If you grew up in the nineties, Sonic didn't really talk. He tapped his foot. He looked at his watch with a sort of impatient, pixelated sass. But then he found a voice, and honestly, the question of who played Sonic the Hedgehog is way more complicated than just naming one guy in a recording booth. It’s a decades-long relay race.
Ryan Drummond took the baton when things went 3D, then Jason Griffith grabbed it, followed by Roger Craig Smith, and now we’ve got Ben Schwartz doing the Hollywood thing. It’s a lot. Every time the voice changes, the fandom basically goes into a collective meltdown. People get attached. You don’t just "play" Sonic; you inherit a legacy of "attitude" that has to bridge the gap between a 16-bit sprite and a multi-million dollar movie star.
The Early Days: When Sonic First Found His Mouth
Before the games actually had full voice acting, Sonic was already popping up in cartoons. This is where the foundation was laid. Jaleel White—yes, Steve Urkel himself—was the first real voice of Sonic in the US. He did Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, the "SatAM" series, and Sonic Underground.
He brought this raspy, teenage energy that felt very "90s cool." It’s weird to think about now, but for an entire generation, Jaleel White was Sonic. He wasn’t just a guest star; he voiced over 200 episodes across three different shows. If you’re looking for the origin of the "way past cool" vibe, it starts right here with a guy who was simultaneously playing the world’s biggest nerd on primetime TV.
Meanwhile, in Japan, the legend Takeshi Kusao handled the role for a bit in the early 90s, but the definitive Japanese voice has almost always been Jun'ichi Kanemaru. Since 1998, Kanemaru has stayed in the seat. He’s the constant. While American fans have to relearn a new voice every decade, Japanese fans have had the same smooth, English-inflected performance for over twenty-five years.
The Dreamcast Era and Ryan Drummond
When Sonic Adventure launched on the Sega Dreamcast in 1998, everything changed. Sega wanted the game to feel "global." They brought in Ryan Drummond.
Drummond’s Sonic was upbeat. He was a bit of a surfer dude, maybe? He had this optimism that fit the bright, blue-sky aesthetic of the Dreamcast era. For many fans, this is the "purest" version of the character. He played Sonic through Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes, which are arguably the peak of the character’s 3D platforming relevance.
But then, things got corporate.
In 2005, Sega decided to unify the brand. They had this show called Sonic X produced by 4Kids Entertainment. Instead of keeping the game actors, Sega replaced the entire cast with the actors from the cartoon. It was a brutal move. Drummond was reportedly offered a chance to re-audition, but it didn't work out. It’s one of those industry stories that still leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouths of longtime fans.
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Jason Griffith: The 4Kids Takeover
Jason Griffith stepped in during a very weird time for the blue hedgehog. He had to voice Sonic in Sonic '06—a game famously known for being, well, a disaster—and Sonic Unleashed.
Griffith had a deeper, slightly more "anime protagonist" tone. At first, people hated the change. That’s just how the Sonic fandom works. You hate the new guy until he leaves, then you miss him. Griffith eventually won people over by voicing both Sonic and Shadow the Hedgehog, creating a distinct vocal contrast between the two rivals.
He stayed until 2010. By the time he left, he’d voiced the character through some of the most experimental (and occasionally baffling) games in the franchise, like Sonic and the Black Knight. Imagine trying to voice a hedgehog wielding a broadsword while keeping a straight face. Griffith pulled it off.
The Roger Craig Smith Era: Longevity and Sarcasm
If you play the games today, the voice you hear is almost certainly Roger Craig Smith. He took over in Sonic Colors (2010) and has held the position longer than any other English voice actor.
Smith brought something different: a dry, almost snarky wit. His Sonic feels a little older, a little more self-aware. He’s the Sonic of the "Twitter era"—a character who knows he’s a bit ridiculous and leans into it. This version of the character peaked in the Sonic Boom TV series, which was basically a self-parody comedy.
Who played Sonic the Hedgehog for the longest? It’s Smith.
