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"Power Sneakers" redirects here. For other uses of the term, see Power Sneakers (disambiguation).

Sonic's shoes,[1][2] also referred to as the power sneakers[3] and the Hi-Speed Shoes,[4] are objects that appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are the signature footwear of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Concept and creation[]

According to character designer Naoto Ohshima, the design of Sonic's shoes was inspired by the boots worn by Michael Jackson on the cover of the album Bad,[5] and the colors were inspired by Santa Claus.[6] Additionally, Ohshima found the color red fitting for Sonic's speed, especially when his legs spun while running.[6]

Description[]

Appearance[]

Overall, Sonic's shoes are a pair of smooth, shiny shoes[7][8]/boots[9][5][10] with white tops folded into sock-like cuffs as part of the footwear,[10][11] pointed toes, and white straps over the middles. They come in various colors and patterns, but almost all of the pairs are red.[8] Originally, the shoes had no visible soles, being completely dark red on the bottom. Following the Chaos incident however, they received gray metallic[12] soles with grooves.

During the Dark Gaia incident, the shoes transformed whenever Sonic entered his Werehog form, becoming dark red with ripped cuffs, gray spiked metal straps, and spiked metal soles.

Abilities and traits[]

Sonic's shoes appear to be nearly friction-proof, able to withstand the intensity of Sonic's running.[13]

Variants[]

Slow Down Boots[]

Main article: Slow Down Boots
Sonic-Labyrinth-Story-II

Sonic wearing the Slow Down Boots, from Sonic Labyrinth.

The Slow Down Boots are evil knock-offs of Sonic's shoes, made by Dr. Robotnik during the Super Labyrinth incident. They disable Sonic's speed and agility, and can only be removed with the Chaos Emeralds' power.

Light Speed Shoes[]

Main article: Light Speed Shoes
Item shoes ld

The Light Speed Shoes, from the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed.

The Light Speed Shoes are upgraded versions of Sonic's shoes. They serve as Level Up Items which enables the Light Speed Dash. They first appeared during the Chaos incident.

Grind Shoes[]

Main article: Grind Shoes
Sonicsoap

The Grind Shoes, from Sonic Adventure 2.

The Grind Shoes are shoes for Sonic that are specially designed for grinding. They were first used by Sonic during the Space Colony ARK incident.

Extreme Gear shoes[]

SFR chara art SONIC

Sonic's Extreme Gear riding shoes, from Sonic Free Riders.

When riding Extreme Gear, Sonic wears different shoes meant for Extreme Gear riding. These red and white shoes resemble high-top tennis shoes with yellow accents and gray soles.

Custom Shoes[]

Main article: Custom Shoes
Custom Shoes

Sonic with the Custom Shoes, from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).

The Custom Shoes are special shoes designed by Alberto Robert during the Solaris incident. These shoes can harness the power of Gems to both alter their appearance and unlock new abilities, and can as well as be equipped with the Light Chip and Antigravity.


In other media[]

Animation[]

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog[]

Main article: Hi-tops
AoStH-HiTops

Sonic's hi-tops, from Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.

In the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog television series, Sonic's shoes are referred to as the hi-tops and the power sneakers. In this media, Sonic needs them to protect his feet from friction or else he cannot run for long.

Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)[]

Power Sneakers SatAM

Sonic's sneakers, from "The Odd Couple".

In the Sonic the Hedgehog television series, Sonic's shoes, in addition to protecting his feet, are equipped with anti-gravity jets and magnetic soles for different types of missions.

Sonic Underground[]

Main article: Sonic's sneakers (Sonic Underground)

In the Sonic Underground television series, Sonic's shoes, in addition to protecting his feet, are equipped with anti-gravity jets and magnetic soles for different types of missions. A version of them was given to him by his adoptive parents when he was very young.

Books and comics[]

Sonic the Comic[]

Power Sneakers STC

Sonic with a case of Power Sneakers, from Sonic the Comic #73. Art by Keith Page.

In the Sonic the Comic comic series and its spin-offs published by Fleetway Editions, Sonic's shoes are referred to as the Power Sneakers. They were created and given to Sonic by Dr. Ovi Kintobor to reduce the friction on his feet. With them, Sonic managed to break the sound barrier for the first time, changing him from a brown and spiky hedgehog to his current blue and streamlined form.

