TV and OVAS
Sonic: all the series and movies of the famous blue hedgehog
To mark the release of Sonic The Hedgehog 2, we take a look back at the main audiovisual productions of SEGA's popular blue hedgehog until 2022.
The arrival in theaters of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has made it clear that the SEGA character is much more than a video game mascot. Paramount Pictures has raised the stakes after the success of the first Sonic movie a couple of years ago. Now, with an expected success at the box office and a third part already confirmed, we have to add another production: a live-action series focused on Knuckles. This cinematic universe they have in motion is increasingly improving. But what came before?
Sonic's relationship with the public goes beyond video games. It all began with an animated series broadcast in 1993, which came in line with the first video game for the Genesis released in 1991. SEGA had a real commercial success on its hands, a mascot capable of being repurposed not only for cuddly toys and billboards, but also for the audiovisual entertainment sector.
Let's take a look at all those series and OVAS that have accompanied us in these more than twenty-five years.
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (1993)
This cartoon was first broadcasted in 1993, a single-season production with a total of 65 episodes; one of the best known. It was based on the original creation of Yuji Naka, having a production between the United States (DIC Enterprises, Bohbot Entertainment) and Italy (Reteitalia S.p.A.), in association with Spain (Telecinco). This led to the series being broadcast not only in the U.S. and Canada but throughout Europe. Recognizable and with unforgettable moments, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is the first great series of the hedgehog.
Sonic the Hedgehog (1993-94)
This time the name did not change much. This animated series arrived in Italy and the United States with Dick Sebast and Ron Myrick in the first and second seasons, respectively. A total of 26 episodes with a much more moderate success than the previous one. Its script was essentially based on the comic book of the time, with a more adult theme; although without leaving aside its relevant comic reliefs. Its cancellation was only due to the loss of strength of its broadcasting on television.
Sonic The Hedgehog (OVA)
It was back in 1996 when SEGA issued the first Sonic OVA, a total of two half-hour episodes (in the United States they were both aired together) in the form of an animated movie. It was produced by Pierrot and directed by Kazutaka Ikegami, and included characters such as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Dr. Robotnik. In recent years, ADV Films adapted the film to DVD with subtitles in several languages.
Sonic Underground (1999)
For many, Sonic Underground is one of the most beloved productions of the hedgehog on the small screen, a total of 40 episodes that some of you reading this grew up with back in the day. A single season, but dozens of reruns. This time, the protagonism resided not only in Sonic, but in his siblings Manic and Sonia. According to the story, Queen Aleena had to escape Dr. Robotnik's robotic forces and had to be separated from her aforementioned children. Going their separate ways, the three were given a magic medallion that turned them into powerful musical instruments and weapons. From there, a multitude of adventures with more or less success, but a name (and an intro!) hard to forget.
Sonic X (2003-2006)
Another series that many grew up with, this time with an animation and drawing style much closer to the epic video games. It was precisely those production values that allowed SEGA to get it right when they gave the broadcasting rights to TV Tokyo, where TMS Entertainment and Hajime Kamegaki managed to keep the production alive for three seasons and a total of 78 episodes. Prime Video and Netflix are the ones who currently have these episodes. Being the longest series so far, Sonic X was able to tell a much more elaborate story, with more characters and battles.
Sonic Boom (2014-2017)
Despite the poor critical reception of Sonic Boom in video games, this sub-series within the official Sonic productions was very well received, especially in the United States. With two seasons and 104 episodes, this French-American production, produced by OuiDo! Productions and SEGA of America, Inc. together with Lagardère Thématiques, managed to capture a large share of the screen among the youngest viewers. Initially, it would consist of 52 episodes, but its success allowed it to be extended in time and even had comic book adaptations by Archie Comics, who also took charge of previous adaptations such as the aforementioned one from the nineties.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020-2022)
Jeff Fowler has been in charge of directing the two Sonic movies so far. It was in February 2020, before the COVID-19 home confinements broke out, that we were able to hit the theaters for this comedy/action/fantasy adventure in which Sonic is the big star. Pat Casey and Josh Miller put their talents to work on the screenplay. The result, although improved with the sequel this year, resulted in the second-best worldwide box office of 2020 with 295 million dollars internationally. It also set the box office record in its first opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada for movies based on video games. This is just the beginning, with SEGA involved, protagonists already introduced (Tails, Knuckles, Sonic...) and a production schedule full of interesting things to come.
