Shadow the Hedgehog

Shadow the Hedgehog is a character appearing in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Shadow was created by Takashi Iizuka and Shiro Maekawa, and first made its debut in Sonic Adventure 2 (2001). Although this was intended to be his only appearance, Shadow proved so popular among fans that developer Sonic Team decided to include him in Sonic Heroes (2003). Shadow has since featured in numerous entries in the franchise, including the spin-off Shadow the Hedgehog (2005). He also appears in Sonic film and television adaptations, comics, and merchandise.

Within the Sonic franchise's fictional universe, Shadow is an artificial, anthropomorphic black hedgehog created by Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of series antagonist Doctor Eggman. After witnessing the murder of his best friend Maria, Shadow vows to keep his promise to her that he would protect the world from danger. As an antihero, Shadow has good intentions but will do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals, putting him at odds with series protagonist Sonic the Hedgehog, thus serving as one of the eponymous title character's greatest rivals, if not the greatest. Shadow shares many attributes with Sonic and thus controls similarly in games, but is distinguished by his use of vehicles and firearms.

The idea for Shadow originated during the development of the original Sonic Adventure, with Iizuka and Maekawa ensuring he would be a subtle, "cool" character players could care about. Although Shadow is one of the series' most popular characters and was named one of the greatest video game characters by Guinness World Records in 2011, he has proven divisive among video game journalists. Some have praised his role in Sonic Adventure 2 and his levels' preservation of the Sonic theme, but others have criticized his dark and over-the-top characterization. The Shadow game sold well, but received generally unfavorable reviews.

Physical Appearance
Shadow is an over 50-year old hedgehog who doesn't age. According to official sources, he is 3'3" (100 cm) in height and rather slender. He is black with red outlines on his quills and limbs, has red eyes, and wears white, black, red, and yellow hover shoes, white gloves with black and red-tongued cuffs and Inhibitor Rings.

Portrait

 * Name: Shadow the Hedgehog
 * Nicknames/Aliases: Shadow, Ultimate Life Form, Agent Shadow, Faker (by Sonic)
 * Real Name: N/A
 * Gender: Male
 * Age: 50+ (physically ageless)
 * Alignment: Neutral, good (sometimes)
 * Birthday: Over 50 years ago
 * Family: Black Doom (biological father), All Black Arms, Gerald Robotnik (creator)
 * Friends: Rouge the Bat, E-123 Omega, Maria Robotnik (best friend; deceased), Hope Kintobor
 * Allies: Dr. Eggman (sometimes), Sonic the Hedgehog (sometimes) , Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, Cream the Rabbit, Team Chaotix, Blaze the Cat, Silver the Hedgehog, G.U.N. Soldiers
 * Rivals: Sonic the Hedgehog (arch-rival), Knuckles the Echidna (sometimes) , Silver the Hedgehog (sometimes)
 * Enemies: Black Doom (arch-enemy), Dr. Eggman (sometimes) , Biolizard/Final Hazard, Mephiles the Dark, Infinite

Official media

 * David Humphrey (2001-2004)
 * Jason Griffith (2005-2010)
 * Kirk Thornton (2010-present)
 * Ian Hanlin (Sonic Prime)

Fanon projects

 * Dante Basco (Sonic: Rebirth series)
 * Jake Gyllenhaal (film series, Coolot and DonaldoC1997's version)
 * Christopher Daniel Barnes (Justice League: Rings of the Force, and Marvel's All-Star Multiverse)
 * Will Arnett (Sonic Underground (reboot))
 * Josh Keaton (Sonic: Mobius Journeys)
 * Ben Affleck (James Cameron's Sonic, voice and motion capture)
 * Adam Baldwin (Sonic Mania: The Animated Series, Sonic and the Tomb Raider)
 * Jason Marsden (Sonic the Hedgehog: The Next Generation)
 * Dwayne Johnson (Sonic the Hedgehog 3: Project Shadow)
 * Ian Hanlin (Daily Dose of Hydro's Life Lost World: The Movie)

