Sonic the hedgehog is receiving a revival following a SEGA decision to license and move forward with a whole new product line for the old brand.

SEGA chief content officer for Sonic, Hiroyuki Miyazaki, said: "SEGA is constantly looking to feed the appetite of Sonic fans, new and existing alike. The various pieces of the Sonic Boom project, such as its unique look, mix of comedy, and action and its focus on the whole ensemble with Sonic as the star, offer another exciting part of that universe for people to explore and enjoy. It will be at once familiar but also new."

The games look different and have received a gameplay makeover as well: "A major pillar was to make sure each character's personality came out with their attributes; so Sonic is more speed-based, Knuckles is all about power, and Tails is more about distance and using gadgets," according to one developer.

The changes are reflected in the look of the characters which has been changed since the original version of the game. Knuckle's increased size is so "fans recognized him as the power-based character ... the bruiser." Sonic has longer legs and now wears athletic tape around his wrists, hands, ankles, and feet plus a fashionable scarf around his neck.

The Sonic Boom universe will be showcased in a new game, animated television series, and toy line. According to IGN, the company's goal is to earn Sonic "Super Mario-like exposure and appeal by introducing him to a wider, younger audience." The show includes 52 11-minute episodes aired in half-hour blocks and is co-produced by Sega and OuiDO! Productions, running for the first time on Cartoon Network during the 2014-15 season.

The series will "give equal time to stars Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy, and will include other fan favorites such as Dr. Eggman," in addition to several new characters. Inspirations were reportedly drawn from Regular Show, The Simpsons and Spongebob, and plans to include enough material for adults to be entertained while primarily targeting kids.