Animation

Sonic Makes a Return To Television With a New CG Cartoon Series: Sonic Boom

sonicboomteaser

 

SEGA just suddenly announced that there will be a new comedic CG animated series called Sonic Boom. This show will be Sonic’s fifth cartoon on TV, but if this teaser image is anything to go by this will be the first to heavily change the character designs. I can’t be the only one getting flashbacks to Loonatics Unleashed

Sonic Boom will air during the fall of 2014, with the first season consisting of 52 eleven-minute episodes. The cartoon is being produced by SEGA of America and Genao Productions. You can read the full press release after the jump for more info.

Sonic the Hedgehog, the iconic video game character who has brought his trademark speed and attitude to four TV series and more than 70 video games, is returning to television in his first-ever CG animated series in the fall 2014. The action packed comedy series aimed at children 6-11 will debut first on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and on CANAL J and GULLI in France, with a global rollout to follow. The initial order of 52 eleven-minute episodes is co-produced by SEGA of America Inc. and Genao Productions.

Sonic Boom is a character-driven comedy that leaves a trail of robot wreckage in its smoldering wake. The series centers on Sonic, his best friend and sidekick, Tails, their never-ending search for adventure, and their battles with Sonic’s arch-nemesis, Dr. Eggman. Rounding out the ensemble are fan favorites Knuckles and Amy Rose, plus a rogue’s gallery of enemies—some familiar to Sonic fans and some brand-new.

Evan Baily, Donna Friedman Meir, and Jane McGregor, Executive Producers for SEGA, packaged the series, bringing together SEGA, Cartoon Network, and Genao Productions. Sandrine Nguyen and Boris Hertzog, Executive Producers for Genao, assembled a world-class lineup of partners in France, including broadcasters GULLI and CANAL J, Lagardere Entertainment Rights and Lagardère Active TV Licensing & New Business. Baily, Meir and Nguyen developed the series, and Hertzog and McGregor structured the financing and negotiated all the deals. Baily (formerly EVP of Production and Creative Affairs for Classic Media) and Co-Executive Producer Bill Freiberger (The SimpsonsDrawn Together) are showrunners. Takashi Iizuka, the head of Sonic Team and driving creative force behind the Sonic games, is overseeing the series to ensure that it’s true to the Sonic characters and universe.

“Sonic is the star of the SEGA universe and the stage is now set for him to shine like never before. By teaming up with world-class partners in television animation like Cartoon Network, Genao Productions and GULLI, we’re ensuring that the Sonic legacy will be introduced to a new generation of children across the globe,” said Hiroyuki Miyazaki, SEGA’s Chief Content Officer for Sonic.

“We wanted to strengthen our TV channels’ editorial content with strong brands. This is our new objective. Sonic is an enormously popular and unique character with all the qualities of an animation series’ great hero—humor, bravery, loyalty, inventiveness. We are extremely proud to welcome him across our kids and family channels at Lagardère Active and will activate across these channels to raise awareness and excitement for the new series,” said Caroline Cochaux, Head of Programs, Kids & Family Channels, Lagardère Active.

“Genao is thrilled to collaborate with SEGA on this amazing project and embark on new adventures with the fastest hedgehog in the world. It is so exciting to work on such a world-class brand,” said Sandrine Nguyen, Managing Director of Genao.

Emmanuelle Bouilhaguet, Managing Director of Lagardere Entertainment Rights added “It is an amazing experience to be associated to such a powerful property with professional partners. International broadcasters are seeking for strong comedy and franchise based series and Sonic Boom is the perfect fit!”

“On the New Business & Licensing Side, we are proud and excited to handle the representation of Sonic which counts among the leading characters loved by kids. Thanks to our 360° platform which includes Digital Activities, Magazines, Indoor Parks, Grass Root events, we will push Sonic and the Consumer Products to a new level,” said Benoit Roque, Head of Lagardere Active TV Licensing & New Business.

SEGA is actively seeking partners in support of the new series launch across a range of industries including broadcast and licensing. In terms of television and digital distribution, Lagardere Entertainment Rights holds worldwide rights excluding the U.S. and Asia (but including Japan); SEGA Corporation will manage Asia (excluding Japan); Baily, Meir and McGregor will manage the US through McGregor’s company Jane McGregor, Inc. Licensing support will be spearheaded by Lagardère Active TV Licensing & New Business in France and SEGA in all other territories.

