Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)

Sonic the Hedgehog is an animated television series based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise. It aired for two seasons with a total of 26 episodes on ABC from September 18, 1993, to December 3, 1994. It was produced by DIC Productions, Sega of America, and the Italian studio Reteitalia in association with Telecinco. It is the second of DIC's Sonic animated Sonic series, after Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and before Sonic Underground. To distinguish it from Adventures and other Sonic media, fans commonly refer to the series as "Sonic SatAM", in reference to its Saturday morning timeslot.

Compared to Adventures, the show features a darker and more dramatic tone. It depicts Sonic, Sally Acorn, and their team of Freedom Fighters battling to overthrow Dr. Robotnik, who has already conquered their home planet, Mobius and rules over it as a polluted industrial dystopia.

Despite its cancellation, a fan following has elevated the series to a cult following. Some original characters of the series later appeared in the 1993 video game Sonic Spinball. The show also inspired the long-running Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series by Archie Comics.

Mad scientist Dr. Julian Robotnik rules as dictator over the planet Mobius, having overthrown the city of Mobotropolis with his fleet of military robots, and converted it into a polluted industrial cityscape (Robotropolis), transforming nearly all of its animal citizens into robotic slaves using his Roboticizer machine.

From the hidden woodland village of Knothole, Sonic the Hedgehog and Princess Sally Acorn lead a team of Freedom Fighters in a rebellion against Robotnik's regime. Other group members include Sonic's best friend Tails, scientist Rotor the Walrus, Antoine Depardieu the Coyote, and half-roboticized Bunnie Rabbot.

During the series, the heroes fight against Swat-Bots commanded by Robotnik and his resentful nephew Snively. Sonic collects Power Rings that temporarily boost his power, and uses them to restore free will to his roboticized Uncle Chuck, inventor of both the rings and the Roboticizer. Chuck acts as a spy among Robotnik's ranks. They find Sally's father King Acorn, who is imprisoned within the Void, alongside the evil sorcerer Ixis Naugus. They gain new allies including Dulcy the Dragon, Ari the Ram, and Lupe, leader of the elusive Wolf Pack.

In the series finale, "The Doomsday Project", Robotnik builds a Doomsday Machine to annihilate all organic life on Mobius. The Freedom Fighters launch a full-scale counterattack, and Sonic and Sally use the Deep Power Stones to destroy his machine. Robotnik disappears amid the wreckage. The Freedom Fighters declare victory, with Sonic and Sally kissing. In a final scene, Snively survives and is accompanied by an unseen ally with red eyes, stated by writer Ben Hurst to be the evil sorcerer Naugus, who would have become the main antagonist if a third season was produced.

Sonic the Hedgehog was created by DiC Animation City in association with Sega of America, which produced a total of 26 episodes for its two-season run, and the Italian studio Reteitalia S.p.A., part of Fininvest company in association with Telecinco. The show's animation was outsourced to the Korean studio Sae Rom Production and Spanish studio Milimetros. Pre-production stages of the show's first season (as well as the weekday syndicated show Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog) were handled by Canadian Studio B (later known as DHX Media Vancouver).