10 Video Game Characters That Were Created For The Most Shocking Reasons

In a world of cartoony animals with sneaker shoes and weirdly connected eyeballs, Dr. Eggman seems to stand out like a sore thumb. It might be because he was originally a rejected character pitch that was only accepted far later in the production.

In 1991, Sega was looking for a face for their new franchise that could compete with Mario's popularity. They decided to design a bunch of characters and then ask a bunch of people in Central Park which design appealed to them the most. One of those designs was an odd caricature that vaguely resembled former U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt and his signature bushy mustache. According to Naoto Ohshima, who created it, the resemblance was unintentional, though people were quick to point it out.

Unfortunately for egg-shaped Teddy, Sega rejected his design, as their survey revealed people preferred anthropomorphic designs that "transcend race and gender."

It looked like Eggman was going to be forgotten, but then one of the developers realized his mad scientist persona could make for a nice antagonist for Sonic and his crew of animals. Eggman was given a name and a story and became one of the best parts of the Sonic franchise.