How to Draw Junio Sonic (How2Draw THE RIGHT WAY Ep. I)

The first in a series in which I teach you how to draw the most appealing and classical version of the Sonic characters you know and love.
In this first episode I'll be briefly going over Sonic's design iterations over the decades and then hopping into how to apply those design philosophies onto paper. (It's not as sophisticated as it sounds, this was done in a single cut and I was off the cuff).
Also, apologies about the mouse clicks being recorded, that was unintentional and an oversight.
Hope you enjoy, hope it helps.
Music is Studiopolis Zone Extended from Sonic Mania.

[@jackiexkh]

If I animated Sonic, his spikes would be more droopy (like the Sonic 1 artwork) when he's passive, and erect spikes (like the CD cutscenes) when he's agressive. Just like real hedgehogs.

[@downloadableram4212]

Underrated concept

[@CharlieBoatZone]

Genius

[@OFFICALBREEMATIONSTATION]

If I animated. Sonic would be the garbage Mohawk but turned around with 2 more layers of the mohawk. And limbs kinda short and feet big picture that an do guarantee u will barf

[@Victor-um9ce]

E r e c t

[@Josuh]

S p i k e s

[@TheWax70]

Nice job! I agree about the quills of Toei Sonic; they always look awesome.

[@mc.gemstone]

oh hi nice to see you here

[@cosplayingchao]

I agree. The quills are a lot of what makes Sonic look interesting, and if you don't get it to look just right it looks awful. I used to draw the quills too saggy and it never looked good even back then

[@Mark_nobody3]

TheWax70 Keep going with your works man they are awesome 👍

[@jerimyvaldats7596]

I can draw them straight up and it looks pretty good if I say so my self.

[@ophem5533]

TheWax70 Wait, are you on Sonic Amino?

[@ScapeVEVO]

As a kid, I always thought that Mohawk Sonic and the Sonic on US box arts just looked... wrong. And I never knew why. But then SA 1 and 2 came out and it looked better, probably because of the quills being fixed, but whenever I went back to Classic Sonic, it still felt wrong. And then I saw Japanese Sonic. My jaw shot off my face when I saw his design in Japan. IT LOOKED SO GOOD!! AND THEN I PLAYED SONIC CD AND I WAS LIKE OMG DBZ YEEEEESSASSSAHAHSHHS

[@myristicina.]

Touche I grew up in a pal region so when I first saw Mohawk sonic I was creeped out like it looks ugly and uncanny it’s also uncomfortable to look at

[@spritesensation]

i never really cared

[@SIG7Pro]

I think US Sonic 1 is better than JP Sonic 1, but after that doesn’t matter to me but I prefer US Sonic

[@hurt4322]

I think the US design is perfect. ... In the cartoons

[@IkinBBfromAnthologyOfTheKiller]

When i was A kid i tought the same but i liked the cartoons

[@Sonic3Knuckles]

"Thats a fine looking sonic" (Throws ipad) (Looks at PC) "WHY DOESNT MINE LOOK LIKE THAT?! RAAAAAA (grumbles)"

[@Kathelina]

This is how I always wanted to draw classic sonic. Thanks for the tutorial. Although, I draw modern sonic my own way.

[@BenAtkinArt]

I love your ruthless evaluations of the different sonic designs XD

[@tripplejaz]

Lol thanks Ben. Keeping it real, ya know? ;)

[@whatshappeninganymore2473]

tripplejaz You didn't need to rip too hard on the 3D models though. They look pretty much perfect in their official art.

[@DreamMixGames]

There was a distinct use of "flaccid" and "erect" in this video.

[@Magpie5203]

Dream Mix you deserve a gold star 🌟

[@tripplejaz]

LordVaporwave I've been told that a time or two now. Guess I need to look him up. Never heard of him

[@tripplejaz]

Dream Mix it's the most precise way to describe Sonic's spikes :)

[@tripplejaz]

LordVaporwave oh yeah! That was one of the first comments I got! I do believe Toei is the best design for Sonic, but most of my tone is just sarcastic trolling. People are of course free to disagree, but then idk why'd you come to a video teaching how to draw Toei if you didn't think it was the best Sonic anyways :^)

[@tripplejaz]

LordVaporwave haha well hope I shed some light on it. No, and I've gotten flack from close friends like LooneyDude (creator of Sunky) who called me a design elitist. I admit this video was done unprofessionally and I rambled too much. I will redo it in the future to be more purposeful with my critiques and praises. Cheers! Thanks for the support!

