Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is an animated series that was based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series produced by Sega of America,[1] DIC Animation City, Bohbot Entertainment and the Italian studio Reteitalia S.p.A. in association with Spanish network Telecinco. Airing during the fall of 1993, 65 episodes were produced, which was syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment in the United States.
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog | |
---|---|
Title card | |
Genre | |
Based on | |
Developed by |
|
Directed by |
|
Voices of | Jaleel White Christopher Stephen Welch Long John Baldry Phil Hayes Garry Chalk Ian James Corlett |
Theme music composer | Clark Gassman |
Composers |
|
Country of origin |
|
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 66 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producer | Kent Butterworth |
Editors |
|
Running time | 22 minutes |
Production companies | DIC Animation City[lower-alpha 1] Sega of America Bohbot Entertainment Reteitalia, S.p.A. |
Distributor | Worldwide DIC Enterprises Bohbot Entertainment (Syndicator) Europe Silvio Berlusconi Communications Worldwide ABC Distribution Company |
Release | |
Original network |
|
Audio format | Dolby SR |
Original release | September 6 –
|
Chronology | |
Related shows |
On November 24, 1996, USA Network aired a Christmas special which was produced to promote Sonic 3D Blast (originally meant for the ultimately cancelled Sonic X-treme). The series inspired a video game, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, which features several original characters from the show. Furthermore, some elements of the series, such as Sonic's fondness for chili dogs, appeared in later video games and media of the franchise.
Plot
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is a comical, light-hearted and gag-driven adventure series based on the titular character Sonic the Hedgehog, a sometimes arrogant yet kind-hearted and mischievous 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; these segments were written by Phil Harnage.[3]
Characters
Main
- Sonic the Hedgehog (voiced by Jaleel White) – The main character of the series. Sonic works to defend Mobius from the threat of Dr. Robotnik.
- Tails (voiced by Christopher Stephen Welch, except for "Sonic Christmas Blast"; voiced by Chris Turner) – A two-tailed brown fox who is Sonic's best friend.
Villains
- Dr. Ivo Robotnik (voiced by Long John Baldry) – An evil mad scientist who uses 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.
- Scratch (voiced by Phil Hayes) – A dim-witted chicken-type Badnik who is one of Dr. Robotnik's henchmen. Originally, Dr. Robotnik wanted the Robo-Matic Machine to create a super robot, only for it to produce Scratch instead due to a malfunction. He is the older brother of Grounder, both of whom work to catch Sonic which with comical results.
- Grounder (voiced by Garry Chalk) – A Badnik with a drill-nose, drill-hands, and tank treads for legs who was created by Dr. Robotnik when he put one of Scratch's tail feathers into the Robo-Matic Machine. He is the younger brother of Scratch.
- Coconuts (voiced by Ian James Corlett) – A 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.
Other characters
- Breezie (voiced by Venus Terzo) – A hedgehog-type Badnik created by Dr. Robotnik in a plot to get rid of Sonic. She developed feelings for him and left Dr. Robotnik's services. Breezie later met Robotnik Jr. who later developed a crush on her.
- Momma Robotnik (voiced by Kathleen Barr) – 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, she tends to escape on occasion and her insanity even scares Dr. Robotnik.
- Wes Weasely (voiced by Michael Donovan) – A weasel who works as a salesman at H.D.S.V.A.D.L. (Handy Dandy Super Villain Appliance Distributors Limited) company. He would often sell devices to Dr. Robotnik that would either fail because of either Sonic's ingenuity or Scratch and Grounder's incompetence.
- Sergeant Doberman (voiced by Hayes) – A Doberman Pinscher who is a retired army sergeant and a known war hero.
- Professor Von Schlemmer (voiced by French Tickner) – A brilliant but eccentric and kooky scientist who is an ally of Sonic and Tails.
- Professor Caninestine (voiced by Chalk) – 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.
- Captain Rescue (voiced by Chalk) – A retired superhero raccoon who briefly came out of retirement to help Sonic defeat Robotnik.
- Robotnik Jr. (voiced by Corlett) – A short Dr. Robotnik-resembling Badnik created by Dr. Robotnik to be his son and carry on his legacy the day after Dr. Robotnik passes away. Unfortunately, he defects from his creator and sides with Sonic. Robotnik Jr. later fell in love with Breezie.
