History Characters / SonicTheHedgehogMainTrio

[[redirect:Characters/SonicTheHedgehogTeamSonic]]

The three primary protagonists of the series aptly named Team Sonic (or Team Heroes depending on the game), consisting of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Whenever a threat rears its ugly head, you can bet these three will be at the center of the conflict in some way. The roster tends to vary depending on the game however but the ones listed here are considered "staples" of the series.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:{{Trope}}s applying to the trio as a whole]]
* AirplaneArms: All three do this when running full speed.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassCrew: By themselves they are already capable, but when they work together there is almost no foe that can take them down. VideoGame/SonicHeroes is even built around this concept with three other teams in addition to Team Sonic.
* BashBrothers: As mentioned above, ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' is built with this concept in mind, using the abilities of the three in tandem to progress.
* BrainsAndBrawn: Tails is the brains, to Sonic & Knuckles` brawn.
* CastHerd: After ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', the three had more or less equal spotlight and screentime, with only Sonic eclipsing them, but only by a small margin. However, recent games have began to focus primarily on Sonic himself with Tails being turned into an NPC NonActionGuy, and Knuckles being severely OutOfFocus.
* ColorCodedCharacters[=/=]ChromaticArrangement: Taken to absurd heights in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' where ''every'' team has this line up.
* ElementalPowers: Various games give them this affinity.
** Sonic: BlowYouAway
** Tails: ShockAndAwe [[note]][[{{Irony}} Ironic]], since Tails is often portrayed as having a {{fear of lightning}}. Also, he doesn't have any elementally charged attacks in ''Sonic Chronicles'', though he does have some that are specifically mechanical in nature.[[/note]]
** Knuckles: PlayingWithFire[=/=]DishingOutDirt
* FighterMageThief: Its even reflected in their personalities.
** [[MightyGlacier Fighter]]: Knuckles, who prefers close combat and uses his fist to plow through his opposition.
** [[SquishyWizard Mage]]: Tails, doesn't posses Sonic's agility or Knuckles' strength but makes up for it with his various gadgets.
** [[FragileSpeedster Thief]]: Sonic, who uses his various acrobatic and swift movements to make up for his lack of power. (Compared to Knuckles anyway).
* [[FiveManBand Four Man Band]]: When its just Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles its a PowerTrio, but when Amy joins it becomes this. The line up tends to change depending on the game however, so only the consistent members are listed below.
** TheHero: Sonic
** TheLancer: Both Tails and Knuckles can play this depending on the situation.
** TheBigGuy: Knuckles
** TheSmartGuy: Tails
** TheChick[=/=]SixthRanger: Amy. She's not officially apart of the team (hence her absence on this page) but is promoted enough with the other three to qualify.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Whenever Amy joins
** '''Sanguine''' : Amy, she is highly emotional, has very strong feelings for Sonic and has her moments where she would lose her temper.
** '''Choleric''': Sonic is the most likely to take action against a foe, and has a pretty noticeable arrogant streak.
** '''Melancholic''': Knuckles, he takes his life very seriously and stubbornly follows his duty without question.
** '''Phlegmatic''': Tails, he's analytical, but he knows right and wrong and cares about people in general.
* {{Funny Animal}}s
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Because Knuckles tends to spend more time alone on Angel Island, Sonic & Tails tend to be the ones who kick off the plot. They're almost never seen without the other and most games focus on them being such great partners. It helps that Sonic adopted Tails as his surrogate little bro.
* ImageSong: "[[VideoGame/SonicHeroes We Can]]" (for the three as Team Sonic).
* {{Kid Hero}}es: [[AllThereInTheManual According to official profiles]], none of them are over 18. Heck, Tails isn't even 10.
** ImprobableAge: And yet, they've gone on to save the world and be far more competent than the military.
* LimitBreak: Their Team Blast "Sonic Overdrive" in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. It does major damage to all nearby enemies, and enables the use of the Light Speed Attack for 10 seconds until its cooldown timer runs out.[[labelnote:*]]Sonic could use the Light Speed Attack at any time in the ''Sonic Adventure'' games, provided that he found the Ancient Light first; even so, he had to [[ChargedAttack charge it up by holding a Spin Dash for as long as possible beforehand]]. There are no Level-Up items in Sonic Heroes, so the Light Speed Attack is left out.[[/labelnote]]
* {{PintSized Powerhouse}}s: They're all pretty small and rather strong, but Knuckles stands out among them.
* PowerTrio
** FreudianTrio: Although each one of them have traits of all three Freudian personality types.
*** TheMcCoy: Sonic tends to act purely on impulse and whatever he feels is a good idea at the time, though in VideoGame/SonicLostWorld he shows some [[TheKirk Kirk]] traits when breaking up a fight between Tails and Eggman.
*** TheSpock: Knuckles, tends to focus primarily on his job of protecting the Master Emerald and rarely concerns himself with matters outside of that. Although his [[HairTriggerTemper anger issues]] give him some [=McCoy=] traits.
*** TheKirk: Tails, tends to mediate in-fighting between the other two, and his intelligence gives him some Spock traits. He also has some [=McCoy=] traits when agitated by something as shown in VideoGame/SonicLostWorld.
** NiceMeanAndInbetween
*** Nice: Tails, humble and respectful to others.
*** Mean: Knuckles, being far more of a hothead and a recluse.
*** Inbetween: Sonic, has a bit of an ego trip but ultimately a nice guy overall.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: A [[WalkingTheEarth nomadic]] blue hedgehog, a [[GadgeteerGenius super smart]] helicopter-tailed fox, and a lonesome guardian of a giant green rock, all united by their efforts to save the world.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan. Sonic (manly man) and Tails (sensitive guy)...however, when it comes to Knuckles, Sonic is the Sensitive Guy while Knuckles is the Manly Man.
* SuperMode: Sonic and Knuckles were able to harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds and Tails the Super Emeralds up till ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'', nowadays it seems only Sonic and the other male hedgehogs are allowed to go Super.
* SuperSpeed: They're all pretty fast, too. Sonic is just the fastest of them.
* RedOniBlueOni: Both Knuckles and Tails usually play Blue to Sonic's Red. Each of them can function as either Blue or Red depending on the game, however.
* TrueCompanions: Despite their backgrounds and differing personalities, they are shown to care for one another. Particularly Sonic & Tails.
* VitriolicBestBuds: All three of them tend to tease and snark at the other, especially Sonic and Knuckles.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sonic the Hedgehog]]
[[quoteright:233:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chara_sonic_5859.gif]]

-->''"What you see is what you get, just a guy that loves adventure. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!"''

-> '''First Appearance''': ''Rad Mobile''
-> '''Debut in-series''': ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''

!!!!!!Voiced by: Creator/TakeshiKusao (Japanese, 1993), MasamiKikuchi (Japanese, [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie OVA]]), Keiko Toda (Japanese, ''SonicUnderground''), JunichiKanemaru (Japanese, 1998-present), Creator/TomokazuSeki (Werehog form, Japanese, ''SonicUnleashed''), Keiko Utoku, (English, ''SonicCD''), Jaleel White (English, ''[[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog AoStH]]'', ''[[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM SatAM]]'', ''SonicUnderground''), Martin Burke (English, ''[[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie STH: The Movie]]''), Ryan Drummond (English, 1999-2005), JasonGriffith (English, ''SonicX'', 2005-2010), RogerCraigSmith (English, 2010-present)

-->The main character of the franchise. A cobalt-blue anthropomorphic hedgehog with attitude and plenty of personality who lives up to his name by being able to run at superhuman speeds. Not much is known about Sonic's past aside from that he was born on Christmas Island. One day, he noticed all of his animal buddies began disappearing and the culprit was none other than Dr. Eggman. After foiling the doc's plans, Sonic would then make it his business to foil whatever EvilPlan the doc cooked up, establishing their long rivalry. Over time, Sonic has faced bigger and larger threats alike while making a whole slew of allies along the way.

-->Sonic is described as the wind; unpredictable, and always moving from place to place and never settling down for long. Laid-back, carefree, and armed with a wit as sharp as his quills with an ego to match.


