Customer Reviews

Sonic The Hedgehog - The Complete Series

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Finally, the Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon that aired on ABC in 1993-1994 (known as "Sonic SatAM" to the fans) comes to DVD in its entirety. Many of those who managed to catch the show on TV well over 10 years ago fell in love with it then, and have been fans ever since. It had just the right blend of comedy, drama, and action, with no one of those standing out too much above the others. It was also a fairly dark show for its time. This is a much anticipated release in the Sonic fan community, and this DVD set contains all 26 episodes, collecting the complete series in one 4-disc set!

This cartoon was made back before the SegaSonic storyline really got developed, and you won't be seeing familiar faces like Knuckles, Amy Rose, or the more recent characters from Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow and Rouge, simply because, well, none of them existed back then (Sonic 3, which was Knuckles' first game, didn't even come out until the year after it started airing). But that doesn't detract from the show at all as there are plenty of well developed characters added here that weren't from the games. This cartoon set-up the first real storyline behind the whole Sonic universe (in the U.S. anyway), and in my opinion, was one of the best American made cartoons ever. The Archie series of Sonic the Hedgehog comics was loosely based on this cartoon, but really failed to capture the quality of writing used to produce this show. (Archie has since moved on to try to emulate the games more).

Despite the age of this show, if you're a Sonic fan, you definitely shouldn't pass this one up. Definitely the best Sonic cartoon ever produced, in my opinion, as well as one of the greatest cartoons of all time. I'd give it more than 5 stars, but well.. that's the most you can give here on Amazon.com :)

FREEDOM FIGHTERS FOREVER!

The short review: Way Past Cool! If you're a fan of the series you have to have this DVD collection!

The long review:

EPISODES
For anyone who's had to stand watching cut or badly recorded episodes from TV, I can't express how good it feels to watch these in clear stereo with no tracking lines and perfect picture. I can even see the paintbrush strokes in the background art it's so clear! So far as I can tell, everything has been restitched back together wonderfully and I can see no weird edits. It's just like I remember in Ben Hurst's words "fresh - like watching it for the first time!"


BONUS FEATURES
A few people have complained about the lack of bonus features, but I can't say good enough about them. The series was produced 10 years ago, since then most if not all of the artwork in the vaults has been lost, sold online (I've seen a number of cels pass by there) or locked away. The fact they managed to find even a small amount of high-quality artwork makes it well worth the trouble. I too wish there was more, but the stuff they did find is very good. I believe there are really only two bits of the extended/deleted scenes that are truly new material but it's all well archived and the one silent animatic has the script super-scripted in so it's easy to follow. The concept art is beautiful, there are a few new model/expression sheets in the interview with Hurst and tons of background art that will blow you away. This is the same quality one would expect in feature post production work. Both of the interviews are engaging, enlightening and even a little tearful at times, especially Ben's moving speech about Season 3 and his support for the fans. Considering how hard the crew at FUS has worked to get this DVD, they deserve it. The DVD menus themselves are a blast -- I have seen a number of poorly produced menus with "craptastic" art in them and these blow me away. They are thoughtful and even funny! In one part Snively hits the "Bonus Features" button. It's the little things like that which show the effort and care they put into making the DVD.

BOX ART
Okay so some of the artists who contributed art are very young and aren't what you would call "good artists". But to me, it's refreshing to see a company that actually WANTED and ACCEPTED input from the fan base. It shows that we are all united together as fans of Sonic, no matter what our background is. You can tell each of the artists was excited and trying their best to make something to show how much they love the show. I go as far to say a few of these artists ARE exceptional, some of them even drawing "on-model" as we in the animation business say. Ken Penders (while not really a fan per se since he's worked professionally on Sonic Artwork) did a pretty good job with the cover, as it did include most of the cast and it doesn't show anything that isn't there (Thank Goodness his arms aren't blue either :D). Compared to the first test cover, this final one is much better. Dr. Robotnik is the best part of the cover, he's very well drawn.

