Hideki Sonoda is an anime and manga creator recognized for his work as an original creator, series writer, and scriptwriter on several anime projects, primarily during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His career is notably connected to the Machine Robo franchise and its related original video animations.

Sonoda served as the primary writer for the television anime series Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos, which aired for 47 episodes from July 1986 to May 1987. This series, produced by Ashi Productions, is an adventure and mecha story set on the mechanical world of Cronos, where heroes battle the invading Gyandlar forces. His involvement extended beyond the television series into the franchise's original video animations. He wrote the OVA Lightning Trap - Leina & Laika, released in 1990, which is considered a spin-off or sequel centered on the character Leina Stol from the original Machine Robo series, though it is set in an alternate universe. For this OVA, Sonoda is credited with both the original concept and the screenplay. The production was again handled by Ashi Productions and featured character designs by notable creators Kia Asamiya and Nobuyoshi Habara.

In addition to his work in animation, Sonoda also contributed to the literary side of the franchise. He authored a light novel titled Lightning Trap - Leina & Laika, which was published by Kadokawa Shoten under their Sneaker Bunko imprint in September 1990, featuring illustrations by Kia Asamiya and Nobuyoshi Habara. This novel serves as another iteration of the story from the OVA of the same name.

Sonoda's artistic identity is closely tied to the mecha and action genres, with a recurring focus on characters and narratives established within the Machine Robo universe. His work often involves expanding upon existing series, creating spin-off stories that explore characters further, as seen in the transition from the television series to the various Leina-centered OVAs and novels.