Sonic Takes Off in a Speed Dash

About this drawing

Sonic speed dash poses are the most natural way to draw this hero, since speed is literally in his name. Sonic refers to sound, and the idea behind the character is a hedgehog who can run about as fast as sound travels through air.

When a jet goes faster than that, it is called supersonic and creates a loud boom on the ground below. Cartoons and games usually show Sonic's speed with streaks, dust clouds and sparkles, a lot like the trail and stars on this page.

To make players feel that rush, the games added some memorable moves. One of the best known is the spin dash, introduced in 1992: Sonic crouches, revs up in place like a spinning wheel and then blasts off. Fans still use it as the classic way to start a run.

Levels added springs, ramps and huge loop-the-loops that send him flying. Plenty of players remember the first time they watched Sonic race through a full loop without slowing down, and that feeling of pure momentum is what the series is still known for today.

• sonic
• speed
• stars
• video games