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* KickTheSonOfABitch: Pulls this off in ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'', inflicting painful and humiliating wishes onto the Erazor Djinn before [[AndIMustScream sealing him in his lamp forever]] and tossing it into a lava pit. In any other context, this would be shockingly cruel for Sonic, but Erazor has been shown to be a [[HateSink thoroughly despicable and irredeemable character]] throughout the game and openly [[KickTheDog mocked Shahra's death, calling her weak]], so there's no denying he deserved his fate.
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* PayEvilUntoEvil: Pulls this off in ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'', inflicting painful and humiliating wishes onto the Erazor Djinn before [[AndIMustScream sealing him in his lamp forever]] and tossing it into a lava pit. In any other context, this would be shockingly cruel for Sonic, but Erazor has been shown to be a [[HateSink thoroughly despicable and irredeemable character]] throughout the game and openly [[KickTheDog mocked Shahra's death, calling her weak]], so there's no denying he deserved his fate.
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* AmbiguousDisorder: Some fans have picked up on some of Sonic's mannerisms as being symptomatic of ADHD. Examples include his impulsive behaviour (to a fault, as in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''), his tendency to be jitterish, his dislike of standing still (demonstrated in both Classic and Modern era games, wherein Sonic will tap his foot and impatiently glare at the player, or glance up at the timer. He also has a habit of stretching consistently while waiting for the player), as well as his excessive activity (constantly looking for adventure).
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* AmbiguousDisorder: DiagnosedByTheAudience: Some fans have picked up on some of Sonic's mannerisms as being symptomatic of ADHD. Examples include his impulsive behaviour (to a fault, as in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''), his tendency to be jitterish, his dislike of standing still (demonstrated in both Classic and Modern era games, wherein Sonic will tap his foot and impatiently glare at the player, or glance up at the timer. He also has a habit of stretching consistently while waiting for the player), as well as his excessive activity (constantly looking for adventure).
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* DropTheHammer: Gets his own version of Amy's Piko Piko Hammer if he is partnered with her in ''VideoGame/SonicAdvance3''.
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* GutturalGrowler:
** In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', he has a gruff voice in his Werehog form.
** As [[VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings Darkspine Sonic]], he has a very sinister angry growl of a voice.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', he has a gruff voice in his Werehog form.
** As [[VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings Darkspine Sonic]], he has a very sinister angry growl of a voice.
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* FireForgedFriends: Just about a number of characters started off as Sonic's enemies or opponents at one point or another, but they're now all invaluable friends/allies to him. The prolific examples include [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Knuckles]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow]], [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Blaze]], and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Silver]].
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* FireForgedFriends: Just about a number of characters started off as Sonic's enemies or opponents at one point or another, but they're now all invaluable friends/allies to him. The prolific examples include [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Knuckles]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow]], [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries [[VideoGame/SonicRush Blaze]], and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Silver]].
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* RivalsTeamUp: With [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Knuckles]], then [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow]], then [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Blaze]], and then [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Silver]].
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* RivalsTeamUp: With [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Knuckles]], then [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow]], then [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries [[VideoGame/SonicRush Blaze]], and then [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Silver]].
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** Sonic's Spin Dash move, a staple ability since ''VideoGame/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 3D and ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Rush|Series}}'' games, due to the new boost ability essentially serving the same purpose as it and its sister move, the Super Peelout, but without the idle charge-up time needed. Later games such as ''VideoGame/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''.
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** Sonic's Spin Dash move, a staple ability since ''VideoGame/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 3D and ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Rush|Series}}'' ''VideoGame/SonicRush'' games, due to the new boost ability essentially serving the same purpose as it and its sister move, the Super Peelout, but without the idle charge-up time needed. Later games such as ''VideoGame/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''.
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-> '''Debut in-series''': ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''
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-> '''Debut in-series''': ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1''
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** "[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog! I have no master except the wind that blows free!]]"
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** "[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries "[[VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog! I have no master except the wind that blows free!]]"
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** At least three: don't mess with his friends, threaten the peace, freedom, and[=/=]or well-being of others, or call him a rat. He won't take it well. [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Erazor Djinn]] managed to press ''all of those buttons in the same game!'' To say [[AndIMustScream it didn't end well for him]] would be putting it mildly.
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** At least three: don't mess with his friends, threaten the peace, freedom, and[=/=]or well-being of others, or call him a rat. He won't take it well. [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries [[VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings Erazor Djinn]] managed to press ''all of those buttons in the same game!'' To say [[AndIMustScream it didn't end well for him]] would be putting it mildly.
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* BewareTheNiceOnes: He's probably the nicest and character next to Tails, Amy, Big, and Cream, but push his buttons and... well... Erazor Djinn [[note]]and Eggman sometimes[[/note]] learned the hard way. This trait is even mentioned in some of his official Japanese profiles, which state that he's good at keeping his cool even under pressure, but on the rare occasions he get angry, he shows a really mean side of him that surprises those who know him.
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* BewareTheNiceOnes: He's probably the nicest and character next to Tails, Amy, Big, and Cream, but push his buttons and... well... Erazor Djinn [[note]]and Eggman sometimes[[/note]] learned the hard way. This trait is even mentioned in some of his official Japanese profiles, which state that he's good at keeping his cool even under pressure, but on the rare occasions he get angry, he shows a really mean side of him that surprises those who know him.
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** The [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Werehog]], [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine]], [[VideoGame/SonicColors Violet Void, Purple Frenzy]], and [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld Black Bomb]] 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, do make Sonic much more aggressive.
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** The [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Werehog]], [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries [[VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings Darkspine]], [[VideoGame/SonicColors Violet Void, Purple Frenzy]], and [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld Black Bomb]] 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, do make Sonic much more aggressive.
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** In ''[[VideoGame/SonicStoryBookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'', Sonic defeats King Arthur by killing him.
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** In ''[[VideoGame/SonicStoryBookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'', ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'', Sonic defeats King Arthur by killing him.
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** As [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine Sonic]], he has a very sinister angry growl of a voice.
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** As [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries [[VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings Darkspine Sonic]], he has a very sinister angry growl of a voice.
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* IAmNotWeasel: He's... ahem... ''[[BerserkButton rather temperamental]]'' about being called a rat rather than a hedgehog throughout ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Secret Rings]]''.
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* IAmNotWeasel: He's... ahem... ''[[BerserkButton rather temperamental]]'' about being called a rat rather than a hedgehog throughout ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Secret Rings]]''.''VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings''.
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** Even at his mildest, Sonic has no patience for waiting around or discussing tactics. 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.
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** Even at his mildest, Sonic has no patience for waiting around or discussing tactics. Other than the [[labelnote:''Sonic Storybook Series'']]Sonic And The Secret Rings and Sonic And The Black Knight, specifically[[/labelnote]], ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries'', he rarely, if ever, gets called out on this even if it's invoked.
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* 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. Granted, a big part of his swordsmanship is [[SuperSpeed him using his speed to utterly blitz the enemy]].
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* MasterSwordsman: In ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''.''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight''. 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. Granted, a big part of his swordsmanship is [[SuperSpeed him using his speed to utterly blitz the enemy]].
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* 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, though it should be noted her attempt at making it eternal would have drowned the world in dark magic.]]
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* PragmaticHero: Very much this in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''.''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight''. [[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, though it should be noted her attempt at making it eternal would have drowned the world in dark magic.]]
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* 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 Myth/KingArthur]].
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* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: At least, as far the games' version of the Blue Blur is concerned; according to ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'', ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'', he's [[spoiler:the genuine Myth/KingArthur]].
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* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Oh so much in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''. He'll willingly become a king slayer to do what is right.
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* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Oh so much in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''.''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight''. He'll willingly become a king slayer to do what is right.
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'''Sonic''': No stranger than [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries rescuing genies in magic books]], or [[VideoGame/SonicColors saving aliens in an interstellar amusement park]].
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'''Sonic''': No stranger than [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries [[VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings rescuing genies in magic books]], or [[VideoGame/SonicColors saving aliens in an interstellar amusement park]].
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** He gets this with Amy. In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', Sonic feels depressed after Amy didn't recognize him as a werehog, thinking she mistook him for someone else again and in a one-off dialogue sequence the player can either accept or decline Amy's offer to a date; ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' seems to have went with the former option being canon.
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** He gets this with Amy. In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', Sonic feels depressed after Amy didn't recognize him as a werehog, thinking she mistook him for someone else again and in a one-off dialogue sequence the player can either accept or decline Amy's offer to a date; ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'' seems to have went with the former option being canon.
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** There are several of these in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' when Sonic confronts Merlina, who explains that the only way to save Camelot from its tragic fate is to use the power of Excalibur's Scabbard and the Underworld to make it eternal, only to have Sonic reply "What good is a world that goes on forever!?" The conversation even ends with this great exchange between the two characters:
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** There are several of these in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'' when Sonic confronts Merlina, who explains that the only way to save Camelot from its tragic fate is to use the power of Excalibur's Scabbard and the Underworld to make it eternal, only to have Sonic reply "What good is a world that goes on forever!?" The conversation even ends with this great exchange between the two characters:
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* {{Ubermensch}}: Sonic stated in ''[[VideoGame/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. Similarly, his ImageSong It Doesn't Matter states that he doesn't care who's right and who's wrong, and he just lives by his own feelings. He and others also describe him as being "free like the wind", and he makes it clear that he both dislikes being restrained and dislikes it when others are oppressed, too.
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* {{Ubermensch}}: Sonic stated in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'' that he'll fight for what he believes in and he doesn't care whether that means he's the hero or the villain. Similarly, his ImageSong It "It Doesn't Matter Matter" states that he doesn't care who's right and who's wrong, and he just lives by his own feelings. He and others also describe him as being "free like the wind", and he makes it clear that he both dislikes being restrained and dislikes it when others are oppressed, too.
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* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Not him, as ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' 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.
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* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Not him, as ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' ''VideoGame/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.
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* 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 ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''. In all cases, of course, it applied as self-defense.
* WrongGenreSavvy: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of Eggman's Cacophonic Conch, telling the doctor outright that it's never a mistake to "throw his toys away". Unfortunately, in this case, it ''was'' a mistake: the conch was a RestrainingBolt that Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six, who waste no time in usurping Eggman's Badniks and turning on him.
* WrongGenreSavvy: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of Eggman's Cacophonic Conch, telling the doctor outright that it's never a mistake to "throw his toys away". Unfortunately, in this case, it ''was'' a mistake: the conch was a RestrainingBolt that Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six, who waste no time in usurping Eggman's Badniks and turning on him.
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* 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 ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''.''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight''. In all cases, of course, it applied as self-defense.
* WrongGenreSavvy: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of Eggman's Cacophonic Conch, telling the doctor outright that it's never a mistake to "throw his toys away". Unfortunately, in this case, it ''was'' a mistake: the conch was a RestrainingBolt that Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six, who waste no time in usurping Eggman's Badniks and turning onhim.him.
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* WrongGenreSavvy: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of Eggman's Cacophonic Conch, telling the doctor outright that it's never a mistake to "throw his toys away". Unfortunately, in this case, it ''was'' a mistake: the conch was a RestrainingBolt that Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six, who waste no time in usurping Eggman's Badniks and turning on
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* TheGadfly: 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 ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.
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* TheGadfly: 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]] Zeena in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.
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Up To Eleven is a defunct trope
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** [[https://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 [[Anime/DragonBallZ Super Saiyans]]. It shows well.