ANYTHING ELSE?
Just so you know where I'm coming from, I was prime age when SATAM came out, being 10 at the time, and it is a big reason I am who I am today and certainly a reason why I'm going into the animation industry. That being said I can't express enough why it's important to support this release. They did a fantastic job. And I think it's worth buying this for any Sonic fan, especially if you know someone who likes Sonic X --

In Sonic's words, "Get ready to rock, cause this will knock your socks off!" :)

If you're new to Sonic and like this series, I highly recommend checking out Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, and Sonic Underground as well (the other two shows produced by DiC, the predecessor to SATAM and it's later cousin, respectively.) A lot of fans would say otherwise but I just can't get enough of the blue blur!

- Joanie /^>

The Saturday morning Sonic cartoon was always one of those special treats when I was younger. I loved Sonic, but I was rarely up early enough to catch these shows when they were on originally, so I'm especially grateful to see them all in a single DVD package now.

Sonic fans probably already know the premise behind these shows: Sonic and the Freedom Fighters are in a continuous guerrilla war with Julian Ivo Kintobor, or "Robotnik," and his myriad robotic minions. Robotnik is able to augment his armies by "roboticizing" innocent Mobians (the anthropomorphic animals, like Sonic and his friends, that are the chief citizens of planet Mobius). Overall, the story is a dark saga of resistance that may seem somewhat trite (due to the similarities with "The Matrix" and the untold dozens of fictional worlds based upon similar premises), but it's still a good story. Fans of the Archie Sonic comics will easily find themselves at home with these cartoons, as they're essentially the same story and characters.

If you were a fan of the shows to begin with, don't hesitate--get these as soon as you can. Other Sonic fans may have a hard time reconciling the ordinarily bright, cheery Sonic universe with these serious shows, but they're pure gold, and I say go for it.

When I heard about Bike Mice from Mars was getting revived last year, after ten years of being cancelled, I wonder about the Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) series. I come to find that Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) is still being talked about today, and still has a fanbase, if not a bigger fanbase than when the show originally back in 1993

Oh man, I remember I watched this Sonic the Hedgehog series religiously when it original aired, when I was five years old. I can't believe it's FINALLY out on DVD.

I'd get up every Sunday at 8am here in the UK just to watch it, or every Saturday if you're an American viewer. But anyway, this was - and still is, in my opinion - the best Sonic the Hedgehog series ever, nothing against [i]Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (I used to watch that as well)[/i], or [i]Sonic Underground[/i] or [i]Sonic X[/i]

Sonic the Hedgehog, or SatAM as it now known, had everything. Action, adventure, romance, comedy etc. The show had a great plot, the continuity of the show just kept you watching (especially in the 2nd Season). You didn't know what would happen next.

Also the animation was perfect for the show and added to the tone of the show, which was a darker than the previous series, [i]Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog[/i]. The writing was just brilliant, especially in Season 2. I think overall Season 2 was the more memorable of the two seasons. Thank you for that Ben Hurst, and of course Pat Allee, who co-wrote it.

The voice acting cast on the show was great, you some of the best voice actors in the business. Jaleel White was great as the main character (He IS Sonic the Hedgehog), Kath Soucie, Jim Cummings and Charlie Adler, who gave great memorable performances as Robotnik and Snively, respectively. Especially Jim Cummings, his portray of Robotnik also made Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) very memorable.

It ashame that Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) ended on a cliffhanger at the end of Season 2, this show has so much potential, and it also HAD a fanbase, which I think is now obvious by the fansites that have appeared in the last few years. I'd be nice to see a revival of Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM), I know it not likely but you never know.

Hey, if Bike Mice from Mars, which got revived last year - after 10 years of it being gone, surely there still some hope of a Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM). A new series, or maybe a movie based on the show - I like many fans would love to see those one day. Hey, anything's possible.

What else can I say about Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) that hasn't already been said in previous reviews. This the BEST Sonic the Hedgehog series EVER made, if you're a fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog SEGA games or just an animation fans in general. I strongly recommend that you check this series out, you won't be disappointed.

