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  1. Ever since it was announced that Sonic X would be brought to the US, fans in Europe have been waiting to hear when the show may arrive on their TV screens. Well, we may hear some good news soon - Fox Kids Europe has announced it has signed UK and worldwide rights to the new anime. The deal covers TV and home video rights for every country in the world outside of North America and Asia, and includes "52 half-hour episodes of Sonic X from TMS Entertainment Limited". The below comes straight from the Fox Kids Europe press release: No word on when the show will air in these countries, but since the US is soon to start syndication of Sonic X on Fox Box in September, hopefully it won't be much longer a wait for UK fans. Read the entire press release, which includes mention of other cartoon shows, below. Source: Fox Kids Europe
  2. Sonic Frontiers stars Roger Craig Smith, Colleen O'Shaughnessey and Ryan Bartley have all been confirmed to attend the upcoming MCM Comic Con London on 24-26 May. This will be the first time that a group of voice actors from the Sonic world have collectively attended a convention in the UK. Roger Craig Smith, as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog, needs no introduction to many - a well-known and seasoned actor with a legendary video game discography under his belt, from Batman to Assassin's Creed. Colleen O'Shaughnessey is best known for her fan-favourite portrayal of Miles 'Tails' Prower in both the Sonic games and the Paramount movies, making her a true Hollywood name. Ryan Bartley, a new name in the Sonic world as the voice of Sage in Sonic Frontiers, has an illustrious career in the anime and pop culture circuit, with credits in Hunter x Hunter, Demon Slayer and Neon Genesis Evangelion. All three guests will be attending the MCM Comic Con London for all three days of the event, which takes place at the ExCeL at Victoria Royal Dock. You can check the website here (or the links above) for pricing information with each guest for autographs and photo opportunities. Make sure you get tickets in if you're interested in meeting these legendary voice actors! Original Post Content: View full story
  3. Sonic Frontiers stars Roger Craig Smith, Colleen O'Shaughnessey and Ryan Bartley have all been confirmed to attend the upcoming MCM Comic Con London on 24-26 May. This will be the first time that a group of voice actors from the Sonic world have collectively attended a convention in the UK. Roger Craig Smith, as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog, needs no introduction to many - a well-known and seasoned actor with a legendary video game discography under his belt, from Batman to Assassin's Creed. Colleen O'Shaughnessey is best known for her fan-favourite portrayal of Miles 'Tails' Prower in both the Sonic games and the Paramount movies, making her a true Hollywood name. Ryan Bartley, a new name in the Sonic world as the voice of Sage in Sonic Frontiers, has an illustrious career in the anime and pop culture circuit, with credits in Hunter x Hunter, Demon Slayer and Neon Genesis Evangelion. All three guests will be attending the MCM Comic Con London for all three days of the event, which takes place at the ExCeL at Victoria Royal Dock. You can check the website here (or the links above) for pricing information with each guest for autographs and photo opportunities. Make sure you get tickets in if you're interested in meeting these legendary voice actors!
  4. The Sonic franchise has branched off from video gaming into all sorts of media now. There's merchandise, live-action movies, TV cartoons, Netflix series, animated movies, and much more. Add on to the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog is very well known, and it's not all that surprising that it was the third best performing license in the UK for the month of January! The data comes from Circana Group and relayed to Twitter via Dave Luty, and it is based on United Kingdom sales as of January 2024 by comparing it to the sales from exactly a year before, back in January 2023. Hence, the whole "year-to-date" thing. It is a very common thing used in tracking sales in general, and not just for the video gaming industry. It's a great way to figure out any trends occurring, and for a company to see if any adjustments they've made in the past are paying off. Still, it is worth noting that Sonic isn't in the top spot. That honor goes to Star Wars, which did so well that the runner-up, Gabby's Dollhouse, could only make half of what Star Wars managed to do. In fact, Gabby's Dollhouse was much closer to Sonic than Star Wars. On the other hand though, chilidogs were nearly overtaken by pizza as Sonic was just a pinch away from switching spots with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So, what drove the sales for Sonic then? The simple answer is merchandise. Almost 90% of Sonic sales in January 2024 were due to merchandise. 49% of it was building sets such as LEGO, and another 40% of it was action figures. It probably doesn't need to be said, but there's a reason why Sonic merchandise is constantly being made and there's so much of it. Sonic merch sells, and it sells a lot. So, will Sonic continue to see success like this? It's hard to say. Sonic merchandise is very successful, but you can't rely on that alone. After all, Sonic the Hedgehog is, at heart, still a video gaming franchise. And, well, SEGA needs money too. There is Sonic X Shadow Generations coming out this fall. But whether that will help push Sonic onto these charts again is something that remains to be seen. And it's very possible that other franchies, including ones much bigger than Sonic, could make its appearance later this year. Time will tell. Nevertheless, it's always great to see the Blue Blur seeing this success. Via Twitter Original Post Content: View full story
  5. The Sonic franchise has branched off from video gaming into all sorts of media now. There's merchandise, live-action movies, TV cartoons, Netflix series, animated movies, and much more. Add on to the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog is very well known, and it's not all that surprising that it was the third best performing license in the UK for the month of January! The data comes from Circana Group and relayed to Twitter via Dave Luty, and it is based on United Kingdom sales as of January 2024 by comparing it to the sales from exactly a year before, back in January 2023. Hence, the whole "year-to-date" thing. It is a very common thing used in tracking sales in general, and not just for the video gaming industry. It's a great way to figure out any trends occurring, and for a company to see if any adjustments they've made in the past are paying off. Still, it is worth noting that Sonic isn't in the top spot. That honor goes to Star Wars, which did so well that the runner-up, Gabby's Dollhouse, could only make half of what Star Wars managed to do. In fact, Gabby's Dollhouse was much closer to Sonic than Star Wars. On the other hand though, chilidogs were nearly overtaken by pizza as Sonic was just a pinch away from switching spots with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So, what drove the sales for Sonic then? The simple answer is merchandise. Almost 90% of Sonic sales in January 2024 were due to merchandise. 49% of it was building sets such as LEGO, and another 40% of it was action figures. It probably doesn't need to be said, but there's a reason why Sonic merchandise is constantly being made and there's so much of it. Sonic merch sells, and it sells a lot. So, will Sonic continue to see success like this? It's hard to say. Sonic merchandise is very successful, but you can't rely on that alone. After all, Sonic the Hedgehog is, at heart, still a video gaming franchise. And, well, SEGA needs money too. There is Sonic X Shadow Generations coming out this fall. But whether that will help push Sonic onto these charts again is something that remains to be seen. And it's very possible that other franchies, including ones much bigger than Sonic, could make its appearance later this year. Time will tell. Nevertheless, it's always great to see the Blue Blur seeing this success. Via Twitter
