The History of The Hooters X Sonic Forces Promotion

The Sonic The Hedgehog franchise has led to some pretty interesting collaborations over the years. From fast food products, to soda partnerships, to band promotions, Sonic has had some pretty wild collaborations in the past. However, one of the strangest Sonic promotions happened in 2017, where Sonic teamed up with the restaurant chain Hooters to promote Sonic Forces. There were a lot of interesting things that happened during this promotion, including the much anticipated return of the SOAP Shoes Sonic plush. So, let's talk about it!
Music:
1. Park Avenue - TGS 2017 Mix - Sonic Forces
2. Avatar Customization - Sonic Forces
3. Arsenal Pyramid 1 - Sonic Forces
4. Network Terminal 2 - Sonic Forces
5. Arsenal Pyramid 2 - Sonic Forces
6. Mortar Canyon - Sonic Forces
7. Fist Bump... for Null Space - Sonic Forces
8. Double Boost - Sonic Forces
9. Chemical Plant - Sonic Forces
10. Red Gate Bridge - Sonic Forces
Sources:
1. @wereshoes for drawing the incredible thumbnail artwork, you can find their Twitter here: / wereshoes
2. The "SONIC MOVIE CHANNEL" KZbin Channel, you can find archives of all of the live streams here: / sonicmoviechannel
3. UltimateFrieza/Sonic The Comic Reviews, supplied me with images and videos of the Hooters promotion. You can find his video on the promotion here: • I visited the Hooters ...

[@mechashadow]

You kidding? How could I ever forget Shadow's Slick Dance moves in that MV?

[@WavePrism]

"this modern classic of a collaboration" i'm not really sure if this is a joke about how both modern and classic sonic are in forces but if so, holy shit.

[@wrecquerel]

hello diddy

[@RSN_SGT_RENEWAL]

Yes

[@CSharpDCS]

@@wrecquerel tiddy

[@Tacoyaki96]

The Tails Noodles are actually kitsune udon, kitsune in japanese meaning fox, that is freaking genius.

[@AmyNumberSeven]

A common late 90s/early 2000s Sonic fandom headcanon was that Tails was a kitsune that grew his second tail early.

[@zakoppi777]

don't forget that kitsune is also a mythological yokai of a fox with multiple tails! X)

[@Hugo-yz1vb]

​@@AmyNumberSevenAnd now with Sonic Origins cutscenes and Sonic Prime it was more than confirmed that such was the case

[@A.S._Trunks]

Are they actually made of fox meat?

[@callmezeldaonemoartime]

No shit.

[@boscojokey3829]

Sonic, a supposedly kid friendly franchise, crossed over with a restaurant that has boobs in the logo What a time to be alive

[@anonimato9128]

SomeCrazyRandomChick Rouge + Hooters You know this it's true when you realize what i'm talking about (and i'm saying that because of the kids)

[@aidenthegod]

wasn't rouge already the hooter's bartender of sonic?

[@lycananimates7960]

No. @@aidenthegod

[@aidenthegod]

@@lycananimates7960 "sar·casm [ˈsärˌkazəm] the use of irony to mock or convey contempt." just putting that there because using r/woosh outside of reddit is cringy

[@Glazier160]

Isn't its the eyes?

[@RoxanaP410]

Sonic apparently needs more human girlfriends

[@SBMBMPSPPS69]

holy fuck dude

[@starlitzone]

Haha

[@adenosine2electricboogaloo647]

NOOOOOOOOOOO

[@EyeofKoruption]

You’d think he’d learn by now

[@thelunarlunatic9681]

Elise could be Sonic’s first hooter.

[@treefroggy]

It happened because Hooters in Japan is viewed differently than in the US. In the US Hooters (and sexuality in general) is stigmatized. In Japan there are lots of establishments that could be compared to Hooters, like maid cafes, where primarily female servers tend to the customers. Hooters is just the "american themed" version of this in japan. So it makes sense, because Sonic likes chili dogs.

[@maximillianlylat1589]

peacegiant that explains the scene in digimon adventure tri....

