A spin-off video game, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, was developed, featuring several original characters from the series. Furthermore, other elements, such as Sonic's fondness for chili dogs, would be featured in later video games and media of the franchise. Additionally, on November 24, 1996, USA Network aired Sonic Christmas Blast, a Christmas special which was produced to promote Sonic 3D Blast (originally meant for the ultimately cancelled Sonic X-treme).
Plot
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is a comical, light-hearted and gag-driven adventure series based on the titular character Sonic the Hedgehog, an arrogant and mischievous yet kind-hearted teenage hedgehog with the power to move at supersonic speeds. Sonic, along with his idolizing young friend Tails, regularly oppose the main antagonist Dr. Robotnik, his robot henchmen Scratch, Grounder, and Coconuts, and thwart their plans to conquer their home planet of Mobius.[2]
The series features a short PSA segment titled "Sonic Says" at the end of each episode excluding "Sonic Christmas Blast"; these segments were written by Phil Harnage.[3]
Characters
Heroes
Sonic the Hedgehog (voiced by Jaleel White)[4] is the main character of the series. Sonic travels the world and works to defend Mobius from the threat of Dr. Robotnik. Just like in the video games, Sonic can move at fast speeds. He has also shown to be quite cunning and deceitful, using various tricks and disguises to get one over his opponents, especially whenever his speed is nullified.
Miles "Tails" Prower (voiced by Russi Taylor in the unaired pilot and by Christopher Stephen Welch in the main series)[5] is a two-tailed fox who is Sonic's best friend and sidekick. Sonic found him as a toddler, apparently abandoned because of his multiple tails, which he can use to fly like in the video games. He usually displays child-like intelligence but has shown to have exceptional skills as a mechanic and a pilot like his video game counterpart.
Villains
Dr. Ivo Robotnik (voiced by Jim Cummings in the unaired pilot and by Long John Baldry in the main series)[6] is an evil mad scientist and the archenemy of Sonic the Hedgehog, who uses his robots and inventions in order to take over Mobius. His headquarters is a fortress atop Mobius' tallest mountain, where he uses his Robo-Matic Machine to create robots called Badniks to aid him in his plots. While Robotnik is somewhat capable at defeating Sonic and Tails due to his technology, his childish, manic and often egotistical nature greatly overpowers his tyrannical side, always leading to his defeat and humilation by Sonic and/or Tails.
Scratch (voiced by Phil Hayes) is a hot-headed chicken-like Badnik. Originally, Dr. Robotnik wanted the Robo-Matic Machine to create a super robot only for it to produce Scratch instead due to a malfunction. Scratch is arrogant, but not very bright, although he does seem to be more intelligent than his usual partner, Grounder.
Grounder (voiced by Garry Chalk) is Scratch's younger non-identical twin brother; a dimwitted mole-type Badnik who was created by Dr. Robotnik when he put one of Scratch's tail feathers into the Robo-Matic Machine. He has tank treads for legs and drills for a nose and hands (though he frequently swaps them for other tools, even actual hands on occasion). He is based on the enemy of the same name from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. A recurring gag involves him expressing desire for a mother.
Coconuts (voiced by Ian James Corlett) is a cynical monkey-type Badnik who was created before Scratch and Grounder. At some point, he was demoted to working as Dr. Robotnik's janitor and is often trying to impress him by outdoing Scratch and Grounder in stopping Sonic to no avail. He is shown to be somewhat smarter than Scratch and Grounder and is shown to have his own styled gadgets in his attempts of defeating Sonic. He is based on the enemy of the same name from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Other characters
Breezie (voiced by Venus Terzo) is a beautiful hedgehog-type Badnik created by Dr. Robotnik in a plot to get rid of Sonic. She initially manipulated Sonic into falling in love with her and giving her various gifts, but when she realized that Sonic really did care for her and does not see her as a robot, she developed genuine romantic feelings for him and betrayed and left Dr. Robotnik's services. Breezie later met Robotnik Jr. who later developed a crush on her.
Momma Robotnik (voiced by Kathleen Barr) is the mother of Dr. Robotnik who is even worse than her son. While kept in an asylum called the Mobius Home for Really Bizarre Mothers as punishment for bad parenting, she tends to escape on occasion and her insanity even scares her son. At the end of most of her appearances, she ends up recaptured and taken back to the home against her will.
Wes Weasley (voiced by Michael Donovan) is a weasel who works as a door-to-door salesman. He would often sell devices to Dr. Robotnik that would fail because of either Sonic's ingenuity or Scratch and Grounder's incompetence. He frequently alternates between being on Robotnik and Sonic's side, and will switch to another if there is a profit to be made or if something does not lean in his favor.