  6. Now that filming is underway for the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie, we're going to be getting bits and pieces of the set, which is at Pinewood Studios in London, as this stage of the film's production continues. You don't want to expect anything significant, but they do offer a tiny bit of insight into how the movie's progressing and some hints as to what locations Sonic and friends may go to in the movie. That all said, a brief piece of set footage appeared on social media today! Now, I do want to stress that you don't want to expect anything significant. Leaks from the movie set are very rare, if at all, and you're more likely to find speculation of things than anything concrete. And even the stuff we do get will be very little bits and pieces here and there. This is no different, as the only thing we got was 4 seconds of footage from inside information that shows what seems to be a blue screen and some structures that have very dim lighting. There's really not much that can be interpreted from this. There is a blue screen, but obviously we won't be seeing that in the movie. And the structures aren't really easy to figure out either. The structures seem to be metallic and industrial in nature, and some fans are speculating that this may be related to the Space Colony ARK in some way. But it needs to be emphasized that this is just speculation. This isn't the first time we've gotten set footage, and it definitely won't be the last. However, since it's highly likely that the next Sonic Movie 3 trailer will have actual movie footage, this is probbaly going to be our main source of Sonic Movie 3 footage for a while. Nevertheless, Sonic Movie 3 premieres in theaters this December, so the wait won't really be for that long. Via Twitter Original Post Content: View full story
  7. Now that filming is underway for the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie, we're going to be getting bits and pieces of the set, which is at Pinewood Studios in London, as this stage of the film's production continues. You don't want to expect anything significant, but they do offer a tiny bit of insight into how the movie's progressing and some hints as to what locations Sonic and friends may go to in the movie. That all said, a brief piece of set footage appeared on social media today! Now, I do want to stress that you don't want to expect anything significant. Leaks from the movie set are very rare, if at all, and you're more likely to find speculation of things than anything concrete. And even the stuff we do get will be very little bits and pieces here and there. This is no different, as the only thing we got was 4 seconds of footage from inside information that shows what seems to be a blue screen and some structures that have very dim lighting. There's really not much that can be interpreted from this. There is a blue screen, but obviously we won't be seeing that in the movie. And the structures aren't really easy to figure out either. The structures seem to be metallic and industrial in nature, and some fans are speculating that this may be related to the Space Colony ARK in some way. But it needs to be emphasized that this is just speculation. This isn't the first time we've gotten set footage, and it definitely won't be the last. However, since it's highly likely that the next Sonic Movie 3 trailer will have actual movie footage, this is probbaly going to be our main source of Sonic Movie 3 footage for a while. Nevertheless, Sonic Movie 3 premieres in theaters this December, so the wait won't really be for that long. Via Twitter
  8. Sonic Battle could be heading to European stores in November 2003, if a recent listing from Amazon UK is to be believed. The release window was mentioned in a newly-found retail page for the GBA fighting game, by user 'Chaoz Jamez' on Sonic HQ. Alongside the note about a launch "sometime in November", the listing had a number of other features laid out on the page: Sonic Battle was originally announced during E3 2003 and features the blue blur and his pals duking it out for supremacy over a mysterious robot called Emerl. It's looking pretty solid, so it's great to know how long we have to wait to get our hands on it proper.
  9. SEGA is starting to whir up its hype machine for the imminent European release of Sonic Adventure DX, by launching a brand new UK-based official website to promote the game. You can find the website here - it contains character information, screenshots, details on the 12 unlockable Game Gear Sonic games and downloadable wallpapers. Like the one displayed below: SA:DX releases in Europe later this week - on the 27th of June - so the launch of this website is timely. Not long to go now, fellow European fans!
  10. If you're taking a trip to London's Westfield centre to do some Christmas shopping over the next couple of weeks, you'll be lucky enough to catch a giant Sonic the Hedgehog running around! The above massive Sonic balloon is just part of a larger installation at the shopping mall, that includes a giant LEGO Eggman Robot to take selfies with, a floorspace to jump across where you can also search for Chaos Emeralds and even an animated wall that shows Classic Sonic running around. Check out some more images below, courtesy of SEGA, and be sure to check out the installation if you're nearby. The Westfield London is situated at Ariel Way, Shepherds Bush, W12 7GF, and the Sonic stuff will be there until December 8th. Original Post Content: View full story
  11. If you're taking a trip to London's Westfield centre to do some Christmas shopping over the next couple of weeks, you'll be lucky enough to catch a giant Sonic the Hedgehog running around! The above massive Sonic balloon is just part of a larger installation at the shopping mall, that includes a giant LEGO Eggman Robot to take selfies with, a floorspace to jump across where you can also search for Chaos Emeralds and even an animated wall that shows Classic Sonic running around. Check out some more images below, courtesy of SEGA, and be sure to check out the installation if you're nearby. The Westfield London is situated at Ariel Way, Shepherds Bush, W12 7GF, and the Sonic stuff will be there until December 8th.
