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{{Short description|2003 anime television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
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{{Infobox animanga/Header
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Sonic X
| image = Sonic_X_English_Logo.png
| image = Sonic X intro.jpg
| caption =
|caption = The majority of the characters of ''Sonic X''
| ja_kanji = ソニックX
| ja_kanji = ソニックX
| ja_romaji = Sonikku Ekkusu
| ja_romaji = Sonikku Ekkusu
| genre = [[Adventure (genre)|Adventure]], [[science fiction]]<ref name="jpint"/>
| genre = [[Adventure fiction|Adventure]]<br/>[[Science fiction]]<ref name="jpint" /><!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = tv series
| type = tv series
| director = Hajime Kamegaki
| director = Hajime Kamegaki
| producer = Takeshi Sasamura<br />Tadahito Matsumoto
| producer = {{ubl|Takeshi Sasamura (#1–52)|Tadahito Matsumoto}}
| writer = Hiro Masaki
| writer = {{ubl|Hiro Masaki (#1–52)|Kiyoko Yoshimura (#53–78)}}
| music = Yoshihiro Ike
| music = [[Yoshihiro Ike]]
| studio = [[TMS Entertainment]]
| studio = [[TMS Entertainment]]
| licensee = {{English anime licensee
| licensee = {{English anime licensee
| EU = [[Jetix Europe|Fox Kids Europe/Jetix Europe]]<ref name="digitalspy.com">{{Cite web|date=August 28, 2003|title=Fox Kids Europe adds three new shows|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a11624/fox-kids-europe-adds-three-new-shows/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=December 15, 2020|archive-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407181915/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a11624/fox-kids-europe-adds-three-new-shows/|url-status=live}}</ref> (2003–2009)
| NA = [[4Licensing Corporation|4Kids Entertainment]] (2003–2006, 2007–2012)<br>[[Saban Brands]] (2012–2014)<br>[[Discotek Media]] (2015–present)
| NA = {{ubl|[[4Kids Entertainment]] (2003–2012)|[[Saban Brands]] (2012–2014)|[[TMS Entertainment|TMS Entertainment USA, Inc.]]/[[Discotek Media]] (2015–present)}}
}}
}}
| network = [[TV Tokyo]] (2003–2004)<br>[[Kids Station]] (2004–2005)
| network = [[TX Network|TXN]] ([[TV Tokyo]])
| network_en = {{collapsible list|title=List|
| network_en = {{collapsible list|title=List|
{{English anime network
{{English anime network
| AU = [[Network 10|Network Ten]], [[Seven Network]]
| US = [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] {{small|([[4Kids TV|Fox Box]], [[4Kids TV]])}} (2003–2006, 2007-2008)<br>[[The CW]] {{small|([[Toonzai|The CW4Kids]], [[Toonzai]], [[Vortexx]])}} (2009–2014)<br>[[Kabillion]] (2013–present)
| AUS = [[Disney Channel (Australian TV channel)|Disney Channel]]
| AU = [[Network Ten]] (2004–2005)<br>[[Seven Network]] (2006–2007)
| CA = [[YTV (TV channel)|YTV]], [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC/SRC]]
| AUS = [[Disney Channel (Australia and New Zealand)|Disney Channel]]
| HK = [[TVB Jade]]
| CA = [[YTV (TV channel)|YTV]] (2003–2008)<br>[[CBC Television|CBC]] (2003)<br>[[Télévision de Radio-Canada|Radio-Canada]] (2004)
| NZ = [[TVNZ]] (2003–2004)
| NZ = [[TVNZ]]
| PH = [[GMA Network]], [[TV5 (Philippine TV network)|TV5]]
| SG = [[Mediacorp Channel 8]] (2011–present)
| UK = [[CITV]] (2004–2006)<br>[[Fox Kids UK channel#Jetix|Jetix]] (2004–2008)
| SG = [[Central (TV channel)|Central]], [[Channel 5 (Singaporean TV channel)|Channel 5]]
| PO = [[SIC]], [[Biggs (TV channel)|Biggs]], [[SIC K]]
| SA = [[Jetix]] (2004–2007)
| PT = [[SIC]] (2004–2006)<br>[[Biggs (TV channel)|Biggs]] (2016–2017)
| UK = [[CITV]], [[Disney XD (British and Irish TV channel)|Jetix]]
| US = [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] ([[4Kids TV|FoxBox/4Kids TV]])
}}
}}
}}
}}
| first = April 6, 2003
| first = {{Start date|2003|4|6}}
| last = March 28, 2004<br>(Japanese-aired episodes)
| last = {{Start date|2005|4|18}}
| episodes = 78
| episodes = 78
| episode_list = List of Sonic X episodes
| episode_list = List of Sonic X episodes
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| genre = [[Educational entertainment|Edutainment]]
| genre = [[Educational entertainment|Edutainment]]
| platforms = [[Leapster]]
| platforms = [[Leapster]]
| released = May 5, 2005
| released = 2007
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|'''''Sonic X'''''|ソニックX|Sonikku Ekkusu|lead=yes}} is a Japanese [[anime]] television series created by [[TMS Entertainment]] and based on the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' video game series published by [[Sega]]. ''Sonic X'' initially ran for fifty-two episodes, broadcast on [[TV Tokyo]] from April 6, 2003 to March 28, 2004. A further 26 aired in regions such as the [[United States]], [[Europe]], and the [[Middle East]] from 2005 to 2006. The show's American [[language localization|localization]] and broadcasting were handled by [[4Licensing Corporation|4Kids Entertainment]] which [[editing of anime in American distribution|edited it]] and created new music until 2012, when [[Saban Brands]] obtained the rights to the series, and in 2015 by [[Discotek Media]].
{{nihongo|'''''Sonic X'''''|ソニックX|Sonikku Ekkusu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} <onlyinclude>is a Japanese [[anime]] television series based on [[Sega]]'s ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' video game series. Produced by [[TMS Entertainment]] under partnership with Sega and [[Sonic Team]], and directed by Hajime Kamegaki, ''Sonic X'' initially ran for 52 episodes, broadcasting on [[TV Tokyo]] from April 2003 to March 2004. A further 26 episodes aired in North America, Europe, and the Middle East from 2005 to 2006. The American localization and broadcasting were handled by [[4Kids Entertainment]], which [[editing of anime in American distribution|edited it]] and created new music.


The series follows a group of [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] animals who accidentally teleport from their home planet to [[Earth]] after attempting to save one of their friends from their enemy [[Doctor Eggman]]. Separated, [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]] is saved from a [[human]] boy named Chris Thorndyke who helps him find his friends while repeatedly scuffling with Doctor Eggman and his robots over control of the powerful [[Chaos Emeralds]], and becoming [[celebrities]]. The final story arc sees the friends return with Chris to their world, where they enter outer space with a newfound plant-like creature named Cosmo and fight an army of creatures called the Metarex.
The series follows a group of [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] animals that accidentally teleport from their home planet to Earth after attempting to save one of their friends from their enemy [[Doctor Eggman]]. Separated, [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]] is saved by a human boy named Chris Thorndyke, who helps him find his friends while repeatedly scuffling with Doctor Eggman and his robots over control of the powerful [[Chaos Emeralds]], and becoming celebrities. The final story arc sees Sonic and his friends return with Chris to their world, where they enter outer space with a newfound plant-like creature named Cosmo and fight an army of aliens called the Metarex.</onlyinclude>


''Sonic X'' received mixed reviews. Generally, writers criticized its American localization and some characters, but praised its story and aesthetics. The series was popular in the United States, though less so in its native Japan. The show's merchandise included an [[edutainment]] video game for the [[Leapster]], a [[trading card game]], a [[comic book]] series featuring an original storyline, and various toys and other items. The phrase "gotta go fast", the title of the show's North American theme song, survived as a ''Sonic'' catchphrase for over a decade after the show's initial release.
''Sonic X'' received mixed reviews. Generally, reviewers criticized its American localization and the human characters, but praised its story and animation. The series was popular in the United States and France, though less so in its native Japan. The show's merchandise included an [[edutainment]] video game for the [[Leapster]], a [[trading card game]], a comic book series featuring an original storyline, and various toys and other items.


== Plot ==
This is also the first Sonic TV series not to be produced by [[DiC Entertainment]], as well as being the first not to star [[Jaleel White]] as Sonic.
{{see also|List of Sonic X episodes|Sonic Adventure|Sonic Adventure 2|Sonic Battle|l1=List of ''Sonic X'' episodes|l2=''Sonic Adventure''|l3=''Sonic Adventure 2''|l4=''Sonic Battle''}}


==Plot==
=== Season 1 ===
Following a battle between [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]] and [[Doctor Eggman]], a freak accident involving the seven [[Chaos Emeralds]] causes them to create "Chaos Control"—a powerful space-time force that transports both of them, along with [[Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog)|Miles "Tails" Prower]], [[Amy Rose]], [[Cream the Rabbit]] and her pet [[Chao (Sonic)|Chao]] [[Cheese the Chao|Cheese]], [[Knuckles the Echidna]], and [[Rouge the Bat]], to be transported into a parallel universe containing Earth. Sonic and his friends find themselves landing in the city of Station Square, where they befriend twelve-year-old Christopher "Chris" Thorndyke—a lonely young boy, who parents, movie-star mother Lindsey, and corporate executive father Nelson, tend to be absent with work, leaving him to be looked after by his grandfather Chuck, maid and chef Ella, and butler Mr. Tanaka.
{{see also|List of Sonic X episodes|Sonic Adventure|Sonic Adventure 2|Sonic Battle}}


Seeking to find the Chaos Emeralds in order to go home, the group battle against Eggman as he re-establishes himself on the planet in order to conquer it—aided by his bumbling robotic assistants Becoe and Decoe, and his robotic courier Bokkun—with Rouge joining forces with the local government as a spy in order to help them defend against his attacks. In the course of battling Eggman, Sonic and the others befriend Chris' friends Danny, Frances and Helen, while slowly becoming celebrities thanks to their exploits, eventually being accepted amongst the human population, despite reservations of what might happen when the seven Chaos Emeralds are found.
===Series 1 (Seasons 1 and 2)===


====Season 1====
=== Season 2 ===
Six months after the Chaos Emeralds are found and used by Sonic in his Super Sonic form, Chaos Control causes parts of their world to appear on Earth, including Angel Island and the Master Emerald, along with the arrival of [[Big the Cat]] and his pet Froggy. Whilst the group adapt to this and carry on with their lives, the government works to establish better defences in anticipation of another attack by Eggman, including the creation of a robotic army to counter the evil scientist's own creations. Much of the first half of this season is focused on adaptations of both ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' and ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''. After Station Square is rebuilt following the attack by [[Chaos (Sonic)|Chaos]], and Sonic and [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]] prevent Space Colony ARK from crashing into Earth, another Chaos Control event brings several inhabitants of Sonic's world to the planet, including the [[Chaotix|Chaotix Detective Agency]]—[[Vector the Crocodile]], [[Espio the Chameleon]], and [[Charmy Bee]]—and Vanilla, Cream's mother.
[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic]], [[Tails (character)|Tails]] and [[Amy Rose]] are trying to rescue [[Cream the Rabbit]] and her pet [[Chao (Sonic)|Chao]] Cheese from [[Doctor Eggman]], who has already retrieved the seven [[Chaos Emeralds]]. While attempting to destroy his base, one of Eggman's robots inadvertently shoots a machine containing the Emeralds, which activates the "Chaos Control" technique. This teleports Sonic, Eggman (and his robots), Tails, Amy, Cream, and Cheese, as well as [[Big the Cat]] (with his frog Froggy), [[Rouge the Bat]], [[Knuckles the Echidna]], and the [[Chaotix]] (a [[detective]] crew comprising [[Espio the Chameleon]], [[Vector the Crocodile]], and [[Charmy Bee]]) to [[Earth]], the [[parallel universe (fiction)|parallel-universe]] version of their world with [[humans]]. Sonic is chased by police, escapes into a mansion's swimming pool, and is rescued by a twelve-year-old boy named Chris Thorndyke, who lives there with his movie-star mother Lindsey, corporate executive father Nelson, scientist grandfather Chuck, maid and chef Ella, and butler Tanaka. Chris tries to hide the anthropomorphic friends from his family until Cream accidentally reveals them, but they all build up a good rapport with Chris' family and with Chris' friends Danny, Francis, and Helen.


Eggman launches further schemes following the ARK incident, even when briefly captured by the government, whilst Sonic and his friends provide shelter for a robot named Emerl, who later goes on the rampage after coming into possession of a Chaos Emerald and forcing Cream to stop it (the story arc being a loose adaption of ''[[Sonic Battle]]''). Eventually, after Eggman is thwarted from another world conquering scheme, the government learns that Earth and Sonic's world are slowly merging together, threatening to end time for them. As a result, Sonic, Eggman, and the others are forced to return home to prevent this, with Chris having to bravely allow his new friends to go, but with hope of seeing them again.
Sonic and his friends still want to return home, so they repeatedly scuffle for the Emeralds with Doctor Eggman, his robot assistants—the hyperactive, attention-seeking Bokkun and the bumbling Bocoe and Decoe—and his larger, armed robots. Eggman plans to take over the world, catching the attention of the unnamed nation's President, so Knuckles, Rouge, and federal agent Topaz work to stop him. The other anthropomorphic residents soon join the crusade and, when Eggman is defeated, they are all hailed as heroes.


====Season 2====
=== Season 3 ===
Six months after returning home, Sonic and his friends find themselves battling a new threat in the form of the Metarex—a race of villainous robots who seek to conquer the galaxy—aided by Cosmo, an antromorphic plant girl, who seeks to stop them. At the same time on Earth, where [[time dilation|six years have passed]], Chris finishes completing a portal device to take him to Sonic, arriving in his world to assist with his new found knowledge, despite the differences in time between the two worlds causing his body to revert back to that of his 12 year-old self. Departing their world, the group explore the galaxy for the Chaos Emeralds, after Sonic had to disperse them to avoid them being used by the Metarex. Alongside the group, Eggman also pursues after the Emeralds, accompanied by Rouge, and aided by Shadow, whom he had recovered following his supposed demise.
However, the unfazed Eggman awakens a creature named [[Chaos (Sonic)|Chaos]] from a huge gem called the Master Emerald. The animals fight a losing battle to retrieve the Emeralds until Chaos absorbs all seven and becomes giant, but an echidna girl named [[Tikal the Echidna|Tikal]], who entombed herself and Chaos in the Master Emerald millennia ago, emerges to help placate him. After Sonic uses the Chaos Emeralds to become [[Sonic the Hedgehog (series)#Super transformation|Super Sonic]], he defeats Chaos, who returns to the Master Emerald with Tikal.


Much of the journey sees Tails and Cosmo bonding, while Eggman secretly sides with the Metarex in order to uncover their plans, with the Chaotix Detective Agency also journeying into space and providing assistance where they can. The series reaches its conclusion with the group learning of the Metarex's origins, and both groups battling them to prevent them taking full control of the galaxy, culminating in Cosmo and Shadow sacrificing themselves to achieve this.
Shortly afterwards, Eggman finds his grandfather [[Gerald Robotnik]]'s diary and Gerald's old project [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]] in a military base. After being released by Eggman, Shadow breaks into a museum to steal an Emerald, which gets Sonic arrested. Amy rescues him, but Shadow, Eggman, and the duplicitous Rouge escape to the space colony ARK, where Eggman threatens to use a weapon called the Eclipse Cannon to destroy Earth if Earth does not submit to his rule; he blows up half of the [[Moon]] to prove his power. Eggman collects the Emeralds to power the Cannon, but this triggers a program Gerald set up decades ago, which will cause space colony ARK to hurtle into Earth, destroying the planets in less than half an hour. Gerald did this in order to exact revenge on humanity, who he blamed for the death of his Granddaughter Maria after she was killed in a government raid on space colony ARK. Everyone teams up and works together to shut it down except Shadow, who is unsympathetic and believes he has fulfilled his purpose of revenge. Chris confronts Shadow, reminding him of Maria last wish for Shadow to be a protector of humanity; to guide and aid them. Moved to tears and with a new sense of purpose, Shadow teams up with Sonic and both power up using the Emeralds and teleport the ARK away from Earth, though Shadow is seeming killed in the process. Sonic, his friends, and Eggman reflect on Shadow's sacrifice and return to Earth.