* AllLovingHero: As far as the games go, no matter what happens, Sonic never holds grudges, and easily makes friends out of former enemies. If it's to save the world, he won't even hesitate to work alongside Eggman without a second thought, although he wouldn't exactly be happy about it.
* AlwaysAccurateAttack: His signature Homing Attack that he has had since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', which is usually shared with other "Speed"-type characters. Sometimes, it's shared with all of the characters.
* AntiHero: Played with. While Sonic has his faults, they don't get in the way of his heroism. However, as his own theme song (see ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'') states that he doesn't care who is wrong or right, he's doing this his way. He also has a propensity for a LOT of vandalism in his heroic acts. Still, deep down he always will come out as the hero who saves everyone at the end of the day.
** While he ultimately comes out the hero, ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' includes him destroying countless military robots (before even having any idea that Eggman was up to something), resisting arrest by escaping from GUN, breaking out of Prison Island, and, oh yeah, HIJACKING THE PRESIDENT'S CAR.
** in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' (and arguably ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'') he causes what must be millions in non-Eggman property damage during his daytime runs.
** ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' starts with him deliberately vandalizing Eggman's park despite not (yet) having any evidence of Eggman's wrongdoing.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'' he even willingly attempts to become the story's villain by killing King Arthur to save Camelot from his tyrrany. He even lampshades it. But to be fair, King Arthur was the real villain at the time.
-->'''Sonic''': I told you, I don't mind playing the bad guy once in a while.
* TheArtifact: While his spin moves have always been a hallmark of the characters abilities, some aspects of them eventually became obsolete in the context of later entries. For instance;
** Sonic's spindash move, a staple ability since ''SonicTheHedgehog2'' that was meant to make it easier for Sonic to gain momentum and attack (plus making it easier to go up slopes), was largely downgraded in power as an ability and basically made obsolete around the later 3-D and SonicRush games, due to the new boost ability essentially serving the same purpose as it and it's sister move, the Super Peelout, but without the idle chargeup time needed. Later games such as ''SonicUnleashed'' eventually dropped the ability to use the move altogether, although it still makes appearances in side-scrolling titles such as ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'' and ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.
** Likewise, the spin attack, Sonic's basic method of simply ramming into enemies while spinning in air, was made obsolete in the 3-D games as of SonicAdventure, due to the introduction of the Homing Attack (which made an early bird appearance as a shield in Sonic3DBlast). While his spin attack is still a main move in the side-scrollers, the homing attack still accompanies it as a backup move now.
** Sonic's initial purpose as a character became this over time. Sonic was originally concieved by Sega not only as their mascot, but as a direct competitor and the antithesis of the SuperMarioBros video game series. Once Sega dropped out of the hardware business and started publishing games on Nintendo, and when Sonic and the plumber had a few crossover games together, that aspect of Sonic was simply made obsolete and was dropped altogether in favor of solely being Sega's flagship franchise, and a friendly competitor to the Mario franchise instead.
* {{Badass}}: Because who else can plow through robots, dark beings, and even gods at super speed, all while having fun at it? Hell, he's so badass he temporarily outran ''a black hole.''
** BadassAdorable: Even he has his moments where he just looks cute, mostly pre-''Adventure''.
** BadassBoast: He's let out a few over the years, and he backs each one up in spectacular fashion:
*** "[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 You can't stop me this time! There's only one REAL Sonic!]]"
*** "[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 What you see is what you get, just a guy that loves adventure. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!]]"
*** "[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog! I have no master except the wind that blows free!]]"
*** "[[VideoGame/SonicColors Eggman! I AM going to save this planet, and I AM going to free these aliens! No copyright law in the universe is going to stop me! We can save ourselves a lot of time and broken robots if you just quit now!]]
*** "[[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld The only thing that's gonna get conquered is your face, Eggman!]]"
** BadassCape: [[http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100608163236/sonic/images/7/7c/Excalibur_Sonic_art.jpg As Excalibur Sonic]].
** {{Badbutt}}: One of the poster children of this trope. Which makes sense, considering how fitting the above trope into a kid-friendly environment has been a primary hallmark of the series since its inception.
** CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: DependingOnTheWriter, he can be somewhat bumbling and highly wacky in personality at times. His bouts of skill and heroism, however, are usually no less pronounced.
** TookALevelInBadass: He defeats Perfect Chaos in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' in normal form without resorting to transforming into Super Sonic.
* BerserkButton: At least 4: Don't call him a rat; don't mess with his friends; don't stop him from eating his chili dogs and DON'T threaten the peace, freedom and/or well-being of others. He won't take it well.
** To put this into perspective, [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Erazor Djinn]] managed to press ''three of those buttons in the same game!'' To say it didn't end well for him would be putting it mildly.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: He's probably the nicest and most polite character next to Tails and Cream, but push his buttons and... well... Erazor Djinn learned the hard way. Not to mention Eggman on occasion.
* BigBrotherMentor: He's this to Tails in most of the games and adaptations.
** BigBrotherInstinct '''and''' HeterosexualLifePartners: Again, with Tails.
* BigDamnHeroes: One of his habits includes arriving in the nick of time to save anyone from Eggman's robots. Examples include ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''
** And even when he's not in his own games, as he did at the end of [[spoiler:the Subspace Emissary in SuperSmashBrothersBrawl]].
* BigEater: Despite his small size, he has a ''huge'' appetite; justified due to the fact that he burns a lot of calories constantly running at such high speed all the time.
* BlackHoleBelly: He literally becomes one in the DS version of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' when he transforms into the Violet Void form. He will even consume the entirety of the Frigate Skullian, provided its HP meter is depleted enough.
* BloodKnight: Can be considered as one, since he's "the guy who loves adventure." In other words, he loves the thrill of cheating death many times over and facing impossible odds for the adrenaline rush. This is why he has Dr. Eggman as his nemesis, because Sonic and his addiction to combat and danger wouldn't be complete without that overweight mad-scientist and his robot-armies feeding as much of his suicidal tendencies as possible.
* BlowYouAway: Ever since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', he could use wind based attacks, some of which use his great speed, some of which don't, although the games never elaborate much on this.
** RazorWind: His Sonic Wind attack, as depicted in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''.
* BoisterousBruiser: Generally very excitable and willing to take down anyone threatening the world.
* BookDumb: Sonic is often shown to be highly resourceful and even has plausible showings of wisdom. He's also been shown as being capable of operating the Tornado with equal proficiency to Tails, and clearly values literature. However, he isn't the most educated guy around, usually requiring [[TheSmartGuy more intellectual team mates]] such as Tails to explain the science of it all.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The character most likely to do so, such as in ''VideoGame/SonicColors''.
** Even in his first appearance, he would stare at the screen and tap his foot impatiently if left idle.
* BrilliantButLazy: A lot of incarnations, such as the Sonic in the OVA, epitomize this well. He doesn't tend to act until the last possible second.
* BroughtDownToNormal: In Sonic 3, Knuckles cancels out his otherwise very powerful Super Sonic form with a single punch, and this also knocks the Emeralds out of him.
** In the opening of ''Sonic Unleashed'', Eggman uses a machine to force Sonic out of his super form and rip the Chaos Emeralds from him, which in turn causes Sonic to gain a new Werehog form in leiu.
** Occurs in ''Videogame/SonicLabyrinth'' when Eggman takes his speed and ability to jump by replacing his shoes with slow down versions of his own creation. However, he can still spindash just fine.
* CallingYourAttacks: ''"Sonic Wind!"'' ''"Chaos Control!"'' ''"Speed Break!"'' ''"Time Break!"''
* CatchPhrase: "I'm Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog!"
* CharacterizationMarchesOn[=/=]{{Flanderization}}: The degree of his personality tends to vary from game to game, especially in the 3D era. He had a fairly neutral personality in the likes of the two Adventure games, and Storybook games; being fairly confident in his abilities, but knowing when to get serious when a real threat presented itself. In [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic 06]], all of the quirky parts of his personality were written out and he's mostly a generic, straight-laced hero. Then, after ''Videogame/SonicColors'', probably to circumvent that problem and the result of a new writing team, they take his personality in the ''opposite'' direction and make his quirks more prominent, a cocky jock who almost rarely stops going on about how awesome he is and very rarely takes a threat seriously. ''Lost World'' seems to downplay this slightly by [[NiceJobBreakingItHero having his cockiness fall back on him]], showing a [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex more insecure side]] to his personality.
* ChasteHero -> CelibateHero: While he's aware of Amy's infatuation for him, [[NoGuyWantsToBeChased he prefers to keep away from her when she acts on it]].
* ChekhovsSkill: [[spoiler:He saves himself from one of Eggman's {{Death Trap}}s in ''Adventure 2'' by performing Chaos Control with a Fake Chaos Emerald. He picked up the skill by watching Shadow.]]
* ChickMagnet: Mostly in ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' and the Archie Comics; the games show this quirk to a lesser extent. Depending on the continuity, he's sometimes annoyed by it, being the CelibateHero and all.
** He ends up lampshading this in ''VideoGame/SonicBattle'': "Got enough girls chasing me as it is."
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Most bios state that he can never leave troubled people alone due to his sense of heroism and great kindness.
* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: Some early localized manuals claim that the source of Sonic's speed comes from his shoes, but this is ''never'' taken as canon, not even in other Sonic continuities from the early days -- even the early [[SonicTheHedgehogPromoComic Promo Comic]] dismissed that idea, and the game it was promoting said otherwise in the US manual! However, it is commonly accepted in several continuities (i.e. The Promo Comic, Adventures of Sonic, Sonic The Comic, Archie) that Sonic's shoes are designed to protect his feet from the friction and heat gained from going as fast as he does.
* CommitmentIssues: One interpretation of Sonic's [[CelibateHero aversion to romance]] is him being scared of settling down and giving up his free and adventurous lifestyle.
* CompetitionFreak: Sonic hates losing races, as shown in ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'', but especially if someone cheats at it.
* ConjoinedEyes
* ContinueYourMissionDammit: His impatience and snarky attitude towards the player for hold-ups shows in some of his [[IdleAnimation idle animations]]. [[NonStandardGameOver He'll even give you a Game Over if he's kept waiting too long in Sonic CD]].
* ContractualImmortality: Sonic never stays dead because of his importance as the franchise's main protagonist. [[spoiler: He was killed by Mephiles in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', but [[BackFromTheDead got better]]]].
* CoolHouse: A rusted-out [[RuinsOfTheModernAge relic of a 747 jetliner]] in the OVA.
* CoolPlane: The Tornado. Which belongs to him, not Tails. Contrary to popular belief.
* CoolShades: Briefly wore a pair in the OVA, and also wears some in the ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' series.
* CuteLittleFangs: Was intended to have these from the very beginning until Sega of America had their final say on his design. However, if you look close enough at a few models, Sonic does have fangs. Sonic's Werehog form has prominent fangs as well.
* DanceBattler: Many of his moves are based off of techniques seen in the likes of Break Dancing and Capoeira.
* DarkIsNotEvil: The [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Werehog]], [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine]], [[VideoGame/SonicColors Violet Void, Purple Frenzy]], [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld Black Bomb]] and "[[Anime/SonicX Dark Super]]" forms certainly ''look'' evil. However, they do not act evil nor do these forms carry out evil actions. Quite the contrary, actually. Some of them, however, make Sonic much more aggressive.
** This is even touched upon a bit in Sonic Unleashed. Sonic is too heroic to give into evil even when in his dark forms.
---> '''Sonic''': Even at night when I'm like this, I'm still myself. You must have been protecting me this whole time.
---> '''Chip''': No, you're the reason you haven't changed at all. You're too strong to lose yourself. You never give into the night, or darkness inside your heart.
* DeadpanSnarker: Played straight in the video games and the comics, ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries'', ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' being some prime examples. Other portrayals paint him as an ObnoxiousSnarker. Sonic also had his moments of this in [=SatAM=].
* DefeatMeansFriendship: With the exceptions of Amy, who was a FanGirl, and Tails, [[DependingOnTheWriter who either idolized him or was orphaned and bullied]], almost all of his friends and allies had to be [[MemeticMutation "befriended"]] before they joined up with him. He does this so often that he can give [[MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha Nanoha]] a run for her money.
* {{Determinator}}: Nothing slows him down for long.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: He has defeated, among others, a [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure fully powered-up water god]], a [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 time god]], a [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed dark earth spirit]], and [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SonicGenerations a mechanized Eldritch Abomination]]]]. He did defeat all of them in super form, but it's still quite impressive.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', he beats said fully powered-up water god again, but this time, ''[[TookALevelInBadass without the need of his super form]].''
* DoesNotLikeSpam: It is strongly implied in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' that he does not like seafood, going by the extremely low EXP gainage after he is fed it.
* DoesntLikeGuns: He openly admits in [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog Shadow the Hedgehog]] that he "wouldn't be caught dead" utilizing guns and other firearms.
* DontCallMeSir: He clearly dislikes being referred to as "Master" by Shahra in ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'' and insists on being called by his name. He also dislikes being called "Mr. Sonic", as Cream and Elise find out.
* DropTheHammer: Gets his own version of Amy's Piko Piko Hammer if he is partnered with her in ''{{Sonic Advance 3}}''.
* {{Eagleland}}: Type 1. Take his snarky attitude, like of extreme/fun activities, and add in a "free spirit" cowboy personality, and you have Sonic in a nutshell. That his main colors are red, white, and blue helps.
* EasilyCondemned: Clearly his reputation as the hero of Earth didn't stand for much in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' considering GUN and the police were after him for a crime he obviously didn't commit.
* EmbarrassingFirstName: Depending on the continuity, it's either Nikki, Maurice (though that was later revealed to be his middle name), or ''Ogilvie''. However, he is simply named Sonic in the main series.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'' conveys who he is fairly well, showing his great acrobatics, difficulty traversing water, and running into Eggman's next plan with no idea what's in store for him. All without ''talking''.
** The intro to the original ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' also counts, as it simply has him do his signature finger wag to establish him as THE MascotWithAttitude.
** ''Videogame/SonicRiders'' does this in it's opening cutscene, quickly showing us how Sonic's ChronicHeroSyndrome, interest in extreme sports and [[CompetitionFreak love of competition]] come together when he's given a new skill to master and a new rival to beat.
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Louie Montaine in ''Sonic Unleashed'' loves to go on about how hot he finds Sonic and lusts after his body after every successfully cleared mission he offers.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: His primary method of attack, the Spin Attack, and it's variations such as the Spindash and Homing Attack.
