Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)

Not to be confused with Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.

For other uses, see Sonic the Hedgehog (disambiguation).

Sonic the Hedgehog
Opening title card for Sonic the Hedgehog
Genre	Science fiction / Action-adventure
Written by	Ben Hurst Len Janson
Directed by	John Grusd Dick Sebast Emory Myrick
Voices of	Jaleel White Charlie Adler Chris Cavanaugh Jim Cummings Bradley Pierce Rob Paulsen Mark Ballou Kath Soucie Frank Welker
Theme music composer	Noisy Neighbors
Opening theme	"Fastest Thing Alive"
Composer	Michael Tavera
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	26 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Andy Heyward Robby London
Producer	John Grusd
Running time	20-22 minutes
Production companies	DIC Entertainment Sega Corporation (characters)
Original release
Network	ABC The Children's Channel Pop (TV channel)
Release	September 18, 1993 – December 3, 1994

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Animated Series (commonly referred to by its fans as: Sonic SatAM, because it usually aired in a Saturday morning time slot) is an American animated series produced by DIC Entertainment with the partnership of Sega of America and was loosely based on the Sonic video game series. The series aired two seasons on ABC from September 18, 1993 until December 3, 1994, and reran until May 1995.

The series sharply contrasts with Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, a syndicated series that premiered in the same month. While Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog was lighthearted and comical, Sonic the Hedgehog featured a more complex plot and a darker atmosphere that constitutes a departure from the tone of the most Sonic games. The Archie Comic continues to use elements and characters from this series, and there are similarities between this show the Archie comic series, however, there are many notable differences in tone and character portrayal.

Plot summary

• Contains Plot Spoilers

The show takes place on a planet called Mobius sometime in the 33rd century. An infamous mad scientist named Dr. Julian Ivo Robotnik (Jim Cummings) invaded and conquered a huge city named Mobotropolis with the help of his assistant and nephew Snively (Charlie Adler) and his army of robot soldiers called SWATbots.

Robotnik was to be appointed Minister of Science by the King of Mobius, Maximillian Acorn, who was about to close the War Ministry. (Due to his robot army, Robotnik was leading the War Ministry) However, Robotnik soon betrayed the King and made the palace his own personal headquarters. (The King is not seen or heard from again) From there, he captured the rest of the citizens, including an intelligent old hedgehog named Sir Charles Hedgehog (William Windom), Sonic's uncle, and his crowning invention, the Roboticizer. Turning the device against Charles, Robotnik changed him into a robot slave. (The machine was originally intended to allow people to live longer, as machines) After doing the same to the captives, Robotnik turned his army loose on the world, Robotizing any who crossed his path. Those who managed to escape fled to Knothole village in the Great Forest to hide from Robotnik, forming a group called the Freedom Fighters to (hopefully) restore Mobius and end Robotnik's rule.

The Freedom Fighters include, of course, Sonic the Hedgehog (Jaleel White), Charles' speedy nephew and the main character of the series. The other freedom fighters are Rotor (Mark Ballou/Cam Brainard), a walrus with a knack for machines, Antoine Depardieu (Rob Paulsen), a French coyote and former palace guard, and Bunnie Rabbot (Christine Cavanaugh), a pretty Southern cyborg rabbit. Tails (Bradley Pierce), is a young two-tailed fox who can twirl his tails to fly. He is intelligent to an extreme, but is too young to actively participate in missions. Lastly is the group's leader (although she occasionally refers to Sonic as the leader), Princess Sally Acorn (Kath Soucie), the king's only daughter, a squirrel and Sonic's love interest. Sally carries a sentient mini-computer named NICOLE (Kath Soucie).

The Knothole Freedom Fighters constantly foil Robotnik's schemes, although fail to make much difference at large, Robotnik literally ruling the planet with an iron fist...