== History ==
Eggman rebuilds the Moon, seemingly out of remorse, but its position shifts, creating a [[solar eclipse]], so he manufactures and sells "Sunshine Balls" to replicate sunlight. Sonic sees through his greedy motivations, and Eggman is arrested for fraud. Bokkun activates a robot named [[Sonic Battle|Emerl]], who quickly allies with the anthropomorphic people, and Eggman escapes prison. Emerl wins an Emerald in a martial arts tournament involving numerous hero and villain characters, but he goes berserk and begins to wreck the city, forcing Cream and Cheese to destroy him.
=== Creation and development ===
[[File:Sonic X scene.png|thumb|left|This scene shows (clockwise from top left) Sonic, Tails, and two original major characters—Cosmo and Chris—in the typical outer-space setting of the third season.]]
The show was created by [[TMS Entertainment]], the animation subsidiary of [[Sega Sammy Holdings]].<ref name="them" /> It was primarily influenced by other anime rather than work from the West, and was created for a Japanese audience.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Corriea|first=Alexa Ray|date=February 6, 2014|title=Why Sega handed Sonic over to Western studios and gave him a scarf|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/2/6/5387184/why-sega-handed-sonic-over-to-western-studios-and-gave-him-a-scarf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705002244/http://www.polygon.com/2014/2/6/5387184/why-sega-handed-sonic-over-to-western-studios-and-gave-him-a-scarf|archive-date=July 5, 2014|access-date=July 7, 2014|publisher=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> [[Yuji Naka]], then the head of [[Sonic Team]], filled in as executive producer, and Satoshi Hirayama designed all of the original characters, basing the designs on [[Yuji Uekawa]]'s original concept. Most of the series consists of original content featuring new as well as established characters, but the second season is mostly based on the plots of ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'', and ''[[Sonic Battle]]''. While traditionally animated, it includes non-outlined [[CGI animation|CGI]] elements for things such as Sonic's homing attack.<ref name="them" />


Two trailers for the series were produced. The first was developed before Cheese had been given a name in ''[[Sonic Advance 2]]'' (2002); it referred to Cheese simply as "Chao". It was made up largely of footage that would later appear in the series' intro, but also of unused scenes featuring unique anthropomorphic people.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7AqlIp5evA|title=Sonic|type=YouTube|year=2002|access-date=July 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117063855/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7AqlIp5evA|archive-date=November 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Sega showed off the second, which was narrated in Japanese, at its booth at the World Hobby Fair video gaming event on February 19, 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 19, 2003|title=Event Report: World Hobby Fair 2003|url=http://www.the-nextlevel.com/features/world_hobby_fair_2003/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724190055/http://www.the-nextlevel.com/features/world_hobby_fair_2003/|archive-date=July 24, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2014|publisher=The Next Level}}</ref> It consisted mostly of scenes from the first few episodes, followed by introductions to the main characters. However, it also showed a still frame of a silver anthropomorphic hedgehog who never appeared in the series.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpfje29rqqU|title=ソニックX|type=YouTube|language=ja|year=2003|access-date=July 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117064031/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpfje29rqqU|archive-date=November 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Fans nicknamed the character "Nazo", based on the Japanese word for {{Nihongo|"mystery"|謎|nazo}}. Years later, on April 20, 2015, Sonic Team producer Takashi Iizuka clarified the character was simply Super Sonic in its early contour.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 20, 2015|title=Sonic X: Mistério do NAZO finalmente revelado?|url=http://sega.epicplay.com.br/planetasonic/2015/04/sonic-x-misterio-do-nazo-finalmente-revelado/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527020931/http://sega.epicplay.com.br/planetasonic/2015/04/sonic-x-misterio-do-nazo-finalmente-revelado/|archive-date=May 27, 2015|access-date=September 18, 2015}}</ref>
Later, two government physicists show up at Chris' mansion to announce that Sonic's' world and Earth were once a single world split in two by a cataclysmic event, but are rejoining, which will stop time irreversibly, and the only way to stop it is to send the anthropomorphic people back home. Tails and Chuck begin to build a gate to teleport Sonic and company back to their own world with Chaos Control, but Chris does not want them to leave. When it is finished and all their friends but Sonic have left, Chris suddenly shuts the machine down and whisks Sonic into the woods to hide out of fear his parents will return to never being home once Sonic is gone. Sonic is understanding, yet teaches Chris that as a fellow person neither can force the other to feel a certain way and that their friendship is free will. Chris tearfully acknowledges that he bound Sonic's freedom today and stopped his friend from going back home and remorsefully asks for forgiveness while Sonic tells him he'll be able to be strong even without him being there. Chris' parents find him and promise to spend more time with him. Chris having learned his lesson and grown as a person goes for one final run with Sonic before they mutually part ways and Sonic returns to his own planet, stopping the merging of the worlds. However, Chris vows that one day, he will see Sonic again.


Several of the Japanese performers had voiced their characters in the games, but they were also given ample information about their characters' roles in the anime. Chris' voice actress [[Sanae Kobayashi]] was not sure she would be able to effectively communicate Chris' growth as a person owing to Sonic's presence, but found that a worthwhile goal. [[Chikao Ōtsuka]], who voiced Eggman, found him a difficult character to play due to the tension in his voice and the desire to have children who watched the show recognize the character as a villain but not hate him.<ref name="jpint">{{Cite web|date=June 21, 2003|script-title=ja:世界最速の青いハリネズミ、ビデオリリース決定! この秋には世界デビューだ!|url=https://www.lycos.co.jp/anime/story.html?q=21nttpubn10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030818220841/http://www.lycos.co.jp/anime/story.html?q=21nttpubn10|archive-date=August 18, 2003|access-date=July 16, 2014|publisher=Lycos|language=ja}}</ref>
===Series 2 (Season 3)===
Six months later, a race of villainous robots known as the Metarex attempt to steal the Emeralds from Sonic, but he scatters them across the galaxy. Meanwhile, on Earth, where [[time dilation|six years have passed]] and Chris is now eighteen, Chris builds another device to return to his friends' world; he is twelve again when he arrives. A sick plant-like girl named Cosmo lands on their planet and they nurse her back to health, so she joins them, and they all board Tails' new spaceship, the Blue Typhoon. On the Typhoon, they scour the galaxy for the Emeralds and "Planet Eggs" (objects that allow life to flourish on planets, which the Metarex have stolen to depopulate the galaxy) and fight the Metarex at every turn. Along the way, Tails and Cosmo slowly fall in love with each other. Rouge finds Shadow alive in a capsule on Eggman's ship and he is later released (though he has lost his memory.) At first, he and Rouge assist Eggman (even saving Chris on one occasion) but after Shadow witnesses the death of resistance fighter who reminded him of Maria, both he and Rouge go off on their own to fight the Metered independently. Eggman eventually joins the Metarex though this is a ruse to gather more information. After discovering the origins, methods, and goals of the Metarex, Shadow reappears and tries to kill Cosmo, much to Tails' anger. The Metarex's leader, Dark Oak, appears and reveals that the Metarex and Cosmo are of the same species and that they secretly implanted a tracking device in her brain while extinguishing the rest of their kind; she has been an [[undercover agent|unwitting spy ever since]]. It was for this reason Shadow wanted Cosmo dead. Chris, Knuckles, and Tails notice that removing the device will likely [[deafblindness|destroy her sight and hearing]] forever. Knuckles pushes for it to be removed anyway (In the Japanese version he stresses to find a way to remove it without damaging her), but Tails can't make any decisions at the present time so the surgery is called off and the battle against the Metarex continues.


Iizuka believed that ''Sonic X'' and its merchandise, along with the game ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'', had helped expose the ''Sonic'' franchise to a new generation of potential gamers in 2003, and he dubbed it a "Sonic Year" as a result.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004|title=Afterthoughts: Sonic Heroes|url=http://www.1up.com/features/afterthoughts-sonic-heroes|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604094138/http://www.1up.com/features/afterthoughts-sonic-heroes|archive-date=June 4, 2011|access-date=September 15, 2014|publisher=[[1UP.com]]}}</ref> More boldly, Naka hoped that ''Sonic X'' alone would cause the popularity of the ''Sonic'' series to skyrocket, as that of the ''[[Pokémon (video game series)|Pokémon]]'' series did after its [[Pokémon (anime)|anime adaptation]] was first released.<ref name="pokemon">{{Cite web|last=Niizumi|first=Hirohiko|date=March 18, 2003|title=Sega to begin major Sonic promotion|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-to-begin-major-sonic-promotion/1100-6023404/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207134517/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-to-begin-major-sonic-promotion/1100-6023404/|archive-date=December 7, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2014|publisher=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref>
The heroes, along with the Chaotix and Shadow, head to the center of the universe, where the Metarex are ominously controlling a planet that is made of water and contains a Planet Egg. After Sonic almost drowns in it, the planet begins turning into a giant seed; the Metarex reveal that, because they have lost the battle, they will destroy the galaxy with this planet. The Metarex then proceed to fuse together, forming a dragon-like plant monster that attaches itself to the giant seed. Sonic and Shadow use the chaos emerald to become Super Sonic and Super Shadow but are still unable to defeat the fused Metarex. Cosmo sees a [[vision (spirituality)|vision]] from her mother Earthia, telling her that she must sacrifice herself to save the rest. She fuses with the giant seed and instructs Tails to use the Blue Typhoon's cannon to fire Super Sonic and Super Shadow at her and the seed. Tails hesitates, torn between saving the galaxy and killing Cosmo, but eventually finds the inner strength and annihilates the Metarex along with Cosmo, whose seed disperse throughout the galaxy along with the Planet Eggs stolen by the Metarex which return to their original planets. Dark Oak has a moment of repentance before dying while having a vision of being greeted by Earthia as he passes away. Shadow then apparently sacrifices himself to contain the ensuing explosion. After the battle, Sonic reappears and solemnly informs a heartbroken Tails that he could not save Cosmo and hands him one of her seeds. Back on Sonic's planet Eggman builds a device for Chris to return home, later claiming that this was done to reduce the strength of Team Sonic. The series ends with Chris returning home and business as usual for Sonic and his friends as they joyfully gear up to once again put a stop to Eggman's schemes. The final shots show Shadow's shadow on an alien planet (implying he survived) and Cosmo's seed sprouting in Tails' workshop.
{{clear}}


=== Broadcast and localization ===
==History==
==== North America ====
[[4Licensing Corporation|4Kids Entertainment]] handled the show's American localization. The episodes were [[Editing of anime in distribution|heavily edited for content and length]]; 4Kids has been described by [[Destructoid]] as being "infamous" among anime fans for this type of overzealous editing. 4Kids removed alcohol consumption, coarse language, instances of breaking the [[fourth wall]], and numerous sexual scenes.<ref name="negativity" /> Unlike some other series that 4Kids translated around the early to mid 2000s, such as ''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]'', ''Sonic X'' suffered no full episodes being cut. Producer Michael Haigney personally disliked realistic violence in children's programs, but had not intended to make massive changes himself. Instead, he was bound by [[Fox Broadcasting Company]]'s strict guidelines, which forbid content such as smoking and strong violence. In 2006, near the end of the show's American production, Haigney stated in an interview that he had never played a ''Sonic'' game, read the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)|comics]], or watched any of the previous ''Sonic'' animated series.<ref name="producer">{{Cite web|last=Rasmussen|first=David|date=February 12, 2006|title=mr. michael haigney interview (4kids)|url=https://animeboredom.co.uk/anime-articles/80|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217075303/http://www.animeboredom.co.uk/anime-articles/80|archive-date=February 17, 2007|access-date=April 30, 2014|publisher=Anime Boredom}}</ref>


4Kids found new voice actors rather than using those from the games.<ref name="tssz">{{Cite web|last=Paulson|first=Andrew|date=September 13, 2004|title=Mike Pollock Interview|url=http://www.tssznews.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1095125883&archive=1096605103&start_from=&ucat=5&|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312193422/http://www.tssznews.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1095125883&archive=1096605103&start_from=&ucat=5&|archive-date=March 12, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|publisher=TSSZNews}}</ref> 4Kids president [[Norman J. Grossfeld]] invited [[Jason Griffith]] and [[Mike Pollock (voice actor)|Mike Pollock]] to audition for Sonic and Eggman, having known them from their work on ''[[Kinnikuman#Ultimate Muscle|Ultimate Muscle]]'' and ''Kirby: Right Back at Ya!'' and chose him for his yelling and pitch-wavering talents;<ref name="soah">{{Cite web|title=An Interview with Mike Pollock|url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/sonic/learn/interviews/2003-11-11-mike_pollock.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025061444/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/sonic/learn/interviews/2003-11-11-mike_pollock.shtml|archive-date=October 25, 2004|access-date=July 6, 2014|publisher=Shadow of a Hedgehog (linked from Pollock's website)}}</ref> Pollock and Griffith also voiced Ella and Shadow.<ref name="tssz" /> 4Kids allowed Pollock to make minor alterations to the dialogue when lines "[didn't] work for some reason."<ref name="soah" /> He recalled being given only short samples of Eggman's voice from the games—he was not told specifically which game—and brief descriptions of his characters' roles.<ref name="tssz" /><ref name="soah" /> The rest of the cast assumed their characters' voice roles after their auditions. Beginning with ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', the cast of ''Sonic X'' would assume their respective voice roles in all Sonic games released between 2005 and 2010, at which point all the roles were recast with the exception of Mike Pollock as Eggman.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Joscelyne|first=Svend|date=September 12, 2005|title=Sonic Voiceover Cast Replaced|url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/2005/09/sonic-voiceover-cast-replaced/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121064154/http://www.sonicstadium.org/2005/09/sonic-voiceover-cast-replaced/|archive-date=November 21, 2015|access-date=November 17, 2014|publisher=The Sonic Stadium}}</ref>
===Creation and development===
The show was created by [[TMS Entertainment]] (also subsidiary of SEGA Holdings Co., Ltd.).<ref name="them"/> It was the first [[anime]] series based on the ''Sonic'' universe. It was primarily influenced by other anime rather than work from the West, and was created for a Japanese audience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/2/6/5387184/why-sega-handed-sonic-over-to-western-studios-and-gave-him-a-scarf |publisher=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |title=Why Sega handed Sonic over to Western studios and gave him a scarf |date=February 6, 2014 |last=Corriea |first=Alexa Ray |accessdate=July 7, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFDx3LWB?url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/2/6/5387184/why-sega-handed-sonic-over-to-western-studios-and-gave-him-a-scarf |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> [[Yuji Naka]], then the head of [[Sonic Team]], filled in as executive producer, and [[Yuji Uekawa]] created all of the original characters.
Most of the series consists of original content featuring new as well as established characters, but the second season is mostly based on the plots of ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' and ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''. While traditionally animated, it includes non-outlined [[CGI animation|CGI]] elements for things such as Sonic's homing attack.<ref name="them"/>


