Knuckles the Echidna

Knuckles the Echidna
Sonic the Hedgehog character
Knuckles the Echidna as he appears in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
First game	Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994)
Created by	Takashi Thomas Yuda
Voiced by (English)	Video games Michael McGaharn (1998) Brian Drummond (1999) Ryan Drummond (2000) Scott Dreier (2001–2004) Dan Green (2005–2010) Travis Willingham (2010–present) Animation Brian Drummond (Sonic Underground) Bill Wise (OVA) Dan Green (Sonic X) Travis Willingham (Sonic Boom)
Voiced by (Japanese)	Video games Nobutoshi Canna (1998–present) Animation Yasunori Matsumoto (OVA) Nobutoshi Canna (Sonic X)

Knuckles the Echidna (ナックルズ・ザ・エキドゥナ, Nakkuruzu za Ekiduna^?) is a fictional character in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games. He is a red anthropomorphic echidna who is determined and serious but sometimes gullible. He can glide and climb up walls, and is a powerful fighter due to his spiked hands. He serves as the guardian of the Master Emerald, a huge gemstone that controls the series' integral Chaos Emeralds.

Knuckles debuted as an antagonist in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 1994; Doctor Eggman tricks him into opposing Sonic and Tails. He first became playable in Sonic & Knuckles later that year; he learns of Eggman's trickery and teams up with Sonic during that game's events. Since then he has appeared in dozens of playable and non-playable roles, as well as in several series of comic books, Western animated television, and Japanese anime. He is one of the series' most popular and recognizable characters.

His reception from critics has been positive; he has been praised frequently as tough and cool-looking. Due to his likeness, he has frequently appeared in Sonic merchandise.

During conception of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the development team wanted to create a new rival for Sonic. The final design of Knuckles was the result of dozens of possible designs inspired by numerous different animals. The emphasis of the character was to break walls. He was originally planned to have a Jamaican accent and a name called 'Dreds' referring to his dreadlocks.