Sonic the Hedgehog. He's 25 years young this year - and Sega is prepping a brand-new Sonic game for release in 2017. But how much do we actually know about Sonic himself, beyond his alleged attitude and penchant for rings? Here are 10 astonishing Sonic facts that we're betting you've never heard before.
10. SONIC WAS ORIGINALLY A RABBIT
When Sega was generating ideas for a Mario-beating mascot, one of the most popular early designs was a rabbit - seemingly inspired by Walt Disney's Mickey precursor, Oswald The Lucky Rabbit. Sonic the Rabbit - as he wasn't ever to be known - would've run through levels picking up and throwing objects using his prehensile ears.
Ultimately, this concept was dropped in favour of a hedgehog - the rabbit ears proved too complex for Sega's 16-bit technology - though the design still faced stiff resistance from Sega's US office, where hedgehogs aren't indigenous fauna, or well known.
Ultimately, this concept was dropped in favour of a hedgehog - the rabbit ears proved too complex for Sega's 16-bit technology - though the design still faced stiff resistance from Sega's US office, where hedgehogs aren't indigenous fauna, or well known.
9. SONIC WAS GOING TO HAVE A HUMAN GIRLFRIEND
Initially, Sonic the Hedgehog would've featured a tired old rescue-the-girl structure, similar to how Mario is endlessly saving Princess Peach from the muffin-fists of Bowser.
Sonic's human girlfriend - who as we see from the concept art above, would have been wracked with carnal cravings for Sonic - was called Madonna. She had been inspired by the popular singer of the same name, even borrowing Madonna's late-80s pixie cut. She later appeared as a much less overtly sexualised character in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.
Should Madonna have remained part of the series, it would have raised questions regarding the nature of her relationship with Sonic. Though sexual acts between humans and animals - providing they do not involve penetration - are legal in Canada, it is considered a crime by most countries around the world.
Sonic's human girlfriend - who as we see from the concept art above, would have been wracked with carnal cravings for Sonic - was called Madonna. She had been inspired by the popular singer of the same name, even borrowing Madonna's late-80s pixie cut. She later appeared as a much less overtly sexualised character in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.
Should Madonna have remained part of the series, it would have raised questions regarding the nature of her relationship with Sonic. Though sexual acts between humans and animals - providing they do not involve penetration - are legal in Canada, it is considered a crime by most countries around the world.
8. SONIC GOES BOOM-BOOM
Sonic, like other hedgehogs, is an omnivore, meaning he eats both plants and animals. Though his digestive system is similar to that of humans, his diet mostly consists of worms, snails, slugs and insects - as well as baby birds, eggs, and bits of dead mice... anything that, as an opportunist scavenger, he can find.
When Sonic consumes food, it travels to his stomach where acids break it down into simpler chemicals, which Sonic's body then absorbs.
The food which cannot be digested first passes to Sonic's small intestine, where any nutrients are absorbed further, and the remaining bulk then travels to the large intestine. Bacteria helps break down Sonic's food, and that which cannot be digested is released as feces, via his anus.
When Sonic consumes food, it travels to his stomach where acids break it down into simpler chemicals, which Sonic's body then absorbs.
The food which cannot be digested first passes to Sonic's small intestine, where any nutrients are absorbed further, and the remaining bulk then travels to the large intestine. Bacteria helps break down Sonic's food, and that which cannot be digested is released as feces, via his anus.
7. SONIC IS GOOD TO EAT/INHALE
Many cultures would've liked to have eaten Sonic - and some still would. Hedgehog meat was a component of many recipes in Ancient Egypt and the late Middle Ages, while today, Romani people still eat hedgehogs, boiled or roasted, and save the blood and fat for its alleged medicinal qualities.
Indeed, the number of countries where Sonic could travel safely is limited. Hedgehogs are traded throughout Eurasia and Africa for medicine and witchcraft, while the Bedouin tribes of the Middle East believe hedgehog meat can cure arthritis. In Morocco, inhaling the burnt skin and spines of a hedgehog is considered a remedy for male impotence.
Indeed, the number of countries where Sonic could travel safely is limited. Hedgehogs are traded throughout Eurasia and Africa for medicine and witchcraft, while the Bedouin tribes of the Middle East believe hedgehog meat can cure arthritis. In Morocco, inhaling the burnt skin and spines of a hedgehog is considered a remedy for male impotence.
6. SONIC WILL PROBABLY GET THE CANCER
Cancer is very common in hedgehogs, and it seems likely that at some point in his life Sonic will succumb to the most common form - squamous cell carcinoma. Unfortunately, surgery for this form of cancer in hedgehogs is impossible, as it would require removing too much of the underlying bone structure.
Other common health complaints that Sonic must be aware of include fatty liver disease caused by a bad diet, and ringworm.
Other common health complaints that Sonic must be aware of include fatty liver disease caused by a bad diet, and ringworm.
5. SONIC PICKS UP GIRLS BY ACTING WEIRD
When Sonic spots a girl he likes, he will start circling her, while snorting and puffing rhythmically. Unfortunately, Sonic makes so much noise while doing this that the commotion can attract rival male hedgehogs to the scene, and his attempts to woo are often interrupted by a fight.
Sonic's courtship ritual can last hours. If he is successful in impressing the object of his affections, she will lay down her spines, and allow Sonic to mount and penetrate her without injuring him. However, few female hedgehogs are a one-man sort of a woman - and Sonic will likely have to share her with a number of other potential suitors throughout the night.
Sonic's courtship ritual can last hours. If he is successful in impressing the object of his affections, she will lay down her spines, and allow Sonic to mount and penetrate her without injuring him. However, few female hedgehogs are a one-man sort of a woman - and Sonic will likely have to share her with a number of other potential suitors throughout the night.
4. SONIC SPITS ALL OVER HIMSELF
Like other hedgehogs, Sonic is rather sensitive to unusual smells or tastes. Should he eat something unfamiliar, he will begin to flick frothy saliva all over himself, often contorting his body into uncomfortable position so that his spit and phlegm can reach every part of his coat. This can last from a few minutes up to an hour or so, when he will stop suddenly.
3. SONIC POOS HIMSELF BEFORE HAVING A NAP
Among the weirder things Sonic does occurs right before he hibernates. He will attempt to purge his gut of all solid food, in the form of squeezing out every last drop of brown waste. Talking of which...
2. DRINKING MILK GIVES SONIC DIARRHOEA
Sonic loves cow milk. If you put down a bowl of milk, Sonic will gladly lap it up. When in the wild, he'll even seek out the udders of unwitting cows, lapping it directly from the teat.
Unfortunately, like all hedgehogs, Sonic is severely lactose intolerant. Drinking cow's milk gives him chronic diarrhoea, and if he is unable to temper his milk-lust, he could even die - quite literally pooing himself to death.
Unfortunately, like all hedgehogs, Sonic is severely lactose intolerant. Drinking cow's milk gives him chronic diarrhoea, and if he is unable to temper his milk-lust, he could even die - quite literally pooing himself to death.
1. SONIC IS MICHAEL JACKSON
Sonic's iconic red shoes were apparently inspired by the footwear worn by pop singer Michael Jackson on the cover of his Bad album. Though having looked at those boots on Google Images - all buckles and black - we don't really see how that is possible.
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