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** [[https://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''.''up to eleven''. Yuji Naka [[WordOfGod said it himself]] that this form was inspired by [[Anime/DragonBallZ Super Saiyans]]. It shows well.
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* AbsenteeActor: There are exactly three games in the entire franchise where he does not appear at all, not even as a cameo; ''VideoGame/DrRobotniksMeanBeanMachine'', ''VideoGame/TailsSkypatrol'' and ''VideoGame/TailsAndTheMusicMaker''. He is also absent from ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure'', but his likeness makes a very small cameo as an item for Tails to use.
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* StaticCharacter: Despite being the main character, his characterization has actually evolved the least out of everyone else in the entire series. This is justified by the fact that he's a mascot, and 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.
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* 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]].
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* 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]].Myth/KingArthur]].
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[[folder:Sonic the Hedgehog]]
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* WrongGenreSavvy: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of Eggman's Cacophonic Conch, telling the doctor outright that it's never a mistake to "throw his toys away". Unfortunately, in this case, it ''was'' a mistake: the conch was a RestrainingBolt that Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six, who waste no time in usurping Eggman's Badniks and turning on him.
[[/folder]]
[[/folder]]
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* WrongGenreSavvy: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of Eggman's Cacophonic Conch, telling the doctor outright that it's never a mistake to "throw his toys away". Unfortunately, in this case, it ''was'' a mistake: the conch was a RestrainingBolt that Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six, who waste no time in usurping Eggman's Badniks and turning on him.
[[/folder]]him.
[[/folder]]
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[[folder:Sonic the Hedgehog]]
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sonicthehedgehog.png]]
[[caption-width-right:250:[[labelnote:''Click here to see Sonic's classic design.'']][[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/classic_sonic.png]][[/labelnote]]]]
-->''"What you see is what you get, just a guy that loves adventure. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!"''
-> '''First Appearance''': ''Rad Mobile'' (cameo)
-> '''Debut in-series''': ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''
-> '''Voiced by''': Creator/TakeshiKusao (Japanese, 1993), Creator/ToshioFurukawa (Japanese ads), Creator/JunichiKanemaru (Japanese, 1998-present), Creator/TomokazuSeki (Werehog form, Japanese, ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed''), Keiko Utoku, (''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD''), Meg Inglima (English, ''VideoGame/SonicsSchoolhouse''), Ryan Drummond (English, 1999-2004), Creator/JasonGriffith (English, 2005-2010), Creator/RogerCraigSmith (English, 2010-present)
\\
The main character of the franchise. A blue anthropomorphic hedgehog with attitude and plenty of personality who lives up to his name by being able to run at superhuman speeds. [[MysteriousPast Not much is known about Sonic's past]] aside from that he was born on Christmas Island. One day on South Island, 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 do in 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. He also has a compassionate side and deep down, a heart of gold that always wishes the best for others.
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* AbsenteeActor: There are exactly three games in the entire franchise where he does not appear at all, not even as a cameo; ''VideoGame/DrRobotniksMeanBeanMachine'', ''VideoGame/TailsSkypatrol'' and ''VideoGame/TailsAndTheMusicMaker''. He is also absent from ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure'', but his likeness makes a very small cameo as an item for Tails to use.
* AcePilot: Technically, the original Tornado airplane belonged to him. He can fly it just as well as Tails does; he just prefers to let Tails fly because it's more fun for him that way.
* AgelessBirthdayEpisode: Despite it being his birthday in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', he's still 15 years old (or at least, Sega of Japan never bothered to update his character page).
* 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.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: To Metal Sonic.
* AmbiguousDisorder: Some fans have picked up on some of Sonic's mannerisms as being symptomatic of ADHD. Examples include his impulsive behaviour (to a fault, as in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''), his tendency to be jitterish, his dislike of standing still (demonstrated in both Classic and Modern era games, wherein Sonic will tap his foot and impatiently glare at the player, or glance up at the timer. He also has a habit of stretching consistently while waiting for the player), as well as his excessive activity (constantly looking for adventure).
* 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, he doesn't like to follow others' values or beliefs and lives by his own morals and codes, and always makes his choices based on what comes naturally to him by his own feelings. He also has a propensity for a ''lot'' of vandalism in his heroic acts. Still, deep down, he will always come out as the hero who saves everyone at the end of the day. Usually, though, his rare unheroic acts are ultimately still for the greater good.
** While he ultimately comes out as 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 ''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 tyranny. 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.
* TheAntiNihilist:
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'', he expresses such a view to Merlina. As he points out, ''every'' world will eventually end; the only thing you can do is live your life to the fullest in the time you have.
** This exact outlook of his, unknowingly to some, was established all the way back in the very first game in the form of a {{Tagline}} [[AllThereInTheManual on the Japanese box art]]:
--> ''"Don't just sit there and waste your precious time. When you want to do something, do it right away. Do it when you can. It's the only way to live a life without regrets."''
* ArchEnemy: To Eggman and Metal Sonic.
* ArtEvolution: Sonic has gone through a ''lot'' of redesigns in the series, most drastically his design overhaul from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' and onward. The only other character that exceeds him in redesigns is his own opponent, Dr. Eggman.
* TheArtifact: While his spinning moves have always been a hallmark of the character's abilities, some aspects of them eventually became obsolete in the context of later entries. For instance:
** Sonic's Spin Dash move, a staple ability since ''VideoGame/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 3D and ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Rush|Series}}'' games, due to the new boost ability essentially serving the same purpose as it and its sister move, the Super Peelout, but without the idle charge-up time needed. Later games such as ''VideoGame/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 3D games as of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', due to the introduction of the Homing Attack (which made an early bird appearance as a shield in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland Sonic 3D Blast]]''). 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 conceived by Sega not only as their mascot, but as a direct competitor and the antithesis of the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' video game series. Once Sega dropped out of the hardware business and started publishing games on Nintendo consoles, 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.
* BadassAdorable: Even Sonic has his moments where he just looks cute, mostly pre-''Adventure''.
* BadassArmfold: He does this sometimes, often when he's bored.
* 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!]]"
* BadassBookworm: No genius, but he is a fan of literature such as the Arabian Nights; not only did he go into that world, he does occasionally mention reading up on a few things.
* BadassCape: [[http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100608163236/sonic/images/7/7c/Excalibur_Sonic_art.jpg As Excalibur Sonic]].
* BadassInDistress:
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', where he escapes from GUN once, but is captured again (partly due to Shadow). He gets rescued by Tails and Amy. Averted in the original Japanese version, whose script makes it clear that he intentionally let himself get caught.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', [[spoiler:he was taken down by Infinite and is held captive in the Death Egg]].
* {{Badbutt}}: One of the poster children of this trope. Which makes sense, considering how fitting the archetypical badass into a kid-friendly environment has been a primary hallmark of the series since its inception.
* BashBrothers: Has been this with [[HeterosexualLifePartners Tails]] since ''Sonic 2''. He also plays this with [[VitriolicBestBuds Knuckles]] when the two put aside their differences, which is also the case with [[AntiHero Shadow]]. He even does this with his past self in ''Sonic Generations''.
* BerserkButton:
** At least three: don't mess with his friends, threaten the peace, freedom, and[=/=]or well-being of others, or call him a rat. He won't take it well. [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Erazor Djinn]] managed to press ''all of those buttons in the same game!'' To say [[AndIMustScream it didn't end well for him]] would be putting it mildly.
** If you hurt Tails, Sonic will stop at ''nothing'' to '''''destroy'' you'''.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: He's probably the nicest and character next to Tails, Amy, Big, and Cream, but push his buttons and... well... Erazor Djinn [[note]]and Eggman sometimes[[/note]] learned the hard way. This trait is even mentioned in some of his official Japanese profiles, which state that he's good at keeping his cool even under pressure, but on the rare occasions he get angry, he shows a really mean side of him that surprises those who know him.
* BigBrotherMentor: He's this to Tails in most of the games and adaptations. He also acts like this to the Avatar in ''Forces''.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Sonic tends to be pretty laid-back and easygoing, but the second Tails is in any sort of trouble, he shapes up extremely quickly.
* BigDamnHeroes: Expect this trope to happen [[OnceAnEpisode once a game]].
* ABirthdayNotABreak: The entire conflict with the Time Eater in ''Sonic Generations'' takes place during his birthday; in fact, the creature crashes Sonic's birthday party.
* 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: Downplayed. While he doesn't go out of his way to seek a conflict or hurt people, there is no doubt that Sonic loves a good fight with anyone that can challenge him. The thrill of the adventure is what he lives for. Just look at his [[https://78.media.tumblr.com/a898564d02e0d41bde35a7d6dda98ff4/tumblr_pc0qwfzxeb1r01jsno2_400.gif reaction]] to fighting a [[spoiler: Chaos Emerald powered up Metal Sonic]] from [[VideoGame/SonicMania Sonic Mania Adventures]]. As he himself once said:
--> '''Sonic:''' "An adventure's no fun if it's too easy."
* 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.
* BlueIsHeroic: Arguably the poster child of this trope in video games. His blueness represents freedom and clear blue skies, as well as his generally easygoing nature. This is put in contrast with [[BigBad Eggman]]'s [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver redness]] as well as [[TheLancer Knuckles]]'s [[RedOniBlueOni intense red]] and [[TheRival Shadow]]'s [[DarkIsNotEvil red accents]].
* BoisterousBruiser: Generally very excitable post-''Adventure'' and willing to take down anyone threatening the world.
* BookDumb: Downplayed. 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 teammates]] such as Tails to explain the science of it all.
* BoldExplorer: Adventurer-type example: he's always in the mood to see his world and what it has to offer, which ties in with how the series changes settings now and again.
* BreakingTheFourthWall:
** The character most likely to do so, as seen in ''VideoGame/SonicColors''.
** Even in his first appearance, he would stare at the screen and tap his foot impatiently if left idle, and in ''CD'', [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere he would outright leave and cause]] [[GameOver a game over]] if left in that state for long enough.
* BrilliantButLazy: He's one of the fiercest and most influential people on the planet, but he spends much of his time roaming the world or relaxing and only saves the heroics for when it's appropriate.
* 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 the new Werehog form from Dark Gaia's energy.
** 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 Spin Dash just fine.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Amazing feats and adventures come naturally to Sonic, which is part of where his cocky attitude comes from. While this aspect of his personality has been played up occasionally since the beginning, his tweaked characterization starting from Colors put more emphasis into just how routine these things have become for him.
--> '''Sonic:''' No seriously, we beat (Eggman) every time. It's like our job or something.
* CallingYourAttacks: ''"Sonic Wind!"'' ''"Chaos Control!"'' ''"Speed Break!"'' ''"Time Break!"''
* CatchPhrase: "I'm Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog!"
* CharacterDevelopment: If ''Generations'' is any indication, Sonic became less quiet and more extroverted as time went on.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: 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 ''Adventure'' duology of games, ''Unleashed'', and the ''Storybook'' games; being fairly confident in his abilities, but knowing when to get serious when a real threat presented itself, and equal parts of quirk and kindheartedness. In ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic '06]]'', the quirky parts of his personality were written out and he became sort of a straight-laced hero. Then, beginning with ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', probably to circumvent that problem and as the result of a new writing team, they take his personality in the ''opposite'' direction and make his quirks much 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 screw him (and the world) over]], showing a [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex more insecure side]] to this personality.
* CelibateHero: While he's aware of Amy's infatuation for him, [[NoGuyWantsToBeChased he prefers to keep away from her when she acts on it]]. He's not interested in Rouge's flirting, either. He shows a surprising tender side when interacting with Blaze, but that's more because [[DefrostingIceQueen he's trying to get her to open up]] and he's one of her few true friends rather than anything romantic.
