Espio

Espio
Full name	Espio the Chameleon
Species	Chameleon
First appearance	Knuckles' Chaotix (1995, Sonic the Hedgehog franchise) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) (2007, Super Mario franchise)
Latest appearance	Sonic X Shadow Generations (2024, Sonic the Hedgehog franchise) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2019, Super Mario franchise)
Latest portrayal	Matthew Mercer (English; 2016-2019, Super Mario-related media) Yuki Masuda (Japanese, 2007-2019, Super Mario-related media)

“Forgive me, for this, too, is your fate.”

—Espio, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Espio the Chameleon is a character from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and a member of the Chaotix Detective Agency, along with Vector, and Charmy. In the Super Mario franchise, Espio appears in many installments of the Mario & Sonic series.

History

Mario & Sonic series

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

Espio appears as a referee for several Events in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. He appears during the opening refereeing High Jump and Archery. In the Nintendo DS version, he appears as a referee exclusively for Sonic characters in 10m Platform, Trampoline and Vault.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

Espio returns as a referee in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, and a Mii costume based on Espio also appears. In the Nintendo DS version, Espio appears in the Adventure tours mode, where he must be spoken to with Vector to find out the number of Whitestones remaining in Sparkleton, Cubyrinth and Blizland.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Espio reappears as a referee in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. He also appears as a character that can be spoken to in London Party mode in order to play minigames and earn stickers. The Mii costume based on him also returns and can be unlocked by winning 12 events, after which he will send the player the outfit in the mail. Espio will also send the player other pieces of mail.

In the Nintendo 3DS version, Espio appears as the referee for Boxing, Taekwondo and Wrestling - Freestyle, as well as making an appearance in the Story Mode. In the mode, Espio first appears with Charmy to tell Mario, Luigi, Toad, Sonic and Tails that Bowser and Dr. Eggman's minions have been causing trouble around London, and he splits off with Tails and heads to ExCeL London, where they find Omega rampaging. Donkey Kong defeats Omega, causing a chip to fall out of him, and after working out that Dr. Eggman was using the chip to control Omega, Tails and Espio head back to the Main Stadium with Omega. Espio stays at the Main Stadium, and later helps clear the Phantasmal Fog from it, as well as calling the Heroes during their confrontation with Bowser and Dr. Eggman to offer support and appearing at the opening ceremony. Additionally, while Espio himself does not appear in the bonus episodes, a Dry Bones is transformed by Magikoopa to look like him in The Life of a Minion. A badge of Espio can also be obtained from the badge machine.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games

In Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Espio appears as a referee and the cameraman for record-breaking interviews with the athletes. He also occasionally appears as one of the characters that the player needs to look for during certain Action & Answer Tour events, and the Mii costume based on him also returns.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Artwork of Espio with all of the playable characters from Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Espio appears as a playable character in both the Wii U version and Nintendo 3DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. In the Wii U version, Espio is only playable in Triple Jump, and must be unlocked by beating him in a tournament match. The Espio Mii costume also returns, but now must be collected in two separate parts, each with their own stat changes. In the Nintendo 3DS version, Espio is playable from the start of the game in Long Jump and Long Jump Plus, and appears as a rival in the Road to Rio mode on day 4 of Sonic's story.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

Espio returns as the guest character for Triple Jump in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and is unlocked by defeating him with Amy during chapter 9 of the game's story mode.

Super Smash Bros. series

He appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a collectible sticker, as well as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Espio, Vector, and Charmy Bee appear together as a spirit. Their spirit battle is against Sonic (in his purple costume), King K. Rool (in his blue costume) and Pichu (in its swim goggles) on the Windy Hill Zone stage. All puppet fighters are invisible.

Profiles and statistics

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Sticker Espio
	Artwork from: Knuckles' Chaotix
	Effects in The Subspace Emissary: [Body, Spin] - Attack +12
	Usable by: Sonic

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Trophy Espio

Game(s): Nintendo 3DS only

Category: Series Related

Espio is a vital member of the Chaotix Detective Agency. He is stoic and disciplined, acting as the voice of reason to Vector and Charmy. Being a chameleon, he can easily conceal himself from enemies...as long as he doesn't sneeze. That may ruin the illusion. (American English)

Vector might be the boss at Chaotix Detective Agency, but Espio's definitely the voice of reason. As a chameleon, the ninja of the animal kingdom, he can turn invisible to slip past enemies unnoticed. He just has to be careful not to sneeze when he's invisible. A blunder like that'll blow his cover instantly! (British English)

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Spirit #782 Chaotix
	Series/game	Sonic the Hedgehog Series
	Type	Primary
	Slots	3
	Class	Novice
	Strength / effect(s)	Grab
	How to obtain	World of Light (The Light Realm); Spirit Board
Spirit battle	Opponent(s)	Sonic, King K. Rool, Pichu
	Conditions	Rule: Invisibility The enemy is invisible
	Stage	Windy Hill Zone
	Song	Sonic Heroes

Portrayals

Voice Actor	Appearances
David Wills (English)	Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii), Olympic Games (DS), Olympic Winter Games (Wii), Olympic Winter Games (DS)
Troy Baker (English)	London 2012 (Wii), London 2012 (3DS), Sochi 2014
Matthew Mercer (English)	Rio 2016 (3DS), Rio 2016 (Wii U), Tokyo 2020
Yuki Masuda (Japanese)	Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii), Olympic Games (DS), Olympic Winter Games (Wii), Olympic Winter Games (DS), London 2012 (Wii), London 2012 (3DS), Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 (3DS), Rio 2016 (Wii U), Tokyo 2020
Antoine Nouel (French)	Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 (3DS), Rio 2016 (Wii U), Tokyo 2020
Silvio Pandolfi (Italian)	Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 (3DS), Rio 2016 (Wii U), Tokyo 2020
Andreas Hofer (German)	Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 (3DS), Rio 2016 (Wii U), Tokyo 2020
Dani Albiac (Spanish)	Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 (3DS), Rio 2016 (Wii U), Tokyo 2020

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	エスピオ・ザ･カメレオン[?] Esupio za Kamereon	Espio the Chameleon
Chinese (simplified)	艾斯皮欧[?] Àisī Píōu	Espio
Chinese (traditional)	艾斯皮歐[?] Àisī Píōu	Espio
Spanish	Espio the Chameleon[?]	?

External links

• Espio the Chameleon on Sonic Retro
• Espio the Chameleon at the Sonic Wiki Zone