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Sonic the Hedgehog is a beloved video game character that has been around since the early 1990s. Known for his incredible speed and blue fur, Sonic has become a cultural icon that has been featured in numerous games, TV shows, and movies. However, there are many interesting facts about Sonic that fans may not know.
One interesting fact about Sonic is that he was originally designed to be a rabbit. In the early stages of development, the character was known as “Mr. Needlemouse” and had long ears and a cute, cuddly appearance. However, the designers eventually decided to make him a hedgehog instead, and the rest is history.
Origins of Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a popular video game character that was first introduced by Sega in 1991. The character was created by Yuji Naka and his team at Sega’s Sonic Team division. Sonic was designed to be a mascot for Sega that could compete with Nintendo’s Mario.
Sonic’s design was heavily influenced by Michael Jackson’s appearance in the music video for “Bad.” The character was given a cool and edgy look with a red and white color scheme. Sonic’s iconic sneakers were also inspired by Michael Jackson’s footwear.
The first Sonic game, titled “Sonic the Hedgehog,” was released for the Sega Genesis in 1991. The game was a huge success and helped to establish Sonic as a popular video game character. Since then, Sonic has appeared in numerous video games, cartoons, and even a feature film.
The Archie Comics Series
The Sonic The Hedgehog Archie comics series has had a significant impact on the world of comics and pop culture. It was one of the longest-running comic book series based on a video game franchise, spanning over 290 issues and 20 years of publication.
The series introduced new characters that have become fan favorites, such as Sally Acorn, Bunnie Rabbot, and Antoine D’Coolette. The comic also expanded on the lore of the Sonic universe, exploring the history of Mobius and the origins of the Chaos Emeralds.
The Sonic The Hedgehog Archie comics series also had a significant impact on the Sonic franchise as a whole. It influenced the development of future Sonic games and media, with characters and concepts from the comics appearing in various Sonic spin-offs.
Sonic’s Character Design
Sonic the Hedgehog is a beloved video game character with a unique and iconic design. His design has gone through several changes over the years, but certain elements have remained consistent.
Sonic’s most recognizable feature is his blue fur, which was chosen to match the Sega logo. His spiky hair and red sneakers are also iconic. The sneakers were inspired by Michael Jackson’s famous shoes, and were added to give Sonic a sense of speed and agility.
Sonic’s design has evolved over time, with some iterations being more controversial than others. For example, the Sonic Boom design, which featured a taller and more muscular Sonic, received mixed reactions from fans.
Despite the changes, Sonic’s design has always been consistent in its core elements: blue fur, spiky hair, and red sneakers. These elements have become so iconic that they are instantly recognizable to fans around the world.
The Rabbit Concept
The original idea for Sonic was created by Naoto Ohshima, a character designer at Sega. Ohshima’s initial design was for a rabbit character, who was meant to be the mascot for Sega’s new console, the Sega Genesis. The character was intended to be fast and agile, with the ability to run at high speeds and jump long distances.
However, technical questions about movement and abilities caused developers to rethink the model. One particular question was how the rabbit would be able to damage enemies without a simple jump on the head, much like their rival Mario. The idea of rolling into a ball was brought up and eventually the concept was eventually scrapped in favor of a new design that would better fit the capabilities. Ohshima then began work on a new character that would eventually become Sonic the Hedgehog.
Michael Jackson Soundtrack?
Michael Jackson was a contributor to the soundtrack of Sonic The Hedgehog 3. He had expressed interest in working on a video game soundtrack, and Sonic The Hedgehog 3 provided the perfect opportunity. Jackson’s involvement was kept secret at the time, and he would want it kept that way. Due to frustrations over the limitations of the Sega Genesis sound chip, Michael asked to be left uncredited.
Jackson’s contributions to the game’s music are disputed, with some claiming that he composed the entire soundtrack and others claiming that he only worked on a few tracks. However, it is widely accepted that he contributed to the game’s music in some capacity.
One of the most notable tracks that Jackson is believed to have worked on is the game’s end credits music, which is eerily similar to his song “Stranger in Moscow”. The song features Jackson’s signature style and is considered one of the best tracks in the game.
Trivia and Fun Facts
- Sonic’s full name is “Sonic Maurice Hedgehog.”
- The iconic “Green Hill Zone” level from the first Sonic game was actually created in just one day.
- Sonic’s arch-nemesis, Dr. Eggman (formerly known as Dr. Robotnik), was originally designed to be a fat, mustached man with a human-like appearance.
- Sonic has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Sonic Underground,” and “Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie.”
- Sonic’s voice actor, Roger Craig Smith, has also lent his voice to other popular video game characters such as Chris Redfield from the “Resident Evil” series and Ezio Auditore da Firenze from the “Assassin’s Creed” series.
- In the original Japanese version of the Sonic games, the character’s name is actually “Sonikku za Hejjihoggu.”
- Sonic’s famous “spin dash” move was actually a glitch in the original game that the developers decided to keep in.
- Sonic’s speed has been measured to be around 765 miles per hour.
- Sonic has been featured in numerous crossover games, including “Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games” and “Super Smash Bros.”