* 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 learned it by watching Shadow perform it.]]
* ChickMagnet: Downplayed. 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.
* ClothesMakeTheLegend: Sonic's shoes are the most iconic part of his design, to the point that Sega [[http://www.shacknews.com/article/71640/how-mario-and-sonic-get-outfitted-for-the-olympics has a rule]] that he cannot be shown without them or taking them off.
* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]: both the US manual and tie-in comic for the original game suggested that the source of Sonic's speed is his shoes, but this was '''never''' taken as canon, not even in other Sonic continuities from the early days -- even the early [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogPromoComic Promo Comic]] dismissed that idea, and the game it was promoting said otherwise in the same manual! [[note]]It's possible, though, that it was meant to refer to the speed-up Item Box.[[/note]] However, it is commonly accepted that Sonic's shoes are instead 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: The standard design for himself and some of his friends.
* ContinueYourMissionDammit: His impatience and snarky attitude towards the player for hold-ups shows in some of his {{idle animation}}s. [[NonStandardGameOver He'll even give you a Game Over if he's kept waiting too long in Sonic CD.]]
* CoolBigBro: To Tails. Cream also views him this way, and he could be considered one to Blaze as well, despite only being a year older than her.
* CoolCar: Some supplementary material back in the day stated Sonic didn't like cars because he doesn't need them and would only drive one to keep things fair in racing competitions. However, Tails' original designer Yasushi Yamaguchi [[https://twitter.com/Tracker_TD/status/950076160389591041 has stated]] that the reason he gave Tails a favorite car was that Sonic actually ''was'' associated with one even back then: the Lamborghini Countach, which is one of the cars the Cyclone in ''Sonic Drift'' was modeled after.
* CoolPlane: The Tornado. Which belonged to him at first, not Tails, contrary to popular belief.
* CoolShades: Wears some in the ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' series.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: DependingOnTheWriter, he can be somewhat bumbling and a bit exuberant in personality at times. His bouts of skill and heroism, however, are usually no less pronounced.
* CuteBruiser: Even in his Modern form, Sonic is only 3ft tall. The latest games, such as Colors, Generations, Lost World, and Forces, appear to have made him even shorter (the Avatar is noted to be taller than him regardless of what species they are). Sonic also displays some other adorable characteristics, but this doesn't mean he should be underestimated.
* 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 (especially noticeable in ''Sonic '06''). 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.
* DangerousSixteenthBirthday: The entirety of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', where your present from your favorite villain is having your friends ''[[AndIMustScream petrified]]'' in this side of White Space.
* DarkIsNotEvil:
** The [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Werehog]], [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine]], [[VideoGame/SonicColors Violet Void, Purple Frenzy]], and [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld Black Bomb]] 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, do make Sonic much more aggressive.
** This is even touched upon a bit in ''Sonic Unleashed''. [[HeroicWillpower Sonic is just too heroic and kind-hearted to give in to Dark Gaia's evil, even while in his Werehog form]].
---> '''Sonic''': Even at night, when I'm like this, I'm still myself. Not like all the other people we've seen. You must have been protecting me this whole time.
---> '''Chip''': I haven't done anything, Sonic. You're the reason you haven't changed at all. You're too strong to lose yourself.
* DeadpanSnarker: Played straight in the video games and most adaptations, with ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries'', ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', and ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' being some prime examples. Other portrayals remove the "deadpan" part.
* DecompositeCharacter: Since the "Classic Era" Sonic and "Modern Era" Sonic are officially considered separate characters now as of ''VideoGame/SonicForces'' [[RetCon retconning]] them into separate dimensions, there are minor, but noticeable divergences in certain traits of each eras Sonic now. For starters, Classic Sonic is [[TheVoiceless completely mute now]] (whereas he had the rare speaking appearance in a few classic era games and media) whereas Modern Sonic is much more of a chatterbox, and both characters have distinct movesets and gameplay styles from each other. Classic Sonic is also more impetuous, less jaded, and a bit more serious than his modern day counterpart.
* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: ''Lost World'' deconstructs Sonic's LeeroyJenkins. As if to parallel his bullet-like speed, Sonic kind of 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. ''Lost World'' shows just how this type of mindset can backfire. Sonic impulsively kicking away Eggman's Cacophonic Conch allows the Deadly Six to rebel against Eggman, leading to them using Eggman's Extractor machine to drain the world of its energy, nearly killing Amy and Knuckles. [[spoiler:It happens again later in the game where Sonic's recklessness causes Tails to be captured and nearly turned into a robot.]]
* 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 "befriended" before they joined up with him.
* DemotedToExtra: There are a handful of games where he only makes brief appearances.
** ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix'' only had him appear in the Good Ending. He was originally planned to be the star of the game, as proven by the ''Sonic Crackers'' prototype, but Sega of Japan was worried that the series' brand image would've been hurt if Sonic headlined a game for the 32X add-on, which even they realized would be a flop, so they made Knuckles the game's star instead, and had Mighty the Armadillo [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute fill in for Sonic during the gameplay]].
** He only makes an indirect cameo appearance via an item in ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure''.
** In ''VideoGame/TailsAndTheMusicMaker'', he only gets what amounts to a glorified cameo, as the focus is on Tails.
* DependingOnTheWriter: Generally speaking, Sonic's personality is of the fun-loving and kindhearted guy who loves adventure, with [[SmugSuper something of an arrogant streak]]. The degree to which he leans in depends entirely on the continuity and adaptation. See CharacterizationMarchesOn above.
* DestructiveSavior: In ''Unleashed'' and parts of ''Generations'', he causes a lot of property damage in his runs through the stages.
* {{Deuteragonist}}: Classic him is this in ''Generations'', and plays {{Tritagonist}} in ''Forces'', being one of the playable characters, with exclusive stages meant to emulate the old 2D games.
* {{Determinator}}: Nothing slows him down for long.
* DeterminedExpression: His in-game sprites in the classic era depict him this way.
* 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 (aside from when he defeated said water god [[TookALevelInBadass without the need of his super form]] a second time), but it's still impressive.
* DidntThinkThisThrough: Sonic's unerringly stubborn towards following any ways outside his own and loves to charge in with reckless abandon. It's not really a matter of arrogance, so much as he simply believes in himself and his ability to succeed just that much. Unfortunately, when the go-to tactic is "bull in a china shop", Sonic has found his approach causing him to get in over his head ''quite'' frequently, on average needing Tails or another member of his circle of allies to get him out of danger, assuming they're not the ones ''in'' danger because of his devil-may-care actions.
* 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'' that he "wouldn't be caught dead" utilizing guns and other firearms. He doesn't mind other people using them, though, so it's less of a dislike for them, and more a matter of him simply preferring to use his speed to fight. He has no problem using skeet guns in the Olympic game series for events, though.
* 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 ''VideoGame/SonicAdvance3''.
* DualBoss: As one of the potential final bosses of ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'', he fights you alongside the GUN Diablon mech.
* {{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. The fact that his main colors are red, white, and blue helps.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Sonic's first game appearance, predating his full-fledged debut, actually was as a knick-knack hanging inside the player's car in the Sega arcade game ''Rad Mobile''.
* 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, but that was due to them wanting to cover up the existence of Shadow, and Sonic made a perfect patsy for his crimes.
* 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'' simply has him do his signature finger wag to establish him as '''''THE''''' MascotWithAttitude.
** ''Videogame/SonicRiders'' does this in its 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.
* ExperiencedProtagonist: The origins of his rivalry with Dr. Eggman have never fully been touched on, so by the time the first game starts, he's already mixed it up with the doctor before.
* 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.
* {{Expy}}: 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/DragonBallZ wait, is that you, Goku!?]]
* ExtremeOmnivore: Eats anything, even moldy/rancid food (if ''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 / Violet 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 [[RedEyesTakeWarning red]].
* TheFace: He's easily the most social of the three, and usually does all of the talking.
* FacePalm: Does this fairly frequently.
* FastestThingAlive: Sonic can reach speeds up to mach 1 on his own foot power. In most instruction booklets and official bios, he is referred to as "[[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/3/36/US_X360_S2K6_Manual_Page_02.jpg the fastest hedgehog]]" or "[[http://info.sonicretro.org/File:Heroes_gc_us_manual_08_09.jpg the fastest supersonic hedgehog]]" in the world. On at least one occasion in ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'', Jet says Sonic has a reputation for being "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZcJITz7yco the fastest thing alive]]". His only rival on foot is Shadow, who keeps up with him using hover skates.
* 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 ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', when [[spoiler:his recklessness causes the Zeti to break free from Eggman's control and become a larger threat than Eggman himself was, and later when his recklessness causes Tails to get kidnapped]].
* FinalBoss: He is the final opponent in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' and ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'''s Dark stories.
* FireForgedFriends: Just about a number of characters started off as Sonic's enemies or opponents at one point or another, but they're now all invaluable friends/allies to him. The prolific examples include [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Knuckles]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow]], [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Blaze]], and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Silver]].
* {{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.
** 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 [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog own game]]. ''Before'' said HeelFaceTurn, practically ''every'' meeting between the two got rather... violent.
** [[DefrostingIceQueen Blaze]]. Her introversion to his extroversion, her insecurity to his confidence, her fire to his wind. Though their relationship is much friendlier than the other examples, as Sonic tries to look out for her, and they mutually and openly respect one another.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Choleric and sanguine.
* FriendlyRivalry: With Knuckles, as the two are now on 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''. In the ''VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames'' series, he also has a friendly rivalry with {{Creator/Nintendo}}'s mascot Mario.
* TheGadfly: 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 ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Sonic's current voice actor Creator/RogerCraigSmith was once asked to say a parody of Vic Mignogna's infamous "dead sexy in a miniskirt" line but apply it to Eggman, in Sonic's voice. It's not like it was included in an actual Sonic game, but Sonic The Hedgehog has still said the word "sexy".
* 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.
* GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger: His trademark pose.
* GoldenSuperMode: Super Sonic, perhaps the second most famous variant after the [[Anime/DragonBallZ Super Saiyans]].
* GoodIsNotSoft:
** Back in the very first game, you had the choice to either let Dr. Eggman flee or destroy the Egg Mobile and watch him plummet to his apparent doom (not that Sonic ''wants'' Eggman to die). His ass-kickings of the doctor in the early mangas show that the second option was probably the canon one.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', when Sonic is captured by G.U.N and being transported to prison via helicopter, he busts out and takes out everyone aboard but the pilot.
-->Sigma-Alpha 2: "The hedgehog is gone, he's taken out everyone aboard and..."
** His mocking of the despairing Metal Sonic in the end of ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' could come off as downright cruel and cocky, if it weren't for how [[OmnicidalManiac monstrous]] [[OneWingedAngel Metal]] has been beforehand.
** His sealing away of Erazor during the ending of ''Secret Rings'' comes off as this [[note]]particularly compared to how he treated Chaos, who had a similarly tragic past, in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''[[/note]], and would have been disproportionate if Erazor hadn't established himself as a truly irredeemable villain beforehand.
** In ''[[VideoGame/SonicStoryBookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'', Sonic defeats King Arthur by killing him.
* GratuitousEnglish: He started getting this when later games started to play up his 'tude more, as well as a nod to his international popularity; exclusive to the Japanese version, of course. And even before the games started giving him and the other characters dialogue, official Japanese material advertised him with English phrases like "His name is Sonic" or "The most famous hedgehog in the world".
