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Sonic The Adhog

Discussion in 'General Sonic Discussion' started by Linkabel, Apr 27, 2013.

  1. Linkabel

    Linkabel

    Member
    One of the purposes of Sonic's creation was to be Sega's icon in not only games, but also in other mediums. Teaming up with other companies and using Sonic as a promotional figure happens to be one of those mediums.

    Sonic became insanely popular when he first appeared on the scene back in 1991, so my question is....just how many promotions has Sonic appeared in?

    I'll start with the most known promotions and other ones that are a little bit obscure.

    1. Sonic & McDonald's
    [​IMG]
    Eat it bitch.

    From what I know, Sega and McDonald's first partnership came in 1994 when Sonic The Hedgehog 3 came out. The promotion consisted of giving out five toys: A Sonic The Hedgehog toy launcher toy, a Knuckles The Echidna spinner, a Tails helicopter, an Eggman toy and the one everyone forgets, a Sonic ball. There was also a toy that came out that will connect to the "Happy Meal anniversary train."
    [​IMG]

    Sega will again join forces with McDonad's in 2003/2004 to give out LCD games promoting various mediums like Sonic X/ Sonic Adventure DX/Sonic Heroes. Other regions got this promotion later on.

    2. Sonic & Canal +

    While reading the history of Sonic book I encountered a segment about Sega France signing a contract with Canal + to show Sonic animations before an advertising spot. This apparently took place in 1993:


    3. Sonic & Coca-Cola

    Apparently in the UK there was a promotion that if you send Coca-Cola labels you were able to get a Sonic themed varsity jacket or a hat (I'm not so sure about that though). Apparently there was also pin given away at MGM Cannon Cinemas?

    I actually have all three of these items, but if a member from the UK wants to jump in and say how you were able to get them, then by all means go ahead. Apparently this partnership was not only limited to the UK but it happened throughout various places in the world like Australia, Israel and Germany.

    There also seemed to be a Japanese Coca-Cola promotion when Sonic Adventure debuted back in the 90s, this one I know nothing about.
    [​IMG]

    4. Sonic & Progressive
    It seemed that after Sonic's big year he became a household name again. In the beginning of 2012 he came out in commercials for Progressive:


    5. Sonic Shuffle Gum

    I don't know if a lot of people will remember this because I barely do. Around the time when Sonic Shuffle was going to come out, Sega did a contest with *insert gum brand* where if you won Sonic will visit your school with a Dreamcast game truck.

    Obviously, Sonic Shuffle was going to be one of the games people would be able to play, but I believe other games were going to be featured. The box where the gum was kept, and the packaging itself, had this drawing on it along with the Sonic Shuffle logo.

    6. Sonic & Nike
    [​IMG]
    Make the shoes happen already!

    I still remember waking up that day and a friend telling me that Sonic came out in a Nike video. I went to the Sonic Stadium to make a thread about it and the rest is history. A game was put in the "My time is now" trailer where viewers were told to follow the tunnels and look for clues during the video.

    You took control of Sonic running around with a soccer ball beating badniks in Green Hill!

    There's other promotions I left out like the Soap shoes, Cheerios and the Dreams Come True concert promotion. But I'm sure there's way more promotions out there that we are forgetting.

    Anyone else has others that they might want to add?
     
  2. Vangar

    Vangar

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    There was also some electronic toys from McDonalds, and TOMY electronic games. There has been Sonic Spaghetti and Sonic Xtreme Ice creams and stickers with ice blocks.
     
  3. Mecha Sally

    Mecha Sally

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    I've never seen the Tails McDonalds toy with that UFO base before. Mine has a completely different base. Was that only in certain countries?

    There's a few more I remember that were listed in Sonic Jam's Hall of Fame thing:
    The SEGA/Cherry Coke Summer Tour in 1993 (had a giant Sonic balloon)
    SEGA sponsoring JEF United (a Japanese soccer team, had Sonic on their uniforms)
    SEGA sponsoring the Formula 1 Grand Prix (another Sonic balloon was featured)
     
  4. Linkabel

    Linkabel

    Member
    Oh that pasta was sometimes delicious and sometimes it sucked. I always kick myself for not keeping the cans.
    [​IMG]

    Also the commercials for it were so 90s weird.
     
  5. gold lightning

    gold lightning

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    Sorry
     
  6. ashthedragon

    ashthedragon

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    Sega did some advertising in Spain with Sonic. They used to donate money at each year's TV charity event that used to be a tradition at the 90's, and they used to send a guy in a Sonic costume to the event. They also sponsored a TV show called " Al Ataque" back at the 90's.

