Animals

Sonic's animal friends are the small creatures that are used to power Badniks in early Sonic games. In later Sonic games (Sonic Adventure onwards) the animal friends appeared to be scrapped in favour of a wider variety of small animals. However, in the most recent Sonic games the concept of using animals to power robots is less frequent.

Although only a small number of animal friends are named (that is, one character per depicted species), numerous animals appeared as captives either in badnik shells or in Egg Capsules. Certain drafts of the Sega of America Sonic bible explained that Sonic's animal friends all have large families, and that it is the family members who must be rescued. This was never depicted in any Sonic publication, however.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
Three animal friends appear in the episode "Momma Robotnik's Birthday" Pocky, Ricky, and The Mouse.

SatAM / Archie comics
The Knothole Freedom Fighters are based on the original animal friends from the first Sonic game. Most obvious is Princess Sally Acorn who shares her name with the corresponding animal friend. Rotor Walrus is based on Joe Sushi and Bunnie Rabbot is based on Johnny Lightfoot.

Flickies have made a few appearances in the Archie comics, most notably in the Sonic Blast 48 page special. Powerful, yellow Flickies were also seen helping Hyper Tails in Sonic the Hedgehog # 66 (Similar to the flickies that help Super Tails in Sonic 3 & Knuckles), and also a flicky appears again as a travel companion to Amy in the Sonic Adventure storyline.

Sonic the Comic
Many of the early animal friends have made appearances in the English comic series, Sonic the Comic. Most notably are Porker Lewis and Johnny Lightfoot who are valued team mates of the Freedom Fighters.

Sonic X
3 Flickies, Sally Acorn, Porker Lewis, and Joe Sushi are shown on the news in Episode 39: Detective Detectives after they are teleported to Earth through Chaos Control. In episode 43: Mean Machine, Chirps, Tux and Ricky all appear in a local park. In a later episode, where Sonic's friends return to their dimension, Pocky, Tux, Ricky and 2 Flickies are seen being transported back.

Sonic X Comic Series
In the Archie Sonic X Comics, many of the original animal friends make cameos on the cover and in the story of issue 11.