''Sonic X'' aired in Japan on [[TV Tokyo]]'s 8:30&nbsp;a.m. time slot from April 6, 2003<ref name="famguy1" /> to March 28, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|script-title=ja:これまでの話|url=https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/sonic_x/story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055035/http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/sonic_x/story.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2014|publisher=[[TV Tokyo]]|language=ja}}</ref> It consisted of three seasons, each of them 26 half-hour episodes long. The first two seasons were also syndicated by delay to a handful of stations outside of the reach of the [[TX Network]]: four JAITS member stations ([[Wakayama Telecasting Corporation|Television Wakayama]], [[Biwako Broadcasting]], [[Nara Television]] and [[Gifu Broadcasting System|Gifu Broadcasting]]) and one station each of the four larger networks ([[Aomori Asahi Broadcasting]] (ANN), [[Nagasaki International Television]]), [[Shizuoka Broadcasting System|SBS]] (JNN) and [[Sendai Television|Sendai Broadcasting]] (FNN)).<ref>{{Cite web|script-title=ja:『 ソニック X 』|url=http://backup.segakore.fr/sonicteam/sonicx/schedule.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204210729/http://backup.segakore.fr/sonicteam/sonicx/schedule.html|archive-date=December 4, 2019|access-date=June 15, 2023|publisher=[[Sonic Team]]|language=ja}}</ref> In Japan, the third season was never aired on TV until 2020 or released on DVD, but was available through rental streaming services. 4Kids licensed the series in North America from the beginning,<ref name="them" /> [[Viz Media|ShoPro Entertainment]] was also made a license holder in November 2003.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=December 2003|title=ShoPro named North American licensing agent for Sonic X|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111847876.html|url-status=dead|journal=[[Home Accents Today]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224028/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111847876.html|archive-date=July 14, 2014|via=[[HighBeam Research|HighBeam]]}}</ref> It aired in North America on the [[4Kids TV|FoxBox]] block of Fox channels.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 16, 2003|title=ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ、FOX BOXへ疾走|url=https://www.sega.co.jp/release/nr030516_1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220135912/http://www.sega.co.jp/release/nr030516_1.html|archive-date=February 20, 2006|access-date=July 7, 2014|publisher=[[Sega]]|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 14, 2003|title=Sonic The Hedgehog Speeds, Spins And Zips Into The Fox Box 4Kids Entertainment's Fox Box Adds All-New Sonic X Animated Series To Saturday Morning Line Up Beginning Fall 2003|url=http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2003-0515b.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614230203/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2003-0515b.pdf|archive-date=June 14, 2006|access-date=September 14, 2016|publisher=4kidsentertainment.com}}</ref>
Two trailers for the series were produced. The first was developed before Cheese had been given a name in ''[[Sonic Advance 2]]'' (2002); it referred to Cheese simply as "Chao". It was made up largely of footage that would later appear in the series' intro, but also of unused scenes featuring unique anthropomorphic people.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7AqlIp5evA |medium=YouTube |year=2002 |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |title=Sonic |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SGu321Po?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7AqlIp5evA |archivedate=September 1, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> Sega showed off the second, which was narrated in Japanese, at its booth at the World Hobby Fair video gaming event in February 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-nextlevel.com/features/world_hobby_fair_2003/ |publisher=The Next Level |date=February 19, 2003 |title=Event Report: World Hobby Fair 2003 |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFE4Z5xz?url=http://www.the-nextlevel.com/features/world_hobby_fair_2003/ |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> It consisted mostly of scenes from the first few episodes, followed by introductions to the main characters. However, it also showed a still frame of a silver anthropomorphic hedgehog (not identified as [[Silver the Hedgehog]]) who never appeared in the series;<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpfje29rqqU |medium=YouTube |year=2003 |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |title=ソニックX |language=Japanese |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SGu5hUHI?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpfje29rqqU |archivedate=September 1, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> years later in April 2015, [[Sonic Team]]'s current producer [[Takashi Iizuka]] responded to fan question via Facebook, revealing it being simply Super Sonic in its early contour.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sega.epicplay.com.br/planetasonic/2015/04/sonic-x-misterio-do-nazo-finalmente-revelado/ |title=Sonic X: Mistério do NAZO finalmente revelado? |date=20 April 2015 |accessdate=18 September 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527020931/http://sega.epicplay.com.br/planetasonic/2015/04/sonic-x-misterio-do-nazo-finalmente-revelado/ |archivedate=27 May 2015 |df= }}</ref>


On June 16, 2012, the bankrupt 4Kids sold its ''Sonic X'' license to [[Saban Brands]]'s Kidsco Media Ventures.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 16, 2012|title=Konami to Get 4Kids' Yu-Gi-Oh! Assets Under Proposed Deal|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-16/konami-to-get-4kids-yu-gi-oh-assets-under-proposed-deal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711150037/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-16/konami-to-get-4kids-yu-gi-oh-assets-under-proposed-deal|archive-date=July 11, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2014|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref> On April 29, 2013, [[Saban Capital Group|Saban Brands's]] [[Vortexx]] would partner with [[Kabillion]] to add shows like ''Sonic X'' to the lineup.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vortexx on-demand channel launches on Kabillion|url=https://kidscreen.com/2013/04/29/vortexx-on-demand-channel-launches-on-kabillion/|access-date=January 3, 2023|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223105620/https://kidscreen.com/2013/04/29/vortexx-on-demand-channel-launches-on-kabillion/|url-status=live}}</ref> TMS Entertainment has since taken US rights, and in 2015, [[Discotek Media]] licensed the series alongside several other TMS properties for home media releases.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 7, 2015|title=Discotek Media Licenses Lupin III Vs. Detective Conan, Library Wars, Sonic X, Giant Gorg Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-07/discotek-media-licenses-lupin-iii-vs-detective-conan-library-wars-sonic-x-giant-gorg-anime/.86871|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909211718/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-07/discotek-media-licenses-lupin-iii-vs-detective-conan-library-wars-sonic-x-giant-gorg-anime/.86871|archive-date=September 9, 2020|access-date=June 4, 2015|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref> In 2021, FilmRise was given the AVOD rights to 38 TMS Entertainment titles including ''Sonic X'' for US and Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 12, 2021|title=FilmRise acquires anime titles from TMS Entertainment|url=https://advanced-television.com/2021/10/12/filmrise-acquires-anime-titles-from-tms-entertainment/|website=advanced-television.com|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421161359/https://advanced-television.com/2021/10/12/filmrise-acquires-anime-titles-from-tms-entertainment/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Several of the Japanese performers had voiced their characters in the games, but they were also given ample information about their characters' roles in the anime. Chris' voice actress [[Sanae Kobayashi]] was not sure she would be able to effectively communicate Chris' growth as a person owing to Sonic's presence, but found that a worthwhile goal. [[Chikao Ōtsuka]], who voiced Eggman, found him a difficult character to play due to the tension in his voice and Ōtsuka's desire to have children who watched the show recognize the character as a villain but not hate him.<ref name="jpint">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030818220841/http://www.lycos.co.jp/anime/story.html?q=21nttpubn10|publisher=Lycos|script-title=ja:世界最速の青いハリネズミ、ビデオリリース決定! この秋には世界デビューだ!|language=Japanese|url=http://www.lycos.co.jp/anime/story.html?q=21nttpubn10|date=June 21, 2003|archivedate=August 18, 2003|accessdate=July 16, 2014}}</ref>


==== Internationally ====
Sonic Team head [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] believed that ''Sonic X'' and its merchandise, along with the game ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'', had helped expose the ''Sonic'' franchise to a new generation of potential gamers in 2003, and he dubbed it a "Sonic Year" as a result.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/afterthoughts-sonic-heroes |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |title=Afterthoughts: Sonic Heroes |date=2004 |accessdate=September 15, 2014 |archivedate=September 15, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6ScIDWzo4?url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110629020652/http://www.1up.com/features/afterthoughts-sonic-heroes |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> More boldly, Naka hoped that ''Sonic X'' alone would cause the popularity of the ''Sonic'' series to skyrocket, as that of the ''[[Pokémon (video game series)|Pokémon]]'' series did after its [[Pokémon (anime)|anime adaptation]] was first released.<ref name="pokemon">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-to-begin-major-sonic-promotion/1100-6023404/ |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=March 18, 2003 |title=Sega to begin major Sonic promotion |last=Niizumi |first=Hirohiko |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFE9BL1Y?url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-to-begin-major-sonic-promotion/1100-6023404/ |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>
Outside North America and Asia, [[Jetix Europe]] (previously Fox Kids Europe) held the rights to the series, which the company acquired in August 2003.<ref name="digitalspy.com"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=December 12, 2005|title=Jetix Europe Appoints Anil Mistry as Creative Director|url=https://www.afm.nl/registers/kgi_documents/200512120000000013_Jetix%20Europe%20Appoints%20Creative%20Director.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727003020/http://www.afm.nl/registers/kgi_documents/200512120000000013_Jetix%20Europe%20Appoints%20Creative%20Director.pdf|archive-date=July 27, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2014|publisher=Jetix Europe}}</ref> [[Buena Vista International Television]] handled distribution services<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c21media.net/news/busy-market-for-buena-vista/|title=Busy market for Buena Vista|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421161359/https://www.c21media.net/news/busy-market-for-buena-vista/|url-status=live}}</ref> while Jetix Europe handled all other television rights. The company's Jetix Consumer Products (JCP) subsidiary held consumer product and home media rights to the series in Pan-European, MENA, and Latin American territories.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ball|first=Ryan|title=Fox Kids Europe Inks Super Sonic Deal|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2004/06/fox-kids-europe-inks-super-sonic-deal|access-date=November 8, 2023|date=June 7, 2004|archive-date=November 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108210149/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2004/06/fox-kids-europe-inks-super-sonic-deal|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Baisley|first=Sarah|url=https://www.awn.com/news/jcp-names-sonic-x-pan-european-master-toy-licensee|title=JCP Names Sonic X Pan-European Master Toy Licensee|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-date=April 10, 2022|date=October 27, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410151823/https://www.awn.com/news/jcp-names-sonic-x-pan-european-master-toy-licensee|url-status=live}}</ref>


For the 60th anniversary of TMS Entertainment, the company streamed a select number of episodes on its [[YouTube]] channel, available with the original Japanese audio with English subtitles, from August 5–9 and 12–16, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=TMS Entertainment Streams N. American Premiere of Big X, More Anime on YouTube for 60th Anniversary|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-08-02/tms-entertainment-streams-n-american-premiere-of-big-x-more-anime-on-youtube-for-60th-anniversary/.213900|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 17, 2024|date=August 2, 2024|archive-date=September 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915132638/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-08-02/tms-entertainment-streams-n-american-premiere-of-big-x-more-anime-on-youtube-for-60th-anniversary/.213900|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=TMS Entertainment Announces its 60th Anniversary YouTube Campaign Featuring Special Programs in August|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2024-08-02/tms-entertainment-announces-its-60th-anniversary-youtube-campaign-featuring-special-programs-in-/.213904|publisher=[[TMS Entertainment]]|via=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 17, 2024|date=August 2, 2024|archive-date=September 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926120828/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2024-08-02/tms-entertainment-announces-its-60th-anniversary-youtube-campaign-featuring-special-programs-in-/.213904|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Broadcast and localization===
[[File:Sonic X DVD.jpg|thumb|Cover art of the Spanish-language DVD of Season 2]]
[[4Licensing Corporation|4Kids Entertainment]] handled the show's American localization. The episodes were [[Editing of anime in American distribution|heavily edited for content and length]]; 4Kids has been described by [[Destructoid]] as being "infamous" among anime fans for this type of overzealous editing. 4Kids removed alcohol consumption and coarse language, instances of breaking the [[fourth wall]], and numerous Sexual scenes.<ref name="negativity"/> Unlike some other series that 4Kids translated around the early- to mid-2000s, such as ''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]'', ''Sonic X'' suffered no full episodes being cut. Producer Michael Haigney personally disliked realistic violence in children's programs, but had not intended to make massive changes himself. Instead, he was bound by [[Fox Broadcasting Company]]'s strict guidelines, which forbid content such as [[tobacco smoking|smoking]] and strong violence. In 2006, near the end of the show's American production, Haigney stated in an interview that he had never played a ''Sonic'' game, read the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)|comics]], or watched any of the previous ''Sonic'' animated series.<ref name="producer">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217075303/http://www.animeboredom.co.uk/anime-articles/80|url=http://www.animeboredom.co.uk/anime-articles/80|publisher=Anime Boredom|title=mr. michael haigney interview (4kids)|date=February 12, 2006|last=Rasmussen|first=David|accessdate=April 30, 2014|archivedate=February 17, 2007}}</ref>


==== Asia ====
4Kids found new voice actors rather than using those from the games, with auditions beginning in early 2003.<ref name="tssz">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312193422/http://www.tssznews.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1095125883&archive=1096605103&start_from=&ucat=5&|url=http://www.tssznews.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1095125883&archive=1096605103&start_from=&ucat=5&|publisher=TSSZNews|last=Paulson|first=Andrew|title=Mike Pollock Interview|date=September 13, 2004|accessdate=July 6, 2014|archivedate=March 12, 2005}}</ref> They invited [[Mike Pollock (voice actor)|Mike Pollock]] to audition for Eggman, having known him from his work on ''[[Kinnikuman#Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy|Ultimate Muscle]]'' and ''Kirby: Right Back at Ya!'', and chose him for his yelling and pitch-wavering talents;<ref name="soah">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025061444/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/sonic/learn/interviews/2003-11-11-mike_pollock.shtml|url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/sonic/learn/interviews/2003-11-11-mike_pollock.shtml|publisher=Shadow of a Hedgehog (linked from Pollock's website)|title=An Interview with Mike Pollock|archivedate=October 25, 2004 |accessdate=July 6, 2014}}</ref> Pollock also voiced Ella.<ref name="tssz"/> 4Kids allowed Pollock to make minor alterations to the dialogue when lines "[didn't] work for some reason".<ref name="soah"/> He recalled being given only short samples of Eggman's voice from the games—he was not told specifically which game—and brief descriptions of his characters' roles.<ref name="tssz"/><ref name="soah"/> Beginning with ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', the cast of ''Sonic X'' would assume their respective voice roles in all Sonic games released between 2005 and 2010, at which point all the roles were recast with the exception of Mike Pollock as Eggman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonicstadium.org/2005/09/sonic-voiceover-cast-replaced/|title=Sonic Voiceover Cast Replaced|publisher=The Sonic Stadium|accessdate=November 17, 2014|date=September 12, 2005|first=Svend|last=Joscelyne}}</ref>
TMS Entertainment handled rights to the series in Asian territories.<ref name="pokemon" />


=== Home video ===
''Sonic X'' aired in Japan on [[TV Tokyo]]'s 8:30 am time slot from April 6, 2003,<ref name="famguy1"/> to March 28, 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/sonic_x/story.html |publisher=[[TV Tokyo]] |script-title=ja:てれまでの話 |language=Japanese |accessdate=June 24, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFEHzCJ7?url=http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/sonic_x/story.html |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> It consisted of three seasons, each of them 26 half-hour episodes long. The series suffered from poor ratings in Japan, so the third season was never aired on TV or released on DVD there, but was available through rental streaming services.<ref name="them"/> 4Kids licensed the series in North America from the beginning;<ref name="them"/> [[Viz Media|ShoPro Entertainment]] was also made a license holder in November 2003.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Home Accents Today]]|title=ShoPro named North American licensing agent for Sonic X|date=December 2003|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111847876.html|via=[[HighBeam Research|HighBeam]] }} {{closed access}} {{subscription required|s}}</ref> It aired in North America on the [[Fox Box]] block of Fox channels.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220135912/http://www.sega.co.jp/release/nr030516_1.html|url=http://www.sega.co.jp/release/nr030516_1.html|date=May 16, 2003|archivedate=February 20, 2006|title=ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ、FOX BOXへ疾走|language=Japanese|publisher=[[Sega]]|accessdate=July 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2003-0515b.pdf |title=Sonic The Hedgehog Speeds, Spins And Zips Into The Fox Box 4Kids Entertainment’s Fox Box Adds All-New Sonic X Animated Series To Saturday Morning Line Up Beginning Fall 2003 |publisher=4kidsentertainment.com |date=May 14, 2003 |accessdate=September 14, 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614230203/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2003-0515b.pdf |archivedate=June 14, 2006 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> The series was also localized for other countries in Europe, Asia,<ref name="pokemon"/> and the Middle East.<ref>{{cite web |format=PDF |title=Jetix Europe Appoints Anil Mistry as Creative Director |date=December 12, 2005 |publisher=Jetix Europe |url=http://www.afm.nl/registers/kgi_documents/200512120000000013_Jetix%20Europe%20Appoints%20Creative%20Director.pdf |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFELor0T?url=http://www.afm.nl/registers/kgi_documents/200512120000000013_Jetix%20Europe%20Appoints%20Creative%20Director.pdf |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> In June 2012, the bankrupt 4Kids sold its ''Sonic X'' license to [[Saban Brands]]'s Kidsco Media Ventures.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-16/konami-to-get-4kids-yu-gi-oh-assets-under-proposed-deal |title=Konami to Get 4Kids' Yu-Gi-Oh! Assets Under Proposed Deal |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=June 16, 2012 |accessdate=June 24, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFEOVH7V?url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-16/konami-to-get-4kids-yu-gi-oh-assets-under-proposed-deal |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> In 2015, [[Discotek Media]] took over the series' rights<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-07/discotek-media-licenses-lupin-iii-vs-detective-conan-library-wars-sonic-x-giant-gorg-anime/.86871|title=Discotek Media Licenses Lupin III Vs. Detective Conan, Library Wars, Sonic X, Giant Gorg Anime|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|accessdate=June 4, 2015|date=April 7, 2015}}</ref> and released seasons 1 and 2 on DVD.
==== Japan ====
The series was released on [[DVD]], in Japan, only seasons one and two were released, and their 52 episodes spanned 13 discs.<ref>{{Cite web|script-title=ja:グッズ|url=http://www.sonicteam.com/sonicx/goods.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130163012/http://www.sonicteam.com/sonicx/goods.html|archive-date=November 30, 2014|access-date=July 7, 2014|publisher=[[Sonic Team]]|language=ja}}</ref>