* ExpressiveEars: They'll flick frequently when he's irritated with waiting (''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4's'' ''IdleAnimation'') and lie forward or sideways when he's asleep, disappointed or feeling sick.
* ExtremeOmnivore: Eats anything, even moldy/rancid food (If ''Sonic Unleashed'' is anything to go by). Taken to the extreme in ''Sonic Colors'' when he absorbs Purple or Violet Wisps and morphs into a Purple/Indigo monstrosity that chomps down on anything, ''even robots and other metallic objects.''
* ExtremityExtremist: In battle, Sonic uses his feet more than his fists, combining this with DanceBattler.
* EyeColorChange: Sonic's eyes are normally green, but when he goes Super Sonic, they turn red.
* TheFace: He's easily the most social of the three, and usually does all of the talking.
* FacePalm: Does this fairly frequently.
* FatalFlaw: Sonic can get rather cocky and reckless in the face of danger, something that can often be exploited by his foes or lead to him making rather dangerous mistakes. How prominent this is varies from media to media, though it has cost him dearly at least once in just about every interpretation. This is taken to the highest degree in the most recent game, ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', when [[spoiler:his recklessness causes the Zeti to become free from Eggman's control and become a larger threat than Eggman himself was, and later when his recklessness causes Tails to get kidnapped]].
* FireForgedFriends: [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Knuc]][[VideoGame/SonicAdventure kles, Gamma, Chaos,]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow, Rouge, G.U.N.,]] [[VideoGame/SonicRiders Jet, Wave, Storm,]] [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes Amy, Cream, Big, Omega,]] [[VideoGame/SonicRush Blaze,]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Silver,]] [[VideoGame/SonicChronicles Shade,]] and even [[EnemyMine Eggman himself]] have all been enemies or opponents at one point or another (and if spin-offs count, then not even Tails is exempted from this). However, they're now all (with the exception of the now dead Gamma, and Eggman, which is always temporary) invaluable friends/allies to Sonic.
* {{Flight}}: But only when he's Super Sonic.
** FlyingBrick: As Super Sonic.
* {{Foil}}: He has quite a few, notable examples include.
** [[BigBad Dr. Eggman]], being a scientist who wishes to rule through technology and totalitarian rule to Sonic's nature loving idealism.
** And back when they were still adversaries, [[TheBigGuy Knuckles]]. [[RedOniBlueOni Red Oni to Sonic's Blue]], his strength to Sonic's speed, and his stationary lifestyle to Sonic's nomadic one.
** [[TheRival Shadow]]. They're on very different ends of the [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Idealism vs. Cynicism scale]] and often come to blows because of it, and this is after Shadow's HeelFaceTurn in his own game.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Choleric.
* FragileSpeedster / GlassCannon: Technically. Sonic is astoundingly resilient and his speed and abilities alone make going up against him in action akin to [[CurbStompBattle bringing a knife to fight a Maglev train]], but without his rings or a bubble shield, he is an out-and-out OneHitPointWonder who will keel other from ''any'' attack thrown at him, even if he so much as ''touches'' an enemy.
* GenreSavvy: With the amount of times he hangs lampshades, he fits this to a T.
-->'''Sonic (in ''VideoGame/SonicColors''):''' Experience has taught me to investigate anything that glows.
* GetBackHereBoss: He's the final Dark Side story boss of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' and insists on constantly running away from you, only stopping to fire off his signature move when there's enough space between Shadow and him.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7lZ5UYY-No This.]]
* GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger: His trademark pose.
* GoldenSuperMode: Super Sonic, perhaps the second most famous variant after the [[Anime/DragonBallZ Super Saiyans]].
* GoodIsNotSoft: His sealing away of Erazor during the ending of Secret Rings comes off as this, and would have been disproportionate if Erazor hadn't [[MoralEventHorizon established himself as a truly irredeemable villain beforehand]].
** His mocking of the despairing Metal Sonic in the end of ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' comes off as downright cruel and cocky, only justified by how [[OmnicidalManiac monstrous]] [[OneWingedAngel Metal]] was beforehand.
** Back in the very first game, you had the choice to either let Dr. Eggman flee or destroy the Eggmobile and watch him plummet to his apparent death. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXUkJdUAAMY Later games]] and his ass-kickings of the doctor in the early mangas show that the second option was probably the canon one.
* GratuitousEnglish: He started getting this when later games started to play up his 'tude more; exclusive to the Japanese version, of course.
* GreenEyes: Acquired these when he's in his [[SuperMode Super form]] in the classic games, acquired these in his regular form from ''Sonic Adventure'' onwards.
* GrindBoots: While everyone gains this ability by the time of ''Heroes'', ''Sonic Adventure 2'' sees Sonic sporting a pair of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_shoes Soap shoes]] (in his trademark red and white colors), [[ProductPlacement due to a deal between Sega and the Soap brand]].
* TheHero: In both senses. He's the main character of the series and the leader of "Team Sonic".
* HeroicSafeMode: In most modern incarnations, his response to most tragedies is to simply keep going.
* HeroicWillpower: Present to a truly ludicrous degree. He can shrug off a mind-controlling monstrosity without even being ''aware'' of it. Curiously, this didn't work in ''Sonic Rivals 2''. The Ifrit gains control of his mind (if you're playing as Tails) with ease.
* HeroOnHiatus: [[spoiler:When he temporarily dies in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', he's out of commission and it's up to the other characters to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds to bring him back.]]
* HoldingBackThePhlebotinum: He never uses Chaos Control unless he absolutely has to.
* HomingProjectile: He can turn himself into one using the Homing Attack.
* HotBlooded: He's fairly passionate about saving the world from Eggman through-and-through.
* HurricaneKick: An R-Trigger trick in the ''Advance'' series.
* IAmNotWeasel: He's... ahem... ''[[BerserkButton rather temperamental]]'' about being called a rat rather than a hedgehog throughout ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Secret Rings]]''.
* IAmSong: They call him Sonic. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmOF9Ubhxa0 'Cause he's faster than sound, he keeps on jumping around]].
* IGotBigger: ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' confirms that "Modern" Sonic is the older version of pre-Sonic Adventure "Classic" Sonic.
* IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight: Throughout the whole series, he pulls this against [[spoiler:his Uncle Chuck and Knuckles, who was the new Enerjak]] in the Archie comics, [[spoiler:Perfect Chaos]] in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', and he tried this against [[spoiler:Emerl/The Gizoid]] in ''Sonic Battle''. [[spoiler:In Emerl's case, it only partially worked, and [[FreakOut the result?]] [[TearJerker A sad ending]].]]
* ImageSong: "[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure It Doesn't Matter]]" and "[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 His World]]". "[[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Endless Possibilities]]" for his relationship to his were-hog form.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler:Mephiles stabs him to death just to get an emotional response out of Elise and therefore unseal Iblis out of its person-shaped can. Thank goodness the Chaos Emeralds are capable of resurrecting the dead...]]
* ImprovisedParachute: He can actually use his cranial quills and hands to catch air like a makeshift parachute in order to make his descents through air slower in ''[[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Sonic Unleashed]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SonicColors Sonic Colors]]''.
* InformedAttribute: His temperament. In most of the game manuals, he's described as being hot-tempered. This contrasts with the actual games, where he's simply cool and confident.
** Certain games such as ''Adventure 2'' and ''Lost World'' show him losing his cool, albeit in a [[TranquilFury rather controlled]] and heavily provoked manner, probably leaning it more into BewareTheNiceOnes than a defining attribute to the character. Certain alternate interpretations are more aggressive however.
* InformedFlaw: ''WordOfGod'' has stated that not having a full eight hours of sleep can severely affect Sonic's ability to function and also has a large impact on his running. This is never actually seen in the games, however.
* InSeriesNickname: Rouge calls him "Big Blue" in ''Sonic Chronicles'' and ''Sonic Generations''.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: He's almost ''twice'' the age of Tails.
* InvisibleAnatomy: He does not appear to have toes when depicted barefoot.
* InvoluntaryShapeshifter: In Sonic Unleashed. He can't stop his Werehog transformation from occurring at night or, in the case of the Wii version, in darkness within the Gaia Gates. He can temporarily revert back into normal form when in light or when exposed to light, but once he steps back into darkness, it's only a matter of time before he'll transform back into Werehog form. However, contrary to popular belief, Sonic did ''not'' consider the Werehog form a bad thing, and even enjoyed it in spite of it obviously handicapping his latent speed abilities, [[SuperStrength while giving him]] [[RubberMan some new ones]] in turn.
* JackOfAllStats: Most of the cast is capable of using his signature moves (Spin Dash and Spin Jump) along with other abilities, but Sonic tends to be the most well-rounded in using his signature abilities.
* JapanesePronouns: "Ore".
* KarmicTrickster: In ''Sonic The Fighters'', one of his throws is to take his opponent's weapon and use it on them in a very cartoony manner.
* KidHero: He is only 15 years old in the present games, and was likewise this in the original games, until it was retconned to make him much younger during the Genesis years.
* LargeHam: His personality is very boisterous and magnetic. When he makes the scene, he will be sure to let everyone there know (subtlety is not a prominent trait of Sonic). He also likes to [[TalkingIsAFreeAction quip and taunt when he's in the middle of a skirmish]].
* TheLeader: Type III for all of Team Sonic and Type IV for the cast of heroes as a whole.
* LeeroyJenkins: Varies according to the story. Even at his mildest, Sonic has no patience for waiting around or discussing tactics. At his worst, he endangers others or gets himself turned into a robot.
** Strangely enough, only the Archie comics play this straight enough for him to be called out on it. Other than the [[labelnote:''Sonic Storybook Series'']]Sonic And The Secret Rings and Sonic And The Black Knight, specifically[[/labelnote]], he rarely, if ever, gets called out on this even if it's invoked.
*** Granted, said strategy (or lack thereof) comes to bite him back a lot more in the comics than in the games.
** This is played straight in ''VidoeGame/SonicLostWorld'' however when, despite Tails' warnings, Sonic kicks Eggman's conch away. Said conch was the only thing keeping the Deadly Six under his control whom promptly attack everyone in sight which prompts a retreat. Tails and Eggman do, in fact, call him out on it.
* LeParkour: A game mechanic in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' gives him the ability to run and jump along walls and celings, complete with SpeedEchoes.
* LimitedWardrobe: Is virtually ''never'' seen wearing anything save WhiteGloves and his pointy buckled shoes in every Sonic continuity. The only exception was his Soap Shoes in ''Adventure 2'', after which he just went back to his traditional outfit.
* LoveableRogue: While generally having a strong sense of justice, he is willing to go against the law, especially if [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 they are after him]].
* MagicPants: Applies to both the Werehog and Darkspine forms. Werehog loses his gloves, then gains them back upon transforming back into normal form, whilst Darkspine loses his shoes, socks, and gloves and gains them back within a split second of turning back into normal form.
* MagneticHero: Very easily makes friends and allies, [[DefeatMeansFriendship even from former enemies.]] There are times when he doesn't try to make friends with anyone, he just does.
* MascotWithAttitude: The TropeMaker.
* MasterSwordsman: In ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''. Despite probably never using a sword before in his life, he manages to slay a dragon with just a training sword. And when he picks up Caliburn, he goes on to defeat the three Knights of the Round Table and King Arthur himself.
* TheMcCoy: He definitely fits this to a "T" among Team Sonic in the games.
* MeaningfulName: He's called ''Sonic'' for a reason.
* MetaGuy
* MightyGlacier: In his Werehog form, he loses most of his trademark SuperSpeed in exchange for SuperStrength and [[RubberMan stretchy arms]].
* MirrorBoss: Acts like this against Shadow in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' during the first boss fight against him. He does it again in the final Dark Side boss, with the exception of him having access to his Sonic Wind move whilst Shadow doesn't have his Chaos Spear.
* MiscarriageOfJustice: He was sent to prison in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' due to being mistaken for [[CriminalDoppelganger Shadow]].
* MonochromaticEyes: His Darkspine form has them.
* MorphicResonance: All of Sonic's forms share common design aspects to the 'normal' form. The Wisp forms also share yellow, pupiless eyes, ears, and spiky protusions (except for Violet Void form, which has only the eyes and mouth, and Blue Cube form, which only has the eyes and inner ears). All of these design aspects resemble the normal form's eyes, ears, and quills to a great extent.
* MultipleChoicePast: Outside of a brief mention of his [[labelnote:birthplace]]Christmas Island[[/labelnote]], he's never really been given an official backstory in the games.
* MysteriousPast: The only things ever revealed about Sonic's past is that his rivalry with Dr. Eggman predated VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 and that he was born on Christmas Island.
* TheNameIsBondJamesBond: Somewhat reversed in his CatchPhrase "I'm Sonic; Sonic the Hedgehog!"
* NatureLover: Stated to have an appreciation for the beauty of nature.
* NervesOfSteel: For the most part, at least in the games.
* NiceGuy: Probably the best example in the series short of Tails (except for ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'' and [[ComicBook/SonicTheComic Fleetway's Sonic the Comic]]), as Sonic is often noted for his compassion and selflessness.
** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He's not without his follies though but for the most part the Heart of Gold part mainly overshadows the Jerk part, in this case, since his jerkish tendencies only show towards his enemies and he is generally nice towards everyone else.
*** MrViceGuy: Some versions of him are ''very'' {{pride}}ful. He sometimes prioritizes his beauty-sleep a little too highly, as well but as noted, he's still a good person.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: There are a few examples of Sonic unintentionally causing a lot of mistakes.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', his arrogance and fixation with belittling Eggman instead of paying attention to what he was doing was ultimately the catalyst of the game's plot and his Werehog transformations.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', [[spoiler:when he destroyed Rotatatron/Globatron, an arm got lodged into a nearby structure, which turned out to be part of the mind control cannon. When Eggman tried to fire it, the cannon backfired. The resulting energy created two things: a Nega Hyper-Go-On black hole that consumed the amusement park and, if evidence is correct, [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations the primordial essence known as the Time Eater.]] Basically, Sonic caused ''Sonic Generations'' to occur by destroying the first boss of Colors.]]
** In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he's pretty much responsible for the Deadly Six betraying Eggman and attempting to conquer the world for themselves. Then he does it again, this time, [[spoiler:causing Tails to be trapped inside a capsule.]]
* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: Especially if the chaser's name is Amy Rose.
* OneDimensionalThinking: As if to parallel his bullet like speed, Sonic kindof has a one-track, arrogant mind, and when he sets his mind on a goal, he will not rest until it is carried out, and this can make him do some very impulsive, foolhardy stuff. This "smash first, ask questions later" mentality [[DeconstructedTrope ends up biting him in the rear]] ''hard'' in ''SonicLostWorld'', when he accidentally makes Eggman's newest minions an even bigger threat than before by accidentally freeing them from Eggman's control.
* OneHitPointWonder: A notable handicap of his--if it weren't for the rings protecting him, he'd have been roadkill years ago. This can be chalked up to GameplayAndStorySegregation however; Sonic has often been shown to be able to take a reasonable amount of punishment before going down, and sometimes the attacks he goes through are reasonably powerful enough (or relevant to the plot) that it mandates him taking lethal damage, even if he had a ring or his Super Sonic form on hand--such as two occasions in Sonic 3 [[note]] Knuckles literally [[BroughtDownToNormal cancels out Sonic's super form]] with a single punch in the opening, and the final boss of the first half of Sonic 3 can cancel out Sonic's super form by grabbing him and slamming him into the ground).[[/note]] and one point in Sonic 2006.