  12. Ever wanted to know what Sonic's nefarious arch-nemesis, Dr. Eggman, would look like without his trademark moustache? Well, SEGA has taken matters into its own hands and shown us - in honour of the 'Movember' Men's Health movement, the company shared an image of Baldy without the McNosehair. A sight for sore eyes, ain't it? It's a funny sight for sure, and a great gag, but on a serious note it's great to see SEGA's support for this important cause, which tasks men to completely shave at the start of November and spend the rest of the month growing the most fantastic 'tache. The point is to raise money for various charities and fundraising efforts that focus on male cancer and mental health issues. You don't necessarily have to shave and grow a moustache to take part (although it sort of helps because it's the name of the whole thing), as the Movember website also has other activities such as sponsored walks and other charity-based challenges. We highly recommend giving it a look and taking part if you are able. As for Eggman... well, let's hope that luscious facial hair grows back the same way by December. Sonic News Tips Credit: DaBigJ Original Post Content: So this is a thing now View full story
  13. Ever wanted to know what Sonic's nefarious arch-nemesis, Dr. Eggman, would look like without his trademark moustache? Well, SEGA has taken matters into its own hands and shown us - in honour of the 'Movember' Men's Health movement, the company shared an image of Baldy without the McNosehair. A sight for sore eyes, ain't it? It's a funny sight for sure, and a great gag, but on a serious note it's great to see SEGA's support for this important cause, which tasks men to completely shave at the start of November and spend the rest of the month growing the most fantastic 'tache. The point is to raise money for various charities and fundraising efforts that focus on male cancer and mental health issues. You don't necessarily have to shave and grow a moustache to take part (although it sort of helps because it's the name of the whole thing), as the Movember website also has other activities such as sponsored walks and other charity-based challenges. We highly recommend giving it a look and taking part if you are able. As for Eggman... well, let's hope that luscious facial hair grows back the same way by December.
  14. For one short beautiful day, on Saturday 16 September, the Barbican Centre in London, UK - usually a venue reserved for high-brow theatre and classical music performances - became the white-hot kinetic centre of the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, as the Sonic Symphony World Tour officially kicked off with a supersonic bang. Hordes of fans gathered to enjoy two truly fantastic shows running back-to-back, each featuring a complement of heartwarming orchestral music (performed by the National Symphony) followed by an explosive rock set (courtesy of a dedicated 'Sonic Band’). The response from the audience to each and every song was so emotional, raw and energetic that it even seemed to take the performers by surprise! Of course, expectations were high following the original Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Symphony that was broadcast globally in June 2021, which was critically acclaimed and brought a tear to many eyes around the world with its enchanting production. But, there’s nothing quite like hearing the sheer depth and volume of these arrangements in person, at an auditorium built for soaking in sounds and getting lost in the music. That level of sheer closeness and intimacy was only one reason why the Sonic Symphony World Tour shows added a whole new dimension to the previous 2021 performance. Another reason, undoubtedly, was the quality and competence of the production itself, and the dazzling skill of the performers. We were lucky enough to attend the sound check in the early afternoon and get a taste of what was to come for our 8pm show, and both orchestra and rock band were clearly seasoned artists. I could tell things were going to get serious later on. While we were given access as a kind of ‘sneak peek’ before the real show begins, it’s worth noting that, naturally, these sound checks are simply intended for performers to practice their set, experiment with the space and ensure their equipment is working properly. So, while we watched some great demonstrations of tracks like Shadow the Hedgehog’s “I Am… All of Me”, Sonic 2006’s “His World” and Sonic and the Black Knight’s “Knight of the Wind”, we understood that the Symphony ship was only really sailing at “half mast” - which made us even more excited to see how these same songs would sound later that evening, with the full force of the performers and the production crew behind it. Although it was very cool to have an exclusive audience with Jun Senoue and Tomoya Ohtani performing their greatest hits, what struck me the most during my time at sound check was the personality and approach of the show’s producer and rock band member, Shota Nakama. He was serious about his craft but all the while light-hearted, lifting the mood where necessary - and clearly intensely knowledgeable about the Sonic franchise and its music. Towards the end of the sound check, I overheard segments of a final set run-through from Nakama, mostly directed to the orchestra musicians. At one point, I heard him jokingly say something along the lines of, ‘You may never have seen an audience quite like Sonic fans before. Sonic fans here are crazy passionate!’. He was saying this to express to a group of musicians that are more familiar with black-tie and formal engagements, that they should expect to pause between songs for longer periods than they may be used to, as the Sonic audience will clap and cheer for extended periods of time (and he was right. We did). It was a funny line that made me chuckle (we are crazy!), but it also gave me the impression that Nakama truly understood the audience he was going to be working for that day. His later engagements with the Sonic community on social media after the Barbican performances have only been further evidence that, under his stewardship, the Sonic Symphony World Tour is truly a labour of love - both to the franchise and to the fans. We left the sound check to get a t-shirt or two from the official merchandise stall (which sadly was severely under-stocked that day, selling out of everything before the 8pm attendees could even have a chance to browse - this has since been rectified by the team with an online store that is currently exclusively open to London attendees), before hitting a nearby gastropub for some lunch and a meetup with some like-minded Sonic fans. Photo from "SonicpoX" See, one of the greatest things about anyone holding a Sonic the Hedgehog event in the UK (particularly in London) is that this tiny country seemingly has the biggest concentration of Sonic fans in the entire world - and you get the chance to meet them all and really feel like the Sonic online community is alive and right here on your doorstep. After organising what feels like a hundred Sonic conventions to date, I missed the simple fun of just “meeting people in a pub” and so I casually threw out a time and a venue to hang out on social media, the week before the London Symphony performances. Little did I know I accidentally max capacity’d the place as word got around and so many Sonic fans descended upon a bar that I later realised was absolutely tiny. Oops. Whether you were there at the Jugged Hare or not that day, no doubt you and many others ran into old Sonic fan friends not seen in years, met brand new pals or finally put a face to the username of that guy who's