Sergeant Doberman (voiced by Phil Hayes) is a Doberman Pinscher who is a retired army sergeant and a known war hero.
Professor Von Schlemmer (voiced by French Tickner) is a brilliant but eccentric and kooky scientist who is an ally of Sonic and Tails.
Professor Caninestein (voiced by Gary Chalk) is a highly-intelligent dog scientist that invents gadgets for Sonic to use. Dr. Robotnik once captured him and had him build a time machine in order to steal four Chaos Emeralds in different time periods.
Robotnik Jr. (voiced by Ian James Corlett) is a diminutive Badnik resembling Robotnik, which the latter initially created to be his son and carry on his legacy when he passes away. Unfortunately, he defects from his creator and sides with Sonic and Tails. Jr. later fell in love with Breezie.
Mad Mike and Big Griz (voiced by Michael Donovan and French Tickner) are a duo of bears who both go by the name "Da Bears". They are Sonic and Tails' proclaimed biggest fans and despite their low intelligence, display great feats of courage and strength.
Roxy is a female racoon and the only known employee of Bert's Diner. She has a crush on Sonic, which he returns at the end of her debut episode, Untouchable Sonic.
Bert Whoo is a green owl. He is the owner of Bert's Diner as well as the Mayor and Sheriff of Mobius Corners. When Robotnik issued an unlawful protection service on Mobius Corners, Bert was one of its few citizens who refused to pay and as a result, ran his own Diner to financially support himself. He is kidnapped by Scratch and Grounder, but is rescued by Sonic and Tails, with some assistance from his employee Roxy.
Miss Possum (voiced by Louise Vallance) is a possum who became the Sheriff of Tranquil Gulch following the retirement of Sonic. She develops an attraction towards Sonic as he frequently saves her from Scratch and Grounder. She later attends Sonic's birthday in Robotnikland.
Robot (voiced by Cathy Weseluck) as its name implies, is a small, purple robot invented by Scratch and Grounder with tricycle wheels for mobility and pinchers for hands. Debuting in The Robots Robot, it defects against his creators after being scolded by Robotnik. It later reappears in Hedgehog of the Year saying a word in regards to Sonic.
August 20, 1992 (1992-08-20) (initial test screening) March 4, 2009 (2009-03-04)[7] (online)
238-100
This is the pilot that was used to sell the show.
Note: While Sonic is voiced by Jaleel White, the voices of Dr. Robotnik and Scratch are provided by Jim Cummings, the voice of Tails is provided by Russi Taylor, and Gary Owens plays the narrator. One of the scenes from the pilot was later reused for the ending credits of the show. Additionally, in the episode "Untouchable Sonic", Scratch and Grounder can be seen watching clips from the pilot on TV.
Sonic and Tails rescue Lucas, Robotnik's first prisoner, and attempt to reunite him with his girlfriend, Lucinda. However, Robotnik is also in love with Lucinda and pursues Lucas.
2
"Tails' New Home"
Running away
Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly
September 7, 1993 (1993-09-07)
238-116
When Sonic decides to find Tails a suitable foster home to ensure his safety, Robotnik finds out and has two of his Badniks pose as Tails' long-lost parents.
Note: For unknown reasons, the background music in this episode is lower pitched compared to other episodes in the series.
3
"Birth of a Salesman"
False advertising
Bruce Shelly, Reed Shelly, and Steven J. Fisher
September 8, 1993 (1993-09-08)
238-112
An energetic salesman named Wes Weasley sells Robotnik numerous gadgets to help Scratch and Grounder capture Sonic. However, Robotnik later comes to regret it when Weasley's gadgets keep backfiring.
Robotnik attacks the city of Submerbia in the Labyrinth Zone with the intent of obtaining its fabled Power Pearls. Sonic and Tails are enlisted by a local citizen to thwart his plans.
5
"Pseudo Sonic"
Poison ivy
Cliff MacGillivray
September 10, 1993 (1993-09-10)
238-122
Plotting to tarnish Sonic's reputation, Robotnik creates a robotic Sonic suit that he forces his unwilling laboratory rat to operate.
6
"Over the Hill Hero"
Wisdom of elders
Francis Moss
September 13, 1993 (1993-09-13)
238-117
When the overweight and elderly superhero, Captain Rescue, bungles in his attempts to help Sonic, he grows tired of his incompetence. Robotnik then uses Captain Rescue to successfully imprison Sonic in an impenetrable force field and he and Tails must save him.
