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One of my favorite projects ever, Sonic came about after I went to see the Sonic Symphony's live concert. I'd always dreamed of making a Sonic costume, frankly (I used to scroll online for photos of Pokémon and Sonic costumes as a kid, which led to me to discover fursuits), but I didn't feel confident enough to attempt it for the longest time. Time went on and my fandom interests morphed over time, but the symphony concert (and the hype around Year of Shadow, and the movies) got me to re-evaluate the idea and finally commit to it more than a decade later.

The whole thing is made out of a mix of upholstery foam and EVA foam covered in fleece. The head is lined with lycra and features a sintra plastic visor for the eyes with printed waterproof mesh. The mascot head features three small fans for air circulation, a moveable cushion ring for fit, and a pocket for the battery pack to power the fans. The bodysuit sleeves feature straps to keep the sleeves taut to the arms. The gloves are made out of sponge neoprene. Most of the costume was patterned by hand, save for the bodysuit, which is a modified pattern by NDLWorkshop. As I need extra support, Sonic's shoes have a pair of regular running shoes glued inside with contact cement.

While I was worried the costume would be difficult to bring out and very, very hot, carrying it to local conventions is quite doable even in public transit. It's quite sweaty, but not a terrible experience thanks to the underlayer; all I need is to take regular short breaks and drink water and cool off. It's worth the slight discomfort, as people's reaction to this costume have been absolutely delightful! I love interacting with people as Sonic, slipping into the character to entertain crowds and make them smile and laugh. Movement can be awkward at times due to the large head and shoes, but nothing too difficult to manage, especially with a handler to keep an eye out.

Over time, I've also make a pair of little hedgehog pants to wear it without the full bodysuit (a great excuse to pair it with KawaiiKuwuma's OVA-inspired sweater shirt), and a cute little "Low Vision" badge to let everyone know I cannot be held responsible for accidentally barreling into an unseen child.

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