been chatting with you on social media for ages. Just like me! It was fantastic to catch up and chat to friends old and new, and when it was time to head in for the 8pm Sonic Symphony performance we all went in together as we were greeted by even more fellow fans (many of whom were gathered around a wandering Sonic taking photographs!). Photos by "DoubleSylly", "Pineapple Pat" and "Aixa Massoni" Everybody got some drinks and took their seats as a countdown rolled on the main projector screen. As the clock ticked ever downward, the crowd in the Barbican hall grew more and more excited - culminating in a roaring chant as the count went from 10 to zero. We had all seen the 2021 broadcast. We were hoping the live version would be an even more captivating experience. We were not disappointed in the slightest. Blasting open with a symphonic rendition of the ever-familiar Sonic 1 title theme, the orchestral half of the show had truly begun (led by conductor Jose Delgado), with a delightful medley from the blue blur’s very first Mega Drive adventure. This, like many other tracks performed at the show, was faithful to the original orchestra arrangement already heard in the 2021 Sonic 30th Anniversary broadcast, but hearing the thunderous drums of Scrap Brain and the fluttering flutes of Green Hill live and in front of me was a stunning and mesmerising affair, and had me in tears from the very start of the show, like a right sap. Photos by "chaoluna" Other songs pulled from the 2021 performance evoked similar responses - from the Sonic Mania medley (which again included a fantastic form of Titanic Monarch I never knew I needed), to Sonic Adventure’s Sonic and Tails themes, the series of Game Gear tracks which made me feel like an eight-year-old kid again, and Sonic 2’s 16-bit carousel of aural delights which may have had me blubbering by the time the ending theme hit. I have heard all of these before, but there is a colossal new emotional anchor present in experiencing these songs live, that latches on to your heart and pulls you down into your seat (and towards the nearest box of tissues). While I was sad of a few omissions in the orchestral set list (I would have adored a Sonic R and Sonic 3D Flickies’ Island set of tracks), there were plenty of brand new arrangements that made it clear that this was not a mere retread of the 30th Anniversary Symphony. Immediately after the Sonic 1 medley, the audience gasped as the Sonic CD title screen appeared on screen and a collection of Little Planet music began barrelling out of the orchestra. Photo by "JDCatalyst" There were similar reactions to a new rendition of Rooftop Run from Sonic Unleashed, an extended take on Sky Sanctuary and a brand new medley focused on Sonic Frontiers (I was ecstatic to hear an orchestral version of Cyberspace’s iconic “Flowing” stage track during this segment). While the music was laser-focused on bringing all of these nostalgic feelings up to the fore, on-screen the accompanying footage for each game had a very different mission - telling a story to run alongside the audio journey. In many cases, it provided some welcome humour in how the gameplay was cut to the sound. From Sonic dying constantly in time to Labyrinth Zone’s beat, to Sonic 2’s Game Gear medley ending with a nod and a wink to the infamous “Tails is dead” meme. Photo by "The Jay Eggman" Perhaps the song that illustrated this integration of sight and sound the best was the Chao Medley in the middle of the orchestral performance, a light-hearted set of tunes that had the crowd bopping and laughing as they saw various custom Chao do their cutesy best to run races, dance and do kung fu. After a brief intermission, the symphony made space for the Sonic Rock Band (consisting of Shota Nakama on guitar, Louis Ochoa on bass, Derek Dupuis on keyboard, Blaize Collard on drums and Dave Vives on vocals) as the stage became steeped in vivid red lighting. Guest guitarist Jun Senoue was introduced, the intro to “I Am… All of Me” began and the audience roared in excitement. Photo by "SonicBoss_1991" From this point, the show and the crowd had transformed from one of elegant reverence (Delgado had several times asked the audience to sing along to the orchestral songs in the first half, to no avail - we were just too polite) to frenzied energy. The symphony would continue to play the backing instrumentals to all of the rock songs, adding fantastic new depth and wonder to tracks we have all heard (and sung to) hundreds of times over the years. From Shadow the Hedgehog’s main theme, to Sonic Heroes’ “What I’m Made Of”, Sonic Adventure’s famous “Open Your Heart” and then onto “Knight of the Wind”, Senoue ran through a short history of Crush 40 classics with the band - and he had the full attention of absolutely everybody in the hall. Every single verse, every single chorus was loudly chanted back to the stage as Vives did an admirable job keeping the vocal style and spirit of an absent Johnny Gioeli alive. Overall, the singer’s range and performance was incredibly impressive throughout, and he somehow matched the energy that the army of Sonic fans was giving him for the entire hour or so he was on stage. Escape From The City rounded off Jun’s special guest appearance, and for good reason as it was possibly the loudest the Barbican hall has ever been in its entire existence (besides the encore). He stepped off, and guest bassist Tomoya Ohtani stepped up to cover his own similarly legendary themes, starting with “His World” and running through “Reach For The Stars”, “Fist Bump” and ending with “Endless Possibility”, the latter of which was received exceptionally well by the crowd. You really should have heard the fans singing along to the bridge of that one. The night’s biggest track - Live & Learn from Sonic Adventure 2 - would be saved for the very end of the three-track encore that followed, but not before the crowd was treated to an exclusive preview of the opening theme to the upcoming Sonic Superstars by Jun and the band. Perhaps the most surprising song in the entire show was the presence of Sonic Frontiers’ “Break Through It All”, a track so vicious and hardcore that I wasn’t sure if I had accidentally walked into my local heavy metal club instead of a Sonic concert. The whole crowd was intensely fierce in its growling chant of “Don’t Look Dowwwwwwwnnn”. As a metalhead, I was immensely proud of my fellow Sonic fans for that energy. Though, it was ultimately Sonic Adventure 2's theme that would bring the entire house down - and the entire crowd to its feet, as everybody jumped and sang the lyrics at the absolute top of their collective voice. As a show ender, it was a show-stopper, and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a crowd go this hard for a live performance of this track - even at any of the Summer of Sonic conventions! The show had well and truly ended after the final riff and drum roll played, but not before a good ten (or twenty) minutes worth of standing ovation, cheering and absolute chaos from the crowd. To say the opening night of the Sonic Symphony World Tour was a success is a colossal understatement - the atmosphere in the Barbican by the end of the show was simply electrifying. It’s not that you really needed me, or this article, to convince you that the Sonic Symphony World Tour is something you have to experience. No doubt you have either already got your ticket, are in the process of getting one, or sitting there desperately wishing for one. But let me tell you this. If the London shows are anything to go by, this will be one very special tour that you absolutely have to see if you are a Sonic fan. The quality of the production, the