List of Sonic the Hedgehog characters
The Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise began in 1991 with the game Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis, which pitted a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog named Sonic against a rotund male human villain named Doctor Eggman (or Doctor Ivo Robotnik). The sequel, Sonic 2, gave Sonic a fox friend named Tails. Sonic CD introduced Amy Rose, a female hedgehog with a persistent crush on Sonic. Sonic 3 introduced Knuckles the Echidna, Sonic's rival and later friend. All five of these have remained major characters and appeared in dozens of games.
The series has introduced dozens of additional recurring characters over the years. These have ranged from anthropomorphic animal characters such as Shadow the Hedgehog and Cream the Rabbit to robots created by Eggman such as Metal Sonic and E-123 Omega, as well as human characters such as Eggman's grandfather Gerald Robotnik. The series features three fictional species, in order of appearance: Chao, which have usually functioned as digital pets and minor gameplay and plot elements; Wisps, which have been used as power-ups; and Koco, which when collected grant new abilities for Sonic, among other things.
The Sonic games keep a separate continuity from the Sonic the Hedgehog comics published by Archie Comics and other Sonic media and, as a result, feature a distinct yet overlapping array of many characters.
Characters in other media
Sally Acorn
Sally Acorn (voiced by Kath Soucie[247]) is a red-haired brown chipmunk who appears as a major character in the 1993 Sonic the Hedgehog animated series and later in the Archie Comics series.[248][249] She has also made minor cameos in the Sonic Spinball game and in the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog animated series. In the animated series for which the character was created and also in the Archie Comics series she was depicted as a princess and leader of a group of freedom fighters, whose goal is to restore peace to the Kingdom of Acorn taken over by Robotnik.[249] Sally is known for being Sonic's childhood friend and love interest, with Sally fighting alongside Sonic in many cases.[250][251]
Chris Thorndyke
Christopher Thorndyke (voiced by Sanae Kobayashi in Japanese and Suzanne Goldish in English), usually called Chris, is the main human protagonist of the Sonic X animated series. He encounters and befriends Sonic shortly after his arrival in Chris' world and invites him and his friends to stay in his home, joining them on their adventures to find the Chaos Emeralds and stop Eggman's robots.
The character has been divisive among fans.[252] Writing for THEM Anime Reviews, Tim Jones called Chris an "uninspired" and "bland" protagonist.[33]
Sticks the Badger
Sticks the Badger[al] (voiced by Nika Futterman in English and Aoi Yuki in Japanese[253]) is an orange and brown badger, first introduced in the animated Sonic Boom television series. Her characteristics are wild, energetic and paranoid, having lived in the wilderness alone for most of her life. Nonetheless, she is portrayed as wanting to strengthen her newfound friendship with Sonic, Amy, Tails and Knuckles.[254]
Sticks appears in a non-playable role in Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and as a playable character in Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal.
She is described as "infantile" by Scott Thompson of IGN[255] and an "unlikeable idiot" by Becky Cunningham of GamesRadar,[256] albeit a "nice addition" by Chris Carter of Destructoid.[257]
Sticks has appeared in other Sonic Boom titles, including Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom and Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, and has appeared in other Sonic titles not associated with the Boom sub-series, such as Sonic Runners and Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. She is mentioned in the mainline Sonic game Sonic Frontiers.[258]
Tom Wachowski
Tom Wachowski (/wəˈkaʊski/) (played by James Marsden), is one of the two main human protagonists in the live-action Sonic film series by Paramount Pictures and its spin-offs.
Tom is the sheriff of Green Hills who became a father figure to Sonic and aids him in his quest to stop Robotnik. Tom was first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog[259] and subsequently appeared in its sequel and is set to appear in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.[260] Tom also made an appearance in the spin-off IDW Publishing Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Pre-Quill comic and was mentioned in the live-action spin-off show; Knuckles. Tom was also a playable skin in the Sonic the Hedgehog Minecraft DLC.[261]
Maddie Wachowski
Maddie Wachowski (/wəˈkaʊski/) (played by Tika Sumpter), is one of the two main human protagonists in the live-action Sonic film series by Paramount Pictures and its spin-offs.
Maddie is a veterinarian and Tom's wife, who became a mother figure to Sonic and helps them stop Robotnik.[262] Maddie was first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog and subsequently appeared in its sequel and is set to appear in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.[260] Maddie also made an appearance in the spin-off IDW Publishing Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Pre-Quill comic and was a guest star in the first episode of the live-action spin-off show; Knuckles.[263] Maddie also made a cameo appearance in the Sonic the Hedgehog Minecraft DLC.[261]