When Hulu first started one of the best features for this site was the ability to embed their videos, meaning Saturday Night Showcase could post a lot of stuff. Then they slowly dropped the feature and I was out of luck, since I’d rather use a legal option when possible. This encourages rights holders to put stuff out there, but when that option isn’t available or its in public domain I worry less about it.
Now we have rights holders and distributors using streaming even when the studios and networks try to hold on to the old system because they know how to control it, turning streaming into cable part 3 (part 2 would be satellite). Wildbrain, the current owners of DIC Entertainment’s library, had an official YouTube channel where they post shows and clip. Tonight I thought it would be interesting to highlight the three Sonic The Hedgehog shows, as they have influence on the Archie Sonic and Knuckles comics I review on Wednesdays. At the point I’m reviewing they’re pushing away from that, with “help” from Ken Penders, and that’s going to end poorly. So this is the last chance to do this.
In total DIC produced three Sonic cartoons, two at the same time and all three with the same voice for Sonic, Jaleel White. Robonik and Tails would have different VAs for each show, with Tails absent from the third show. All three shows depict a world taken over by Doctor Robotnik, but with different approaches. With that, let’s get into all three shows and what Archie borrowed from them rather than the video games like more recent Sonic shows.
