Happy 32nd Birthday, Sonic The Hedgehog!

It's hard to believe that THIRTY-TWO YEARS AGO today, the original Sonic the Hedgehog video game arrived on store shelves. And since then, the heroic blue blur has catapulted himself to super-stardom, appearing on everything from comics to TV shows and movies, to coffee cups and t-shirts and a whole lot more!

SEGA's mascot has had the kind of celebrity life that many can only dream of: the dizzying highs of 'Sonic Mania' in the early 1990s; the crushing lows of 'Sonic 2006' in... well, 2006; a series of make-overs and interesting fashion choices; the always-classic "five year lull"; and a comeback story that celebrates both his retro early successes (Sonic Origins, Sonic Superstars) alongside his more Adventure-ous contemporary works (Sonic Colours Ultimate, Sonic Frontiers).

If any character proved that they can truly stand the test of time, Sonic the Hedgehog is that guy. Several times.

To celebrate, SEGA shared an incredible fan art piece today by Serxx - you can see it below and catch the original SEGA post here.

We'll be updating Sonic News throughout the day with cool things that the official Sonic channels have done to pay homage to the blue blur on this day. How will you be celebrating? A little bit of Sonic Adventure 2? Reading the latest IDW Sonic issues? Watching the Sonic 2 movie? Let us know in the comments below!

Oh, and don't forget - today is also the day SEGA hosts its annual 'Sonic Central' showcase, which is bound to include a number of interesting surprises. Catch the Event page for the livestream below, and bookmark it so you don't forget!

Happy birthday, Sonic!