Welcome to the Archive site of The Sonic Stadium (2008-2023)
Please note that this site is no longer being updated or maintained; as a result, there may be design issues, and links to images and other media may be broken. Links to posts may redirect you to the same article on the current Sonic Stadium website.
Tyson Hesse has revealed that he has been working on Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as a character design lead and storyboard supervisor. He announced it alongside an epic looking piece of art, posted below.
Hesse, notably, was brought in to work on the first Sonic movie, where he redesigned Sonic himself and also developed the design for other characters such as Tails and the echidnas.
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Sonic the Hedgehog artist and animator Tyson Hesse, best known for his work in Sonic Mania, the Sonic Movie and a number of official Sonic animations, has confirmed that he is not involved in the upcoming Netflix-produced Sonic cartoon.
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Character designer and popular Sonic artist Tyson Hesse will be returning once again to Blur studios for the sequel to the Sonic movie. Along with him with be will storyboard artist Fill Marc.
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The Sonic Stadium may link to retailers and earn a small commission on purchases made from users who click those links. These links will only appear in articles related to the product, in an unobtrusive manner, and do not influence our editorial decisions in any way.
The Sonic Stadium sped its way down to the premiere fan screening of Sonic the Hedgehog Movie in London late last month, for a chance to catch the film in its entirety before general release on Friday, 14th of February 2020!
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If you’ve been sleeping under a purple rock in Green Hill Zone, here’s an update for you: the latest trailer for the Sonic Movie is out, and it features a fully redesigned Sonic! On top of that, a long-held suspicion that a certain well-known artist in the Sonic community was involved has finally been confirmed!
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Comicbook recently sat down with Yukio Kusumoto, producer of the Sonic Mania Adventures and Team Sonic Racing: Overdrive animated shorts. The interview, amongst a treasure trove of other facts, summarized how Sonic Mania came to be.
The idea came about after the Sonic Boom TV show wrapped up.
The team wanted to create a short-form companion piece for a game.
Sonic Mania had recently released and the physical release was up-coming, so the short-form content was made for that.
Mentions that there are 6 episodes of Sonic Mania Adventures “so far” and that its been a great success.
Sonic Mania is a game all about nostalgia and they wanted to find a creator who’s all about Sonic. It wasn’t hard to find a fit for the project and eventually they found Tyson Hesse, who’s worked on some Sega projects on and off and was a storyboard artist at the time.
They wanted to replicate the original world of Sonic, and realize it in the style of a 90’s Saturday morning cartoon. They decided to go with traditional hand-drawn animation.
They wanted a style close to the game, but is also original and not too polished with a “for the fans, by the fans” feel.
They worked for months designing the characters and worked closely with Takashi Iizuka, the head of product development.
[EDIT: Tyson Hesse also chimed in on the story via Twitter, also crediting Sonic Social Manager Aaron Webber for his part in the realisation of Sonic Mania Adventures:
He isn’t mentioned here, but the story of Mania Adventures can’t be told without mentioning Aaron Webber, tbh. Without his championing internally for the value of it there wouldn’t have been animation for Sonic social at all.”
Thanks to Aaron and the many unsung heroes of Sonic Mania and beyond! – AT]
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Comic books, especially Sonic comics, traditionally have major events, special stories, or cool covers every 25thissue. By the looks of things, IDW’s iteration of Sonic looks to continue that tradition with this new cover from Tyson Hesse featuring every major character from the series. Hesse has done work on various Sonic comics in the past and recently directed the Sonic Mania Adventures animated web series.
There’s no solicitation to go with this one. Check out the cover below!
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Video game art dealers Cook & Becker have teased an image of the Mighty the Armadillo artwork from Sonic Mania alongside concept sketches from the animatics, in what looks to be a brand-new Sonic the Hedgehog art book!
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SEGA released the second part of their Team Sonic Racing: Overdrive animated short series earlier today. Directed by Tyson Hesse and animated by Neko Productions, the short sees Team Sonic and Team Shadow battle for first place. Which team will prevail? Find out in the video below! Continue reading Sonic and Friends Battle it Out in Part 2 of Team Sonic Racing: Overdrive
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Did you enjoy Sonic Mania Adventures? Do you want more? Well, SEGA’s got a heck of a gift for you: a surprise holiday special! This special, like the rest of the series, is written and directed by Tyson Hesse, with music from Tee Lopes and animation from Neko Productions.
The special is embedded below:
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Following the developer diary videos, the latest installment of the behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Sonic Mania universe focuses on the creation of the Sonic Mania Adventures shorts, narrated by director Tyson Hesse. Check out the video below!
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To celebrate the release of Sonic Mania Plus, the conclusion of Sonic Mania Adventures is now out for your viewing pleasure!
Will Sonic and Tails be able to defeat Dr. Eggman? Will Ray and Mighty showdown with Metal Sonic? Will Knuckles ever retrieve the Master Emerald? Check out the finale below!
You can also watch all 5 episodes back-to-back:
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Part 4 of 5 of Sonic Mania Adventures has hit YouTube today – with this episode chronicling Ray’s search for Mighty! But watch out Ray – someone is in hot pursuit!
