Plot: What’s it about?
Sonic the Hedgehog might be the fastest thing alive, but even his speed might not always be enough to thwart the evil plans of Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Sonic has defeated Robotnik countless times in the past, but the doctor keeps coming back with bigger, more evil plans to unleash on Mobius. Dr. Robotnik even has a new crew of dangerous robots at his disposal, such as Scratch, Grounder, and even Coconuts. In addition to these right hand robots, he has a virtual army of lesser robots at his command, not to mention all kinds of cutting edge weapons and vehicles. But Sonic doesn’t just have his speed, he also has the help of his best friend Tails and as a team, they’re tough to beat. So will Dr. Robotnik ever learn his lesson and end his evil ways, or will he somehow be able to leave Sonic in the dust for a change?
In order to avoid potential confusion, in 1993 there were two Sonic the Hedgehog animated shows, this one and one known simply as Sonic the Hedgehog. Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog was shown in syndication in the afternoon, while Sonic the Hedgehog was broadcast Saturday mornings. This show was turned down by network executives, as they disliked the animation and show’s sense of humor. I will admit that the other show is better overall, but if you’re a fan of Sonic, there is a lot to like with this collection of episodes. Yes, the jokes are corny and the animation wasn’t cutting edge stuff, but the characters are watchable and this is still better than a lot of animated shows I’ve seen. Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is light, humorous entertainment and never tries to be more than that. While not as good as the other show, this one is still worthwhile and if you’re a Sonic fan, then this first volume (with 22 episodes) is recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. The show looks good, probably even sharper than I remember from the syndication run. The prints look clean, so detail is good and the visuals aren’t held back. The animation is simplistic, but colors look bold and bright, while black levels are spot on. I doubt anyone will rave over these transfers, but I think this is as good as the show is going to look.
Audio: How does it sound?
The same holds true with the audio, as the soundtracks aren’t going to blow the doors down, but for the material, all the bases are covered. The very cool music sounds like its straight from the Sonic video games, which adds to the fun and here, that music is clear and crisp. The sound effects are also right out of Sonic’s video game world, so all the wacky noises come across without flaw in this release. No dialogue issues either, just clear, audible vocals throughout. So you won’t need your surround sound, but these episodes still sound terrific.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes an interview with artist Milton Knight, which is well worth a look, as well as a quick tutorial on how to draw Sonic yourself.