skill of the performers and the dedication of the organisers makes this a concert worthy of the storied legacy of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and you don’t want to miss out. >> Thanks to all who shared their photos and videos of the concert! View them all here! Set List [ ACT I ] Sonic the Hedgehog Medley Sonic CD Medley Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Medley Sonic Game Gear Medley Sky Sanctuary Sonic Mania Medley Believe in Myself - It Doesn’t Matter Chao Medley Rooftop Run Aquarium Park - Planet Wisp Sonic Frontiers Medley [ ACT II ] I Am… All Of Me What I’m Made Of Open Your Heart Knight of the Wind Escape from the City His World Reach for the Stars Fist Bump Endless Possibility [ ENCORE ] Break Through It All Sonic Superstars Opening Theme Live & Learn Thanks Many thanks to the Sonic Symphony performers in London: Jose Delgado, the National Symphony Orchestra of Great Britain, Shota Nakama, Jose Delgado, Dave Vives, Derek Dupuis, Louis Ochoa, Blaize Collard, Jun Senoue and Tomoya Ohtani, as well as the entire crew, for an incredible performance and for giving many fans a night they will never forget. View full story
  15. For one short beautiful day, on Saturday 16 September, the Barbican Centre in London, UK - usually a venue reserved for high-brow theatre and classical music performances - became the white-hot kinetic centre of the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, as the Sonic Symphony World Tour officially kicked off with a supersonic bang. Hordes of fans gathered to enjoy two truly fantastic shows running back-to-back, each featuring a complement of heartwarming orchestral music (performed by the National Symphony) followed by an explosive rock set (courtesy of a dedicated 'Sonic Band’). The response from the audience to each and every song was so emotional, raw and energetic that it even seemed to take the performers by surprise! Of course, expectations were high following the original Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Symphony that was broadcast globally in June 2021, which was critically acclaimed and brought a tear to many eyes around the world with its enchanting production. But, there’s nothing quite like hearing the sheer depth and volume of these arrangements in person, at an auditorium built for soaking in sounds and getting lost in the music. That level of sheer closeness and intimacy was only one reason why the Sonic Symphony World Tour shows added a whole new dimension to the previous 2021 performance. Another reason, undoubtedly, was the quality and competence of the production itself, and the dazzling skill of the performers. We were lucky enough to attend the sound check in the early afternoon and get a taste of what was to come for our 8pm show, and both orchestra and rock band were clearly seasoned artists. I could tell things were going to get serious later on. While we were given access as a kind of ‘sneak peek’ before the real show begins, it’s worth noting that, naturally, these sound checks are simply intended for performers to practice their set, experiment with the space and ensure their equipment is working properly. So, while we watched some great demonstrations of tracks like Shadow the Hedgehog’s “I Am… All of Me”, Sonic 2006’s “His World” and Sonic and the Black Knight’s “Knight of the Wind”, we understood that the Symphony ship was only really sailing at “half mast” - which made us even more excited to see how these same songs would sound later that evening, with the full force of the performers and the production crew behind it. Although it was very cool to have an exclusive audience with Jun Senoue and Tomoya Ohtani performing their greatest hits, what struck me the most during my time at sound check was the personality and approach of the show’s producer and rock band member, Shota Nakama. He was serious about his craft but all the while light-hearted, lifting the mood where necessary - and clearly intensely knowledgeable about the Sonic franchise and its music. Towards the end of the sound check, I overheard segments of a final set run-through from Nakama, mostly directed to the orchestra musicians. At one point, I heard him jokingly say something along the lines of, ‘You may never have seen an audience quite like Sonic fans before. Sonic fans here are crazy passionate!’. He was saying this to express to a group of musicians that are more familiar with black-tie and formal engagements, that they should expect to pause between songs for longer periods than they may be used to, as the Sonic audience will clap and cheer for extended periods of time (and he was right. We did). It was a funny line that made me chuckle (we are crazy!), but it also gave me the impression that Nakama truly understood the audience he was going to be working for that day. His later engagements with the Sonic community on social media after the Barbican performances have only been further evidence that, under his stewardship, the Sonic Symphony World Tour is truly a labour of love - both to the franchise and to the fans. We left the sound check to get a t-shirt or two from the official merchandise stall (which sadly was severely under-stocked that day, selling out of everything before the 8pm attendees could even have a chance to browse - this has since been rectified by the team with an online store that is currently exclusively open to London attendees), before hitting a nearby gastropub for some lunch and a meetup with some like-minded Sonic fans. Photo from "SonicpoX" See, one of the greatest things about anyone holding a Sonic the Hedgehog event in the UK (particularly in London) is that this tiny country seemingly has the biggest concentration of Sonic fans in the entire world - and you get the chance to meet them all and really feel like the Sonic online community is alive and right here on your doorstep. After organising what feels like a hundred Sonic conventions to date, I missed the simple fun of just “meeting people in a pub” and so I casually threw out a time and a venue to hang out on social media, the week before the London Symphony performances. Little did I know I accidentally max capacity’d the place as word got around and so many Sonic fans descended upon a bar that I later realised was absolutely tiny. Oops. Whether you were there at the Jugged Hare or not that day, no doubt you and many others ran into old Sonic fan friends not seen in years, met brand new pals or finally put a face to the username of that guy who's been chatting with you on social media for ages. Just like me! It was fantastic to catch up and chat to friends old and new, and when it was time to head in for the 8pm Sonic Symphony performance we all went in together as we were greeted by even more fellow fans (many of whom were gathered around a wandering Sonic taking photographs!). Photos by "DoubleSylly", "Pineapple Pat" and "Aixa Massoni" Everybody got some drinks and took their seats as a countdown rolled on the main projector screen. As the clock ticked ever downward, the crowd in the Barbican hall grew more and more excited - culminating in a roaring chant as the count went from 10 to zero. We had all seen the 2021 broadcast. We were hoping the live version would be an even more captivating experience. We were not disappointed in the slightest. Blasting open with a symphonic rendition of the ever-familiar Sonic 1 title theme, the orchestral half of the show had truly begun (led by conductor Jose Delgado), with a delightful medley from the blue blur’s very first Mega Drive adventure. This, like many other tracks performed at the show, was faithful to the original orchestra arrangement already