* GrindBoots: While everyone gains this ability by the time of ''Heroes'', ''Sonic Adventure 2'' has Sonic sporting a pair of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_shoes Soap shoes]] (in their trademark red-and-white color scheme), [[ProductPlacement due to a deal between Sega and the Soap brand]].
* GutturalGrowler:
** In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', he has a gruff voice in his Werehog form.
** As [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine Sonic]], he has a very sinister angry growl of a voice.
* HealThyself: In ''VideoGame/SonicBattle'', his "Sonic Heal" ability is described as him using his supersonic speed to heal damage.
* 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 corruption 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.]]
* HiddenDepths: Assuming the tidbits revealed within are canon, the Twitter Takeovers reveal some surprising aspects of his character.
** His favorite musical genre, as opposed to everyone assuming it's Rock, is actually [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rmo3fKeveo Mongolian Throat Singing]].
** The version of him acting as an AnimatedActor in the Takeovers is a ShellShockedVeteran who, understandably, considers ''Sonic '06'' a traumatic OldShame (particularly the game's infamous SignatureScene, Princess Elise kissing him).
* HoldingBackThePhlebotinum: He never uses Chaos Control unless he absolutely has to.
* HomingProjectile: He can turn himself into one using the Homing Attack.
* HopeBringer: Is established as such in ''Forces''. After [[spoiler:his defeat and apparent death at Infinite's hands in [[DownerBeginning the beginning]], Vector even notes that with Sonic gone, people all over are falling into despair. During the FinalBoss, Tails outright declares Sonic their "shining hope."]]
* 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. [[https://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.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Throughout the whole series, he pulls this against [[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 Werehog form and Chip.
* 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'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''.
* InexplicablyIdenticalIndividuals: Him, Shadow, and Silver all share the exact same height and weight of 3 feet and 3 inches, and 77 lbs.
* InformedAttribute: Some of the game manuals describe him 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, leaning it more into BewareTheNiceOnes than a defining attribute to the character. Certain alternate interpretations are more aggressive, though.
* 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".
* IntergenerationalFriendship: He's almost ''twice'' the age of Tails.
* InvisibleAnatomy: Along with the other anthros, he does not appear to have toes when depicted barefoot.
* InvincibleHero: Sonic ''never'' loses against Eggman, or any other villain for that matter. At worst, they'll just temporarily incapacitate him. [[spoiler:Even ''killing'' him, which Mephiles the Dark succeeded in doing in ''Sonic 2006'', was a short-term setback for Sonic thanks to the Chaos Emeralds.]]
* InvoluntaryShapeshifter: In ''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.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Downplayed. He's not without his follies, 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.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Pulls this off in ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'', inflicting painful and humiliating wishes onto the Erazor Djinn before [[AndIMustScream sealing him in his lamp forever]] and tossing it into a lava pit. In any other context, this would be shockingly cruel for Sonic, but Erazor has been shown to be a [[HateSink thoroughly despicable and irredeemable character]] throughout the game and openly [[KickTheDog mocked Shahra's death, calling her weak]], so there's no denying he deserved his fate.
* 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.
* KnightInShiningArmor: What [[ThinksLikeARomanceNovel Amy]] sees him as. She's not too far off the mark, though, as Sonic is pretty selfless and some of his dislikes includes seeing people cry and any form of oppression upon others. He's also a bit of a ChickMagnet due to his kindness.
* 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]], probably rivalling [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Peter Parker]] in terms of how much snark he dishes out.
* LastSecondShowoff: All the time, almost as often as when he's a LeeroyJenkins.
* TheLeader: Headstrong type for all of Team Sonic and Charismatic type for the cast of heroes as a whole.
* LeeroyJenkins: Varies depending on the story.
** Even at his mildest, Sonic has no patience for waiting around or discussing tactics. 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.
** This is played straight in ''VideoGame/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, and they promptly attack everyone in sight, which prompts a retreat. Tails and Eggman do, in fact, call him out on it.
* {{Leitmotif}}: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6XqN2jBXdQ Sonic The Hedgehog Title Theme]] overall and for Classic Sonic, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9zZus_1_ag Live & Learn]] for Modern Sonic are the most recurring. He also gets a new theme song every other game (see ImageSong above for examples).
* LeParkour: Mostly shown off as {{Scripted Event}}s or as cutscenes in most 3D games, it becomes a full-fledged game mechanic in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', which gives him the ability to run and jump along walls and ceilings, 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 went back to his traditional "outfit". Sega also has a rule that Sonic is [[http://www.shacknews.com/article/71640/how-mario-and-sonic-get-outfitted-for-the-olympics not allowed to take off his shoes.]]
* LoveableRogue: Downplayed: 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. Granted, a big part of his swordsmanship is [[SuperSpeed him using his speed to utterly blitz the enemy]].
* TheMcCoy: He definitely fits this to a "T" among Team Sonic in the games.
* MeaningfulAppearance: Acquired green eyes when he's in his [[SuperMode Super form]] in ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'', acquired these in his regular form from ''Adventure'' onwards.
* MeaningfulName: He is called ''Sonic'' for a reason.
* MellowFellow: Certain interpretations convey him as thoroughly easygoing and hard to break, rarely holding grudges against even antagonistic characters. Other interpretations are subverted as he can be more HotBlooded.
* 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'' so that GUN could use him as a patsy for the crimes of [[CriminalDoppelganger Shadow]], whose existence they wanted to keep covered up.
* 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.
* 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.
* MultipleChoicePast: Outside of a brief mention of his birthplace being Christmas Island, he's never really been given an official backstory in the games. [[AllThereInTheManual Supplementary material]] either had Sonic has a magical hero who sprung to life after the death of a kind-hearted pilot who had him as a mascot or a normal hedgehog who gained superpowers in the same freak accident that turned "Dr. Kintobor" evil.
* 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: Inverted somewhat in his CatchPhrase "I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!" Interestingly, in Japan, he likes to spice it up with his tendency for GratuitousEnglish. For instance, a Japanese ''Sonic Adventure'' advert has him introducing himself with "My name is Sonic! Sonikku za Hejihoggu da!", and later ending with "Ore wa Sonic! Tsk tsk tsk tsk! 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, as Sonic is often noted for his compassion and selflessness.
* 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 by [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness disposing of the Cacophonic Conch Eggman was using to control them without even bothering to find out what it was]]. Then he does it again, this time, [[spoiler:causing Tails to be trapped inside a capsule and turned into a robot.]]
* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: Towards Amy when she's frustrated.
* 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.
* 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''.
* OneTrueLove: According to the "Test of Love" in ''Sonic '06'', his soulmate choices for life are narrowed down between [[ManicPixieDreamGirl Amy]] and [[InterspeciesRomance Elise]].
* 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: [[https://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, "[[AscendedFanon 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:
** Threatening any harm to Tails, the closest thing to a little brother he has, will show you even something as silly looking as a blue hedgehog will make you cry.
** 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. He also has some level of aerokinesis, which again, reflects his carefree nature and inability to stayin one place for long.
* 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 [[https://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, though it should be noted her attempt at making it eternal would have drowned the world in dark magic.]]
* PretenderDiss: Done in ''VideoGame/SonicRivals'' towards Metal Sonic.
-->'''Sonic''': A copy is still just a copy! It'll never be able to top the original!
* PrimaryColorChampion: He has blue fur and wears red sneakers with yellow buckles on the straps.
* ProtagonistWithoutAPast: Aside from his birthplace being Christmas Island, nothing is known about his past.
* {{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.
* RazorWind: His Sonic Wind attack, as depicted in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''.
* RealMenWearPink: One of his hobbies includes admiring flowers.
* RebelliousSpirit: Downplayed example. Although he tends to live by his own moral code and disregard authority, he never intentionally breaks the law, and he doesn't seem to have a problem with society in general. Even if he can be a DestructiveSavior at times, it's almost always unintentional collateral damage, and the law doesn't hold it against him.
* RedIsHeroic: While primarily [[BlueIsHeroic blue]], his red sneakers are one of his most iconic items.
* RedOniBlueOni: In addition to the aforementioned above, he's also got this dynamic with likes of Shadow, Blaze, and Dr. Eggman (Red to the former two, Blue to the latter).
* 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.
* RivalsTeamUp: With [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Knuckles]], then [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow]], then [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Blaze]], and then [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Silver]].
* 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]].
* RudeHeroNiceSidekick: While he's nowhere near as rude, Sonic is the cocky and snarky hero in contrast to Tails' level-headed and mild-mannered personality.
* RunningGag: He tends to fall flat on his face when falling from great heights from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' onwards.
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Oh so much in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''. He'll willingly become a king slayer to do what is right.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: If he is left still for three minutes in Sonic CD without doing anything, he'll say "I'm outta here" and leave, resulting in a [[GameOver game over]].
* SeenItAll: By ''Generations'', he's been through so much and seen so many crazy things that the situation with the Time Eater and being trapped in the White Space gets little reaction from him.
-->'''Tails''': Totally strange.\\
'''Sonic''': No stranger than [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries rescuing genies in magic books]], or [[VideoGame/SonicColors saving aliens in an interstellar amusement park]].
* ShipTease: Has a lot of these.
** He gets this with Amy. In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', Sonic feels depressed after Amy didn't recognize him as a werehog, thinking she mistook him for someone else again and in a one-off dialogue sequence the player can either accept or decline Amy's offer to a date; ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' seems to have went with the former option being canon.
** Shares one with Blaze in the end of ''VideoGame/SonicRush''. He and Blaze have a [[HeldGaze long stare]] at each other and are trying to hold on to each other as long as possible before they get separated — Sonic's holding on with both hands. It's as if they're both reluctant to part ways.
* 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: Besides snarking at his opponents, he can deliver these on occasions:
** 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".
** There are several of these in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' when Sonic confronts Merlina, who explains that the only way to save Camelot from its tragic fate is to use the power of Excalibur's Scabbard and the Underworld to make it eternal, only to have Sonic reply "What good is a world that goes on forever!?" The conversation even ends with this great exchange between the two characters:
-->'''Merlina''': My sorrow at its ruin runs deeper than the depths of the underworld... do you not understand?\\
'''Sonic''': No! And I don't want to!
* 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.
* SigilSpam: Sonic makes a ''lot'' of [[http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_cameos_and_references cameo appearances]] in other Creator/{{Sega}} games. He even appears in the Sega CD and Sega Channel boot up. He is their mascot, and they want you to know it.
** InUniverse, you'll see Sonic's mug frequently pop up on objects like the 1-Up monitors and the Sonic Item from VideoGame/TailsAdventure, to mugshots on casino slot machines. VideoGame/SonicTheFighters even has a Sphinx with his face carved onto it!
* SimpleYetAwesome: His key gimmick is simply [[SuperSpeed running really, really fast]]. It looks cool, it's fun to do in-game, and it's how he saves the world time and again.
* SleepyHead: He appears to have a habit of momentarily dozing-off in [[IdleAnimation idle animations]].
* 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.
* SpectacularSpinning: His primary method of attack, the Spin Attack, and its variations such as the Spin Dash and Homing Attack.
* 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 European/North American game manual mentioned that Sonic's speed comes from his power sneakers, although this bit of info is never taken as canon. However, video 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 justified by the fact that he's a mascot, and 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.
* StockShonenHero: He's got the equivalent of spiky hair, a strong sense of justice, is fueled by the PowerOfFriendship, and (particularly in spin-offs) loves to compete with other speedsters to see who comes out on top. Even when a giant alligator [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes chases down the team in a jungle level]], his only response is "Interesting, let's see who's faster." Unsurprising since the series has several ''Manga/DragonBall'' {{Shout Out}}s, including 7 {{Cosmic Keystone}}s and a GoldenSuperMode that makes his hair stand on end.
