Sonic: The Series

Sonic: The Series is a long-running series animated television series with the help of Sega, featuring Sonic the Hedgehog. It aired from June 15, 2006 to the present and runs for 4 seasons, making it the longest running Sonic based TV show. 
The show is practically an animated version of both the Archie and IDW comics published by Ian Flynn that are based on the video games of the same name. All the episodes share the same name with each comic arc they are based on.
The first season can be distinguished from the second season by its 4Kids voice actors and a heavily orchestrated and action packed but seldom comedic soundtrack. 
Season 2 has a dissimilar and noticeably different soundtrack compared to the first season and has a much darker sound to it and is almost completely lacking in comedy and in some episodes, it has a potentially unsettling tone to it. 
The first few episodes of the third season took the same approach but subsequent episodes had an entirely different sounding soundtrack which is considerably lighter but extremely diverse, spanning a variety of genres including orchestral, foreign, electronic, epic, unsettling (rarely heard), dramatic, and somber to vastly comedic sounding soundtracks. 
Season 4 (which is based on the IDW comics) goes back to the same approach as the second season but is less diverse and uses an entirely original soundtrack for each episode, unlike the previous seasons which often reused various soundtracks by Michael Tavera. In addition, it can be distinguished from other seasons by strictly using Studiopolis voice actors.
== Plot ==
=== Season 1 ===
The show's first episode starts off with Sonic's birthday, only for Bean, Bark, and Nack to ruin the party for everyone.
In later episodes, Knuckles gets tricked by an evil echidna named Dr. Finetevus into becoming Enerjak with the help of Scourge and the Destructix. In another arc of episodes, the Suppression Squad takes over Freedom HQ after Scourge becomes king and Eggman creates a Metal Scourge to aid Metal Sonic in fighting the two hedgehog twins. Sonic and Amy invade Scourge's Moebius and in the hopes that Rosy the Rascal will help oust Scourge. Miles (Tails' duplicate) makes a deal with the Freedom Fighters to have Scourge overthrown. This is when Silver the Hedgehog makes his debut appearance in the show. In the hedgehog brawl, Scourge uses the power of the Anarchy Beryl to make himself invulnerable, but Sonic defeats him.
In the final arc of episodes for Season 1, Eggman goes insane after his defeat by Sonic, During the sadistic doctor's period of insanity, Snively allied himself with the Iron Queen and takes over New Mobotropolis. However, the conquest didn't last long, and when the Iron Queen was defeated, Snively frees Eggman from prison.
=== Season 2 ===
Eggman's mind returns to normal in this season. Later episodes feature an arc titled "GENESIS,". In this saga, Sonic finds himself in Green Hill Zone where he finds animals that are being captured and imprisoned by an evil genius named Dr. Robotnik and his co-worker, Snively. Upon freeing animals from a capsule, Sonic discovers three Mobians named Sally Acorn, Boomer the Walrus, and Antoine D'Coolette. Sally convinced Sonic to join them on the same mission to defeat Robotnik, to which Sonic accepted. Upon arriving at Scrap Brain Zone, they discovered Robotnik and made a quick victory, but later discovered that the sadistic doctor was still alive. Sonic then meets Miles "Tails" Prower, who joins the Freedom Fighters in the second quest to locate Robotnik, where it was discovered that the Oil Ocean Refinery needed to be shut down, as it was used to power Robotnik's Death Egg Mark 2. Sonic and Tails go to a journey off to the Metropolis Zone. While the other Freedom Fighters shut down the Refinery, Sonic stormed the Death Egg and battled Dr. Robotnik as Super Sonic using Chaos Energy that powered the battle-station. Enabling Chaos Control, the world began to reset back to the present time.
When everything was reset at the end of the "GENESIS" saga, Eggman's mind is on a very short string and tries to fire the Death Egg, which would have destroyed all machines on the planet and successfully roboticizes Sally, turning her into an intimidatingly mindless killing machine.
