Sonic the Hedgehog – History, Characters & Collectibles
2026 is Sonic's 35th anniversary – and the fourth film arrives in March 2027. Here is who each character is, what is coming, and what is worth buying.
Techbox, Thessaloniki
Who is who – by colour
Every character is an animal with a distinct colour. Children tell them apart instantly – parents almost never can:
The hedgehog in red shoes. The most requested by a wide margin.
The fox with two tails. Sonic's best friend.
Strong, with spiked gloves. He has a television series of his own.
With red stripes. His popularity surged after the third film.
With the large hammer. The most popular choice for girls.
The moustachioed villain – also called Robotnik. Two names, one character.
If you do not know which one they want: Sonic is always safe. But if the child already has Sonic, Shadow is currently the most requested second choice.
Thirty-five years – this year
Sonic first appeared in 1991 on the Sega Mega Drive. He was created for a very specific reason: Sega needed a character to set against Mario.
The answer was speed. Where Mario jumped carefully, Sonic ran.
2026 is the 35th anniversary. Sega has announced a full year of events and releases – anniversary products, new games and collaborations.
The films
The first film arrived in 2020. Together the three have passed one billion dollars worldwide.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3, from December 2024, is the highest-grossing of the series at $422 million – and introduced Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves.
There is also the "Knuckles" series on Paramount+, from 2024.
What is coming
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 – 19 March 2027. Jeff Fowler directs again. Filming has already wrapped, in May 2026. The film draws elements from the 1993 game Sonic CD.
- Sonic Universe Event Film – a large crossover, 22 December 2028.
- New games: Sega has announced four major new titles for the period up to March 2027.
Returning are Ben Schwartz (Sonic), Jim Carrey (Robotnik), Idris Elba (Knuckles) and Keanu Reeves (Shadow).
What to choose
- Figures: every character, from play figures to collectibles.
- Plush: in many sizes – the easiest gift for younger children.
- Console games: for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
- School gear: backpacks, pencil cases, water bottles.
- Apparel & gifts: t-shirts, mugs, keyrings, posters.
Gift guide
Sonic – safe in every case.
Shadow – the most requested second choice right now.
A console game – check which console they have first.
Keyrings, mugs, small figures, water bottles.
Frequently asked questions
- Which Sonic character is the red one?
- Knuckles. The blue one is Sonic, the orange one with two tails is Tails, the black one with red stripes is Shadow, and the pink one with the hammer is Amy Rose.
- When is the next film out?
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 arrives on 19 March 2027. Filming wrapped in May 2026, with Jeff Fowler directing once more.
- Are Eggman and Robotnik the same?
- Yes – the same character with two names. In the games he is usually Eggman, in the films Robotnik. Merchandise uses both.
- How old is Sonic?
- The character first appeared in 1991 – 2026 marks 35 years, and Sega has planned a full anniversary year.
- Where can I find Sonic products in Thessaloniki?
- At the Techbox store (Al. Papanastasiou 100) and online at techbox.com.gr. You can order online and collect from the store with no shipping cost.
