Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters

Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters is an animated television series based off of the  video game franchise, the Archie Comics, and the Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon, mixing elements from all media. Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters, otherwise known as Freedom Fighters within the Sonic fanbase, was announced in 2016 and released later that year for the franchise's 25th anniversary.

The series is animated and produced by  (notable for animating Samurai Jack) with the partnership of, Sega, and Sonic Team. The first season entirely aired on Netflix.

Cast

 * as Sonic sixteen-year-old anthropomorphic hedgehog who lives freely, loving adventure and advocating for freedom. He's quick-witted and easygoing, but has a short temper and is often impatient towards slower things. He's notable for his super speed. Roger Craig Smith was offered the role of Sonic due to his roles as him in the video games, an offer he accepted.


 * as Princess Sally/Sally Acorn: A fifteen-year-old anthropomorphic chipmunk who is more opinionated and headstrong, with a logical mindset. She has a playful side as seen when with Sonic but also is shown to be a great leader and the leader of the Freedom Fighters. Sally doesn't have any powers, but is a responsible leader and can hack into technology. Kath Soucie returned to voice Sally Acorn.


 * as Sonia the Hedgehog: Sonic's long-lost sister, who is experienced in combat (most notably martial arts) and is shown to have incredible strength. She is spoiled and snotty due to growing up with Sally Acorn's family. Tara Strong auditioned for the role of Sonia.


 * as Manic the Hedgehog: Sonic's long-lost brother, who is more laid-back and easygoing compared to his siblings, hiding his harder life as a child. He lacks any powers of his own, but is an excellent thief and can use weapons in battle. Jason Griffith auditioned as Sonic the Hedgehog, barely losing to Roger Craig Smith, but was offered the role of Manic.


 * as Miles "Tails" Prower: An eleven-year-old anthropomorphic fox with a positive attitude, being gentle and sweet-natured. Sonic took him up as his "sidekick", a role he enjoys. He has a love for mechanics and is shown to utilize these skills well, creating vehicles such as the Tornado which Sonic currently pilots. Colleen Villard returned from the video games to voice Tails.

Episodes
Main Article: Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters/Episodes

Films
Two theatrical films were produced based on Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters, which have been confirmed to be canon. They're based on the Archie Comics, with the second film being based on the When Worlds Collide event from Archie Comics crossing over the Sonic and Mega Man universe.

Main Article: Sonic the Hedgehog: Edge of Time

Main Article: Sonic the Hedgehog: Worlds Collide

Synopsis
Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters is a series heavily based off of its source material, with two to three arcs in each season and each arc being based on either the games, Archie comics, or the cartoons. There are typically two to three arcs per each season, and there may be an arc going on at the same time as another arc.

Arc 1
Arc 1 is based on the 1991 version of Sonic the Hedgehog. This arc introduces Sonic and how he became a hero.

In Knothole Village, animals are being mysteriously kidnapped each night. Princess Sally is beginning to get worried until a mysterious hedgehog by the name of Sonic appears one day. The blue blur races to stop the kidnapper, a man named Dr. Robotnik, and save Princess Sally and the rest of the animals. Sonic saves the day and is declared the hero of Knothole Village while becoming a mini-celebrity.

This arc debuts Sonic and Sally.

Arc 2
Arc 2 is loosely based off of the Archie Comics and the 1999 series Sonic Underground. This arc features the birth of the Freedom Fighters, a group of heroes dedicated to saving Mobius.

Dr. Robotnik has overthrown Knothole Village, and Sonic appears once again to aide the city. He learns about his mysterious past, which is tied to two siblings: Sonia and Manic. Together, they try to save Knothole Village after Sonic is falsely told that Princess Sally has been kidnapped. Sonic is led into a trap by Dr. Robotnik and is robotized, turning into Mecha Sonic. Princess Sally, Sonia, and Manic form the Freedom Fighters together and stop Dr. Robotnik, saving Sonic.

This arc debuts the Freedom Fighters, a group currently consisting of Sally (the leader) and Sonic along with the Substitute Freedom Fighters who are backup in case of anything were to go wrong.

Arc 3
Arc 3 is based on Sonic the Hedgehog 2. This arc features Tails as he becomes a primary member of the Freedom Fighters.

