Animals,[1] also known as Friends,[2] Animal Friends, small animals[3] (小動物[4] shō dōbutsu?) or critters,[5] are a group of species that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It refers to the collection of various species of small, yet intelligent, non-anthropomorphic animals. They are also known for being the friends of Sonic the Hedgehog and his allies.
Residing in their own wildlife communities in many places both near and far, the Animals make up a proportion of the indigenous fauna on Earth. They are also often the targets of Dr. Eggman who seeks to use them as organic power sources for his Badniks.
In the Sonic the Hedgehog games, Animals are generally found inside Badniks or Capsules to be freed after defeating enemies or opening Capsules. Other times, they simply make small cameos.
Concept and creation[edit | edit source]
Animals are presumably created by Naoto Ohshima, the character designer of the original Sonic the Hedgehog. However, Flicky is the exception, who starred in her own eponymous arcade game released in 1984, and was designed by Yoshiki Kawasaki.[6] From the first Sonic game onward, Flicky became a recurring minor character in the series and Naoto Ohshima redesigned her to fit in with the other animals. In many games, advertisements, and instruction manuals have revealed the names of the rest of the animals to be Ricky (squirrel), Pocky (rabbit), Rocky (seal[note 1]), Pecky (penguin), Cucky (chicken) and Picky (pig).
When the first Sonic the Hedgehog game was localized to western markets, Sega of America renamed almost all of the animals and give them different backstories, which are explained in the Sonic Bible documents, and the guidebook Stay Sonic. The animals were renamed Sally Acorn (Ricky), Johnny Lightfoot (Pocky), Joe Sushi (Rocky), Tux (Pecky), Chirps (Cucky), and Porker Lewis (Picky). Certain drafts of the Sonic Bible explained that Sonic's Animal friends all have large families, and that it is the family members who must be rescued throughout the levels of the game.[7] These alterations have become part of early Sonic canon, and many of the Animals have been influences for certain characters in various Sonic the Hedgehog media, including characters like Sally Acorn, Rotor Walrus, and Bunnie Rabbot from the Sonic the Hedgehog television series and Archie Comics' comic series, and also served as the basis for Porker Lewis and Johnny Lightfoot from Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions.
List of Animal species[edit | edit source]
Image | Name | Species | First appearance (Title) | First Appearance (Date) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bat | Bat | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Bear | Bear | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Becky | Bear | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | 21 November 1992 | |
Boar | Boar | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Cheetah | Cheetah | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Condor | Condor | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Cucky | Chicken | Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) | 23 June 1991 | |
Deer | Deer | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Dragon | Dragon | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Elephant | Elephant | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Flicky | Bluebird | Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) | 23 June 1991 | |
Gorilla | Gorilla | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Half Fish | Amphibian | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Kangaroo | Kangaroo | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Koala | Koala | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Lion | Lion | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Locky | Eagle | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | 21 November 1992 | |
Micky | Mouse | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | 12 November 1992 | |
Mole | Mole | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Parrot | Parrot | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Peacock | Peacock | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Pecky | Penguin | Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) | 23 June 1991 | |
Penguin | Penguin | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Phoenix | Phoenix | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Picky | Pig | Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) | 23 June 1991 | |
Pocky | Rabbit | Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) | 23 June 1991 | |
Rabbit | Rabbit | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Raccoon | Raccoon | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Ricky | Squirrel | Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) | 23 June 1991 | |
Robin | Robin | Sonic the Hedgehog CD | 23 September 1993 | |
Rocky | Seal | Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) | 23 June 1991 | |
Sea Otter | Sea otter | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Seal | Seal | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Sheep | Sheep | Sonic the Hedgehog CD | 23 September 1993 | |
Skeleton Dog | Dog | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Skunk | Skunk | Sonic Adventure | 23 December 1998 | |
Tiger | Tiger | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Tocky | Turtle | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | 21 November 1992 | |
Unicorn | Unicorn | Sonic Adventure 2 | 23 June 2001 | |
Wocky | Monkey | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | 21 November 1992 | |
N/A | Bird | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) | 16 October 1992 | |
N/A | Canary | Sonic the Hedgehog CD | 23 September 1993 | |
N/A | Dove | Sonic the Hedgehog CD | 23 September 1993 | |
N/A | Fish | Sonic the Hedgehog CD | 23 September 1993 | |
N/A | Fish | Sonic the Hedgehog CD | 23 September 1993 | |
N/A | Seagull | Sonic 3 & Knuckles | 18 October 1994 | |
N/A | Cat | Sonic Rush | 23 November 2005 | |
N/A | Camel | Sonic Rush | 23 November 2005 | |
N/A | Monkey | Sonic Rush | 23 November 2005 | |
N/A | Fish | Sonic Rush | 23 November 2005 | |
N/A | Fish | Sonic Rush | 23 November 2005 |
List of specific Animals[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ In the Nick Arcade prototype of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, an object list and raw source code can be found. Rocky is listed here as "azarpat," and "azarashi" is the Japanese word for seal.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Sonic Team (25 February 2015). Sonic Runners. iOS. Sega. Area/level: Episode 14-1. "Knuckles: Yeah. This factory closes now. The Animals need to be living in harmony with nature again!"