7
"Robolympics"
Being active
Jeffrey Scott
September 14, 1993 (1993-09-14)
238-146
An asteroid is heading for Turtle Town and Robotnik offers to save it, but only if Sonic agrees to play in the Robolympics against him and his robots.
8
"Lovesick Sonic"
Sexual harassment
Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly
September 15, 1993 (1993-09-15)
238-103
When Sonic saves a female hedgehog named Breezie, he falls in love. Sonic does not know that Breezie is a robot that Dr. Robotnik created to keep Sonic occupied while he floods a village near his fortress.
9
"Subterranean Sonic"
Sharing
Robert Askin
September 16, 1993 (1993-09-16)
238-102
Sonic and Tails escape underground from Scratch and Grounder, but they are held captive there by a miserly mole named Spelunk.
10
"Grounder the Genius"
Using your brain
Doug Molitor
September 17, 1993 (1993-09-17)
238-123
Grounder accidentally puts a "genius chip" in his head and it makes him so intelligent that he easily captures Sonic and even takes over Robotnik's operations.
11
"High Stakes Sonic"
Dares
Robert Askin
September 20, 1993 (1993-09-20)
238-105
Sonic and Tails infiltrate Robotnik's new Casino Night Zone to stop him and his henchmen from scamming a group of sheep into becoming Robotnik's slaves.
12
"Blank-Headed Eagle"
Seat belt safety
Dennis O'Flaherty
September 21, 1993 (1993-09-21)
238-118
Scratch suffers a blow to the head and believes that he is his television idol, Edgar Eagle. Sonic uses this as an advantage to foil another one of Robotnik's schemes.
Robotnik reconfigures a machine created by Professor Von Schlemmer capable of bringing figments of dreams into reality and unleashes a dream monster upon Mobius.
After being exiled by Robotnik, Coconuts finds a lost baby gorilla who thinks he is his father. Coconuts attempts to use the gorilla to stop Sonic. The baby gorilla's father is under the control of Robotnik and Sonic has to save him.
Note: Pierre De Celles, an animation director, described "Big Daddy" as an episode he felt "really proud of," though he described the editing as "poor." He described the animation process as taking "4 times longer than usual" since the animator of the episode was a deaf-mute; He described his translator as "just great."[11]
En route to stop a runaway train from arriving at Robotnik's ammunition facility, Sonic and Tails must deal with a duo of bears named Big Griz and Mad Mike after they mistake Scratch and Grounder for them.
16
"Momma Robotnik's Birthday"
Trees
Francis Moss
September 27, 1993 (1993-09-27)
238-109
Robotnik's obnoxious and abusive mother visits her son on her birthday and expects a present. After he fails to destroy a nearby forest as a present, however, she decides to capture Sonic as her own gift.
Sonic must save a family of sloths from Robotnik's slow-motion ray, but when he himself is affected by the device, Tails and the sloths must take action.
18
"So Long Sucker"
Pets
Cydne Clark and Steve Granat
September 29, 1993 (1993-09-29)
238-120
Tails adopts a squishy creature from another dimension named Goobster, who turns out to be a black hole.
19
"Robotnik's Rival"
Cheating
Gordon Bressack
September 30, 1993 (1993-09-30)
238-136
Robotnik and a rival named Doctor Brandon Quark try to cooperate in capturing Sonic. However, Sonic tricks them into becoming enemies, and they eventually try to outdo each other.
Robotnik's insane cousin, Doctor Warpnik, captures Tails and lures Sonic into the Warp of Confusion in order to enact revenge on Robotnik for banishing him there.
Momma Robotnik visits her son, and after he fails once again, she disowns him and decides to adopt Sonic as her own son in order to capture him. In a turn of events, Sonic ends up living the life of Cinderella.
After defeating Coconuts, Sonic and Tails visit Wienerville, the "weenie capital of Mobius". Robotnik attempts to use Professor Von Schlemmer's size enhancement machine for his next scheme. However, the machine backfires and instead enlarges Tails. Unable to control his appetite, Tails now begins to cause chaos for Wienerville. Sonic must return Tails to his former size as Robotnik tricks the citizens into thinking that Sonic is responsible for it, while he is planning to save the town.
23
"Super Special Sonic Search & Smash Squad"
Emergency calling
Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly
October 6, 1993 (1993-10-06)
238-101
When Sonic and Tails are captured by Scratch and Grounder, Sonic creates a diversion by telling the duo the story of their creation.
