# Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)
**Sonic the Hedgehog** is an American animated television series produced by [DIC Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/dic-entertainment) that ran on ABC's Saturday-morning schedule from 1993 to 1994, consisting of 26 episodes in two seasons. It is usually referred to as **SatAM** to distinguish it from the same year's comical syndicated series *Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog*, which shared its star, [Jaleel White](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaleel-white), and its production company but almost nothing else in tone.[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Run | 26 episodes over two seasons on ABC, 1993–1994, premiering two weeks after *Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog*[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/) |
| Development | Developed by Len Janson, Bruce Shelly, and Reed Shelly; set in a post-apocalyptic Mobius where Robotnik is almost in complete control[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/) |
| Budget | $250,000 per episode, with one week to turn around each script[2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development) |
| Season-two writers | Ben Hurst supplied main plots, Pat Allee and Janson polished dialogue; the 13 episodes were outlined as one long film narrative, except for the "Blast to the Past" two-parter[2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development) |
| Cancellation | ABC canceled the series before a planned third season could begin production; the finale "The Doomsday Project" ended on a cliffhanger[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/) • [2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development) |
| Reception | Rotten Tomatoes averages 40% from 5 critic reviews and 93% from 50+ audience ratings[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/sonic_the_hedgehog) |
| Availability | Streaming on Paramount Plus as a Kids & Family show from 1993, rated TV-Y7[4](https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/sonic-the-hedgehog/) |
## Premise and setting
The series is set in a post-apocalyptic Mobius where the villain Dr. Robotnik is almost in complete control, and it centers on the Knothole Freedom Fighters, a resistance group of characters created for the series rather than drawn from the games.[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/) The Paramount Plus catalog synopsis describes Sonic, [Tails](https://www.edgepedia.org/tails-sonic-the-hedgehog), and friends on Planet Mobius thwarting Dr. Robotnik's schemes to take over their world.[4](https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/sonic-the-hedgehog/)
## Production and development
**Two series from one property.** DIC executive Robby London conceived producing two different Sonic series at once. ABC offered DIC an on-air commitment rather than the usual development deal; as London put it, "usually they'll do a development deal... but this property was so hot, they said, 'You know what? Let's do it.'"[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/) DIC had also discussed a concurrent syndicated version with ABC's Mark Pedowitz, but ABC demanded exclusivity and threatened not to air the show on Saturdays if DIC pursued syndication.[2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development)
**Writers and showrunner.** Bruce and Reed Shelly, who developed the series with Len Janson, stepped away from *Sonic the Hedgehog* to create the more comical *Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog*, leaving Janson as showrunner for the network series.[2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development) For season two, Janson brought in writers Ben Hurst and Pat Allee: Hurst supplied the main plots, Allee and Janson polished the dialogue, and the thirteen episodes were outlined as one long film narrative, with the "Blast to the Past" two-parter as the exception.[2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development)
**Network input.** ABC requested the creation of Dulcy the Dragon to appeal to the female demographic, and four 11-minute comedy episodes focusing on Antoine; the shorts truncated the intended season-two structure.[2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development) Each episode carried a budget of $250,000, and the writing team had one week to turn around each script.[2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development) Rotten Tomatoes credits John Grusd and Ron Myrick among the series' directors.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/sonic_the_hedgehog)
## Episodes, broadcast, and cancellation
The series ran until December 1994. A third season was planned, but before production could begin, ABC canceled the series.[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/) The final episode to air, "The Doomsday Project," ended on a cliffhanger, and the team fully expected a third-season pickup; season-three sketches had already been written when the cancellation was announced.[2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development)
Several factors are cited for the cancellation: disinterest from the new head of ABC's Children's Programming, preemption by college football on the west coast, and ratings competition in fall 1994 with [Fox Kids](https://www.edgepedia.org/fox-kids)' *Mighty Morphin Power Rangers*, which was quickly becoming one of the most popular children's entertainment properties.[2](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development) Writer Ben Hurst said the second season was up against the most popular children's show airing at the time, and that episodes were delayed when ABC aired sports instead.[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/)
## How it compares with other Sonic animated series
The two 1993 DIC series were built for different audiences. *Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog* ran for 65 episodes plus one special in weekday syndication, was developed by Kent Butterworth, Phil Harnage, and the Shellys, and took a screwball, gag-driven approach.[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/) SatAM, by contrast, carried a more mature treatment for its Saturday-morning slot. In the second-season finale, Sonic and Princess Sally share a celebratory, passionate kiss, which Polygon notes was not something one would see on *Tom & Jerry Kids*.[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/) Both series starred Jaleel White as Sonic.[1](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/)
## Reception and legacy
Aggregate scores show a wide gap between critics and audiences: Rotten Tomatoes lists an average Tomatometer of 40% from 5 reviews against an average Popcornmeter audience score of 93% from more than 50 ratings.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/sonic_the_hedgehog)
## What has changed since 2023
As of a 2026 retrieval, the complete two-season series streams on Paramount Plus, cataloged as a Kids & Family show from 1993 and rated TV-Y7.[4](https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/sonic-the-hedgehog/)
## References
1. [How 2 wildly different Sonic the Hedgehog cartoons happened in the '90s, Polygon](https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/18/21140375/sonic-90s-cartoons-streaming-satam-jaleel-white-adventures-of-sonic/)
2. [Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)/Development, Sonic Retro](https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(TV_series)/Development)
3. [Sonic the Hedgehog, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/sonic_the_hedgehog)
4. [Sonic the Hedgehog, Paramount Plus](https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/sonic-the-hedgehog/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series › Series based on games, toys, and brands*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license