Characters

Protagonists

• Sonic the Hedgehog: The title character and hero in the series. He is a sassy, smooth-talking, courageous and cunning hedgehog able to run at super sonic speeds. Despite his bragging nature, he becomes highly selfless and direct in dangerous circumstances. He is the only one able to use power rings, usually to greatly increase his potential speed, generally used for escapes. (He has also used them to short circuit forcefields, and defend himself from incoming energy. Reference: Episode Doomsday) He thwarts the evil schemes of Dr. Robotnik and is the secondary leader of the Freedom Fighters.
• Princess Sally Acorn: The princess of Planet Mobius. She is the strategist and leader of the Knothole Freedom Fighters (though on the series, she refers to Sonic as the leader), as well as Sonic's girlfriend. Extremely intelligent, Sally usually hacks into Robotnik's computers to find important targets in Robotropolis. Though she is very cautious, she can be as bullheaded as Sonic, and is surprisingly spontanious when there is no danger. She utterly refuses to belive that her father is dead, and is constantly searching for him. In the show, her species is never mentioned, although the script cites her as a squrriel. (the comic says plainly that she's a hybrid squrriel\chipmunk)
• Bunnie Rabbot:A cyborg with a southern drawl, Bunnie had half of her body roboticized before Sonic saved her mid-transformation. Now her left arm and both her legs are mechanical. These robotic features, in addition to skill in martial arts, make her the brawn of the Freedom Fighters, and the only character besides Sonic to directly destroy robots. despite these advantages, she greatly desires to be normal again. In season 1 and early season 2 she is seen to have an obvious crush on Antoine, though this subplot is dropped after the episode "Fed up with Antoine" in season 2.
• Miles "Tails" Prower: A younger-brother figure to Sonic, (whom he idolizes) Tails is easily the youngest freedom fighter. Often left behind in Knothole during missions, he is incredibly bright (see episode "Sonic and Sally") and finally comes into his own in "Drood Henge". (Despite the above examples, Tails was largely a secondary or even third-level character. By the third season of the TV show, he would have played a much more substantial part.)
• Antoine Depardieu: A clumsy, cowardly, pompous, French-oriented coyote who often has extreme trouble speaking English. He also has a crush on Sally. His clumsiness often gets himself or other Freedom Fighters into trouble. In season 1 he was often portrayed as being intelligent, but too fearful to offer much help to anyone. (the comic changes his last name to D'Coolete, apparently to reflect his change from cowardly to heroic. The name Depardieu is ONLY seen in the script)
• Rotor Walrus: A walrus who is the mechanic of Freedom Fighters. He invents reliable gadgets for the Freedom Fighters in Knothole and on their missions. He fears Robotropolis and, unlike his best friend Sonic, usually stays behind to work.
• NICOLE: A highly-advanced portable personal computer that Sally uses to analyze and hack into Robotnik's machines. In season two, it is revealed NICOLE was invented by her father as an assistant. Whilst generally a formal computer, (although as early as Sonic Boom it had shades of a personality) in the episode "Super Sonic" it copies Sonic's lingo so he can understand what it says, much to the bemusement of Sally.
• Sir Charles Hedgehog: Known as "Uncle Chuck", he is Sonic's warm-hearted and elderly uncle. Chuck invented the roboticizer to allow people to live longer, but it had the uncanny effect of robbing an individual of their free will. Robotnik later stole it and used it on him, turning him into one of many mindless drones. With great difficulty, he regains control of his body and acts as a spy for the Freedom Fighters.
• Dulcy the Dragon: A clumsy, loudmouthed, young dragon who joined the Freedom Fighters in the second season. She often flies the Freedom Fighters to their destinations or rescues them, though she is terrible at landing.

Villains

• Dr. Julian Robotnik: The madman who conquered Planet Mobius ten years prior. He is a brilliant yet heartless overlord seeking nothing less than to encompass the whole world in his machinery and robotic minions. His goals are constantly thwarted by Sonic the Hedgehog, his sworn nemesis. His hatred for the hedgehog has turned into a desperate obsession to capture and roboticize Sonic himself, which is often his own undoing. (Despite having a reputation as a liar, Robitnik often chooses to mislead his opponents by telling them only half of the truth. This seems to stem from a warped sense of morality, and only serves to make him more unlikable. see episode: "Game Guy")
• Snively: Snively is Dr. Robotnik's miserable underling and assistant, as well as his nephew, though there is nothing warm about their relation. Snively is constantly abused, teased and intimidated by his uncle, whom he despises and talks about behind his back. Snively's intelligence easily rivals his uncle's, but this trait is ignored.
• Ixis Naugus: A powerful sorcerer, formerly Dr. Robotnik's mentor. He hates Robotnik for betraying and imprisoning him within the void during The Great War. He wants nothing more than to see Robotnik suffer, but cannot leave the void. (in season 3, Naugus would have returned as the primary villain, in place of Robotnik)
• SWATbots: Robotnik's primary military unit. Designed as super-soldiers, these machines won the Great War prior to Robotnik's takeover. Now they are his special defense force, making up a substantial part of Robotropolis' "population". They seem to be effective against everything but Sonic, and even he has to flee from small groups of them. (Unless he has a Power Ring with him.)

