#robotnikland

How cool would a Sonic amusement park be? Answer: Way past.

“I was going to ask you an important question, but taking a better look at the situation... I think I am going to keep that to myself.” Well... she did have a good idea how to tell who might find her knowledge a little too interesting for their own good and this guy definitely looked like one of them.

Coming into this one right after the Chaos Emerald mini-series was quite a treat! The episode begins with Scratch and Grounder attempting to do something nice for Robotnik, by making him a surprise breakfast of something other than his usual eggs. This does not go well as Robotnik is, well, a huge asshole about it. This scene actually feels a little sad with just how mean he is to them about making a different breakfast, but I promise that this episode has a lot of fun in store!

This is also where I'd like to mention that this episode has a very different look and feel to its animation and even art! I checked the Sonic News Network wiki after watching it because I was curious if it was another outsourced episode, or maybe a really early one (since the video playlist I've been watching on YouTube doesn't seem to follow the original production or airing order of the show). Unfortunately, it had no info on who animated this one, but they did a really nice job and have some fun ways of drawing Robotnik and Sonic, in particular. One thing in particular that I like is how Sonic is drawn with extra-huge hair/quills and it looks pretty cute! He also looks a little taller than usual, possibly because of his hair.

One of Scratch’s better disguises. Most of his body is covered, and his big ol’ fur-suit head seems free of any seams or stitches! Anyway - back to the story - after he bullies his children, Robotnik looks in the morning newspaper and finds out that its Sonic's birthday. He decides he wants to give Sonic a "gift" as the scene then moves to show what Sonic and Tails are up to. Sonic is, honestly, being kind of a jerk at the start of this episode, too. He's disappointed because he feels like Tails is the only one who remembered his birthday, and rather rudely complains aloud about it, even as Tails has gotten a birthday chili dog for him. I can't help but imagine this hurt Tails' feelings as he is trying to do all he can to give Sonic a nice day. While Sonic and Tails are talking, Robotnik is at a nearby amusement park, using a mind control weapon to make everyone inside leave the area. Tails tells Sonic he has to go use "the little foxes room" (cute!) and while Sonic is alone, scratch arrives in an actually pretty good disguise for once, and gives Sonic an invitation to the theme park! Sonic thinks it is a gift from Tails, and excitedly hurries to the location.

This mask that Grounder is wearing is super creepy! It reminds me of SCP 035....thankfully it doesn’t seem to possess Grounder by him wearing it.

Unfortunately, it's a trap! Sonic is trapped inside, and here's the episode gets really zany and fun. It's pretty light on story from here on, but that's okay because what makes this episode stand out to me is that it felt like a free for all for the animators to put together action sequences in a bunch of wacky environments like a giant pinball machine, roller coasters, jungle safari rides, etc. Eventually, we see that Tails and a gang of friends have found an unblocked tunnel to get into the theme park. I'm not sure how they found on Sonic was here, but I'm glad they did! Among the crowd of friends are several familiar faces, such as one of the beach bunnies from the last episode, Professor Caninestein, and Miss Possum! Robotnik tricks Tails and friends into getting onto a roller coaster, which is heading right for a lava flow. They shouldn't have anything to worry about, as we saw last episode that lava seems harmless in this show - nonetheless, Sonic is able to save his friends and send Robotnik and his badniks on a fun-house ride of his own. This is one of the best parts of the episodes as it follows the villains as they run through a wacky, spooky, surreal fun-house of horrors! With the baddies out of the way, Tails and the others present Sonic with a big cake as the episode wraps up.

I love the way they animated Sonic’s “nervous sweating”. Reminds me of Explodey the Dog from Stimpy’s cartoon show...

Some great Robotnik faces in this episode!  😄

They drew Miss Possum’s tail coming out of her butt!!

Once the villains get sent into the “Haunted Ride”, there’s several homages to the classic Fleischer cartoon “ Bimbo's Initiation ”

In the Sonic says segment, Scratch and Grounder catch themselves on fire while making eggs for Robotnik. Sonic is kind enough to put them out, and warns both them and the audience that they should have supervision while cooking. This advice is probably good for kids at-least, but I almost think its better that I DO cook alone, because sometimes my food gets really smokey and I don't want my family to have to deal with all that biz.

As I said before, this episode is a lot of fun!  There's zany action sequences a plenty, and the haunted house run through is especially cool. Scratch and Grounder are pretty adorable  in this one, and the art style has a nice charm to it that I enjoyed. Definitely a winner!