Around the same time Eggman unveils his new Death Egg, Ixis Naugus appears and demands that he be made king due to the fact that King Maximillian had technically handed his crown over to him while in the Zone of Silence. With help from Geoffrey St. John and by fighting against the Death Egg, Naugus gained the favor of most of the Mobians and was declared king. Naugus then secretly helped Dr. Eggman by telling him that the Freedom Fighters were providing former King Elias an escort out of New Mobotropolis. The attack left Antoine D'Coolette in a coma and Bunnie left to fight on her own, putting an end to the original Freedom Fighters. In response, Sonic, Amy, Tails, and Rotor formed two new teams. Former King Elias also formed a team of Secret Freedom Fighters that would aid Team Freedom in protecting New Mobotropolis from attacks.
The last episodes of this season consist of Team Fighters chasing Eggman and Elias waging a secret war against Ixis Naugus.
=== Season 3 ===
This season takes place in a new continuity where Sally is not roboticized, Bunnie is still a cyborg, and Antoine is thoroughly alive. To Sonic, this version of reality seems a lot happier than the previous one. The Shattered World Crisis is the biggest threat to the characters in this season and in one of the final episodes of this season, Super Sonic battles the Dark Gaia monster.
=== Season 4 ===
This season takes place in a brand new continuity with little to no regard to the previous seasons. Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends live on a planet inhabited entirely by anthropomorphic animals like themselves, which is threatened by Dr. Eggman, who wants to take over with his army of Badniks and establish the Eggman Empire.
Many of these encounters in the past of the season's universe bear a strong resemblance to those that took place in past Sonic video games. When the season begins, there is a fallout caused by Eggman's recent conquest of the planet.
The second saga of episodes involve the Metal Virus, a disease caused by a viscous liquid created by Doctor Eggman for the sole purpose of turning every living animal into vicious monsters that care about nothing although everyone is returned back to normal by Silver and Super Sonic.
The third saga of episodes include Doctor Eggman, who has went on a rage fueled killing spree, destroying a party for the purpose of killing everyone in it, including Whisper. During the doctor's rampage, Sonic returns and wants to brutalize the sadistic killer for terrorizing the world with the Metal Virus but the doctor appreciates the destruction of the party and goes off. Chao races, Badnik bases, Zeti hunts, forest fires, and a duo named Surge and Kit appear.
The fourth saga includes an urban warfare against Surge and Kit, marking the first time that Lanolin (a sheep) is the main character of the series. Later, Eggman has the main characters in Eggperial City, which they obliterate in the last episode of this arc.
The fifth saga will reveal the intentions of the main cast after Eggman's defeat although Mimic is to devise a plan against the characters.
== Voice cast ==
(incomplete)
=== Season 1 ===
* Jason Griffith as Sonic, Shadow, Jet, Scourge, Zonic
* Amy Palant as Tails, Miles Prower
* Lisa Ortiz as Amy Rose, Rosy the Rascal
* Dan Green as Knuckles, Vector, Storm
* Mike Pollock as Doctor Eggman, Eggman Nega, Warden Zobotnik, Doctor Kintobor
