Sonic the Hedgehog has had many television shows based off of the very popular game. Some of these shows include the original Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon series, Sonic X, and Sonic Boom. However, as more Sonic shows were produced, the fans seem to take to them less and less, including myself. It seems that Sonic the Hedgehog lost its touch more and more as years went by.
The first Sonic the Hedgehog show aired in 1993, and followed the adventures of Sonic and his friends, The Freedom Fighters, as they fought with the evil genius, Doctor Robotnik. This particular Sonic cartoon seemed to have the greatest reception, with the highest ratings and reviews. Many of the reviews praise the show, and one of the few complaints are that the show stopped airing after a few years. For me, this was a childhood favorite. Seeing the speedy blue hedgehog race throughout Mobius fighting Badniks was thrilling. This show mixed comedy and action, which was the perfect combination for Sonic.
Another main Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon that aired was Sonic X. This show aired in 2003 and it had mildly high ratings, but with a bit more complaints this time around. This time, the show was based on Sonic and friends being stuck on Earth and trying to find their way back to Mobuis. There are more human characters in this show unlike the previous one, and new characters are introduced as well. However, there was some negative reception to Sonic X. Many fans believe that the cartoon was focused on Chris, the main human character. The viewers wanted to see more Sonic and less Chris. However, I found this show to be intriguing, fun, and I had a good time with it growing up.
The latest show that is still on the air today is Sonic Boom (pictured at top). This particular cartoon has seemed to have the worst reception by long-time Sonic fans, and I would have to agree with them in this case. Sonic Boom, once again, has new characters and follows the Sonic trend of him and his Freedom Fighters battling Dr. Eggman. However, most if not all the reviews are negative and full of complaints from the fans. Some of the critiques include bad character design, a weak plot, and that the animation is not memorable. For me, Sonic Boom completely missed the mark. From the odd character designs and easily forgettable plot, it seemed to not take much inspiration from the original Sonic series. It is the first Sonic show that has not stuck with me or reminded me of where Sonic came from in the first place.
There have been other Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon series that have been released, but these are just a few of the most popular ones that have been released. As time went on, it seems that Sonic has taken a new direction, which has resulting in negative reception. Taking a different route for a classic series can have its repercussions, and Sonic has experienced plenty of this. For me, watching my favorite childhood series get taken in such a new direction is difficult because it is important for a series to remember its roots and stick to the core foundation. Either way, perhaps Sonic can redeem itself in the television world with a new show that sticks to the roots more.