[@SaveTheFuture]

I don’t think the US in general has that issue (except maybe in parts of the south). In my opinion, it’s more because of the greater attention to women’s rights in the US.

[@Merkantoine]

Sexuality stigmatized more in the us than japan... Not sure about that one 😂

[@treefroggy]

@@Merkantoine ​ @SaveTheFuture This comment is from 5 years ago will you people leave me alone

[@Merkantoine]

@@treefroggy bruh delete it if you can't handle it

[@jessesaysthebword5513]

Soap Shoes Sonic should just be the official mascot of Japan at this point.

[@TheNaturalGamer1]

Hell yeah brother

[@AmySay]

The “nice cold Sonic blue citrus flavored drink” is a pre-existing drink; the Blue Hooterade. I know this because they force us to push that damn drink every friggin day. Source: I’m a Hooters Girl.

[@snomwommy9713]

B E G O N E T H O T

[@Iinneus]

"Hooterade"?! That sounds... ...not... great.

[@quadabyte8933]

"FORCE us" Hehehehe

[@AmySay]

Linneus I can’t vouch for it myself since I can’t legally drink, but it basically has blue raspberry vodka, lemonade, and Mountain Dew.

[@AmySay]

I got unironically called a thot TWICE for saying I’m a Hooters Girl good job team.

[@just2good]

Always loved weird promotions like this, and your videos cover them so well!

[@austinreavis4226]

Well, well, well, if it isn't just2good the Legod (Lego + God = Legod)

[@nerecky]

just2good Hey just2good!!

[@TheDCfanXO]

just2good remember me?

[@AlexMercado04]

just2good Lego + sonic = Lego sonic ?

[@williamgerrellames]

!

[@alexsal9798]

Wonder how many people stole a soap shoes sonic

[@jooshooa8794]

Alex Sal979 i would if I was there

[@deannamccrimmon7377]

Alex Sal979 I know I would😂

[@acapeIIIa_callilulelo]

I would XD So I could sell it and make millions

[@Quorthon.]

i would

[@madisonwolfe777]

3

[@cy1763]

9:33 "Ready to serve up your tears because you don't own one" Oh so you

[@mlgbluebird7117]

Wubba Lubba Dub Dub sad

[@whatdidyoujustcallme6242]

This commet age bad

[@fluff018]

That sonic plush in the thumbnail looks like it’s enjoying it bit too much

[@thelostmessenger]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@lapislazulirecords9072]

Did you know this thumbnail reference to Rin from Love Live with Sonic (btw it was official art go and google it) and other one is hanamaru from love live sunshine with sonic

[@SonicPlayerz45]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@antiamourshiper8477]

I forgot to mention that the waitress is wearing Sonic ears.

[@clay4trey]

I’ve been seeing a lot of images of Rouge as a worker at Hooters. It seems fitting.

[@pedrostart5940]

oh no

[@NewClearWinter2]

*your best nightmare starts playing*

[@lauren.elizabethmusic]

​@@NewClearWinter2OH GOD OH FUCK OH GOD OH FUCK

[@ARCtrooper65]

Where and why have you seen these...

[@rivalmindss]

@@ARCtrooper65 yes. for... research purposes

[@officialFredDurstfanclub]

Iizuka looking extremely uncomfortable standing next to a guy in a Sonic suit and two Hooters employees got me howling

[@sanic2794]

I remember seeing this and questioning my life for the next 5 hours

[@MJFeehan24]

Me too.

[@megafan1137]

I think of it and immediately an image pops into my mind of sonic making a pitiful attempt at convincing Amy into wearing a Hooters outfit.

[@player6450]

SuperSanicfan27 me too

[@namingisdifficult408]

megafan good god no

[@classicknuckles892]

Sonic 06 everyone?

[@ultimateknux2402]

I'm very jealous about the guy who won the Soap Shoes Sonic Plush. Then again, it's not really new compared to the other events you've talked about before. Since the Soap Shoes Sonic Plush keeps coming back, I think Sega will surprize us by Re-releasing it around the globe, or a specific location that it would be shipped too. Either way, I'm sure Sega will do something about the demand in the further future.