24
"Magnificent Sonic"
Gun safety
Jeffrey Scott
October 7, 1993 (1993-10-07)
238-147
Sonic becomes the sheriff of Tranquil Gulch, in hopes of keeping Robotnik's cronies from harassing the locals.
25
"Zoobotnik"
Wildlife
Rowby Goren
October 8, 1993 (1993-10-08)
238-140
An intergalactic huntress visits Mobius, capturing various citizens and falling in love with Robotnik.
26
"Tails in Charge"
Home safety
Martha Moran
October 11, 1993 (1993-10-11)
238-124
When Scratch and Grounder use Robotnik's latest invention to turn Sonic to stone, Tails attempts to foil the duo to ensure Sonic's safety.
Robotnik's attempt to cause Sonic to age rapidly with his newest device backfires, turning him and Tails, and later himself, into toddlers. Now stuck in a daycare, the infantile Sonic and Tails must try to keep Robotnik under control, while Scratch and Grounder attempt to get him back.
28
"Sonic the Matchmaker"
Playground safety
Robert Askin
October 13, 1993 (1993-10-13)
238-138
Robotnik pursues Breezie and Robotnik Jr. in order to find out why they betrayed him with the intent of building a perpetually loyal robot wife. In a subplot, Junior falls in love with Breezie and enlists Sonic's help in winning her affection.
29
"Attack on Pinball Fortress"
Stupidity
Bob Forward
October 14, 1993 (1993-10-14)
238-141
Robotnik has unleashed his Stupidity Ray on Mobius, knowing that those affected by it will be too unintelligent to stop him. As Sonic and Tails make their way to Robotnik's new lair, the Pinball Fortress, they find themselves competing with Wes Weasley and Sergeant Doberman, both of whom want to capture the device for their own purposes.
30
"The Last Resort"
Walking alone
Gordon Bressack
October 15, 1993 (1993-10-15)
238-135
Robotnik seemingly announces his surrender to Sonic and he invites him to a resort in his gratitude. Unbeknownst to Sonic, the resort is just another trap created by Robotnik.
Robotnik constructs a pushy robot coach in an attempt to increase Scratch and Grounder's fitness. This leaves Robotnik time to create a football-like bomb in order to defeat Sonic by secretly placing it in Grounder's head.
32
"Sonic Gets Thrashed"
Pollution and non-recyclable packaging
Cydne Clark and Steve Granat
October 19, 1993 (1993-10-19)
238-121
When Robotnik opens up a resort to make resident Mobians his slaves, Sonic enlists the help of some robots from an area of Mobius called Scrap Valley.
33
"Close Encounter of the Sonic Kind"
Sunburns
Douglas Zip Purgason
October 20, 1993 (1993-10-20)
238-108
Sonic and Tails help an alien prince fix his space shuttle so he can return to his home planet for his coronation - before his younger brother is crowned in his place and has Mobius destroyed.
34
"Tails Prevails"
Using your imagination
Bob Forward
October 21, 1993 (1993-10-21)
238-139
On Sonic's birthday, Tails builds a flying bicycle. Realizing Tails' potential with mechanics, Professor Von Schlemmer invites Tails to be his research assistant, but then Robotnik captures and impersonates him to get Tails to build his latest anti-Sonic weapon.
35
"Robotnik, Jr."
Peer pressure
Robert Askin
October 22, 1993 (1993-10-22)
238-129
Robotnik constructs a robot son in order to help him with his conquest of Mobius. Robotnik Jr., however, is inspired by Sonic and helps him thwart his latest plan.
36
"The Magic Hassle"
Money
Douglas Zip Purgason
October 25, 1993 (1993-10-25)
238-137
Coconuts acquires a magic wand and magical gadgets from Wes Weasley (after agreeing to forward all payments to Robotnik) and attempts to master them. Meanwhile, Robotnik tries to reshape the Mobius Mint's Sonic-themed banknotes in his image.
37
"Black Bot the Pirate"
Caution with sharp objects
Jeffrey Scott
October 26, 1993 (1993-10-26)
238-148
Robotnik goes time-traveling to find the four Chaos Emeralds that bestow the user unlimited power. His first stop is the time of Blackbeard the Pirate, where he enlists the pirate's help to find the first emerald. However, with help from a local scientist, Sonic and Tails go after him, and thwart his attempts to obtain the emerald.
38
"Hedgehog of the 'Hound' Table"
Swimming alone
Jeffrey Scott
October 27, 1993 (1993-10-27)
238-149
Robotnik's next stop in his search for the Chaos Emeralds is the Middle Ages, where the second emerald is. Sonic follows him, but Robotnik, with the unwilling help of a local wizard, obtains the emerald and rises to power.
