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Feign the Opossum

@feignopossum.bsky.social

I make videos about Sonic the Hedgehog stuff. Reeeeeeally slowly. www.youtube.com/channel/UCJXbPPYvg6…

Feign the Opossum @feignopossum.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Fun fact! When Sega of America first learned of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1990, they deemed the design "unsalvageable" and considered using Will Vinton's style to "educate" Sega of Japan on good character design. Oh, what could have been... #SonicTheHedgehog www.timeextension.com/features/pla...

A poorly made and deeply troubled reimagining of Sonic the Hedgehog, if he had been redesigned by Will Vinton instead of Greg Wray. Taking what can only loosely called "inspiration" from the California Raisins, the Sonifornia Raisnic stands atop a black pedestal that reads "Unsalvageable" in a style reminiscent of the title on the American box art for Sonic the Hedgehog on Genesis.

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Feign the Opossum @feignopossum.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

So... I was reading the 11th-century Ecbasis captivi when I came across this bit with a hedgehog yapping about its allegedly excellent "ancient forebears" to get out of helping the sick king. I'm terrible at drawing, but this popped into my head and needed to escape before I could do anything else.

Silver the Hedgehog from the Sonic franchise dressed in clothing inspired by the Etruscan statue, Apollo of Veii. Silver is clutching his tebenna (draped in a style reminiscent of the Greek himation) and obnoxiously asking an individual out of frame, "Do you know who I am!?"

And yes, I realize that the hedgehog in the Ecbasis captivi specifically says it's of "Rutulian" descent, but that doesn't NECESSARILY mean it has no Etruscan ancestry... Besides, there are a lot of question marks surrounding the historical Rutuli people anyway, and it's not like the hedgehog in the fable is supposed to be taken all that seriously to begin with!

...Yeah, I realized about three hours into drawing that I'm probably the only person to find any of this even remotely amusing. Eh, whatever—practice is practice.

Snippet of KBR ms. 10.615-729, folio 189va, lines 7-22.
Transcription (by me, so it's kinda rough):
Squirio quam nobilis compilet pomula glandis. ERICIVS
Quis tibi vel qualis magni sum gente catonis.
Ex atauis longo si ducis stemmata filo.
Disces me natum magnorum sanguine regum.
In me priscorum uirtus defluxit auorum.
Stirpe recenseta remouebis uilia iussa.
Iuxta progeniem manda seruiminis artem.
Conuenit ecce tibi talis reuerentia fati. LEOPARDVS
Hinc uiuam reliquo despectior ipse popello. ERICIVS
Tempore namque; suo generis recabitur ordo. LEOPARDVS
Non sequar hoc iussum deposcens te leopardum. ERICIVS
Precipias numquam mihi contemptibile quicquam.
Si breuis existo prudenti regmine regno.
Ingenium purum sapiens subtili serenum.
Vilibus; inuolucris latitat substantia grandis.
Marchio sum rutuli romane signifer urbis.

English Translation (by Edwin H. Zeydel in "Ecbasis Cuiusdam Captivi Per Tropologiam", lines 660-675):
(Hedgehog) "How the squirrel gathers acorns for us!
Who am I to you, and of what quality? I am of the race of great Cato;
If you trace my lineage in a long line from my ancestors,
You will learn that I am of the blood of great kings,
To me the excellency of ancient forebears has come down.
Considering my ancestry you will revoke such disgraceful commands,
Enjoin the practice of menial service in accordance with the state of one's birth."
(Leopard) "Indeed, it is fitting that you respect such a lot."
(Hedgehog) "Because of this I must live (be regarded) more contemptible to (by) the rest of the populace."
(Leopard) "The rank of your lineage will be proclaimed in due time."
(Hedgehog) "I will not obey that order, and beseech you, leopard,
Never to give me any disgraceful command.
Even though small, I rule with prudent sway;
Clear, wise, subtle and calm is my spirit.
Beneath my humble exterior momentous substance is concealed:
I am a Rutulian margrave, the banner-bearer of the Roman city.

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