Sonic Boss: Franchise Is Like My Own Son

Takashi Iizuka reflects on 35 years of Sonic, calling the franchise his 'son' and highlighting Sonic Adventure and the 2020 movie as key moments.

Can you believe Sonic the Hedgehog is 35 years old? That's older than some of us – and definitely older than the human children of the man who now oversees his every move.

Takashi Iizuka, the head of Sonic Team, has been with the franchise since 1992's Sonic 2, where he did debugging work before becoming a key figure. In a recent chat with One More Game, he got personal about what Sonic means to him. "It has been 35 years," Iizuka said, noting that the hedgehog has been around longer than his own kids. Because of that, he looks at the franchise "sort of like my own son."

That's a pretty sweet sentiment from the guy who's been steering the Blue Blur for decades. But it hasn't always been smooth sailing. Iizuka recalled times when Sega considered cancelling the series altogether. The turning point? The 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog movie. "That had been a great hit and definitely changed the course of this franchise," he said.

When asked which game changed the series the most, Iizuka didn't hesitate: Sonic Adventure. "I believe the Sonic franchise now wouldn't have been the same if it wasn't for Sonic Adventure," he explained. It was the first game to bring Sonic into 3D and give him a voice – literally. "He was able to speak. From there on, that had been pretty much the foundation of the new modern Sonic."

As for what's next, things are a bit quiet on the gaming front. Sonic has a new Netflix show and a film coming soon, but there's no word yet on a follow-up to Sonic Frontiers. However, Iizuka teased that there's more to come for the character's anniversary, so we might hear something soon.

Iizuka also shared that the most memorable game he's ever worked on is Sonic Adventure 2, and he was "really delighted" that its story was used for the third movie. Sounds like the father-son bond is still going strong.

What do you think of Iizuka's fatherly take on Sonic? And which Sonic game holds a special place in your heart? Let us know in the comments!