39
"Robotnik's Pyramid Scheme"
Skateboard safety
Jeffrey Scott
October 28, 1993 (1993-10-28)
238-150
In his next time-travel stop, Robotnik plans on erasing Sonic's family tree while he attempts to get the third emerald in Ancient Mobigypt. Sonic manages to prevent Robotnik from interfering with his ancestors' meeting and then races to the crypt of Robotnik's ancestor Robotnikhotep, where the emerald is kept.
40
"Prehistoric Sonic"
Electrical appliance safety
Jeffrey Scott
October 29, 1993 (1993-10-29)
238-151
Despite the intervention of Sonic and Tails, Robotnik obtains the fourth and final emerald in prehistory. With the emeralds gathered together, Robotnik uses them to become an all-powerful being.
41
"Untouchable Sonic"
Gangs
Dennis O'Flaherty
November 1, 1993 (1993-11-01)
238-144
Sonic comes to the rescue of a town that is held for ransom by Robotnik's crime syndicate.
42
"Sonic Breakout"
Graffiti
Douglas Zip Purgason
November 2, 1993 (1993-11-02)
238-106
Robotnik imprisons a satirical cartoonist for making fun of him in his comic book, much to the chagrin of his biggest fan Sonic, who purposely allows his own capture as well, but does not expect to be placed in a maximum-security jail cell. Robotnik angrily sends Sonic in the cell for interfering with his plans once again.
43
"Sonically Ever After"
Library
Gordon Bressack
November 3, 1993 (1993-11-03)
238-165
Scratch and Grounder use Robotnik's latest invention to transport him, Sonic and Tails into a book of fairy tales. When some of the fairy tales come to life under Robotnik's control, Sonic and Tails have to try to give them happy endings to stop Robotnik.
During a fair in his honor, Sonic's shoes are stolen and he and Tails use detective intellect to find the perpetrator.
45
"Super Robotnik"
Chemicals
Rowby Goren
November 5, 1993 (1993-11-05)
238-145
A chemical accident caused by Coconuts ends up giving superpowers to Robotnik, who quickly uses them to threaten Mobius's world leaders and publicly humiliate Sonic. However, Robotnik isn't completely invincible, and Sonic must find a way to exploit the weak spot in Robotnik's newfound powers in an Olympics-style gladiator match.
46
"Mass Transit Trouble"
Bicycle safety
Ed Ferrera and Kevin Murphy
November 8, 1993 (1993-11-08)
238-142
Robotnik threatens to demolish an airport, a lighthouse, and a train station. Sonic is forced to travel to all three places in order to remove the bombs.
Note: This episode ran for approximately a year and a half before the Oklahoma City bombing forced the episode's withdrawal from circulation. Later, as the incident died down, Toon Disney picked the episode up again, only to have it removed from circulation after about three years of airtime due to the September 11th attacks.[citation needed]
Robotnik sends Scratch and Grounder into space to pillage an asteroid belt, with Sonic and Tails in pursuit. When the spaceship runs out of power, they are stranded at an abandoned space station, pursued by a residing alien.
48
"MacHopper"
Currents and riptides
Doug Booth
November 10, 1993 (1993-11-10)
238-131
Robotnik attempts to brainwash MacHopper, a friend of Sonic's, into doing his dirty deeds, but an explosion causes his memory to become unstable.
49
"Baby-Sitter Jitters"
Babysitting
Jeffrey Scott
November 11, 1993 (1993-11-11)
238-152
Sonic and Tails babysit a trio of unruly baby beavers who end up being abducted by Scratch and Grounder. Robotnik uses the beavers as bait to capture Sonic and Tails, but the beavers become resourceful and help their friends thwart Robotnik.
50
"Full Tilt Tails"
Smoking
Robert Askin
November 12, 1993 (1993-11-12)
238-130
Robotnik makes chewing gum that makes the consumer as fast as Sonic. However, the gum ends up in Tails' possession.
51
"Lifestyles of the Sick and Twisted"
Vandalism
Kevin O'Donnell
November 15, 1993 (1993-11-15)
238-162
When Throbbin Screech features Sonic on his talk show, Lifestyles of the Very Good, Robotnik kidnaps his niece in order to be featured on the show.
52
"Road Hog"
Calling for help
Jeffrey Scott
November 16, 1993 (1993-11-16)
238-157
Sonic and Tails are arrested for speeding as a result of Robotnik's latest creation – artificial pollen that causes brainwashing.