heard in the 2021 Sonic 30th Anniversary broadcast, but hearing the thunderous drums of Scrap Brain and the fluttering flutes of Green Hill live and in front of me was a stunning and mesmerising affair, and had me in tears from the very start of the show, like a right sap. Photos by "chaoluna" Other songs pulled from the 2021 performance evoked similar responses - from the Sonic Mania medley (which again included a fantastic form of Titanic Monarch I never knew I needed), to Sonic Adventure’s Sonic and Tails themes, the series of Game Gear tracks which made me feel like an eight-year-old kid again, and Sonic 2’s 16-bit carousel of aural delights which may have had me blubbering by the time the ending theme hit. I have heard all of these before, but there is a colossal new emotional anchor present in experiencing these songs live, that latches on to your heart and pulls you down into your seat (and towards the nearest box of tissues). While I was sad of a few omissions in the orchestral set list (I would have adored a Sonic R and Sonic 3D Flickies’ Island set of tracks), there were plenty of brand new arrangements that made it clear that this was not a mere retread of the 30th Anniversary Symphony. Immediately after the Sonic 1 medley, the audience gasped as the Sonic CD title screen appeared on screen and a collection of Little Planet music began barrelling out of the orchestra. Photo by "JDCatalyst" There were similar reactions to a new rendition of Rooftop Run from Sonic Unleashed, an extended take on Sky Sanctuary and a brand new medley focused on Sonic Frontiers (I was ecstatic to hear an orchestral version of Cyberspace’s iconic “Flowing” stage track during this segment). While the music was laser-focused on bringing all of these nostalgic feelings up to the fore, on-screen the accompanying footage for each game had a very different mission - telling a story to run alongside the audio journey. In many cases, it provided some welcome humour in how the gameplay was cut to the sound. From Sonic dying constantly in time to Labyrinth Zone’s beat, to Sonic 2’s Game Gear medley ending with a nod and a wink to the infamous “Tails is dead” meme. Photo by "The Jay Eggman" Perhaps the song that illustrated this integration of sight and sound the best was the Chao Medley in the middle of the orchestral performance, a light-hearted set of tunes that had the crowd bopping and laughing as they saw various custom Chao do their cutesy best to run races, dance and do kung fu. After a brief intermission, the symphony made space for the Sonic Rock Band (consisting of Shota Nakama on guitar, Louis Ochoa on bass, Derek Dupuis on keyboard, Blaize Collard on drums and Dave Vives on vocals) as the stage became steeped in vivid red lighting. Guest guitarist Jun Senoue was introduced, the intro to “I Am… All of Me” began and the audience roared in excitement. Photo by "SonicBoss_1991" From this point, the show and the crowd had transformed from one of elegant reverence (Delgado had several times asked the audience to sing along to the orchestral songs in the first half, to no avail - we were just too polite) to frenzied energy. The symphony would continue to play the backing instrumentals to all of the rock songs, adding fantastic new depth and wonder to tracks we have all heard (and sung to) hundreds of times over the years. From Shadow the Hedgehog’s main theme, to Sonic Heroes’ “What I’m Made Of”, Sonic Adventure’s famous “Open Your Heart” and then onto “Knight of the Wind”, Senoue ran through a short history of Crush 40 classics with the band - and he had the full attention of absolutely everybody in the hall. Every single verse, every single chorus was loudly chanted back to the stage as Vives did an admirable job keeping the vocal style and spirit of an absent Johnny Gioeli alive. Overall, the singer’s range and performance was incredibly impressive throughout, and he somehow matched the energy that the army of Sonic fans was giving him for the entire hour or so he was on stage. Escape From The City rounded off Jun’s special guest appearance, and for good reason as it was possibly the loudest the Barbican hall has ever been in its entire existence (besides the encore). He stepped off, and guest bassist Tomoya Ohtani stepped up to cover his own similarly legendary themes, starting with “His World” and running through “Reach For The Stars”, “Fist Bump” and ending with “Endless Possibility”, the latter of which was received exceptionally well by the crowd. You really should have heard the fans singing along to the bridge of that one. The night’s biggest track - Live & Learn from Sonic Adventure 2 - would be saved for the very end of the three-track encore that followed, but not before the crowd was treated to an exclusive preview of the opening theme to the upcoming Sonic Superstars by Jun and the band. Perhaps the most surprising song in the entire show was the presence of Sonic Frontiers’ “Break Through It All”, a track so vicious and hardcore that I wasn’t sure if I had accidentally walked into my local heavy metal club instead of a Sonic concert. The whole crowd was intensely fierce in its growling chant of “Don’t Look Dowwwwwwwnnn”. As a metalhead, I was immensely proud of my fellow Sonic fans for that energy. Though, it was ultimately Sonic Adventure 2's theme that would bring the entire house down - and the entire crowd to its feet, as everybody jumped and sang the lyrics at the absolute top of their collective voice. As a show ender, it was a show-stopper, and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a crowd go this hard for a live performance of this track - even at any of the Summer of Sonic conventions! The show had well and truly ended after the final riff and drum roll played, but not before a good ten (or twenty) minutes worth of standing ovation, cheering and absolute chaos from the crowd. To say the opening night of the Sonic Symphony World Tour was a success is a colossal understatement - the atmosphere in the Barbican by the end of the show was simply electrifying. It’s not that you really needed me, or this article, to convince you that the Sonic Symphony World Tour is something you have to experience. No doubt you have either already got your ticket, are in the process of getting one, or sitting there desperately wishing for one. But let me tell you this. If the London shows are anything to go by, this will be one very special tour that you absolutely have to see if you are a Sonic fan. The quality of the production, the skill of the performers and the dedication of the organisers makes this a concert worthy of the storied legacy of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and you don’t want to miss out. >> Thanks to all who shared their photos and videos of the concert! View them all here! Set List [ ACT I ] Sonic the Hedgehog Medley Sonic CD Medley Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Medley Sonic Game Gear Medley Sky Sanctuary Sonic Mania Medley Believe in Myself - It Doesn’t Matter Chao Medley Rooftop Run Aquarium Park - Planet Wisp Sonic Frontiers Medley [ ACT II ] I Am… All Of Me What I’m Made Of Open Your Heart Knight of the Wind Escape from the City His World Reach for the Stars Fist Bump Endless Possibility [ ENCORE ] Break Through It All Sonic Superstars Opening Theme Live & Learn Thanks Many thanks to the Sonic Symphony performers in London: Jose Delgado, the National Symphony Orchestra of Great Britain, Shota Nakama, Jose Delgado, Dave Vives, Derek Dupuis, Louis Ochoa, Blaize Collard, Jun Senoue and Tomoya Ohtani, as well as the entire crew, for an incredible performance and for giving many fans a night they will never forget.
