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Welcome to The American Sonic Wikia!

"SONIC THE HEDGEHOG features a classic clash between good and evil, as Sonic battles through the zones to free his friends and defeat Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Sonic and Robotnik are not "flat" characters, however. Each is a true individual, with strengths, failings, and vulnerabilities''[1]

Sonicfront

"Dr. Robotnik the mad scientist, is snatching innocent animals and turning them into evil robots! Only one tough dude can put an end to the demented scientist's fiendish scheme. It's Sonic, the real cool hedgehog with the spiked haircut and power sneakers that give him super speed."

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Introduction[]

SEGA, founded as Standard Games in 1940s Honolulu, is today comprised of Sega of Japan (SoJ), Sega of America (SoA), Sega of Europe (SoE), and several smaller subsidiaries. In the late 80s and 90s, SEGA set its sights on the Western market, aiming to capture the essence of American speed and motion in their new mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog.

Introduced on the Genesis console ("Mega Drive" outside the U.S.) on June 21, 1991, Sonic's design drew inspiration from classic American cartoon icons. His red, white, and blue motif and edgy persona embodied American freedom and cool. Initially developed by a Sega of Japan team, Sonic's subsequent games were mainly handled by Sega of America's Sega Technical Institute (STI), with Sonic Team members like Yuji Naka joining the American team.

As Sonic's success soared in the West, SEGA began licensing the character for comics, TV shows, and merchandise, with each branch granted autonomy to develop its own mythos and tailor Sonic for its territory. This led to multiple, sometimes contradictory, continuities – a situation SEGA embraced, approving and owning all licensed Sonic products.

Despite internal rivalry between SoJ and the more successful SoA, which some attribute to SEGA's downfall, all Sonic media – from Archie Comics to SatAM – underwent rigorous approval processes by SEGA's licensing departments. SEGA maintained tight control over the Sonic brand, even intervening in creative decisions like the fate of Princess Sally Acorn in the Archie comics.

While continuities differed, SEGA acknowledged them all as valid, official representations of the Sonic universe, without needing to reconcile the differences. This unique approach allowed for a rich, diverse Sonic multiverse catering to global audiences.

  1. Sonic the Hedgehog Bible (Draft 2)
  2. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis) Manual
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