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Animals, also referred to simply as Friends,[1] are group of creatures in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are small, non-anthropomorphic, yet intelligent animals that come in a variety of different species, and are the friends of Sonic the Hedgehog. Residing in their own wildlife communities in many places around the world, they make up a proportion of the indigenous fauna on Sonic's world and are often the target of Dr. Eggman who seeks to use them as power sources for his Badniks.

In Sonic the Hedgehog games, Animals are generally found inside Badniks or Capsules to be freed after defeating enemies or opening Capsules. While later games from Sonic Adventure onwards feature a wider variety of small Animals, the original cast of Animals have since returned in more recent games.

Concept and creation

Animals are presumably created by Naoto Ohshima, the character designer of the first Sonic the Hedgehog game.[2] However Flicky is the exception, who starred in her own eponymous arcade game released in 1984, and was designed by Yoshiki Kawasaki.[3] 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 (walrus), 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 (squirrel), Johnny Lightfoot (rabbit), Joe Sushi (walrus), Tux (penguin), Chirps (chicken) and Porker Lewis (pig). 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.[4] 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 animated series and Archie comic, and also served as the basis for Porker Lewis and Johnny Lightfoot from Sonic the Comic.

Overview

No, not to the Oil Ocean!

Sonic exempting captured Animals from a capsule in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Animals have been minor characters since their debut in Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) and have made appearances in 16-bit/8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog CD (either being harassed by Metal Sonic Projectors or running free in the Good Future of each Round), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, Sonic Pocket Adventure, and each episode of Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Each game's storyline features Dr. Eggman capturing Animals to use them as energy sources for his Badniks. This is further demonstrated in Sonic Lost World, where mass production of Badniks involves animals being taken from Capsules and inserting them inside of the robots. Usually, each Zone has two types of animal species held captive, either within Badniks or capsules. By destroying the Badniks or opening the Capsules, the animals are set free.

Animals from Sonic Adventure onwards look slightly different. The player can collect them after destroying one of E-Series robots created by Dr. Eggman and bring them to the Chao Garden, where they can be used to enhance specific skills for Chao. In Sonic Adventure 2, they can be collected again by destroying one of the E-Series robots, but also from pipes and cages. In the Sonic Advance and Sonic Rush series, the Animals replicate their simple role from earlier games and cannot be collected. In these games, the original set of Animals are only seen briefly alongside newer Animals such as in Sonic Pinball Party. Since Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, the original set of animals have appeared more frequently.

Why am I even here

Knuckles and Amy taking care of Animals in Sonic Lost World.

Through the series, Animals have been inhabits of locations like South Island, West Side Island, Angel Island, the Lost Hex, and many other places on Sonic's world. They are also seen as part of the audience in the Mario & Sonic games. The Console/PC version of Sonic Generations also features Animals in "Rescue the Animals!" Challenge Acts, and has a statue of them in the hidden Statue Room. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the animals appear in the background of Windy Hill and have their own collectible trophy.

In Sonic Jump and Sonic Runners, the player can earn more points by collecting Animals. In Wii U version of Sonic Lost World, the player has to collect a certain amount of animals in order to progress to the fourth Zone of each World. To do so, the player can collect animals from regular Zones or release them from balloons in Circus Tents.

List of Animals

Image Species Name (Japan) Name (Western media) First appearance
S2 flicky Bluebird Flicky Flicky Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
S2 pocky Rabbit Pocky Johnny Lightfoot Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
S2 pecky Penguin Pecky Tux Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
S2 cucky Chicken Cucky Chirps Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
S2 ricky Squirrel Ricky Sally Acorn Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
S1 picky Pig Picky Porker Lewis Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
S2 rocky Walrus Rocky Joe Sushi Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
S2 becky Bear Becky N/A Sonic the Hedgehog 2
S2 locky Eagle Locky N/A Sonic the Hedgehog 2
S2 wocky Monkey Wocky N/A Sonic the Hedgehog 2
S2-Turtle Turtle Tocky N/A Sonic the Hedgehog 2
S2 rat Rat N/A N/A Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Canary Canary N/A N/A Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Fish1 Fish N/A N/A Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Fish2 Fish N/A N/A Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Puffin Swallow N/A N/A Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Dove Dove N/A N/A Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Sheep Sheep N/A N/A Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Seagull-in-sonic-3-&-knuckles Seagull N/A N/A Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
Cat-Sonic-Rush
Cat N/A N/A Sonic Rush
Camel-Sonic-Rush
Camel N/A N/A Sonic Rush
Monkey-Animal-Sonic-Rush
Monkey N/A N/A Sonic Rush

