Former Sega Artist Says He Thought Fang the Sniper Was Forgotten Until Sonic’s Modern Revival

Former Sega artist Shinichi “Touma” Higashi has spoken to Time Extension about his long-running connection to Fang the Sniper, the mischievous bounty hunter he helped create during his time at Sega. Although Higashi left the company in 2001 and went on to build a successful career as a vinyl toy designer, he says Fang never truly left his mind. He has described the character as his “firstborn” and admitted that, for many years, he believed Fang had quietly slipped into obscurity.

Higashi originally designed Fang for Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble, where the character debuted as a rival with a distinctive jerboa-inspired design. While Fang continued to appear sporadically across the franchise in later years, including Sonic Drift 1 & 2 and Sonic the Fighters, Higashi assumed the character had largely been forgotten. That view changed when he learned how active Fang’s presence had remained overseas, particularly through comic appearances and continued fan support.

Fang’s recent resurgence has been especially meaningful for Higashi. The character returned to the spotlight in Sonic Superstars, and Higashi himself reunited with Sega for the first time in decades to design a new Fang figure. The Japan-exclusive collaboration was tied to both Sonic Superstars and Sonic Mania Plus. Higashi described the experience as deeply emotional, noting that he worked closely with former colleagues during the supervision process and felt a strong sense of nostalgia reconnecting with the character.

Looking back, Higashi explained that Fang went through several visual and personality changes during development. Early concepts portrayed him as a more dangerous, gangster-style villain, complete with a realistic firearm. As development progressed, Fang was reshaped into a clumsy, impatient, yet oddly charming antagonist. Higashi credits much of the character’s personality and background to writer Tadashi Ihoroi, whose approach helped turn Fang into a character fans could enjoy rather than fear.

Beyond the games, Fang has continued to gain renewed attention through comics published by IDW Publishing, where the character has played a prominent role and even received a dedicated spin-off series. For Higashi, seeing Fang embraced by a new generation has been both surprising and rewarding. He now considers himself a fan, actively collecting Fang merchandise and hoping Sega will continue to expand the character’s presence.

Higashi also reflected on his decision to leave game development. Health concerns caused by long hours working in front of screens pushed him toward sculpting and physical design, leading to his acclaimed vinyl toy career and the creation of original characters such as Knuckle Bear. Even so, Sonic has remained a constant influence throughout his work, making his recent return to the franchise especially personal.

With Fang once again part of Sonic’s modern lineup, Higashi’s story highlights how legacy characters can find renewed relevance, and how the creators behind them remain emotionally connected long after moving on. For Sonic fans, it is a reminder that even characters once thought forgotten can return to the spotlight.

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