  16. The next instalment of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie series will begin filming on location in late Summer, according to details listed in an industry film and TV production tracker. For British fans, that shooting location will be exciting indeed as it is currently set for London, UK. In the production notes, found on website Production List (via Collider), cameras and crew will start their work in England's capital from August 31. So if you see some makeshift movie set barriers and big blue hedgehog-shaped puppets being carried around Leicester Square, it's likely that director Jeff Fowler is on the loose doing his thing. Further details are scant, and a lot of the information on Production List is (quite rightly) redacted, but it does re-affirm the involvement of Paramount movie series names such as Pat Casey and Josh Miller on writing and Tim Miller and Toby Ascher on producer roles. Neal H Moritz, Nan Morales, Toru Nakahara and SEGA Sammy chairman Hajime Satomi are also credited there. We're looking forward to seeing more (literally, if we can catch a glimpse of the movie being made!) later this year. This news has also clearly given us an opportunity to re-use our header image from our 2022 April Fools Day gag. Hey, why waste quality work on a single day of the year?
  17. SEGA Shop has officially announced a brand new Tails-themed build-a-figure advent calendar, in the same festive style as its successful Sonic figure in 2021. It's due for release in November 2023, and pre-orders are open right now. This is the completed Tails figure. Isn't he adorable? Just like with its predecessor, this figure comes in a big box full of 24 smaller boxes, each one numbered with days of the month of December. Each day, you open a box up, find a new piece, and put it together to help complete the puzzle. By the time Christmas rolls around, you'll have a fancy little statue to sit on your mantelpiece, glass cabinet, or wherever you keep your favourite Sonic trinkets. This picture is a little bit cursed, though. Pre-orders are now open on the SEGA Shop website, at a price of £79.99 - which is a little more expensive than its 2021 Sonic counterpart. We're putting that all down to supersonic inflation. But, if it's something you can afford, it'll be sure to be an adorable new piece to add to your collection. Check out more images and a product description, from the SEGA Shop site, below. Sonic News Tips Credit: castell-neath Original Post Content: ​ £80!!!??!!! ​I paid 45 for the Sonic one in Game last November! I know there has been inflation over the last 12 months, but still!!! View full story
  18. SEGA Shop has officially announced a brand new Tails-themed build-a-figure advent calendar, in the same festive style as its successful Sonic figure in 2021. It's due for release in November 2023, and pre-orders are open right now. This is the completed Tails figure. Isn't he adorable? Just like with its predecessor, this figure comes in a big box full of 24 smaller boxes, each one numbered with days of the month of December. Each day, you open a box up, find a new piece, and put it together to help complete the puzzle. By the time Christmas rolls around, you'll have a fancy little statue to sit on your mantelpiece, glass cabinet, or wherever you keep your favourite Sonic trinkets. This picture is a little bit cursed, though. Pre-orders are now open on the SEGA Shop website, at a price of £79.99 - which is a little more expensive than its 2021 Sonic counterpart. We're putting that all down to supersonic inflation. But, if it's something you can afford, it'll be sure to be an adorable new piece to add to your collection. Check out more images and a product description, from the SEGA Shop site, below.