==== United States ====
The series was released on [[DVD]]; in Japan, only seasons one and two were released, and their 52 episodes spanned 13 discs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sonicteam.com/sonicx/goods.html |publisher=[[Sonic Team]] |script-title=ja:グッズ |accessdate=July 7, 2014 |language=Japanese |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFEROqqs?url=http://www.sonicteam.com/sonicx/goods.html |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> 4Kids released the "Project Shadow" DVD in North America, covering the first arc that focused on Shadow (episodes 33–38), on November 15, 2005 to tie in with the release of the game ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2005-10-25/4kids-home-video-debuts-sonic-x-project-shadow-on-dvd |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |title=4Kids Home Video Debuts Sonic X Project: Shadow on DVD |date=October 25, 2005 |accessdate=July 7, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFEVXzc5?url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2005-10-25/4kids-home-video-debuts-sonic-x-project-shadow-on-dvd |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> Discotek Media released the 8-disc DVD set, "Sonic X Collection 1" in North America, which includes the English dubbed seasons 1 and 2 (episodes 1–52), on November 22, 2016. They later released the 4-disc DVD set, "Sonic X Collection 2" in North America, which includes the English dubbed season 3 (episodes 53–78), on December 6, 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sonicretro.org/2016/09/discotek-media-gives-update-north-american-sonic-x-dvd-releases/|title=Discotek Media gives update on North American Sonic X DVD releases - Sonic Retro|date=2016-09-21|newspaper=Sonic Retro|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-25}}</ref>
From 2003 to 2009 in the United States, 4Kids Home Video and their exclusive distributor [[FUNimation Entertainment]] released [[VHS tapes]] (until 2005) and DVDs of the series in single-release volumes and later multi-disc boxsets. The first two to be released were "A Super Sonic Hero" and "The Chaos Factor," released on June 1, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 27, 2004|title=4Kids Announces Home Entertainment Releases For June 2004|url=https://www.awn.com/news/4kids-announces-home-entertainment-releases-june-2004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212020826/http://www.awn.com/news/4kids-announces-home-entertainment-releases-june-2004|archive-date=February 12, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2021|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref>


Another such volume released was "Project Shadow," released on November 15, 2005. It was released to tie in with the release of the game ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', and covered the first arc that focused on Shadow (episodes 33–38).<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 25, 2005|title=4Kids Home Video Debuts Sonic X Project: Shadow on DVD|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2005-10-25/4kids-home-video-debuts-sonic-x-project-shadow-on-dvd|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212020826/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2005-10-25/4kids-home-video-debuts-sonic-x-project-shadow-on-dvd|archive-date=February 12, 2015|access-date=July 7, 2014|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref>
===Music===
The Japanese version of ''Sonic X'' was scored by Yoshihiro Ike. Its opening theme was "Sonic Drive", performed by [[Hironobu Kageyama]] and [[Hideaki Takatori]]. The series included three ending themes: {{nihongo|"Mi-ra-i"|ミ・ラ・イ|Future}} by [[Run&Gun]] for episodes 1–13, {{nihongo|"Hikari Michi"|光る道|Shining Road}} by [[Aya Hiroshige]] for 14–39 and again for 53–78, and "T.O.P" by Uru for 40–52.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Chaos Control Freaks|episodelink=List of Sonic X episodes#Episodes 1-26|series=Sonic X|airdate=April 6, 2003|season=1|number=1|time=credits (Japanese)}}</ref> 4Kids musicians John Angier, Craig Marks, Joel Douek, Louis Cortelezzi, Manny Corallo, Matt McGuire, and Ralph Schuckett composed a new background score for the North American release "for both artistic and commercial reasons".<ref name="producer"/> The North American opening and closing theme, titled "Gotta Go Fast", was composed by Norman J. Grossfeld and Russell Velazquez.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Chaos Control Freaks|episodelink=List of Sonic X episodes#Episodes 1-26|series=Sonic X|airdate=April 6, 2003|season=1|number=1|time=credits (English)}}</ref> A soundtrack titled ''Sonic X ~Original Sound Tracks~'' was released in Japan on March 8, 2004; it consisted of 40 tracks of original music from the first two seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sonic-x-original-game-soundtrack-mw0000727324 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |title=Sonic X [Original Game Soundtrack] |accessdate=July 7, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFEaMFXZ?url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sonic-x-original-game-soundtrack-mw0000727324 |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>


Discotek Media released the 8-disc DVD set, "Sonic X Collection 1" in North America, which includes the English-dubbed seasons 1 and 2 (episodes 1–52) on November 22, 2016. They later released the 4-disc DVD set, "Sonic X Collection 2" in North America, which includes the English-dubbed Season 3 (episodes 53–78) on December 6, 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 21, 2016|title=Discotek Media gives update on North American Sonic X DVD releases - Sonic Retro|language=en-US|work=Sonic Retro|url=https://sonicretro.org/2016/09/21/discotek-media-gives-update-north-american-sonic-x-dvd-releases/|url-status=live|access-date=November 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126131319/http://www.sonicretro.org/2016/09/discotek-media-gives-update-north-american-sonic-x-dvd-releases/|archive-date=November 26, 2016}}</ref>
==Other media==
''Sonic X'' was extensively merchandised in various forms of media and other products. Two [[Game Boy Advance]] [[Game Boy Advance Video|Videos]] of episodes from the first season of ''Sonic X'' were released in May 2004.<ref name="game1">{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=45249&tab=overview|publisher=[[AllGame]]|author=All Game Guide|title=Game Boy Advance Video: Sonic X, Vol. 1|accessdate=April 28, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115205232/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=45249&tab=overview|archivedate=November 15, 2014|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref name="game2">{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=45250&tab=overview |publisher=Allgame |author=All Game Guide |title=Game Boy Advance Video: Sonic X, Vol. 2 |accessdate=April 28, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFEdIfSq?url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=45250&tab=overview |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> In October 2004, ShoPro licensed four manufacturers to create ''Sonic X'' merchandise; they variously produced items such as bedding, beach towels, backpacks, stationery, and pajamas.<ref>{{cite journal|title=ShoPro names four licensees for Sonic X|journal=Kids Today|date=October 2004|page=15}}</ref> Six ''Sonic X'' novels were published between 2005 and 2007: ''Aqua Planet'',<ref>{{cite book|title=Aqua Planet|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|authorlink=Charlotte Fullerton|publisher=[[Grosset & Dunlap]]|date=July 6, 2006|isbn=978-0-448-44327-0}}</ref> ''Dr. Eggman Goes to War'',<ref>{{cite book|title=Dr. Eggman Goes to War|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|date=March 16, 2006|isbn=978-0-448-44254-9}}</ref> ''Battle at Ice Palace'',<ref>{{cite book|title=Battle at Ice Palace|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|date=November 2, 2006|isbn=978-0-448-44409-3}}</ref> and ''Desperately Seeking Sonic'' by [[Charlotte Fullerton]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Desperately Seeking Sonic|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|date=March 1, 2007|isbn=978-0-448-44479-6}}</ref> ''Meteor Shower Messenger'' by [[Paul Ruditis]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Meteor Shower Messenger|last=Ruditis|first=Paul|authorlink=Paul Ruditis|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|date=September 8, 2005|isbn=978-0-448-43996-9}}</ref> and ''Spaceship Blue Typhoon'' by [[Diana G. Gallagher]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Spaceship Blue Typhoon|last=Gallagher|first=Diana G.|authorlink=Diana G. Gallagher|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|date=September 8, 2005|isbn=978-0-448-43997-6}}</ref>


On May 28, 2019, Discotek Media released a 2-disc [[Blu-ray]] set of the English dub of the series with all three seasons and seventy-eight episodes. Despite the upgraded format, the series is based on the original 4Kids beta tape, retaining a 480p resolution as opposed to the standard 1080p resolution on most Blu-rays.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Sonic-X-The-Complete-Series-Blu-ray/239206/| title=Sonic X: The Complete Series Blu-ray (SD on Blu-ray)| access-date=July 30, 2022| archive-date=July 30, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730003446/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Sonic-X-The-Complete-Series-Blu-ray/239206/| url-status=live}}</ref> On April 25, 2023, Discotek released a subtitled Blu-ray release of the complete series in its original Japanese language. While remastered, the series is still presented in standard definition like the previous release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/10/24-1/discotek-announces-the-king-of-braves-gaogaigar-sonic-x-kamen-rider-black-and-more|title=Discotek Announces The King of Braves: GAOGAIGAR, Sonic X, Kamen Rider Black and More|last=Cardine|first=Kyle|date=October 24, 2022|website=[[Crunchyroll]]|access-date=October 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027084546/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/10/24-1/discotek-announces-the-king-of-braves-gaogaigar-sonic-x-kamen-rider-black-and-more|archive-date=October 27, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Comic series===

=== Music ===
{{Redirect-distinguish|Sonic Drive|Sonic Drive-In}}
[[Yoshihiro Ike]] composed the score for the Japanese version of ''Sonic X''. Its opening theme was "Sonic Drive", performed by [[Hironobu Kageyama]] and [[Hideaki Takatori]]. The series included three ending themes: {{nihongo|"Mi-ra-i"|ミ・ラ・イ|Future}} by [[Run&Gun]] for episodes 1–13, {{nihongo|"Hikaru Michi"|光る道|Shining Road}} by Aya Hiroshige for episodes 14–39 and again for episodes 53–78, and "T.O.P" by KP for episodes 40–52.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Chaos Control Freaks|episode-link=List of Sonic X episodes#Episodes 1-26|series=Sonic X|season=1|number=1|time=credits (Japanese)|airdate=April 6, 2003}}</ref> Three songs by [[Off Course]], "Kotoba ni Dekinai", "Midori no Hibi" and "Natsu no Hi", were featured as insert songs in the original broadcasts of episodes 26 and 52; these were replaced in subsequent broadcasts and home releases. Tracks from ''Sonic Adventure'' and ''Sonic Adventure 2'' were used infrequently during some episodes, including ''Sonic Adventure 2'' theme "Live and Learn" by [[Crush 40]] in episode 38.<ref>{{cite web|last=Esposito|first=Rachel|title=10 Best Sonic Songs With Lyrics|url=https://www.cbr.com/sonic-best-lyric-songs/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=May 6, 2023|date=October 13, 2022|archive-date=May 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506153330/https://www.cbr.com/sonic-best-lyric-songs/|url-status=live}}</ref> A soundtrack titled ''Sonic X ~Original Sound Tracks~'' was released in Japan on March 8, 2004, it consisted of 40 tracks of original music from the first two Seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sonic X [Original Game Soundtrack]|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sonic-x-original-game-soundtrack-mw0000727324|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310145456/http://www.allmusic.com/album/sonic-x-original-game-soundtrack-mw0000727324|archive-date=March 10, 2016|access-date=July 7, 2014|publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>

4Kids musicians John Angier, Craig Marks, Joel Douek, Louis Cortelezzi, Manny Corallo, Matt McGuire, and Ralph Schuckett, known for their work on the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' franchise, composed a new background score for the North American release "for both artistic and commercial reasons."<ref name="producer" /> The North American opening and closing theme (also used as the closing theme in the European version), titled "Gotta Go Fast," was composed by Grossfeld and Russell Velazquez.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Chaos Control Freaks|episode-link=List of Sonic X episodes#Episodes 1-26|series=Sonic X|season=1|number=1|time=credits (English)|airdate=April 6, 2003}}</ref>

== Other media ==
''Sonic X'' was extensively merchandised in various forms of media and other products. Two [[Game Boy Advance]] [[Game Boy Advance Video|Videos]] of episodes from the first season of ''Sonic X'' were released in May 2004.<ref name="game1">{{Cite web|title=Game Boy Advance Video: Sonic X, Vol. 1|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=45249&tab=overview|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115205232/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=45249&tab=overview|archive-date=November 15, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014|publisher=[[AllGame]]}}</ref><ref name="game2">{{Cite web|title=Game Boy Advance Video: Sonic X, Vol. 2|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=45250&tab=overview|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115205230/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=45250&tab=overview|archive-date=November 15, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014|publisher=Allgame}}</ref> In October 2004, ShoPro licensed four manufacturers to create ''Sonic X'' merchandise, they variously produced items such as toys, bedding, beach towels, backpacks, stationery, and pajamas.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=October 2004|title=ShoPro names four licensees for Sonic X|journal=Kids Today|page=15}}</ref> Six ''Sonic X'' novels were published between 2005 and 2007: ''Aqua Planet,''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|url=https://archive.org/details/dreggmangoestowa0000full|title=Aqua Planet|date=July 6, 2006|publisher=[[Grosset & Dunlap]]|isbn=978-0-448-44327-0|author-link=Charlotte Fullerton|url-access=registration}}</ref> ''Dr. Eggman Goes to War'',<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|title=Dr. Eggman Goes to War|date=March 16, 2006|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|isbn=978-0-448-44254-9}}</ref> ''Battle at Ice Palace,''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|url=https://archive.org/details/battleaticepalac00full|title=Battle at Ice Palace|date=November 2, 2006|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|isbn=978-0-448-44409-3}}</ref> and ''Desperately Seeking Sonic'' by [[Charlotte Fullerton]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|title=Desperately Seeking Sonic|date=March 1, 2007|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|isbn=978-0-448-44479-6}}</ref> ''Meteor Shower Messenger'' by [[Paul Ruditis]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ruditis|first=Paul|url=https://archive.org/details/meteorshowermess00rudi|title=Meteor Shower Messenger|date=September 8, 2005|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|isbn=978-0-448-43996-9|author-link=Paul Ruditis}}</ref> and ''Spaceship Blue Typhoon'' by [[Diana G. Gallagher]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gallagher|first=Diana G.|title=Spaceship Blue Typhoon|date=September 8, 2005|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|isbn=978-0-448-43997-6|author-link=Diana G. Gallagher}}</ref>

