Some of the older heads I wanted to talk to said, “I was there, man,” when referring to Woodstock. They would have that distant look in their eyes as if they could see a band right in front of them on stage, and I could do the same. But, instead of Woodstock, it’s Sonic the Hedgehog, because “I’ve been there, man,” when the blue blur first debuted back in 1991 on the Sega Genesis. (With his explosive process!) Sonic has thrived, and he even has a new Netflix show called Prime Sonicwhich will soon be sliding into our homes.
In fact, being there from the start, I have seen quite a few Rough years for Sonic, both in video games and on TV shows, because Sonic has been a TV star for nearly as long as a video game star. And recently, he even became a movie star (I actually now consider the first Sonic movie to be the best video game film ever), making Sonic more popular than ever in recent times.
So, I wanted to take a trip down the path of the Green Hill Zone, and rethink all the Sonic shows that have aired, and rate them. But, I’m not going to take up too much of your time, because, you know. Must be fast.
5. Sonic Underground (1999)
If any Sonic cartoon feels like fan fiction, this is it. Sonic Underground the story is like a fever dream. In this case, Sonic was a prince who came from a royal lineage. He also has a brother and sister, named Manic and Sonia, respectively. And, get this, it’s all voiced by Steve Urkel himself, Jaleel White. They were all separated at birth because of a prophecy involving Dr. Robotnik, and they got together to stop him. Most of the plot concerns medals turning into instrument weapons, and that’s as crazy as it sounds.
Unfortunately, it’s not crazy in a fun way. Do you want to hear Sonic sing? No? Then this is not the show for you. Sonic Underground feels and somehow looks the cheapest of all Sonic cartoons, even though it came out in 1999. I’ve never met a single person who liked this show, and it falls below every other Sonic cartoon. Sonic Undergroundof course.
4. The Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog (1993)
OG Sonic the Hedgehog cartoons, this show left a lot to be desired, even then. Jaleel White voiced the titular Hedgehog (this was his first show as Sonic), while Christopher Welch voiced his friend Tails. The show basically features a number of adventures, hence the title, where Robotnik will appear with a few scattered plots, and Sonic will beat him in every episode. Wash, rinse and repeat. Ultimately, Sonic will have a segment called Sonic Sez (Sorry, “Say”) where he’ll be offering some sort of PSA. This is often the best part of the whole episode!
That’s the reason why this show is so low on the list. The first Sonic show was the only Sega-related cartoon in town at the time, putting it in direct competition with several Nintendo cartoons of the time. But, there’s nothing really impressive or exciting about Sonic Adventure Porcupine apart from the fact that it has Sonic and Tails in it. The story is bland, the voice acting is pretty cringe-worthy, and the plot is predictable and a bit lame. So, it’s a little better than Sonic Undergroundbut not much.
3. Sonic X (2003-2005)
fourth Sonic Cartoon, sonic x is actually an import from Japan, because it is an anime. The story concerns Sonic being teleported to Earth after a fight with Dr. Eggman, and he meets a boy named Chris Thorndyke who helps him along the way. Most of the story involves chaos emeralds, and nearly all of the main Sonic characters, including Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, appear, but some fairly obscure ones are here as well, such as Cream the Rabbit, Rouge the Bat, and Espio the Chameleon. It’s good.
For some, sonic x is their favorite Sonic cartoon, and I get it. It’s really heavy on fan service, and full of action. This is also probably the best-looking Sonic cartoon with its anime style. But, I really think it all depends on when you grow up with Sonic.
If you grew up with him in the early ’90s, then this version might be a little too frenetic for you, and fan service doesn’t really matter. It also contains too many human characters. But, if you grow up together Sonic Adventure as your first Sonic game then I understand why you like this one so much. I mean, the first shot is Big the Cat. So, it’s already happened, right?
2. Sonic Boom (2014-2017)
Okay, so your mileage might be different from Sonic boom if you don’t like your Sonic funny. But I did, which is why it’s so high on the list. Remember how I mentioned that Sonic has seen some rough patches when it comes to its gameplay? Well, the truth Sonic boom video games are proof of that statement. But Sonic boom cartoon tie-ins are the best thing to get out of that sad situation.
Each episode is its own separate storyline, devoid of some, and they all play out more like a sitcom than anything else. The characters are great, including Tails, voiced by the wonderful Colleen O’Shaughnessy, but specifically Dr. Eggman, voiced by Mike Pollock. He is the funniest character on the show! Again, if you want something with more action, then sonic x is your show. But, I equate Sonic boom to 2012 Ninja Turtle series, which in my opinion is one of the best Ninja Turtles animated TV shows ever. It’s a character, silly! They are all very good Sonic boom!
1. Sonic The Hedgehog (1993-1994)
It’s strange to think that Sonic the Hedgehog came out in the same year with much lower Sonic the Hedgehog . Adventures, but it works, and it’s great. Instead of being cheerful like TAOSTH, this version features a hellish scene where Doctor Robotnik is probably the meanest guy ever (Jim Carrey is a total freak, isn’t he). Sonic, again voiced by Jaleel White, joins the other freedom fighters who must free the other animals, who Robotnik wants to enslave and rule with an iron fist.
Sonic the Hedgehog is the best Sonic cartoon because the show tells an interesting story, and every episode feels like a show. The freedom fighters, including Tails, Princess Sally, Rotor the Walrus, Antoine Depardieu, Bunnie Rabbot (who is actually a cyborg!), and Dulcy the Dragon are fantastic characters with distinct personalities. And once again, Doctor Robotnik is downright threatening in this series, giving off a Dr. Serious Claw from Inspector Gadget popularity. no question, Sonic the Hedgehog is the best Sonic cartoon, and it doesn’t even come close.
We’ll see soon if Prime Sonic close to the 1993-1994 series, but those are some red and white shoes big enough to fill. For more news on Sonic the Hedgehog, be sure to check out the runs here often!