But even his tenure hasn't been without drama. In early 2021, Smith tweeted a goodbye message, implying he was done with the role. The internet went into a tailspin. Fans were making tribute videos. Then, a few months later, he announced he was back. Whether it was a contract dispute or a change of heart at Sega, we might never know the full story, but Smith remains the "modern" voice of the games.
Moving to the Big Screen: Ben Schwartz
Then came the movies. Hollywood rarely uses "voice actors" for lead roles in big-budget films; they want "stars." Enter Ben Schwartz.
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Known for Parks and Recreation, Schwartz brought a manic, lonely-kid energy to the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog movie. This wasn't the cool, confident Sonic from the games. This was a Sonic who had been hiding on Earth for years and just wanted a friend.
Schwartz's performance is arguably the most successful "human" version of the character. He talks a mile a minute. He’s vulnerable. He’s funny. By the time Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic 3 rolled around, Schwartz had firmly established his own lane. He isn't replacing Roger Craig Smith; they exist in parallel universes. One is the "Game Sonic," and the other is the "Movie Sonic."
It’s a weirdly peaceful coexistence for a fandom that usually loves to argue.
The Special Mentions: Deven Mack and Beyond
We can’t forget Sonic Prime, the Netflix series. Because of Canadian content laws (and union stuff), they had to cast a Canadian voice actor. Deven Mack took the lead.
Mack is fascinating because he managed to blend the styles of Drummond, Griffith, and Smith into one performance. He sounds like "Sonic" in a general sense, capturing the speed and the soul without sounding like an imitation. It’s a testament to the character’s design that so many different people can play him and he still feels like the same guy.
Then you have the weird outliers. Martin Burke voiced Sonic in the 1996 OVA (the anime movie). He had this strange, almost nasally voice that felt very different from the "cool guy" persona. It has since become a cult favorite because of how unique it is.
Why It Matters Who Voices the Hedgehog
You might wonder why people care so much. It's just a blue rat, right?
Not really. Sonic is a "vibe" character. Unlike Mario, who mostly just goes "Wahoo!", Sonic’s personality is the entire draw. If the voice is too high, he’s annoying. If it’s too deep, he’s too serious. Finding the balance between "hero" and "jerk" is hard.
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The actors who have played Sonic are essentially curators of a very specific type of 90s-infused energy. They have to make a character who wears nothing but shoes and gloves feel like a real person.
A Quick Recap of the Main English Voices:
- Jaleel White: The cartoon legend (1993–1999).
- Ryan Drummond: The Dreamcast pioneer (1998–2004).
- Jason Griffith: The 4Kids/X era (2005–2010).
- Roger Craig Smith: The modern game veteran (2010–Present).
- Ben Schwartz: The movie superstar (2020–Present).
- Deven Mack: The Netflix multiverse version (2022–Present).
The Future of Sonic's Voice
As we look at the future, specifically with the massive success of the films and the shift in game direction with Sonic Frontiers, the voice is evolving again. We're seeing a push toward more "serious" acting in the games. Roger Craig Smith has significantly toned down the "Saturday morning cartoon" energy in favor of something more grounded.
Meanwhile, the movies are bringing in actors like Keanu Reeves to play Shadow. This puts even more pressure on the Sonic actor to hold their own against massive Hollywood heavyweights.
The question of who played Sonic the Hedgehog will likely get even more crowded as Sega explores more spin-offs and media. But the core remains the same: whoever is behind the mic has to be fast. They have to have heart. And they definitely have to have a little bit of an attitude.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the history of these performances, your best bet is to check out the "Behind the Voice Actors" database or watch some of the comparison videos on YouTube. Seeing the evolution side-by-side is the only way to truly appreciate how much work goes into making a hedgehog talk.
Next time you're playing a game or watching a movie, listen for the nuances. Is it the snarky Smith? The earnest Schwartz? Each one brings a different flavor to the world's fastest mascot.
Your Next Steps for Sonic Lore:
- Watch the Sonic 30th Anniversary symphony on YouTube to hear Roger Craig Smith's range.
- Compare the Sonic Adventure cutscenes with Sonic Frontiers to see how much the vocal direction has matured.
- Check out Jaleel White’s recent interviews where he talks about returning to the character for fan projects—it’s pure nostalgia.