- ↑ One of the artworks showcasing Flicky and Pocky, from Sonic Jam.
- ↑ Sonic Team (19 June 2001). Sonic Adventure 2. Dreamcast. Sega. Area/level: Chao Race - Challenge Race. "Small animal challenge."
- ↑ Sonic Adventure 2 web page (Japanese). Sega (21 October 2016). Retrieved on 14 March 2019.
- ↑ Sonic Team (18 October 2013). Sonic Lost World. Wii U. Sega. Cutscene: Opening. "Sonic: Drop the critters, Eggman!"
- ↑ Flicky. Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved on 24 April 2015.
- ↑ Sonic Bible Draft II (PDF). "Sonic's main buddies are Johnny Lightfoot, Sally Acorn, Porker Lewis, Chirps, Tux, Flicky the Blue Bird, and Joe Sushi. Each comes from a large family, and each is playful and friendly."
Playable characters | Sonic | |
Non-playable characters | Eggman · Animals (Flicky, Pocky, Pecky, Cucky, Ricky, Picky, Rocky) | |
Zones | Green Hill Zone · Bridge Zone · Jungle Zone · Labyrinth Zone · Scrap Brain Zone · Sky Base Zone · Special Stages | |
Enemies | Ball Hog · Bomb · Burrobot · Buzz Bomber · Caterkiller · Chopper · Crabmeat · Jaws · Moto Bug · Newtron · Orbinaut (Uni Uni, Unidasu) · Spikes | |
Bosses | Green Hill Zone boss · Bridge Zone boss · Jungle Zone boss · Labyrinth Zone boss · Sky Base Zone boss | |
Moves/techniques | Crouch · Spin Attack · Spin Jump | |
Gimmicks and obstacles | Bomb · Bumper · Capsule · Conveyor Belt · Crusher · Electrical emitter · Fireball · Flipper · Giant spear · Goal Plate · Iron ball · Seesaw · Spikes · Spring · Switch | |
Items | Air bubble · Chaos Emerald · Item Box (1-Up, Continue Monitor, Marker, Invincible, Shield, Super Ring, Power Sneakers) · Ring | |
Other | Continue · Egg Mobile · Game Over · Life · South Island · Time Over · Teleporter · Totem pole · Water |
Playable characters | Sonic | |
Non-playable characters | Tails · Eggman · Animals (Flicky, Ricky, Pocky, Rocky, Pecky, Cucky, Picky) | |
Zones | Under Ground Zone · Sky High Zone · Aqua Lake Zone · Green Hills Zone · Gimmick Mountain Zone · Scrambled Egg Zone · Crystal Egg Zone | |
Enemies | Bomb · Buton · Burrowbot · Flying Chopper · Game-game · Newtron · New Motora · Taraban · Zaririn | |
Bosses | Pit Master · Hiyoko Master · Balance Master · Dohyo Master · Charge Master · Mecha Sonic · Crystal Egg Zone boss | |
Moves/techniques | Crouch · Spin Attack · Spin Jump | |
Gimmicks and obstacles | Capsule · Goal Plate · Flywheel · Hang Glider · High-speed warp tube · Minecart · Spring | |
Items | Air bubble · Chaos Emerald · Item Box (1-Up, Invincible, Power Sneakers, Super Ring) · Ring | |
Other | Life · Loop · Master Robots · South Island · Teleporter · Water |
V·T·E · {{Sonic 2 (8-bit) info}} · Category
Playable characters | Sonic | |
Non-playable characters | Tails · Eggman · Animals (Flicky, Cucky, Locky, Wocky) · Sally · Bunnie Rabbot · Rotor · Muttski · Hip and Hop | |
Stages | Toxic Caves · Lava Powerhouse · The Machine · Showdown · Bonus Stages | |
Enemies | Buster · Buzz Bomber · Cluckbird · Clucker · Crawl · Ferron · Krondor · Magma Worm · Rexxon · Robohead · Scratch | |
Bosses | Scorpius · Roboiler · Veg-O Machine · Robotnik's Ship | |