* StrongAsTheyNeedToBe: Depending on the game or the situation, Sonic can go from outrunning planes, missiles and a ''black hole'' to be being unable to catch Eggman, an overweight human, when the latter is running on foot.
* SuperDrowningSkills: In most of the 3D games. He instead has WalkDontSwim in 2D.
* SuperMode:
** [[https://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 [[Anime/DragonBallZ Super Saiyans]]. It shows well.
** There's also [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Hyper Sonic]], [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine Sonic, and Excalibur Sonic]].
* SuperSpeed: He's called "[[MeaningfulName Sonic]]" for a reason, It's basically his trademark. (His top speed has never been canonically established, though he's shown to be capable of breaking the Sound-Barrier whenever he kicks into high gear).
* 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.
* SuperToughness: Zigzagged. When spinning or boosting or with a ring on hand, he can handle smashing through legions of robots or dense objects at supersonic speeds, which would basically turn any real life thing into roadkill in seconds. When he's ''not'' doing these or doesn't have a ring on hand? [[GlassCannon He's as fragile as a newborn]] and can die from even ''colliding'' with another hostile object.
* 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''.
** Silver just plain ''humiliated'' him in ''Sonic '06''.
** In more petty competition, Jet canonically beat Sonic in the World Grand Prix finals in the first ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' (albeit by cheating). This also marks one of the few times Sonic is genuinely enraged.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'', [[spoiler:Merlina]] beats him silly and [[WreckedWeapon breaks Caliburn]] while he can't even touch his enemy. It takes getting his newest SuperMode to turn the tables.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', Infinite serves his ass on a silver platter. Oh, and [[TheBadGuyWins Eggman conquers the world]].
* TaughtByExperience: In ''Generations'', he's able to defeat Perfect Chaos in his normal form, when he previously needed to become Super Sonic to do so. He even states this as a strength in ''Forces'', where he's able to put up a decent fight against Infinite, whose EstablishingCharacterMoment was [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping and nearly killing him]].
-->'''Infinite''': [[ThisCannotBe Impossible!]] Your abilities exceed your previous data!\\
'''Sonic''': Unlike [[MechaMooks mechs]], ''I'' can grow. I get more powerful every second!
* TeleportersAndTransporters: Has the ability to teleport by using Chaos Control in-tandem with a Chaos Emerald, whether it's fake or real.
* TeleportSpam: He loves doing this in the last Dark Side Story boss in [=SA2=] if you get too far ahead of him.
* ThrillSeeker: His love for adventure and excitement is a large part of the reason he fights Eggman and other Big Bads.
* 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.
* TookALevelInBadass: He defeats Perfect Chaos in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' in normal form without resorting to transforming into Super Sonic. On top of that, in the teaser for ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', it's shown that Classic Sonic has perfected the Sonic Boost.
* TornadoMove: In ''VideoGame/SonicRush'', in the boss fight against him as Blaze, one of his attacks is him spinning around while airborne, which creates a massive vortex that sucks her in. The Blue Tornado in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' does the same thing, but on a much smaller scale.
* TotallyRadical: He dips into this at times in his modern depiction, though 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]].
* ATragedyOfImpulsiveness: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of the [[RestrainingBolt Cacophonic Conch]] Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six without even bothering to find out what it was or what it did, which enables the Deadly Six to turn on Eggman and usurp his plans and operations, making them a bigger threat than before.
* TransformationTrinket: Chaos Emeralds, Super Emeralds, World Rings, Sacred Swords, and Wisps. All of them are catalysts for his transformations.
* {{Troll}}: Sonic loves to get a rise out of his enemies.
* TsurimeEyes: As Super Sonic and in his Werehog form.
* 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 them.
* {{Ubermensch}}: Sonic stated in ''[[VideoGame/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. Similarly, his ImageSong It Doesn't Matter states that he doesn't care who's right and who's wrong, and he just lives by his own feelings. He and others also describe him as being "free like the wind", and he makes it clear that he both dislikes being restrained and dislikes it when others are oppressed, too.
* 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.
* TheUnfettered: A mild 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 ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'' doesn't stop expressing his hatred, rage, and sadness until Alf Layla Wa Layla ''goes down''.
* UnwittingPawn: Has a tendency to accidentally further Eggman's plots.
* VitriolicBestBuds: In addition to Knuckles, he kind of has this 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:
** Sonic's major weakness 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.]] 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. [[WordOfGod Takashi IIzuka said in a 2017 interview]] that Sonic does not have a house. He's just constantly on the move and enjoying wherever life takes him.
* WallJump: First appeared in an unconventional form in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', where it's used to cross chasms with walls on either side. Starting in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', he has a more conventional ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]''-style WallJump.
* WeaksauceWeakness: [[WalkDontSwim He can't]] [[SuperDrowningSkills swim.]]
* TheWorfEffect: Though he's pretty much an InvincibleHero, there are some occasions where he gets beaten by more powerful characters.
** He gets punched out of his ''super form'' by Knuckles with one punch, in his debut!
** Sonic and his friends all had trouble defeating Chaos, as the first villain ever.
** Also against Shadow in his solo game, if the player chooses to go against him.
** He also gets beaten by Silver twice, much to the point where he had to be saved by Shadow the second time, and to run away in the meantime.
** [[spoiler:Gets ''killed'' by Mephiles but fortunately for Sonic, it didn't stick.]]
** Several times by Eggman when inside of some giant robot.
** Merlina as the Dark Queen beats him and Caliburn black and blue before they go [[SuperMode Excalibur Sonic]] with the Sacred Swords.
** He gets kicked around like a ball by Infinite in one battle.
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Not him, as ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' 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 ''VideoGame/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.
* WillfullyWeak: It's implied through CutscenePowerToTheMax and certain scripted events that Sonic holds back his full speed. Whether it's to challenge himself or if it tires himself out to use his full speed is uncertain.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Often with Knuckles in the earlier games. Also with Shadow to some extent, and let's not get started with Jet.
* 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 ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''. In all cases, of course, it applied as self-defense.
* WrongGenreSavvy: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of Eggman's Cacophonic Conch, telling the doctor outright that it's never a mistake to "throw his toys away". Unfortunately, in this case, it ''was'' a mistake: the conch was a RestrainingBolt that Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six, who waste no time in usurping Eggman's Badniks and turning on him.
[[/folder]]
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sonicthehedgehog.png]]
[[caption-width-right:250:[[labelnote:''Click here to see Sonic's classic design.'']][[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/classic_sonic.png]][[/labelnote]]]]
-->''"What you see is what you get, just a guy that loves adventure. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!"''
-> '''First Appearance''': ''Rad Mobile'' (cameo)
-> '''Debut in-series''': ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''
-> '''Voiced by''': Creator/TakeshiKusao (Japanese, 1993), Creator/ToshioFurukawa (Japanese ads), Creator/JunichiKanemaru (Japanese, 1998-present), Creator/TomokazuSeki (Werehog form, Japanese, ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed''), Keiko Utoku, (''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD''), Meg Inglima (English, ''VideoGame/SonicsSchoolhouse''), Ryan Drummond (English, 1999-2004), Creator/JasonGriffith (English, 2005-2010), Creator/RogerCraigSmith (English, 2010-present)
\\
The main character of the franchise. A blue anthropomorphic hedgehog with attitude and plenty of personality who lives up to his name by being able to run at superhuman speeds. [[MysteriousPast Not much is known about Sonic's past]] aside from that he was born on Christmas Island. One day on South Island, 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 do in 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. He also has a compassionate side and deep down, a heart of gold that always wishes the best for others.
----
* AbsenteeActor: There are exactly three games in the entire franchise where he does not appear at all, not even as a cameo; ''VideoGame/DrRobotniksMeanBeanMachine'', ''VideoGame/TailsSkypatrol'' and ''VideoGame/TailsAndTheMusicMaker''. He is also absent from ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure'', but his likeness makes a very small cameo as an item for Tails to use.
* AcePilot: Technically, the original Tornado airplane belonged to him. He can fly it just as well as Tails does; he just prefers to let Tails fly because it's more fun for him that way.
* AgelessBirthdayEpisode: Despite it being his birthday in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', he's still 15 years old (or at least, Sega of Japan never bothered to update his character page).
* 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.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: To Metal Sonic.
* AmbiguousDisorder: Some fans have picked up on some of Sonic's mannerisms as being symptomatic of ADHD. Examples include his impulsive behaviour (to a fault, as in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''), his tendency to be jitterish, his dislike of standing still (demonstrated in both Classic and Modern era games, wherein Sonic will tap his foot and impatiently glare at the player, or glance up at the timer. He also has a habit of stretching consistently while waiting for the player), as well as his excessive activity (constantly looking for adventure).
* 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, he doesn't like to follow others' values or beliefs and lives by his own morals and codes, and always makes his choices based on what comes naturally to him by his own feelings. He also has a propensity for a ''lot'' of vandalism in his heroic acts. Still, deep down, he will always come out as the hero who saves everyone at the end of the day. Usually, though, his rare unheroic acts are ultimately still for the greater good.
** While he ultimately comes out as 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 ''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 tyranny. 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.
* TheAntiNihilist:
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'', he expresses such a view to Merlina. As he points out, ''every'' world will eventually end; the only thing you can do is live your life to the fullest in the time you have.
** This exact outlook of his, unknowingly to some, was established all the way back in the very first game in the form of a {{Tagline}} [[AllThereInTheManual on the Japanese box art]]:
--> ''"Don't just sit there and waste your precious time. When you want to do something, do it right away. Do it when you can. It's the only way to live a life without regrets."''
* ArchEnemy: To Eggman and Metal Sonic.
* ArtEvolution: Sonic has gone through a ''lot'' of redesigns in the series, most drastically his design overhaul from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' and onward. The only other character that exceeds him in redesigns is his own opponent, Dr. Eggman.
* TheArtifact: While his spinning moves have always been a hallmark of the character's abilities, some aspects of them eventually became obsolete in the context of later entries. For instance:
** Sonic's Spin Dash move, a staple ability since ''VideoGame/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 3D and ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Rush|Series}}'' games, due to the new boost ability essentially serving the same purpose as it and its sister move, the Super Peelout, but without the idle charge-up time needed. Later games such as ''VideoGame/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 3D games as of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', due to the introduction of the Homing Attack (which made an early bird appearance as a shield in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland Sonic 3D Blast]]''). 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 conceived by Sega not only as their mascot, but as a direct competitor and the antithesis of the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' video game series. Once Sega dropped out of the hardware business and started publishing games on Nintendo consoles, 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.
* BadassAdorable: Even Sonic has his moments where he just looks cute, mostly pre-''Adventure''.
* BadassArmfold: He does this sometimes, often when he's bored.
* 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!]]"
* BadassBookworm: No genius, but he is a fan of literature such as the Arabian Nights; not only did he go into that world, he does occasionally mention reading up on a few things.
* BadassCape: [[http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100608163236/sonic/images/7/7c/Excalibur_Sonic_art.jpg As Excalibur Sonic]].
* BadassInDistress:
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', where he escapes from GUN once, but is captured again (partly due to Shadow). He gets rescued by Tails and Amy. Averted in the original Japanese version, whose script makes it clear that he intentionally let himself get caught.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', [[spoiler:he was taken down by Infinite and is held captive in the Death Egg]].