* OneManArmy: Technically, he's a "One ''Hedgehog'' Army". Wherever he runs, expect lots of trashed robots in his wake. Don't believe it? Watch the prologue to ''Unleashed''.
* OurGhostsAreDifferent: [[spoiler:After Mephiles kills him in '06, his ghost/spirit appears in the form of a gust of ethereal blue wind that only Princess Elise can detect.]]
* OurWerebeastsAreDifferent: [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chara_werehog_6055.gif Sonic the Werehog]] in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed''. Even the "werehog" term was originally coined by the fans, and Sega just shrugged and went, "[[SureWhyNot eh, why not?]]"
* OutOfFocus: This actually happened to him in a certain period of time in the series, despite the series named after him. In ''Sonic Adventure 2'', Shadow was the character with more plot focus, backstory, and CharacterDevelopment in that game. This continued through ''Sonic Heroes'' and into ''Shadow the Hedgehog'', where Shadow actually displaced Sonic as the main character as well as ''Sonic '06'', where both Shadow and the new character Silver displaced Sonic.
* PapaWolf: He serves as one to Emerl in ''Battle''. Earlier on, he was more of a BigBrotherMentor to Emerl, but as time progressed... [[spoiler:He nearly has a FreakOut when Emerl is on his death throes.]]
* ParentalAbandonment: In most incarnations, his parents (or lack thereof) are not referenced even once.
* PersonalityPowers: He is one free-spirited wanderer with SuperSpeed powers.
* PinballProtagonist: He was afflicted with this ''horribly'' in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', in which the most influential roles are delegated to Shadow and Silver and he barely gets anything of noteworthiness done in the grand scheme of the story.
* PintSizedPowerhouse: 3'3'' tall, 77.2lbs in weight, and yet he can defeat monstrosities like [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1IIQXOuaaI this]] with only the shoes on his feet.
* PowerOfTheVoid: He becomes a living, moving void in Violet Void form that consumes nearly anything he comes across and becomes bigger in the process.
* PowerStrainBlackout: Overuse of his Super form can cause this due to the amount of energy required to sustain it.
* PragmaticHero: Very much this in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''. [[spoiler:He was fully willing to allow The Grand Kingdom to come to an end rather than allow Merlina to use her magic to make it eternal.]]
* {{Pride}}: He's fully aware of his SuperSpeed, and he's proud of it.
* PromotionToParent: Most (if not all) incarnations where Tails isn't living independently has Sonic being the one who takes Tails under his wing.
* PunnyName: His Super Sonic form.
* RealMenWearPink: One of his hobbies includes admiring flowers. In the OVA, his favorite clothes are pink.
* RedOniBlueOni: Played straight with Knuckles, but then becomes an inversion later on. Also an inversion with Shadow due to Sonic's cheerful and adventurous lifestyle and Shadow's stoic and deadly serious demeanor.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Especially Classic Sonic.
* TheRival: Sonic has many of them. The current primary ones are Shadow and Jet. Knuckles once served this role, but he has since grown out of it.
** FriendlyRivalry: With Knuckles as the two are now in good terms. This was a one-sided case with Shadow, who isn't interested in "friendly competition" as Sonic puts it in ''Shadow The Hedgehog''.
** RivalsTeamUp: With Knuckles, then Shadow, and then Blaze.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: At least, as far the games' version of the Blue Blur is concerned; according to ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'', he's [[spoiler:the genuine KingArthur.]]
* RunningGag: He tends to fall flat on his face when falling from great heights from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' onwards.
** NotTheFallThatKillsYou: He ends up walking away from those falls with no injuries at all. This makes sense, as he can survive collisions at supersonic speeds, far faster than his terminal velocity would be.
* ScarfOfAsskicking: Sports a brown one, along with HandwrapsOfAwesome, in ''Sonic Boom''.
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Oh so much in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''. He'll willingly become a king slayer to do what is right. Also has shades of this in ''Anime/SonicX''.
* ShipTease: [[LauncherOfAThousandShips Oh, boy...]]
* ShoutOut: Collect all seven Chaos Emeralds and at least 50 rings, and jump into the air. Sonic will turn into Super Sonic! His fur will turn gold, his eyes will turn green (or red) and... [[Anime/DragonBall wait, haven't we seen this before?]]
* ShowyInvincibleHero: ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' are very good examples. There is no question Sonic will win, the only matter is how will he win, how cool he looks when he wins, and how much fun the player will have when he wins.
* ShutUpHannibal: In ''Sonic Adventure 2'', he gave one to Shadow, saying that he will make him take back those words about him "not being good enough to be his fake". This proves that Sonic can trade back strong responses besides snarking at his opponents.
* SignatureMove: The RollingAttack in its many forms such as the Spin Dash, the Homing Attack and the Hurricane and Rapid Strikes from the old mangas, even though most of the other characters can roll around too. In ''Sonic Adventure 2'', Sonic Wind was his special attack.
** The [[NitroBoost Sonic Boost]] has become his signature move as of the Modern era games, where he even lacks the ability to do his old spin dash.
* SleepyHead: He appears to have a habit of momentarily dozing-off in [[IdleAnimation idle animations]]. He is also often seen napping on a tree branch or Chris' roof in ''SonicX''.
* SlideAttack: Occasionally used as one of his rare non-spinning means of melee.
* SmallTownBoredom: One official source states that Sonic only began exploring because he was bored with his birthplace, Christmas Island.
* SmarterThanYouLook: Especially considering some of his [[IdiotHero earlier portrayals]]. He is ''far'' from stupid.
* SmugSuper: While how much one may vary between different media, one thing that's constant is Sonic's ego.
* SpiritedCompetitor: Being the cocky guy he is, he loves to race others in order to prove the he is faster than them.
* SprintShoes: The first US game manual mentioned that Sonic's speed comes from his power sneakers, although this bit of info is never taken as canon. However, monitors in the classic games award Sonic with power-up shoes that allow him to go even faster than normal.
* StaticCharacter: Despite being the main character, his characterization has actually evolved the least out of everyone else in the entire series. This is due to how most of the CharacterDevelopment of most of the cast generally plays off of him, such as Tails going from overly dependent on him to being an independent hero in his own right, or Blaze making friends with him. In terms of actual depth, he's just as much of a RoundedCharacter as most anyone in the series.
* SuperDrowningSkills: In most of the 3D games. He instead has WalkDontSwim in 2D.
* SuperMode: [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chara_ssonic_3138.gif Super Sonic]], which makes him [[PowerGlows glow]], [[PowerFloats fly]], and takes his already established SuperSpeed ''UpToEleven''. Yuji Naka [[WordOfGod said it himself]] that this form was inspired by [[DragonBall Super Saiyans]]. It shows well.
** There's also [[InfinityPlusOneSword Hyper]] [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic]], [[SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine Sonic, Excalibur Sonic]], and [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Dark]] [[BewareTheNiceOnes Super]] [[Anime/SonicX Sonic]].
* SuperSpeed: He's called "[[MeaningfulName Sonic]]" for a reason, Its basically his trademark. (His top speed has never been established, though he's shown to be capable of breaking the Sound-Barrier whenever he kicks into high gear.)
** FragileSpeedster: In games with CompetitiveBalance, he's always the fastest, but physically weaker than other characters.
*** LightningBruiser: In ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', where he's got average stats all around but is still the fastest character in the game. He's also becomes this when he goes [[SuperMode Super Sonic.]]
** NitroBoost: The Sonic Boost, which he has had since ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Rush|Series}}'', which allows him to easily break the sound barrier if the meter has some energy.
** FlashStep: An ability he has had since ''SonicUnleashed'', used to sidestep obstructions on a straight path.
*** SonicAndTheBlackKnight gives him another variation; it allows him to quickly appear in front of an enemy to deliver an attack.
** SpeedEchoes: In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' when using the Light Speed Dash, the second and third games of the VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy and the VideoGame/SonicRushSeries whenever he reaches a certain speed, ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' when performing [[LeParkour Parkour]] or [[SolidClouds jumping on clouds]], and just Hyper Sonic in general.
** SpeedBlitz: It's basically how he fights. He simply bounces off his enemies at speeds too fast to see or react to.
** MotionBlur: When using the Spin Dash and Homing Attack in most 3D games and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'' and the Sonic Boost in the Rush series. He's even nicknamed "The Blue Blur".
** WheelOFeet: His running animation in the classic games, ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Sonic Advance 1]]'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'', the Classic half of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' and ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''. Also the [[ComicBook/ArchiesSonicTheHedgehog Archie comics]] and [[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog just]] [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAm about]] [[WesternAnimation/SonicUnderground every]] [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie cartoon]] [[Anime/SonicX iteration]].
** FasterThanLightTravel: A hair's breadth away with the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Light Speed Dash and Light Speed Attack]]. Also hinted at during a conversation with Omega in the DS version of ''VideoGame/SonicColors''.
* SuperStrength: Though it arguably draws from his speed more than anything, he can ram through cars, robots, and rock walls and not slow down. The Sonic Boost especially shows this.
** While the games don't show much of it, ''Anime/SonicX'' and ''Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie'' both show him preform clearly superhuman feats of strength, like pushing a giant robot's hand off of him without using any momentum, or his fight with Metal Sonic causing huge fissures in the ground and causing a mountain sized stalactite to fall off a floating continent.
* SwissArmyHero: And then some! Especially in ''VideoGame/SonicColors''. He can turn into a [[ReflectingLaser laser]], [[GroundPound cube]], [[PowerOfTheVoid black hole]], [[{{Flight}} rocket]], [[HavingABlast explosion-generator]], organic HoverTank, [[WallCrawl ball of spikes]], [[FastTunnelling drill]], and [[ExtremeOmnivore a purple monstrosity that eats and grows in size with each eaten object]].
* ATasteOfDefeat: Naturally, no villain has stopped him from saving the world, but he has had his ass handed to him on rare occasions. Eggman managed to outwit him in his ''super form'' at the start of ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', for example, and Silver just plain ''humiliated'' him, ''twice'', in ''Sonic '06''..
** In more petty competition, Jet canonically beat Sonic in the World Grand Prix finals in the first ''SonicRiders'' (albeit by cheating). This also marks one of the few times Sonic is genuinely enraged.
* TeleportSpam: He loves doing this in the last Dark Side Story boss in [=SA2=] if you get too far ahead of him.
* TeleportersAndTransporters: Has the ability to teleport by using Chaos Control in-tandem with a Chaos Emerald, whether it's fake or real.
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Eggman tries to murder him by doing this. Fortunately, he learned how to use Chaos Control just in time.
* TimeMaster: Using Chaos energy, he can warp time and space, but is not as proficient as Shadow, nor does he use these abilities very frequently.
* TookALevelInJerkass: ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', if you select the more snarky options in a DialogueTree.
* TotallyRadical: He dips into this at times in his modern depiction.
** This is actually averted in ''Colors'', where he actually gets to use relatively modern slang like "epic".
* TouchedByVorlons: He gains the ability to shapeshift into various forms by fusing with Wisps temporarily.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Chili dogs in most adaptations, and later, [[CanonImmigrant including the games]].
* TransformationTrinket: Chaos Emeralds, Super Emeralds, World Rings, Sacred Swords, and Wisps. All of them are catalysts for his transformations.
* {{Troll}}: He loves getting a rise out of his enemies, which is why he taunts them with such irreverence.
** This is proven in ''spades'' during his second encounter with [[TheDarkChick Zeena]] in Sonic Lost World.
* TurnTheOtherCheek: Going hand-in-hand with FireForgedFriends and MagneticHero, Sonic's kindness and compassion are matched only by his capacity for forgiveness. Many of the friends he made, such as Silver and Shadow, once tried to kill him, but he never holds it against him.
* {{Ubermensch}}: Sonic stated in [[SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]] that he'll fight for what he believes in and he doesn't care whether that means he's the hero or the villain. He also seems to go on all of his adventures purely for the fun of them with saving the world merely being a bonus.
* UnableToCry: In the majority of media Sonic has been featured in, he's remarkably stoic and does not show sadness, loss, and/or disappointment in the form of tears. Averted in American continuities such as Archie and [=SatAM=].
** The latter continuities were however [[ExecutiveMeddling asked to keep said aversions toned down]], suggesting it is to higher ups rather uncharacteristic for him to cry in most interpretations. The fact that he dislikes crying may support it.
* TheUnfettered: The Sonic OVA version fits this to a tee.
** Other variations have him as a milder version; he wouldn't hesitate to put his life on the line for a friend, but he also wouldn't want to endanger his friends and is very protective of them.
* UnstoppableRage: Darkspine Sonic in ''SonicAndTheSecretRings'' doesn't stop expressing his hatred, rage, and sadness until Alf Layla Wa Layla ''goes down''.
* UsedToBeMoreSocial: In ''Sonic Chronicles'', his allies call him out for not keeping contact with them for two years after defeating Eggman together.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Knuckles. Also with Shadow to some extent.
* TheVoiceless: His younger self is this in ''[[VideoGame/SonicGenerations Generations]]''.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Upon absorbing a Wisp, he can choose to make use of its Hyper Go-On power in order to change form.
* WalkDontSwim: Another of Sonic's major weaknesses is that he can't swim, so when he gets in water, he merely floats down or runs and jumps ''very'' slowly in it. Often, falling into a large body of water will also result in him [[SuperDrowningSkills immediately sinking to his death.]] Some continuities, such as SonicX, upgrade this into a personality flaw, where Sonic is literally ''terrified'' of being surrounded by or falling into large bodies of water. Apparently, the reason Sonic has this weakness in the first place is because Yuji Naka, at the time the first game was made, erroneously assumed that hedgehogs were incapable of swimming, so he incorporated this into the gameplay.
** In the swimming event of ''Mario And Sonic At The Olympic Games'', he manages to work around this weakness by wearing a lifejacket.
* WalkingTheEarth: When not saving the world, he's always running from place to place, but he'll immediately rush to the scene if someone is up to no good.
* WallJump: First appeared in an unconventional form in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', where it's used to cross chasms with walls on either side. Starting in ''SonicUnleashed'', he has a more conventional ''[[SuperMarioBros Mario]]''-style WallJump.
* WeaksauceWeakness: [[WalkDontSwim He can't]] [[SuperDrowningSkills swim.]]
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Not him, as ''SonicAndTheBlackKnight'' proves. Sonic is apparently inclined to live life to the fullest in the time he has and stresses to others that they should do the same.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: He occasionally mentions that he doesn't like water in games such as ''SonicAndTheSecretRings'' and ''[[VideoGame/SonicColors Sonic Colors DS]]'', as well as the various comics and animated series he features in. Considering that the drowning music so often heard in underwater stages is considered to be the most frightening thing in the entire franchise, this is entirely justified.
* WouldHitAGirl: He's fully willing to engage in a fight against Blaze in ''VideoGame/SonicRush'' when Blaze picks one with him and also fought Amy, Cream, and Rouge in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. He also had no compunctions about attacking Merlina when she revealed her plans as the Dark Queen in ''SonicAndTheBlackKnight''
* [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair You Gotta Have Blue Quills]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Miles "Tails" Prower]]
[[quoteright:229:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chara_tails_6557.gif]]