[@leeiif]

People complain that Sonic's look is too simple. Then Sonic Boom came out, and everyone complained how unnecessary and complex it was.

[@doremy2300]

Ozgar Thunderhammer true...

[@miraclewillow1]

Just goes to show how fans will never be pleased with change.

[@JediKammy]

Ozgar Thunderhammer how is that design complex lmao

[@leeiif]

All the bandages, the scarf, the extra spikes. Boom Sonic wasn't necessarily complex compared to some characters, but he was compared to the original Sonic design.

[@itsjustnova7442]

No they complained about boom being TOO complex. I like the scarf but bandage is ew

[@JMotion]

I honestly think Boom Sonic's extra spikes are a fair idea. They make sense in a 3D space, making his spines more wild without going crazy. The traditional 6 spikes in a 3D space have always felt a little too uniform, all things considered. I don't like the long legs, the tape, the scarf, it's all stupid. But the spikes make sense to me.

[@ginogatash4030]

i would have liked it if it was a bunch of thin cellshaded spikes forming 6 big quills, kinda like an hairdo. and maybe make them change position based on where's the camera to sort of replicate Toei sonic's quills. speaking of odd shapes in 3d, i hate how tails has always 2 rubbery looking hair tufts on his tails.

[@isthisagoodusername9764]

I actually think it could be taken in to the modern design because Sonic has never been super specific on how he looks so and I assume he doesn't brush his quils

[@IkinBBfromAnthologyOfTheKiller]

Same

[@IkinBBfromAnthologyOfTheKiller]

@@ginogatash4030 agree

[@mikey.limura09]

The tutorial is pretty useful

[@CheddarVG]

Man, I just love Toei, Errors are here and there sometimes but that's okay. Everything they animated just looks like a dream to watch.

[@AsuraRaver]

You NAILED the Toei Style!! it looks fantastic dude, and I love that you broke down the shapes of how to draw him I'm that style. I'm a personal fan of Modern Sonic's design from Lost World where they shortened some of his quills, but seeing this style is definitely a blast from the past.

[@strawberry641]

I tend to never like watching 'how to draw' videos because they're always seemingly geared towards people who cannot draw at ALL (and are often just redraws of official art or fan art), but i really love this video because its a lot more 'by artists for artists', especially in the way you break down each sonic design and help others really understand how they're stylized. Ive always had issues drawing sonic characters, but i feel like this series will definitely help me understand how to draw them better! Thank you!

[@navneeth1025]

after that sonic CD animated short...I always wanted to learn how to draw sonic in that artstyle! Love the work!

[@GlitchyErrR]

Exactly! I wanna draw comics like that!

[@TheJege12]

This was a great tutorial of my favorite Sonic design as well, and you did a great job explaining all the key points! Hoping this gets more views!

[@vocalcalibration8033]

Love Toei Sonic's design, my favorite by far. I also love listening to people ripping apart Sonic Boom's design... this always makes me happy.

[@nintony2994]

Y'know, I 100% agree with this art style. I like that Tyson Hesse has done something similar to the Toei/Junio Artstyle with Mania. I don't really like what hes doing now with Superstars and Origins but those looks good at least. I liked the way his quils just drops from behind his head the angles look so much cooler that way. its so good!!!

[@rhinuu045]

he didnt work on superstars but yeaah i get what you mean. ig it depends on how much control he has since they obv wanted more official artwork accurate character sheets for origins, while he probably got to put all his personality into the mania designs. i really hope they eventually switch back since its honestly such an obvious and natural progession from the classic designs

[@nintony2994]

@@rhinuu045 wait he didn't? my bad lol the style looked very similar me thinks

[@2chickenbone]

Its nice to see someone else who appreciates the toei style and who also thinks its the definitive sonic. I always draw sonic in this style but my approach is different. Its nice to see your method tho.