Episodes
Pilot
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | "Pilot" | Kent Butterworth | Unaired (produced in 1992) | 100 |
This is the pilot 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 Says segment: Looking before you cross the street |
Main episodes
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | 1 | "Best Hedgehog" | Martha Moran | September 6, 1993 | 116 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Reading | |||||
16 | 2 | "Tails' New Home" | Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly | September 7, 1993 | 120 |
When Sonic decides to find Tails a suitable foster home to ensure his safety, Robotnik finds out and has a pair of Badniks pose as Tails' long-lost parents. Sonic Says segment: Running away | |||||
12 | 3 | "Birth of a Salesman" | Bruce Shelly, Reed Shelly, and Steven J. Fisher | September 8, 1993 | 111 |
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 Weaseley's gadgets keep backfiring. Sonic Says segment: False advertising | |||||
26 | 4 | "Submerged Sonic" | Bob Forward | September 9, 1993 | 123 |
Robotnik is after the Power Gems from the city of Submerbia in the Labyrinth Zone. Sonic and Tails are enlisted by a local citizen to stop Robotnik. Sonic Says segment: Shallow water | |||||
22 | 5 | "Pseudo Sonic" | Cliff MacGillivray | September 10, 1993 | 126 |
Robotnik creates a robot Sonic suit with the intent of ruining the hedgehog's reputation. He forces a lab rat named Laurence to pilot by threatening his parents. Sonic Says segment: Poison ivy | |||||
17 | 6 | "Over the Hill Hero" | Francis Moss | September 13, 1993 | 118 |
When overweight, 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 Tails and Captain Rescue must save him. Sonic Says segment: Wisdom of elders | |||||
46 | 7 | "Robolympics" | Jeffrey Scott | September 14, 1993 | 108 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Being active | |||||
3 | 8 | "Lovesick Sonic" | Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly | September 15, 1993 | 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 city near his fortress. Sonic Says segment: Sexual harassment | |||||
2 | 9 | "Subterranean Sonic" | Robert Askin | September 16, 1993 | 102 |
Sonic and Tails escape underground from Scratch and Grounder, but they are held captive there by a miserly mole named Spelunk. Sonic Says segment: Sharing | |||||
23 | 10 | "Grounder the Genius" | Doug Molitor | September 17, 1993 | 121 |
Grounder accidentally puts a "genius chip" in his head and it makes him so smart that he easily captures Sonic and even takes over Robotnik's operations. Sonic Says segment: Using your brain | |||||
5 | 11 | "High Stakes Sonic" | Robert Askin | September 20, 1993 | 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. Sonic Says segment: Dares | |||||
18 | 12 | "Blank-Headed Eagle" | Dennis O'Flaherty | September 21, 1993 | 113 |
Scratch suffers a blow to the head and believes that he is his favorite television character, Edgar Eagle. Sonic uses this to his advantage in preventing another one of Robotnik's schemes. Sonic Says segment: Seat belt safety | |||||
27 | 13 | "Boogey-Mania" | Rowby Goren | September 22, 1993 | 129 |
Robotnik reprograms a machine created by Von Schlemmer capable of turning dreams into reality and unleashes a Nightmare Monster upon Mobius. Sonic Says segment: Sleep | |||||
10 | 14 | "Big Daddy" | Jess Borgeson | September 23, 1993 | 106 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Telling parents where you're going Notes: 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 deaf and mute; De Celles described his translator as "just great."[4] | |||||
14 | 15 | "The Robotnik Express" | Doug Booth | September 24, 1993 | 117 |
En route to stop a train of explosives from arriving at Robotnik's munition factory, Sonic and Tails must deal with a duo of bears named Big Griz and Mad Mike after Scratch and Grounder tell them that Sonic and Tails are the enemies. Sonic Says segment: Strangers | |||||
9 | 16 | "Momma Robotnik's Birthday" | Francis Moss | September 27, 1993 | 107 |
Robotnik's obnoxious 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 Says segment: Trees | |||||