Archie Comics[]

Main article: Sonic's sneakers
Sonic's Sneakers Pre-SGW

Sonic's sneakers early on, from Sonic the Hedgehog #0.

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, Sonic's sneakers were originally invented by Sonic's uncle, Sir Charles Hedgehog. They were made from Power Ring energy so they could never wear down from Sonic's speed. Similar shoes were also wore by several of Sonic's counterparts across the multiverse.

Films[]

Paramount[]

SonicMovieSonicGetsHisNewShoes2

Sonic's shoes, from Sonic the Hedgehog (film).

In the Sonic the Hedgehog film series produced by Paramount Pictures, Sonic's shoes are a pair of Puma shoes that were given to Sonic by Jojo to replace Sonic's old shoes, which had been worn down to the soles. According to Sonic, they were the first real gift he had ever been given.

Early Sonic canon[]

In the Sonic the Hedgehog promotional comic, Sonic's shoes (referred to simply as "frictionless shoes") were created and given to Sonic by Dr. Ovi Kintobor. This was after the hedgehog's previous trainers were shredded by the accident that turned him blue. In these sources, there are no indications that the shoes help Sonic to run faster or that they help to protect his feet.

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

Gallery

References[]

  1. Official wallpaper for Sonic and the Secret Rings.
  2. Sega (March 29, 2007). Sonic Maze Craze. Browser. Sega. Area/level: How to Play.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Mega Drive) North America instruction booklet, pg. 2.
  4. Xbox Live. Awards. "Sonic's Hi-Speed Shoes - Slip into Sonic's Hi-Speed Shoes and experience the ultimate level of record smashing speed."
  5. 5.0 5.1 Naoto Ohshima on Twitter (March 27, 2017). Retrieved on November 10, 2020. "Naoto Ohshima: Sonic's boots were born influenced by MJ's BAD boots. MJ liked Sonic."
  6. 6.0 6.1 Sheffield, Brandon (December 4, 2009). Out of the Blue: Naoto Ohshima Speaks. Game Developer. Retrieved on May 22, 2023.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Video Archive (April 22, 2022). Sonic History Video (Sonic 3 Promo) [ENGLISH CC] {Windii Reupload} (Japanese). YouTube. Retrieved on November 10, 2022.
  8. 8.0 8.1 ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ【公式】 (July 13, 2022). 【特別企画】音速!一問一答 ソニックアンサー動画まとめ (2022//6/24実施) (Japanese). Retrieved on December 6, 2022.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Sonic the Hedgehog Birthday Pack history pamphlet.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Naoto Ohshima on Twitter (January 23, 2022). Retrieved on January 24, 2022. "SonicWorld: Say @NaotoOhshima what is the white part of Sonic's shoes? / Naoto Ohshima: It's boots."
  11. Naoto Ohshima on Twitter (December 25, 2017). Retrieved on November 10, 2020. "DevanArcher101: Question for the designer of Sonic the Hedgehog @NaotoOhshima Are the white parts of his shoes that look like his glove cuffs part of his shoes or his socks? / Naoto Ohshima: It's all shoes. 😄"
  12. Sonic's concept art for Team Sonic Racing Overdrive.
  13. ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ【公式】 (July 13, 2022). 【特別企画】音速!一問一答 ソニックアンサー動画まとめ (2022//6/24実施) (Japanese). YouTube. Retrieved on December 6, 2022.
  14. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Game Gear) North America instruction booklet, pg. 3.
  15. Sonic Team (October 18, 2013). Sonic Lost World. Wii U. Sega. Area/level: Frozen Factory Zone 4. "Zeena: (Sigh) All I want to do is chill, but here comes that fashion disaster hedgehog! I mean, those shoes are atrocious, and the white gloves are RIDICULOUSLY retro!"
  16. Sarkar, Samit (June 11, 2019). If Mario can surf barefoot, why can't Sonic?. Polygon. Retrieved on June 12, 2019. "According to veteran Sonic the Hedgehog game producer Takashi Iizuka, "Sonic doesn’t take off his shoes (in canon)" — which only leads to additional questions."

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