Sonic Adventure series

Image Species Type First appearance
Sadventure rip deer Deer Running Sonic Adventure
Sadventure rip kangaroo Kangaroo Running Sonic Adventure
Sadventure rip bunnyRabbit Rabbit Running Sonic Adventure
Swallow Swallow Flying Sonic Adventure
Sadventure rip parrot Parrot Parrot Flying Sonic Adventure
Sadventure rip peacock Peacock Peacock Flying Sonic Adventure
Sa1 elephant Elephant Power Sonic Adventure
Sa1 gorilla Gorilla Gorilla Power Sonic Adventure
Sa1 lion Lion Power Sonic Adventure
Sa1 penguin Penguinface Penguin Swimming Sonic Adventure
Sa1 seal Seal Seal Swimming Sonic Adventure
Sa1 otter Seaotter Sea Otter Swimming Sonic Adventure
Sa1 koala Koala Random Sonic Adventure
Sa1 mole Mole Random Sonic Adventure
Skunk SA Skunk Skunk Random / Special Sonic Adventure
Boar Boar Running Sonic Adventure 2
Cheetah Cheetah Running Sonic Adventure 2
Condor Condor Flying Sonic Adventure 2
Bear Bear Power Sonic Adventure 2
Tiger Tiger Power Sonic Adventure 2
Raccoon Raccoon Special Sonic Adventure 2
Sheep Sheep Special Sonic Adventure 2
Bat Bat Ghost Sonic Adventure 2
Halffish Half Fish Ghost Sonic Adventure 2
Skeleton dog Skeleton Dog Ghost Sonic Adventure 2
Dragon Dragon Legendary Sonic Adventure 2
Phoenix Phoenix Legendary Sonic Adventure 2
Unicorn Unicorn Legendary Sonic Adventure 2

In other media

Sonic the Comic

Many of the early Animals have made appearances in the British publication, Sonic the Comic. The most notable ones are Porker Lewis and Johnny Lightfoot, who are valued members of the Freedom Fighters.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog

In Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, three animals appear in the episode "Momma Robotnik's Birthday": Pocky, Ricky, and a Mouse.

Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series) / Archie Comics

The Knothole Freedom Fighters are based on the original animals from the first Sonic game. The most obvious is Princess Sally Acorn, who shares her name with the corresponding animal friend. Rotor the Walrus is based on Joe Sushi, while Bunnie Rabbot is based on Johnny Lightfoot.

Flickies have made a few appearances in the Archie Comics, most notably in the Sonic Blast 48 page special. Powerful, yellow Flickies were also seen helping Hyper Tails in Sonic the Hedgehog #66 (similar to the Flickies that help Super Tails in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles), and another Flicky appears as a travel companion for Amy in the Sonic Adventure storyline. Other animals (referred to as "mobini") have appeared in the Sonic Lost World tie in, as well as the Genesis story arc.

Sonic X

Three Flickies, Picky, and Rocky are shown on the news in "Defective Detectives" after they are teleported to Earth through Chaos Control. In "Mean Machines", Chirps, Tux and Ricky all appear in a local park. In "Running Out of Time", when Sonic's friends return to their dimension, Pocky, Tux, Ricky and two Flickies are seen being transported back.

In the Sonic X comics, many of the original animals make cameos on the cover and in the story of issue 11.

Trivia

  • The trophy of animals in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U contains erroneous information. The trophy uses uncommon name Fauna of Windy Hill Zone (renamed Animals of Windy Hill Zone in PAL regions), that is never used in any games and the description does not mention animals being inhabited other places around the Sonic's world. The first appearance of the trophy is also incorrectly said to be Sonic Lost World, while animals have first appeared way before the previously mentioned game.
  • If the player hits a Caterkiller on any part of its body other than its head, an animal friend will not be freed.
Dolphins in Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Gallery

Gallery

References

  1. One of artworks showcasing Flicky and Pocky from the Sonic World feature of Sonic Jam.
  2. The staff team of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) listed on the GHZ.
  3. Hardcore Gaming 101 - Flicky. Retrieved on 24 April 2015.
  4. "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." - Description from Sonic Bible Draft II page 15.
  5. Sonic Gear - Sonic Foods of Japan. Retrieved on 27 February 2015.

External links

Navigation templates to Animals


Main article (Blue Sphere) · Staff · Manuals · Glitches · Beta elements · Gallery · Pre-releases (prototype) · Re-releases (2001, 2005, mobile, GBA, iPod, 2013, 3D, Sega Ages)

Main article (Knuckles in Sonic 2) · Staff · Manuals · Glitches · Beta elements · Gallery · Pre-releases (Nick Arcade, Simon Wai) · Re-releases (2006, Dash!, Crash!, 2013, 3D, Sega Ages)

Main article · Staff · Manuals · Glitches · Beta elements · Gallery · Re-releases (Windows 95, 2011)

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Main article · Scripts (Hero, Dark, Last) · Staff · Manuals · Glitches · Beta elements · Gallery · Pre-releases (The Trial, Preview, TRIAL Version) · Re-releases (Battle, 2012)


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