Sonic the hedgehog's designer wants a true Mario & Sonic crossover
In a Famitsu interview with Yuji Naka and Sonic designer Naoto Ohshima:
Naka: “Actually, I wanted Mario [and Sonic] to appear together, so one time I went to give Miyamoto-san a presentation on how I want to create an action game which is co-starred by Mario and Sonic. It was in the GameCube days, and I took around four planners with me. It is a pity that the discussion was ‘clearly it isn’t necessary for Mario and Sonic to co-star in an action [game]’ and it didn’t become a reality, but SEGA was able to get the license for the Olympics just at that time, so in order to make the best use of the license, companion characters appeared together. A little later Sonic appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, this too came into reality because I requested from Sakurai-san, ‘I want Sonic to appear [in Smash Bros.]’. The Olympics is a bit different from my wish, but I think it’s a good thing that children around the world are happy about them co-starring. But someday I want to realize an action [game] together with Mario. I think I’m going to give another presentation so that Takashi [Iizuka] finds the necessity [of a Mario & Sonic action game] (laughs).
Ohshima: “I also agree. Previously they were considered rivals, but when I saw them co-starring, I honestly thought that Nintendo acknowledged Sonic.”
Naka also wants to see Sonic own his own theme park of sorts:
Naka: “I have always had a dream of Sonic’s own theme park since the olden days, but it would also be good to be a part of Disneyland. DiC Entertainment produced the Sonic anime in America for a while and was acquired by Disney. There was a moment of delight, ‘maybe Sonic walks in Disneyland!’, but that didn’t come true. Personally I want [Sonic] to appear in more various places.”
