SONIKKU
Sonic the Hedgehog is a character created by the Japanese game designers Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima. He is the star of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and the mascot of the Japanese video game company Sega. Sonic is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who runs at supersonic speed. He races through levels, collecting rings and avoiding obstacles, as he seeks to defeat his archenemy, Doctor Eggman. He is accompanied by supporting characters, such as his sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower, love interest Amy Rose, and rival Knuckles the Echidna.
Sonic made a cameo in the arcade game Rad Mobile (1990) before starring in Sonic the Hedgehog, a platform game for the Sega Genesis, in 1991. Sega sought a mascot to compete with Nintendo's Mario, and Ohshima designed Sonic based on a prototype programmed by Naka. Sonic's design was influenced by a variety of sources, including Felix the Cat, Mickey Mouse, Michael Jackson, and Santa Claus; his pigmentation was chosen to match Sega's cobalt blue logo. Yuji Uekawa redesigned Sonic for Sonic Adventure (1998) to suit the franchise's transition to 3D computer graphics, with a more mature look designed to appeal to older players.
Sonic media characterizes Sonic as an impatient, snarky drifter and daredevil who despises injustice. He frequently battles Eggman, a mad scientist who seeks to steal the mystical Chaos Emeralds and take over the world. Sonic can curl into a ball to attack enemies and use the Chaos Emeralds to become Super Sonic, a power-up transformation granting him greater speed and strength. He has appeared in over 100 video games, in addition to guest appearances in other Sega franchises and in crossover games such as Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series. Jun'ichi Kanemaru voices Sonic in Japan, while his English voice has been provided by Ryan Drummond, Jason Griffith, and Roger Craig Smith.
Sonic is one of the most famous video game characters and an established pop culture icon. Journalists regard him as one of the greatest video game characters and his popularity inspired many imitators. His likeness has been featured in merchandise and Sega sponsorships. The Sonic series is one of the bestselling game franchises and was key to Sega's success during the 16-bit era in the 1990s. Sonic has been adapted in comics, animations, and films, including a live-action film franchise distributed by Paramount Pictures in which he is voiced by Ben Schwartz.
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