[@totoycheetos7637]

Yeah, me too

[@gameman5804]

I like how Sonic looks regardless of any design. (Except Mohawk Sonic in the cartoons, and 3D blast Sonic)

[@x3n068]

So then it isn’t regardless

[@randomcringeyyoutuber6750]

@@x3n068 EXCEPT

[@x3n068]

@@randomcringeyyoutuber6750 Yes which means it isn't regardless. Except doesn't excuse it.

[@chrisrosa5382]

Ur gay af those r the best ones

[@_toei_]

@@chrisrosa5382 it is their opinion, don't go rushing at them just because they don't agree with what you like. I personally think that the mohawk design is also quite strange, but they needed sonic to be recognizable in the USA. Besides, the mohawk design is old now, so if you don't like somebody's opinion about something you like, don't rush at them, just calmly say that you think otherwise.

[@HedgeThatDamn]

As somebody who adores the Toei artstyle and thinks it's basically the defacto Classic style, I fucking love the video. Appreciated the look into the other designs too, as much as I'm a big fan of the soggy SA style I can see where the problems with it lie.

[@tripplejaz]

As a kid I imitated the SA2 style all the time! But I had to come back to the good stuff :)

[@ionexwolf4165]

tripplejaz, I know too. I got 3 different ways to draw a classic sonic character, but I started off with modern.

[@ZettaSlow]

tripplejaz I feel like the style of sonic drawing was defined by the music which is heavily funky so at the time it all worked.(more specifically SA1 which the style started) Even eggman had that look.

[@ZettaSlow]

trpplejaz I feel like the style of sonic drawing was defined by the music which is heavily funky so at the time it all worked.(more specifically SA1 which thei style started) Even eggman had that look.

[@stormcutter59]

Damien Busker What problems? Sonic Adventure Sonic doesnt have any issue i think. It looks among his coolest looks yet! I think he looks too floppy and chucky cheesey now

[@Slipdash]

Hey jaz without this video I wouldn’t have finished 3-4 sketchbooks since this video’s upload. I love this hobby and I have been actively although slowly been trying things to improve. Thank you so very much for this video. I don’t think I’d be as happy without it rn.

[@sirnoodlearcher9777]

You're quite the skilled artist. I can tell you're passionate about Sonic, which I appreciate. Hopfully people (including myself) won't take your criticisms of the other Sonic styles too hard, though.

[@kilbyfilms8132]

i was trying to find a good Sonic art tutorial for a long, long time now... and YOU GOT ME THE HOOK UP! :D THANK YOU!

[@BluecoreG]

That Sonic Mania Pre Order Trailer Doe!!!

[@miraclewillow1]

Yeah, it was amazing. I just have some kind of grudge about them using the Tyson Hessie design instead of the Toei design.

[@p6draws609]

Will The Person that's because Tyson Hesse animated it

[@ItsCenrryTH]

I challenge you to draw toei sonic

[@tippydog8687]

Bluecore Do you mean dope

[@omerdaking1466]

Tippy Dog i think he meant thoe

[@HitoshixYDCCx]

Love the anatomy and expressions you can implement with stuff such as eyes and body language. gj!

[@therealfran1149]

Toei Sonic is THE most satisfying Sonic to see while he’s running

[@Derpinator-hp9zq]

Glad to see a tutorial about Sonic's best design. Thank you very much my friend!

[@kabuki7149]

It's always fun coming back to this video, and seeing how far you've come from here. Toot toot, Sonic Warrior.

[@sonicfan1pendley545]

Thanks for showing me how to draw sonic the right way. I tried it myself while watching and it turned out awesome and better than the other pictures I drew. 👍

[@YuriEnjoyer52]

These drawings are so cool! Can't wait to follow the steps tomorrow

[@animicousD]

Damn, I was expecting a half assed “how to draw sonic XD” video, but that was pretty good. Props, dude

[@telekinesticman]

This is a really interesting video! You did a great job explaining all of the little details of Sonic's design and how to emulate them well into original drawings. I am personally a huge fan of this specific version of Sonic as well. Keep up the good work!

