BAFTA Sonic Is The 4th Most Iconic Video Game Character... According To The BAFTAs

[Failinhearts]

When you think of iconic video game characters, there's no doubt Sonic comes out on top of a lot of people's lists. But thanks to a poll by the one, the only, the BAFTAs, Sonic's placement in video game history is made a lot more definitive.

Published to coincide with the 20th BAFTA Game Awards on April 11, the BAFTAs assembled 4000 votes worldwide, not just in Britain to ask who they believe is the most iconic video game character of all time. The list then was released online, revealing the top 20 winners, and you can bet Sonic is on that list!

He rests comfortably in fourth place, only behind Agent 47, Mario (surprisingly in second), and the winner: Lara Croft!

The BAFTAs recognized Sonic's placement with this summary:

Quote

Sonic the Hedgehog sprinted his way into the hearts and minds of fans worldwide in 1991 as the star of Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis. He has appeared in over 100 video games as both a main character and supporting cast, as well as starring in several TV shows and two films, with a third slated for release in late 2024.

Not a bad lineup to lose to, I'd say. Especially considering Sonic was able to trump powerhouses like Pikachu, Steve, Master Chief and Pac-Man. It really goes to show that thanks to being a multimedia icon, Sonic will continue to be a prominent figure in the public perception of video games.

Despite being in movies, comics, toys and TV, it's great to know people remember his roots.

Read the full list here!

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[Maple Syrup]

The what is Agent 47? Of course everyone knows Mario and Lara Croft but I'm surprised that Pikachu or Pac-Man isn't up at third. Sonic is the most popular in the US, that's all I know.

Edited April 10 by Maple Syrup

[McGroose]

Sonic being 4th is honestly kinda surprising. Top ten maybe, but not top 5.

Lara croft being #1 really surprised me, I thought it would be Mario or Pikachu.

Agent 47 being 3rd is confusing the hell out of me 

[Iko]

Ask a person who has never played a videogame in their life, who's Pac-Man and who's Lara Croft, then see who of the two characters has the best chance of being recognized.

These charts/contests are fun but they make little sense, especially when the community is involved... it's impossible to get an objective result.

Besides, offcourse, Sonic is one of the most iconic videogame characters, so it doesn't sound too weird to have him 4th place, I think it's pretty accurate (more accurate than Lara Croft being first, for sure; she's iconic, I agree, just nowhere near being the most iconic of all).

I wonder if Pikachu is iconic for the games or for the anime+merchandise... and I wonder if it does make sense to have him so high in this chart if he's more popular for being Ash's companion rather than for being one of the hundreds of pokèmons that you can tame in the games.

[Metal]

Remember when GameFAQs voted that L-Block was the best video game character of all time? Did they get those same people to vote in this one?

[Dreadknux]

It really does feel like the sampling for this came down to:

1. a British audience (obviously, as it's BAFTA)
2. a gaming/mainstream audience aged around their late 30s and 40s

I can see the argument for Lara Croft being #1, in the above context. Sonic was huge in the 90s, but Lara Croft was so big she featured in fashion and model magazines! Sonic was cool for kids, but when Lara Croft came around the PlayStation was blowing up and turned video games into a more mature, adult past-time. In terms of mainstream appeal, she definitely had it.

But... I can't say she has the same pull now, 30 years later. In terms of staying power, Sonic should probably be higher in that list.

[Blue Blood]

Yeah, no. Lara Croft as she appeared in the 1997 and when portrayed by Angelina Jolie was a huge pop culture figure of the time. She was iconic back then, and to a certain audience now who have very limited knowledge of video games she'll be more memorable than Sonny the Hedgehog, The Pokeymenn and any other characters that their kids used to love playing as on The Nintendo. Times gave changes and Tomb Raider has lost both significance and its image. The younger and non-British audiences will be much less familiar with her. Tomb Raider isn't even a British product any more and sadly hasn't been for even longer than it was. 

And Agent 47 in third? Christ. How did that happen? That's just a total untruth. Whoever they polled for this can't have come from a varied and representative pool. The results are so bizzare. No way that Balders Gate 3 got two slots in the top 20 as well as the Yakuza series, but Pikachu only got #12. 

List is bunk. BAFTA are trying to stay with the times by getting involved with video games as they me more relevant to the mainstream, but it they haven't actually got expertise in the field yet themselves. 

[MetalSkulkBane]

Pikachu and Minecraft Steve are below Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2. Also I don't anyone writes "HALO" will 4 capital letters.

If I was generous to Sonic I would give him 4th place behind Mario, Pikachu and Pac-Man.

[Austroid]

This list is super questionable. Where's Samus or Megaman? How could some of these characters that are 5 years old or LESS be considered "the most recognizable!?" Also I find it hard to believe that the regular-looking human characters like Nathan Drake, Kazuma Kiryu and Ellie Williams would be instantly recognized by most outside of the hardcore gamer crowd.

Edited April 10 by Austroid

[castell-neath]

This is a false economy poll as its from the British Academy for Film &  Television Awards. Who actually completed the poll? Who was it sent out to? What type of audience was most likley to complete it? In a nushell TV and Film fans who actually follow BAFTA / have a connection to it.....and maybe a bot from the producers of Agent 47!! Lol.

I have no doubt if it was a gamer-centric organisation conducting it  some of the choices would be very different indeed. 

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

Agent 47 being 3rd is somewhat weird to me.

[The Swordsman]

I don't buy this list for a second.

[Stasis]

Absolute poppycock! 

[Ghelatlishol]

Who is Agent 47, anyway? Seriously, I've never heard of them...are they really that iconic?

But then again, I don't get out much.

[SK7200]

Yeah Agent 47 took me by surprise lol I know the Hitman games were popular but never thought the character was seen this high. 

 

 

[Biafra Republic]

Honestly, Agent 47 is way too high on that list. He's basically Deadshot with the Bat Credit Card.

[SadVlad]

I'm sorry, but Sonic shouldn't be considered anything less than at least #2 when it comes to most iconic. Mario and Sonic should always be too two. Which one is #1 just goes to preference. I feel like 4th is just insulting

[kuroX]

Agent 47 and Lara Croft make absolutely no sense, lol

[Ratchet25tx]

How the HECK did Lara Croft win against Sonic or Mario?!!? They're more iconic than her! RIGGED!!!!

Edit: Also, who the heck is agent 47?

Edited April 14 by Ratchet25tx