4 | 17 | "Slowwww Going" | Eleanor Burian-Mohr and Jack Hanrahan | September 28, 1993 | 104 |
Sonic must save a family of sloths from Dr. Robotnik's slow-motion ray. But when he himself is slowed down by Scratch and Grounder, Tails and the sloth family must take action. Sonic Says segment: Sloths | |||||
20 | 18 | "So Long Sucker" | Cydne Clark and Steve Granat | September 29, 1993 | 122 |
Tails adopts a squishy creature from another dimension named Goobster, who turns out to be a black hole. Sonic Says segment: Pets | |||||
36 | 19 | "Robotnik's Rival" | Gordon Bressack | September 29, 1993 | 137 |
Robotnik and a rival named Brandon Quark try to cooperate in capturing Sonic. However, Sonic tricks them into becoming enemies, and they try to outdo each other. Sonic Says segment: Cheating | |||||
7 | 20 | "Trail of the Missing Tails" | Bob Forward | October 1, 1993 | 109 |
Robotnik's insane cousin, Dr. Warpnik, captures Tails and lures Sonic into his Zone of Confusion in order to enact revenge on Robotnik for banishing him. Sonic Says segment: Remembering your phone number | |||||
32 | 21 | "Momma Robotnik Returns" | Francis Moss | October 4, 1993 | 136 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Obeying laws and going to court | |||||
15 | 22 | "Too Tall Tails" | Rowby Goren | October 5, 1993 | 115 |
Robotnik takes Professor Von Schlemmer hostage and uses his size enhancement machine for his next scheme. However, the machine backfires and instead enhances Tails' size, causing chaos in nearby Wienerville. Making matters worse, Robotnik tricks the citizens into thinking that Sonic is the villain, while he is the hero planning to save the city from Tails. Sonic must keep the famished Tails from getting into more danger and return him to his former size. Sonic Says segment: Healthy diets | |||||
1 | 23 | "Super Special Sonic Search & Smash Squad" | Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly | October 6, 1993 | 101 |
When Sonic and Tails are captured by Scratch and Grounder, Sonic creates a diversion by telling them the story about the duo's creation. Sonic Says segment: Emergency calling | |||||
47 | 24 | "Magnificent Sonic" | Jeffrey Scott | October 7, 1993 | 141 |
Sonic becomes the sheriff of Tranquil Gulch, in hopes of keeping Robotnik's robots from harassing the locals. Sonic Says segment: Gun safety Notes: This episode was banned from Fox Kids airings due to the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999. Nowadays, this episode is no longer banned and continues to air on many TV networks. | |||||
40 | 25 | "Zoobotnik" | Rowby Goren | October 8, 1993 | 144 |
An intergalactic huntress captures various citizens of Mobius and falls in love with Robotnik during her visit. Sonic Says segment: Wildlife | |||||
24 | 26 | "Tails in Charge" | Martha Moran | October 11, 1993 | 124 |
When Scratch and Grounder zap Sonic with Robotnik's new freeze ray, Tails uses intellect and disguises to foil the two henchmen and ensure Sonic's safety. Sonic Says segment: Home safety | |||||
28 | 27 | "Musta Been a Beautiful Baby" | Gordon Bressack | October 12, 1993 | 130 |
Robotnik's attempt to turn Sonic into an old man with his newest device backfires, turning him and Tails, and later himself, into babies. Now stuck in a day-care the infantile Sonic and Tails must try to keep Robotnik under control, while Scratch and Grounder attempt to get him back. Sonic Says segment: Tumble dryers | |||||
38 | 28 | "Sonic the Matchmaker" | Robert Askin | October 13, 1993 | 139 |
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 is in love with Breezie, and enlists Sonic's help in wooing her. Sonic Says segment: Playground safety | |||||
41 | 29 | "Attack on Pinball Fortress" | Bob Forward | October 14, 1993 | 145 |
Robotnik has unleashed his "Stupidity Ray" on Mobius, knowing that the newly-stupefied Mobians will be too brain dead to stop him. As Sonic and Tails make their way to Robotnik's new lair, the Pinball Fortress, they find themselves competing with Wes Weasely and Sergeant Doberman, both of whom want to capture the Stupidity Ray for their own purposes. Sonic Says segment: Stupidity | |||||