-->''"I've changed a lot since I started hanging out with Sonic, but I can't depend on him forever. I know I can do this by myself!"''

-> '''Debut''': ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''

!!!!!!Voiced by: Creator/HekiruShiina (Japanese, [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie OVA]]), Kazuki Hayashi (Japanese, 1998), Atsuki Murata (Japanese, 2000-2002), Creator/RyoHirohashi (Japanese, 2003-present), Christopher Evan Welch (English, ''[[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog AoStH]]''), Bradley Pierce (English, ''[[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM SatAM]]''), Chris Turner (English, ''[[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog Sonic Christmas Blast]]''), Lainie Frasier (English, ''[[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie STH: The Movie]]''), Corey Bringas (English, 1999-2001), Connor Bringas (English, 2001), William Corkery (English, 2004), Amy Palant (English, ''SonicX'', 2005-2010), Creator/KateHiggins (English, 2010-2013), ColleenOShaughnessey (English, 2014-present)

-->Sonic's young sidekick: a small fox who can use his unique twin tails to fly. Despite his young age, he's a reliable and dependable ally to Sonic. In later games, he's come into his own as a genius inventor that even rivals Eggman. His real name is ''Miles Prower, and he grew up as an orphan, [[AllTheOtherReindeer ostracized because of his twin tails.]] One day, he noticed Sonic's running by and was so awed by his speed, he tried to catch up using his tails. Sonic didn't pay the young fox any attention, but witnessing how he nearly caught up with him impressed him enough to take him under his wing and give him his well known nickname. Together, they foiled Eggman's latest scheme on Westside Island and the two became nearly inseparable.

--> Ever since their first meeting, Tails has tried his hardest to be the best person he can for Sonic's sake, often times by mimicking him. Humble, docile, and good-natured with mechanical prowess that can potentially rival Eggman's, but he never thought it was much of a big deal.

