand new holiday convention debuting in Tampa Bay!