Sonic the Hedgehog first appeared as a videogame character in June 1991 and instantly became an icon for a generation of gamers. Defined by his super-fast speed and cool attitude, in the years since he first raced on to videogame consoles Sonic has become a true global phenomenon with over 140 million videogames sold or downloaded worldwide across consoles, PC’s, mobile phones and tablets. SEGA’s iconic blue blur has also gone on to enjoy incredible success in many licensed areas, such as toys, apparel, comics and animation. This year SEGA announced an exciting three title exclusive partnership with Nintendo for the Sonic the Hedgehog videogame franchise. The highly anticipated Sonic Lost World™ will be the first title to launch under this agreement and will be available in stores later this year for Wii U™ and Nintendo 3DS™ platforms.

[Source: SEGA Blog]

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45 Comments

  • Reply

    Unlike Sonic he don’t chuckle. He’d rather flex his tree-trunk sized monstrosities he calls muscles.

    • Reply

      I was pretty hyped about this news, actually. That is, until I read:

      “Takashi Iizuka, the head of Sonic Team and driving creative force behind the Sonic games, is overseeing the series to ensure that it’s true to the Sonic characters and universe”

      Translation:

      “Sonic will be a hot-headed asshole, Tails will be useless but still the sole voice of reason, Knuckles will be an incomprehensibly stupid asshole, and Amy will be female”

      IS NOTHING BEYOND THE REACH OF TAKASHI IIZUKA’S CLAMMY, INCOMPETENT HANDS?

  • Reply

    What’s that… Thing… Between Sonic and Amy?

  • Reply

    Hmmm…This has caught my interest.

    Also, Knuckles has been hitting the steroids. 😛

  • Reply

    This image makes it look like it might be so bad, it’s good.

  • Reply

    This would be Knuckles, I’m very afraid so.

  • Reply

    HOLY CRAP!!!!! I’m genuinely shocked! But more than anything else I’m bothered by… Knuckles over there (if that’s who that is). Maybe we’re gonna get the Werehog-ish Knuckles we didn’t get in Unleashed? xD

  • Reply

    Wow… I actually kind of like the look of the new designs. Only 4 things really stand out to me…
    #1 being Knucles. All of him.
    #2 being that it looks like Sonic is wearing a jacket. And has more wild spikes.
    #3 is that Amy doesn’t seem to be wearing a skirt (not trying to be pervy… but c’mon… do YOU see one?) Maybe she wears pants now?
    #4 is that… Tails looks exactly the same. 😛

    • Reply

      this is stretch, but they just might have sonic wear a backpack like in satam

    • Reply

      I’ll admit it too, there is no skirt on Amy. I doubt, though, that she will be wearing long pants on a tropical island like that. Get ready everybody, Amy’s going to officially wear short shorts. x-:

  • Reply

    Update: Sega confirms “many” of the cast members from the games will be reprising their roles; no names specified. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151875351727418&set=a.406270927417.185036.23050342417&type=1&comment_id=10352062&reply_comment_id=10352266&total_comments=10

  • Reply

    I would have preferred a 2D animated series or another anime series over a CG animated series, but you never know, it might turn out good.

  • Reply

    (insert angry old man comment here now get off my lawn)

  • Reply

    Why do I feel Sonic a little too furry, also is that… Knuckles? O_o

  • Reply

    I will definitly check the show out. Firefly it will be good. I hope they decide to let robotnik refer to himself as robotnik and have eggman be an insult or something along the line of robuttnik. And why is knuckles a giant? I wonder of knuckles will be returning to his post on angel island since we haven’t scene him there since sadx. I wonder what other characters will appear, especially since sega is trying to reestablish the characters in the games.

  • Reply

    This is rarely ever going to air is it?

  • Reply

    APRIL FOOOOOOOOOOLS!!!oh wait it’s not April….. Uh… Wait what?

  • Reply

    sonic its dead to me now

  • Reply

    OH

    OH NO

    I JUST NOTICED

    KNUCKLES HAS FINGERS

    I WAS TOO DISTRACTED BY HIS BULGING RIPLINESS TO CATCH IT THE FIRST TIME AROUND

  • Reply

    I feel like the character redesigns are not a very good idea. Kids might get introduced to the characters in this form and then play the games, but then might not like the games because the characters are so different. As long as nothing of this show gets into the games, I’m fine with it. Now keep in mind people that this is my opinion on the information that has just been revealed, and not the show altogether. My opinion may change when more is revealed.