=== Comic series ===
{{Infobox comic book title
{{Infobox comic book title

|title = Sonic X
|image = SonicX.jpg
|image =
|alt = On Halloween night, a cartoon hedgehog and fox and a human boy bring their bags up to a house with small bat decorations. An overweight man, two traditional-looking robots, and a third robot that flies and looks like a little imp answer the door and toss the trick-or-treaters apple-shaped explosives. Everyone is in costume. The "Sonic X" logo and a tagline, "Based on the hit cartoon! Trick or treat?!", adorn the top of the image.
|alt = On Halloween night, a cartoon hedgehog and fox and a human boy bring their bags up to a house with small bat decorations. An overweight man, two traditional-looking robots, and a third robot that flies and looks like a little imp answer the door and toss the trick-or-treaters apple-shaped explosives. Everyone is in costume. The "Sonic X" logo and a tagline, "Based on the hit cartoon! Trick or treat?!", adorn the top of the image.
|caption = Issue 13 (September 2006) shows Eggman's assistants Bocoe, Decoe, and Bokkun engaged in [[trick-or-treating]] with the hero characters to match the short-lived holiday theme – in this case, [[Halloween]].
|publisher = [[Archie Comics]]
|publisher = [[Archie Comics]]
|date = September 18, 2005 – January 1, 2009
|date = September 18, 2005 – January 1, 2009
Line 122: Line 142:
|editors = Mike Pellerito
|editors = Mike Pellerito
}}
}}
[[Archie Comics]], publisher of the main ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' comics, started a ''Sonic X'' series in 2005. It was originally set to run for only four issues, but was extended to 40 issues due to high demand. The last issue was released on January 1, 2009, and led into the first arc of the ''[[Sonic Universe]]'' series. The comics were written by [[Ian Flynn]], who also authors the main comic series.<ref name="last">{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=[[Archie Comics]]|issue=40|date=December 2008|page=p. 26}}.</ref> Some issues were published in ''[[Jetix#Magazine|Jetix Magazine]]'' in the United Kingdom and [[Italy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parkproductions.co.uk/zeoranger/merch/mags/jetix/mag1.htm|publisher=Park Productions|title=Jetix Magazine|accessdate=October 4, 2014}}</ref>
[[Archie Comics]], which published ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' comics until 2017, started a ''Sonic X'' series in 2005. It was originally set to run for only four issues, but was extended to 40 issues due to high demand. The last issue was released on January 1, 2009, and led into the first arc of the ''[[Sonic Universe]]'' series. The comics were written by [[Ian Flynn]], who also authored the main comic series.<ref name="last">{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=[[Archie Comics]]|issue=40|date=December 2008|page=p. 26}}.</ref> Some issues were published in ''[[Jetix#Magazine|Jetix Magazine]]'' in the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jetix Magazine|url=http://www.parkproductions.co.uk/zeoranger/merch/mags/jetix/mag1.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505181442/http://www.parkproductions.co.uk/zeoranger/merch/mags/jetix/mag1.htm|archive-date=May 5, 2014|access-date=October 4, 2014|publisher=Park Productions}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Magazyn Jetix|url=https://www.komiks.gildia.pl/prasa/magazyn_jetix/2|publisher=Media Service Zawada|access-date=August 26, 2020|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819035800/https://www.komiks.gildia.pl/prasa/magazyn_jetix/2|url-status=live}}</ref>


While the comics are set during the ''Sonic X'' timeline, their plot is original. Eggman imprisons humans inside robots and tries to use them to kill the animals, but the animals destroy the robots.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=4|date=December 2005}}.</ref> Eggman uses malicious Chao to destroy Station Square, but Tikal and Chaos arrive from the past, return the Chao to normal, and bring them back to the past.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=6|date=February 2006}}.</ref> Soon, Sonic finds a machine in the desert and thinks nothing of it,<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=7|date=March 2006}}.</ref> but after fighting with Eggman in [[Paris]] and a bizarre world created by the doctor,<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=9|date=May 2006}}.</ref><ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=11|date=July 2006}}.</ref> Eggman reveals the desert machine was his and it begins to wreck Station Square. Sonic defeats it, but he is accused of working with Eggman, so he and Eggman are both locked up.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=12|date=August 2006}}.</ref> Nelson [[bail]]s Sonic out of jail, and he saves Cream and Chris from some ghosts.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=14|date=October 2006}}.</ref>
While the comics are set during the ''Sonic X'' timeline, their plot is original. Eggman imprisons humans inside robots and tries to use them to kill the animals, but the animals destroy the robots.<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=4|date=December 2005}}.</ref> Eggman uses malicious Chao to destroy Station Square, but Tikal and Chaos arrive from the past, return the Chao to normal, and bring them back to the past.<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=6|date=February 2006}}.</ref> Soon, Sonic finds a machine in the desert and thinks nothing of it,<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=7|date=March 2006}}.</ref> but after fighting with Eggman in [[Paris]] and a bizarre world created by the doctor,<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=9|date=May 2006}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=11|date=July 2006}}.</ref> Eggman reveals the desert machine was his and it begins to wreck Station Square. Sonic defeats it, but he is accused of working with Eggman, so he and Eggman are both locked up.<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=12|date=August 2006}}.</ref> Nelson [[bail]]s Sonic out of jail, and he saves Cream and Chris from some ghosts.<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=14|date=October 2006}}.</ref>


Eggman enacts more malicious schemes based on holidays like [[Christmas]],<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=15|date=November 2006}}.</ref> [[Valentine's Day]],<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=16|date=December 2006}}.</ref> and [[St. Patrick's Day]],<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=17|date=January 2007}}.</ref> Afterwards, he temporarily fires Decoe and Bocoe and creates replacements, Dukow and Bukow,<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=22|date=June 2007}}.</ref> who kidnap Sonic and give him to an organization called S.O.N.I.C.X. Sonic escapes with ease,<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=23|date=July 2007}}.</ref> but S.O.N.I.C.X. repeatedly tries to ruin his reputation.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=25|date=September 2007}}.</ref><ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=38|date=October 2008}}.</ref> Meanwhile, the animals take on Eggman in his various schemes—including becoming a wrestler and creating a circus—to keep the Emeralds from him.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=26|date=October 2007}}.</ref><ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=30|date=February 2008}}.</ref> In the final issue, a crossover with the continuity of the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)|main comic series]], that continuity's [[Metal Sonic]] appears and allies with Eggman to defeat Sonic, but that continuity's version of Shadow steps in and warps himself and Metal Sonic to another dimension, leading into the events of the first issue of ''Sonic Universe''.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=40|date=December 2008}}.</ref>
Eggman enacts more malicious schemes based on holidays like [[Christmas]],<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=15|date=November 2006}}.</ref> [[Valentine's Day]]<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=16|date=December 2006}}.</ref> and [[St. Patrick's Day]].<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=17|date=January 2007}}.</ref> Afterwards, he temporarily fires Decoe and Bocoe and creates replacements, Dukow and Bukow,<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=22|date=June 2007}}.</ref> who kidnap Sonic and give him to an organization called S.O.N.I.C.X. Sonic escapes with ease,<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=23|date=July 2007}}.</ref> but S.O.N.I.C.X. repeatedly tries to ruin his reputation.<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=25|date=September 2007}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=38|date=October 2008}}.</ref> Meanwhile, the animals take on Eggman in his various schemes—including becoming a wrestler and creating a circus—to keep the Emeralds from him.<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=26|date=October 2007}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=30|date=February 2008}}.</ref> In the final issue, a crossover with the continuity of the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)|main comic series]], that continuity's [[Metal Sonic]] appears and allies with Eggman to defeat Sonic, but that continuity's version of Shadow steps in and warps himself and Metal Sonic to another dimension, leading into the events of the first issue of ''Sonic Universe''.<ref>{{Cite comic|title=Sonic X|publisher=Archie Comics|issue=40|date=December 2008}}.</ref>


===Video games===
=== Video games ===
In 2003, [[McDonald's]] packaged five different single-button [[dedicated console]] games, mostly based on various sports, with [[Happy Meal]]s to promote ''Sonic X'': two featuring Sonic and one each for Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow. Another Happy Meal game based on Big the Cat fishing arrived the following year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesasylum.com/2013/04/17/gaming-happy-meals-a-grease-covered-history/ |publisher=Games Asylum |last=Gander |first=Matt (of [[Retro Gamer]]) |date=April 17, 2013 |title=The history of fast-food freebies |accessdate=June 24, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFW8D2e?url=http://www.gamesasylum.com/2013/04/17/gaming-happy-meals-a-grease-covered-history/ |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>
In 2003, [[McDonald's]] packaged five different single-button [[dedicated console]] games, mostly based on various sports, with [[Happy Meal]]s to promote ''Sonic X'': two featuring Sonic and one each for Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow. Another Happy Meal game based on Big the Cat fishing arrived the following year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gander|first=Matt (of [[Retro Gamer]])|date=April 17, 2013|title=The history of fast-food freebies|url=https://www.gamesasylum.com/2013/04/17/gaming-happy-meals-a-grease-covered-history/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825171204/http://www.gamesasylum.com/2013/04/17/gaming-happy-meals-a-grease-covered-history/|archive-date=August 25, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2014|publisher=Games Asylum}}</ref>


[[LeapFrog Enterprises]] released a ''Sonic X'' [[educational entertainment|educational]] math game for its [[Leapster]] handheld game console; it was released in 2005 in North America<ref>''Sonic X'' (Leapster, North American) boxart.</ref> and 2007 in Europe.<ref>''Sonic X'' (Leapster, European) boxart.</ref> The game stars Sonic and Chris, who must rescue Tails, Amy, and Knuckles from Eggman. It is a fast-paced [[platform game|platform]]/[[action game|action]] game in which Sonic runs and jumps through levels and destroys Eggman's robots along the way. Periodically, Sonic must answer math questions to continue. The game features three levels, each with its own math concepts: the city Station Square (sequencing, counting in increments); Angel Island, the home of the Master Emerald (addition); and Eggman's base (subtraction).<ref>''Sonic X'' (Leapster) instruction manual, pp. 2–3.</ref> There are also math-based minigames unrelated to the levels to supplement these skills.<ref>''Sonic X'' (Leapster) instruction manual, pp. 4–6.</ref>
In 2007, [[LeapFrog Enterprises]] released a ''[[Sonic X (video game)|Sonic X]]'' [[educational entertainment|educational]] math game for its [[Leapster]] handheld game console.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.leapfrog.com/content/press_releases/021207ToyFairproducts.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070316135221/http://www2.leapfrog.com/content/press_releases/021207ToyFairproducts.pdf|title=LeapFrog Takes Learning to New Levels In 2007|publisher=[[LeapFrog Enterprises]]|date=February 12, 2007|archive-date=March 16, 2007|access-date=September 19, 2023}}</ref> The game stars Sonic and Chris, who must rescue Tails, Amy, and Knuckles from Eggman. It is a fast-paced [[platform game|platform]]/[[action game|action]] game in which Sonic runs and jumps through levels and destroys Eggman's robots along the way. Periodically, Sonic must answer math questions to continue. The game features three levels, each with its own math concepts: the city Station Square (sequencing, counting in increments); Angel Island, the home of the Master Emerald (addition), and Eggman's base (subtraction).<ref>''Sonic X'' (Leapster) instruction manual, pp. 2–3.</ref> There are also math-based minigames unrelated to the levels to supplement these skills.<ref>''Sonic X'' (Leapster) instruction manual, pp. 4–6.</ref>


===Trading card game===
=== Trading card game ===
[[Score Entertainment]] created a ''Sonic X'' [[collectible card game]] for two players, released in 2005. Players battle for Chaos Emeralds; whoever gets three first wins. Each turn, both players lay out five cards face-down and flip over one at a time; whichever card has a lower number value is eliminated. Eliminating the other player's cards and combining the special abilities of one's own cards allows one to score rings; whichever player has the most rings at the end of the turn wins an Emerald. As the game does not emphasize collecting rare cards, a few booster packs are enough to build a competent deck. KidzWorld gave a positive review, praising its ease of learning, low cost, and inherent strategy, but also noting that it feels more like a generic card game with ''Sonic'' characters than like a wholly ''Sonic''-based product.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kidzworld.com/article/6039-sonic-x-card-game-review |publisher=KidzWorld |title=Sonic X Card Game Review |accessdate=June 24, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SGuKKNT6?url=http://www.kidzworld.com/article/6039-sonic-x-card-game-review |archivedate=September 1, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>
[[Score Entertainment]] created a ''Sonic X'' [[collectible card game]] for two players released in 2005. Players battle for Chaos Emeralds, whoever gets three first wins. Each turn, both players lay out five cards face-down and flip over one at a time; whichever card has a lower number value is eliminated. Eliminating the other player's cards and combining the special abilities of one's own cards allows one to score rings; whichever player has the most rings at the end of the turn wins an Emerald. As the game does not emphasize collecting rare cards, a few booster packs are enough to build a competent deck. KidzWorld gave a positive review, praising its ease of learning, low cost, and inherent strategy, but also noting that it feels more like a generic card game with ''Sonic'' characters than like a wholly ''Sonic''-based product.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sonic X Card Game Review|url=https://www.kidzworld.com/article/6039-sonic-x-card-game-review|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814102446/http://www.kidzworld.com/article/6039-sonic-x-card-game-review|archive-date=August 14, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2014|publisher=KidzWorld}}</ref>


==Reception==
== Reception ==
''Sonic X'' received divided reviews. Many reviewers were critical of its American localization. Conrad Zimmerman of Destructoid cited ''Sonic X''{{'s}} "horrible localization" as a main reason for negativity.<ref name="negativity">{{Cite web|last=Zimmerman|first=Conrad|date=April 4, 2010|title=Watch Sonic X on Hulu This Easter|url=https://www.destructoid.com/watch-sonic-x-on-hulu-this-easter-169872.phtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006122419/http://www.destructoid.com/watch-sonic-x-on-hulu-this-easter-169872.phtml|archive-date=October 6, 2014|access-date=April 6, 2014|publisher=[[Destructoid]]}}</ref> Tim Jones of THEM Anime gave the show two stars out of five and criticized the English voice acting: "It's really annoying how all the recent Sonic games use these untalented actors/actresses in their dubs, because they make the original English voices sound like award-winning performers."<ref name="them">{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Tim|title=Sonic X|url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=355|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915060412/http://themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=355|archive-date=September 15, 2014|access-date=April 6, 2014|publisher=THEM Anime}}</ref> Other comments on the show's aesthetics were mostly positive. Staff of [[GamesRadar]] admitted, "At least the song fits. Can't imagine Sonic listening to ''[[Sonic Underground|Underground]]''{{'}}s wailing [[Meat Loaf]] [[soft rock|light rock]], but he'd definitely jam to ''Sonic X''."<ref name="gamesradar" /> Jones praised the [[rock music]] from ''Sonic Adventure 1'' and ''2'', as well as the "pretty piano music" and "catchy" Japanese intro and outro themes. He also found the backgrounds "nice to look at" but did not like the use of CGI for Sonic's homing attack.<ref name="them" />


The human characters and, to a lesser extent, the animal ones were also criticized. Jones described Chris as "a dull, boring, uninspired character" and also described Tanaka and Ella as "bland" stereotypes of [[Stereotypes of East Asians in the United States|Japanese]] and [[Stereotypes of African Americans|African-Americans]], respectively. Jones also criticized the presence of Amy and Big, but took particular issue to the show's portrayal of Sonic, which he summarized as: {{" '}}I'm gonna run around downtown until something exciting happens and use a stinking [[Sonic the Hedgehog#Rings (Sonic the Hedgehog)|Ring]] to defeat my enemies{{' "}}.<ref name="them" /> GamesRadar bemoaned both the "piss-poor ''Adventure'' characters" and the original human ones.<ref name="gamesradar">{{Cite web|date=June 23, 2012|title=The absolute worst Sonic moments|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-absolute-worst-sonic-moments/?page=2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010191612/http://www.gamesradar.com/the-absolute-worst-sonic-moments/?page=2|archive-date=October 10, 2014|access-date=April 6, 2014|publisher=[[GamesRadar]]}}</ref> In contrast, writer Gaz Plant of NintendoLife opined that "one of the key successes" of the series was its incorporation of numerous characters from the games, including lesser-used ones like Big and the Chaotix. Fans were divided on the merit of the Thorndykes.<ref name="nintendolife">{{Cite web|last=Plant|first=Gaz|date=October 18, 2013|title=Feature: A Supersonic History of Sonic Cartoons|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/10/feature_a_supersonic_history_of_sonic_cartoons|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818065606/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/10/feature_a_supersonic_history_of_sonic_cartoons|archive-date=August 18, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2014|publisher=NintendoLife}}</ref>
===Critical reception===
Conrad Zimmerman of Destructoid cited its "horrible localization" as a main reason for negativity.<ref name="negativity">{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/watch-sonic-x-on-hulu-this-easter-169872.phtml |publisher=[[Destructoid]] |date=April 4, 2010 |accessdate=April 6, 2014 |title=Watch Sonic X on Hulu This Easter |last=Zimmerman |first=Conrad |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFaH1ox?url=http://www.destructoid.com/watch-sonic-x-on-hulu-this-easter-169872.phtml |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> Tim Jones of THEM Anime gave the show two stars out of five and criticized the English voice acting: "It's really annoying how all the recent Sonic games use these untalented actors/actresses in their dubs, because they make the original English voices sound like award-winning performers."<ref name="them">{{cite web |url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=355 |publisher=THEM Anime |last=Jones |first=Tim |title=Sonic X |accessdate=April 6, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFevPNa?url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=355 |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> Other comments on the show's aesthetics were mostly positive. Staff of [[GamesRadar]] admitted, "At least the song fits. Can't imagine Sonic listening to ''[[Sonic Underground|Underground]]''{{'}}s wailing [[Meat Loaf]] [[soft rock|light rock]], but he'd definitely jam to ''Sonic X''."<ref name="gamesradar"/> Jones praised the [[rock music|rock]] music from ''Sonic Adventure 1'' and ''2'', as well as the "pretty piano music" and "catchy" Japanese intro and outro themes. He also found the backgrounds "nice to look at" but did not like the use of CGI for Sonic's homing attack.<ref name="them"/>