53
"The Mobius 5000"
Car safety
Jeffrey Scott
November 17, 1993 (1993-11-17)
238-155
Sonic and Tails enter a car race in order to save an orphanage that Robotnik threatens to put out of business.
54
"Honey, I Shrunk the Hedgehog"
Recycling
Jeffrey Scott
November 18, 1993 (1993-11-18)
238-153
Sonic, Tails and a group of mole miners are hit by Robotnik's shrink ray and must work together to reverse the effects.
Outraged by a popular song about Sonic, Robotnik outlaws all music in Mobius and takes the song's composer captive with the intent of creating his own song.
56
"Sno Problem"
Bicycle safety check
Sandra Ryan
November 22, 1993 (1993-11-22)
238-125
Robotnik introduces the "Ultra Freeze-O-Matic", announcing his plan to freeze every citizen on Mobius so that he can install "Servitude Chips" into the frozen citizens and make them unquestionably obedient. Sonic and Tails must foil the scheme.
57
"Sonic is Running"
Tooth pain
Doug Molitor
November 23, 1993 (1993-11-23)
238-163
When Momma Robotnik threatens her son into campaigning for the Mobius presidency, Sonic decides to run against him.
58
"Mad Mike, Da Bear Warrior"
Medicine
Doug Booth
November 24, 1993 (1993-11-24)
238-134
Robotnik forces a starving village of rabbits into building a statue of himself. With help from Da Bears, Sonic manages to save the day.
59
"Robotnikland"
Cooking
Jeffrey Scott
November 25, 1993 (1993-11-25)
238-154
Robotnik takes control of a local amusement park on Sonic's birthday and uses it in an attempt to defeat him.
60
"The Little Merhog"
Matches
Jeffrey Scott
November 26, 1993 (1993-11-26)
238-156
Sonic and Tails help a mermaid-like hedgehog named Merna save her kingdom from the wrath of an evil sea captain.
61
"Robo-Ninjas"
Road safety
Francis Moss
November 29, 1993 (1993-11-29)
238-164
Robotnik captures a martial arts master and uses him to turn Scratch and Grounder into effective ninjas to defeat Sonic.
A bully named Easy Eddie picks at Robotnik's Chaos Emerald ring, much to his anger. Sonic must keep Eddie hidden so that he can discard the ring.
63
"Tails' Tale"
Computers
Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly
December 1, 1993 (1993-12-01)
238-159
When Sonic mysteriously vanishes, Tails, Professor Von Schlemmer and a pilot named William le Due search for him.
64
"The Robots' Robot"
Fire
Jess Borgeson
December 2, 1993 (1993-12-02)
238-158
Scratch and Grounder build a robot of their own who soon runs away and ends up befriending Sonic.
65
"Hero of the Year"
Alcohol
Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly
December 3, 1993 (1993-12-03)
238-160
Wes Weasley pretends to host a roast (actually a clip show) to Sonic that Robotnik uses to force his surrender.
Special
No.
Title
Written by
Original air date
Prod. code
N–A
"Sonic Christmas Blast"
Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly
November 24, 1996 (1996-11-24)
N/A
Robotnik disguises himself as Santa Claus in order to force him into retirement and con the children out of presents during Christmas. During a visit to Robotropolis, Sonic and Tails rescue the real Santa Claus, who presents Sonic with a speed run test due to a ring Sally Acorn gave him as a gift serving as a key. After passing the test, Santa chooses Sonic to be his successor. Sonic now becomes Sonic Claus.
Oddly, this special includes aspects of the Saturday-morning Sonic TV show, such as Robotropolis and SWATbots (neither of which appear as they did in that series) and Sally Acorn (who appears in her regular design but with her pilot episode color palette). Said series had aired concurrently with the original run of "Adventures", but in a different time slot, and had stopped producing new episodes by the time "Christmas Blast" premiered. Despite this, the special maintains the humorous tone of "Adventures" rather than the darker one of the Saturday morning series.
Note: The letters page of issue #41 of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book promotes the special as "An X-Tremely Sonic Christmas" as this episode was originally going to be a tie in for Sonic X-treme on Sega Saturn. However, the game was cancelled, and the title was changed to tie in with Sonic 3D Blast instead.
This is also the only episode not to feature a Sonic Says segment at the end.