35 | 30 | "The Last Resort" | Gordon Bressack | October 15, 1993 | 146 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Walking alone | |||||
43 | 31 | "Coachnik" | Doug Molitor | October 18, 1993 | 142 |
Robotnik uses his Robo-Matic Machine to construct a pushy robot coach from a football called Coachnik by placing playbooks, game films, strategies, plenty of grit (in the form of a bag full of sand), nerves of steel (represented as several steel bands), and a 300 lb. ham into the Robo-Matic Machine. He uses Coachnik in an attempt to increase Scratch and Grounder's fitness. This leaves Robotnik time to create a football-shaped bomb in order to destroy Sonic by secretly placing it in Grounder. Sonic Says segment: Warming up | |||||
21 | 32 | "Sonic Gets Thrashed" | Cydne Clark and Steve Granat | October 19, 1993 | 119 |
When Robotnik opens up a resort to make the resident Mobians his slaves, Sonic enlists the help of some robots from an area of Mobius called Scrap Valley. Sonic Says segment: Rubbish | |||||
8 | 33 | "Close Encounter of the Sonic Kind" | Douglas Zip Purgason | October 20, 1993 | 134 |
Sonic and Tails help an alien prince fix his space shuttle to return to his home planet for coronation to become king or else his younger brother will be crowned in his place and destroy Mobius. Sonic Says segment: Sunburns | |||||
39 | 34 | "Tails Prevails" | Bob Forward | October 21, 1993 | 133 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Boredom | |||||
29 | 35 | "Robotnik, Jr." | Robert Askin | October 22, 1993 | 127 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Peer pressure | |||||
37 | 36 | "The Magic Hassle" | Douglas Zip Purgason | October 25, 1993 | 135 |
Coconuts acquires a magic wand and magical gadgets from Wes Weasley and warns Sonic (after agreeing to forward all payments to Robotnik), and attempts to master them. Meanwhile, Robotnik tries to change Sonic-themed mobium banknotes into Robotnik banknotes in the Mobius Mint. Sonic Says segment: Money | |||||
48 | 37 | "Black Bot the Pirate" | Jeffrey Scott | October 26, 1993 | 148 |
Robotnik goes time-traveling to find four Chaos Emeralds that could make him all-powerful. His first stop is the time of Blackbeard the Pirate, where he enlists the pirate's help to find the Emerald of Invisibility. However, with help from a local scientist, Sonic and Tails go after him, and thwart his attempts to obtain the Emerald. Sonic Says segment: Caution with sharp objects | |||||
49 | 38 | "Hedgehog of the "Hound" Table" | Jeffrey Scott | October 27, 1993 | 149 |
Robotnik's next stop in his time-travel is the time of King Arfur and the Knights of the Round Table to get the Emerald of Invincibility. Sonic follows him, but Robotnik, with the unwilling help of local wizard Merlynx, obtains the Emerald, and takes over the kingdom. Sonic Says segment: Swimming alone | |||||
50 | 39 | "Robotnik's Pyramid Scheme" | Jeffrey Scott | October 28, 1993 | 150 |
In his next time-travel stop, Robotnik is erasing Sonic's family tree in order to get the Chaos Emerald of Immortality. Sonic goes after him, prevent Robotnik from interfering with his ancestors' meeting, and then race to the crypt of Robotnik's ancestor Robotnikhotep, where the Emerald is kept. Sonic Says segment: Skateboard safety | |||||
51 | 40 | "Prehistoric Sonic" | Jeffrey Scott | October 29, 1993 | 151 |
Despite the intervention of Sonic and Tails, Robotnik obtains the Chaos Emerald of life in prehistory and the other emeralds and becomes the Supreme High Robotnik. Sonic Says segment: Electrical appliance safety | |||||
44 | 41 | "Untouchable Sonic" | Dennis O'Flaherty | November 1, 1993 | 143 |
Sonic comes to the rescue of a town that is held for ransom by Robotnik's crime syndicate. Sonic Says segment: Gangs | |||||
6 | 42 | "Sonic Breakout" | Douglas Zip Purgason | November 2, 1993 | 110 |
Robotnik imprisons a satirical cartoonist named Sketch Lampoon for making fun of him in his comic book where he couldn't get up after falling Humpty Dumpty style, much to the anger of his biggest fan Sonic. Sonic 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. Sonic Says segment: Graffiti | |||||