[@krxxc.kk6]

ClassicS.1995 I'm jealous that plush got a boobie hug...

[@jonnysac77]

Bloody Stream But It's Same except I'm not jealous of the plush, I'm jealous of the woman who gave it the boobie hug

[@SonicTheComic]

This was a sweet upload! After visiting 3 different Hooters bars around Tokyo during this promotion to get the coasters I can say the set ups they had in the bars was awesome, many and I mean many soap shoes everywhere! The food was good too and the girls would dance to fist bump on request. It is funny though because most of the girls had no clue what Sonic even is! It was a fun experience, my only gripe with the whole thing is me being a collector and these being very rare and expensive items is that smoking is still legal in bars in Japan, so all these soap shoes plushies where the subject of smokers ash covering them everyday for 2 months! Great video mate, thanks for the credits for using my footage!

[@corny5920]

Were you visiting Japan during the promotion or do you live there?

[@SonicTheComic]

I was lucky to be visiting during the promotion.

[@classicknuckles892]

@@SonicTheComic hey its sonic the comic love your videos also Nice classic Knuckles review plush love that video

[@ivanmendoza8216]

you know what they say Sega does what Nintendon't

[@familyguyfan4208]

nintendo is what genesisnt.

[@ivanmendoza8216]

Zambo 564 dude it's a joke

[@familyguyfan4208]

Ivan Mendoza my sheer existence is a joke.

[@familyguyfan4208]

Zambo 564 unfortunately my mom hid my razor blades.

[@Segadrome]

@@rrss2583 but Sega has a good movie

[@elisamuelorfilarosario4163]

Imagine a kid passing next to one of those restaurants, and asking their parents to go in because they have a cool Sonic poster

[@mangaboss1411]

"That's a surprising level of detail one wouldn't expect in a sonic the hedegehog x hooters coaster" So many confusing things in that sentence...

[@mrkobayoshi]

The Sonic statue.... NANI!?!?!!?

[@mlgbluebird7117]

Derp Zaloot *Earrape intensifys*

[@nitrospider6890]

God I wish that were me in the thumbnail

[@nitrospider6890]

(I’m referring to the girl of course, I really want that soap shoes plush)

[@CroMaLaka]

Nitro Spider, I was about to say you would have a nice rack until I saw your other comment lol.

[@1upMarioBrosfromytp]

Oh, I would be the Sonic Plush..

[@MookalH]

Man I wanna hug sonic too

[@liekkianimaatio3652]

Nitro Spider who doesn't wanna hug Sonic?!

[@marioandsonicplush6456]

Shadow: this drink... *IS THE ULTIMATE*

[@TheAnimeHistorian220]

The collab might actually be better than the game itself

[@hexmelshenker]

yeah well is is

[@walidbentaher2237]

Oh yeah totally

[@aadamevans3837]

Imagine it, sonic adventure 1 and 2 get remade and chaos in forces, the soap plushes and shoes in forces, and all the chao mercherndise were all hints for sa1 and 2 remakes that would be awesome

[@xCoMiXx]

I bet Chaos would be happy after such a bumming appearance in Forces.

[@retrobrickreviews687]

[POLYBLUES] If I had to guess, Chaos in Forces was less a hint toward an N-Sane Trilogy style HD remaster of the Adventure games (although that would be heckin' swell), but it was more likely an attempt to reintroduce Chaos to newer fans before the Sonic movie in 2019, which I am nearly positive will be a film adaptation of SA1.

[@xCoMiXx]

That would be sweet, it is quite the assumption and I can see them doing so. And man, one year away from that movie, gosh...

[@TheReZisTLust]

​@@retrobrickreviews687Were you disappointed that the Sonic movie didn't follow SA storyline too?

[@KevinKess]

On the one hand, part of me wants to grumble that we in America and Europe never had promotions like these... yet, on the other hand, I doubt that Hooters restaurants in America would be willing to do something like that and Sega of America would probably hesitant to do it when you consider how Sonic is marketed over here.