The show was praised for its faithfulness to the games. ''[[Famitsu]]'' offered a uniformly positive review before the first episode broadcast in 2003, commending the skillful transition of the games' speed and style to animation, and expected the series to continue to grow more interesting.<ref name="famguy1">{{Cite magazine|date=March 18, 2003|title=アニメ『ソニックX』の制作発表会が開催!|url=https://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1139336_1124.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019045655/http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1139336_1124.html|archive-date=October 19, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|language=ja}}</ref> Plant stated that "where ''Sonic X'' truly succeeded was in its retelling of iconic stories."<ref name="nintendolife" /> Independent of the characters involved, GamesRadar appreciated the idea of following "Sonic's core concept."<ref name="gamesradar" /> The original storylines were also praised. Amidst his criticism of most of the show, Jones praised the first episode in general, especially its humor.<ref name="them" /> Plant acclaimed the character development that built on the stories of the original games, especially Sonic and Amy's relationship and the Chaotix's newfound viability as comedy devices. Concurrently, he found the show "surprisingly touching," particularly in its "emotional" final climax, and favorably compared the space exploration of season three to ''[[Star Trek]]''.<ref name="nintendolife" /> ''Famitsu''{{'}}s first preview called the story {{nihongo|profound|重厚|jūkō}}.<ref name="famguy1" />
The human characters and, to a lesser extent, the animal ones were also criticized. Jones decried Chris as "a dull, boring, uninspired character" and also described Tanaka and Ella as "bland" stereotypes of [[Stereotypes of East Asians in the United States|Japanese]] and [[Stereotypes of African Americans|African-Americans]], respectively. Jones also criticized the presence of Amy and Big, but took particular issue to the show's portrayal of Sonic, which he summarized as: {{" '}}I'm gonna run around downtown until something exciting happens and use a stinking [[Sonic the Hedgehog (series)#Rings|Ring]] to defeat my enemies{{' "}}.<ref name="them"/> GamesRadar bemoaned both the "piss-poor ''Adventure'' characters" and the original human ones.<ref name="gamesradar">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-absolute-worst-sonic-moments/?page=2 |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |author=GamesRadar_US |date=June 23, 2012 |title=The absolute worst Sonic moments |accessdate=April 6, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFl75cB?url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-absolute-worst-sonic-moments/?page=2 |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> In contrast, writer Gaz Plant of NintendoLife opined that "one of the key successes" of the series was its incorporation of numerous characters from the games, including lesser-used ones like Big and the Chaotix. Fans were divided on the merit of the Thorndykes.<ref name="nintendolife">{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/10/feature_a_supersonic_history_of_sonic_cartoons |publisher=NintendoLife |date=October 18, 2013 |title=Feature: A Supersonic History of Sonic Cartoons |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |last=Plant |first=Gaz |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFnwPGX?url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/10/feature_a_supersonic_history_of_sonic_cartoons |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>


[[Common Sense Media]] gave it three stars out of five and, while not commenting further on its quality, stated that it was appropriate for grade-school children but that some violent scenes were inadvisable for younger viewers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 14, 2006|title=Common Sense Media says: Hedgehog and human join together to battle evil.|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/sonic-x|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726013924/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/sonic-x|archive-date=July 26, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2014|publisher=[[Common Sense Media]]}}</ref> A second ''Famitsu'' review from later in 2003 called the anime an outstanding success and encouraged readers to tune in.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=June 19, 2003|title=『ソニック X』アフレコ現場を潜入取材!|url=https://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1140433_1124.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021151230/http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1140433_1124.html|archive-date=October 21, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014|magazine=Famitsu|language=ja}}</ref>
The show was well received for faithfully following the format of the games. ''[[Famitsu]]'' offered a uniformly positive review before the first episode broadcast in 2003, commending the skillful transition of the games' speed and style to animation, and expected the series to continue to grow more interesting.<ref name="famguy1">{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1139336_1124.html |work=[[Famitsu]] |title=アニメ『ソニックX』の制作発表会が開催! |date=March 18, 2003 |language=Japanese |accessdate=April 28, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFsq5el?url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1139336_1124.html |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> Plant stated that "where ''Sonic X'' truly succeeded was in its retelling of iconic stories".<ref name="nintendolife"/> Independent of the characters involved, GamesRadar appreciated the idea of following "Sonic's core concept."<ref name="gamesradar"/> The original storylines were also well received. Amidst his criticism of most of the show, Jones praised the first episode in general, especially its humor.<ref name="them"/> Plant acclaimed the character development that built on the stories of the original games, especially Sonic's and Amy's relationship and the Chaotix's newfound viability as comedy devices. Concurrently, he found the show "surprisingly touching", particularly in its "emotional" final climax, and favorably compared the space exploration of season three to ''[[Star Trek]]''.<ref name="nintendolife"/> ''Famitsu''{{'}}s first preview called the story {{nihongo|profound|重厚|jūkō}}.<ref name="famguy1"/>


=== Popularity and cultural impact ===
[[Common Sense Media]] gave it three stars out of five and, while not commenting further on its quality, stated that it was appropriate for grade-school children but that some violent scenes were inadvisable for younger viewers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/sonic-x |publisher=[[Common Sense Media]] |title=Common Sense Media says: Hedgehog and human join together to battle evil. |accessdate=June 24, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFEik2Sf?url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/sonic-x |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> A second ''Famitsu'' review from later in 2003 called the anime an outstanding success and encouraged readers to tune in.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1140433_1124.html |work=Famitsu |title=『ソニック X』アフレコ現場を潜入取材! |date=June 19, 2003 |language=Japanese |accessdate=April 28, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFEoI3Hc?url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1140433_1124.html |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>
The show was quite popular in the United States, France, Indonesia and Malaysia, consistently reaching the number-one position in its timeslot in those countries.<ref name="comics">{{Cite web|last=Weiland|first=Jonah|date=May 23, 2005|title=Archie Launches New 'Sonic X' Series|url=https://www.cbr.com/archie-launches-new-sonic-x-series/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726014213/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=5072|archive-date=July 26, 2014|access-date=June 22, 2014|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]}}</ref><ref name="france">{{Cite web|date=December 8, 2004|title=Jetix Europe N.V. Announces Results for the Year Ended September 30, 2004|url=http://www.waidev2.com/php/PDFS/STUDIO_v2_Asset_Library/482---PDF.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724225521/http://www.waidev2.com/php/PDFS/STUDIO_v2_Asset_Library/482---PDF.pdf|archive-date=July 24, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2014|publisher=Jetix Europe}}</ref> By 2007, it was TMS' best-selling anime in the non-Japanese market, despite that the third season did not air in Japan until 2020, and it inspired TMS to focus on properties that would sell well outside Japan.<ref name="japanamerica">{{Cite book|last=Kelts|first=Roland|title=Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S.|date=November 13, 2007|publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]]|isbn=978-1-4039-8476-0|page=78}}</ref> In April 2009, a six-year-old [[Norway|Norwegian]] boy named Christer pressed his parents to send a letter to King [[Harald V of Norway]] to approve his name being changed to "Sonic X". They allowed Christer to write it himself but did not send it until he badgered them further, and the king responded that he could not approve the change because Christer was not eighteen years old.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sterling|first=Jim|date=April 23, 2009|title=Six-year-old boy asks King to change his name to Sonic X|url=https://www.destructoid.com/six-year-old-boy-asks-king-to-change-his-name-to-sonic-x-129705.phtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726094603/http://www.destructoid.com/six-year-old-boy-asks-king-to-change-his-name-to-sonic-x-129705.phtml|archive-date=July 26, 2014|access-date=June 22, 2014|publisher=Destructoid}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Good|first=Owen|date=April 25, 2009|title=King Denies Little Boy's Wish to Be Named 'Sonic X'|url=https://kotaku.com/king-denies-little-boys-wish-to-be-named-sonic-x-5227434|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727084821/http://kotaku.com/5227434/king-denies-little-boys-wish-to-be-named-sonic-x|archive-date=July 27, 2014|access-date=June 22, 2014|publisher=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref> Extending over a decade past the show's initial release, the show has spawned internet memes and the phrase "gotta go fast", the title of the song that plays in the opening and closing sequence, has been used in the titles of video game periodical articles to represent the ''Sonic'' series<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ponce|first=Tony|date=October 1, 2013|title=Sonic's gotta go fast in these Smash 4 screens|url=https://www.destructoid.com/sonic-s-gotta-go-fast-in-these-smash-4-screens-262785.phtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726103942/http://www.destructoid.com/sonic-s-gotta-go-fast-in-these-smash-4-screens-262785.phtml|archive-date=July 26, 2014|access-date=June 22, 2014|publisher=Destructoid}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Prell|first=Sam|date=April 26, 2014|title=Sonic The Hedgehog's gotta go fast on Oculus Rift|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/26/sonic-the-hedgehogs-gotta-go-fast-on-oculus-rift/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018165846/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/26/sonic-the-hedgehogs-gotta-go-fast-on-oculus-rift/|archive-date=October 18, 2014|access-date=June 22, 2014|publisher=[[Joystiq]]}}</ref> and other fast-paced video games.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kellen|first=Seth|date=April 15, 2014|title=CloudBuilt Review: Gotta Go Fast|url=https://techraptor.net/gaming/review/cloudbuilt-review-gotta-go-fast|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726001815/http://techraptor.net/2014/04/15/cloudbuilt-review-gotta-go-fast/|archive-date=July 26, 2014|access-date=August 22, 2020|publisher=TechRaptor}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Blackburn|first=Troy|date=May 30, 2014|title=Gotta Go Fast In New World Of Speed Gameplay Teaser|url=http://www.gamebreaker.tv/news-main/pc-2/gotta-go-fast-in-new-world-of-speed-gameplay-teaser/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726214827/http://www.gamebreaker.tv/news-main/pc-2/gotta-go-fast-in-new-world-of-speed-gameplay-teaser/|archive-date=July 26, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2014|publisher=GameBreaker}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Barrett|first=Ben|date=August 27, 2013|title=Gotta Go Fast: SpeedRunners|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/27/gotta-go-fast-speedrunners/|url-status=live|journal=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726031203/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/27/gotta-go-fast-speedrunners/|archive-date=July 26, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2014}}</ref>


== Soundtrack ==
===Popularity and cultural impact===
{{Infobox album
The show was quite popular in the United States and France, consistently reaching the number-one position in its timeslot in both countries.<ref name="comics">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=5072 |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=May 23, 2005 |title=Archie Launches New 'Sonic X' Series |last=Weiland |first=Jonah |accessdate=June 22, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFEuLHfQ?url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=5072 |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref><ref name="france">{{cite web |url=http://www.waidev2.com/php/PDFS/STUDIO_v2_Asset_Library/482---PDF.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Jetix Europe |date=December 8, 2004 |title=Jetix Europe N.V. Announces Results for the Year Ended September 30, 2004 |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFExbYDs?url=http://www.waidev2.com/php/PDFS/STUDIO_v2_Asset_Library/482---PDF.pdf |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> By 2007, it was TMS' best-selling anime in the non-Japanese market, despite that the third season never aired in Japan, and it inspired TMS to focus on properties that would sell well outside Japan.<ref name="japanamerica">{{cite book|title=Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S.|publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]]|isbn=978-1-4039-8476-0|date=November 13, 2007|last=Kelts|first=Roland|page=78}}</ref> In April 2009, a six-year-old [[Norway|Norwegian]] boy named Christer pressed his parents to send a letter to King [[Harald V of Norway]] to approve his name being changed to "Sonic X". They allowed Christer to write it himself but did not send it until he badgered them further, and the king responded that he could not approve the change because Christer was not eighteen years old.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/six-year-old-boy-asks-king-to-change-his-name-to-sonic-x-129705.phtml |publisher=Destructoid |date=April 23, 2009 |last=Sterling |first=Jim |title=Six-year-old boy asks King to change his name to Sonic X |accessdate=June 22, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFF0cxvA?url=http://www.destructoid.com/six-year-old-boy-asks-king-to-change-his-name-to-sonic-x-129705.phtml |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5227434/king-denies-little-boys-wish-to-be-named-sonic-x |publisher=[[Kotaku]] |last=Good |first=Owen |title=King Denies Little Boy's Wish to Be Named 'Sonic X' |date=April 25, 2009 |accessdate=June 22, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFF5LhbF?url=http://kotaku.com/5227434/king-denies-little-boys-wish-to-be-named-sonic-x |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> Extending over a decade past the show's initial release, the phrase "gotta go fast" has been used in the titles of video game periodical articles to represent the ''Sonic'' series<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/sonic-s-gotta-go-fast-in-these-smash-4-screens-262785.phtml |publisher=Destructoid |title=Sonic's gotta go fast in these Smash 4 screens |last=Ponce |first=Tony |date=October 1, 2013 |accessdate=June 22, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFF7o8u2?url=http://www.destructoid.com/sonic-s-gotta-go-fast-in-these-smash-4-screens-262785.phtml |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/26/sonic-the-hedgehogs-gotta-go-fast-on-oculus-rift/ |publisher=[[Joystiq]] |last=Prell |first=Sam |title=Sonic The Hedgehog's gotta go fast on Oculus Rift |accessdate=June 22, 2014 |date=April 26, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFDQPEl?url=http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/26/sonic-the-hedgehogs-gotta-go-fast-on-oculus-rift/ |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> and other fast-paced video games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://techraptor.net/2014/04/15/cloudbuilt-review-gotta-go-fast/ |publisher=TechRaptor |title=CloudBuilt Review: Gotta Go Fast |last=Kellen |first=Seth |date=April 15, 2014 |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFGVmt9?url=http://techraptor.net/2014/04/15/cloudbuilt-review-gotta-go-fast/ |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamebreaker.tv/news-main/pc-2/gotta-go-fast-in-new-world-of-speed-gameplay-teaser/ |publisher=GameBreaker |last=Blackburn |first=Troy |date=May 30, 2014 |title=Gotta Go Fast In New World Of Speed Gameplay Teaser |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFJzvSh?url=http://www.gamebreaker.tv/news-main/pc-2/gotta-go-fast-in-new-world-of-speed-gameplay-teaser/ |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/27/gotta-go-fast-speedrunners/ |title=Gotta Go Fast: SpeedRunners |date=August 27, 2013 |last=Barrett |first=Ben |accessdate=July 16, 2014 |publisher=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6SFFNBuEU?url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/27/gotta-go-fast-speedrunners/ |archivedate=August 31, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> <!-- and [[speedrun]]ning in general.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidegamingdaily.com/2013/02/19/gotta-go-fast-speedrunnings-incredible-growth-in-popularity/|publisher=InsideGamingDaily|date=February 19, 2013|last=Sonntag|first=Lawrence|accessdate=June 22, 2014|title=Gotta Go Fast: Speedrunning's Incredible Growth in Popularity|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6SFFRPEtS?url=http://www.insidegamingdaily.com/2013/02/19/gotta-go-fast-speedrunnings-incredible-growth-in-popularity/|archivedate=August 31, 2014|deadurl=no}}</ref> -->
| cover =