Cast

• Jaleel White - Sonic the Hedgehog
• Kath Soucie - Princess Sally Acorn/NICOLE
• Rob Paulsen - Antoine Depardieu (known as Antoine D'Coolette in the comic series).
• Christine Cavanaugh - Bunnie Rabbot
• William Windom - Uncle Chuck
• Jim Cummings - Dr. Robotnik/Additional Voices
• Charlie Adler - Snively
• Maurice LaMarche - SWATbots
• Cree Summer - Dulcy the Dragon
• Bradley Pierce - Miles "Tails" Prower
• Mark Ballou (Season 1)/Cam Brainard (Season 2) - Rotor
• Dana Hill - Young Princess Sally
• Tahj Mowry - Young Sonic
• Shari Belafonte - Lupe
• Michael Bell - Ixis Naugus
• April Winchell - Rosie the Nanny; also the voice of Ro-Becca in 'Ro-Becca'.
• Tim Curry - King Acorn
• Dorian Harewood - Ari Ram
• Frank Welker - SWATbots (pilot episode)

Episode list

Main article: List of Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series) episodes

Unproduced Season 3

• Contains Plot Spoilers

In an interview with screen-writer Ben Hurst, he reveals the third season had already been plotted out before the show's cancellation. Upon the request of an eager fanbase, Hurst revealed the unknown villain would be the wizard Ixis Naugus. Robotnik was not killed on Doomsday, rather he has become trapped within the void as Naugus' prisoner.

Snively would briefly rise to power and assume his uncle's title as oppressive overlord, but quickly fails thanks to Sonic and the Freedom Fighters. Out of desperation, Snively frees Naugus from the void, and in the process also frees Robotnik and King Acorn, though the two have become the wizard's slaves. Naugus immediately usurps the title of main villain and uses King Acorn as bait to try and capture Sally. Snively, reduced to nothing, defects to the side of the Freedom Fighters (which briefly occurred in the Sonic Archie comic storyline).

More developments would happen between the relationship of Sonic and his friend Tails, who discovers an "incredible power" and saves the Freedom Fighters from a great disaster. It has also been mentioned that Sally would have a romance with someone other than Sonic. The origins of Robotnik and Snively would also be revealed. Ben Hurst has said no scripts were written for Season Ben Hurst has recently said in a call that he is done with trying to get Season 3 off the ground and has given up, saying he has tried but all his tries have been ignored.

Other revelations from chief writer Ben Hurst at SAGExpo in 1997 were that the eyes at the end of the series were, "Ixis Naugus. Not Metal Sonic, not Knuckles the Echidna, Ixis Naugus", though he did state that Knuckles would've been introduced towards the end of Season 3, and become a main character in Season 4, if the show had made it that far.

There were rumors about making a follow up straight to DVD feature, but it later turned out to be false.

Pre–Sonic the Hedgehog

In 1993, an article in Sonic the Comic (the British comic officially licensed by Sega Of Europe), it announced two new television series starring Sonic the Hedgehog, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog. Within the four pages of plot synopsis and concept art, a group of screen shots that greatly differ from the rest appear without explanation. These screen shots have circulated through the Internet contributing to the theory of a cartoon series aborted before production which has been dubbed "The Mystery cartoon" also "Pre-SatAM" by Sonic fans.

The supporting characters in the Pre-Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon are based on the small animals freed from enemies in the original Sonic the Hedgehog game - although wildly different in design, they all bear the same names as those attributed to the various video game animal characters listed in the UK book, Stay Sonic, which were also used in Sonic the Comic strips.

Most notably, the image went on to inspire redesigns of Sonic the Comic supporting characters Johnny Lightfoot and Porker Lewis - while originally they were single the basic rabbit and pig video-game character designs, they were abruptly redesigned to be given humanoid proportions and the leather jackets the image depicted. Most notable in the image is the lack of Tails; it could be that the concept was drawn up before Tails' arrival in the series.

Archie Comic

The show's influence can be seen in the the Archie Comic book series of the same. Several characters and themes were used, but the comic followes an entirely different continuity and should not be used to reference the show's storyline or character portrayal. (The similarity between the TV show and comic seem to be a result of the comic's early issues, Sonic The Hedgehog #1-#30, being based on the shows pre-production notes. See the episode: "Heads or Tails", the only episode to directly resemble comics #1-#30. All later episodes have only visual similarities to all later comic issues.)

Broadcast history

After Sonic the Hedgehog ended its run, the series was aired on the USA Network's Action Extreme Team in reruns. The series aired reruns in syndication from 2004 to 2005.

The series was also aired in Canada on the CTV Network, with a bonus summer run between June 10 and September 2, 1995 that ABC did not replicate.

