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He’s got the need – the need for speed! But just how fast has Sonic’s design evolved through the years? Let’s find out now… animated!
Taking design influence from both Mickey Mouse and Felix the Cat, Sonic was initially a bunny, before becoming a Hedgehog. He wears gloves and shoes with colours inspired by Michael Jackson’s album, “Bad”, and Santa Claus, himself. His fur matches the Sega logo blue, he has a flesh coloured belly, arms, and muzzle, with large quills and joined-together eyes. He’s embodied with the “can-do” attitude of then Governor Bill Clinton to face off against the evil Dr. Robotnik.
warning: spoilers ahead!This classic Sonic design was further cartoonified in the American box-art, and reproduced in his pixelated games. The second game introduces his golden Super Sonic look, and in his third game he has a hyper powerup. Both Metal and Mecha Sonic were created in this era, along with Sonic’s allies: Tails, Amy, and Knuckles...but we won’t get too into that now.
His first cartoon series simplifies his design and sometimes shows off his weird human-like feet. In the more mature sister-series, Sonic has a smaller head and a love-interest: Sally Acorn. “Sonic Underground” gives Sonic a cutesy design and he has rockstar aspirations. Alongside his siblings, they search for their beloved mother. In Japan, more angular designs are seen in the “Sonic CD” animation and the anime movie.
This classic look was also roughly translated into simple 3D models for a number of Sonic games at the time.
In the late 90s, Sonic’s design was altered to be taller, with less rounded features, no potbelly, larger quills, a darker blue, and green irises. This design was then replicated in his 3D games. “Sonic Adventure 2” notably features more detailed shoes. The games that followed tweaked Sonic’s model depending on the hardware. Around this time, Shadow the Hedgehog also made his debut.
The TV show, “Sonic X”, uses this “modern era” design and teams him up with a young boy and a plant-based alien named Cosmo. A rage-filled Dark Sonic look is also briefly seen.
The game, “Sonic Battle”, stylized his design, while “Sonic Riders” has a futuristic-anime look and the 3D model has oversized hands and feet.
In the 2006 video game, Sonic’s design is refined and lankier so he can interact with his human love interest….which we totally think isn’t weird. Silver the Hedgehog also first appears in the 2006 game. “Secret Rings”, undoes his lankiness and boasts an angry Darkspine Sonic form. 2008’s release unleashes a Werehog Sonic with stretchy arms. And “Sonic and the Black Knight” features an armoured Excalibur form! Plus, he even wore Link’s getup in a Zelda crossover, has a Minecraft variant, a Cookie Run model, an official Lego version, and made a cameo in “O.K. K.O.!”
“Wreck-It Ralph” uses his “modern” design and was his theatrical debut.
In recent years, his classic look has reappeared with modern 3D tech and is implied to be a younger Sonic…or possibly a Sonic from a different dimension. He also appears in the “throwback-style” “Sonic Mania” game and various stylized shorts.
In the “Sonic Boom” franchise, Sonic is taller, with blue arms, a middle shoe buckle, added bandages, neck scarf, and messier quills. Although, outside of this adventure series, his “Modern” design is still in use.
The TV show “Sonic Prime” adds painterly fur details to Sonic – a feature sometimes seen in newer games – and he gets many technological glove and shoe upgrades. Also briefly seen is a colourful “Shatter Sonic” power-up.
His initial live-action movie design has human-like proportions, blue arms, no gloves, extra back spikes, tiny eyes and human teeth. But after fan backlash, he was given cartoon-y proportions, vibrant colouring, less back spikes, and added gloves. As well as larger eyes and hidden teeth. He wears worn out running shoes before acquiring his Puma-branded runners. He also rocks a perfect Cowboy disguise, and is seen as a cute child Sonic in flashbacks. In this film, powered by the friendship of a local sheriff, he takes out the relentless Robotnik.
In the second film, he’s larger, is a slightly darker blue, has lighter tan sections, and his irises are thinner. He also loses his shoe branding, and is seen wearing cold weather attire. He teams up with his friend, Tails, and frenemy, Knuckles, and later get’s empowered by emeralds to become SUPER SONIC and dismantle Robotnik’s Giant Robot.
Meanwhile, in the Chip N’ Dale film, Ugly Sonic reappears. He has darker fur, a larger belly, a more unsightly face, and wears cool shades and a brown coat. This uggo also has connections to the FBI.
In the Knuckles show, he appears brighter, a trait which carries over to the third film, in which he faces off against Shadow. But these two suped-up hogs later decide to team-up against a greater threat!
And with well over 100 appearances, which blue speedster is your favorite?
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He’s got the need – the need for speed! But just how fast has Sonic’s design evolved through the years? Let’s find out now… animated!