Lauryn D

Sonic the Hedgehog. The world’s most well-known Blue Blur™. From his humble beginnings as a cool, edgy blue hedgehog speeding through Green Hill Zone to a mature, witty protagonist who fought ancient gods, time travellers, aliens and whatever else the franchise threw at him, Sonic has undeniably become one of the most recognisable characters in video game history. However, throughout the entirety of the franchise: through all the games, the comics, the movies, through every trial he faces, his core values remain true: freedom, determination and an unwavering desire to keep speeding on. To this end, and with the handling of this characterisation, I believe he is one of the greatest examples of the good and bad that can occur within the flat arc trope in media. And with the ongoing 35th anniversary of the franchise, I thought the best way to spend my study time would be to enter a rabbit hole of Sonic character analyses and in-depth explanations of this specific arc (my sincerest apologies to all my teachers, please forgive me). 

To begin, we must delve into the flat character arc and what that entails. 

We have an understanding of the core concept of character arcs – in particular, the typical Positive Change Arc – and the general plot line that follows with it: 

• Character has a belief  

• Character is placed within a set of trials and tribulations that test their view 

• Character has an altered or complete change in their previous belief 

Throughout the journey, the audience watches as the character grows after learning a thematic truth, becoming connected to their journey whilst entwining the character within the narrative. The truth they may find could be a universal one or just a reflection on themselves, urging the audience to change themselves in alignment with the character undergoing the arc. Extending from this, Negative Change Arcs also follow a similar structure; however, the character succumbs to a weakness or flaw, leading to a personal decline that ends them in a more morally compromised or tragic state than at the start, which is utilised in many a tragedy (Shakespeare, I’m onto you). 

The Flat Character Arc, in contrast to this, takes a different approach: rather than the character’s beliefs having a fundamental change due to the events within the story, these beliefs become the force that changes the world around them. Thereby, the growth isn’t centred on the protagonist themself, but rather on the people and events surrounding them. A nuance to distinguish, however, is how a flat arc doesn’t mean that the character is unable to develop. They can still mature, gain a greater understanding of others and respond differently to situations without fundamentally abandoning the beliefs that define them. 

Sonic is one of many protagonists who fit under this specific arc, an arc that spans across the entirety of the game series. 

In his earliest appearances, initially in Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), the blue hedgehog’s character was relatively simple. He was established as a fast, confident, and independent hero, driven by the desire for freedom and a willingness to help other innocent animals against the established antagonist of the series, Dr. Robotnik. With a lack of dialogue, these traits had to be communicated through his actions and the tiny details game developers embedded within the plot. Whilst this made it harder to flesh out the character within the franchise, along with a larger emphasis on gameplay to rival other rising game heroes, the original games did an incredible job of creating the foundation for Sonic’s values and beliefs.  

This foundation will become increasingly important as the franchise expands beyond its relatively simple beginnings. 

In Sonic Adventure, and by extension Sonic Adventure 2, we begin to see Sonic’s personality expressed more explicitly throughout the gameplay and storyline. He is a confident, rebellious, sarcastic and easy-going character, with the use of dialogue making these far more explicit. His casual attitude towards danger and tendency to challenge those around him establish him as a character who is self-assured without taking himself too seriously, a reflection of his confidence from the original games whilst keeping the cool and edgy attitude. Rather than simply being implied through gameplay, these qualities are now directly communicated through Sonic’s dialogue and interactions, giving the audience a much clearer understanding of the values behind his actions. Yet, these games establish Sonic’s core personality as consistent, making his later characterisation highly effective as he traverses greater challenges. 

Thus, despite the understanding that character growth is such a pivotal part in most storytelling, there is something particularly endearing about a character that remains consistent with their fundamental values. No matter how much the world around Sonic changes, there is a reassurance in knowing that his core morals remain intact, continuing to approach every dilemma with the same confidence, rebelliousness, and determination that defined him from the beginning. 

Going back to the idea of the positive and negative character arcs, the flat arc isn’t necessarily good or bad, allowing for a middle ground that can showcase the flaws of the character without labelling them as wholly good or wholly bad. This becomes increasingly apparent in Sonic and the Black Knight, which explores Sonic’s characterisation by directly challenging his belief in freedom and change. 

The main conflict surrounds Merlina, a sorceress who learns her world is destined to eventually end. Fearful of losing everything she cares for, she attempts to transform it into an eternal place, ultimately steeping it in darkness and evil. However, Sonic opposes her as he has a firm belief that this inevitability of an end makes life worth living, and thus leads to the final boss battle with Merlina over the conflict between differing ideologies. 

This is a major aspect of flat character arcs – these values that a character may hold, no matter how relatively good or bad they may seem under varying circumstances, never change despite the pressure they are put under, as seen in this instance. Sonic ultimately remains committed to his worldview, despite the motivations behind Merlina’s actions that make her position more sympathetic. This highlights how the character within the flat arc may not be objectively “right” in the eyes of others, but instead remains committed to what he believes is “right”. This flawed nature makes Sonic a more complex protagonist rather than the standard “good guy” we see in much of modern media. 

However, talking about the good also drags the bad along with it: the 2010s marked one of the biggest declines in the franchise, especially in Sonic’s characterisation. This scoped-out character essentially becomes watered down to a [S]hadow of himself. His humour becomes too overused, his confidence becomes arrogance, and the Sonic that older fans loved and cherished was a figment of the past. 