* AcePilot: Originally the Tornado belonged to Sonic but Tails's pilot competency has basically made him the ''de facto'' owner of the plane as he flies and maintains it more than Sonic ever did.
* AccidentalPervert: In ''The Movie'', Tails accidentally fondles Sera's breasts when landing on her. Knuckles calls him out on this, and Tails, blushing, promptly apologizes.
* [[AdorablyPrecociousChild Adorably Precocious Fox Kit]]
* {{Adorkable}}: He's a young nerd whose favorite food is mint candy and is afraid of ghosts, naturally this makes him this.
* AerithAndBob: His real name is Miles, while the other Sonic characters have unique names.
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: He used to get picked on for having two tails, though IntelligenceEqualsIsolation may have been part of it as well.
* [[AnimeHair Anime Fur]]: More so in his post-Adventure design then his original one.
* AttackAnimal: In his SuperMode, he summons four "Super Flickies" that charge at and destroy all enemies and even bosses.
* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: He's sensible enough but can sometimes get so caught up with his gadgets that he loses focus quickly, this nearly gets him killed in SonicLostWorld.
* BackStory: A surprisingly sad one, considering his cheerfulness and optimism. [[spoiler:[[ParentalAbandonment He grew up alone on a tiny island]], [[VideoGame/TailsAdventure which was attacked by an armada]] ([[BadassAdorable that he had to fight off by himself]]), [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and was bullied]] before meeting Sonic. And then he got kidnapped directly after meeting Sonic.]]
* {{Badass}}: Adorable little fox kit who can keep hold his own.
** BadassAdorable: Prevented Eggman from detonating his missile in ''Sonic Adventure'' and saved Station Square all by himself, but at his core, he's still just a quiet, geeky kid.
** BadassBookworm: He fits this, but it's been mellowed down due to his lack of importance as a fighter in a majority of newer games. [[spoiler: Until ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' when he outsmarts the [[BigBadEnsemble Deadly Six]] by faking his brainwashing and even shuts down and reverses Eggman's life draining machine when it was thought that only the latter could do it.]]
** BadassInDistress: [[spoiler: in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' Tails is captured by the Deadly Six and left to be turned into a robot, however he manages to hack the machine that would have done so to retain his free will, thus rescuing himself from the Deadly Six's fox-napping.]]
* BerserkButton: Insulting his technological skills, ignoring him, and threatening Sonic's life.
** [[AlternateContinuity Unique to the games]], flirting with him.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he didn't take it well when Sonic trusts Eggman to shut down his Extractor more than him.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: This is best shown in ''Sonic Adventure 2'' when he vowed that Eggman [[ThisIsUnforgivable will never forgive him for ''nearly'' threatening Sonic's life via space capsule]] and didn't hesitate to blow his brains out during their mech fight.
* BigBrotherWorship[=/=]HeroWorshipper: Towards Sonic in the beginning. [[CharacterDevelopment Over time, he's become less amazed by Sonic's feats and even recognises his flaws]].
* BigEater: In [=AoStH=], he has a huge appetite just like Sonic.
* BlowYouAway: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin He uses the Tornado to create a huge tornado]] in Sega All-Stars Racing.
* CaptainCrash: Eggman has an impeccable talent for gunning down his planes.
* CaptainObvious: Sonic [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] this in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' with an AsideGlance.
* CartoonyTail: Two of them.
* ChasteHero -> CelibateHero: In the games, he seems to be quite oblivious to romance, unless you bring the subject up, in which case he gets upset. In ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', it's quite clear that he thinks of it as an annoying waste of time. Like Sonic, this differs in the [[AlternateContinuity comics]].
* CharacterDevelopment: Gets a lot of it in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''. His defining moment is when Eggman attacks Station Square and with Sonic separated from him, Tails has to defeat Eggman himself, compared to all the times in which Tails needed to be by Sonic's side in order to get things done. This is even retained for most games afterwards, where Tails is less impressed with Sonic's feats than before, though he still remains his sidekick out of their close friendship.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: He was actually a lot more nicer and humble than his current personality would suggest, but that may be the result of the aforementioned CharacterDevelopment.
* CheerfulChild
* ChildProdigy: Just being able to fly the Tornado in [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sky Chase Zone]] would've gotten him here, but he's been able to BUILD -- as in, with his own two hands -- [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure more than]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 one]] [[Anime/SonicX upgrade for]] [[SonicAndSegaAllStarsRacing the plane]], a portable device that can [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed bring up satellite signals]] and [[VideoGame/SonicColors translate the Wisps' language]], a [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 fake Chaos Emerald]], [[SonicRiders his team's Extreme Gear]], and everything from his Game Gear spin-off games. Oh, and depending on whatever continuity you believe in, he singlehandedly learned to turn his twin namesakes into the most useful and deadly {{Cartoony Tail}}s ever! All this at 8 years old.
* CoolCar: Remember that car he had in the EasterEgg picture from SonicCD? It's a ''Caterham 7'', [[http://manga.portalsonic.com/index.php?date=2011-01-15 and he's had it since 1992.]] In ''Sonic Drift 2'', Tails drives an {{Expy}} of said car. His car in Sonic Adventure 2 was pretty cool too.
* CoolPlane: The Tornado and all of its upgrades. The original red variation is actually Sonic's, but Tails is so much of a better pilot that he's all but relinquished ownership to him.
* CoolShades: Wore those in one of his [[http://manga.portalsonic.com/index.php?date=2011-01-08 first manga appearances.]]
* CunningLikeAFox: Subverted - While he is certainly intelligent enough, his childish naivete prevents him from actually being cunning most of the time.
* DeadpanSnarker: Seems to have become this in ''VideoGame/SonicColors''. Sonic must be rubbing off on him.
** Taken UpToEleven in SonicLostWorld. Probably half of his lines are snarking at Sonic and/or Eggman.
* DistractedByTheSexy: He's instantly defeated by Rouge the Bat when she kisses him in the tournament in ''{{Sonic X}}''.
* DistressedDude: In the 8-bit version of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''. [[spoiler:Can actually lead to a pretty depressing ending if you don't collect all the Emeralds, as it's implied that Eggman ''killed'' Tails.]]
* DitzyGenius
* DropTheHammer: In ''TailsAdventure'', he uses a hammer similar to Amy's. Or, rather, the other way around, as his hammer appeared before Amy's.
* ExpositionFairy: He's this in ''VideoGame/SonicColors''.
* TheFace: He's a bit like this among Team Sonic in the games, being the most sensitive and reasonable member of the team. However, he actually talks to others less than the other two do.
* [[FantasticFoxes Fantastic Fox]]
** {{Kitsune}}: He doesn't have the magic powers associated with Kitsune, but he has the intelligence and multiple tails.
* FatalFlaw: While not quite as developed as those of his team mates, Tails is sometimes shown to get [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny a bit too fixated with his machinery and know-how]]. [[BewareTheNiceOnes Sonic even gets rather annoyed with him]] after it almost gets him killed in ''Lost World''.
* {{Flight}}: He can use his namesake tails to propel him upward, and when that isn't enough, there's always the Tails Tornado: later the X-Tornado.
** HeliCritter: He's probably at least a TropeCodifier.
* {{Foil}}: While Dr. Eggman's main rivalry is with Sonic, Tails fits the role moreso due to his intellect and handiness with technology.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Phlegmatic
* GadgeteerGenius: In most ''Sonic'' media (barring the first two American cartoons), Tails is the "gadget" guy, making him opposite to Eggman.
* GirlsHaveCooties: To a mild extent in some medias. It actually helps resolve the plot almost every time it comes up.
* GogglesDoNothing: Wears [[http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100930204758/sonic/images/4/42/Tails_81.png some]] in the ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' series.
* [[EvilCounterpart Good Counterpart]]: He has evolved into a good counterpart to Eggman (because Eggman was introduced first), seeing as Tails' GadgeteerGenius abilities have become as prominent as Eggman's, and Tails is [[WiseBeyondTheirYears young, yet very mature]] ([[InnocentProdigy in some ways]]) while Eggman is [[ManChild older, yet rather immature]]. This is more apparent in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', where Tails and Eggman are both "shooting" characters and control the same way. It's also worth noting that both are among the few characters in the Sonic franchise that have full names, yet are OnlyKnownByTheirNickname.
** It's sometimes implied that Eggman and Tails respect each other's genius in spite of all the trouble they cause each other, to the point where they sometimes devolve into a FriendlyRivalry.
* HeartwarmingOrphan: Depending on the adaptation. Though he ''is'' an orphan in every continuity, except in the comics where his parents eventually do turn up, this is [[AngstWhatAngst hardly brought to the viewer's attention]] in ''Anime/SonicX'' or in any of the video games. ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM'' doesn't harp on it too much though it does come up occasionally, while ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' (despite usually being more comedic) actually dedicates an episode to it.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: He'll believe someone if they say they aren't evil, no matter what prior experiences he's had with them.
* HumbleHero: He's done his fair share of heroics but is far too modest to really take credit, in sharp contrast to [[SmugSuper Sonic]].
* HyperspaceArsenal: He doesn't use it often, but he has a ton of stuff that can appear out of nowhere, especially in ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure''.
* ILoveNuclearPower: In at least some versions, his mutation is the result of toxic waste dumped by Dr. Robotnik.
* {{ImageSong}}/IWantSong: "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DizopdPMBw Believe in Myself"]]
* InformedAttribute: Many modern bios refer to him as a "hyperactive fox boy", despite his {{Keet}}-like attitude fading considerably over the years in favor of him becoming rather mellow and serious minded character.
* InnocentBlueEyes
* InnocentProdigy: [[DependingOnTheWriter It varies from game to game]], but Tails is just a kid who happens to be extremely intelligent for his age. He sometimes joins in on Sonic's taunting, but also wises up faster than his big bro as well.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Most of his friends, all of his close friends, are quite a bit older than him.
* JackOfAllStats: Not as fast as Sonic, nor as strong as Knuckles.
* JapanesePronouns: "Boku".
* JerkassBall: Somewhat of a case in ''Sonic Lost World'' where he blames Sonic for trusting Eggman more than him to shut down the Extractor.
* {{Keet}}: Earlier media such as ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM'' portrayed Tails as a much more hyperactive and immature character. As modern interpretations focused on his technogeek persona more and more, this trait faded, to the point that Tails is almost [[WiseBeyondTheirYears the most mellow and sensible-acting character of the team]]. Interestingly, the OVA played an unusual mix, [[DitzyGenius with his intelligent technical persona juxtaposed with extremely childlike traits]].
* KidAppealCharacter: The very first one of the series, he's often recommended for beginners due to his flying abilities in the 2D games.
* TheKirk: Overlapping with TheSpock at times. Tails is generally the most level-headed of the three.
* TheLabRat
* TheLancer: In [=AoStH=], some of the newer games, and the Archie comics.
* TheLeader: Tails has been portrayed as the leader of Sonic's merry band recently due to his status as TheSmartGuy, especially evident in ''Sonic Chronicles''.
* LovableNerd: Very nerdy, but also very adorable.
* MasculineGirlFeminineBoy: The Feminine Boy to Amy's Masculine Girl.
* MeaningfulName: Miles Prower fits in with Sonic's name, refering to velocity.
* MotorMouth: Not as much as Marine or Omochao, but often with TechnoBabble.
* MrFixit
* MultipleTailedBeast: Being based on a {{Kitsune}}, it's to be expected.
* NiceGuy: One of the most mild-mannered of the cast.
* NonActionGuy: He's made this in ''Unleashed'', ''Colors'', and ''Generations''. [[spoiler:Subverted in the 3DS release of Generations. He and his younger self attack Eggman head-on in the end, allowing the Sonics to go Super and finish it up.]]
** Also Subverted in VideoGame/SonicLostWorld, see BadassBookworm above.
* NoodleIncident: One has to wonder how Tails was able to make a TV out of paperclips, and reprogram a computer with detergent & a toothpick, as was mentioned in VideoGame/SonicLostWorld.
* NumberTwo: Often cited as Sonic's right-hand man and the most likely to tag along in his adventures. He even sometimes takes over in Sonic's absence.
* OneManArmy: In ''TailsAdventure'', it's seen that he can easily be one of these.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: To the point where most people didn't think he had a real name.
* OnlySaneMan: In ''SonicBattle'', at least.
* OutOfFocus: [[PlayingWithATrope PlayedWith.]] He's nowhere near as prominent as he once was and he's rarely a playable character nowadays, but he continuously makes appearances in the plot and is just as much apart of the action as Sonic.
* PingPongNaivete: Has astonishing technical abilities, but often has the disposition and naïveté of a child. This lessened significantly around SonicX and VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006, but started to trickle back in with [[VideoGame/SonicColors Colors]] and [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations Generations]].
* PintSizedPowerhouse: 2'7" tall, 44 lbs (and look at the size of his tails and tell me that they aren't most of that), is capable of punching through rock fairly easily.
* ThePollyanna: He honestly believed that Eggman had truly reformed in ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', even though it's clear that he didn't.
* PrehensileTail: [[spoiler: Tails shows this ability for the first time ever in SonicLostWorld, when he grabs the toothpick stucked in Zomom's sandwich to save himself from being robotified.]]
* PunnyName: Miles Prower = miles per hour.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter
* ShorterMeansSmarter: Justified in that he is much younger than most of the cast.
* {{Sidekick}}: To Sonic.
** KidSidekick: He's almost twice as young as him to boot.
** HypercompetentSidekick: While Sonic is most definitely ''not'' ineffectual, Tails` skill set and knowledge of electronics have proven invaluable to him in their adventures together.
* SingleSpecimenSpecies: Probably; if the cartoons are anything to go by, Tails is the only two-tailed fox there is.
* SleepyHead: Starts yawning in his idle pose in the classic games and in ''Sonic Adventure'', and falls asleep in ''Sonic Advance 2'' and ''Sonic 4: Episode 2''.
* TheSmartGuy: Tends to be more far more rational and analytic than his peers.
* SuperMode: Super Tails, which has only appeared in ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' so far. Unlike the rest of the characters, he needs the Super Emeralds rather than the Chaos Emeralds to achieve super form. According to WordOfGod, this is due to his inexperience and young age. He even has four Super Flickies to attack enemies for him. In the Archie Comics, he can use the normal Chaos Emeralds to become [[TheCape Turbo Tails]].
* SuperSpeed: His ability to move fast enough to keep up with Sonic impressed him enough that he took Tails as his sidekick.
* SuperStrongChild: Although he isn't muscular and is rather small compared to some of the other characters, but he's significantly strong for his age, although not physically, but rather by some sort of special powers. In TailsAdventure, he can punch through rock, and he can carry almost four times his weight whithout hindering his flight. In the Olympic games, he can bodycheck/tackle big characters like [[SuperMarioBros Bowser]] without difficulty.
* TagalongKid: Subverted. While he does meet Sonic by initially following him, he ends up proving useful and Sonic decides to keep him around. From then on, he's become one of Sonic's closest allies.
* TailSlap
* TakingTheBullet: Does this a few times -- He's back up within a few seconds.
* {{Tareme Eyes}}: Has the softest, droopiest eye shape of the cast -- even more so than ''[[{{Kawaiiko}} Cream]]''.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Mint candy.
* VoiceForTheVoiceless: His classic self acts as this for Classic Sonic in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''.
* WalkingTheEarth: He seems to spend time either doing this with Sonic, or in one of his multiple workshops.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Sonic's approval is very important to him, to the point where if he feels he doesn't have it makes Tails very upset. Fortunately, Sonic is already plenty proud of the young fox.
* WeakButSkilled: Classified this way in ''VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames''
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: He's [[FearOfThunder afraid of lightning]] in some versions, especially in the {{OVA}}.
* [[WiseBeyondTheirYears Wise Beyond His Years]]: An eight-year-old who is able to fly a plane and make some cool gadgets. Also, he's often the mediator between Sonic's friends.
* WorthyOpponent: To Rouge in Sonic X.
* WouldHitAGirl: He has no problem challenging Rouge in battle in Sonic X. [[spoiler: He loses.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Knuckles the Echidna]]
[[quoteright:236:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chara_knuckles_2834.gif]]