Iago PUC's ideas

 * Shadow also appears in James Cameron's Sonic Cinematic Universe, played by Ben Affleck through voice and motion capture. His role in the franchise is the same as in his current video game appearances, on which he is an officer and agent-later-commander of G.U.N. (Guardian Units of Nations) and a rival-turned-ally to Sonic. His origin story (revealed in Shadow and Rouge) is the same as in Sonic Adventure 2 and the 2005 video game.
 * Shadow appears as one of the protagonists in Justice League: Rings of the Force, voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes.
 * Shadow appears in Sonic Mania: The Animated Series, voiced by Adam Baldwin.
 * Shadow appears as a supporting character in Sonic and the Tomb Raider, voiced by Adam Baldwin.
 * Shadow appears in the Disney+ animated crossover miniseries Marvel's All-Star Multiverse, voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes. Along with being a top agent and member of G.U.N., this version of the character is partnered and romantically related to a Mobian tigress named Maria. He first appears in the Free Adventures short episode "Shadow Drift", on which Shadow is assigned to stop a illegal street racing competition in Tokyo, Japan. Fulfilling his mission, Shadow is invited by Peter Parker for a good time with his friends in Tokyo's theme park. Initially reluctant due to his long services with G.U.N., Shadow accepts when G.U.N. Commander Abraham Walters rewards him with a day-off, and joins in. Appearing in the main episodes, Shadow makes a silent appearance in "The Sky's the Limit", on which he and his fellow G.U.N. soldiers watch Princess Athena's public presentation of the Skycruiser Commandos. Shadow makes his official appearance in "Ultimates", where he, Maria and Rouge the Bat are assigned by Walters and S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury to organize and lead the episode's titular task force team to hunt down and apprehend the Power Broker (revealed in the end as Taneleer Tivan the Collector), and stop the assassins and bounty hunters hired by the crime-lord against the elite leaders in Babylon-6. In "War of the Realms", Shadow and his team assist the Alliance in stopping the supervillain riots orchestrated by Thane in the Multiverse. Returning in the finale "One Multiverse, One Realm", Shadow and the Ultimates join the Alliance for the final battle against Thane and his army on Titan.
 * Shadow also appears in Comic Con Incorporated as one of the managers in the titular fictional hotel. He works as the night shift security guard.
 * Shadow appears in Sonic Presents... Chao in Space: Behind the Scenes, a comic book tie-in/prequel to Sonic Presents... Chao in Space. Serving as a member of Sonic's filming crew for the titular fictional movie, he and Blaze the Cat were the screenwritters. He is also the one who suggests the core concept of the Galactic Chao Alliance (which he describes as a Chao-owned variant of G.U.N. forces) and the Dark Emerald Empire (which he describes as a family-friendly amalgam of the Eggman Empire and the "dark and gritty" Black Arms) in the movie. Later, during the movie's premiere release night, Shadow is shown in the Red Carpet wearing a militaristic tuxedo with a G.U.N. medal of honor in it.
 * Shadow is also a DLC playable character in Injustice 2.
 * Shadow is a guest DLC playable character in the kart racing game Marvel Superhero Adventures: Intergalactic Grand Prix, voiced again by Kirk Thornton. His karts are his motorcycle the Dark Rider (from the 2005 video game, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing) and his race car the Dark Reaper from Team Sonic Racing.

Coolot1's ideas

 * TBD

DonaldoC1997's ideas

 * TBD

Video Games

 * He appears as one of the Playable DLC Guests for Tekken 7, with Kirk Thornton voicing him once again (similar to his fellow Sonic the Hedgehog Multiverse Guests such as Sally and Blaze, all of his dialogues would be spoken in English, even though Blaze, Sally and Shadow came from different places across the Sonic series as a whole itself).
 * Similarly, he would be a playable Guest for the sequel to PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale in place of Sonic himself, much like how Akuma is playable in Tekken 7.
 * TBD
 * TBD

MemeyManRulez's ideas

 * He was voiced by Dwayne Johnson in the new Sonic movie coming out in 2024.

Joint Ideas

 * Shadow appears in the Sonic: Rebirth series, being voiced by Dante Basco.
 * Shadow is a DLC playable character in DC vs. Sega voiced again by Kirk Thornton. His melee attacks consist of punches, kicks and his Samurai Sword from the 2005 video game. His special moves include the use of his Shadow Rifle (also from the 2005 video game) and the Chaos Attack (from the 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog game). In his Arcade Ending, Shadow wonders if his victory against Blackseid would be enough for him to please his deceased friend Maria. He finds comfort over his grief with Raven, as they recognize each other as kindred souls.
 * Shadow appears in the game's comic book sequel DC vs. Sega: Aftermath.
 * Shadow also appears in Sonic and the Power Rangers.

Trivia

 * He is 3 feet and 3 inches.
 * He is the third rival character while the first, being Sonic, the second, being Knuckles, and the fourth, being Silver.
 * His serial number is SRN-000003.
 * He is the son or creation of Gerald Robotnik.
 * He is the biological son of Black Doom.