Catch the latest episode above.
Sonic Mania Adventures features character art from Tyson Hesse, music from Tee Lopes, and animation from Neko Productions.
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SEGA have announced today that the release date of Sonic Mania Plus is Tuesday July 17th 2018 for both Europe and North America.
Along with the announcement comes a new animated trailer featuring the two new protagonists, Mighty and Ray, animated once again by Tyson Hesse.
The trailer and the images in the gallery show more of the gameplay fans can expect in Mania Plus, including Mighty’s ability to destroy obsticles, and Ray’s ability to glide. In addition to this, the new “Encore mode” provides fresh looks and challenges in already established zones in the games, alonside a 4-player competition mode.
Those looking to get a glimpse of the physical release can also check out images of the reversable cover art (including a retro Genesis cover) and the artbook to be packaged in a holographic cover.
For those who already own the digital version of Sonic Mania, the Encore DLC pack will be available via stores for £3.99 to upgrade the game to Plus.
As always, stay tuned to TSS for more information on Sonic Mania Plus as it comes!
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Live from SXSW, SEGA has revealed a new series of Sonic Mania-themed animated shorts. The series will comprise 5 episodes which will be shown on YouTube, created by the same team that created the Sonic Mania opening short, headed by the one-and-only Tyson Hesse, and soundtracked by Mania composer Tee Lopes.
The short series will take place after Sonic Forces, and will cover what happened to classic Sonic after he returned to his world after the events of Sonic Forces.
The first episode of Sonic Mania Adventures will debut in the next 30 days.
UPDATE: The Sonic the Hedgehog Youtube has released a 30 second sample of the series:
Check out the array of concept art for the series shown at SXSW in the gallery below!
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Charity Fan Magazine Green Hill Zine, a charity comic project comprising 70+ pages of artwork from every zone in Sonic 1, 2, 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic CD has opened Pre-orders for both the digital and physical releases.
The zine includes artworks from artists approached for the project including Sonic Mania team members Tom Fry, Paul Veer and Midio, alongside the likes of future IDW cover artist NathalieFourdraine, animator and Archie comic artist Tyson Hesse, and a host of other talent selected through a submission process last year.
All proceeds will go to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmentalist group whose many missions include the protection of the worldwide environment and wildlife.
Pre-Orders for the Zine are now open via the Green Hill Zine site, where either obtain a digital version of the zine for $10, or a physical edition can be purchased for $25 plus shipping. The zine can be purchased over the next fortnight until February 15th, 2018. The comic will be released between March and April 2018.
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If you were planning on going to South by Southwest this year, you’re in luck: SEGA is returning to the event with another Sonic panel. Gotta Go Fast: The Official Sonic the Hedgehog Panel, will feature several prominent behind the Sonic the Hedgehog brand, including Sonic Team Head Takashi Iizuka, Sonic Social Media Manager Aaron Webber, Sonic Western Product Development Director Austin Keys, and Sonic comic artist/Sonic Mania Animation Director Tyson Hesse. Continue reading Takashi Iizuka and Tyson Hesse to Star in SXSW 2018 Sonic Panel
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It has been revealed at IDW’s Sonic Comic Town Hall panel (live-streamed by TSSZ), that Ian Flynn will be the lead writer. Fans of the later Archie Sonic comics will be pleased to see Flynn return to his role as creator of Sonic comic story lines.
While details on the comic from the panel has been sparse so far, it has been announced that the new Sonic comic will be in its own continuity and will start with a new number one with “brand new stories.” The comic will launch April 4th, 2018 with the first four issues released on a weekly basis, continuing on monthly.
While Flynn’s involvement as lead writer has been confirmed, no other names have been mentioned at the time of this writing.
UPDATE: IDW has released a high quality version of the Tysone Hesse teaser image alongside their press release.
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News hot off the floor at this year’s New York Comic Con has revealed images of a flyer advertising IDW’s highly anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog comic, the successor to the long-running Archie series, featuring artwork by the multi-talented artist and animator Tyson Hesse (see below!).
The flyer contains the following message on it’s reverse:
Thank you for joining us for the first ever IDW/Sonic Town Hall!
IDW and SEGA are proud to bring you an all-new chapter of Sonic the Hedgehog comics! After more than 25 years, Sonic’s adventures have captured the imaginations of countless fans, and have inspired one of the most passionate fan bases in the world. We look forward to bringing you brand-new stories, featuring characters old and new, that continue this proud legacy of the fastest comics around!
SPEEDING YOUR WAY APRIL 2018!
Undoubtedly fans will be excited to see Hesse return to Sonic following the success of his involvement in the Archie comics and Sonic Mania, and will likely lead to speculation as to which names from the old guard of Sonic comics might be making a return via the IDW publication. More information is likely to come to light over the course of the comic con and the panel on the 8th of October, and as always TSS will keep you up to date with information as it is revealed!