Production
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog was created by DIC Animation City (in association with Sega of America whose CEO Tom Kalinske and newly appointed consumer products director Michealene Risley licensed the characters to DIC), which produced a total of 65 episodes for its one season, and was syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment, later known as BKN International (in the original run, every episode began and ended with the "Bohbot Entertainment Presents" logo), and the Italian Reteitalia S.p.A., part of Fininvest. The show's animation was outsourced to four animation studios:
the Chinese subdivision of Rainbow Animation Group (later renamed Galaxy World, Inc.,[12] not to be confused with the Italian studio Rainbow S.p.A.),
Additionally, some of the storyboards were done by the Spanish animation studio Milimetros Dibujos Animados, which also worked on the animation for the Saturday morning Sonic cartoon and the main title animation for Sonic Underground.
According to Robby London, DIC originally made a deal to produce only the Saturday morning Sonic series for the ABC network, which was originally planned to air in the Fall of 1992.[13] The cartoon was to be more light-hearted compared to the final product, as reflected by the episode "Heads or Tails", early promotional material found in Fleetway's Sonic the Comic[14][15] and the early issues of Sonic the Hedgehog comics by Archie, which were based on the Saturday morning Sonic cartoon. However, DIC also wanted to expand the show and produce additional episodes for weekday syndication as well, similar to what DIC has previously done with The Real Ghostbusters, but Mark Pedowitz, ABC's senior vice president of business affairs and contracts, expected Sonic to air exclusively on ABC and rejected the idea, telling London "If you guys want to do syndication, be our guest, go with God, but you won't be on our network." ABC would not agree to the deal until London came up with a proposition that DIC would produce a separate, vastly different Sonic show for syndication instead, the end result of which became Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Afterward, ABC was at first willing to air only a single half-hour episode as a prime-time special scheduled for March 1993 (which would become the episode "Heads or Tails") before ultimately delaying it and including it as part of the show which ABC picked up again for a full season, this time airing in the Fall of 1993, alongside Adventures airing in syndication at the same time. During that time, the Saturday morning Sonic cartoon received a makeover and was made darker and more serious in order to differentiate itself from the syndicated Sonic cartoon.[16][17][18] The two shows would be connected through Family Matters star Jaleel White portraying Sonic in both series; ABC itself was airing Family Matters during both shows' run, keeping White busy playing Sonic on two different series alongside his Family Matters role as Steve Urkel.
The series was shown through syndication in the United States in the fall of 1993 on either weekday afternoons or mornings, depending on the TV station. In the United Kingdom, the series was screened on Channel 4 in 1993 on Sunday mornings at 9:00, but with the "Sonic Says" segments edited out. They were also edited out on The Children's Channel and the UK VHS releases of the series. The weekday morning airings in Australia on Seven Network as part of Agro's Cartoon Connection retained the segments. The cartoon was broadcast in the Republic of Ireland on RTÉ Two from 12 September to December 1994 on weekday afternoons with the segments retained also.[20]
Rebroadcast
USA Network re-aired the original episodes of the show in the United States from 1994 to 1996 (with an additional Christmas special ordered by Sega to be produced for the Christmas season of 1996 to ride on the coattails with the release of Sonic 3D Blast). The series later returned to syndication as part of the BKN block from 1997 to 1998, and later BKN Kids II from 1999 until 2000. Toon Disney would start broadcasting the series in September 1998, and aired on the channel until 2002.
This TV subsequently aired the first 13 episodes of the show from 2010 to 2011 on their Cookie Jar Toons block. The series was also available on Netflix, and contains 20 episodes. From December 2018-November 2020, reruns of the series began airing on Starz. Later starting on September 3, 2019, the show aired its reruns on the streaming service Pluto TV for the first time.
International airings
In the UK, Pop re-aired the show with the "Sonic Says" segments restored.
In Brazil, the show aired in January 1996, on Rede Globo on the block TV Colosso. Only the first 22 of 65 episodes aired in Brazilian Portuguese, as well as the Christmas special. The show also aired in Sweden on TV3, in Portugal on SIC, in The Netherlands on RTL4, in Germany on Kabel 1 and RTL II and in 2000 in Arab countries on Spacetoon and Qatar Television.
In September 2003, DIC revealed a new international package consisting of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog and the Sonic Christmas Blast special, titled "Totally Sonic!". The package would also feature digitally re-mastered, color-enhanced versions of the shows with new contemporary music, as well as bonus director's cut "Secret Sonic" episodes.[21][22]
The series also aired on KidsCo, as with many other DIC-produced cartoons.
In the Philippines, it aired on Yey! in 2020 everyday at 2:00 pm.