* Andrew Rannells as Bean, Nack
* Christopher Pellegrini as Johnny
* Lonnie Hirsch as Captain Whisker
* Jeff Kramer as E-123 Omega
* Kathleen Delaney as Rouge
* David Wills as Espio
* Amy Birnbaum as Charmy, Saffron Bee
* Nika Futterman as Marine, Ray, Mecha M Robotnik
* Cam Clarke as Mighty, Amadeus Prower, Ash Mongoose
* Oliver Wyman as Big
* Pete Capella as Silver 
* Erica Schroeder as Blaze, Wave
*Marc Thompson as Abraham Tower
* Kath Soucie as Sally, Anti-Sally, Queen Alicia, Hope Kintobor, Gala-Na
* Ashley Johnson as NICOLE
* Rob Paulsen as Antoine, Patch D'Coolette, Wynmacher
* Christine Cavanaugh as Bunnie, Buns Rabbot
* Cam Brainard as Rotor, Boomer Walrus
* William Windom as Uncle Chuck
* Tim Curry as Maximillian Acorn
* April Winchell as Rosie the Woodchuck, Rosemary Prower
* Jason Marsden as Elias
* Charlie Adler as Snivley, Lightning Lynx
* Michael Bell as Ixis Naugus, Merlin Prower, Predator Hawk
* Erica Lindbeck as Mina Mongoose
*Eric Bana as Geoffrey St. John
* Grey DeLisle as Fiona Fox, Conquering Storm, Megan Acorn, Kneecapeon Mace, Mari-An
* Shari Belafonte as Lupe
* Keith David as Akhlut
* Rebecca Honig as Omochao
* Corey Burton as Finetivus, Flying Frog, Drago
* Jeff Bennett as Jules the Hedgehog, Sleuth
* Tress MacNeille as Bernie the Hedgehog, Penelope Platypus
* Jess Harnell as Tony Turtle, Sergeant Simian, A.D.A.M, Locke
* John-Rhys Davies as Sir Connery
* Billy West as Hamlin, Dylan Porcupine, Remington, Rob o' D'Hedge
* George Takei as Mammoth Mogul
=== Season 2 ===
* Roger Craig Smith as Sonic, Scourge, Shard
* Kate Higgins as Tails, Wave
* Cindy Robinson as Amy Rose
* Travis Willingham as Knuckles, Storm, Mephiles
* Mike Pollock as Doctor Eggman, Eggman Nega
* Michelle Ruff as Cream, Vanilla
* Ryō Hirohashi as Cheese
* Quinton Flynn as Silver
* Laura Bailey as Blaze, Omochao
* Kirk Thornton as Shadow, Orbot
* Wally Wingert as Cubot
* Vic Mignogna as E-123 Omega
* Karen Strassman as Rouge
*Marc Thompson as Abraham Tower
* Kyle Hebert as Big, Smalls the Cat, Bear 1
* Troy Baker as Espio
* Keith Silverstein as Vector, Bear 2
* Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Charmy 
* Michael Yurchak as Jet
* Nika Futterman as Marine, Ray, Lara-Le, Aerial, Athena
* Cam Clarke as Mighty, Amadeus Prower, Ash Mongoose
* Kath Soucie as Sally, Queen Alicia, Hope Kintobor, Erma Ermine
* Rob Paulsen as Antoine
* Christine Cavanaugh as Bunnie
* Cam Brainard as Rotor
* William Windom as Uncle Chuck
* Tim Curry as Maximillian Acorn
* Jason Marsden as Elias
* April Winchell as Rosie the Woodchuck, Rosemary Prower
* Charlie Adler as Snivley, Lightning Lynx, Flip Penguin
* Corey Burton as Flying Frog, Drago, Harvey Who, Augustus
* Michael Bell as Ixis Naugus, Predator Hawk
* Erica Lindbeck as Mina Mongoose
*John-Rhys Davies as Geoffrey St. John
* Grey DeLisle as Fiona Fox, Conquering Storm, Megan Acorn, Komi-Ko, Leeta, Lyco, Sealia
* Shari Belafonte as Lupe
* Keith David as Akhlut
* Brent Spiner as Mordred Hood
* Jess Harnell as Tony Turtle, Sergeant Simian, Canus
* Jim Cummings as Dr. Ivo Robotnik, Razorklaw
* Jeff Bennett as Jules the Hedgehog, Lobo, Guntiver
* Tress MacNeille as Bernie the Hedgehog, Penelope Platypus, Martha Sommersby
* Billy West as Hamlin, Dylan Porcupine, Remington, George Sommersby, Larry Lynx
* George Takei as Mammoth Mogul
* Sandy Fox as Maria Wolf
=== Season 3 ===