65 | 43 | "Sonically Ever After" | Gordon Bressack | November 3, 1993 | 165 |
Scratch and Grounder use a ray gun Robotnik invented to transport Sonic, Tails, and Robotnik 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. Sonic Says segment: Library | |||||
19 | 44 | "The Mystery of the Missing Hi-tops" | Ed Ferrara and Kevin Murphy | November 4, 1993 | 114 |
During a fair in his honor, Sonic's shoes are stolen and he and Tails use detective intellect to try and solve the whodunit case. Sonic Says segment: Stealing | |||||
45 | 45 | "Super Robotnik" | Rowby Goren | November 5, 1993 | 152 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Chemicals | |||||
42 | 46 | "Mass Transit Trouble" | Ed Ferrera and Kevin Murphy | November 8, 1993 | 140 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Bicycle safety Notes: 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. | |||||
33 | 47 | "Space Sonic" | Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly | November 9, 1993 | 138 |
Robotnik sends Scratch and Grounder into space to pillage the 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. Sonic Says segment: Common colds | |||||
31 | 48 | "MacHopper" | Doug Booth | November 10, 1993 | 128 |
Robotnik attempts to brainwash MacHopper, a friend of Sonic's into doing his dirty deeds, but an explosion causes his memory to become unstable. Sonic Says segment: Currents and riptides | |||||
52 | 49 | "Baby-Sitter Jitters" | Jeffrey Scott | November 11, 1993 | 147 |
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. Sonic Says segment: Babysitting | |||||
30 | 50 | "Full Tilt Tails" | Robert Askin | November 12, 1993 | 132 |
Robotnik makes chewing gum that makes the consumer as fast as Sonic. Robotnik gives it to Grounder, but he loses it and Tails gets a hold of it. Sonic Says segment: Smoking | |||||
62 | 51 | "Lifestyles of the Sick and Twisted" | Kevin O'Donnell | November 15, 1993 | 158 |
When Throbbin Screechpicks features Sonic on his talk show Lifestyles of the Very Good, Robotnik kidnaps his unnamed niece in order to be featured on the show. Sonic Says segment: Vandalism | |||||
57 | 52 | "Road Hog" | Jeffrey Scott | November 16, 1993 | 157 |
Sonic and Tails are arrested for speeding as a result of Robotnik having hypnotized the law through pollen. Sonic Says segment: Calling for help | |||||
55 | 53 | "The Mobius 5000" | Jeffrey Scott | November 17, 1993 | 155 |
Sonic and Tails enter a car race in order to save an orphanage that Robotnik threatens to shut down. Sonic Sez segment: Car safety | |||||
53 | 54 | "Honey, I Shrunk the Hedgehog" | Jeffrey Scott | November 18, 1993 | 153 |
Sonic, Tails and a group of miners are hit by Robotnik's shrink ray and must work together to undo the effects. Sonic Says segment: Recycling Note: This episode is inspired by the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" franchise. | |||||
11 | 55 | "Sonic's Song" | Donald P. Zappala and Kevin Donahue | November 19, 1993 | 112 |
Outraged by a popular song about Sonic, Robotnik outlaws music on Mobius and takes the song's composer captive with the intent of creating his own song. Sonic Says segment: Hearing | |||||
25 | 56 | "Sno Problem" | Sandra Ryan | November 22, 1993 | 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. Sonic Says segment: Bicycle safety check | |||||
63 | 57 | "Sonic is Running" | Doug Molitor | November 23, 1993 | 162 |
When Momma Robotnik threatens her son into campaigning for the Mobius presidency, Sonic decides to run against him. Sonic Says segment: Tooth pain | |||||
34 | 58 | "Mad Mike, Da Bear Warrior" | Doug Booth | November 24, 1993 | 131 |
Robotnik starves a village of rabbits into building a statue of himself. With help from Big Griz and Mad Mike, Sonic and Updike, one of the villagers, manage to infiltrate the statue. Sonic Says segment: Medicine | |||||
54 | 59 | "Robotnikland" | Jeffrey Scott | November 25, 1993 | 154 |
Robotnik takes control of the local amusement park on Sonic's birthday and uses it to try to finish him off. Sonic Says segment: Cooking | |||||
56 | 60 | "The Little Merhog" | Jeffrey Scott | November 26, 1993 | 156 |