This is truly one of the best cartoons ever made. It came at a time when Sonic was at his best. When Sega and Nintendo were at war with each other. He had already caught the attention of many fans throughout the world, including those who have been fans of Mario. Yet, in order to prove Sonic's excellence, DiC came out with 2 Sonic cartoons with Sega's permission in 1993. This version (SatAm), and AOSTH. Personally, this one caught my attention more. In fact what caught my attention was that it tried to be different from the average cartoon.

It aired on early Saturday mornings on ABC during it's run from Sept. 1993 to June 1995. If people hadn't already noticed, there were commercials on ABC that contained footage of SatAm. Since I had already owned a Sega Genesis along with Sonic 1 and Sonic 2, I decided to watch the show one day in September 1993. It totally blew me away.

The intro is one of the best I have seen from a cartoon. It shows Sonic blasting through Knothole Village, later breaking into Robotnik's headquarters. I could explain into further detail but I don't want to spoil it to others who haven't seen this show yet. But what is most interesting is that I see characters in the series I have never seen before. A squirrel known as Princess Sally, a half roboticized rabbit known as Bunnie, a coyote known as Antoine, and a walrus known as Rotor. Each of them had their own personality and their own views on Sonic, as well as their strong points and weaknesses. Together they were known as the Freedom Fighters, a group of mobians who had escaped from Robotnik to take cover in Knothole Village. A site found secret in the Great Forest.

The animation was perhaps stunning at the time, giving the show a dark feel that wasn't found in many other Saturday cartoons. The characters had actual emotions, and the story was excellent. Jim Cummings really stood out for Robotnik, in my mind he was Dr. Robotnik. He gave a voice that sounded evil and enough to chill some fans of Sonic out of their seats. In fact he was all around bad. Jaleel White, best known as Steve Urkel in Family Matters, was a great choice for voicing Sonic. He gave him a cool attitude that was a fair bit annoying but still tolerable for many fans. Kath Soucie did a terrific job as Princess Sally. She gave her a role in which she cares and flirts over Sonic but smart enough to know what is going on. In other words, she was a stand out character. The three characters I mentioned were pretty much excellent throughout the series, with little to no flaws.

What stood out above all was the continuity and the character development. I did like the first season a bit, but it was the second season that really took those points into effect. The 2nd season felt as though they weren't just episodes, but more of like chapters of a big long story, which made the show stand out. Character development plays a huge role in this cartoon. In fact, this had episodes which actually had the good guys losing in the end. There were parts where Sonic was crying and Sally was simply just upset by the way things were going for them. This cartoon wasn't afraid to bring up the bad things of life, which I would much rather see than a happy-go-lucky cartoon in which everybody is happy all the time with no emotion whatsoever.

I must bring up the bad news to this cartoon. Just when things were really starting to look good, just when the cartoon itself started to become very popular, the show was cancelled after two seasons. I was heartbroken, if not angry that someone had torn of what could of been a Sonic legacy that may of lived to this day. The ABC President who cancelled the show, had no idea of the impact that had happened afterwards. This easily could of been a saga along with DBZ, but it never happened. In short, this cartoon was easily forgotten. And soon afterwards, things started to fall apart for Sonic.

This was truly the very last of those great American westerns made, a show that is more effective than any of the cartoons you see today. For years, I thought noone cared for SatAm anymore. Archie Comics made a series of their own based off the cartoon, but over time they had been degrading. Those who have seen this show had been touched by the characters, the continuity, the storyline, everything. While SatAm has lost a lot of fans over the years because of hopelessness and simply because they lost interest, the few of us remaining haven't gave up hope for what this great gem cartoon has given to us.

I am glad that over 10 years later, Shout!Factory has finally decided to make this entire series into a boxset. It contains two interviews with those heavily involved with the show, and it has artwork submitted by the fans, along with tons of extras. I say this to everyone: Even if you think Sonic hasn't done well or if you are just simply a Mario & Zelda fan, pick this up. I promise you will not regret it.

While I can't claim to own the DVD set at this point, I have seen the entire "Sonic the Hedgehog" series multiple times and can say that there has never been anything quite like it before or since in children's animation. The concept-- a show based around a commercial video game character-- is one that seemed doomed to mediocrity, yet "Sonic the Hedgehog" was anything but mediocre. Like Mike Reyes below me said, this series was the first to develop the character of Sega's blue mascot and delve into the backstory of the franchise. This is the Sonic that many children of the 80's and 90's fondly remember. It was the basis for the American Sonic story seen in the Archie comic series and subsequent American game translations up until Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast.