Sonic, is now relaxing on Westside Island after the events of the last arc. He meets Tails face to face and learns that Tails had upgraded his plane, the Tornado. Sonic and Tails then learn that Dr. Robotnik is on the island and is plotting a plan to steal the legendary seventh Chaos Emerald. Dr. Robotnik kidnaps all of the animals on the island and robotizes them to use them against Sonic and Tails, who called for backup: Sally, Sonia, Manic and the Substitute Freedom Fighters. Sonic turns into Super Sonic to defeat Dr. Robotnik.

Tails is invited into the Freedom Fighters, unlike the Substitutes, and Sonic's popularity increases. He's now famous within Westside Island and Mobotropolis.

Arc 3.5
Arc 3 is loosely based on Knuckle's Chaotix. This arc introduces Knuckles and the Chaotix.

Dr. Robotnik discovers Westside Island and learns of a legend about the Chaos Ring and Chaos Force; a ring holding the power from the Chaos Force, the source of Chaos Energy. He travels to Angel Island, where the Chaos Ring lies. A group called the Chaotix appears, protecting the Master Emerald. Knuckles the Echidna, Mighty the Armadillo, Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon, and Charmy Bee faces off against Dr. Robotnik whose E-100 series defends him. Robotnik finds the Chaos Ring and flees on his Death Egg, where he plots to create Dark Rings from the Chaos Ring to power his robots.

This arc debuts the Chaotix and features the Master Emerald. It concurrently runs with Arc 3.

Arc 4
Arc 4 is loosely based off of Sonic the Hedgehog television series. This arc continues to focus on Sonic and his family's past.

Sonic heads to Mobotropolis to visit Sir Charles the Hedgehog, his uncle, but remembers that his uncle disappeared years ago. Regretful that he couldn't find his uncle, he invites Tails to help find him. They find Dr. Robotnik's base where Sir Charles the Hedgehog is, enslaved by the former to make machines. They defeat Dr. Robotnik and save Sir Charles the Hedgehog. Sonic learns that his uncle was forced to make the Roboticizer, and despite his wishes, his siblings learn about his life with his uncle.

This arc debuts Sir Charles the Hedgehog, and introduces him as a reserve member of the Freedom Fighters, working on machines along with Tails to aid the group.

Production
Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters was co-created by and by, with the partnership of Sega and the Sonic Team. The animation was by, who had done the animation for the fifth season of Samurai Jack, in a similar style. Sega had proposed for a Sonic television series based on the video games and Archie comics.

Man of Action Studios pitched the idea to Cartoon Network, who was still airing Sonic Boom and declined. Netflix greenlit the series, and a pilot was produced; titled "The Blue Blur" which later became the television series pilot, "Green Hill Zone".

A sneak peek was then revealed to the public on July 21, 2016. The series was then announced by Netflix on July 28, 2016. In early August, more information on the series was revealed along with the characters. Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters made its worldwide premiere on December 1st, 2016.

Reception
When the series debuted, it was rated the best-animated television series in its demographic of 8 - 11-year-old kids. Episodes averaged around 1.2 million viewers, becoming one of Netflix's major animated television shows, rivaling Cartoon Network's  and other shows. The series has become a cult following in the Sonic the Hedgehog fanbase.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters has received critical acclaim, with critics praising its art style and characterization, along with its plotlines. IGN has given the series an 8.0, claiming that "Its faithfulness to the series and elements from the games to the shows to the comics has made it an amazing series, and an excellent way to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary.". IGN has later gone on to say that the series was "a mix of Samurai Jack, Teen Titans, and Avatar: the Last Airbender in terms of style".

Tropes
Sonic the Hedgehog: Freedom Fighters/Tropes

Trivia

 * Jason Griffith and Roger Craig Smith have both played roles as Sonic the Hedgehog, and are apart of the main cast.
 * Ryan Drummonds was originally going to play Sonic, instead of Roger Craig Smith.
 * The art style of the series resembles Samurai Jack and Avatar: the Last Airbender, along with Teen Titans' anime-like influence.
 * Designs for the series:
 * Sonic's appearance at first is based on Sonic Generations classic Sonic but slowly morphs into his Archie Comics design.
 * Sally's appearance is based on her Archie Comics design.
 * Sonia and Manic are both based on their Sonic Underground designs, with slight changes for modernization.
 * Tails' design is based on his Archie Comics design, with his Sonic Boom googles on his head.