13 Video Game Characters You Didn't Realise Were Based On Real People
13. Sonic The Hedgehog - Bill Clinton/Michael Jackson
At first glance, this isn't an easy one to get your head around. Is Sonic's blue mane meant to represent Bill Clinton's silver slicked-back hair? Is Sonic's tiny upturned nose based on Michael Jackson's mess of a conk later in life? Or maybe Sonic - like both his inspirations - has some salacious backstories hiding in the closet that he doesn't want the world to know about... No, apparently Sega's iconic blue hedgehog - known as 'Mr Needlemouse' as he was being created - was inspired by Clinton's 'Get it done' reputation. Sonic's illustrator Naoto Ohshima wanted Sonic to be a man (or 'hog) of action like the former US president. Sonic's boots, meanwhile, are based on Michael Jackson's belt boots in the 'Bad' music video. But rather than the stick with the black boots MJ used in that video, Ohshima made Sonic's red, inspired by none other than Santa Claus (whose debatable existence omits him from making the cut as a 'real person')
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
