Sega's blue blur has had some ups and downs over the years, and while fans endlessly argue over which are the best and which are the worst of the Sonic the Hedgehog games, most agree that there is a lot to celebrate as the dude with 'tude approaches his 30th anniversary. It's likely Sega has a lot planned for the special occasion, and some early announcements have already been made, with the special Sonic the Hedgehog figure from JAKKS Pacific being among the most exciting.
The design of the Sonic the Hedgehog 30th anniversary figure is far from the first time JAKKS Pacific has worked with Sega to create unique Sonic merchandise. The video game giant previously partnered with JAKKS to create toys for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie, and JAKKS is set to create the toys for the upcoming Sonic sequel as well.
As for the new figure, it sees the blue blur sporting his original look from the popular Genesis Sonic games and 2017's Sonic Mania. The figure stands six inches tall, is fully articulated, and has interchangeable mouth and eye pieces so he can be displayed in any number of poses with a few different expressions. The figure also comes with a great-looking stand that appears to pay homage to Sonic Mania's Studiopolis Zone.
Only a few months in to 2021, it's already been a strange year for many Sonic fans. Several longtime voice actors have unceremoniously exited the Sonic franchise, and Sega has so far been very tight-lipped about any upcoming games featuring the chili dog-eating rodent. Yet, as some of the early 30th anniversary items like the JAKKS Sonic figure are announced, there are signs that some great things will be happening for the hedgehog in 2021.
Of course, the JAKKS Pacific figure isn't the only exciting Sonic the Hedgehog merchandise coming soon. Last month a Sonic Mania Lego set, designed by a fan and based on Mania's version of Green Hill Zone, was announced. The set was approved through the Lego Ideas initiative and more news on the set's release date is expected in the months to come.
JAKKS Pacific's Sonic figure also has a pending release date, though it is available for pre-order through several online retailers. Currently, bigbadtoystore.com has the item listed as "expected to arrive in 2nd quarter, 2021." It's not all that specific, but it's more than is known about the release date of the rest of the Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary product line.
Source: bigbadtoystore.com