Sonic the Hedgehog debuted in 1991 as Sega's mascot in a fast-paced platform game for the Genesis, created to showcase speed as his defining ability. The running and dashing sounds became part of that identity alongside his spinning and jumping effects. As gameplay clips, remixes and memes spread online in the 2000s and 2010s, short effects from the series were reused outside the games for comic speed. This run sound remains popular because it is instantly linked to Sonic without needing music or voice lines.