[@ThatOnecyberRat]

Imagine if they did that again with frontiers that would have been shocking

[@galaxieflora1078]

Probably not Hooters, but I could see something like this at a more family-friendly restaurant (well aside from the obvious fast food kids meal). Idk how common non-fast food restaurant promotion events are in the US tbh. I don't go out to eat much and I don't see that many ads for such.

[@lastpringle8904]

This is what Sonic Forces brought us? Perhaps I treated the game too harshly

[@donkarasu-9644]

I actually forgot about that Progressive commercial. I was actually surprised to see Sonic in it first time seeing it.

[@itzpeanut9904]

imagine going to hooters without knowing of this promotion. you walk inside AND THERES A BUNCH OF SONICS EVERYWHERE!!!1!!!

[@samuelrodriguez9801]

Now I can't unsee the mental image of Sonic going to Hooters.

[@rylibes6455]

I can’t believe soap shoe sonic is now officially part of Hooters

[@thorwilhelms9635]

Just be careful not to drop the Soaps.

[@SSean1991]

My first PatMac video and certainly not the last. Subscribed! :D

[@dr.pringles263]

“Let’s go to Hooter’s and kill ourselves.” - Sonic/Peter/Pepsi Man

[@megafan1137]

I forgot this was a thing. Though I'm still semi-disturbed by the idea of Sonic and Hooters.

[@emilioduran3430]

Vox4l she is 17

[@ant-fan]

I’d like to make a note about the Sonic Forces pop-up café that I think is cool. The “Tails Noodles” dish mentioned is actually a Japanese dish called kitsune udon, an udon soup in dashi broth with fried tofu. In addition to being the name of the dish, kitsune are multi-tailed foxes from Japanese folklore. Having Tails’ dish be that is supremely clever.

[@brosephthealmighty2936]

Local KZbinr "PatMac" steals extremely rare "Soap Shoes Sonic Plush" at local Hooters

[@mavstation]

I thought it was a meme I didn't think this was real, I was wrong. I am going to die happy now .

[@iregretsomeofmypreviouscom3284]

This video was a very good birthday present for me. I just remember watching the Sonic Forces livestream at TGS and suddenly THAT promotion. I just will say that i would kill for that Soap Shoes Sonic Plush.

[@PatMacYT]

I remember the next day everyone was exploding over the announcement, it was great. Also, happy birthday!

[@iregretsomeofmypreviouscom3284]

PatMac Thanks!!

[@SFCmrRaccoon]

Where Do You Go After Talking About Sonic Ice Cream Talk about Hooters X Sonic Forces

[@guyontheinternet7332]

SFC mr Raccoon yes

[@Phoenix-nk8tg]

The best part about the collaboration has to be the, erm *artwork*

[@jetixlord]

Do a video about that shadow partnership!!!! Also I was really hoping someone would make a video on this so thank you!!!

[@witapepsi]

Tomoya Ohtani was the DJ and I'm so amazed he decided to use that airhorn sample

[@_just_comic]

Hooters x Sonic? I'm starting to choke on my wild wings

[@CattyMintgum]

The Rare yet common Soap Shoes Sonic Plush.

[@compassrose1466]

I just wish they didn't tease the plushies. Like that was a crappy move, why not just sell them and give the fans what they've wanted for years? o.e

[@Ssj_tainaka]

because they have to show us our nostalgia because we're all stuck in the past, if only there was a different way though... *0U0*

[@TSMSnation]

like adventure 3?

[@TheWebkinzMario]

The thumbnail reminds me of the Sega x Love Live promotion where, as a log-in bonus for a period of time, you could receive special versions of Rin and Hanayo holding Sonic. I have both and they are very cute additions to my team.

[@dprototype6431]

You know what we need now? A video on the history of that "E" meme on Twitter. Seriously, what's going on?

[@Wallykarp]

The pain in your voice over soap shoe Sonic... I sincerely hope you get one at some point in the future.

[@MJFeehan24]

A weird desicion was made that day...