Sonic and Tails help a mermaid hedgehog named Merna save her underwater city from the wrath of Captain John Paul Memo. Sonic Says segment: Matches | |||||
64 | 61 | "Robo-Ninjas" | Francis Moss | November 29, 1993 | 163 |
Robotnik captures Kwai Chang Crane, a martial arts master, and uses him to turn Scratch and Grounder into effective ninja to defeat Sonic. Sonic Says segment: Road safety | |||||
61 | 62 | "Fast and Easy" | Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly | November 30, 1993 | 161 |
A pickpocket named Easy Eddie picks at Robotnik's Chaos Emerald ring, much to his anger. Sonic must keep Easy Eddie hidden so that he can discard the ring. Sonic Says segment: Breakfast | |||||
59 | 63 | "Tails' Tale" | Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly | December 1, 1993 | 160 |
When Sonic mysteriously vanishes Tails, Professor Von Schlemmer, and a pilot named William le Due search for him in the Pyramid of Kommamachs. Sonic Says segment: Computers | |||||
58 | 64 | "The Robots' Robot" | Jess Borgeson | December 2, 1993 | 159 |
Scratch and Grounder build a robot of their own who soon runs away and ends up befriending Sonic. Sonic Says segment: Fire | |||||
60 | 65 | "Hero of the Year" | Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly | December 3, 1993 | 165 |
Wes Weasley pretends to host a roast (actually a clip show) to Sonic that Robotnik uses to force his surrender. Sonic Says segment: Alcohol |
Special
No. in season | Title | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|
66 | "Sonic Christmas Blast" | Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly | November 24, 1996[5] | 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. 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. |
Voice cast
- Jaleel White as Sonic the Hedgehog, Masonic, Mummified Hedgehog (in "Tails' Tale")
- Christopher Welch as Miles "Tails" Prower
- Long John Baldry as Dr. Robotnik, Robotnikhotep I
- Phil Hayes as Scratch, Sergeant Doberman
- Garry Chalk as Grounder, Professor Caninestein, Captain Rescue (in "Over the Hill Hero"), Dragon Breath, Computer (in "Grounder The Genius")
- Ian James Corlett as Coconuts, Robotnik Jr. (in "Robotnik Jr.," "Sonic the Matchmaker"), Rocket the Sloth (in "Slowwww Going"), Gambling Sheep, Dr. Warpnik (in "Trail of the Missing Tales"), Wallace A. Ditso, Sketch Lampoon (in "Sonic Breakout"), Goobster (in "So Long Sucker")
Additional cast
- Kathleen Barr as Katella, Momma Robotnik (in "Momma Robotnik's Birthday," "Momma Robotnik Returns," "The Last Resort", "Zoobotnik", "Sonic is Running"), Miss Sniffed, Lucinda (in "Best Hedgehog"), additional voices
- Michael Benyaer as Lawrence (in "Pseudo Sonic")
- Jay Brazeau as Robot Santa (in "Sonic Christmas Blast"), Santa Claus (in "Sonic Christmas Blast"), Spelunk (in "Subterranean Sonic"), additional voices
- Jim Byrnes as Thrust, Coachnik (in "Coachnik")
- Babz Chula
- Jennifer Copping as Henrietta
- Michael Donovan as Wes Weasley (in "Birth of a Salesman," "The Magic Hassle," "Hero of the Year"), Mad Mike (in "The Robotnik Express," "Mad Mike, Da Bear Warrior", "Hero of the Year")
- Kyle Fairlie
- Terry Klassen as Doctor Quark, additional voices
- Wally Marsh
- Scott McNeil as MacHopper (in "MacHopper"), Rattrap
- Shane Meier
- Jane Mortifee
- Pauline Newstone
- John Stocker
- Jayleen Stonehouse as the Waitress (in "Too Tall Tails")
- John Tench
- Venus Terzo as Breezie
- French Tickner as Professor von Schlemmer (in "Too Tall Tails," "Boogey-Mania," "Tails to Prevail," "Tails' Tale")
- Lee Tockar as Wick
- Louise Vallance as Miss Possum, Catty Carlisle
- David Ward
- Cathy Weseluck as Suzie, Robot, Rebot, Becky, Penelope, Cat, Parrot
- Alec Willows as the Music Destroyer
- Dale Wilson
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.,[6] not to be confused with the Italian studio Rainbow S.p.A.),
- the Korean Sae Rom Production (which also at the same time worked on the animation for the Saturday morning Sonic cartoon for ABC),
- the Taiwanese Hong Ying Animation (which would later work on the animation for Sonic Underground),
- the Japanese Tokyo Movie Shinsha (which would later produce its own Sonic cartoon, Sonic X).