* {{Badbutt}}: One of the poster children of this trope. Which makes sense, considering how fitting the archetypical badass into a kid-friendly environment has been a primary hallmark of the series since its inception.
* BashBrothers: Has been this with [[HeterosexualLifePartners Tails]] since ''Sonic 2''. He also plays this with [[VitriolicBestBuds Knuckles]] when the two put aside their differences, which is also the case with [[AntiHero Shadow]]. He even does this with his past self in ''Sonic Generations''.
* BerserkButton:
** At least three: don't mess with his friends, threaten the peace, freedom, and[=/=]or well-being of others, or call him a rat. He won't take it well. [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Erazor Djinn]] managed to press ''all of those buttons in the same game!'' To say [[AndIMustScream it didn't end well for him]] would be putting it mildly.
** If you hurt Tails, Sonic will stop at ''nothing'' to '''''destroy'' you'''.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: He's probably the nicest and character next to Tails, Amy, Big, and Cream, but push his buttons and... well... Erazor Djinn [[note]]and Eggman sometimes[[/note]] learned the hard way. This trait is even mentioned in some of his official Japanese profiles, which state that he's good at keeping his cool even under pressure, but on the rare occasions he get angry, he shows a really mean side of him that surprises those who know him.
* BigBrotherMentor: He's this to Tails in most of the games and adaptations. He also acts like this to the Avatar in ''Forces''.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Sonic tends to be pretty laid-back and easygoing, but the second Tails is in any sort of trouble, he shapes up extremely quickly.
* BigDamnHeroes: Expect this trope to happen [[OnceAnEpisode once a game]].
* ABirthdayNotABreak: The entire conflict with the Time Eater in ''Sonic Generations'' takes place during his birthday; in fact, the creature crashes Sonic's birthday party.
* 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: Downplayed. While he doesn't go out of his way to seek a conflict or hurt people, there is no doubt that Sonic loves a good fight with anyone that can challenge him. The thrill of the adventure is what he lives for. Just look at his [[https://78.media.tumblr.com/a898564d02e0d41bde35a7d6dda98ff4/tumblr_pc0qwfzxeb1r01jsno2_400.gif reaction]] to fighting a [[spoiler: Chaos Emerald powered up Metal Sonic]] from [[VideoGame/SonicMania Sonic Mania Adventures]]. As he himself once said:
--> '''Sonic:''' "An adventure's no fun if it's too easy."
* 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.
* BlueIsHeroic: Arguably the poster child of this trope in video games. His blueness represents freedom and clear blue skies, as well as his generally easygoing nature. This is put in contrast with [[BigBad Eggman]]'s [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver redness]] as well as [[TheLancer Knuckles]]'s [[RedOniBlueOni intense red]] and [[TheRival Shadow]]'s [[DarkIsNotEvil red accents]].
* BoisterousBruiser: Generally very excitable post-''Adventure'' and willing to take down anyone threatening the world.
* BookDumb: Downplayed. 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 teammates]] such as Tails to explain the science of it all.
* BoldExplorer: Adventurer-type example: he's always in the mood to see his world and what it has to offer, which ties in with how the series changes settings now and again.
* BreakingTheFourthWall:
** The character most likely to do so, as seen in ''VideoGame/SonicColors''.
** Even in his first appearance, he would stare at the screen and tap his foot impatiently if left idle, and in ''CD'', [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere he would outright leave and cause]] [[GameOver a game over]] if left in that state for long enough.
* BrilliantButLazy: He's one of the fiercest and most influential people on the planet, but he spends much of his time roaming the world or relaxing and only saves the heroics for when it's appropriate.
* 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 the new Werehog form from Dark Gaia's energy.
** 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 Spin Dash just fine.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Amazing feats and adventures come naturally to Sonic, which is part of where his cocky attitude comes from. While this aspect of his personality has been played up occasionally since the beginning, his tweaked characterization starting from Colors put more emphasis into just how routine these things have become for him.
--> '''Sonic:''' No seriously, we beat (Eggman) every time. It's like our job or something.
* CallingYourAttacks: ''"Sonic Wind!"'' ''"Chaos Control!"'' ''"Speed Break!"'' ''"Time Break!"''
* CatchPhrase: "I'm Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog!"
* CharacterDevelopment: If ''Generations'' is any indication, Sonic became less quiet and more extroverted as time went on.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: 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 ''Adventure'' duology of games, ''Unleashed'', and the ''Storybook'' games; being fairly confident in his abilities, but knowing when to get serious when a real threat presented itself, and equal parts of quirk and kindheartedness. In ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic '06]]'', the quirky parts of his personality were written out and he became sort of a straight-laced hero. Then, beginning with ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', probably to circumvent that problem and as the result of a new writing team, they take his personality in the ''opposite'' direction and make his quirks much 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 screw him (and the world) over]], showing a [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex more insecure side]] to this personality.
* CelibateHero: While he's aware of Amy's infatuation for him, [[NoGuyWantsToBeChased he prefers to keep away from her when she acts on it]]. He's not interested in Rouge's flirting, either. He shows a surprising tender side when interacting with Blaze, but that's more because [[DefrostingIceQueen he's trying to get her to open up]] and he's one of her few true friends rather than anything romantic.
* 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 learned it by watching Shadow perform it.]]
* ChickMagnet: Downplayed. 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.
* ClothesMakeTheLegend: Sonic's shoes are the most iconic part of his design, to the point that Sega [[http://www.shacknews.com/article/71640/how-mario-and-sonic-get-outfitted-for-the-olympics has a rule]] that he cannot be shown without them or taking them off.
* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]: both the US manual and tie-in comic for the original game suggested that the source of Sonic's speed is his shoes, but this was '''never''' taken as canon, not even in other Sonic continuities from the early days -- even the early [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogPromoComic Promo Comic]] dismissed that idea, and the game it was promoting said otherwise in the same manual! [[note]]It's possible, though, that it was meant to refer to the speed-up Item Box.[[/note]] However, it is commonly accepted that Sonic's shoes are instead 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: The standard design for himself and some of his friends.
* ContinueYourMissionDammit: His impatience and snarky attitude towards the player for hold-ups shows in some of his {{idle animation}}s. [[NonStandardGameOver He'll even give you a Game Over if he's kept waiting too long in Sonic CD.]]
* CoolBigBro: To Tails. Cream also views him this way, and he could be considered one to Blaze as well, despite only being a year older than her.
* CoolCar: Some supplementary material back in the day stated Sonic didn't like cars because he doesn't need them and would only drive one to keep things fair in racing competitions. However, Tails' original designer Yasushi Yamaguchi [[https://twitter.com/Tracker_TD/status/950076160389591041 has stated]] that the reason he gave Tails a favorite car was that Sonic actually ''was'' associated with one even back then: the Lamborghini Countach, which is one of the cars the Cyclone in ''Sonic Drift'' was modeled after.
* CoolPlane: The Tornado. Which belonged to him at first, not Tails, contrary to popular belief.
* CoolShades: Wears some in the ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' series.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: DependingOnTheWriter, he can be somewhat bumbling and a bit exuberant in personality at times. His bouts of skill and heroism, however, are usually no less pronounced.
* CuteBruiser: Even in his Modern form, Sonic is only 3ft tall. The latest games, such as Colors, Generations, Lost World, and Forces, appear to have made him even shorter (the Avatar is noted to be taller than him regardless of what species they are). Sonic also displays some other adorable characteristics, but this doesn't mean he should be underestimated.
* 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 (especially noticeable in ''Sonic '06''). 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.
* DangerousSixteenthBirthday: The entirety of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', where your present from your favorite villain is having your friends ''[[AndIMustScream petrified]]'' in this side of White Space.
* DarkIsNotEvil:
** The [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Werehog]], [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine]], [[VideoGame/SonicColors Violet Void, Purple Frenzy]], and [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld Black Bomb]] 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, do make Sonic much more aggressive.
** This is even touched upon a bit in ''Sonic Unleashed''. [[HeroicWillpower Sonic is just too heroic and kind-hearted to give in to Dark Gaia's evil, even while in his Werehog form]].
---> '''Sonic''': Even at night, when I'm like this, I'm still myself. Not like all the other people we've seen. You must have been protecting me this whole time.
---> '''Chip''': I haven't done anything, Sonic. You're the reason you haven't changed at all. You're too strong to lose yourself.
* DeadpanSnarker: Played straight in the video games and most adaptations, with ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries'', ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', and ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' being some prime examples. Other portrayals remove the "deadpan" part.
* DecompositeCharacter: Since the "Classic Era" Sonic and "Modern Era" Sonic are officially considered separate characters now as of ''VideoGame/SonicForces'' [[RetCon retconning]] them into separate dimensions, there are minor, but noticeable divergences in certain traits of each eras Sonic now. For starters, Classic Sonic is [[TheVoiceless completely mute now]] (whereas he had the rare speaking appearance in a few classic era games and media) whereas Modern Sonic is much more of a chatterbox, and both characters have distinct movesets and gameplay styles from each other. Classic Sonic is also more impetuous, less jaded, and a bit more serious than his modern day counterpart.
* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: ''Lost World'' deconstructs Sonic's LeeroyJenkins. As if to parallel his bullet-like speed, Sonic kind of 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. ''Lost World'' shows just how this type of mindset can backfire. Sonic impulsively kicking away Eggman's Cacophonic Conch allows the Deadly Six to rebel against Eggman, leading to them using Eggman's Extractor machine to drain the world of its energy, nearly killing Amy and Knuckles. [[spoiler:It happens again later in the game where Sonic's recklessness causes Tails to be captured and nearly turned into a robot.]]
* 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 "befriended" before they joined up with him.
* DemotedToExtra: There are a handful of games where he only makes brief appearances.
** ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix'' only had him appear in the Good Ending. He was originally planned to be the star of the game, as proven by the ''Sonic Crackers'' prototype, but Sega of Japan was worried that the series' brand image would've been hurt if Sonic headlined a game for the 32X add-on, which even they realized would be a flop, so they made Knuckles the game's star instead, and had Mighty the Armadillo [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute fill in for Sonic during the gameplay]].
** He only makes an indirect cameo appearance via an item in ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure''.
** In ''VideoGame/TailsAndTheMusicMaker'', he only gets what amounts to a glorified cameo, as the focus is on Tails.
* DependingOnTheWriter: Generally speaking, Sonic's personality is of the fun-loving and kindhearted guy who loves adventure, with [[SmugSuper something of an arrogant streak]]. The degree to which he leans in depends entirely on the continuity and adaptation. See CharacterizationMarchesOn above.
* DestructiveSavior: In ''Unleashed'' and parts of ''Generations'', he causes a lot of property damage in his runs through the stages.
* {{Deuteragonist}}: Classic him is this in ''Generations'', and plays {{Tritagonist}} in ''Forces'', being one of the playable characters, with exclusive stages meant to emulate the old 2D games.
* {{Determinator}}: Nothing slows him down for long.
* DeterminedExpression: His in-game sprites in the classic era depict him this way.
* 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 (aside from when he defeated said water god [[TookALevelInBadass without the need of his super form]] a second time), but it's still impressive.
* DidntThinkThisThrough: Sonic's unerringly stubborn towards following any ways outside his own and loves to charge in with reckless abandon. It's not really a matter of arrogance, so much as he simply believes in himself and his ability to succeed just that much. Unfortunately, when the go-to tactic is "bull in a china shop", Sonic has found his approach causing him to get in over his head ''quite'' frequently, on average needing Tails or another member of his circle of allies to get him out of danger, assuming they're not the ones ''in'' danger because of his devil-may-care actions.