[@SpizzleLep]

God I fucking love bow much detail you've taken in with the Toei design. I always loved that look. I'm so happy someone has actually went in depth on Sonic's design for once; usually people just say "Classic is small and chubby, Modern is long and skinny", then go on to say their opinion on the matter. This video was great, I hope you do more like this in the future for characters like Tails or Knuckles, or other company characters. Excellent work.

[@Voltrix77]

You just converted me from loving the Sonic 3 Official Art as the best classic to adoring the Toei Sonic.

[@willrichard6921]

I think the boom design is fine besides the extra clothing articles.

[@gummyfreeze2310]

Will Richard same

[@UchihaLite13]

#leavesonicboomalone

[@Lord_No-brainer]

@@UchihaLite13REAL

[@TheShnizNite]

this was a fascinating video, not many people study Sonic's design. Design is important, and translates who the character is. As a child, I LOVED the CD design, but to be completely honest, I really do like his American/SATAM design. To me, Sonic is this cocky, "totally rad dude." he's so 90's and he's got this douchey personality but his morals are admirable and enticing. So I LOVE his Mohawk design, it symbolizes his "edge", his "wild and I don't care" attitude. That's just me though, everyone has a different idea of who Sonic is, and I absolutely love this video and I can't even say ur wrong bc this is what Sonic is to you :) Fantastic dude.

[@azri_3229]

thank you so much for helping me learn, this tutorial was incredibly helpful and your drawing skills are amazing, keep up the good work

[@ishade]

I'm glad someone finally made this.. Toei Sonic is in my opinion the definitive Sonic design and I wish he could be that exact way in the upcoming games he'll take part in.. thanks for this tutorial, I can actually know what I'm doing when I draw each Sonic character based on these small yet effective details!

[@menasanims7443]

Toei Sonic is best Sonic.

[@Retr-tj3xy]

Thanks I've been looking for someone who draws and likes this kind of sonic. You just earned a subscriber. Keep up the work

[@LoliconSamalik]

"Toei Sonic can only be done in 2D" *Looks at Guilty Gear Xrd* don't underestimate the Japanese.

[@retrogamer7543]

They are god at art

[@zoinksscoob7020]

It's one of those designs that get easier the more you practice and bc it doesn't take a long time to draw you can pick it up pretty quick!

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

You captured the appeal of the design wonderfully.

[@thesonicpotato2365]

dude... recently my sonic characters have not looked great... they've looked fat and i always quit when im done with the head... BUT JUNIO SONIC... hes so easy to draw and he turns out soo good every time! thank you, i NEEDED this tutorial.

[@rhinuu045]

ngl ever since this video i stuck to drawing him this way to this day, i love it sm

[@artistjosephtubb]

Dude you are nailing it!! I really wish sega will bring that this version of sonic! Keep it up

[@ATOMICGOPHAH13]

this actually really helped me out. i've been trying to nail down a way to replicate the sonic cd design since I was a wee lad. Having it told to me in such a simple process is both gratifying and a bit embarrassing. good shit lad.

[@indigobrazy]

This is so cool. I honestly wasnt aware there were different styles like i knew there were differences but idk. New sub for sure (:

[@vsiarv]

Wow, what a wonderful video I just watched. Great job pal

[@kayeffty]

Man, I remember watching this and taking it to heart. I spent every day drawing toei sonic. Thanks tripplejaz, for helping start my journey as an artist.

[@trippettfamily4686]

my favorite design is early Japanese manual sonic the hedgehog.

[@Rythaze]

This is a fantastic video. My personal favorite design!

[@Stickestpt2]

THE BEST sonic drawing tutorial

[@SolidSnake684]

Super useful, man. Toei Sonic was always my favorite, and I've been interested in drawing it since Mania. Thanks!

[@BreloomsGarden]

You're my new favorite artist. You draw him so well!

[@faroretoc8539]

Toei really added their special flair when translating the CD design. The embodiment of Sonic really showed itself with this particular version of him and I wish there was more of this Sonic in animated form.

