Abominal Taz Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 *Sigh* Yes...it is a real thing... 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 Simpsons, Drawn 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. Why? Why does Knuckles has fingers YET AGAIN? Why is this appealing to 6-11 year olds? Why do they think this re-design is a good idea? Why? Why Jesus? Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MykonosFan Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 To be fair, Sonic is pretty much aimed at 6-11 year olds anyways. As for the designs, I'll really need to see more than silhouettes, though something tells me I won't like what they did with Knuckles regardless. Also obligatory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaoh Shadon Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 I hope its weird lighting because knuckles looks WEIRD. But I cannot WAIT... But I'm scared. I mean Cartoon Network already ruined the master piece of teen titans and created... Teen titans go... The BIGGEST insult to teen titans. I will give it a try, but I got no faith in it, I REALLY hope I'm wrong because cartoons these day SUCK, so lets hope it renews cartoons for me, and hope its the first good sonic cartoon (yes, I did just say that. X was okay, but way to childpr... NO 4KIDS INVOLVEMENT!!!!! THIS IS GONNA BE AWESOME!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clouder Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 Cartoon Network already ruined the master piece of teen titans Cartoon Network created Teen Titans (the show). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stritix Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 Why is this appealing to 6-11 year olds? SEGA has been marketing Sonic towards the 6-11 crowd lately. I don't think that'll be changing for a while unfortunately. But yeah. Sonic's torso and spikes looks odd. Knuckles as a whole looks weird. Is there really any need for character redesigns? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stritix Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 Might as well bring this to your attention (by theEyZmaster): 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clouder Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 How would they get Rouge in a cartoon aimed at little kids is my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OverbounD Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 That's great Admin.What we can tell is sonic has a V shaped angular body or some sort of clothing, a new hairdo, and large eye brow structure Tails' has a rectangle body, Knuckles is massive and now has fingers. What if this carries over to the games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfinityAlex Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 It won't. SEGA nor Sonic Team wouldn't DARE fuck up the designs. In fact, I think the only reason these are in is due to some threat to Sonic Team similar to what Naughty Dog did to Sony when making Crash Badnicoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OverbounD Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 I hope not, but the Sega of the past 10 years has tried to try Sonic together as a more cohesive brand. Archie is more like Sega's universe now. Sonic X was very much like the games with the addition of the brat. There hasn't been the Satam, Game, Aosth, Fleetway devide like of old. I am worried that Sega might use this TV show to test these new designs before bringing them over to the games. Let's not forget that the 4Kids VO's were transferred to the games. I'm very concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abominal Taz Posted October 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 To be fair, Sonic is pretty much aimed at 6-11 year olds anyways. Well you got me there. These re-designs are what's killing me though? What's with the bulk and (God please let it be...) jacket on sonic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow the BOOLET Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 You know what this reminds me of? Mickey Mouse cartoons. You know how great House of Mouse is with its excellent writing, community nods to movies, and great humor? Then it suddenly it becomes Mickey's Clubhouse. I mean I'm not hating on Mickey's Clubhouse since I guess they really made it for younger kids and hating on that is like hating on Sesame Street. But when you have a series like Sonic, one that has a blue hedgehog fighting fat men's robots enslaving animals, evil knock-offs, and other conspiracies its not going to end well. Sure since Colors seems to have rebooted the series into a lighter sense but still Sonic has been through a lot of shit either way. Even in Colors there was a plot of mind controlling everyone and harvesting wisps and it seemed pretty dark for a lighthearted game. So WAT DA FAK SEGA!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogilvie Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 I hope not, but the Sega of the past 10 years has tried to try Sonic together as a more cohesive brand. Archie is more like Sega's universe now. Sonic X was very much like the games with the addition of the brat. There hasn't been the Satam, Game, Aosth, Fleetway devide like of old. I am worried that Sega might use this TV show to test these new designs before bringing them over to the games. Let's not forget that the 4Kids VO's were transferred to the games. I'm very concerned. Pretty much what I thought. SEGA craves conformity between the various continuities, and still actively hounds Archie on what they can and can't do. The usual lifespan of a design in any franchise is about a decade as memory serves. I won't be surprised if SEGA really does go through with some sort of design change to reflect this cartoon, the same way they replaced the entire voice cast to make them uniform between the games and Sonic X. Thank goodness they got Roger Craig and co. as the voices in the cartoon. I'd hate to go through the voice switch debacle AGAIN. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MykonosFan Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 I'm just glad they announced this a year in advance. By the time this actually airs I'll be more used to the Knuckles change I hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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