Sonic the Hedgehog, often referred to simply as Sonic, is a video game character created by Sega in 1991. He is the main protagonist of numerous video games, animated series, and comic books. Sonic is a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog who travels at superhuman speeds and uses his abilities to thwart the plans of his nemesis, Dr. Eggman. Sonic was created to be Sega's flagship character, a mascot to rival Nintendo's Mario. He became an instant hit due to his speed, attitude, and cool design, and has since become one of the most recognizable video game characters of all time. The character has since transcended video games, appearing in numerous other media, including movies, TV shows, and comics. Sonic remains a beloved and iconic character to this day.