[@chimerastar3875]

Imagine a man walking to hooters after a long day of work and seeing sonic forces stuff everywhere

[@anohitori9377]

SOAP Sonic: Yeah am a promotional item not for sale! SA2 Shadow: when am I gonna get promoted ;-;

[@ThatCubeGamer]

The best Sonic collaboration of all time. Nothing will top this masterpiece.

[@meme-rr3fw]

Sonic x sonic

[@SaulGoogwoman]

Sonic x Me

[@RenegadeR0gu3]

I usually forget that this was a thing that happened, and every time I'm reminded I just get slapped in the face with bewilderment. Like, bro... This is definitely one of the weirder decisions SEGA has made for this series.

[@ramonamartinez8647]

what kind of company has plushes of game characters for display but not for sale?

[@SixandahalfYT]

sega, apparently.

[@corneliussnow8215]

Thank you for doing this video. When I learned about the Hooters Sonic Collaboration, I badly wanted to know the who, what, when, where, why, and how about this strange partnership.

[@TheBlueHedgehog]

Speaking of Forces Where’s my sonic forces figure pack review

[@metacrisis47]

Makes me wonder how people didn’t just steal ‘em

[@keldeostudies149]

Ok wtf how did i not know this till now? This is the crossover we never wanted nore expected

[@benjamincarmine7612]

12:07 Forget the soap shoe sonic plush I WANT THAT SONIC WITH THE WATER MELON

[@kiyezz-__-358]

Yeah weirdest promo

[@freakfoxvevo7915]

Sega, please give this man one of your Soap Sonic plushes

[@ojmcmuffins8019]

I'm still very upset that they never hold promotions like this in the States...

[@MrDmoney156]

cuz you get american parents/adults that visit hooters will complain to the company of why they promoting a "children's video game series" to a adult restaurant and all kinds of annoying shit they'll whine and moan about and thus making Sega of America lose all the money spent on merch and stuff for the place unfortunately.

[@sparksthedaytrader9606]

I just went to a Hooters for the first time yesterday and this video comes up?

[@aceyx2019]

the internet ruined hooters for me before i even knew it was a thing

[@spongebobfan78]

That artwork in the thumbnail though. It seems to be a retrace, at least Sonic and not the girl, of an official Love Live artwork.

[@randomreason3651]

It was a parody of that image made by a Tumblr user named wereshoes- wereshoes.tumblr.com/

[@PatMacYT]

It was drawn by my friend @wereshoes, and yeah when I commissioned it I sent the artwork used for that promotion as reference. It came out great! I linked her Twitter in the description if you're interested in seeing more of her work.

[@lapislazulirecords9072]

Zero Sponge i remember they promote Rin from Love Live and Hanamaru from Love Love Sunshine with Sonic tho xD

[@LizzyHedgehog]

PatMac and who’s the girl? Ya girlfriend?

[@ProfessionalGreifer]

I actually used my Sonic plush as a Christmas tree decoration last year! 😂 He was initially hung on a branch, but later replaced our plastic angel as the tree topper!

[@nurseallison09]

Lucky

[@Belvo8]

Wtf man. If the US had that Sonic X Hooters collab it would be making bank! Girls, sonic, and chili dogs!

[@MrDmoney156]

blame boomer adults that hates fun and thinks every little thing should stay for only children

[@SaulGoogwoman]

You only need the chilli dogs

[@sparksthedaytrader9606]

“Universally Praised” LOL

[@lakitudude7577]

Tyranitoons Yeah I praised myself alright

[@lakitudude7577]

Tyranitoons WAIT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COSTUME SHIT!

[@greenguy4529]

I mean Can you blame Sonic, my man knows how to roll

[@speedymyshorts3323]

"Soap Shoes Sonic at the blue moon bar, ready to serve up your tears because YOU DONT HAVE ONE." Hold up let me go die inside

[@MegaDude10]

I still find it hilarious how they not only chose the most inappropriate restaurant for a family-friendly franchise, but they didn't choose the place that not only shares the name with the title character, but also sells CHILI-DOGS! IT WAS RIGHT THERE!