* 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'' that he "wouldn't be caught dead" utilizing guns and other firearms. He doesn't mind other people using them, though, so it's less of a dislike for them, and more a matter of him simply preferring to use his speed to fight. He has no problem using skeet guns in the Olympic game series for events, though.
* 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 ''VideoGame/SonicAdvance3''.
* DualBoss: As one of the potential final bosses of ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'', he fights you alongside the GUN Diablon mech.
* {{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. The fact that his main colors are red, white, and blue helps.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Sonic's first game appearance, predating his full-fledged debut, actually was as a knick-knack hanging inside the player's car in the Sega arcade game ''Rad Mobile''.
* 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, but that was due to them wanting to cover up the existence of Shadow, and Sonic made a perfect patsy for his crimes.
* 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'' simply has him do his signature finger wag to establish him as '''''THE''''' MascotWithAttitude.
** ''Videogame/SonicRiders'' does this in its 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.
* ExperiencedProtagonist: The origins of his rivalry with Dr. Eggman have never fully been touched on, so by the time the first game starts, he's already mixed it up with the doctor before.
* 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.
* {{Expy}}: 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/DragonBallZ wait, is that you, Goku!?]]
* ExtremeOmnivore: Eats anything, even moldy/rancid food (if ''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 / Violet 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 [[RedEyesTakeWarning red]].
* TheFace: He's easily the most social of the three, and usually does all of the talking.
* FacePalm: Does this fairly frequently.
* FastestThingAlive: Sonic can reach speeds up to mach 1 on his own foot power. In most instruction booklets and official bios, he is referred to as "[[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/3/36/US_X360_S2K6_Manual_Page_02.jpg the fastest hedgehog]]" or "[[http://info.sonicretro.org/File:Heroes_gc_us_manual_08_09.jpg the fastest supersonic hedgehog]]" in the world. On at least one occasion in ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'', Jet says Sonic has a reputation for being "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZcJITz7yco the fastest thing alive]]". His only rival on foot is Shadow, who keeps up with him using hover skates.
* 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 ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', when [[spoiler:his recklessness causes the Zeti to break free from Eggman's control and become a larger threat than Eggman himself was, and later when his recklessness causes Tails to get kidnapped]].
* FinalBoss: He is the final opponent in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' and ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'''s Dark stories.
* FireForgedFriends: Just about a number of characters started off as Sonic's enemies or opponents at one point or another, but they're now all invaluable friends/allies to him. The prolific examples include [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Knuckles]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow]], [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Blaze]], and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Silver]].
* {{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.
** 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 [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog own game]]. ''Before'' said HeelFaceTurn, practically ''every'' meeting between the two got rather... violent.
** [[DefrostingIceQueen Blaze]]. Her introversion to his extroversion, her insecurity to his confidence, her fire to his wind. Though their relationship is much friendlier than the other examples, as Sonic tries to look out for her, and they mutually and openly respect one another.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Choleric and sanguine.
* FriendlyRivalry: With Knuckles, as the two are now on 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''. In the ''VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames'' series, he also has a friendly rivalry with {{Creator/Nintendo}}'s mascot Mario.
* TheGadfly: 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 ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Sonic's current voice actor Creator/RogerCraigSmith was once asked to say a parody of Vic Mignogna's infamous "dead sexy in a miniskirt" line but apply it to Eggman, in Sonic's voice. It's not like it was included in an actual Sonic game, but Sonic The Hedgehog has still said the word "sexy".
* 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.
* GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger: His trademark pose.
* GoldenSuperMode: Super Sonic, perhaps the second most famous variant after the [[Anime/DragonBallZ Super Saiyans]].
* GoodIsNotSoft:
** Back in the very first game, you had the choice to either let Dr. Eggman flee or destroy the Egg Mobile and watch him plummet to his apparent doom (not that Sonic ''wants'' Eggman to die). His ass-kickings of the doctor in the early mangas show that the second option was probably the canon one.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', when Sonic is captured by G.U.N and being transported to prison via helicopter, he busts out and takes out everyone aboard but the pilot.
-->Sigma-Alpha 2: "The hedgehog is gone, he's taken out everyone aboard and..."
** His mocking of the despairing Metal Sonic in the end of ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' could come off as downright cruel and cocky, if it weren't for how [[OmnicidalManiac monstrous]] [[OneWingedAngel Metal]] has been beforehand.
** His sealing away of Erazor during the ending of ''Secret Rings'' comes off as this [[note]]particularly compared to how he treated Chaos, who had a similarly tragic past, in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''[[/note]], and would have been disproportionate if Erazor hadn't established himself as a truly irredeemable villain beforehand.
** In ''[[VideoGame/SonicStoryBookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'', Sonic defeats King Arthur by killing him.
* GratuitousEnglish: He started getting this when later games started to play up his 'tude more, as well as a nod to his international popularity; exclusive to the Japanese version, of course. And even before the games started giving him and the other characters dialogue, official Japanese material advertised him with English phrases like "His name is Sonic" or "The most famous hedgehog in the world".
* GrindBoots: While everyone gains this ability by the time of ''Heroes'', ''Sonic Adventure 2'' has Sonic sporting a pair of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_shoes Soap shoes]] (in their trademark red-and-white color scheme), [[ProductPlacement due to a deal between Sega and the Soap brand]].
* GutturalGrowler:
** In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', he has a gruff voice in his Werehog form.
** As [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine Sonic]], he has a very sinister angry growl of a voice.
* HealThyself: In ''VideoGame/SonicBattle'', his "Sonic Heal" ability is described as him using his supersonic speed to heal damage.
* 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 corruption 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.]]
* HiddenDepths: Assuming the tidbits revealed within are canon, the Twitter Takeovers reveal some surprising aspects of his character.
** His favorite musical genre, as opposed to everyone assuming it's Rock, is actually [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rmo3fKeveo Mongolian Throat Singing]].
** The version of him acting as an AnimatedActor in the Takeovers is a ShellShockedVeteran who, understandably, considers ''Sonic '06'' a traumatic OldShame (particularly the game's infamous SignatureScene, Princess Elise kissing him).
* HoldingBackThePhlebotinum: He never uses Chaos Control unless he absolutely has to.
* HomingProjectile: He can turn himself into one using the Homing Attack.
* HopeBringer: Is established as such in ''Forces''. After [[spoiler:his defeat and apparent death at Infinite's hands in [[DownerBeginning the beginning]], Vector even notes that with Sonic gone, people all over are falling into despair. During the FinalBoss, Tails outright declares Sonic their "shining hope."]]
* 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. [[https://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.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Throughout the whole series, he pulls this against [[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 Werehog form and Chip.
* 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'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''.
* InexplicablyIdenticalIndividuals: Him, Shadow, and Silver all share the exact same height and weight of 3 feet and 3 inches, and 77 lbs.
* InformedAttribute: Some of the game manuals describe him 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, leaning it more into BewareTheNiceOnes than a defining attribute to the character. Certain alternate interpretations are more aggressive, though.
* 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".
* IntergenerationalFriendship: He's almost ''twice'' the age of Tails.
* InvisibleAnatomy: Along with the other anthros, he does not appear to have toes when depicted barefoot.
* InvincibleHero: Sonic ''never'' loses against Eggman, or any other villain for that matter. At worst, they'll just temporarily incapacitate him. [[spoiler:Even ''killing'' him, which Mephiles the Dark succeeded in doing in ''Sonic 2006'', was a short-term setback for Sonic thanks to the Chaos Emeralds.]]
* InvoluntaryShapeshifter: In ''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.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Downplayed. He's not without his follies, 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.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Pulls this off in ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'', inflicting painful and humiliating wishes onto the Erazor Djinn before [[AndIMustScream sealing him in his lamp forever]] and tossing it into a lava pit. In any other context, this would be shockingly cruel for Sonic, but Erazor has been shown to be a [[HateSink thoroughly despicable and irredeemable character]] throughout the game and openly [[KickTheDog mocked Shahra's death, calling her weak]], so there's no denying he deserved his fate.
* 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.
* KnightInShiningArmor: What [[ThinksLikeARomanceNovel Amy]] sees him as. She's not too far off the mark, though, as Sonic is pretty selfless and some of his dislikes includes seeing people cry and any form of oppression upon others. He's also a bit of a ChickMagnet due to his kindness.
* 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]], probably rivalling [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Peter Parker]] in terms of how much snark he dishes out.
* LastSecondShowoff: All the time, almost as often as when he's a LeeroyJenkins.
* TheLeader: Headstrong type for all of Team Sonic and Charismatic type for the cast of heroes as a whole.
* LeeroyJenkins: Varies depending on the story.
** Even at his mildest, Sonic has no patience for waiting around or discussing tactics. 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.
** This is played straight in ''VideoGame/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, and they promptly attack everyone in sight, which prompts a retreat. Tails and Eggman do, in fact, call him out on it.
* {{Leitmotif}}: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6XqN2jBXdQ Sonic The Hedgehog Title Theme]] overall and for Classic Sonic, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9zZus_1_ag Live & Learn]] for Modern Sonic are the most recurring. He also gets a new theme song every other game (see ImageSong above for examples).
* LeParkour: Mostly shown off as {{Scripted Event}}s or as cutscenes in most 3D games, it becomes a full-fledged game mechanic in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', which gives him the ability to run and jump along walls and ceilings, 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 went back to his traditional "outfit". Sega also has a rule that Sonic is [[http://www.shacknews.com/article/71640/how-mario-and-sonic-get-outfitted-for-the-olympics not allowed to take off his shoes.]]
* LoveableRogue: Downplayed: 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. Granted, a big part of his swordsmanship is [[SuperSpeed him using his speed to utterly blitz the enemy]].
* TheMcCoy: He definitely fits this to a "T" among Team Sonic in the games.
* MeaningfulAppearance: Acquired green eyes when he's in his [[SuperMode Super form]] in ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'', acquired these in his regular form from ''Adventure'' onwards.
* MeaningfulName: He is called ''Sonic'' for a reason.
* MellowFellow: Certain interpretations convey him as thoroughly easygoing and hard to break, rarely holding grudges against even antagonistic characters. Other interpretations are subverted as he can be more HotBlooded.
* 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'' so that GUN could use him as a patsy for the crimes of [[CriminalDoppelganger Shadow]], whose existence they wanted to keep covered up.
* 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.
* 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.
* MultipleChoicePast: Outside of a brief mention of his birthplace being Christmas Island, he's never really been given an official backstory in the games. [[AllThereInTheManual Supplementary material]] either had Sonic has a magical hero who sprung to life after the death of a kind-hearted pilot who had him as a mascot or a normal hedgehog who gained superpowers in the same freak accident that turned "Dr. Kintobor" evil.
* 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: Inverted somewhat in his CatchPhrase "I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!" Interestingly, in Japan, he likes to spice it up with his tendency for GratuitousEnglish. For instance, a Japanese ''Sonic Adventure'' advert has him introducing himself with "My name is Sonic! Sonikku za Hejihoggu da!", and later ending with "Ore wa Sonic! Tsk tsk tsk tsk! 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, as Sonic is often noted for his compassion and selflessness.
* 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 by [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness disposing of the Cacophonic Conch Eggman was using to control them without even bothering to find out what it was]]. Then he does it again, this time, [[spoiler:causing Tails to be trapped inside a capsule and turned into a robot.]]
* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: Towards Amy when she's frustrated.
* 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.
* 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''.
