SEGA Reveals Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Licensing Program

Source: SEGA of America

SEGA of America is gearing up to celebrate three decades of its iconic Blue Blur.

The company revealed the first wave of licensing partnerships for the 30th Anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, the popular character that first debuted on the SEGA Genesis on June 23, 1991.

Source: Dark Horse (art not final).

Next year’s anniversary collection will include a full range of Sonic-inspired toys, books, collectibles, apparel, and more from partners including Jakks Pacific, Funko, and others.

“Over the past 30 years spanning multiple generations, Sonic fans have created memories with their speedy Blue Blur,” says Ivo Gerscovich, chief brand officer, Sonic the Hedgehog and senior vice president SEGA of America. “In order to commemorate the most iconic elements of the Sonic universe, we have partnered with some of the top licensees in the industry to produce collectible Sonic the Hedgehog merchandise that our enthusiastic and loyal fans can cherish for years to come.”

Jakks Pacific will continue releasing its range of Sonic action figures and plush while Funko will issue a new assortment of Pop! Vinyl Figures, including Classic Sonic, Tails, Silver, and more. Dark Horse Comics will issue the Sonic Encyclo-Speed-Ia, a hardcover historical retrospective encyclopedia that covers the entire franchise while IDW will publish its first Classic Sonic adventure, launch a new miniseries, and will continue its existing series in both English and Spanish.

Additional items include jewelry from King Ice, apparel from Graph Gaming, enamel pins by FiGPiN Inc., and a new Peach Rings flavor from G Fuel.

The initial assortment of products is expected to hit retail as early as December. Additional products and partnerships will be revealed in the months ahead.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.