Moves/techniques | Cliffhanger Flip · Crouch · Spin Attack · Spin Dash · Spin Jump | |
Gimmicks and obstacles | Balloon · Bumper · Capsule · Flipper · High-speed warp tube · Minecart · Sewer Warp · Triangle Bumper | |
Items | Chaos Emerald · Drop Target · Ring | |
Albums | Sonic the Hedgehog Boom · Sonic Spinball (vinyl album) | |
Other | Life · Mount Mobius · Planet Mobius · Sonic Spinball (LCD game) · Sonic Spinball (Life Savers) · Star Circle · Veg-O-Fortress |
V·T·E · {{& Knuckles info}} · Category
V·T·E · {{Adventure 2 info}} · Category
V·T·E · {{Shadow Generations info}} · {{Generations (3DS) info}} · Category
Playable characters | Sonic | Tails | Knuckles | Amy | Blaze | Rouge | Silver | |
---|---|---|
Non-playable characters | Eggman | Animals (Flicky, Pocky, Cucky, Picky, Pecky) | |
Zones | Green Hill Zone | Mountain Zone | Jungle Zone | Blue Sky Zone | Mechanical Zone | |
Enemies | Batbrain | Bomb | Bubbles | Buzzer | Caterkiller | Crabmeat | Moto Bug | Spikes | Spinner | |
Gimmicks and obstacles | Goal Plate | Saw | Spikes | Spring | |
Items | Item Box (Bomb, Magnetic Shield, Ring Time, Shield) | Red Star Ring | Ring | |
Other | Banking | Egg Mobile | Rank | |
V·T·E | Category |
Playable characters | Sonic | Tails | Knuckles | Shadow | Rouge | Omega | Espio | Charmy | Vector | |
---|---|---|
Non-playable characters | Animals (Cucky, Flicky, Pecky, Picky, Pocky, Ricky, Rocky) | Dr. Eggman | |
Stages | Green Hill | Desert Ruins | Lava Mountain | Sky Sanctuary | Bonus level | |
Enemies | Balkiry | Buzz Bomber | Caterkiller | Crabmeat | Moto Bug | Nebula | Pata-Bata | Snail Blaster | Spinner | |
Bosses | Iron Ball Eggmobile | |
Moves/Techniques | Grinding | Spin Dash | Spin Jump | |
Gimmicks and obstacles | Cannon | Dash Ring | Goal Plate | Grind Rail | Iron ball | Jump Panel | Jump Spring | Rainbow Ring | Spikes | Star Post | |
Items | Buddy | Invincible | Item Box (Bonus item) | Magnet | Ring | Springs | Super Ring | Time Freeze | |
Other | Banking | Chaotix Type | Corkscrew | Dark Type | Death Egg | Extractor | Fly Type | Health Gauge | Hero Type | Loop | Mind Control Ray | Power Type | South Island | Speed Type | |
V·T·E | {{Runners info}} | Category |
- Pages with broken file links
- Animal friends
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)
- Sonic the Hedgehog CD
- Sonic Chaos
- Sonic Spinball (16-bit)
- Sonic Spinball (8-bit)
- Sonic 3 & Knuckles
- Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble
- Tails Adventure
- Sonic 3D Blast
- Sonic R
- Sonic Adventure
- Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
- Sonic Adventure 2
- Sonic Advance
- Sonic Advance 2
- Sonic Advance 3
- Sonic Pinball Party
- Sonic Rush
- Mario & Sonic games
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4
- Sonic Generations (console/PC)
- Sonic Jump (2012)
- Sonic Lost World (Wii U)
- Sonic Lost World (Nintendo 3DS)
- Sonic Runners
- Sonic Runners Adventure
- Sonic Mania
- Sonic Forces
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Sega Streaming Theater Sonic Edition
- Sonic Frontiers
- Sonic Superstars