* Roger Craig Smith as Sonic, Metal Sonic, Gemerl, Metropolis soldier 1, Axel's soldier 1, Narwhal Egg soldier
* Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Tails, Charmy
* Cindy Robinson as Amy Rose
* Travis Willingham as Knuckles, Professor Pickle, Eclipse the Darkling
* Mike Pollock as Doctor Eggman, Zonshen
* Michelle Ruff as Cream, Vanilla, Tikal
* Ryō Hirohashi as Cheese
* Quinton Flynn as Silver
* Laura Bailey as Blaze, Omochao, Ray, Just Married Bride
* Tony Salerno as Chip
* Nika Futterman as Marine
* Mick Wingert as Mighty
* Kirk Thornton as Shadow, Moss, Orbot, Storm's soldier 1
* Wally Wingert as Cubot, pronghorn 2, Axel's soldier 2, Egg Dojo tiger soldier
* Vic Mignogna as E-123 Omega
* Christopher Pellegrini as Johnny
* Lonnie Hirsch as Captain Whisker
* Karen Strassman as Rouge, bird guard, desert bird soldier
*Marc Thompson as Abraham Tower
* Kyle Hebert as Big
* Troy Baker as Espio, red guard, Holoska Egg soldier 
* Keith Silverstein as Vector, Outback Egg soldier
* Michael Yurchak as Jet
* Christina Vee as Sally 
* Rob Paulsen as Antoine
* Nancy Cartwright as Bunnie "Rabbot" D'Coolette
* Keith Ferguson as Rotor
* J.K Simmons as Uncle Chuck
* Tim Curry as Nigel Acorn
* April Winchell as Rosie the Woodchuck
* Irene Bedard as Lupe
* Cree Summer as Dulcy
* Minnie Driver as Relic the Pika
* Charlie Adler as Snivley
* Michael Bell as Walter Naugus
* Grey DeLisle as Conquering Storm
* Clancy Brown as Akhlut
* Brent Spiner as Mordred Hood
* Keith David as Axel the Water Buffalo
* Marina Sirtis as Nephthys the Vulture
* Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Clove the Pronghorn
* Tara Strong as Thunderbolt the Chinchilla
* Jonathan Frakes as Maw the Thylacine
* Jim Cummings as Scratch
* French Tickner as Professor Von Schlemmer 
* Cam Clarke as Just Married Groom, pronghorn 1, Axel's soldier 3, Egg Castle servant
* Christopher Corey Smith as teal-class worker, Thunderbolt's soldier
=== Season 4 ===
* Roger Craig Smith as Sonic, Neo Metal Sonic, Gemerl
* Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Tails, Charmy
* Cindy Robinson as Amy Rose
* Dave B. Mitchell as Knuckles, Storm
* Mike Pollock as Doctor Eggman
* Michelle Ruff as Cream, Vanilla
* Ryō Hirohashi as Cheese
* Kyle Hebert as Big, trapped apartment citizen
* Matt Mercer as Espio
* Keith Silverstein as Vector, Mimic, Ashe's father
* Christina Vee as Tangle
* Ashley Johnson as Whisper the Wolf
* Bryce Papenbrook as Silver, Panicked bird local, truck driver
* Lara Jill Miller as Surge
* Erica Lindbeck as Blaze, Kit, Omochao, Panicked cat local, kid 3, mouse kid, Ashe
* Kirk Thornton as Shadow, Orbot, Zik, Dr. Starline, Elder Scruffy
* Wally Wingert as Cubot
* Aaron LaPlante as E-123 Omega, Smithy
* Karen Strassman as Rouge, kid 2, angry canine villager, female villager, military person
* Michael Yurchak as Jet
* Kate Higgins as Wave, floppy eared kid, street mother, street kid
* Patrick Seitz as Zomom, Zavok, Tumble
* Stephanie Sheh as Zeena, pointing citizen, Claire Voyance
* Liam O'Brien as Zazz, canine villager
* Sam Riegel as Zor, Ron
* Nika Futterman as Marine
* Cam Clarke as gatekeeper, vendor 1, soldier
* Christopher Corey Smith as Rough, Slinger, bird worker
== Music ==
The music for the series is almost entirely composed by Michael Tavera (same composer for every Land Before Time sequel and every episode of Guardians of the Galaxy) with a couple of soundtracks reused from Masato Nakamura throughout the show.