[@sir_lanian]

two words: Sonic Mania

[@Sketchietoonie]

Just wanted to say thank you for giving me this video as it helped me with drawing characters.

[@SamUnderStars]

Extremely helpful! Also good luck with Freedom and Utopia!

[@finngomezgamer]

Everyone hates on how tall the boom design is but the reason for it is so his head hands and feet can be smaller allowing for a FAR greater range of movement, he’s easier to animate because of it and it allows for much better poses in 3d, modern sonic can barely cross his arms in 3d (I’m a 3d artist) the trade off in proportions is more than worth it, as for the scarf blue arms and bandages those I personally don’t like but they aren’t that bad

[@Demonskunk]

I like the sonic boom design, with the exception of the excessive athletic tape. Dig the scarf.

[@Jay-zb4tr]

Did you know that in russia, there's going to be a fan-made sequel to Sonic OVA?

[@indayteray8647]

DuperGames64 Blyats know how to make a soviet sonic made by their own

[@josh_miester_x511]

thank you so much for this video. I love this version of Sonic but couldn't get it down just right. thus video definitely helps. thanks so much.

[@matsudamatsumoto7742]

Good to see someone else is a supporter of the Master Design, Toei Style. ;) For me, SA1 and to some extent 2 are also acceptable designs. SA1 just epitomizes the late 90s early 2000s for me, while the Toei design is perfect for all of the early 90s. Also: Absolutely spot on about the American cartoon designs of Sonic. I have no clue what their problem was, why they couldn't draw... anything really.

[@firestorm1859]

I thought this whole video was going to be a joke... but dang, that was actually some beautiful sketch work!

[@Sossy64]

I think the sonic design in the megadrive comics is the perfect one

[@Sossy64]

Great video tho

[@jingusflorpus4274]

I mean to be fair that design is basically an updated version of Toei Sonic anyway

[@joeb.p7185]

Thanks so much. This really helped alot. I can't stop drawing it now!

[@Prime_Legend]

"i've guess he has become a Muay Thai boxer or something", lmao that made me laugh

[@DylanofScreenTime]

I’ll be honest this is kinda my first introduction to Toei Sonic. Sure I saw the CD opening, but I didn’t know that he was separate from classic Sonic. So thanks for showing me the design for Toei Sonic Jazzy:)

[@doodlegamertj7225]

Holy crap, I think this will help me draw sonic, the exact way I want to, a lot. Thank you so much for this.

[@jdudehl6079]

Woah! When I started drawing it, IT LOOKED JUST LIKE HOW YOU DREW IT. Thx!

[@Zimran03]

I feel like a mix of Modern and classic sonic would be cool. Longer legs not as long as modern sonic, short flaccid quills.

[@wiizstarz]

Then you get sonic forces

[@Terromonix]

OMG YOU JUST MADE MY ENTIRE DAY THANK YOUUU

[@crystallove7205]

Your drawing is the best😊🎉😅

[@TeamMedz23Shorts]

big thanks tripplejaz! when I watched this, my style of toei/junio sonic improved and I used sonic for arts class!!!!!

[@hackernoob7681]

Amazing Video! Helped me out a ton as a sonic fan who loves drawing. Thanks a lot.

[@Drawings42]

THANK you so much i had ALOT of trouble with drawing sonic but with this tut helped me ALOT

[@jonjoee6011]

Your magical hands makes this look so easy

[@panoraxe]

hes using a pen

[@JPGH_Extras]

If I didn't know any better I would had thought you made the actual Sonic CD intro :D

[@SpicyHamSamson]

I like the Toei design, and the modern and boom designs a lot. They're all awesome, and I think the other ones are all good(except sonic underground). I feel that you are being very opinionated in this video. You say Toei is the superior design, as if it's the first design that should come to mind. But the first design that comes to mind for me is Modern Sonic, and I feel you are very harsh on the other designs, especially Boom. First, you didn't explain why the changes Boom Sonic had were bad, especially the spikes. What about the idea and execution were terrible? Second, what's the problem with Sonic having long legs? You don't explain at all why you think any of the designs are bad, and it just makes it seem like that in your opinion, if it's not Toei, it's not good.

