The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is a media franchise centered on the speedy, blue hedgehog and his friends, created by Sega in 1991 for the original video game. The franchise includes a long-running series of video games, animated television shows, live-action movies, and comics, all typically featuring Sonic fighting the evil Dr. Eggman (or Robotnik). Its media adaptations have explored various tones, from comedic to darker, and have cemented Sonic as a major pop culture icon.