| type = Soundtrack
==See also==
| artist = Sonic X
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (OVA)]]''
| released = March 3, 2004
*''[[Sonic Boom (TV series)|Sonic Boom]]''
| recorded = 2002
*''[[F-Zero: GP Legend (anime)|F-Zero: GP Legend]]''
| genre = {{hlist|[[Soundtrack]]|[[rock music|rock]]|[[pop music|pop]]|[[electronic music|electronic]]}}
*[[Space opera]]
| language = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
*''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]''
| length = 1:06:59 (Japan)
| label = [[Wave Master Entertainment]]
}}
'''''Sonic X: Original Soundtrack''''' is the soundtrack to the series of the same name. It was released in [[Japan]] on March 3, 2004, by [[Wave Master Entertainment]].
; Track list
{{Track listing
| total_length = 1:06:59
| all_music = [[Yoshihiro Ike]], except where noted
| headline =
| extra_column = Performer(s)
| title1 = Sonic Drive
| note1 = TV version; lyrics by Takeshi Aida, music by Cher Watanabe
| length1 = 1:31
| extra1 = Hironobu Kageyama<Br>Hideaki Taketori
| title2 = Sonic's Fight
| note2 = from Episode 1
| length2 = 2:16
| title3 = Eggman
| note3 = from Episode 1
| length3 = 1:55
| title4 = Sonic
| note4 = from Episode 1
| length4 = 2:05
| title5 = The White Flower On Top of The Hill
| note5 = from Episode 16
| length5 = 1:00
| title6 = Sonic's Solution
| note6 = from Episode 2
| length6 = 1:02
| title7 = Eggman Robô
| note7 = from Episode 21
| length7 = 1:07
| title8 = Eggman Machine
| note8 = from Episode 33
| length8 = 2:44
| title9 = Encounter with Chris
| note9 = from Episode 1
| length9 = 1:26
| title10 = The Extravagant Appearance of Mom and Dad
| note10 = from Episode 6
| length10 = 0:48
| title11 = Shadow (1)
| note11 = from Episode 34
| length11 = 1:24
| title12 = Super Sonic
| note12 = from Episode 32
| length12 = 0:28
| title13 = Shadow (2)
| note13 = from Episode 34
| length13 = 1:42
| title14 = Amy's Hike
| note14 = from Episode 5
| length14 = 1:01
| title15 = Egg Fort Launch
| note15 = from Episode 20
| length15 = 1:28
| title16 = X-Tornado
| note16 = from Episode 8
| length16 = 1:05
| title17 = Battle
| note17 = from Episode 28
| length17 = 1:27
| title18 = All Right!
| note18 = from Episode 14
| length18 = 1:53
| title19 = The Ghost's Tango
| note19 = from Episode 19
| length19 = 2:39
| title20 = Amy's Hammer
| note20 = from Episode 19
| length20 = 0:38
| title21 = Mysterious & Sexy Thief Rouge
| note21 = from Episode 11
| length21 = 2:43
| title22 = S-Team (1)
| note22 = from Episode 1
| length22 = 2:30
| title23 = Hawk (Chinese Compilation)
| note23 = from Episode 17
| length23 = 0:40
| title24 = Eggman's African Compilation
| note24 = from Episode 18
| length24 = 0:47
| title25 = Adventure
| note25 = from Episode 14
| length25 = 1:01
| title26 = Helen's Dinner
| note26 = from Episode 14
| length26 = 1:30
| title27 = X-Tornado Battle Compilation
| note27 = from Episode 29
| length27 = 1:07
| title28 = The Master Emerald
| note28 = from Episode 29
| length28 = 0:58
| title29 = Chaos
| note29 = from Episode 28
| length29 = 1:30
| title30 = Family
| note30 = from Episode 4
| length30 = 1:31
| title31 = S-Team (2)
| note31 = from Episode 31
| length31 = 1:50
| title32 = The Thorndyke Family
| note32 = from Episode 14
| length32 = 0:38
| title33 = Tornado Going Round and Round
| note33 = from Episode 5
| length33 = 2:00
| title34 = GUN
| note34 = from Episode 33
| length34 = 1:32
| title35 = Coalescence
| note35 = from Episode 26
| length35 = 0:37
| title36 = Dark Eggman
| note36 = from Episode 24
| length36 = 0:53
| title37 = Mi-Ra-I (Future)
| note37 = End credits; written by Kazuyoshi Baba
| extra37 = [[Run&Gun]]
| length37 = 4:25
| title38 = Sonic Drive
| note38 = Full Version; lyrics by Takeshi Aida, music by Cher Watanabe
| extra38 = Hironobu Kageyama & Hideaki Taketori
| length38 = 3:46
| title39 = Sonic Drive
| extra39 = Hironobu Kageyama
| note39 = Only version; lyrics by Takeshi Aida, music by Cher Watanabe
| length39 = 3:46
| title40 = Sonic Drive
| extra40 = Hideaki Taketori
| note40 = Only version; lyrics by Takeshi Aida, music by Cher Watanabe
| length40 = 3:46
}}


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}


==External links==
== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://www.sonicteam.com/sonicx/ Official Sonic Team website] {{ja icon}}
*[http://www.tms-e.com/library/on_air_back/sonic/index.html Official TMS Entertainment website] {{ja icon}}
* [http://www.sonicteam.com/sonicx/ Official Sonic Team website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://www.tms-e.com/library/on_air_back/sonic/index.html Official TMS Entertainment website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030215206/http://www.tms-e.com/library/on_air_back/sonic/index.html|date=2020-10-30 }} {{in lang|ja}}
*[http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/sonic_x/ Official TV Tokyo website] {{ja icon}}
*[http://www.tms-e.co.jp/english/search/introduction.php?pdt_no=191 Official TMS Entertainment website] {{en icon}}
* [https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/sonic_x/ Official TV Tokyo website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [https://www.tms-e.co.jp/global/alltitles/2000s/603101.html Official TMS Entertainment website] {{in lang|en}}
*{{ann|anime|2266}}
* {{anime News Network|anime|2266}}
*[http://www.absoluteanime.com/sonic_x/index.htm ''Sonic X''] at Absolute Anime
* [https://www.absoluteanime.com/sonic_x/ ''Sonic X''] at Absolute Anime
*{{IMDb title|id=0367413}}
*{{bgg|20152|''Sonic X Trading Card Game''}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0367413}}
* {{bgg|20152|''Sonic X Trading Card Game''}}
*[http://discotekmedia.com Official Discotek Media website]
* [http://discotekmedia.com/ Official Discotek Media website]


{{Sonic}}
{{Sonic the Hedgehog in other media}}
{{Archie Comics titles}}
{{Archie Comics titles}}
{{TMS Entertainment}}
{{TMS Entertainment}}
{{Portal bar|Anime and manga|Video games|border=yes}}


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Latest revision as of 19:06, 25 December 2024

Sonic X
ソニックX
(Sonikku Ekkusu)
GenreAdventure
Science fiction[1]
Anime television series
Directed byHajime Kamegaki
Produced by
  • Takeshi Sasamura (#1–52)
  • Tadahito Matsumoto
Written by
  • Hiro Masaki (#1–52)
  • Kiyoko Yoshimura (#53–78)
Music byYoshihiro Ike
StudioTMS Entertainment
Licensed by
Original networkTXN (TV Tokyo)
English network
Original run April 6, 2003 (2003-04-06) April 18, 2005 (2005-04-18)
Episodes78 (List of episodes)
Video game
DeveloperTorus Games
PublisherLeapFrog Enterprises
GenreEdutainment
PlatformLeapster
Released2007

Sonic X (Japanese: ソニックX, Hepburn: Sonikku Ekkusu) is a Japanese anime television series based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. Produced by TMS Entertainment under partnership with Sega and Sonic Team, and directed by Hajime Kamegaki, Sonic X initially ran for 52 episodes, broadcasting on TV Tokyo from April 2003 to March 2004. A further 26 episodes aired in North America, Europe, and the Middle East from 2005 to 2006. The American localization and broadcasting were handled by 4Kids Entertainment, which edited it and created new music.

The series follows a group of anthropomorphic animals that accidentally teleport from their home planet to Earth after attempting to save one of their friends from their enemy Doctor Eggman. Separated, Sonic the Hedgehog is saved by a human boy named Chris Thorndyke, who helps him find his friends while repeatedly scuffling with Doctor Eggman and his robots over control of the powerful Chaos Emeralds, and becoming celebrities. The final story arc sees Sonic and his friends return with Chris to their world, where they enter outer space with a newfound plant-like creature named Cosmo and fight an army of aliens called the Metarex.

Sonic X received mixed reviews. Generally, reviewers criticized its American localization and the human characters, but praised its story and animation. The series was popular in the United States and France, though less so in its native Japan. The show's merchandise included an edutainment video game for the Leapster, a trading card game, a comic book series featuring an original storyline, and various toys and other items.

Plot

[edit]

Season 1

[edit]

Following a battle between Sonic the Hedgehog and Doctor Eggman, a freak accident involving the seven Chaos Emeralds causes them to create "Chaos Control"—a powerful space-time force that transports both of them, along with Miles "Tails" Prower, Amy Rose, Cream the Rabbit and her pet Chao Cheese, Knuckles the Echidna, and Rouge the Bat, to be transported into a parallel universe containing Earth. Sonic and his friends find themselves landing in the city of Station Square, where they befriend twelve-year-old Christopher "Chris" Thorndyke—a lonely young boy, who parents, movie-star mother Lindsey, and corporate executive father Nelson, tend to be absent with work, leaving him to be looked after by his grandfather Chuck, maid and chef Ella, and butler Mr. Tanaka.

Seeking to find the Chaos Emeralds in order to go home, the group battle against Eggman as he re-establishes himself on the planet in order to conquer it—aided by his bumbling robotic assistants Becoe and Decoe, and his robotic courier Bokkun—with Rouge joining forces with the local government as a spy in order to help them defend against his attacks. In the course of battling Eggman, Sonic and the others befriend Chris' friends Danny, Frances and Helen, while slowly becoming celebrities thanks to their exploits, eventually being accepted amongst the human population, despite reservations of what might happen when the seven Chaos Emeralds are found.

Season 2

[edit]

Six months after the Chaos Emeralds are found and used by Sonic in his Super Sonic form, Chaos Control causes parts of their world to appear on Earth, including Angel Island and the Master Emerald, along with the arrival of Big the Cat and his pet Froggy. Whilst the group adapt to this and carry on with their lives, the government works to establish better defences in anticipation of another attack by Eggman, including the creation of a robotic army to counter the evil scientist's own creations. Much of the first half of this season is focused on adaptations of both Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. After Station Square is rebuilt following the attack by Chaos, and Sonic and Shadow prevent Space Colony ARK from crashing into Earth, another Chaos Control event brings several inhabitants of Sonic's world to the planet, including the Chaotix Detective AgencyVector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon, and Charmy Bee—and Vanilla, Cream's mother.

Eggman launches further schemes following the ARK incident, even when briefly captured by the government, whilst Sonic and his friends provide shelter for a robot named Emerl, who later goes on the rampage after coming into possession of a Chaos Emerald and forcing Cream to stop it (the story arc being a loose adaption of Sonic Battle). Eventually, after Eggman is thwarted from another world conquering scheme, the government learns that Earth and Sonic's world are slowly merging together, threatening to end time for them. As a result, Sonic, Eggman, and the others are forced to return home to prevent this, with Chris having to bravely allow his new friends to go, but with hope of seeing them again.

Season 3

[edit]

Six months after returning home, Sonic and his friends find themselves battling a new threat in the form of the Metarex—a race of villainous robots who seek to conquer the galaxy—aided by Cosmo, an antromorphic plant girl, who seeks to stop them. At the same time on Earth, where six years have passed, Chris finishes completing a portal device to take him to Sonic, arriving in his world to assist with his new found knowledge, despite the differences in time between the two worlds causing his body to revert back to that of his 12 year-old self. Departing their world, the group explore the galaxy for the Chaos Emeralds, after Sonic had to disperse them to avoid them being used by the Metarex. Alongside the group, Eggman also pursues after the Emeralds, accompanied by Rouge, and aided by Shadow, whom he had recovered following his supposed demise.

Much of the journey sees Tails and Cosmo bonding, while Eggman secretly sides with the Metarex in order to uncover their plans, with the Chaotix Detective Agency also journeying into space and providing assistance where they can. The series reaches its conclusion with the group learning of the Metarex's origins, and both groups battling them to prevent them taking full control of the galaxy, culminating in Cosmo and Shadow sacrificing themselves to achieve this.

History

[edit]

Creation and development

[edit]
This scene shows (clockwise from top left) Sonic, Tails, and two original major characters—Cosmo and Chris—in the typical outer-space setting of the third season.

The show was created by TMS Entertainment, the animation subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings.[3] It was primarily influenced by other anime rather than work from the West, and was created for a Japanese audience.[4] Yuji Naka, then the head of Sonic Team, filled in as executive producer, and Satoshi Hirayama designed all of the original characters, basing the designs on Yuji Uekawa's original concept. Most of the series consists of original content featuring new as well as established characters, but the second season is mostly based on the plots of Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, and Sonic Battle. While traditionally animated, it includes non-outlined CGI elements for things such as Sonic's homing attack.[3]

Two trailers for the series were produced. The first was developed before Cheese had been given a name in Sonic Advance 2 (2002); it referred to Cheese simply as "Chao". It was made up largely of footage that would later appear in the series' intro, but also of unused scenes featuring unique anthropomorphic people.[5] Sega showed off the second, which was narrated in Japanese, at its booth at the World Hobby Fair video gaming event on February 19, 2003.[6] It consisted mostly of scenes from the first few episodes, followed by introductions to the main characters. However, it also showed a still frame of a silver anthropomorphic hedgehog who never appeared in the series.[7] Fans nicknamed the character "Nazo", based on the Japanese word for "mystery" (, nazo). Years later, on April 20, 2015, Sonic Team producer Takashi Iizuka clarified the character was simply Super Sonic in its early contour.[8]

Several of the Japanese performers had voiced their characters in the games, but they were also given ample information about their characters' roles in the anime. Chris' voice actress Sanae Kobayashi was not sure she would be able to effectively communicate Chris' growth as a person owing to Sonic's presence, but found that a worthwhile goal. Chikao Ōtsuka, who voiced Eggman, found him a difficult character to play due to the tension in his voice and the desire to have children who watched the show recognize the character as a villain but not hate him.[1]

Iizuka believed that Sonic X and its merchandise, along with the game Sonic Heroes, had helped expose the Sonic franchise to a new generation of potential gamers in 2003, and he dubbed it a "Sonic Year" as a result.[9] More boldly, Naka hoped that Sonic X alone would cause the popularity of the Sonic series to skyrocket, as that of the Pokémon series did after its anime adaptation was first released.[10]

Broadcast and localization

[edit]

North America

[edit]

4Kids Entertainment handled the show's American localization. The episodes were heavily edited for content and length; 4Kids has been described by Destructoid as being "infamous" among anime fans for this type of overzealous editing. 4Kids removed alcohol consumption, coarse language, instances of breaking the fourth wall, and numerous sexual scenes.[11] Unlike some other series that 4Kids translated around the early to mid 2000s, such as Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Sonic X suffered no full episodes being cut. Producer Michael Haigney personally disliked realistic violence in children's programs, but had not intended to make massive changes himself. Instead, he was bound by Fox Broadcasting Company's strict guidelines, which forbid content such as smoking and strong violence. In 2006, near the end of the show's American production, Haigney stated in an interview that he had never played a Sonic game, read the comics, or watched any of the previous Sonic animated series.[12]

4Kids found new voice actors rather than using those from the games.[13] 4Kids president Norman J. Grossfeld invited Jason Griffith and Mike Pollock to audition for Sonic and Eggman, having known them from their work on Ultimate Muscle and Kirby: Right Back at Ya! and chose him for his yelling and pitch-wavering talents;[14] Pollock and Griffith also voiced Ella and Shadow.[13] 4Kids allowed Pollock to make minor alterations to the dialogue when lines "[didn't] work for some reason."[14] He recalled being given only short samples of Eggman's voice from the games—he was not told specifically which game—and brief descriptions of his characters' roles.[13][14] The rest of the cast assumed their characters' voice roles after their auditions. Beginning with Shadow the Hedgehog, the cast of Sonic X would assume their respective voice roles in all Sonic games released between 2005 and 2010, at which point all the roles were recast with the exception of Mike Pollock as Eggman.[15]