-->''"I'll probably be on this floating island forever, guarding the Master Emerald again. I may not know the whole story behind this, but perhaps it's better that way. I'm at peace once more."''

-> '''Debut''': ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''

!!!!!!Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese, [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie OVA]]), Creator/NobutoshiCanna (Japanese, 1998-present), Bill Wise (English, ''[[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie STH: The Movie]]''), BrianDrummond (English, ''SonicUnderground''), Michael [=McGaharn=] (English, 1999), Ryan Drummond (English, 2000), Scott Dreier (English, 2001-2004), Creator/DanGreen (English, ''SonicX'', 2005-2010), TravisWillingham (English, 2010-present)

-->A red echidna from Angel Island, and guardian of the Master Emerald. He was introduced as an antagonist in ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'', having been told by Eggman that Sonic and Tails intended to steal the Master Emerald. Halfway through the game, Eggman betrays Knuckles and steals the Master Emerald himself, which forced Knuckles to accept Sonic & Tails help in getting it back. Afterward, Knuckles would then be one of the duo's chief allies in fighting Eggman, but his guardian duties keep out of the action most of the time. Not much of his past was known, but that changed with VideoGame/SonicAdventure which fleshed out his background quite a bit. Turns out, Knuckles is the last of the echindas after they were wiped out for attempting to use the the emeralds and desecrating the shrine(And injuring numerous Chao) which the angered the at the time guardian [[PhysicalGod Chaos]]. Afterward, the piece of the shrine became Angel Island.

-->If Sonic is like the wind, then Knuckles is like the mountain; stern and unmovable. So naturally, they tend to butt heads, but do get along occasionally. Because of spending most of his life on a secluded island, he naturally prefers to be by himself, has quite the wild temper, and a person who is not easy to get along with. However, despite these traits he has a good heart and more than willing to abandon his post to help out his friends.


* {{Adorkable}}: Despite his tough exterior, he can be adorably awkward at times, especially around girls.
* AlmostKiss: Shares one with Rouge after he saves her from falling in the lava in ''Sonic Adventure 2''.
* AntiHero: In his first appearance, due to playing as the HeroAntagonist to both Sonic and Tails until he realizes Dr. Eggman's lies. Also, he's is a variant of GoodIsNotNice in which he's an ill-tempered and anti-social loner who can be difficult to see eye to eye with, but when the chips are down, he is ultimately on the side of good.
* TheArtifact: Because the Master Emerald and the Floating Island have ceased to be very important in the ''Sonic'' series since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', Knuckles is probably only kept around these days because of his fans and being billed as a {{Friendly Rival|ry}}.
* {{Badass}}: One of the best examples in the series.
** To elaborate, his strength is said to be equal to Sonic's speed, and considering what his past feats detail: This probably isn't an exaggeration.
** BadassBaritone: Especially when voiced by Scott Dreier.
** BadassInDistress: The plot of ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'' is kickstarted by Knuckles getting captured by the Nocturnus Clan. The gang spends a third of the game looking for him, but by the time they find him, he's managed to break ''himself'' out.
*** He also gets captured off-screen in Sonic Triple Trouble as Sonic (or Tails if you choose him) is seen freeing him from a cage during the ending.
* BelligerentSexualTension[=/=]DatingCatwoman: With Rouge in ''Sonic Adventure 2'', complete with her nearly-{{Tsundere}} reactions towards him and an AlmostKiss when he saves her life (it doesn't help that [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZhyApeu1qs "Kick The Rock!"]], the BGM for Wild Canyon -- his first stage, right ''after'' he met Rouge -- is a [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar radar-jamming]] ballad of IntercourseWithYou, and later says that he doesn't love her). Later games have scaled back their romantic tension, reducing it to simple animosity.
* BerserkButton: Knuckles will always get angry for a lot of things, but one thing in particular would be anything that would involve stealing the Master Emerald.
* TheBigGuy: Tends to solve most of his problems by punching them.
* BigShutUp: He occasionally says this to certain characters in games such as ''Sonic Battle'' and ''Sonic Rivals''.
* BreakoutCharacter: He was this during the 90s, especially since he had his own comic book, upgraded into the main cast with Sonic and Tails, and had [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix his own video game]].
* ButtMonkey: Many later incarnations are more bumbling in tone.
* CartoonyTail: Knuckles' tail looks like it had been broken at one point, but in-universe echidnas usually have tails like that.
* CharacterDevelopment: A bit subtle, but he went from being an adversary to Sonic, to being reluctant allies with him, and finally good friends (albeit with a competitive streak.) [[FriendshipDenial Not that Knuckles would ever admit Sonic is his friend.]]
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Knuckles was far less serious in his original appearance than he is just about everywhere else. Following ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', his character is much more jovial and comical in tone, and of course, he's always smug about getting the upper hand over Sonic.
* TheComicallySerious: Most evident in ''Sonic X''.
* CoolShades: In the OVA. Also gets a pair in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' and in the ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' series.
* CuteLittleFangs
* DefeatMeansFriendship[=/=]DefeatMeansRespect: This is how he became an ally to Sonic. This also applies to his encounter with Rouge in Sonic Adventure 2.
* DependingOnTheWriter: He's been everywhere from {{giggling|Villain}} HeroAntagonist to [[TheStoic stoic]] no-nonsense loner to hot-headed and smug rival.
* {{Determinator}}
* {{Deuteragonist}}: In ''Sonic Adventure'' due to his link with the Master Emerald and Chaos.
* DishingOutDirt: Some of his moves in ''VideoGame/SonicBattle'' and ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''.
* TheDragon: Started out as this to Dr. Eggman.
* DreadlockRasta: WordOfGod says his quills are styled in dreadlocks. Although he is not a Rastafarian, Knuckles is in some media known to be a somewhat spiritual character. From the Dreamcast games and beyond, we see that other echidnas have this, making it part of Knuckles' culture, and not a fashion choice.
** DreadlockWarrior
* {{Fatal Flaw}}s: Knuckles is known to be rather gullible and naive, falling for Eggman's trickery on a regular basis. His short temper can also lead to him being easily riled up at times. Also his {{pride}} has gotten him in quite a bit of trouble over time.
* [[FieryRedHead Fiery Red Fur]]
* FireForgedFriends: With Sonic although both still have the tendency to quarrel.
* {{Foil}}: As mentioned in his bio, he's one to Sonic. In fact, he was created with this trope in mind. He also gained on in Rouge after ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''. They're both treasure hunters, but he's rather HotBlooded and simple minded, while she's cunning and manipulative.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic
* FriendlessBackground: He was actually born on Angel Island without anyone to look after him.
* GigglingVillain: As an antagonist in ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'', where he constantly laughs at Sonic and Tails while messing with them.
* GoodIsNotNice: Despite being on the side of good, his hot-temper and hostile attitude can make him difficult to get along with.
* GoodOldFisticuffs: He isn't called "Knuckles" for nothing.
* GreenEyedMonster: He's jealous of Sonic's adventurous lifestyle and fame he earns as a hero. This would explain his subtle hostility with the hedgehog, and [[VitriolicBestBuds their rocky relationship.]]
* GrumpyBear: In his more serious portrayals.
* GullibleLemmings: Tends to fall for Eggman's lies from time to time. Some fans [[NeverLiveItDown exaggerate this]] to unrealistic levels.
* HairTriggerTemper: In the later games due to flanderization.
* HeroAntagonist: To begin with.
* HeroicNeutral: Especially in the [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Adventure]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 series]], where his main objective is finding the pieces of the Master Emerald, but he will then assist Sonic and the others in the battle against Dr. Eggman if the situation calls for it.
* HiddenDepths: Outside, he is very tough, but inside, he is actually quite shy.
* HiddenHeartOfGold: One line of his ''Sonic Adventure'' theme song "Unknown From M.E." states that he has "no such thing as weak spots."
* HotBlooded: As a result of {{Flanderization}}. He initially was, as mentioned above, a chuckling troublemaker in his debut and was rather mellow and down-to-earth (if not somewhat quick to anger, but not without justification) in the ''Adventure'' series and ''Heroes''.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: He trusts Eggman and thinks Sonic is the bad guy at first. [[{{Flanderization}} He doesn't seem to learn from his mistake, as Eggman tricks Knuckles into fighting against Sonic again on several occasions.]] His lack of good character judgement becomes a RunningGag over time.
* IdiotBall: Knuckles is usually left holding this after he is tricked by others.
* IGotBigger: Has inexplicably ''doubled'' in height and ''seriously'' bulked up in ''Sonic Boom''.
* ImageSong / IAmSong: "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM8h2Xyis9M Unknown from M.E.]]"
* IneffectualLoner: He fits into this category due to being stuck in Angel Island with the given responsibility to guard the Master Emerald all his life.
** LonerTurnedFriend: He starts becoming this after the events of ''Sonic Adventure 2''. He often joins Sonic and Tails in their adventures in battling Eggman and other threats in the world.
* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: Enjoys berating and getting the upper-hand over Sonic, but deep down, is jealous of his freedom and popularity as a hero.
* InformedAbility: A lot of manuals still mention his connection to the Master Emerald despite the fact that neither [[OutOfFocus it, Angel Island, or even Knuckles himself]] are very relevant to the series nowadays.
* InspectorJavert: His role in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''.
* JapanesePronouns: "Ore" and "Oresama."
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Knuckles is ill-tempered, rude, and somewhat confrontational but always proves himself to be a good person and a hero. This is best shown in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' in which, despite the fact that Rouge has been antagonizing him throughout the game and was outright helping the villains, he didn't hesitate at all to catch her when she lost her balance. He even apologized for hurting her in their previous battle.
* TheJuggernaut: Super (and Hyper) Knuckles. Anything that Super Sonic can't handle, he can shake off.
* TheLancer: Especially in ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles''.
* LastOfHisKind: In the game canon [[spoiler:until ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'']].
* LetsYouAndHimFight: How his altercations with Sonic in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic The Hedgehog 3]]'', ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' and ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Sonic Advance 2]]'' went.
* LightningBruiser: He's not quite as fast as Sonic, but Knuckles packs more of a punch.
* LogicalWeakness: Sonic Adventure 2 shows that he's uncomfortable dealing with ghosts, which makes sense considering that he's a BareFistedMonk and would naturally have trouble dealing with them.
* MaliciousMisnaming: He can be referred to as "[[{{Pun}} Knucklehead]]" by Sonic on occasions in regards to him doing something thickheaded. Dr. Eggman has called him this in ''Sonic Adventure 2'' while taking the Master Emerald.
* MarriedToTheJob: To the point where some fans turn it UpToEleven and literally [[CargoShip ship him with the Master Emerald]].
* MeaningfulName: He's called "Knuckles" for a reason.
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold
* MrViceGuy: As heroic as Knuckles can be at times, he does suffer about three vices. One, he can be prideful about his echidna heritage. Two, he's [[GreeneyedMonster envious]] of Sonic's freedom and carefree nature. And three, he's quick to anger for a lot of things.
* NiceHat: He gets one in the OVA, which was lost during the final fight with Metal Sonic.
-->'''Knuckles''': "'''[[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments MY HAT'S ON FIRE, HELP!]]'''"
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: This had gone hand in hand with his gullibility into thinking that Sonic was the bad guy. In his debut, this lead to Eggman to steal Master Emerald, and then in ''Sonic Adventure'', he caused Sonic to fumble two Chaos Emeralds after the two collided with each other (Knuckles thought that the green Emerald was a shard of the Master Emerald), causing Eggman to take them and power up Chaos in his fourth form.
-->'''Sonic''': "Way to go, [[{{Pun}} Knucklehead]]!"
* NobodyCallsMeChicken: You can get Knuckles to go along with a plan he initially disapproves of by either stroking or insulting his pride.
* NoRespectGuy: Most modern interpretations.
* NoSocialSkills: Although he's [[CharacterDevelopment become more laid-back and jovial]], Knuckles has lived in isolation for most of his life, which may explain his gullibility and social naivety.
* NotQuiteFlight: His dreadlocks give him the ability to glide for long distances.
* OutOfFocus: Despite his appearance on this page, Knuckles has been out the spotlight for quite a few years. His last fully playable appearance(As in, not apart of a team or a temporary side character) was ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' a game over ''ten'' years old. And most of his appearances in the plot don't amount to much either.
* PerpetualFrowner: Although some artworks of him show him smiling in games like ''Sonic Adventure'', other artworks made him to be this later on the series, most especially when he's angered (i.e., the picture above).
* PlayingWithFire: His most commonly used element, seen in the ''VideoGame/SonicAdvance'' series and ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''.
* {{Pride}}: Has quite a bit of pride in his duty in guarding the Master Emerald and his SuperStrength. Attacking his pride is one way to rile him up.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy
* PurpleEyes: They used to be black.
* RealMenWearPink: His Super and Hyper forms in ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles''. Also [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Super Sonic in the Archie Comics.
-->'''Sonic''': "Hyper Knuckles was way stronger! Or are you just afraid of being pink?"
* RedHeadedHero
* RedOnesGoFaster: Inverted. Even though he has some degree of SuperSpeed, he pales in comparison to Sonic and most other characters.
* RedOniBlueOni: Played straight initially with Sonic, but as time went on this eventually became an inversion with him being the Blue Oni, although this will also be played straight due to Sonic's laid-back attitude and Knuckles' hot-temper.
** Also played straight with his other FriendlyRival Rouge.
* ReformedButNotTamed: Downplayed. He started as a fairly antagonistic foe towards Sonic in his debut, but gradually developed into a quarrelsome yet trusted ally/friend.
* TheRival-->FriendlyRivalry: Initially to Sonic, but it was more due to Eggman's [[LetsYouAndHimFight manipulations]], once the misunderstanding was clear, the two became friends [[VitriolicBestBuds although they still tend to have their disagreements on occasions.]]
** He found a new one in [[ClassyCatBurglar Rouge]], but its filled to the brim with FoeYay due to her crush on him.
** In the ''Sonic Riders'' series, he finds another rival in Storm as far as Extreme Gear is concerned.
** RivalsTeamUp: With Sonic.
* RunningGag: Being tricked by Eggman to fight Sonic. In the DS ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', he gets tricked by [[TheRival Rouge]] in a subplot.
* SeldomSeenSpecies: Probably the first example of an echidna being a main character.
* ShockAndAwe: His "Thunder Arrow" LimitBreak as a boss and a Battle Mode character in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''.
* {{Shoryuken}}: Uses this in the ''VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy'' as part of his ThreeStrikeCombo and as an R-Trigger trick.
* ShrinkingViolet: Around girls.
* SingleSpecimenSpecies: [[spoiler: Initially.]]
* SixthRanger: Started off as an antagonist before becoming an ally and rounding out the trio. Even after ''Sonic 3'' he still only fights with the gang when the situation calls for it.
* SlapSlapKiss: His relationship with Rouge hits this territory at times.
* TheSpock: While he's faaaar from being an intellectual, he's the most serious and task orientated of the three.
* StupidGood: This is one of his main reason for his repeated gullibility concerning who the bad guy was.
* SuperMode: In VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles, Super Knuckles and Hyper Knuckles.
* SuperpowerLottery: In most of the games he's been in, he has quite a but of control over the elements.
** ShockAndAwe: His Thunder Arrow attack in {{Sonic Adventure 2}}.
** PlayingWithFire: His Fireball attack in {{Sonic Heroes}}
** DishingOutDirt[=/=]StarPower: His meteor attack in ''VideoGame/SonicBattle''.
* SuperStrength: In ''spades''.
** MightyGlacier: Compared to the other characters. He's much slower than Sonic, but is also ''much'' stronger. Played straighter when [[CompetitiveBalance competitively balanced]].
** PowerFist: Has these in ''Sonic Adventure'' and its sequel.
** PintsizedPowerhouse: He's one of the physically strongest characters in TheVerse (if not ''the strongest''), but only stands at a height of three feet, seven inches. In ''Heroes'', he is notably the shortest of the "Power" characters by far.
** BareFistedMonk: Well, his name ''is'' Knuckles...
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: With Rouge in ''Sonic Rivals 2''.
** The second verse of his theme "Unknown From M.E." show his vehement view on teamwork, especially with Sonic.
--->''Don't approve of him, but you got to trust him\\
This alliance has a purpose\\
This partnership is temporary''
* ThereIsAnother: In ''Adventure'', ''Secret Rings'', ''Black Knight'', and ''Chronicles'', he meets other echidnas even though he thinks that he's the only echidna left.
* TrademarkFavouriteFood: Fruits, especially grapes.
* {{Tsundere}}: A rare male example, but he still has this quality in most incarnations.
* TsurimeEyes
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Sonic.
* WallCrawl: Using the spikes on his knuckles as anchors, he can climb walls.
* WalkingTheEarth: In the OVA, he is a travelling treasure hunter.
* [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Why Did It Have To Be Ghosts:]] His one fear, addressed almost exclusively in ''Sonic Adventure 2'', is ghosts. The BGM for Pumpkin Hill, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYCNQVIA-xg "A Ghost's Pumpkin Soup,"]] has Knuckles proclaiming that he fears nothing, going as far as to proclaim that ''the ghosts are afraid of him'', but he is seen to be visibly afraid when facing [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere King Boom Boo]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Im0r86dKE unused audio also had Knuckles exasperatedly shriek upon seeing the giant apparition]]). By ''Heroes'', however, he seems to have overcome this, instead teasing Tails on ''his'' fear of ghosts in both Hang Castle and Mystic Mansion.
* WouldHitAGirl: He has absolutely no problem attacking Rouge to get the pieces of the Master Emerald back in ''{{Sonic Adventure 2}}'', but he apologizes afterward so he still continues to be a JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
[[/folder]]

