Sonic the Hedgehog, created in 1991, is arguably the most recognizable video game character ever. If you don’t know much about him, Sonic is known for being a fast, blue hedgehog who collects rings and fights the evil Dr. Robotnik. Sonic is not only popular within the video game world; he has also had great success in television and film. The latest addition is “Sonic Prime,” which arrived on Netflix on December 15.
“Sonic the Hedgehog” (1993)
The first sonic show “Sonic the Hedgehog” premiered in 1993 after the initial popularity of the game. It aired for two seasons and won a Golden Reel Award in 1994 for Best Sound Editing for a Television Animated Series. Some of the popular Sonic characters are featured in this show such as Tails and Dr.Robotnik, along with some characters that are no longer seen in the newer series such as Princess Sally Alicia Acorn and Bunnie Rabbot.
You can watch “Sonic The Hedgehog” on Amazon Prime and Tubi.
“Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog”
The 1990s saw several more Sonic shows, including “Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog” (1993) and “Sonic Underground” (1999). These shows kept a similar art style to the original show, adding new characters and plotlines.
“The Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog” is available to watch on Netflix and “Sonic Underground” can be streamed on Pluto TV or Paramount Plus.
“Sonic X”
The 2000s was a new era of Sonic Television. The animation style changed. He became taller with a smaller stomach. His strength of speed stays the same. “Sonic X” began airing in 2003 and ended in 2006 on 4Kids TV. Kids from the early 2000s may remember waking up early on Saturday morning to catch a glimpse of everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog. This show focuses on Sonic coming to Earth instead of being on his planet. This was not done often in the previous shows.
“Sonic X” can be watched on Amazon Prime and Netflix.
“Sonic Boom”
After the ending of “Sonic X,” Sonic did not return to television for almost ten years. In 2014, Cartoon Network released “Sonic Boom.” The animation style changed from classic 2D to 3D animation, gaining popularity throughout the middle to late 2000s. The character reached another growth spurt and appears taller. It features the iconic Sonic group as the main protagonists: Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. “Sonic Boom” ended in 2017.
“Sonic Boom” is available to watch on Hulu.
“Sonic the Hedgehog” (2020) and “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” (2022)
Paramount Pictures released a trailer in 2019 and received a lot of backlash about Sonic’s appearance. The internet raged over the initial design choices and was filled with memes mocking the poor design. A few days later, Director Jeff Fowler posted a Tweet. “Thank you for the support. And the criticism. The message is loud and clear… you aren’t happy with the design & you want changes. It’s going to happen. Everyone at Paramount & Sega are fully committed to making this character the BEST he can be… #sonicmovie #gottafixfast 🔧✌️” / Twitte. Paramount then returned to the drawing board and redesigned Sonic, which was much more well-received by fans. The film was released in 2020 with a new and improved Sonic. On April 8, 2022, “Sonic The Hedgehog 2” was released.
“Sonic the Hedgehog” 1 and 2 can be streamed on Paramount Plus and Apple TV+.
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3”
According to Digital Spy, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” will be released to theaters on Dec. 20, 2024. Sonic the Hedgehog has existed for 31 years and is still well-received enough to have new media created around the iconic hedgehog.