It initially had a complete run on the UK television channel Channel 4 from 1994 to 1996. Season 1 was broadcast in the Republic of Ireland on RTÉ Two in December 1994.

Home video release history

DVD releases

The entire series was released on DVD by Shout! Factory on March 27, 2007 in the USA. In the UK it was released on DVD by Delta Music on September 10, 2007 as a DVD box set, before 4 individual volumes were released later.

DVD Name	Ep #	Release dates			Additional Features
		Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
The Complete Series	26	March 27, 2007	See Below	-	This four disc boxset includes the entire 26 episodes from the series. Bonus features include: storyboards, concept art, storyboard-to-screen comparisons, deleted/extended scenes, a printable prototype script of the series pilot (Heads or Tails), and interviews with Jaleel White and head writer Ben Hurst. The individual cases and the DVDs themselves also feature fan art submitted to Shout! Factory during the box set's development phase Cover art by Ken Penders and released by Shout! Factory and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Sonic The Hedgehog: Super Sonic	5	February 26, 2002	-	-	This single disc DVD includes five episodes from the series. Bonus features include: "Exciting Interactive Game", "Trailers" and "Scene Access". This DVD was pulled however when Buena Vista claimed to have distribution rights to the series. Some copies are still available to be purchased on the second hand market.
The Complete Series	26	See Above	September 10, 2007	TBA	This four disc boxset includes the entire 26 episodes from the series. However staying true to its original show format, the original first recording of "The Fastest Thing Alive" by The Noisy Neighbours was not used as in the original Season 1. Bonus features include: "Way Past Cool! A Conversation with Sonic Writer Ben Hurst", "The Fastest Thing Alive: A Conversation with Jaleel White", "Storyboard-to-Screen: The Doomsday Project - The complete episode shown with the animated storyboards", "Original Storyboards for an Unproduced Opening Title Sequence" and "Original DiC Concept Art Galleries". As on the R1 set, a "Printable Heads or Tails Pilot Script" is listed on the disc's extra menu, but the PDF file is nowhere to be found on any of the discs. Solicitations for the set also promised "Easter Eggs Galore" and "Fan art", neither of which appeared on the finished product. The boxset is marketed as Region 2, but is in fact Region 0 PAL. [1]
Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic Boom And Other Episodes	9	-	September 10, 2007	-	This disc features nine episodes from the series, all from season one. The episodes included are as follows: Sonic Boom, Sonic & Sally, Ultra Sonic, Sonic & The Secret Scrolls, Super Sonic, Sonic Racer, Hooked On Sonics, Harmonic Sonic, and Sonic's Nightmare.[2]
Sonic, Las aventuras: Vol. 1	4	N/A	N/A	2007	The first volume from the region 4 DVDs released in Mexico by Zima Entertainment. This single disc DVD includes four episodes from the series. The episodes included are as follows: Sonic Boom, Sonic & Amy, Ultra Sonic and Sonic & The Secret Scrolls. Audio language: Spanish/English. A picture gallery is included as a bonus feature.
Sonic, Las aventuras: Vol. 2	4	N/A	N/A	2007	The second volume from the region 4 DVDs released in Mexico by Zima Entertainment. This single disc DVD includes four episodes from the series. The episodes included are as follows: Super Sonic, Sonic Racer, Hooked on Sonics and Harmonic Sonic. Audio language: Spanish/English. A picture gallery is included as a bonus feature.
Sonic, Las aventuras: Vol. 3	4	N/A	N/A	2007	The third volume from the region 4 DVDs released in Mexico by Zima Entertainment. Episodes included on this single DVD: Sonic's Nightmare, Warp Sonic, Sub-Sonic and Sonic Past Cool. Audio language: Spanish/English. Bonus feature: Picture gallery.
Sonic, Las aventuras: Vol. 4	4	N/A	N/A	2007	The fourth volume from the region 4 DVDs released in Mexico by Zima Entertainment. Episodes included on this single DVD: Game Guy, Sonic Conversion, No Brainer and Blast to the Past (Part I). Audio language: Spanish/English. Bonus feature: Picture gallery.
Sonic, Las aventuras: Vol. 5	4	N/A	N/A	2007	The fifth volume from the region 4 DVDs released in Mexico by Zima Entertainment. Episodes included on this single DVD: Blast to the past (Part II), Fed Up with Antoine/Ghost Busted, Dulcy and The Void. Audio language: Spanish/English. Bonus feature: Picture gallery.
Sonic, Las aventuras: Vol. 6	5	N/A	N/A	2008	The sixth and last volume from the region 4 DVDs released in Mexico by Zima Entertainment. Episodes included on this single DVD: The Odd Couple/Ro-Becca, Cry of the Wolf, Drood Henge, The Spyhog and The Doomsday Project. Audio language: Spanish/English. Bonus feature: Picture gallery.
Sonic The Hedgehog: The Fight for Freedom	4	September 16, 2008	-	-	The first of a series of single disc DVDs released by NCircle Entertainment. Episodes included are: Hooked on Sonics, Ultra Sonic, Sonic & the Secret Scrolls, and Warp Sonic.
Sonic The Hedgehog: Super Sonic	4	December 23, 2008	-	-	The second of NCircle Entertainment's single disc DVDs. Episodes included are: Sonic Boom, Sonic and Sally, Super Sonic, and Sonic Racer.
Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic Goes Green	4	March 3, 2009	-	-	The third of NCircle Entertainment's single disc DVDs. Episodes included are: Heads Or Tails, Sonic's Nightmare, Sub-Sonic, and Sonic Past Cool.
Sonic The Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters Unite!	4	May 5, 2009	-	-	The fourth of NCircle Entertainment's single disc DVDs. Episodes included are: Sonic Conversion, Dulcy, The Void and Spy Hog.
Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic Forever	5	March 16, 2010	-	-	The fifth of NCircle Entertainment's single disc DVDs. Episodes included are: No Brainer, Blast To The Past Parts 1 and 2, Fed Up With Antoine/Ghost Busted, and The Odd Couple/Ro-Becca.
Sonic The Hedgehog: Doomsday Project	5	August 31, 2010	-	-	The last of NCircle Entertainment's single disc DVDs. Episodes included are: Harmonic Sonic, Game Guy, Cry of the Wolf, Drood Henge, and The Doomsday Project.