Sonic X aired in Japan on TV Tokyo's 8:30 a.m. time slot from April 6, 2003[16] to March 28, 2004.[17] It consisted of three seasons, each of them 26 half-hour episodes long. The first two seasons were also syndicated by delay to a handful of stations outside of the reach of the TX Network: four JAITS member stations (Television Wakayama, Biwako Broadcasting, Nara Television and Gifu Broadcasting) and one station each of the four larger networks (Aomori Asahi Broadcasting (ANN), Nagasaki International Television), SBS (JNN) and Sendai Broadcasting (FNN)).[18] In Japan, the third season was never aired on TV until 2020 or released on DVD, but was available through rental streaming services. 4Kids licensed the series in North America from the beginning,[3] ShoPro Entertainment was also made a license holder in November 2003.[19] It aired in North America on the FoxBox block of Fox channels.[20][21]

On June 16, 2012, the bankrupt 4Kids sold its Sonic X license to Saban Brands's Kidsco Media Ventures.[22] On April 29, 2013, Saban Brands's Vortexx would partner with Kabillion to add shows like Sonic X to the lineup.[23] TMS Entertainment has since taken US rights, and in 2015, Discotek Media licensed the series alongside several other TMS properties for home media releases.[24] In 2021, FilmRise was given the AVOD rights to 38 TMS Entertainment titles including Sonic X for US and Canada.[25]

Internationally

[edit]

Outside North America and Asia, Jetix Europe (previously Fox Kids Europe) held the rights to the series, which the company acquired in August 2003.[2][26] Buena Vista International Television handled distribution services[27] while Jetix Europe handled all other television rights. The company's Jetix Consumer Products (JCP) subsidiary held consumer product and home media rights to the series in Pan-European, MENA, and Latin American territories.[28][29]

For the 60th anniversary of TMS Entertainment, the company streamed a select number of episodes on its YouTube channel, available with the original Japanese audio with English subtitles, from August 5–9 and 12–16, 2024.[30][31]

Asia

[edit]

TMS Entertainment handled rights to the series in Asian territories.[10]

Home video

[edit]

Japan

[edit]

The series was released on DVD, in Japan, only seasons one and two were released, and their 52 episodes spanned 13 discs.[32]

United States

[edit]

From 2003 to 2009 in the United States, 4Kids Home Video and their exclusive distributor FUNimation Entertainment released VHS tapes (until 2005) and DVDs of the series in single-release volumes and later multi-disc boxsets. The first two to be released were "A Super Sonic Hero" and "The Chaos Factor," released on June 1, 2004.[33]

Another such volume released was "Project Shadow," released on November 15, 2005. It was released to tie in with the release of the game Shadow the Hedgehog, and covered the first arc that focused on Shadow (episodes 33–38).[34]

Discotek Media released the 8-disc DVD set, "Sonic X Collection 1" in North America, which includes the English-dubbed seasons 1 and 2 (episodes 1–52) on November 22, 2016. They later released the 4-disc DVD set, "Sonic X Collection 2" in North America, which includes the English-dubbed Season 3 (episodes 53–78) on December 6, 2016.[35]

On May 28, 2019, Discotek Media released a 2-disc Blu-ray set of the English dub of the series with all three seasons and seventy-eight episodes. Despite the upgraded format, the series is based on the original 4Kids beta tape, retaining a 480p resolution as opposed to the standard 1080p resolution on most Blu-rays.[36] On April 25, 2023, Discotek released a subtitled Blu-ray release of the complete series in its original Japanese language. While remastered, the series is still presented in standard definition like the previous release.[37]

Music

[edit]

Yoshihiro Ike composed the score for the Japanese version of Sonic X. Its opening theme was "Sonic Drive", performed by Hironobu Kageyama and Hideaki Takatori. The series included three ending themes: "Mi-ra-i" (ミ・ラ・イ, Future) by Run&Gun for episodes 1–13, "Hikaru Michi" (光る道, Shining Road) by Aya Hiroshige for episodes 14–39 and again for episodes 53–78, and "T.O.P" by KP for episodes 40–52.[38] Three songs by Off Course, "Kotoba ni Dekinai", "Midori no Hibi" and "Natsu no Hi", were featured as insert songs in the original broadcasts of episodes 26 and 52; these were replaced in subsequent broadcasts and home releases. Tracks from Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 were used infrequently during some episodes, including Sonic Adventure 2 theme "Live and Learn" by Crush 40 in episode 38.[39] A soundtrack titled Sonic X ~Original Sound Tracks~ was released in Japan on March 8, 2004, it consisted of 40 tracks of original music from the first two Seasons.[40]

4Kids musicians John Angier, Craig Marks, Joel Douek, Louis Cortelezzi, Manny Corallo, Matt McGuire, and Ralph Schuckett, known for their work on the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, composed a new background score for the North American release "for both artistic and commercial reasons."[12] The North American opening and closing theme (also used as the closing theme in the European version), titled "Gotta Go Fast," was composed by Grossfeld and Russell Velazquez.[41]

Other media

[edit]

Sonic X was extensively merchandised in various forms of media and other products. Two Game Boy Advance Videos of episodes from the first season of Sonic X were released in May 2004.[42][43] In October 2004, ShoPro licensed four manufacturers to create Sonic X merchandise, they variously produced items such as toys, bedding, beach towels, backpacks, stationery, and pajamas.[44] Six Sonic X novels were published between 2005 and 2007: Aqua Planet,[45] Dr. Eggman Goes to War,[46] Battle at Ice Palace,[47] and Desperately Seeking Sonic by Charlotte Fullerton,[48] Meteor Shower Messenger by Paul Ruditis,[49] and Spaceship Blue Typhoon by Diana G. Gallagher.[50]

Comic series

[edit]
Sonic X
Publication information
PublisherArchie Comics
Publication dateSeptember 18, 2005 – January 1, 2009
No. of issues40
Creative team
Written byIan Flynn, Joe Edkin
Penciller(s)Tim Smith III
Inker(s)Jim Amash
Letterer(s)John Workman
Colorist(s)Josh Ray
Editor(s)Mike Pellerito

Archie Comics, which published Sonic the Hedgehog comics until 2017, started a Sonic X series in 2005. It was originally set to run for only four issues, but was extended to 40 issues due to high demand. The last issue was released on January 1, 2009, and led into the first arc of the Sonic Universe series. The comics were written by Ian Flynn, who also authored the main comic series.[51] Some issues were published in Jetix Magazine in the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland.[52][53]

While the comics are set during the Sonic X timeline, their plot is original. Eggman imprisons humans inside robots and tries to use them to kill the animals, but the animals destroy the robots.[54] Eggman uses malicious Chao to destroy Station Square, but Tikal and Chaos arrive from the past, return the Chao to normal, and bring them back to the past.[55] Soon, Sonic finds a machine in the desert and thinks nothing of it,[56] but after fighting with Eggman in Paris and a bizarre world created by the doctor,[57][58] Eggman reveals the desert machine was his and it begins to wreck Station Square. Sonic defeats it, but he is accused of working with Eggman, so he and Eggman are both locked up.[59] Nelson bails Sonic out of jail, and he saves Cream and Chris from some ghosts.[60]

Eggman enacts more malicious schemes based on holidays like Christmas,[61] Valentine's Day[62] and St. Patrick's Day.[63] Afterwards, he temporarily fires Decoe and Bocoe and creates replacements, Dukow and Bukow,[64] who kidnap Sonic and give him to an organization called S.O.N.I.C.X. Sonic escapes with ease,[65] but S.O.N.I.C.X. repeatedly tries to ruin his reputation.[66][67] Meanwhile, the animals take on Eggman in his various schemes—including becoming a wrestler and creating a circus—to keep the Emeralds from him.[68][69] In the final issue, a crossover with the continuity of the main comic series, that continuity's Metal Sonic appears and allies with Eggman to defeat Sonic, but that continuity's version of Shadow steps in and warps himself and Metal Sonic to another dimension, leading into the events of the first issue of Sonic Universe.[70]

Video games

[edit]

In 2003, McDonald's packaged five different single-button dedicated console games, mostly based on various sports, with Happy Meals to promote Sonic X: two featuring Sonic and one each for Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow. Another Happy Meal game based on Big the Cat fishing arrived the following year.[71]

In 2007, LeapFrog Enterprises released a Sonic X educational math game for its Leapster handheld game console.[72] The game stars Sonic and Chris, who must rescue Tails, Amy, and Knuckles from Eggman. It is a fast-paced platform/action game in which Sonic runs and jumps through levels and destroys Eggman's robots along the way. Periodically, Sonic must answer math questions to continue. The game features three levels, each with its own math concepts: the city Station Square (sequencing, counting in increments); Angel Island, the home of the Master Emerald (addition), and Eggman's base (subtraction).[73] There are also math-based minigames unrelated to the levels to supplement these skills.[74]

Trading card game

[edit]

Score Entertainment created a Sonic X collectible card game for two players released in 2005. Players battle for Chaos Emeralds, whoever gets three first wins. Each turn, both players lay out five cards face-down and flip over one at a time; whichever card has a lower number value is eliminated. Eliminating the other player's cards and combining the special abilities of one's own cards allows one to score rings; whichever player has the most rings at the end of the turn wins an Emerald. As the game does not emphasize collecting rare cards, a few booster packs are enough to build a competent deck. KidzWorld gave a positive review, praising its ease of learning, low cost, and inherent strategy, but also noting that it feels more like a generic card game with Sonic characters than like a wholly Sonic-based product.[75]

Reception

[edit]

Sonic X received divided reviews. Many reviewers were critical of its American localization. Conrad Zimmerman of Destructoid cited Sonic X's "horrible localization" as a main reason for negativity.[11] Tim Jones of THEM Anime gave the show two stars out of five and criticized the English voice acting: "It's really annoying how all the recent Sonic games use these untalented actors/actresses in their dubs, because they make the original English voices sound like award-winning performers."[3] Other comments on the show's aesthetics were mostly positive. Staff of GamesRadar admitted, "At least the song fits. Can't imagine Sonic listening to Underground's wailing Meat Loaf light rock, but he'd definitely jam to Sonic X."[76] Jones praised the rock music from Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, as well as the "pretty piano music" and "catchy" Japanese intro and outro themes. He also found the backgrounds "nice to look at" but did not like the use of CGI for Sonic's homing attack.[3]

The human characters and, to a lesser extent, the animal ones were also criticized. Jones described Chris as "a dull, boring, uninspired character" and also described Tanaka and Ella as "bland" stereotypes of Japanese and African-Americans, respectively. Jones also criticized the presence of Amy and Big, but took particular issue to the show's portrayal of Sonic, which he summarized as: "'I'm gonna run around downtown until something exciting happens and use a stinking Ring to defeat my enemies'".[3] GamesRadar bemoaned both the "piss-poor Adventure characters" and the original human ones.[76] In contrast, writer Gaz Plant of NintendoLife opined that "one of the key successes" of the series was its incorporation of numerous characters from the games, including lesser-used ones like Big and the Chaotix. Fans were divided on the merit of the Thorndykes.[77]

The show was praised for its faithfulness to the games. Famitsu offered a uniformly positive review before the first episode broadcast in 2003, commending the skillful transition of the games' speed and style to animation, and expected the series to continue to grow more interesting.[16] Plant stated that "where Sonic X truly succeeded was in its retelling of iconic stories."[77] Independent of the characters involved, GamesRadar appreciated the idea of following "Sonic's core concept."[76] The original storylines were also praised. Amidst his criticism of most of the show, Jones praised the first episode in general, especially its humor.[3] Plant acclaimed the character development that built on the stories of the original games, especially Sonic and Amy's relationship and the Chaotix's newfound viability as comedy devices. Concurrently, he found the show "surprisingly touching," particularly in its "emotional" final climax, and favorably compared the space exploration of season three to Star Trek.[77] Famitsu's first preview called the story profound (重厚, jūkō).[16]

Common Sense Media gave it three stars out of five and, while not commenting further on its quality, stated that it was appropriate for grade-school children but that some violent scenes were inadvisable for younger viewers.[78] A second Famitsu review from later in 2003 called the anime an outstanding success and encouraged readers to tune in.[79]

Popularity and cultural impact

[edit]

The show was quite popular in the United States, France, Indonesia and Malaysia, consistently reaching the number-one position in its timeslot in those countries.[80][81] By 2007, it was TMS' best-selling anime in the non-Japanese market, despite that the third season did not air in Japan until 2020, and it inspired TMS to focus on properties that would sell well outside Japan.[82] In April 2009, a six-year-old Norwegian boy named Christer pressed his parents to send a letter to King Harald V of Norway to approve his name being changed to "Sonic X". They allowed Christer to write it himself but did not send it until he badgered them further, and the king responded that he could not approve the change because Christer was not eighteen years old.[83][84] Extending over a decade past the show's initial release, the show has spawned internet memes and the phrase "gotta go fast", the title of the song that plays in the opening and closing sequence, has been used in the titles of video game periodical articles to represent the Sonic series[85][86] and other fast-paced video games.[87][88][89]

Soundtrack

[edit]
Untitled
Soundtrack album by
Sonic X
ReleasedMarch 3, 2004
Recorded2002
Genre
Length1:06:59 (Japan)
LanguageJapanese
LabelWave Master Entertainment

Sonic X: Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the series of the same name. It was released in Japan on March 3, 2004, by Wave Master Entertainment.

Track list

All music is composed by Yoshihiro Ike, except where noted

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Sonic Drive" (TV version; lyrics by Takeshi Aida, music by Cher Watanabe)Hironobu Kageyama
Hideaki Taketori
1:31
2."Sonic's Fight" (from Episode 1) 2:16
3."Eggman" (from Episode 1) 1:55
4."Sonic" (from Episode 1) 2:05
5."The White Flower On Top of The Hill" (from Episode 16) 1:00
6."Sonic's Solution" (from Episode 2) 1:02
7."Eggman Robô" (from Episode 21) 1:07
8."Eggman Machine" (from Episode 33) 2:44
9."Encounter with Chris" (from Episode 1) 1:26
10."The Extravagant Appearance of Mom and Dad" (from Episode 6) 0:48
11."Shadow (1)" (from Episode 34) 1:24
12."Super Sonic" (from Episode 32) 0:28
13."Shadow (2)" (from Episode 34) 1:42
14."Amy's Hike" (from Episode 5) 1:01
15."Egg Fort Launch" (from Episode 20) 1:28
16."X-Tornado" (from Episode 8) 1:05
17."Battle" (from Episode 28) 1:27
18."All Right!" (from Episode 14) 1:53
19."The Ghost's Tango" (from Episode 19) 2:39
20."Amy's Hammer" (from Episode 19) 0:38
21."Mysterious & Sexy Thief Rouge" (from Episode 11) 2:43
22."S-Team (1)" (from Episode 1) 2:30
23."Hawk (Chinese Compilation)" (from Episode 17) 0:40
24."Eggman's African Compilation" (from Episode 18) 0:47
25."Adventure" (from Episode 14) 1:01
26."Helen's Dinner" (from Episode 14) 1:30
27."X-Tornado Battle Compilation" (from Episode 29) 1:07
28."The Master Emerald" (from Episode 29) 0:58
29."Chaos" (from Episode 28) 1:30
30."Family" (from Episode 4) 1:31
31."S-Team (2)" (from Episode 31) 1:50
32."The Thorndyke Family" (from Episode 14) 0:38
33."Tornado Going Round and Round" (from Episode 5) 2:00
34."GUN" (from Episode 33) 1:32
35."Coalescence" (from Episode 26) 0:37
36."Dark Eggman" (from Episode 24) 0:53
37."Mi-Ra-I (Future)" (End credits; written by Kazuyoshi Baba)Run&Gun4:25
38."Sonic Drive" (Full Version; lyrics by Takeshi Aida, music by Cher Watanabe)Hironobu Kageyama & Hideaki Taketori3:46
39."Sonic Drive" (Only version; lyrics by Takeshi Aida, music by Cher Watanabe)Hironobu Kageyama3:46
40."Sonic Drive" (Only version; lyrics by Takeshi Aida, music by Cher Watanabe)Hideaki Taketori3:46
Total length:1:06:59

References

[edit]
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