Sonic the Hedgehog, Formely Known as "ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ" in Japan, is the main protagonist of the popular Sonic the Hedgehog series and the official mascot of Sega.
This anthropomorphic hedgehog is renowned for his incredible ability to run faster than the speed of sound, a defining trait of his character.
In addition to his remarkable speed, Sonic can roll into a ball to attack enemies and overcome obstacles. With his striking blue appearance and adventurous spirit, Sonic has quickly become a beloved figure in the gaming world since his debut.
The console war between SEGA and Nintendo during the late 1980s and early 1990s was pivotal in video game history. Nintendo solidified its dominance in the market with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which revived the gaming industry after the crash of 1983. The NES featured iconic titles such as "Super Mario Bros.," establishing Nintendo as a family-friendly brand appealing to a wide audience.
In response, SEGA sought to challenge Nintendo’s supremacy by launching the Sega Genesis (known as the Mega Drive outside North America) in 1989. The Genesis was a 16-bit console that offered superior graphics and sound capabilities compared to the NES. SEGA aimed to attract an older demographic by emphasizing more mature themes in its games, positioning itself as a more contemporary alternative to Nintendo.
In April of 1990, Sega embarked on a quest to find a new mascot that could stand up to Nintendo's iconic Mario, aiming for a character with the same cultural impact as Mickey Mouse. Previously, Sega had used Alex Kidd as their mascot, but he was considered too similar to Mario and fell short of expectations.
SEGA brainstormed various character designs, exploring options like a wolf, bulldog, robot, and warrior. They focused on the speed theme, inspired by then-employee Yuji Naka's attempts to complete Super Mario Bros.'s World 1-1 as quickly as possible. This led them to consider fast animals, such as kangaroos and squirrels.
One of the early concepts involved a rabbit equipped with prehensile ears to grasp and manipulate objects. While this idea showed promise, it proved too complex to implement effectively on the Sega Mega Drive's hardware. Undeterred, the team pivoted their focus to animals that could roll into a ball, a concept that would align well with their envisioned gameplay mechanics.
This creative process culminated in the design of Sonic the Hedgehog, crafted by artist Naoto Ohshima. Sonic’s character design, characterized by his vibrant blue color and distinctive spiky appearance, would set him apart from other gaming mascots of the time. The decision to make Sonic a Hedgehog not only aligned with the team’s speed-focused theme but also provided a unique and memorable character that could appeal to a wide audience.