Ever since debuting in the early '90s, Sega's blue blur has amassed a massive and dedicated fanbase that is more than willing to shower Sonic the Hedgehog and its expansive roster of anthropomorphic animals with love. Understandably so, as Sonic has more than earned his place as one of gaming's most iconic mascots.
That brings the conversation to art pieces created by fans, many of which represent the legendary speedster in a new light that Sonic Team is unlikely to ever explore. Along with paying tribute to one of the greatest icons of all time, these 10 Sonic the Hedgehog drawings are works of art in their own right.
10 Three's Company (& Silver)
Art by K4VE and G-e-o-L-o-g-i-c-a-l.
In one stunning photo, K4VE and G-e-o-L-o-g-i-c-a-l manage to do justice to three of Sonic the Hedgehog's greatest characters, along with finding enough room to give Silver a cameo.
While they all have their own personalities, Sonic, Shadow, and Metal Sonic could be seen as branches of the same core. As the ultimate hero, Sonic serves as a beacon that leads the likes of Shadow down a better path, even if Maria was the main reason the latter became an anti-hero. Conversely, Metal Sonic is driven solely by his hatred for the Blue Blur.
9 Tradition
Art by ZekukN.
Doctor Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik is arguably the best Sonic the Hedgehog character of all time, and that isn't only because of the villain's mesmerizing mustache. Although, obviously, that does help.
Created to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the franchise's debut, ZekukN's art piece serves as the ultimate celebration of a license held close to the heart by many. With Sonic the Hedgehog's main trio taking their rightful place at the center of the canvas, the rest of the drawing pays homage to Eggman's creative and dastardly brilliance. He might be evil, but Dr. Robotnik is also incredible.
8 Freedom
Art by Zoewings Zhang.
Along with many other positives, fan art provides a way for the familiar to be reimagined from a new perspective. That's not to say Sega and Sonic Team have never taken the Big Blue in strange directions, but there is only so much that can be done when crafting a new entry in such a beloved and influential franchise. Even longer legs might be too big of a change.
Zoewings Zhang's Sonic undoubtedly respects and echoes the spirit of the video game character, but the distinctive art style teleports Sonic to an alternate reality that is both fascinating and unnerving.
7 The Flame's Shadow
Art by miitara.
In a better world, the Shadow the Hedgehog spin-off game would have been closer to miitara's creation than the actual product released by Sega. While typically resisting the urge to truly embrace the dark side, Shadow is a less clean-cut character than Sonic and squarely falls into the anti-hero category.
This fan art is not only incredibly detailed and splendidly drawn, but it does a brilliant job of representing Shadow's personality. As the world burns around him, Shadow expresses not even a sliver of fear; however, that does not mean the black hedgehog is relishing the destruction.
6 Out Of This World
Art by Cortoony.
Few images are quite as character-defining as that of Sonic cooly sitting on a half-moon. It is simultaneously playful, confident, and fantastical, traits that could all be used to describe the Blue Blur. Sonic might have had a tougher time adapting to the changing times than Mario, but the license's early '90s run is truly timeless.
Cortoony's tribute to the gaming icon can only be described as charming. The colorful art style highlights Sonic's whimsical nature, an aspect of the character (and franchise) that tends to be overshadowed by his edgier traits.
5 The Mustache Of Evil
Art by classicgamer76.
If there is one villain who deserves a solo photo session, then it would have to be Doctor Eggman. Be it the games, the cartoons, or Jim Carrey's live-action version, Robotnik injects an air of comedy into proceedings while also managing to retain a degree of menace.
Naturally, the villain cannot beat Sonic, but Eggman embraces his sinister plans with such passion and theatrics that, for a brief second, one cannot help but wonder if this time things might actually go his way. Sadly, they never do.
4 Sonic Mania
Art by Dice9633.
The greatest modern Sonic the Hedgehog game deserves only the best, and Dice9633 more than delivers on that front. Aping 2D Sonic's design to an impeccable degree, the artist's use of perspective echoes that sense of movement that is so synonymous with Sega's hero.
Perhaps even more so than the likes of Mario and Link, Sonic is a character defined by action. Even though the former are relatively silent compared to the latter, Sonic's ability to run really fast cannot be separated from his core appeal. Sonic is speed, and speed is Sonic.
3 Knuckles' Chaotix
Art by Liris-san.
Knuckles' Chaotix might very well be the most divisive game in Sega's franchise, which is a statement not made lightly. Released for the Sega Genesis's 32X add-on, Knuckles' Chaotix tried to innovate by making the gameplay more multiplayer-focused by including a rubber band system that tied two of the five playable characters together. While the concept had potential, its execution could have been better.
Love or hate it, Knuckles' Chaotix still holds a special place in Sonic the Hedgehog's history, so its only fitting that fans would pay tribute to the frequently disregarded game.
2 A Special Fan Art
Art by Nerkin.
Due to being overshadowed by the Sega Genesis's 16-bit versions, Sonic the Hedgehog's 8-bit run on the Game Gear and Master System have been somewhat forgotten. That's not to say these versions do not have their fans, as more than a few of the games are quite fantastic, but the 16-bit releases were the definitive way to experience Sega's franchise.
A cool addition to the 8-bit Sonic the Hedgehog game was Special Stages that could be accessed by collecting 50+ rings. While not the most complex levels, they were a nice reward for a job well done. Nerkin's tribute to this part of Sonic's history is awesome.
1 A Fresh Spin On A Classic Formula
Art by Aikutalk.
Sonic Mania was the throwback to classic Sonic that many fans had been waiting years for. As such, it is hardly surprising that the game lit a fire in the hearts of so many artists. Fittingly enough, Aikutalk's tribute to 2017's release just screams "the '90s" out of every pore.
While nostalgia can be powerful, Sonic Mania worked so well because it was also a progression of classic Sonic. It updated the franchise for a modern era while preserving its core appeal. This fan art accomplishes the same thing.