* OneTrueLove: According to the "Test of Love" in ''Sonic '06'', his soulmate choices for life are narrowed down between [[ManicPixieDreamGirl Amy]] and [[InterspeciesRomance Elise]].
* 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: [[https://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, "[[AscendedFanon 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:
** Threatening any harm to Tails, the closest thing to a little brother he has, will show you even something as silly looking as a blue hedgehog will make you cry.
** 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. He also has some level of aerokinesis, which again, reflects his carefree nature and inability to stayin one place for long.
* 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 [[https://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, though it should be noted her attempt at making it eternal would have drowned the world in dark magic.]]
* PretenderDiss: Done in ''VideoGame/SonicRivals'' towards Metal Sonic.
-->'''Sonic''': A copy is still just a copy! It'll never be able to top the original!
* PrimaryColorChampion: He has blue fur and wears red sneakers with yellow buckles on the straps.
* ProtagonistWithoutAPast: Aside from his birthplace being Christmas Island, nothing is known about his past.
* {{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.
* RazorWind: His Sonic Wind attack, as depicted in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''.
* RealMenWearPink: One of his hobbies includes admiring flowers.
* RebelliousSpirit: Downplayed example. Although he tends to live by his own moral code and disregard authority, he never intentionally breaks the law, and he doesn't seem to have a problem with society in general. Even if he can be a DestructiveSavior at times, it's almost always unintentional collateral damage, and the law doesn't hold it against him.
* RedIsHeroic: While primarily [[BlueIsHeroic blue]], his red sneakers are one of his most iconic items.
* RedOniBlueOni: In addition to the aforementioned above, he's also got this dynamic with likes of Shadow, Blaze, and Dr. Eggman (Red to the former two, Blue to the latter).
* 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.
* RivalsTeamUp: With [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Knuckles]], then [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow]], then [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Blaze]], and then [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Silver]].
* 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]].
* RudeHeroNiceSidekick: While he's nowhere near as rude, Sonic is the cocky and snarky hero in contrast to Tails' level-headed and mild-mannered personality.
* RunningGag: He tends to fall flat on his face when falling from great heights from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' onwards.
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Oh so much in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''. He'll willingly become a king slayer to do what is right.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: If he is left still for three minutes in Sonic CD without doing anything, he'll say "I'm outta here" and leave, resulting in a [[GameOver game over]].
* SeenItAll: By ''Generations'', he's been through so much and seen so many crazy things that the situation with the Time Eater and being trapped in the White Space gets little reaction from him.
-->'''Tails''': Totally strange.\\
'''Sonic''': No stranger than [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries rescuing genies in magic books]], or [[VideoGame/SonicColors saving aliens in an interstellar amusement park]].
* ShipTease: Has a lot of these.
** He gets this with Amy. In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', Sonic feels depressed after Amy didn't recognize him as a werehog, thinking she mistook him for someone else again and in a one-off dialogue sequence the player can either accept or decline Amy's offer to a date; ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' seems to have went with the former option being canon.
** Shares one with Blaze in the end of ''VideoGame/SonicRush''. He and Blaze have a [[HeldGaze long stare]] at each other and are trying to hold on to each other as long as possible before they get separated — Sonic's holding on with both hands. It's as if they're both reluctant to part ways.
* 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: Besides snarking at his opponents, he can deliver these on occasions:
** 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".
** There are several of these in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' when Sonic confronts Merlina, who explains that the only way to save Camelot from its tragic fate is to use the power of Excalibur's Scabbard and the Underworld to make it eternal, only to have Sonic reply "What good is a world that goes on forever!?" The conversation even ends with this great exchange between the two characters:
-->'''Merlina''': My sorrow at its ruin runs deeper than the depths of the underworld... do you not understand?\\
'''Sonic''': No! And I don't want to!
* 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.
* SigilSpam: Sonic makes a ''lot'' of [[http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_cameos_and_references cameo appearances]] in other Creator/{{Sega}} games. He even appears in the Sega CD and Sega Channel boot up. He is their mascot, and they want you to know it.
** InUniverse, you'll see Sonic's mug frequently pop up on objects like the 1-Up monitors and the Sonic Item from VideoGame/TailsAdventure, to mugshots on casino slot machines. VideoGame/SonicTheFighters even has a Sphinx with his face carved onto it!
* SimpleYetAwesome: His key gimmick is simply [[SuperSpeed running really, really fast]]. It looks cool, it's fun to do in-game, and it's how he saves the world time and again.
* SleepyHead: He appears to have a habit of momentarily dozing-off in [[IdleAnimation idle animations]].
* 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.
* SpectacularSpinning: His primary method of attack, the Spin Attack, and its variations such as the Spin Dash and Homing Attack.
* 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 European/North American game manual mentioned that Sonic's speed comes from his power sneakers, although this bit of info is never taken as canon. However, video 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 justified by the fact that he's a mascot, and 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.
* StockShonenHero: He's got the equivalent of spiky hair, a strong sense of justice, is fueled by the PowerOfFriendship, and (particularly in spin-offs) loves to compete with other speedsters to see who comes out on top. Even when a giant alligator [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes chases down the team in a jungle level]], his only response is "Interesting, let's see who's faster." Unsurprising since the series has several ''Manga/DragonBall'' {{Shout Out}}s, including 7 {{Cosmic Keystone}}s and a GoldenSuperMode that makes his hair stand on end.
* StrongAsTheyNeedToBe: Depending on the game or the situation, Sonic can go from outrunning planes, missiles and a ''black hole'' to be being unable to catch Eggman, an overweight human, when the latter is running on foot.
* SuperDrowningSkills: In most of the 3D games. He instead has WalkDontSwim in 2D.
* SuperMode:
** [[https://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 [[Anime/DragonBallZ Super Saiyans]]. It shows well.
** There's also [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Hyper Sonic]], [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Darkspine Sonic, and Excalibur Sonic]].
* SuperSpeed: He's called "[[MeaningfulName Sonic]]" for a reason, It's basically his trademark. (His top speed has never been canonically established, though he's shown to be capable of breaking the Sound-Barrier whenever he kicks into high gear).
* 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.
* SuperToughness: Zigzagged. When spinning or boosting or with a ring on hand, he can handle smashing through legions of robots or dense objects at supersonic speeds, which would basically turn any real life thing into roadkill in seconds. When he's ''not'' doing these or doesn't have a ring on hand? [[GlassCannon He's as fragile as a newborn]] and can die from even ''colliding'' with another hostile object.
* 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''.
** Silver just plain ''humiliated'' him in ''Sonic '06''.
** In more petty competition, Jet canonically beat Sonic in the World Grand Prix finals in the first ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' (albeit by cheating). This also marks one of the few times Sonic is genuinely enraged.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'', [[spoiler:Merlina]] beats him silly and [[WreckedWeapon breaks Caliburn]] while he can't even touch his enemy. It takes getting his newest SuperMode to turn the tables.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', Infinite serves his ass on a silver platter. Oh, and [[TheBadGuyWins Eggman conquers the world]].
* TaughtByExperience: In ''Generations'', he's able to defeat Perfect Chaos in his normal form, when he previously needed to become Super Sonic to do so. He even states this as a strength in ''Forces'', where he's able to put up a decent fight against Infinite, whose EstablishingCharacterMoment was [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping and nearly killing him]].
-->'''Infinite''': [[ThisCannotBe Impossible!]] Your abilities exceed your previous data!\\
'''Sonic''': Unlike [[MechaMooks mechs]], ''I'' can grow. I get more powerful every second!
* TeleportersAndTransporters: Has the ability to teleport by using Chaos Control in-tandem with a Chaos Emerald, whether it's fake or real.
* TeleportSpam: He loves doing this in the last Dark Side Story boss in [=SA2=] if you get too far ahead of him.
* ThrillSeeker: His love for adventure and excitement is a large part of the reason he fights Eggman and other Big Bads.
* 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.
* TookALevelInBadass: He defeats Perfect Chaos in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' in normal form without resorting to transforming into Super Sonic. On top of that, in the teaser for ''VideoGame/SonicForces'', it's shown that Classic Sonic has perfected the Sonic Boost.
* TornadoMove: In ''VideoGame/SonicRush'', in the boss fight against him as Blaze, one of his attacks is him spinning around while airborne, which creates a massive vortex that sucks her in. The Blue Tornado in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' does the same thing, but on a much smaller scale.
* TotallyRadical: He dips into this at times in his modern depiction, though 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]].
* ATragedyOfImpulsiveness: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of the [[RestrainingBolt Cacophonic Conch]] Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six without even bothering to find out what it was or what it did, which enables the Deadly Six to turn on Eggman and usurp his plans and operations, making them a bigger threat than before.
* TransformationTrinket: Chaos Emeralds, Super Emeralds, World Rings, Sacred Swords, and Wisps. All of them are catalysts for his transformations.
* {{Troll}}: Sonic loves to get a rise out of his enemies.
* TsurimeEyes: As Super Sonic and in his Werehog form.
* 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 them.
* {{Ubermensch}}: Sonic stated in ''[[VideoGame/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. Similarly, his ImageSong It Doesn't Matter states that he doesn't care who's right and who's wrong, and he just lives by his own feelings. He and others also describe him as being "free like the wind", and he makes it clear that he both dislikes being restrained and dislikes it when others are oppressed, too.
* 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.
* TheUnfettered: A mild 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 ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'' doesn't stop expressing his hatred, rage, and sadness until Alf Layla Wa Layla ''goes down''.
* UnwittingPawn: Has a tendency to accidentally further Eggman's plots.
* VitriolicBestBuds: In addition to Knuckles, he kind of has this 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:
** Sonic's major weakness 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.]] 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. [[WordOfGod Takashi IIzuka said in a 2017 interview]] that Sonic does not have a house. He's just constantly on the move and enjoying wherever life takes him.
* WallJump: First appeared in an unconventional form in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', where it's used to cross chasms with walls on either side. Starting in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', he has a more conventional ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]''-style WallJump.
* WeaksauceWeakness: [[WalkDontSwim He can't]] [[SuperDrowningSkills swim.]]
* TheWorfEffect: Though he's pretty much an InvincibleHero, there are some occasions where he gets beaten by more powerful characters.
** He gets punched out of his ''super form'' by Knuckles with one punch, in his debut!
** Sonic and his friends all had trouble defeating Chaos, as the first villain ever.
** Also against Shadow in his solo game, if the player chooses to go against him.
** He also gets beaten by Silver twice, much to the point where he had to be saved by Shadow the second time, and to run away in the meantime.
** [[spoiler:Gets ''killed'' by Mephiles but fortunately for Sonic, it didn't stick.]]
** Several times by Eggman when inside of some giant robot.
** Merlina as the Dark Queen beats him and Caliburn black and blue before they go [[SuperMode Excalibur Sonic]] with the Sacred Swords.
** He gets kicked around like a ball by Infinite in one battle.
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Not him, as ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' 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 ''VideoGame/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.
* WillfullyWeak: It's implied through CutscenePowerToTheMax and certain scripted events that Sonic holds back his full speed. Whether it's to challenge himself or if it tires himself out to use his full speed is uncertain.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Often with Knuckles in the earlier games. Also with Shadow to some extent, and let's not get started with Jet.
* 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 ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]''. In all cases, of course, it applied as self-defense.
* WrongGenreSavvy: In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', he disposes of Eggman's Cacophonic Conch, telling the doctor outright that it's never a mistake to "throw his toys away". Unfortunately, in this case, it ''was'' a mistake: the conch was a RestrainingBolt that Eggman was using to control the Deadly Six, who waste no time in usurping Eggman's Badniks and turning on him.
[[/folder]]
