Sonic the Hedgehog - Action Figures

Sega’s mascot and flagship game series, Sonic the Hedgehog, debuted in 1992. Since then the franchise has gone through a roller coaster of ups and downs trying to compete in the system home game market. Sega may not produce consoles anymore, but both the company and Sonic endured. For many Sonic is a nostalgic childhood figure, representing the scrolling side platform genre more so than his main competitor, Mario. The original gameplay and concept are still addictively fun and the hedgehog’s classic design is hard to capture, yet unforgettable. The top three figures for the Sonic the Hedgehog series are “Nendoroid Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Pop! Games: Sonic the Hedgehog Shadow,” and “Sonic the Hedgehog Metal Sonic Non-Scale Figure.”

Sonic the Hedgehog (Nendoroid) Figure

This figure of Sonic from Good Smile Company’s Nendoroid line shows off the hedgehog’s classic design. Sonic’s cobalt blue and bright red high tops are painted with perfect saturation. The figure comes with four accessories from the game. Fans can pose Sonic in a sprint through the halfway marker or a gold ring. The included chaos emerald is translucent light green. The reflection of Sonic’s white-glove makes the emerald look as if it’s glowing. Sonic’s three expressions include a smirk, concentrating scowl, and an open-mouthed grin. His eyes also change direction with each face plate to indicate his focus. The figure itself was originally released in 2012 in celebration of the franchise’s 20th anniversary. It has since become an incredibly difficult find with occasional re-runs from Good Smile Company. An EZ version with fewer accessories is available more frequently.

Product Name: Nendoroid Sonic the Hedgehog (Re-run)
Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
Sculptor: Fumitoshi Nakamura
Specifications: Painted, articulated, non-scale ABS & PVC figure with optional parts and stand
Figure Height: 100mm | 3.9

Pop! Games: Sonic the Hedgehog Shadow Figure

The Pop! Games recreation of Sonic’s anti-hero companion depicts his brooding nature in stylized chibi form. As with most of the Funko series, Shadow the Hedgehog has no mouth in this figure. His eyes are much less detailed, subbing his red irises for two large black circles for a cutesy effect. His brooding demeanor comes across due to the slight ridge created by his slick black and red mohawk. The white tuft of fur on his chest now takes up most of the figure’s shrunken torso. The gold accents on his shoes and around his wrists is a shiny metallic, pairing well with the matte finish of the rest of the body. His left hand is turned upward, fingers slightly drawn in, but his right hand is clenched in a tight fist. The low cost allows for casual fans to represent their favorites and collectors to stock up on an entire cast.

Product Name: Pop! Games: Sonic the Hedgehog - Shadow
Manufacturer: Funko, LLC.
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale vinyl figure

Sonic the Hedgehog Metal Sonic Non-Scale Figure

Eggman’s rival Sonic doppelganger makes a threatening non-scale figure from First 4 Figures. The figure itself is smaller than a standard soda can, yet it still contains plenty of detail. The silver components of the figure are painted with a realistic level of sheen. This metallic effect even extends to the glossy blue and red to convey the singular material of the robot. In contrast, the red of his eyes is darker and more muted to show his sinister nature. Smaller design details include a gap on the soles of his shoes and a tiny turbine poking out of his back. The entire figure is supported with an angled arm style base that attaches between the legs.

Product Name: Sonic the Hedgehog Metal Sonic Non-Scale Figure
Release: February 2021
Manufacturer: First 4 Figures
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale PVC figure with base
Dimensions (Approx.): 11 x 5 x 5 cm | 4.3" x 2" x 2"

Sonic the Hedgehog Series Story

Sonic is a blue, anthropomorphic hedgehog known for his super-fast running speed. He spends most of his adventures trying to protect the planet Mobius from the schemes of Doctor Eggman. Eggman wants the Chaos Emeralds, a set of seven emeralds with mystical powers. The Emeralds can invoke Chaos Control, a technique that warps time and space and gives energy to living things. Sonic can use the Chaos Emeralds to transform into Super Sonic. Most of the games in the series feature linear speed-based platform gameplay. The player attempts to continue forward on a side-scrolling map while maintaining speed. Along the way, the player can collect golden rings by running through them. The rings provide Sonic with health but scatter from his body if he’s attacked. In later games, the rings also act as currency.

Sonic the Hedgehog Series Development

In the early 1990s, Sega wanted to create a flagship series in order to compete with Nintendo. Eventually, designers came up with Sonic, colored blue to match the Sega logo, and marketed the game for an American audience. Sonic the Hedgehog received widespread critical acclaim, with its sales helping Sega regain a significant market share against Nintendo. In 1992, Sega released the sequel game Sonic the Hedgehog 2, widely considered one of the best games in the franchise. Sonic 2 introduced one of the series’ most controversial characters, Sonic’s sidekick Tails. However, by the late 1990s, Sonic and Sega struggled to remain relevant, a struggle that continued for over a decade. In 2013, Sega began a partnership with Nintendo to launch a rebranding campaign. For many, Sonic is a retro nostalgic icon of the 1990s.

Links

Nendoroid Sonic the Hedgehog
Pop! Games: Sonic the Hedgehog Shadow
Sonic the Hedgehog Metal Sonic Non-Scale Figure
Sonic the Hedgehog Label
Shadow the Hedgehog Label