Pierre DeCelles, who worked at Hong Ying as a Senior Animation Director, has described the show as "fun and humorous".[4]
According to Robby London, DIC originally made a deal to produce only the Saturday morning Sonic series for the ABC network. The cartoon was originally planned to be more light-hearted compared to the final product, as reflected by its pilot episode 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 go further 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 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. As a result, the Saturday morning Sonic cartoon was made darker and more serious in order to differentiate itself from the syndicated Sonic cartoon.[7][8]
Broadcast and distribution
First-run broadcast
The series was shown through syndication in the United States in 1993 on weekday afternoons. 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 mornings 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.[9]
Rebroadcast and international airings
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 coincide with the release of Sonic 3D Blast), and later returned to Broadcast Syndication on the BKN block from 1997-1998, 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, containing the 20 episodes. In December 2018, reruns of the series began airing on Starz. Later starting on September 3, 2019, the show aired its reruns on the streaming channel called Pluto TV for the first time since another Sonic cartoon Sonic SatAM aired back on sometime 2017.
In the UK, Channel 4 and Pop re-aired the show with the "Sonic Says" segments restored.
In Italy, the show aired on Italia 1.
The show was re-aired on in Australia Saturday mornings on Network Ten as part of Cheez TV from 1993 to 1999, and also aired on Nick Jr. and Disney Channel.
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 The Netherlands on RTL4, in Germany on RTL II and in 2005 in Arab countries on Spacetoon.
The series also aired on KidsCo, like with many other DIC-produced cartoons.
North America
In 1994, Buena Vista Home Video through their DIC Toon-Time Video label, released 6 VHS tapes of the series each containing 2 episodes.
Shout! Factory have 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 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. These sets were discontinued in 2012 along with Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Underground after Shout!'s deal with Cookie Jar Entertainment expired.
From 2007-2010, NCircle Entertainment released a number of single disc releases of the series.
Invincible Pictures re-released the complete series set on August 13, 2019 (originally scheduled for April 9, 2019 and July 16, 2019).[10]
The series along with its successors Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Underground is available on the streaming services CBS All Access and Tubi
International
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.[11]
Broadcast UK history
- Channel 4 (1993–1997)
- The Children's Channel (1995–1998)
- POP (2004–2010)
- ITV2 (4 October 2004 – 31 December 2004) (as part of GMTV2 kids)
Reception
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog received 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."[12] Michael Rubino of DVD Verdict criticized the series for being dated, contrived, and bloated with chili dog jokes.[13] 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."[14] 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."[15] 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."[16] 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)".[17]
Internet popularity
Dr. Robotnik’s quote from “Boogey-Mania”, which is “Snooping as usual I see” became a popular Internet meme in 2007 due to how “ping as” or “pingas” sounded like “penis”. [18] Mike Pollock, the current voice of Dr. Eggman got to say the quote in an episode of Sonic Boom entitled “Return of the Buddy Buddy Temple of Doom”, with correct pronunciation compared to the original and memetic usage. He first said the quote back in 2009 until he realized that he would get fired for not saying Eggman quotes legally.
See also
Notes
- Animation outsourced to Hong Ying Animation, Saerom Animation, Tokyo Movie Shinsha and Rainbow Animation.
References
- Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 757–760. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- "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.
- Emad Ahmed (September 5, 2018). "When Sonic and Mario dominated children's television". Eurogamer. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- Burns, Walter (July 25, 2007). "Pierre De Celles on Animating Sonic the Hedgehog and Other Tales". ToonZone.net. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- "Sonic's Christmas Blast-Part 1". YouTube. 16 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-16. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- Inoa, Christopher (February 18, 2020). "How Sonic scored two different animated series at the same time". Polygon. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- "From Captain N to Sonic Underground: Behind videogames' earliest cartoons". GamesTM. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- RTÉ Guide. 10-16 September 1994 edition and subsequent dates.
- https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07KLNHNHF/metacritic_newsletter-20
- "The Adventures Of Sonic The Hedgehog [2007] [DVD]". Amazon.com. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- Miller III, Randy (July 25, 2007). "The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Volume 1". DVDTalk.com. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- Rubino, Judge Michael (August 8, 2007). "The Adventures Of Sonic The Hedgehog". DVDVerdict.com. Verdict Partners. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- "The absolute worst Sonic moments". GamesRadar. April 23, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- Ashby, Emily. "The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog TV Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- Bob Mackey (October 7, 2014). "On Saturday Mornings, Sonic the Hedgehog Turned Platforming into Pathos". USgamer.net. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- Ian Flynn (December 14, 2018). "Leave Those Legs Alone: There is No True Sonic". Escapist. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- Feldman, Brian (February 10, 2020). "How Pingas Became One of Sonic the Hedgehog's Most Famous Memes". Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via nymag.com.
External links
Quotations related to Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog at Wikiquote