[@gummyfreeze2310]

SpicyHamSamson: God among Men *THIS RIGHT HERE*

[@janetfray6841]

I agree with this

[@fathernigga]

He never said this video is objective and contains only facts, this video is clearly subjective. It is perfectly fine for him to think that the junio design is far superior than the other designs. What exactly are you complaining about?

[@Voxellia]

Boom sonic design is alright but the over use sports tape and he's just dumb.

[@SpicyHamSamson]

@@fathernigga in hindsight, nothing really. I was just being a stupid kid.

[@dprototype6431]

Thanks so much for making this tutorial! I can actually draw Sonic decently now, he's easier to draw than I thought.

[@lepeflo8958]

honestly sonic boom imo has the best sonic model. Not gna argue design because I do agree with the sport tape making the design look messy but just in terms of proportions this is probably the best sonic. slightly bigger forehead and smaller eyes that way his face isn't 70% eyes with a lot of weird perspective angels like frontiers model. Blue arms so animating them could be way easier and look more natural (same reason the movies made his arms blue) and I js think the scarf honestly isn't idea bad for sonic. Boom model also was given more expressions as well as the removal of that dumb side mouth rule making him speaking look 100 times better than it does in all his modern models.

[@lepeflo8958]

The best part about boom is actually the ingame cutscenes because their really well animated. It was fortunately and also unfortunately one of the few things the wii u down port didn't affect much outside of strange lighting. I'm not gonna defend how boom turned out but I will die on this hill that boom could've been genuinely amazing if sega didn't fuck over big red button. A open world expiration sonic game was such a cool concept

[@TheRamblemanWhoSings]

This video was really use full I draw by seeing the whole thing and than drawing it so far my art looks decent thank you

[@legolloyd2009]

I like drawing sonic with his head unattached. It looks cute

[@PavTheSlav]

I agree the Sonic CD Sonic is definitely the best looking one, it seems the most DBZ-esque of all of them which works in his favor. Sonic Adventure Sonic is my second favorite though

[@HelperUnknownGB]

If there should ever be another Sonic anime, the studio should have this design in mind

[@carnivalpuppet1427]

Amazing Job! This is very helpful to my opinion ^^ 💗💗

[@NebulaNonsens3]

The toei art style is perfection

[@Nic_2751]

Definitely the best 2D Sonic next to any Hesse design and OVA Sonic

[@darkspike7543]

I love adding a fourth spike when he is running really fast or falling but to me there should be 3 in a neutral or slow running position

[@nicolasmartinez4337]

I wish you edited OVA sonic, just to see how he would look like with shorter legs, loved the beginning how you talked about the styles, nice job!

[@amyroser]

This was really helpful! Thank you!

[@ASOtheprO]

This video and the commentary is amazing

[@yolondadarkins3021]

god I've been looking for a tutorial like.this

[@sillybeanthing]

Toei sonic is probably the most fun to doodle for me, like, aaa he's so cute, but he looks sassy and spiky like he should be :3

[@OFFICALBREEMATIONSTATION]

The first sonic look I ever seen was the Mohawk

[@Pie_Was_Here]

7 years ago now, wow..

[@spadeLoK]

I am an amateur drawer and always saw sonic and said "I can't draw that" but this video makes me think I can probably do it if I try hard enough!

[@tripplejaz]

Heroes You can and you should! Remember the fundamentals though!

[@jomon324]

I fucking LOVE you for making this. The animation of Sonic CD is the definitive Sonic and I wish they'd gone with that for the OVA. That being said, the OVA was pretty decent. Flatspike mohawk sonic is a disaster. XD

[@KidAL0]

Man I wish this style was the standard, at least for "Classic Sonic" in games like Forces. Sonic 2 is my fav 2D game but I agree wholeheartedly that this is the best design. It just looks the most Sonic.

[@HyronIbnLaAhad]

good video dude! i think that the sonic cd design was the best too.

[@officialbendyandpals]

1:44 oh naw he did not just say that to my homie

[@diemoslurancard4629]

Thanks so much! I love this art style and will try hard to draw like this, I probably never can but I'll try