[@letsichigo]

I really like your videos! The algorithm showed me your sonic ice cream video and I’ve been enjoying your other stuff c: ngl that hooter’s chili dog looks amazing

[@smashingstargamer]

When I first saw this I thought it was a joke Then I had to rethink my life for 5 minutes

[@Sonic1994CD]

What a great video, I've learned so much. Those coasters are cool

[@nccuss1701]

Lol sega is trolling us with soap shoe sonics XD

[@karlabonet4327]

6:34 Sonic soap shoes plush right there!!! I need it

[@outatime9449]

I need a Soap shoe sonic plush ;-;

[@MoverTile]

My birthday is October 16 and that’s when the promotion started... HOOTERS HERE I COME!!

[@anordinaryuser5818]

Amy is gonna be crazy because of the thumbnail

[@TheShyGamer]

I swear to god Every damn time I see a Shop fulled with Soap Shoes Sonics A Little Bit of my Sole Leaves me

[@DJUmi0710]

Love your content dude!

[@CECmass0325]

Can u talk about the chuck e cheese × forces promo ?

[@anonimato9128]

Cec mass Wait what?

[@boogersneeze9346]

. Why haven't I heard about this

[@tamacat2001]

The only reason I know about that is because they kept playing the ad on cartoons.

[@coffeebeanfreak]

Ahh yeah I remember that. I currently work there and remember the Sonic Forces promotion. Honestly the only thing we really had were the Sonic decorated fountain drink cups, and you would pull back a piece of paper and see what kind of prize you'd won. The grand prize was a Sonic Forces bundle (i believe it was XBox, PS4) but one of the lower tiered prizes was a free copy of SA2 on steam. Got one for myself, and that's all that really happened. No one at my store won the grand prize. I never heard anything from other stores either

[@emilioduran3430]

Nani?!?

[@kbennett365]

I always enjoy your vids. Keep it up! Also I can hear the triggerness in your tone of voice when talking about the Soap Shoes Sonic XD. I'd love to have one but I personally want the Joyride Sonic.

[@Imseeking]

1:50 Holy, IS THAT CAMELLIA

[@Andrew-ol6ru]

I wish I lived in japan because of this.

[@guzma9851]

This is why I love sonic. Its so 'Wtf' 24/7

[@jeamsis]

Im so glad you mentioned m-flo loves shadow this is wild though

[@sewkrazy]

I loved the Progressive Sonic ad and I’ve seen it several times

[@Lucatrocity]

Can't wait a Flo from Progressive in Sonic the Hedgehog ROM hack

[@neoaltier]

*ive never clicked on a video by patmac so fast in my life*

[@reviews2d77]

『Shin』 You were attracted by that nice pair?

[@neoaltier]

2D Reviews Maybe ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@neoaltier]

And that it was a patmac video

[@superwingcap6468]

Thanks bro at first i was debating playing this game but after see this rare promotion i finally decided i will buy it and i’ll play it til the end and since i already spoiled myself the entire game I know what I have on the way

[@Robert-gn7ec]

This popped up in the recommended of both my phone and tv account, this is a hit for the algorithm, wtf sonic team doing

[@bignuttysupreme2625]

Now they're collaborating with CHUCKIE CHEESE.

[@georgekeys1564]

Polarbearz 18:31

[@tap5263]

*B I G A N I M E T I D D I E S*

[@soulpanic96]

Did anyone else started to laugh when the girls came out to dance

[@TrueBlueOfficial]

I woulda stolen the soap shoes plush and kept it all for myself

[@box2122]

I find it funny how the video about the sonic and hooters collaboration is just overall a examination about the use of soap shoes sonic plushes instead. Something tells me, just maybe, this guy places some value in them.

[@BLOODY__FATALITY]

I'm gonna show this to Elise.

[@PinkettePlushPro]

KZbin decided we should really push this out now

[@selkadombom7017]

Great video PatMac. I always enjoy your videos, they are so interesting to listen to, they bring up really cool information about things I didn't even know was included or existed. Thanks for this video, it hyped me up for some reason XD. Btw do you know where to find footage of the time trial? I wanna see how the guy did mortar canyon in 47 seconds.