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It’s been the lifelong dream of many Sonic fans to work at SEGA or with the Sonic brand in some official capacity, and in many ways, Tyson Hesse has achieved it.
Back when Archie Comics still published their Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Universe serials, Hesse was brought on board during the later years as one of many great artists behind each carefully crafted page. His beloved take on Classic Sonic soon led to him pencilling the unfortunately ill-fated Sonic: MEGA DRIVE comics, and later directing not only the animation for Sonic Mania‘s preorder trailer, but the official opening for the game as well.
However, there was a time before all of this, a simpler time, when a certain Boxer Hockey wove a masterpiece of a tale – a dramatic epic with running, giants, robots, chases, escapes, True Love, miracles, and finally…
…magical kitsunes and rock-hard fist-nipples.
For Mania Week’s Freak-Out Friday, we take another look back at Hesse’s legendary Sonic’s Adventure, as animated by Bocodamondo back in 2012. Enjoy!
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While today’s leak of Sonic Mania will have us dodging spoilers for the next five days, there is one upside to it: SEGA has decided to release Sonic Mania’s opening animation early! Originally scheduled for the 14th, this animation continues where the animated pre-order trailer left off. Like the pre-order trailer, this was directed by former Archie Sonic artist Tyson Hesse. Continue reading VIDEO: Sonic Mania Opening Animation Officially Released
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San Diego Comic Con played host to the Sonic Mania Development team yesterday, in a panel that included Takashi Iizuka, programmers Christian Whitehead and Simon Thomley, alongside lead artist Tom Fry, composer Tee Lopes and SEGA community manager Aaron Webber. Our man in the field Jason Berry was at the panel, and captured the events as they happened via The Sonic Stadium Twitter. Continue reading SDCC Sonic Mania Panel Roundup & Special Stage Reveal
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In more than ten years of writing for The Sonic Stadium, this article has by far consumed the most time, and required the most revisions. I guess this is because sometimes it’s hard to really convey what you mean when you’re in love, and I can say without a doubt that I am already in love with Sonic Mania. Continue reading The Spin: Sonic Maniacs In The Making
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Today has brought with it a spate of new information on Sonic Mania, which has been officially confirmed for worldwide release on August 15, 2017 for Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC, the latter of which can now be pre-ordered through the Steam store.Continue reading New Animated Sonic Mania Trailer, Digital Pre-Orders Live
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Archie’s fastest selling Sonic the Hedgehog comic is due to make its way to trade paperback format in the Summer following the release of the third and final installment in the arc, Mega Drive: Overdrive. Many fans who have had difficulty in obtaining the sold-out first issue will be pleased, and probably not surprised these comics will be making their way to this format. Continue reading Summer 2017 Release for Archie Sonic: Mega Drive Trade Paperback
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There were a lot of ways to celebrate Sonic’s 25 years, and fans of the classics have certainly had their attention caught by Archie Comics when the Sonic: Mega Drive #1 special was released during the summer. The commemorative comic depicted Genesis-era Sonic and friends in a brand new adventure as Eggman seeks relics known as the Ancient Gears to power his MEGADRIVE doomsday device.
The sequel issue—The Next Level #1—is expected to release in November, but you can enjoy a taste of its awesome artwork early thanks to an exclusive preview from Comic Book Resources. Check out the gallery below for some Tyson Hesse and Matt Herms goodness!
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In an interview with Sonic Archie comics editor Vincent Lovallo, IGN have revealed a first look at the upcoming Sonic: Mega Drive comic – and a follow up issue debuting later in the year, “Sonic: Mega Drive – The Next Level”.
The new one-shot special, created especially to celebrate Sonic’s 25th Anniversary, takes readers back in time to Sonic’s classic days set after the Death Egg saga. Sonic must take on Eggman once more to destroy his new machine of destruction – The MEGADRIVE.
As well as debuting first images of the issue, Lovallo also revealed Mega Drive #1 will be followed by another special, titled “The Next Level”. Though no specifics were shared, the comic will pick up immediately after the events of Mega Drive #1 and potentially feature Metal Sonic as the antagonist, as teased in the cover debut.
Written by Archie Sonic veteran Ian Flynn and art by Tyson Hesse, the story is said to combine “traditional comic storytelling with the structure of an actual Sonic game” with potential for an ongoing series if demand is there. The adventure will take Sonic to new lands, and shed some light on the “the bonds he has made with his friends in previous games”.
Lovallo also touches briefly on the possibility of an Archie adaption of an upcoming anniversary title – which they’d be more than down for.
That would be awesome and we are totally down to do it at Sonic speed!
“Sonic: Mega Drive #1” will debut July 6th, with “The Next Level” following further into 2016. You can check out all of today’s released art of the upcoming comic in our gallery below.
The Sonic Stadium may link to retailers and earn a small commission on purchases made from users who click those links. These links will only appear in articles related to the product, in an unobtrusive manner, and do not influence our editorial decisions in any way.
The Sonic Stadium may link to retailers and earn a small commission on purchases made from users who click those links. These links will only appear in articles related to the product, in an unobtrusive manner, and do not influence our editorial decisions in any way.