Opening title card for
SatAM.
Sonic the Hedgehog is an animated series that was created by DiC, and aired from 1993 to 1995 on ABC. In contrast to the comical Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog released almost simultaneously, this cartoon features a darker setting and deeper, more involved story lines. To distinguish between the two series, fans typicaly refer to this as SatAM, because it was a Saturday morning cartoon, while Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog aired on weekdays in syndication. DiC was planing on making a third season of SatAM when ABC desided to "pull the plug" on the show because of low ratings (the show with the highest ratings at the time was Power Rangers). After SatAM was cancelled, reruns of the show appeared on USA Network's USA Cartoon Express.
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Contents
- 1 Plot Summary
- 2 Vocal Talents
- 2.1 Freedom Fighters
- 2.2 Robotnik's Legion
- 2.3 Others Credited
- 3 Theme Song
- 4 Episode List
- 4.1 Season 1
- 4.2 Season 2
- 4.3 Season 3 (Aborted)
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Plot Summary
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
The show takes place on a fictional planet called Mobius. An evil, bald, dark-eyed and mustachioed scientist named Doctor Robotnik (Jim Cummings) invaded and conquered a huge and beautiful city named Mobotropolis, with the help of his intelligent but craven assistant Snively (Charlie Adler) and his army of laser-toting robot soldiers called SWATbots. Robotnik then used a giant airship to turn Mobotropolis into a new city renamed Robotropolis, a polluted city of factories and warehouses.
Robotnik soon invaded the castle home of the city's king (Tim Curry) and exiled him to a dimensional warp known as "The Void." Robotnik captured the rest of the citizens, including a brainy old hedgehog named Chuck (William Windom) and his dog Muttski, and used a machine called the roboticizer to turn them in to robot slaves. Those who managed to escape retreated into the Great Forest to build a village named Knothole to hide from Robotnik. Among the youngest of the citizens were a group called the Freedom Fighters. First there's Sonic the Hedgehog (Jaleel White), Charles' speedy nephew. Then there is his best friend Tails (Bradley Pierce), a young two-tailed fox who can twirl his tails to fly. Next, there's Rotor (Mark Ballou/Cam Brainard), a walrus with a knack for machines. Next, Antoine (Rob Paulsen), a French coyote with many personality flaws. Next is Bunnie Rabbot (Christine Cavanaugh), a pretty southern cyborg rabbit who would almost certainly have been completely roboticized if not for Sonic (as it were though, only her left arm and legs were roboticized). Last is the group's leader, Princess Sally (Kath Soucie), the king's only daughter.
For 10 years, the Freedom Fighters constantly foiled Robotnik's schemes. In the show's second season, a female dragon named Dulcy (Cree Summer) was a new star. The show went up to 2 seasons and it got cancelled after the final episode, "The Doomsday Project" ended with a cliffhanger (suggesting a new villain for season three... it was subsequently revealed that it would have been a sorcerer from a previous episode, named Ixis Naugus). There were rumors of a third season but it never aired.
A DVD of six first-season shows is now available from DiC, under the title "Sonic the Hedgehog - Super Sonic." It can be ordered from Amazon.com.
Vocal Talents
Freedom Fighters
Jaleel White - Sonic the Hedgehog
Kath Soucie - Princess Sally Alicia Acorn/Nicole, Sally's Computer
Bradley Pierce - Miles "Tails" Prower
Mark Ballou/Cam Brainard - Rotor
Rob Paulsen - Antoine D'Coolette
Christine Cavanaugh - Bunnie Rabbot
William Windom - Sir Charles 'Uncle Chuck' Hedgehog
Robotnik's Legion
Jim Cummings - Dr. Ivo Robotnik/Julian/Additional Voices/SWATbots
Charlie Adler - Snively
Others Credited
Cree Summer - Dulcy the Dragon
Dana Hill - Young Princess Sally
Tahj Mowry - Young Sonic the Hedgehog
Shari Belafonte - Lupe
Joan Gerber - Rosie the Nanny
Theme Song
Written by: DIC Entertainment
Performed by: The Noisey Neighbors
Video: http://www.retrojunk.com/details_theme/208/
Lyrics
Blue streak speeds by, Sonic the Hedgehog
Too fast for the naked eye, Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic, he can really move
Sonic, he's got an attitude
Sonic, he's the fastest thing alive
Look out when he storms through, Sonic the Hedgehog
Don't doubt what he can do, Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic, he can really move
Sonic, he's got an attitude
Sonic, he's the fastest thing alive
He's the fastest thing alive
He's the fastest thing alive!
Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) episode guide
1. Heads or Tails
Pilot Episode; Sonic and Tails race to Robotropolis in search of metal cotter pins in order to ward off an impending invasion by Robotnik's buzzbombers.
2. Sonic Past Cool
The Freedom Fighters help a dinosaur-like species navigate through the Great Jungle while fighting off the advances of Robotnik.
3. Sub Sonic
In search of magical water that causes plants to grow at an accelerated speed, the Freedom Fighters journey underground where they begin disappearing one by one.
4. Warp Sonic
The Freedom Fighters find themselves defending an underground city of Mobian refugees... all the while coming to terms with their own personal relationships.
5. Sonic and Sally
When the princess is captured, Robotnik creates a robotic duplicate as a means of spying on and sabotaging the Freedom Fighters.
6. Ultra Sonic
Sonic finds his Uncle Chuck after a failed mission in Robotropolis, kicking off an emotional rollercoaster ride for him.
7. Sonic Racer
Robotnik holds a race in Robotropolis in a bid to lure Sonic into a trap.
8. Hooked on Sonics
Antoine goes after Robotnik himself in a bid to impress Sally and earn personal glory.
9. Harmonic Sonic
Robotnik launches a spy satellite in an effort to locate Knothole Village, the Freedom Fighters' hidden base.
10. Sonic's Nightmare
Sonic must conquer a recurring nightmare personifying his own personal fears if he is to rescue his friends.
11. Sonic Boom
Sally follows up on a lead that suggests that her father may be alive.
12. Super Sonic
Sonic and Robotnik race against each other in a bid to steal a dormant wizard's computer of magic spells.
13. Sonic and the Secret Scrolls
The Freedom Fighters embark on a mission to find some magical secret scrolls.
14. Game Guy
Sonic is lured into a trap by someone who may or may not belong to another Freedom Fighter group.
Note: This episode was part of the underground cult film, Sonic the Hedgehog The Movie: The Doomsday Project.
15. Sonic Conversion
Sonic makes a bid to free his Uncle Chuck once and for all.
Note: This episode was part of the underground cult films, Sonic the Hedgehog The Movie: The Doomsday Project and The Day Mobotropolis Fell.
16. No Brainer
Sonic is brainwashed by his enemies during a rescue attempt in Robotropolis.
17. Blast to the Past Part 1
Sonic and Sally go back in time to stop Robotnik from taking over.
Note: This episode was part of the underground cult film, The Day Mobotropolis Fell.
18. Blast to the Past Part 2
Continuation of Part One.
Note: This episode was part of the underground cult film, The Day Mobotropolis Fell.
19. Fed up with Antoine/Ghost Busted
Pair of 15 minute episodes focusing on Antoine, comic relief character.
20. Dulcy
Dulcy is summoned to the dragon mating ground as Robotnik seeks to roboticize the remainder of her species.
21. The Void
The Freedom Fighters find some unexpected surprises in the dimensional vortex known only as the Void.
Note: This episode was part of the underground cult film, Sonic the Hedgehog The Movie: The Doomsday Project.
22. The Odd Couple/Ro-Becca
Pair of 15 minute episodes focusing on Antoine, the comic relief.
23. Cry of the Wolf
Sonic and company finally make contact with another Royal Freedom Fighter group.
Note: This episode was part of the underground cult film, Sonic the Hedgehog The Movie: The Doomsday Project.
24. Drood Henge
Sonic and Tails team up in order to thwart Robotnik's scheme to find the magical Deep Power Stones.
Note: This episode was part of the underground cult film, Sonic the Hedgehog The Movie: The Doomsday Project.
25. Spy Hog
Uncle Chuck finds himself increasingly at risk operating as a spy in Robotropolis.
Note: This episode was part of the underground cult films, Sonic the Hedgehog The Movie: The Doomsday Project and The Day Mobotropolis Fell.
26. The Doomsday Project
The Grand Finale; Sonic and the Freedom Fighters face Robotnik's forces in the final battle.
Note: This episode was part of the underground cult film, Sonic the Hedgehog The Movie: The Doomsday Project.
Season 3 (Aborted)
Though the series ended with season 2, there were more episodes planned. According to Sonic HQ.org, the third season would have featured Snively briefly attempting to take over, but then would have made Ixis Naugus the main villain, with Robotnik as his lackey. Naugus is also the person whose eyes were seen behined Snively at the end of season 2. In addition, Snively would later defect to the Freedom Fighters.
