The 'Sonic Original Character' (OC) meme phenomenon highlights the internet's fascination with fan-created characters within the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. Since the early 2000s, fan art communities have been flooded with custom hedgehogs, echidnas, and foxes, often criticized for being simple 'recolors' of existing characters. The trend peaked with the creation of ironic characters like 'Coldsteel the Hedgeheg,' which parodied the overly edgy and powerful bios typical of fan creations. Today, the meme serves as both a genuine celebration of creativity and a satirical nod to the 'original character, do not steal' trope, frequently used to poke fun at edgy character design or overly specific backstories.