On 4 June 2003, Japan watched with bated breath as the latest addition to the Sonic cartoon family was launched into the world. Inspired by the latest Sonic games, and featuring all your favourite characters from old favourites like Sonic to newcomers Cream the Rabbit and Cheese the Chao. 52 episodes were quickly translated to English and sent across the seas to be broadcast on ITV and Fox Kids to us here in Britain in 2004. In case you haven’t worked it out yet, the new cartoon is the sensational Sonic X!

Sharp-eyed gamers who wondered why recent games had Sonic mixing with humans on Earth instead of tearing around Mobius will finally find answers in this series! After an accident with Chaos Control on Mobius, Sonic and many of his friends were transported to Earth. Naturally, though, their nemesis Dr. Robotnik was transported with them, leading to thrilling new adventures!

Sonic X features the cartoon debut of many favourite characters from the games. Amy makes her first televised appearance, despite having been around since 1993. Cream the Rabbit and her Chao Cheese also hit the airwaves, fresh from the Sonic Advance series on Game Boy Advance!

The most notable new member to the cast is Sonic’s new human friend, wealthy teenager Chris Thorndyke. He and many of his family help Sonic and friends through all their adventures. Chris tags along with Sonic on most missions, whether as an unexpected saviour or amateur hostage.

As well as new characters, all the old favourites return in fine style: there’s Sonic’s sidekick Tails who is always ready to save the day with his new plane the X Tornado; and, of course, that grumpy echidna, Knuckles joins the party. Knuckles doesn’t want to join in with Sonic’s adventures and his search to get home is a major new storyline. With great strength and determination, he aids the heroes in the course of the series, not to mention once more getting into rivalries and arguments with Sonic!

No Sonic show would be complete without one Doctor Robotnik, as Sonic’s eternal nemesis again makes a mark by trying to now take over Earth! Naturally, only one hedgehog can stop him!

The later episodes feature even more fantastic characters, such as Rouge the Bat, Shadow and the terrifying water beast Chaos; plus, keep a sharp eye out for guest appearances from E-102 Gamma, Big the Cat and the ever popular Chaotix!

Sonic X doesn’t shirk when it comes to providing meaty new plots. Previously, Sonic cartoons had often focused on simply defeating the bad guy (traditionally Robotnik) but continuing storylines such as the quest to collect the emeralds in order to return home will add spice to proceedings! More than any Sonic cartoon before it, Sonic X delivers an exciting continuing story which develops and broadens from episode to episode! Plus, later episode feature more multi-part storylines featuring scenes and characters from your favourite new games!

The graphics on this newer cartoon are in another league from all the other Sonic animations, with computer rendered effects making Sonic’s patented super spin attack and the monstrous Chaos stand out like never before. Add in great music, and you have the makings of an awesome new Sonic cartoon for the twenty-first century!


Did you know?
The Sonic X series was edited considerably when it was translated to English. To suit the British and American audiences, lines were changed – particularly Rouge’s one-liners – and some frames were deleted, like Shadow repeatedly attacking Chris. A couple of sounds also changed, with a new music line-up and various sound effects altered slightly.

If you want to catch and watch Sonic X on TV yourself if you haven’t already you can go to Fox Kids (Channel 609 on Sky) at 3:30 PM and watch until 4:30 PM to see two of the episodes between the beginning with Sonic arriving on Earth to the end of the Sonic Adventure 2 adaption. Fox Kids is currently running repeats of all the episodes, so now is the perfect time to catch up!