Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game and media franchise owned by Japanese company Sega. Beginning with the release of 1991 video game starring the blue hedgehog with same name for the Sega Mega Drive, the franchise has been since represented in printed media, animation, films, and merchandise.
1990–1991 (Japan, pre-release)[]
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Sonic the Hedgehog logo was first seen at the playable demo presented in Tokyo Toy Show 1990 event,[1][2] while the primary print logo debuted on the poster and pamphlets for Dreams Come True 1990 live tour in Japan.[3] The "SONIC" wordmark for the logo has been used in almost every Sonic the Hedgehog title in every decade years of use, but the design treatments in it and the words "THE HEDGEHOG" have changed constantly. For the consistency, logos of earlymainlinetitles in Japan used the original logo as basis.
Used for the first Mega Drive game and separate 8-bit release, as well early Japanese products such as July 1991 plush set, this logo wasn't seen outside home console games partly due the trademark dispute on "Sonic" at the time. Sega filled an trademark application for "SegaSonic" in December 1991, resulting the Japanese merchandise and early arcade games adapting the title SegaSonic the Hedgehog from 1991 to 1998.[4][5]
The North American logo of Sonic the Hedgehog for Sega Genesis was used in supplemental print material and merchandise for short period of time before it was replaced by new logo introduced in 1992. It continued being used as alternative in European print publications; game books published by Penguin Books are known to use this logo as long as 1996.[6]
1992–1995[]
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Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
Syntax Ultra Black (modified, "SONIC") Univers 67 Condensed Bold (modified, "THE HEDGEHOG")
Launched:
1992
This logo was introduced around 1992, originally conceived as base design for the international logo of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It adapts common "SONIC" wordmark from the Japanese logo now in glossy blue aesthetic and with orange outlines. The bouncy pattern for red "THE HEDGEHOG" wordmark with thin shadow is retained from North American logo of the first Mega Drive game.
While the logo received an slight update in 1994, this iteration remained in use longer on print media, such as licensed publications done by Ladybird Books. The comic series with same name published by Archie Comics adapted this logo for the mini-series and the first twelve issues.
Prior the release of Sonic Adventure in Japan, the original Japanese logo underwent a slight change with underline added between "SONIC" wordmark and "THE HEDGEHOG" now with thinner typography.[10] After being replaced in 2004, the logo is still used mainly as print variant for merchandise and became the primary logo for the comic series with same name published by Archie Comics since October 20, 1999.
On July 13, 2002, a new logo was first seen at the 16th Next Generation World Hobby Fair event in Japan.[11][12] It was now written in katakana with yellow ソニック having pronounced gradient and blue outlines. Underneath it was full title ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ on a blue banner with rounded corners.
In 2001, Sega began presenting Sonic the Hedgehog titles written in katakana exclusively for the Japanese market, starting with Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and Sonic Advance. This is done so to make the series appeal for younger demographic as from now on Sonic games are released for Nintendo's Gamecube and Game Boy Advance platforms.[13] The ソニック wordmark was already in use as part of Sonic Advance logo in December 2001, but the full brand logo itself debuted later. This tradition lasted until 2009 with the last Sonic game being Sonic Chronicles: Yami Jigen kara no Shinryakusha to have logo fully written in katakana.
Despite being replaced as primary logo between 2004 and 2005, the Japanese logo is still being used to a limited extent as it is part of Sega's internal art assets.[14][15][16]
2004–present[]
Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
Syntax Ultra Black (modified, "SONIC") Impact (Roman) ("THE HEDGEHOG")
Launched:
November 2, 2004
The current, international logo was first seen in Sega Superstars. Retaining the same design elements from 2002 Japanese logo now written in latin letters, the logo has "SONIC" wordmark with yellow gradient and dark blue outlines. In addition, white "THE HEDGEHOG" wordmark is placed on a solid, dark red banner.
Much like 2002 Japanese iteration, the separate "SONIC" wordmark already existed on Sonic Advance logo in 2002 prior the full logo's debut. The logo would be gradually adapted for the global merchandise as well for early mobile phone releases of the first Mega Drive game and ongoing comic series with same name published by IDW Publishing.
2007–present (Classic Sonic merchandise)[]
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Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
Syntax Ultra Black (modified, "SONIC") Neue Helvetica Pro 87 Condensed Heavy Oblique (modified, "THE HEDGEHOG")
In late 2007, the logo from 1994 received a makeover with "SONIC" wordmark now changing from glossy to watercolor-like appearance. Strangely "THE HEDGEHOG" wordmark also has two G's that differ in letter style.
Part of Sega's internal art assets for magazines and merchandise producers, the logo was introduced in early Classic Sonic the Hedgehog merchandise line in United Kingdom produced by Impact Innovations.[18][19] The Classic Sonic line was expanded as a separate sub-brand for global merchandising and it received a slight refresh around 2014.[20] The logo was also used as basis for renewed logos of the firsttwoMega Drive games in their re-releases and both episodes of Sonic theHedgehog 4.