  • Reply

    Off in the distance, Yoshi is whimpering, “I’m scared, Mawio!!”

    I have to agree with Yoshi. After something as awesome as Sonic Lost World, they better not destroy the character with this.

  • Reply

    “Comedic animated series”

    Have they learned nothing from Ultimate Spider-Man?

    • Reply

      Good point I mean if one show that’s supposed to be funny is unfunny how can any other show that’s supposed to be funny be funny?

  • Reply

    After reading through this, I say ditch these guys and hire Sonic Paradox!

  • Reply

    Oh gosh! What did they do to you?! Sonic, isn’t too different besides some no looking spikes and a jacket? Knuckles, whoa…. Did he get so mad about not being remembered he hooked up on the ‘roids? The dude looks like a mini Hulk. Amy, the head looks ok, but, no dress. Tails is the only person who looks exactly the same…

  • Reply

    “This will be the first to heavily change the character designs”

    Ever watched Dic’s cartoons?

    • Reply

      That would be a valid point

      Except for the glaring fact that AoStH and SATAM didn’t really change his design too much.

      Unlike…whatever this is. Just look at Knuckles jesus help us all

  • Reply

    *looks at knuckles’ fingers* I.. just don’t know what went wrong…

  • Reply

    Fuck yeah, Knuckles got swole!

  • Reply

    Tails, and -maybe- Amy (She looks a little on the lanky side) seem to be the most unchanged designs. I’m actually digging Sonic’s extra quills, but his body structure made him look more human at first. Knuckles… sigh…

  • Reply

    Sonic… has a human face?

  • Reply

    Aimed at ten-year-olds.
    This is gonna be nuts.

    But hey, if they can introduce more villains back into the series, more power to them.

    And you know the REAL question:
    Who’s gonna do the voice acting?!

    • Reply

      Sega said that at least most of the current voice cast will be doing the voices

  • Reply

    I think it’s worth mentioning here, someone commented that maybe this is a scene from a prehistoric episode, I won’t be surprised if that was the case and it would explain a lot of things with the background, I can see SEGA posting this to troll us and laugh!

  • Reply

    Really hope this show turns out good. Maybe it’ll give me incentive to watch TV again as oppossed to Youtube videos.

  • Reply

    You know what’s the best of all this?
    “Takashi Iizuka […] is overseeing the series to ensure that it’s true to the Sonic characters and universe.”
    So basically, what we see here and what we’re gonna see when the show starts is technically approved by none other that the head of Sonic Team himself. xD

  • Reply

    I love the redesign decision. I think Sonic deserves to have a design change once and a while. But I really hope this has actually good humor as opposed to Sonic X’s horrible comedy and horrible plot.

  • Reply

    I really hope this is either 1: Taking place in an alternate timeline like with what Archie is doing with sonic, or 2: Not going to replace the current sonic character’s outfits because Knuckles here just looks too “Buffy”. I like what they’re doing with the show so far, but I really hope this doesn’t turn into another Sonic X where it changed the whole game series.

  • Reply

    nuckles crecio mucho,eso no me gusto
    sonic usa una chaqueta o algo haci pasable
    tails esta igual que como siempre esta
    amy se nota que usara pantalones
    y por ultimo ni quiero ver como sera el
    dr.eggman

  • Reply

    I can imagine it now

    Kid:Oh cool, Knuckles looks neat in this show!

    (Goes to play Sonic Generations/Lost World)

    Kid:Dude, they got Knuckles wrong! LAME!

  • Reply

    This is so sad for me that sonic franchise is going down the toilet. I actually hate the fact that they don’t pick up where they left off in sonicsatam where metal sonic or scourge comes in. The fact is that the sega now just sucks. sonic generations was a good try but they still failed at it wy cant they listen to the public and then make a good game or television show…

    • Reply

      I don’t think enough kids know about Sonic SatAM for Sega to bother with a sequel. If you’re complaining about things like this, then you’re probably not in the group of people this show is meant to be for (which is 6-11 year old kids).

  • Reply

    OMG, i think i know what this is :O

    look all those extra hair sonic hawe.. and knuckles hawing fingers…

    its all here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtCtQpclpY8

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