Shadow the Hedgehog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shadow the Hedgehog |
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| Sonic the Hedgehog character | |
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| First appearance | Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) |
| Created by |
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| Voiced by | English
Kōji Yusa (2001–present) |
| Information | |
| Species | Hedgehog |
| Gender | Male |
| Origin | Space Colony ARK |
| Weight | 35 kg (77 lb) |
| Height | 100 cm (3 ft 3½ in) |
Shadow the Hedgehog is a cool character from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog games. He is a black hedgehog who looks a lot like Sonic. Shadow was first seen in the game Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001.
Even though he was only supposed to be in one game, fans loved him. So, the game creators, Sonic Team, brought him back. Shadow has been in many Sonic games since then. He even got his own game called Shadow the Hedgehog in 2005. You can also find him in Sonic movies, TV shows, comics, and toys.
In the Sonic world, Shadow is a special hedgehog. He was created by Professor Gerald Robotnik. Gerald was the grandfather of Doctor Eggman, Sonic's enemy. Shadow promised his friend Maria he would protect the world.
Shadow is an antihero. This means he wants to do good things, but he will do anything to reach his goals. Sometimes, this puts him against Sonic. Shadow can run super fast, just like Sonic. But Shadow also uses vehicles and weapons in some games.
People have different opinions about Shadow. Many fans think he is one of the best video game characters. Guinness World Records even named him one of the greatest in 2011. Some game writers liked his role in Sonic Adventure 2. Others did not like his dark personality as much. His own game, Shadow the Hedgehog, sold well but got mixed reviews.
About Shadow
Shadow is a black hedgehog who appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog games. These games are known as platform games. He first showed up in Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001. This was the last Sonic game for the Sega Dreamcast console.
Shadow's role changes in different games. In some, he is a main character you can play as. These include Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes (2003), and Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). He is the main hero in his own game, Shadow the Hedgehog (2005). He also appears in a special download for Sonic Forces (2017). In other games, like Sonic Generations (2011), he is a character you cannot play.
In the games, Shadow is a mysterious and serious antihero. He wants to keep the world safe from danger. But he does not like humans very much. Once he decides on a goal, he will do whatever it takes to achieve it. This can make him take risks. It also often puts him against Sonic.
Shadow usually works alone. But he sometimes teams up with others. He works with the treasure hunter Rouge the Bat. He also works with the robot E-123 Omega. They are a team in games like Sonic Heroes and Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). Shadow also helps Doctor Eggman in some games.
Shadow and Sonic are very similar. They both look alike, but Shadow has darker fur. He has sharper eyes and a serious look. Sonic is like Superman, and Shadow is like Batman. They both run super fast and have similar skills.
Shadow has special powers too. He can use the Chaos Emeralds. With them, he can do "Chaos Control." This lets him bend time and space. He can also make weapons like spears. Like Sonic, Shadow can turn into a "Super" form. This gives him even more powers.
How Shadow Was Made
Shadow was created by Takashi Iizuka and Shiro Maekawa. Iizuka was the director and Maekawa was the writer for Sonic Adventure 2. The idea for Shadow came up when they were making the first Sonic Adventure game. They wanted a rival for Sonic in a future game.
When they started working on Sonic Adventure 2, they found a use for Shadow. The game had a story about "good versus evil." Shadow fit perfectly into this idea. At first, Shadow's name was "Terios." This name means "reflection of," because he was like Sonic's double.
The creators wanted Shadow to be as "cool" as Sonic. Maekawa decided on the design of a black hedgehog. But it was hard to figure out his personality. One night, Maekawa thought of Shadow's first line: "Hmph, aren't you the fake one here?" This helped shape Shadow's subtle character.
Sonic Adventure 2 was supposed to be Shadow's only game. But fans loved him so much. So, he came back in Sonic Heroes in 2003. The creators also wanted to make a game just for Shadow. In 2005, they wanted to make a fast-paced shooter game. They thought Shadow was the perfect character for this type of game. This led to the creation of Shadow the Hedgehog.
Later, in the 2006 game Sonic the Hedgehog, they changed Shadow's gameplay. He focused more on fighting enemies. Sonic was for speed, but Shadow was for combat. Shadow did not appear as a playable character in a main Sonic game for a while. But he returned in Sonic Forces in 2017. The creators brought him back because he is very popular with fans.
Shadow has different voice actors. In Japan, Kōji Yusa voices him. In English, his voice has changed over time. David Humphrey was the first. Then Jason Griffith voiced him, including in the Sonic X TV show. Since 2010, Kirk Thornton has been Shadow's English voice.
Shadow's Story
In the Sonic world, Shadow the Hedgehog is an artificial being. He was created by Professor Gerald Robotnik. Gerald used genetic engineering to make him. He hoped Shadow could help cure his granddaughter, Maria, from a serious illness.
Shadow and Maria became very close friends. But the government saw Shadow as a danger. Shadow was put into a deep sleep. A military group, G.U.N., killed Maria while Shadow tried to protect her. Maria's death made Shadow very sad. He promised her he would protect the world.
In Sonic Adventure 2, Doctor Eggman finds Shadow and wakes him up. Eggman wants to take over the world. Shadow agrees to help Eggman. He even makes it look like Sonic is doing bad things. But Shadow later remembers his promise to Maria. He then teams up with Sonic to save the world. After a big fight, Shadow falls to Earth from space.
Everyone thinks Shadow is gone until Sonic Heroes. Rouge the Bat finds him alive in Eggman's base. Shadow cannot remember much, only his name and Maria's death. He joins Rouge and E-123 Omega to find Eggman and learn about his past.
In Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow still has trouble remembering things. He gets caught in a war between Eggman, G.U.N., and aliens called the Black Arms. Shadow can choose which side to help. By the end of the game, Shadow remembers everything. He learns that Gerald made him using the blood of the alien leader, Black Doom. Black Doom tries to control him, but Shadow fights back and defeats him. After this, Shadow decides to move forward. In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), he is shown working with G.U.N.
Shadow in Other Media
Shadow also appears outside the video games. He is in the anime TV show Sonic X. This show tells the stories from the Sonic Adventure games. He also appears in the TV shows Sonic Boom (TV series) and Sonic Prime.
In Sonic X, the Japanese voice actors from the games played their roles. Jason Griffith voiced Shadow in the English version. In the Sonic Boom TV show (2014–2017), Shadow is voiced by Kirk Thornton. He often acts as a rival to Sonic's team.
Ian Hanlin voices Shadow in Sonic Prime. In this show, Sonic accidentally breaks the universe. Shadow tries to stop it but fails. He uses Chaos Control to escape and gets stuck between different worlds.
Shadow is also in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic books. These are published by Archie Comics and IDW Publishing. You can also find Shadow on many Sonic toys and products. Shadow even made a quick appearance in the movie Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in 2022.
See also
In Spanish: Shadow the Hedgehog para niños