↑ 7.07.1Sonic The Hedgehog®. AM Associates, LLC. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved on May 19, 2025. “Close collaboration in this ongoing team, AMA was contracted to produce a number of components for the brand Sonic The Hedgehog. Team consisted of designer, licenser and production team. Our role of composite photo retouching and packaging development, vectorization of brand development and production of the brands style guide for licensors. Below are a few of the pages from the style guide.”
↑SEGA CONSUMER CONFERENCE 2001速報(Japanese). Sega of Japan (October 19, 2001). Archived from the original on November 14, 2001. Retrieved on May 19, 2025. “Yūji Naka: ソニックが低年齢層にも支持されていることに着目し、低年齢層がユーザーであるGC、GBAにも積極的にアピールしたい。タイトルにおける"SONIC"という英文表記を低年齢層にもわかる"ソニック"とカタカナ表記に改めた。ソニックをマリオと並ぶキャラに育てたい。”
Printed media Manga:Sonic the Hedgehog | The Adventures of SONIC the Hedgehog | Dash & Spin Super Fast Sonic | The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog | Sonic X Shadow Generations X Chao | Sonic and the Blade of Courage | Sonic the Hedgehog: Blue Racer Fleetway Editions:Sonic the Comic | Sonic the Poster Mag | Sonic Summer Special | Knuckles Knock-Out Special | Total Sonic Special Archie Comics:Sonic the Hedgehog | Knuckles the Echidna | Sonic Universe | Archives | Single Issues | Sonic Super Special | Sonic Super Digest IDW Publishing:Sonic the Hedgehog | Tangle & Whisper | Bad Guys | Imposter Syndrome | Scrapnik Island | Fang the Hunter Digital comics:Sonic Forces | Frontiers Prologue: Convergence | Superstars: Fang's Big Break
1All series distributed by and/or co-produced with Cake Entertainment. 2Co-produced and distributed by Sony Pictures. With the exception of the third film.
Printed media Manga:Sonic the Hedgehog | The Adventures of SONIC the Hedgehog | Dash & Spin Super Fast Sonic | The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog | Sonic X Shadow Generations X Chao | Sonic and the Blade of Courage | Sonic the Hedgehog: Blue Racer Fleetway Editions:Sonic the Comic | Sonic the Poster Mag | Sonic Summer Special | Knuckles Knock-Out Special | Total Sonic Special Archie Comics:Sonic the Hedgehog | Knuckles the Echidna | Sonic Universe | Archives | Single Issues | Sonic Super Special | Sonic Super Digest IDW Publishing:Sonic the Hedgehog | Tangle & Whisper | Bad Guys | Imposter Syndrome | Scrapnik Island | Fang the Hunter Digital comics:Sonic Forces | Frontiers Prologue: Convergence | Superstars: Fang's Big Break
1Manufactured by Sega until 1998, when production transferred to Sega Toys. 2Manufactured and sold by Sega Fave. 3Licensed to Amstrad. 4Inherited from Sammy Corporation. 5Manufactured by Victor/JVC. 6Licensed to Pioneer. 7Manufactured by Hitachi. 8Developed by M2. 9Developed by M2 and sold by Sega Toys. 10Manufactured by HeartBeat Corporation. 11Developed and manufactured in conjunction with Nintendo and Namco.
1All series distributed by and/or co-produced with Cake Entertainment. 2Co-produced and distributed by Sony Pictures. With the exception of the third film.
Printed media Manga:Sonic the Hedgehog | The Adventures of SONIC the Hedgehog | Dash & Spin Super Fast Sonic | The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog | Sonic X Shadow Generations X Chao | Sonic and the Blade of Courage | Sonic the Hedgehog: Blue Racer Fleetway Editions:Sonic the Comic | Sonic the Poster Mag | Sonic Summer Special | Knuckles Knock-Out Special | Total Sonic Special Archie Comics:Sonic the Hedgehog | Knuckles the Echidna | Sonic Universe | Archives | Single Issues | Sonic Super Special | Sonic Super Digest IDW Publishing:Sonic the Hedgehog | Tangle & Whisper | Bad Guys | Imposter Syndrome | Scrapnik Island | Fang the Hunter Digital comics:Sonic Forces | Frontiers Prologue: Convergence | Superstars: Fang's Big Break
1Manufactured by Sega until 1998, when production transferred to Sega Toys. 2Manufactured and sold by Sega Fave. 3Licensed to Amstrad. 4Inherited from Sammy Corporation. 5Manufactured by Victor/JVC. 6Licensed to Pioneer. 7Manufactured by Hitachi. 8Developed by M2. 9Developed by M2 and sold by Sega Toys. 10Manufactured by HeartBeat Corporation. 11Developed and manufactured in conjunction with Nintendo and Namco.
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