Sonic The Hedgehog Is Autistic (Episode 111)

A dash into Sonic’s appeal to autistic folks.In Episode 111 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Matt and Angela explore why Sonic the Hedgehog is an autism icon—from stimmy visuals to monotropic flow states, and even a surprising connection to Michael Jackson.Here’s what’s in store for today’s episode: * Discover how Michael Jackson’s uncredited work on the Sonic 3 soundtrack reflects his neurodivergent traits and passion for video games.* We unpack how public figures like MJ, Taylor Swift, and Walt Disney build lifelong personas as a form of autistic masking.* Dive into the autism-Sonic connection, including bright colors, routine gameplay, justice sensitivity, and deep lore that appeals to autistic special interests.* Learn why Sonic’s world is ideal for hyper-connected autistic brains—fast-paced, immersive, and deeply structured.* Plus: a look at Jim Carrey’s portrayal of Robotnik, uncredited industry work, and how ABA narratives have tried to co-opt autistic fandoms like Sonic’s.“Well, only autistic children exist, right? And then we grow out of it on our 18th birthday or something, and they take our autism card away.” - Dr Angela Kingdon“One of the things with a hyper-connected brain is that we often think faster than most people. So when you’re spinning and going through loops and jumping and everything, it captivates our attention. The gameplay is really, really conducive to a flow state. And we love our flow states. That’s where our obsessions come from.” - Matt Lowry LPPDid you enjoy this episode? We explored how Sonic, as a franchise, connects with autism and neurodivergence, from its immersive world to its predictable gameplay and themes of justice. Tune in as we unpack how these elements resonate with many autistic individuals and how media can shape our understanding of neurodivergence. Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your perspectives on the episode!Shoutout!We love The Good Art Friends, a podcast where good friends discuss good art! Each episode, Spencer and Jonathan, the neurodivergent hosts, dive into one of their special interests, sharing a piece of art that they love with listeners. This might be a book, movie, album, video game, comic book, or anything else that has lifted their hearts that month. The first half of the episode is a spoiler-free conversation about why that piece of media moved them, and then there’s a time-stamped jump to insightful and entertaining analysis. They cover a wide array of topics, from Spider-Man to the Boy and the Heron and so much more, so scan through their backlog to find a piece of art that you connect with.It’s always pleasant hearing good friends connect over good art, so be sure to tune into The Good Art Friends wherever you get your podcasts.Check out the Good Art Friends podcast at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/the-good-art-friendsShow Notes:The History of Sonic – Mascot WarsA fascinating look at Sonic’s origins and Sega’s competition with Nintendo in the 1990s.Read on the Delcampe BlogThe Concept Creation of SonicAn in-depth article on how Sonic the Hedgehog was designed as a cultural icon.Read on The BoarSonic & Knuckles: Turning a Problem Into SuccessA retrospective on how Sonic & Knuckles overcame development challenges to become a fan favorite.Read on VentureBeatWhat Is It with Autistic People and Sonic the Hedgehog?An insightful neurodivergent perspective on why Sonic resonates so strongly with autistic fans. Read on Medium by Eccentric EmmieMichael Jackson’s Involvement in Sonic 3Exploring the infamous and mysterious connections between Michael Jackson and the Sonic 3 soundtrack.Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – Michael Jackson WikiWatch: Michael Jackson Songs in Sonic 3 – YouTubeSonic Origin Comic (1991)A rare look at a Sonic the Hedgehog origin comic from the early days of the franchise.View on ImgurRelated Episodes:Pokémon is Autistic Animation is Autistic Ready for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Follow us on InstagramFind us on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyLearn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com Our Autism-affirming merch shop This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com/subscribe