Shout! Factory has released all 65 episodes of the series on DVD in Region 1 in three-volume sets. The first volume, released on July 17, 2007, features the first 22 episodes along with two featurettes: "A Conversation With Artist Milton Knight" and "How to Draw Sonic the Hedgehog". The second volume was released on December 9, 2008, and features episodes 23–44 with the featurette "How to Draw Dr. Robotnik". The third volume was available on March 16, 2010 exclusively via Shout! Factory's website as a Shout! Select title and contains the final 21 episodes of the series, plus the "Sonic Christmas Blast" special and the featurette "How to Draw Tails". These episodes were not compiled in the correct airdate order in the final volume. All three sets were discontinued in 2012 along with Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Underground after Shout!'s deal with Cookie Jar Entertainment expired.
Between 2008 and 2010, NCircle Entertainment released a number of single disc releases of the series, each containing 4 episodes (in random order), as well as two volumes of 4-disc collections in 2012, with each volume containing 16 episodes.
Invincible Pictures re-released the complete series set on August 13, 2019 (originally scheduled for April 9, 2019 and July 16, 2019).[23]
Under license from 41 Entertainment and Invincible Entertainment Partners, Discotek Media released the complete series on standard definition Blu-ray on February 22, 2022. The unaired pilot and the Christmas special Sonic Christmas Blast were included as bonus features, as well as commercial bumpers and commentary by storyboard artist Milton Knight.[24][25]
DVD
DVD name
Episodes
Release date
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Volume 1
1–22
July 17, 2007
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Volume 2
23–44
December 9, 2008
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Volume 3
45–65, Sonic Christmas Blast
March 16, 2010
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Volume 1
1–16
May 22, 2012
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Volume 2
17–32
October 9, 2012
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: The Complete Animated Series
Throughout 1993–1994, Abbey Home Entertainment through their Tempo Video label released 8 VHS volumes of the series each containing an assortment of episodes. PolyGram Video through their 4Front Video label would also release a VHS tape of the series in 1997.
In Region 2, Delta Home Entertainment released Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: The Complete Series on DVD in the UK on June 11, 2007,[28] as well as a number of single disc releases of the series, each containing 4 episodes (in production order).
DVD
DVD name
Episodes
Release date
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: The Complete Series
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic Search & Smash Squad
1–4
2007
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: High Stakes Sonic
5–8
2007
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Momma Robotnik's Birthday
9–12
2007
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Best Hedgehog
13–16
2007
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Over the Hill Hero
17–20
2007
Reception
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog received a mixed reception. Randy Miller III of DVDTalk said, "While it's obvious that The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog [sic] won't ever be mentioned in the same sentence with Disney, Pixar or Studio Ghibli (except for this one), there's enough goofy fun here to entertain any resident of the 16-bit gaming era."[30] Michael Rubino of DVD Verdict criticized the series for being dated, contrived, and bloated with chili dog jokes.[31]GamesRadar listed the series as one of "the worst things to happen to Sonic." It commented that it "made Ren & Stimpy look like a rigid, strictly story-driven opus of animation", and criticized the supporting cast as "wholly uninteresting, unfunny and just all around annoying."[32]
Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave the series an overall rating of 3/5 and noted that while the show's pace is "frantic", "the series emphasizes positive themes for kids about personal safety and interpersonal relationships."[33] Bob Mackey of USgamer wrote that the show's attempts to emulate Looney Tunes and The Ren & Stimpy Show "were done in by the lack of quality control that typically plagued 65-episode syndicated series", and that "the zippy, timing-reliant slapstick Adventures relied on never stood a chance against the animation sweatshops DIC regularly used to pump out their nearly endless supply of televised content."[34]
Ian Flynn, writer for the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series by Archie Comics, remarked that Adventures was the closest to "[getting] Sonic right" despite "fail[ing] on the details", although he observed that the show's gags were "polarizing" and that the guest characters "ranged from tired tropes (Breezie) to Saturday Night Live knockoffs (Da Bears)".[35] Pierre DeCelles, who worked on the show as a Senior Animation Director at Hong Ying animation studio, has described the show as "fun and humorous".[11]
Robotnik's remark "Snooping as usual, I see" gave rise to the internet meme "Pingas," first featured in a 2008 YouTube Poop.[36] The quote has been widely referenced on YouTube since the late 2000s, both in videos and in music remixes.[36]
^Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 757–760. ISBN978-1476665993.
^"Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog". DHX Media. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2019. Sonic the Hedgehog, the most fearless hero on Planet Mobius, uses his supersonic speed and teenage irreverence to thwart the comedically despicable Dr. Robotnik. Sonic's idolizing little buddy, Tails, tags along on every fast-action, gag-driven adventure.
^"Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (1993 TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 7 March 2021. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