Unusually, for a Sonic installment, the TV show seldom uses rock music or synthesizers (which is the trade mark music of the Sonic games) and frequently uses a synthetic orchestra although electronic music commonly heard in later seasons (particularly season 3).
For unknown reasons, Michael Tavera did not write music for the Test Run, Zeti Hunt, and Trial by Fire arcs. Instead, the job was given to Richard Jacques, who had a more heroic and daring sound to his tracks in comparison. Tavera returned for the next arcs. 
== Trivia ==
* Fans consider this the best of the Sonic the Hedgehog shows. This is due to the voice acting, the music (often regarded as Tavera's best work), and the dark tone of most of the show.
* This is the second Sonic show to not use a lyrical theme song after Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.
* This is the second time Michael Tavera has composed music for a Sonic installment, the first being DiC's Sonic the Hedgehog.
** In addition, several soundtracks in this show are based on the soundtracks of the aforementioned cartoon.
* While the show generally receives positive reception by fans and critics alike, there are some parts of the show that have received significantly negative reception for the following reasons:
** Sonic's insufferable personality in Season 4.
** Amy's repulsively high pitched voice in Season 2.
** The 4Kids voice actors that were included in Season 1.
** The third season's enormously exaggerated animation that is comparable to that of recent episodes of SpongeBob Squarepants.
** Some of the characters (existing or new) acting in an unlikeable and cruel fashion.
** Censored swearing by a handful of characters (notably Scourge) worsened by the fact that the voice actors (particularly Jason Griffith) actually swore while recording the voices of the characters. For this reason, the censored swearing is replaced with a non profane word in some foreign language dubs.
** Some characters such as Bunnie "Rabbot" D'Coolette and Whisper the Wolf having unreasonably large amounts of cleavage that is vastly similar to that of Rouge the Bat. 
*** For this reason, both Bunnie and Whisper's cleavage are sometimes edited to make their breasts seem smaller. However, they can be regarded as the second and third characters to have breast bounce physics after Rouge, none of which the jiggle animations are removed in any dub.
** When voice recording for one of the final episodes of Season 1 was finished, Mike Pollock partially lost his voice due to screaming excessively loud and harsh repeatedly while recording Eggman's insanity driven screaming.
**Several of the show's characters (e.g. Lanolin, Dr. Ellidy, Elias) have uncredited voice actors that are only known via external sources such as IMDb or Behind The Voice Actors.
**For the third season, Keith David auditioned to reprise his role of Akhlut and Laura San Giacomo auditioned for the role of Clove, recording every line in their debut episodes. However, in the final product, Clancy Brown voices Akhlut and Salli Richardson-Whitfield voices Clove the Pronghorn.
**Before Michael Tavera was chosen as the composer for the series, several other composers were considered for the series. The following composers considered were Jun Senoue and his Japanese team of composers, Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri, John Powell, Randy Newman, Thomas Newman, Mark Mancina, and Michael Giacchino.
***In addition, for Season 3, Michael Tavera was not considered at first for the musical score. A few other composers were asked to score the third season such as Michele Brourman, David Newman, and Lorne Balfe. John Powell, Mark Mancina, and Michael Giacchino were considered again for the music but they decided to keep Tavera at the last minute.
**The average amount of time it takes for an episode to be fully animated is 3 days. Unusually for a show, animation was done before the soundtrack and voice acting commenced.
Category:TV Shows