Do you remember the days of your childhood spent playing Sonic the Hedgehog? Whether it was on the Sega Console or Gamegear, everyone loved running around with bluespiny and tackling Dr. Robotnik. In fact, did you know that America loves Sonic Hedgehog? There are even some studies and surveys about it. But I bet there are a few things about our friendly hedgehog that even hardcore fans don’t know. From its design to its soundtracks, discover some interesting, fun facts about Sonic the Hedgehog. With trivia and all sorts of unexpected secrets revealed, read on for an exciting dive into the past while we learn all these amazing details behind this beloved video game franchise.
The Story Began With a Ball in a Tube
Okay, you know the story; like everything else, Sonic the Hedgehog started with a sketch. But much more than the usual paper doodling, the game’s design was inspired by a ball rolling in a tube-like maze. And yeah, that’s the original design of Sonic. Sega designer Naoto Ohshima thought this would be a great way to create an action-packed game for the console, and he was right. Although it didn’t look like Sonic does today, it still contained all of the same basic mechanics.
Sonic Was Supposed to Be a Rabbit
Yes, you heard that right. The original design of Sonic was in the shape of a rabbit. In fact, Ohshima had already created a running animation for it but then realized that this wouldn’t fit the Sega console, so he decided to make some adjustments. Hence why we got the bright blue hedgehog, we know today. But nothing is completely lost because if you look closely enough, you can still spot some rabbit-like features in Sonic’s design.
Michael Jackson’s Boots Inspired His Shoes
You may think that Santa Claus’ boots are the closest thing to Sonic’s shoes, but you’re wrong. The real inspiration came from none other than Michael Jackson, specifically as seen on his “Bad” album cover. Believe it or not, Ohshima was so impressed with how Michael Jackson moved about, and he thought that his dancing style would be a great way for Sonic to move around in this new video game. So there you have it, the famous red shoes were actually inspired by Michael Jackson.
The Games Tell Us a Lot About Our Environment
It’s no secret that the Sonic games are full of environmental messages. Whether it’s protecting animals, recycling resources, or just being mindful of your actions, all these themes have been present throughout the franchise since its inception. But what you may not know is that each game has a different message and thus focuses on a different environmental problem. For example, Sonic Unleashed focused on global warming and its effects, whereas Sonic Colors was more about the importance of energy conservation. You might be a diehard fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, but you’re probably still missing out on some important details.
We hope you enjoyed learning all these fun facts about our beloved hedgehog and that it made you appreciate the game even more. As a matter of fact, there are still tons of hidden messages and symbolism that SEGA tries to portray with the games and movies of our favorite blue hedgehog. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled for all these fun little details and enjoy your Sonic experience.