    Also, there are some Sonic branded colognes exclusive to Spain, and Sonic also appeared at "bollicao" ( a sweet bun brand) stickers back at 1991.
    [​IMG]

    Here are some of those stickers. There was not only the ABC's, also some regular Sonic art. Sadly, I've never seen a complete collection of this, as it not only included Sonic letters and art, but also random SEGA games cover arts.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    There were also Tazos ( pogs in English, I think?) from Sonic X, at Bollicao too.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. GeneHF

    GeneHF

    SEGA-ier than you'll potentially ever be. Site Staff
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    Surprised no one's mentioned this, as it's usually #1

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDDP9OXF354

    Other than that, keeping on cereal, there were some Sonic themed pogs released in certain boxes of General Mills cereals. I remember getting a ton from boxes of Cookie Crisp.

    Sonic's also had gum packets shaped like Game Gears with collectible trading cards, random merch like backpacks, and hilariously deformed ice cream pops. You know, the usual schtick for a cash cow mascot.
     
  8. ICEknight

    ICEknight

    Researcher Researcher
    They also sponsored the original run of Humor Amarillo (Takeshi's Castle) when the first game was released, moving Sonic's mouth in the title logo to make him "talk", if memory serves.
     
  9. MooMoo

    MooMoo

    Leader Bean Member
    I had this one in the UK, it's meant to be the Marble Garden blue spinny thing you stand on. Does that even have a name? It was a bitch to get the toy to actually move, anyway.

    I also remember pasta shapes, but in the UK they were HP, and had a Marble Zone style label. I also have a vague memory of Sonic labeled Daddies Ketchup.
     
  10. Snowfire

    Snowfire

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    I remember Hardee's selling a Sonic mini-viewfinder toy, around the time Sonic & Knuckles was out. I had one of them, but its probably lost somewhere. I know some of the art in the Rare Art topic was in it however.
     
  11. Azookara

    Azookara

    yup Member
    I thought the SOAP shoe ones were the biggest, most obvious ones to bring up. After all, they were the only sort of legit advertisement that was in an actual Sonic game.
     
  12. Rosie

    Rosie

    aka Rosie Member
    And there's that a key part of Knuckles' design came from a Nike deal that fell through.
     
  13. ashthedragon

    ashthedragon

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    Is there any proof of that? Because I've heard it a lot of times, but have never seen any official say on that...
     
  14. MooMoo

    MooMoo

    Leader Bean Member
    I'd have thought the most obvious in game advert would be the Olympic games. :T
     
  15. Mecha Sally

    Mecha Sally

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    I actually have one of those Game Gear things in my desk drawer right now, with the trading cards still there. They had tips for the Game Gear games printed on them. Still have some of those Cookie Crips pogs too.

    That's what it's supposed to be? Would never have guessed.
    Actually, it seems that toy worked totally different from the U.S. one:
    [​IMG]

    You had to pull the string and Tails would launch into the air. Was lots of fun, although the last time I used mine it seemed to not work right anymore. =/
     
  16. Lord Nero

    Lord Nero

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    Wasn't that just a design choice based off the logo though? That's all I remember in regards to Knuckles' "chest design", not some deal that didn't go through.
     
  17. Mike Arcade

    Mike Arcade

    Free Scriber of Mobius Member
    I don't have a picture of it (that and I lost the two toys I had), but I do remember Wendy's having Sonic the hedgehog kids meal toys as well. I believe there were 3 or 4 but I had two, one with Knuckles that was pretty much like an action figure (with removable dreads of all things) and Sonic with wheels on the bottom.
     
  18. Linkabel

    Linkabel

    Member
    Actually, it was Jack in the Box that had that promotion. It was part of Sega advertising their "Sega PC" line by giving out figures based on Sonic, Knuckles, Ecco and Bug:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    You could also get "limited editon" games of Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic & Knuckles collection for the PC. Though I also remember that they advertise Sonic R, Bug! and Ecco along with some other game.
    [​IMG]

    Also I'm not sure if you're confusing Wendy's with Denny's, because they had a Sonic & Knuckles promotion also. The prize, of all things, was a Sonic Underground plush.
    [​IMG]

    Someone at the Stadium also remembered that Sonic came out in Fruit Roll Ups:
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Glaber

    Glaber

    Has Beaten Sonic Genesis for GBA Oldbie
    in the early issues of Archie Sonic, there were adds for Life Savers using Sonic for a contest promotion.
     
  20. I busted my lip real bad pulling the string on that one. No joke. I heard they got recalled for that exact problem.