The 1993-1995 series, better known as "SatAM" to many of its fans, was born out of a 'renaissance' period of traditional children's animation in the early 90's. It boasted a developed storyline, all-star voice acting cast, and some of the biggest writers, artists, and producers in the industry at the time.

Many Sonic fans have waited 11 years to see this series finally make its way to DVD, and the release itself has shaped up to be quite a package. I am the webmaster of the fan site saturdaymorningsonic.com, and can say that Shout! Factory has consulted fans of the series every step of the way in the production of this box set. From storyboards and interviews with writer Ben Hurst and VA Jaleel White, to the inclusion of fan art and a sweet cover to boot, this box set is going to be one for the collector's shelf. Don't pass this one up!

Sonic the Hedgehog or SatAM as it's referred by fans, was a show that really stands the test of time for various, justifiable reasons. Quality storytelling, beautiful animation, and a score similar to John Williams. The wonderful character development is what really got me immersed in the world of Sonic and its something that's unfortunately lacking in his current state. With the recent cancellation of Sonic X and SEGA's realization of their next gen games, it's no surprise that they've acknowledged the brilliant, yet obscure universe that conveyed everything Sonic the Hedgehog should be. Ironically characters such as Princess Sally, Bunnie Rabbot, and Rotor are still apparent in today's Archie Comics, but have never seen the light in a Sonic game (Sonic Spinball doesn't count, sorry). For you youngsters out there that are fans of Shadow, Rouge, Amy, and Cream prepare to be amazed at the epic adventure that awaits you involving The Knothole Freedom Fighters! Intended for a tween-teenager audience just be aware that it contains a darker atmosphere, a continuing plot, and emotional drama. It really rides out as a classic sci-fi serial since each episode advances the story. For those who don't know what a serial is, then just think Flash Gordon or Star Wars and you'll understand. It's depressing that it took 12 years for this great masterpiece to be released to the public, but I'm glad I finally own it.

This is definitely a series that shouldnt be passed up by fans of science fiction or Sonic the Hedgehog. The bonus features are nothing less than awesome. Concept art, storyboards, fanart, and commentary from show writer Ben Hurst and Sonic himself aka Jaleel White. I maybe 25, but after watching this set it still remains fresh and original. The only haunting element is the fact that it ended on a cliffhanger when an intended third season was supposed to air. In summation, I would give this collection higher than 5 stars. The overall packaging and video/audio restoration is (as Sonic would put it) Way Past Cool! In closing, Id like to say this. Out of the cartoons I've watched in my quarter lifetime, I still consider it one of the best animated TV shows ever produced!

I've loved this show since it first aired. It is, without a doubt, one of the best put-together cartoons of all time.

Shout! Factory acually worked with the fans to get their input on various aspects of this boxed set, in order to ensure that this would be a set truely worthy of the show's fans. The end result is a long-awaited boxed set that's a must-have for any SatAM fan.

Way way back in '93 when this cartoon came out, I remember always getting up to watch it. As a kid, I loved the heck out of Sonic, and this cartoon to me was the best story for him. I've played all the games, as well as all the recent ones, but the SatAm Sonic had the best storyline of them all.
The character are so memorable, this this day I still remember them. I am still a collector of the comic books from way back then as well.
The story is pretty dark compared to all other Sonic stories, and Sonic himself is pretty funny. They surely did capture his attitude and feel of how the Sonic character would have been and is. Jaleel White did an awesome job as Sonic's voice and I couldnt think of anyone else that could do better.
If anyone out there remembers this cartoon, and is a huge Sonic the Hedgehog fan this is a definite must have for you.

This was the best sonic the headgehog series of the 4 that were made...The Adventures of sonic was to kidish for me, sonic underground was ok a little weird, Sonic x is more like Anime then anything, but the best one was Sonic the Headgehog. It had action, romance and comedy rolled into one.