Ray the Flying Squirrel
From Sonic Retro
Ray the Flying Squirrel (レイ・ザ・フライングスクイレル Rei za Furaingu Sukuireru) is an anthropomorphic yellow squirrel with a long tail, and was introduced as one of three playable characters (alongside Sonic the Hedgehog and Mighty the Armadillo) in the Sega System 32 arcade game, SegaSonic the Hedgehog, released in 1993. He was created by Manabu Kusunoki.
Contents
Personality and traits
Ray is potrayed in SegaSonic the Hedgehog as a younger and more eager character than Mighty and Sonic, as noted by his voice performance and by the character imbued in his animations, giving him a more cute and comical impression than the other two protagonists. This interpretation of the character is reinforced further in his later appearances in Sonic Mania and Sonic Mania Adventures. In those portrayals, he's either seen with Mighty or looking out for him, implying they are close friends. He's energetic and excitable, not unlike a character like Charmy Bee, and can expertly fly and glide on his own thanks to the flaps on his arms.
Appearances
Video games
For years, Ray only had a major role in one Sonic the Hedgehog title, SegaSonic the Hedgehog, in which he was captured by Dr. Eggman and imprisoned somewhere on an island fortress. Together, with the help of Sonic and Mighty, he avoided Dr. Eggman's traps and escaped. Despite his name, Ray is never seen "flying" (or gliding, as is the case with real world flying squirrels) in SegaSonic the Hedgehog, since his moves and abilities are functionally the same as the other two playable characters.
When Sonic and Mighty first met Ray, he was a frightened little kid, but he has come a long way since then. Tails always loved to hang out with Ray. He continues to be best friends with Mighty and travels around the world.[1][2]
After 25 years of absence, Ray finally returns as a playable character alongside Mighty in Sonic Mania's expansion, Sonic Mania Plus. His design received a slight changee, giving him double-striped blue sneakers, much like those seen his his appearances in the Archie comics. In this game, Ray is finally able to live up to his species' name by being able to perform the Air Glide move, giving him enormous aerial maneuverability. In Encore Mode, he is trapped in a Combi Confiner-like capsule with Mighty in Angel Island Zone and has to be rescued by Sonic. However, only one of the two trapped characters is real, the one Sonic doesn't tag along with is revealed to be an illusion by Heavy Magician, with the other character still needing to be rescued via a character Item Box.
Cameo appearances
The character has seen a small number of cameo appearances, including in the Sega Saturn title, Gale Racer, in which he and several other Sonic characters are depicted as keychains that can hang from the car's back view mirror, and in Sonic Generations where he can be seen on a "missing" poster as part of the City Escape stage.
Ray was added to Minecraft as an official player skin, as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog collaboration on June 22nd, 2021[3].
Other media
Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comics)
Ray has been seen in the Archie universes where he has a greater role as an old and close friend to Mighty. In the original universe, Ray ended up getting trapped in a time warp when he grabbed the Power Gem in Robotnik's prison, but was eventually rescued by Mighty years later, and together they joined the Chaotix. In the Post-Super Genesis Wave universe, Ray and Mighty became an adventuring duo under the tutelage of Moss the Sloth with ties to—but not membership in—the Chaotix or the Freedom Fighters.
Sonic Mania Adventures
Ray arrives on Angel Island to search for Mighty, eventually encountering Knuckles and asking him about Mighty's whereabouts. It's not until Metal Sonic attacks him that he is finally reunited with his missing friend, and together they made their way to Eggman's base and helped Sonic and Tails fight a supercharged Metal Sonic.
Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW comics)
Ray and Mighty continued to go on adventures together after the events of Sonic Mania. They first got to meet Amy Rose in Spring Valley Zone and helped to stop the returning threat of Heavy King.[4] Amy later drew comics of his and Mighty's adventures which Ray got a kick out of.[5] When Mighty and Ray were captured by Metal Sonic, the flying squirrel was freed by Amy. Ray, Amy, and Bark the Polar Bear worked together to free everyone else who were captured in Capsules.[6]
list of appearances
Voice actors
- Hiroko Yoshino (Japanese, SegaSonic the Hedgehog)
Artwork
References
- ↑ TailsTube #5 (Remember When?)
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP_oqgYKyVc (Ghostarchive)
- ↑ https://www.sonicstadium.org/2021/06/minecraft-sonic-dlc-its-official-and-out-now/ (Wayback Machine: 2021-06-22 21:35)
- ↑ Sonic_the_Hedgehog_30th_Anniversary_Special#Seasons_of_Chaos
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2021
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Amy's 30th Anniversary Special