  19. Fans in the UK hoping to get a chance to obtain the recently-announced "Comic Style Character Skins" for Sonic Superstars are in luck - it appears that the new DLC will be included as an added pre-order bonus if bought from Amazon. Amazon listings for the game have recently been updated, to include mention of the Comic Style skins, which it notes are "exclusive" to the online retailer. So your only way of getting this is from Amazon, it seems. The above image was also added to those same Amazon listings, which also highlight another pre-order bonus of an exclusive LEGO Eggman. Sonic Superstars is currently available for pre-order across four platforms: Nintendo Switch (currently priced at £54.99), PS4 (£52.99), PS5 and Xbox consoles (funnily enough the cheapest, at £49.99 each). What do you think? It certainly beats having to earn points at some US supermarket, that's for sure. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
  20. Fans in the UK hoping to get a chance to obtain the recently-announced "Comic Style Character Skins" for Sonic Superstars are in luck - it appears that the new DLC will be included as an added pre-order bonus if bought from Amazon. Amazon listings for the game have recently been updated, to include mention of the Comic Style skins, which it notes are "exclusive" to the online retailer. So your only way of getting this is from Amazon, it seems. The above image was also added to those same Amazon listings, which also highlight another pre-order bonus of an exclusive LEGO Eggman. Sonic Superstars is currently available for pre-order across four platforms: Nintendo Switch (currently priced at £54.99), PS4 (£52.99), PS5 and Xbox consoles (funnily enough the cheapest, at £49.99 each). What do you think? It certainly beats having to earn points at some US supermarket, that's for sure. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Sonic News Tips Credit: fia Original Post Content: View full story
  21. Hey guys! Sonic Symphony is tomorrow! Who in the community is going / has got a ticket? Which performance are you going to see, afternoon or evening (or both!)? Most importantly... WHAT are you going to WEAR??? There's going to be a meetup tomorrow at the nearby bar/grill, The Jugged Hare. Come along from 4pm, maybe order some food, chat with Sonic pals! As for me, I've got a ticket to the 8pm performance, and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to wear yet... will figure it out tonight! :D
  22. until
    Come and join a bunch of like-minded Sonic the Hedgehog fans in London, chat and make new friends ahead of the main 8pm performance of the Sonic Symphony. We will be relaxing at the Jugged Hare pub, which is very close to the Barbican venue, from around 4pm. If any of our past meetups are any indication, it might get a little busy, so come early if you can. The establishment is a pub, so please be mindful of age restrictions in terms of entry. Also, as this meetup is situated at a venue that serves alcohol, we must ask that you please drink responsibly.
  23. The shockwaves of the SAG-AFTRA strike continue to be felt in the US and beyond. In particular, it looks as though the UK's TV and movie industry is also being affected, as unions and studios continue to clash over payment and the threat of AI to job security. According to ScreenDaily, many projects have already halted or been adversely affected, however, their sources indicate that shooting on the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie will continue, but only for scenes that will not involve actors. Beyond this period, it is unknown how filming and production will be afflicted should no resolution be reached, or what the longer lasting effects will be to US studio projects filming in the UK. Stay tuned for more updates on the 3rd installment of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie series!
  24. The organisers of the Sonic Symphony World Tour have added two new dates and a new city to its lineup, while SEGA has revealed that Sonic sound directors Jun Senoue and Tomoya Ohtani will be guests in attendance during the concert's debut London and Los Angeles shows in September. If you're based near Wisconsin state in the United States, you'll be happy to hear that the new tour dates will see the Symphony perform in the city of Milwaukee on the 6th and 7th April 2024. The new shows will take place at the Bradley Symphony Center, so be sure to check the venue out and book in advance when you can! The Milwaukee shows adds to twenty existing performances across the world (not including the bonus acoustic show being held at the Sonic Speed Cafe today), with the promise of even more to come! In the press release we received from SEGA, it was also announced that Senoue-san and Ohtani-san will be present at the debut shows in the UK and West Coast USA. Exciting stuff! Full updated performance schedule for the World Tour is listed below. Aug. 18, 2023: San Diego, Sonic Speed Café (First show begins at 11:30am) Details for the afternoon and evening performances will be available on social media Sept 16, 2023: London, Barbican Hall (3:30pm show SOLD OUT) Sept 16, 2023: London, Barbican Hall (8:00pm show, SOLD OUT) Sept 22, 2023: Paris, Le Grand Rex Sept 30, 2023: Los Angeles, Dolby Theatre (3:30pm show) Sept 30, 2023: Los Angeles, Dolby Theatre (8:00pm show, SOLD OUT) Oct 14, 2023: São Paulo, Brasil Game Show Oct 15, 2023: São Paulo, Brasil Game Show Oct 21, 2023: Boston, Emerson Colonial Theatre Oct 28, 2023: Chicago, Auditorium Theatre Nov 17, 2023: Düsseldorf, Mitsubishi Electric Halle Dec 15, 2023: San Antonio, Majestic Theatre Dec 29, 2023: Atlanta, Cobb Energy P.A.C. Jan 05, 2024: Seattle, Paramount Theatre Jan 06, 2024: San Francisco, Davies Symphony Hall Jan 20, 2024: Washington DC, Warner Theater Jan 27, 2024: Kansas City, Kansas City Music Hall Feb 11, 2024: Tokyo, LINE CUBE SHIBUYA Feb 17, 2024: Toronto, Meridian Hall Mar 24, 2024: Montreal, Wilfrid-Pelletier Theater Mar 29, 2024: Portland, Schnitzer Auditorium Apr 6th, 2024: Milwaukee, Bradley Symphony Center Apr 7th, 2024: Milwaukee, Bradley Symphony Center
  25. British Sonic the Hedgehog fans who grew up in the 1990s might get a real hit of nostalgia this weekend, as the classic Sonic Balloon made a surprise return to Bristol's 45th annual Balloon Fiesta, an event that runs until Sunday. The colossal inflatable, provided by MJ Ballooning, was inflated on Thursday this week ahead of an evening ascent that eventually ended up getting cancelled - but the Bristol International Balloon Festival was still kind enough to share this photo of the big blue making his iconic pose. This particular Sonic balloon has a lot of sentimental value for UK Sonic fans (including myself!), as this absolute unit is no stranger to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta - or major media coverage in general. Originally developed by Virgin Airship and Balloon Company in the 1990s, 'Sonic' was designed to support the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in the UK. Following the launch of the iconic Mega Drive sequel, it was also used prominently in SEGA UK sponsorship events throughout the 1990s, including the Williams team during a number of Formula 1 championships. If you're curious to learn more, you can check out a blog post from one of the masterminds behind the balloon's design here. The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is a free event, and it's on until this Sunday, although we're not sure if Sonic will be inflated again to make any more ascents (we have asked the events team though!). There will be ascents taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6am and 6pm, so fingers crossed we will see Sonic fly through the sky once more. If you live nearby, check out the event's website here for travel details. If you're stuck though, there are shuttle busses running from Bristol Temple Meads so you don't have to think about it too much (thanks for the tip, @castell-neath!)
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