Sonic The Hedgehog 35th anniversary interview – the persistence of an icon

Seven Sonic themed murals have been set up in London (Sega)

For the 35th anniversary of Sonic The Hedgehog, we quizzed series producer Takashi Iizuka and brand officer Ivo Gerscovich about how the franchise has lasted so long and why it’ll never stop.

There’s no denying that the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise has, to put it charitably, stumbled many times throughout its history. Some of those mishaps would’ve killed most other franchises and yet something about the cocky blue mammal has kept fans coming back again and again for 35 years.

To Sega and Sonic Team’s credit, the franchise has made a successful comeback for the 2020s. There’s a greater sense of enthusiasm and optimism amongst longtime fans tha...