* AwesomeYetPractical: Many of Sonic's default speed based abilities, particularly the good ol' rolling attack, the spin-dash, the super peel-out and their successor move, the Boost ability, and the Homing Attack. The rolling spin allows Sonic to easily gain momentum and make high jumps on slopes and has the added benefit of allowing Sonic to surpass the speed cap implaced on his default run, and the spindash and peel out can save Sonic the time it takes to build up momentum and provide a quick attack [[note]]The Peel Out keeps Sonic in running position when charging and launching, but you can immediately trigger a spin after taking off [[/note]], and the Boost basically turns Sonic into a literally unstoppable force that tears through enemies like wet tissue (and in SonicDash, even scenery), and attacking enemies immediately refills its meter! And of course, the homing attack, a default move (meant to replace the [[TheArtifact then-outdated in-air Spin Attack]] from the 2-D games) that allows Sonic to literally home in on his enemies like a mid-air bullet and smash them in a new york second, and it can even attack enemies in chain reaction pattern!
** In ''SonicTheFighters'', the spin-dash gets upgraded to DiscOneNuke territory; it's a very fast, hard fitting, rapid fire attack that literally knocks enemies right off their feet and delivers a large chunk of damage each time, and it can mow right through several opponent shields at a time, and even deflect Fang's popgun corks)! And it's a ''default move''!

* FatalFlaw: Sonic can get rather cocky and reckless in the face of danger, something that can often be exploited by his foes or lead to him making rather dangerous mistakes. How prominent this is varies from media to media, though it has cost him dearly at least once in just about every interpretation. This is taken to the highest degree in the most recent game, ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', when [[spoiler:his recklessness causes the Zetti to become free from Eggman's control and become a larger threat than Eggman himself was, and later when his recklessness causes Tails to get kidnapped]].

* FatalFlaw: Sonic can get rather cocky and reckless in the face of danger, something that can often be exploited by his foes or lead to him making rather dangerous mistakes. How prominent this is varies from media to media, though it has cost him dearly at least once in just about every interpretation. This is taken to the highest degree in the most recent game, [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld]], when [[spoiler:his recklessness causes the Zetti to become free from Eggman's control and become a larger threat than Eggman himself was, and later when his recklessness causes Tails to get kidnapped]].

** This is even touched upon a bit in Sonic Unleashed.

--->> '''Sonic''': Even at night when I'm like this, I'm still myself. You must have been protecting me this whole time.
--->> '''Chip''': No, you're the reason you haven't changed at all. You're too strong to lose yourself. You never give into the night, or darkness inside your heart.

* FatalFlaw: Sonic can get rather cocky and reckless in the face of danger, something that can often be exploited by his foes or lead to him making rather dangerous mistakes. How prominent this is varies from media to media, though it has cost him dearly at least once in just about every interpretation.

* AntiHero: Played with. While Sonic has his faults, they don't get in the way of his heroism. However, as his own theme song (see ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'') states that he doesn't care who is wrong or right, he's doing this his way. He also has a propensity for a LOT of vandalism in his heroic acts.

** In ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'' he even willingly attempts to become the story's villain by killing King Arthur to save Camelot from his tyrrany. He even lampshades it.

!!!!!!Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese, [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie OVA]]), Creator/NobutoshiCanna (Japanese, 1998-present), Bill Wise (English, ''[[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie STH: The Movie]]''), BrianDrummond (English, ''SonicUnderground''), Michael [=McGaharn=] (English, 1999), Ryan Drummond (English, 2000), Scott Dreier (English, 2001-2004), DanGreen (English, ''SonicX'', 2005-2010), TravisWillingham (English, 2010-present)

* AntiHero: In his first appearance, due to playing as the HeroAntagonist to both Sonic and Tails until he realizes Dr. Eggman's lies. Also, he's is a variant of GoodIsNotNice in which he is rather ill-tempered and an anti-social loner which can make him hard to get along with at times, but when the chips are down, he is ultimately on the side of good.