Concept Art Sonic! In 1989-1990, Sega Corporation based in Ota, Tokyo, Japan, founded in Hawaii by Americans Martin Bromely, Irving Brombery and James Humpert, was looking for a new Mascot character to replace Opa-Opa (from Fantasy Zone, It is wrongly believed that the mascot was Alex Kidd, but that was never Offical) and to try and be better and 'cooler' then the Rival nintendo's Mascot of Mario the Plumer. Sega had the Technical edge on Nintendo and while Consoles had much better hardware, something was keeping them down and Nintendo up. They wanted to create a new game which would show off what there main console, the MegaDrive (Genesis in the US), could do. To this end, they held an Inhouse (Staff members only) contest to design a new mascot. A Large number of characters were known to be entered into this and a Demo tape showing off these characters is believed to have been made, though this probbly would have only shown off a few images. While the demo video itself and all but a few of the Concept art characters have even been release in any form, a few is a long away from none and a number of these images have been leaked. We are going to show you the ones TESP has been able to find along with some information we have gathered.

	BullDog Artist:- Unknown This Character would have been a clothes wearing Humanise BullDog featuring White Shoes, Blue Jeans, White Shirt, light Brown Jacket, White Gloves, a Red Neck (tie?) and Dark Sunglasses. Not much is known from this single image other then that but we can probbly guess this character would have acted in much the same way as Alex Kid but with a 'Cooler' Twist. Nothing else seams to be known or can be guessed from his looks.
	Yanky Wolf Artist:- Unknown From the design of this Wolf, it was clear there was an american angle going. He is a wolf, much like Fockewulf from Tails Sky Patrol, with White Gloves, White Sneakers, Blue Jeans and an American Flag Shirt. He seams to be a happy-go-lucky character from his pose and probbly was going to be a bit like the Busby Games.
	Handymen Artist:- Unknown This character is known to have made it onto the Demo Tape. This character appears to be very much the Mario clone as he is also a form of Handyman from the looks, with simpler features and build. He had Spiked style hair and art shows off Mario like Running and Jumping. All in all, this one seams to be very close to Mario in a try to capture the feel and success. It is clear to see why this one failed.
	Hedgehog Artist:- BigIsland The Winner! Also known to have made it onto the Demo Tape, Hedgehog isn't quite as cleaned up as Sonic and has more spikes but you can see all the notable features from the Face, the Fur, the Sneakers and the Gloves. Poses seen also match up alot to finished Sonic ones. This character seamed to show everything they wanted.
	Rabbit Artist:- Unknown (BigIsland?) This rabbit looks like BigIsland's Art style with clear infulences from the old Disney and Felix colours from the 30s. He appears very happy and gentle and wears White Gloves, White Shoes and a little red Bowtie. It is believed this one featured on the Demo tape.
	Madonna Artist:- Unknown (BigIsland?) This is not an image from contest but it is believed Madonna was a character in the Contest. It is possible this girl was another try by BigIsland (it appears to be his art style in this image), since there might not have been a limit on how many charaters someone submits. If this is the case, and this image is true to oringal design and ideas, Madonna was to be more then just the girl in trouble but a girl that could take care of herself without losing her female side.
	Dr Robotnik Artist:- Unknown (BigIsland?) Believed to have been based on US President Theodore Roosevelt, Dr Robotnik was meant to be pretty fast but pyjama wearing human, complete with nightcap and pillow. Most of Robotnik's final features are there, his large bushly brown mustach, Round Glasses & Red Nose. Like Madonna, this design seamed to work to an amount and while didn't become there mascot, did become a main character as the villian of Sonic the Hedgehog.
	Dr Robotnik Artist:- Unknown (BigIsland?) Another Concept Art Robotnik, this one on the demo Tape. This is basicly just like Robotnik Turned out in the end, apart from this top seams more orange then Red, but that might be just quailty of the file.
	Pigeon Artist:- Unknown Erm... It's a Pigeon!... or maybe a chicken!.... Sorry, that seams to be basicly all that can be said about this one... he looks kinda fat, has overalls on and a small cap.. Probbly couldn't fly.
	Mr Needle Mouse Artist:- Big Island It seams like Sega have this piece of work in a safe place. It look very rough but it seams this were some Sonic sketchs BEFORE the cleaned up version on the tape known as 'Hedgehog'. There are alot of difference designs here huh?

Report writen by Manic Man.