VHS releases

VHS Name	Ep #	Release dates	TV Encode	Description
Hooked on Sonics	2	October 21, 1994	NTSC	Includes the episodes Hooked on Sonics and Warp Sonic.
Sonic Racer	2	December 19, 1994	NTSC	Includes the episodes Sonic Racer and Sonic Boom.
Super Sonic	2	December 19, 1994	NTSC	Includes the episodes Super Sonic and Sonic and Sally.
Sonic Racer	2	February 26, 2002	NTSC	Contrary to popular misconception, this 2002 release entitled 'Sonic Racer' is not a re-issue of the 1994 video cassette of the same title. This release features the episodes Sonic Racer and Harmonic Sonic. Unlike the 1994 release, it does not feature Sonic Boom. This 2002 release also has various edits and sound effect removals.
Super Sonic	2	February 26, 2002	NTSC	Like its 1994 counterpart, this 2002 release of 'Super Sonic' features the episodes Super Sonic and Sonic and Sally. However, unlike its 1994 counterpart and broadcast airings, this 2002 release has various edits and sound effect removals.

Canceled video game

In a recent interview with Peter Morawiec, a former programmer for Sega Technical Institute and the famed creator of Comix Zone, it was revealed that he had developed a prototype game based on the cartoon continuity, using a completely different engine than that of the traditional Sonic games. It would have been the second time that characters from the cartoon series would have shown up (after Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball), and possibly the first video game appearances of both the cartoon version of Robotnik and Snively.

In the interview Morawiec states that the sprites and background are actually 32-bit.

Unused theme songs

In early 2006, Cheezmatt of Fans United for SatAM e-mailed Michael Tavera, the talented composer who created the music for SatAM, asking him whether there was any way to get ahold of the music from the series. Not expecting much to come from it, Matt was surprised to receive a reply straight from Tavera himself. He was even more surprised when Tavera was willing to retrieve whatever music he had in his archives and send it to him in the form of a CD—for free!

According to Tavera's engineer, Scott Cochran. These demo tracks were most likely created when the show was in its conceptual stages, when it was more lighthearted like Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Apparently most of the actual music from the series was sent straight to DiC without backups, and now DiC won't let Tavera have copies of his own music. The 12 tracks can be found at the SatAM fan site, Saturday Morning Sonic. *[3]. One track (unused victory theme) was reused from season 3 of Captain N, and can be heard in the Captain N episode "Totally Terisized".

External links

• Sonic the Hedgehog at Cookie Jar Entertainment
• Sonic the Hedgehog at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• Saturday Morning Sonic
• Pre-Sonic the Hedgehog pictures
• Template:Tv.com
• Sonic the Hedgehog at IMDb
• Screenshots
• [4]