A huge example of this (though there are quite a few to choose from, unfortunately) would be Lost World, a game that introduced six new antagonists, The Deadly Six. Whilst I believe this had the potential to be a great game which could utilise the previously established in-depth characterisation of Sonic to frame these antagonists as a new threat to his world and friends, the game’s constant reliance on humour often undermined the seriousness of the conflict. Sonic’s sarcastic personality can be entertaining, but when his quips are repeatedly used during moments that should establish the Deadly Six as a genuine threat, the villains can begin to feel less intimidating and more like a comedy outlet. Whilst I did enjoy some of the characterisation this brought to Sonic as a witty persona, the lack of balance between his humour and the seriousness of the situation makes it difficult for the story to give its antagonists the weight they need. 

Unfortunately, this became a running gag through these years, where Sonic’s defining traits were increasingly separated from the values that originally made him compelling. And yet, I believe this was a pivotal moment in understanding the importance of using the flat arc correctly, as it demonstrated one of the biggest dangers of the flat character arc: mistaking consistency for stagnation. 

Consistency can become too repetitive if the character’s core values are reduced to nothing more than a caricature of the nuanced views they once held. Sonic remains consistent in his beliefs, but this should not reflect into how he reacts within every situation. Once every scene ended with the same sarcastic responses and quick quips, the line between humour and what should carry narrative weight became blurred, weakening the impact of both aspects of the character. Therefore, the underlying problem is not that Sonic remains the same, but how the writing can make him feel like he has nowhere to go and thus, have no impact on those around him. 

And this is where the flat character arc has the potential to fail – when the protagonist’s one-dimensional characterisation causes a lack of change within the storyline and a lack of impact on the audience. 

But this also reveals the other side of the flat arc: Sonic’s lack of fundamental change can create opportunities for the characters around him to develop. 

Perhaps the greatest potential of Sonic’s flat arc is that his development does not have to happen entirely within himself. It can happen through the people around him, as shown in many games, including Sonic Adventure 2 with Shadow, Sonic 06 with Silver and many other characters within the franchise. 

Perhaps one of the best examples of this effect is within one of the more recent games, Sonic Frontiers. Despite its flaws, this game has become more reputable due to its tackling of Sonic’s characterisation as a mentor and guide for his friends, helping them take on their own positive character arcs. 

Tails is perhaps the clearest example of this. Beginning as someone who idolises the blue hedgehog, Tails wants to develop into a more independent character, wanting to trust his own abilities rather than constantly relying on Sonic. They still share an essentially brotherly bond, yet Sonic’s consistency as a mature and supportive mentor-like figure is crucial to Tails’ personal development: he acts as someone Tails can be inspired by without overshadowing his growth. Despite the tragic lack of character development within Sonic Forces, which completely destroys this exact arc that had been previously established in the games, Tails can finally become his own separate character: no longer simply following Sonic but being his own hero. 

Knuckles provides a different contrast: the two also share a bond filled with clever humour aimed towards one another, presenting their connection to each other as strong and friendly. However, in comparison to the 2010s, when Sonic was unable to balance wit with empathy, within the game, he is able to support Knuckles at a pivotal moment in the story. While Sonic is constantly driven by freedom and the desire to keep moving forward, Knuckles is burdened by his heavy responsibility to guard the Master Emerald. At this time, the echidna comes to the realisation that he wants to align with some of Sonic’s ongoing values, not by completely ridding himself of his responsibilities but by becoming more adventurous in his life. 

Finally, Amy’s development similarly benefits from Sonic’s consistency. While her debut presented her with a strong admiration for Sonic, her character gradually becomes less defined by simply following him, in a similar light to Tails. She gains her own sense of compassion, independence, and responsibility, particularly as she becomes more willing to help others before Sonic leads the way. However, Sonic still acts as a grounding and deeply protective anchor for Amy, shifting their dynamic from a one-sided pursuit into a mutual bond of profound respect and care. Thereby, Sonic acts less as the character who changes Amy and more as a constant presence within her own development as we see her own personal growth of kindness through her actions to help others. 

This is where Sonic’s flat arc becomes particularly useful. His consistency gives other characters the space to grow, without Sonic himself needing to change, providing an interesting dynamic between all the characters that still pushes the story forward. Sonic Frontiers also demonstrates that Sonic can still develop a greater sense of maturity and awareness without stripping away the traits that make him recognisable, a key nuance of the flat arc. He is still confident, humorous, and independent, but he is more willing to listen to his friends and take their concerns seriously, having a deeper impact on the audience as we continue to see how his strong moral compass helps others for the better without overshadowing them. 

To conclude, Sonic’s flat character arc is neither inherently good nor bad; rather, its effectiveness depends on what writers choose to do with it. When his confidence, humour and rebelliousness are used without purpose, his consistency can quickly become repetition. But when those traits are grounded in his core values, they give the characters and stories around him something to develop against. 

And after 35 years, the franchise has certainly changed in many ways. The games, the characters, and even the way Sonic himself is written have changed. But there is still something strangely reassuring about knowing that, wherever the next adventure takes him, the beloved blue hedgehog will probably be there, running headfirst into whatever problem comes next, steadfast in his beliefs despite all the turmoil he faces. 

And I can’t wait to see where his story takes him in the years to come. 

Some cool analysis videos that nerd out about Sonic’s characterisation over the years: 

Sonic the Hedgehog: A Perfect Character (Video Essay) 

Why Sonic’s Character Is Phenomenal In Sonic Frontiers 

Sonic’s Lost Personality – YouTube 

More cool analysis pieces that nerd out about the Flat Character Arc: 

Flat Character Arcs: The Unsung Heroes of Storytelling 

How to Write Character Arcs – Helping Writers Become Authors 

Why Your Story Needs Flat Character Arcs –