Sonic the Hedgehog (1993), Episode 1.05: Super Sonic

Sonic the Hedgehog (1993), Episode 1.05: Super Sonic
Original Air Date: October 16th, 1993

“Super Sonic” is, in a way that is likely insignificant to most other fans of the series, an important episode of “SatAM.” This was one of several episodes I had on a VHS tape as a kid and I watched it repeatedly throughout my youth. But this episode may, in fact, be the first piece of “Sonic” media I ever consumed. Let me explain.

A ten minute chunk of “Super Sonic” first aired, the night before SatAM's proper premiere the next Saturday, as part of ABC's 1993 Saturday Morning Preview special. To you young'uns in the audience, to whom the idea of special cartoons only airing on Saturday must seem very strange, let me assure you: Saturday morning was when the really hot shit cartoons were shown. At the time, the Saturday exclusives were considered such a big deal that networks would often run prime time specials a night or two before to introduce kids and their families to what was new that season.

Usually, the events were hosted by stars of other shows on the network. (Sometimes in character, as if you were watching a normal sitcom that just happen to focus around cartoon clips.) It was all a bit of inter-corporate back-patting and marketing, a way to convince kids of how special the in-coming Saturday morning line-ups were. The six years old in 1989 probably really did think something along the lines of: “The stars of “Perfect Strangers” being excited for “Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears” validates my own excitement for the same series!”

But, let me tell you, that shit fucking worked. I was a regular watcher of the preview specials for years and was always glued to my TV on Saturday mornings. In 1993, ABC's Saturday Morning Preview was hosted by the stars of “Hangin' with Mister Cooper” and prominently featured a clip from “Super Sonic.” Also included were clips of “The Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa,” the then-current “Addams Family” cartoon, “Tales from the Cryptkeeper,” “Cro” – does anyone else remember “Cro?” – and whatever the hell “City Kids” was. (The preview special also features an earlier version of the “SatAM” theme song, which is mildly interesting.)

I have extremely distinct memories of watching this special. Except I remember it being hosted by the “Steps by Steps” kids, who apparently handled the previous year. I'm not going to chalk this up to some Mandela Effect multi-dimensional tomfoolery and will instead just assume that I saw both as a kid and that my memory is garbage. Naturally, some kind soul with a blurry VHS recording of the special has uploaded it to YouTube. In case you were wondering, Raven Symone talking about Sonic the Hedgehog is, in fact, the most '90s thing to ever exist.

Anyway, wow! That was a meandering introduction! “Super Sonic” begins with Rotor, Bunnie, and Sally working on creating a waterwheel for Knothole, to provide the Freedom Fighters with some hydro-power. In the process, Sally discovers Nicole is suffering a major malfunction. She and Sonic heads to Robotropolis to find the missing part, where they are chased into “the Forbidden Zone.” This is the resting place of legendary evil wizard, Lazaar, who is always accompanied by his towering Guardian. Robotnik is watching the whole affair and decides to venture into the Forbidden Zone and retrieve Lazaar's computer of magic spells. Sonic also tries to pursue these magic spells, for Good, and ends up getting his speed zapped away by the wizard, who is going through a crisis of conscience these days.

Ya know, it's surprising that ABC chose this episode for the Saturday morning preview, because it's pretty plotty. Yet I think I can deduce why. While on his path into the Forbidden Zone, Sonic has to run through a gauntlet of crushing presses, snapping robot arms, giant pendulum, and vents spewing fire. This is actually the first time “SatAM” resembles a video game in any way, which probably made this episode a good choice from a marketing stand-point.

As a kid, “Super Sonic” – and this can be said of “SatAM” in general as well – struck a chord with me because of the way it casually combines sci-fi and fantasy tropes. This is obviously predominantly a science fiction series, what with its robots and high-tech computers. Yet this is the second episode in a row where magic is an explicit plot point. Lazaar is straight-up a classical wizard, shooting magical bolts from his fingers and casting spells. Yet, as a good example of the shows genre blending, he doesn't store his arcane knowledge in a grimorie but on a computer... That just happens to look like a blinged out crystal. It's cool, weird shit, is the point I'm getting at.

And while I'm glad Lazaar and his grimacing sentinel of a guardian were a one-off threat, they are pretty neat. Up until this point, the only version of villainy that existed in this show hasn't been especially ambiguous. Robotnik luxuriates in his own evilness, Snively is a scheming goony, and the SWATBots are literal robotic servants. Lazaar, meanwhile, feels bad about his legacy of wrong deeds, seeking some redemption. He's even something of a classical trickster figure, taking away Sonic's speed as a way to truly test the hedgehog's heroic mettle. It is definitely surprising that no other “Sonic” media has dug deeper into this character and his history. The comics featured a Forbidden Zone but as a blasted-out nuclear desert outside Robotropolis, not a secluded and dangerous part of the actual city.

This episode is also a good example of how indebted “SatAM” is to “Star Wars.” Lazaar talks in a manner not dissimilar to Yoda, that pseudo-backwards kind of syntax. Though more ominous than Yoda, he's still something like a wise old mentor figure. Lazzar's Guardian, meanwhile, looks a lot like Darth Vader. To the point where when he discover that's his actual face and not an inexpressive mask, I was surprised. Outside of Lazaar's lair – which also resembles the kind of thing you'd find in a galaxy far, far away – are bubbling pits of liquid that snapping animal claws reach out of, which seems like the kind of thing you'd see on Degobah or Tattoonie or another one of those planet with a stupid George Lucas name.

So obviously “Super Sonic” is an episode I clearly have a lot of nostalgia for. Which makes me wish it was a little better than it actually is. Sonic loosing his speed should be a huge determent to the character, as its his defining super power and his main attribute. However, instead of building the entire half-hour around this, its just one small part of an episode with a little too much story. Likewise, when Robotnik is scrolling through Lazaar's list of spells, he uses the “slavery and submission” spells to brainwash Sally and Bunnie. (In case you were wondering whether Robotnik is a dom or not...) This too feels like it probably should've been a bigger part of the episode, instead of just another thing that happens in the last third. The Freedom Fighter's leader and its strongest member being turned against our heroes should've been a bigger deal.

Still, as always, it is fun watching these characters interact. The opening scene, where Bunnie and Rotor have some banter while building the waterwheel, is a lot of fun.That pays off in a great way at the end of the episode when Sonic finally sees the fruit of all this effort – a single light bulb flickering on – and is soundly underwhelmed.  Bunnie actually gets to kick some ass later, doing a flipping kick into a SWATBot, which is nice to see. So is the required amount of Sonic and Sally bickering/flirting. This episode also marks the first time in this series – and maybe in all of “Sonic” media? – that the hedgehog has a stated affinity for chili dogs.

Even though this is the fifth episode of “SatAM” to air, and the internet tells me it was the sixth to air, I can't help but wonder if it wasn't produced earlier. In addition to being part of that special preview, the animation style reminds me more of the pilot than the other episodes of “SatAM.” the animation is a little looser and cartoonier, the character having slightly more bounce and stretch to them. That might just be me. Also, it's weird that Tails and Antoine are completely absent from this episode. Sorry if I rambled off-topic but y'all are probably use to that by now. “Super Sonic” isn't an all-timer but there are things about it that I like, so it gets a [7/10.]