Partnering with Paramount, WildBrain is bringing the animated series, Sonic Prime, to the top kids’ entertainment channel, Nickelodeon. On December 7, Nickelodeon aired 22 half-hour episodes and one hour-long special of Sonic Prime in the United States and Australia. Moreover, the series will debut in Italy via the free-to-air kids’ channel, Super!, on December 23. Sometime in 2025, Sonic Prime is set to launch in additional countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
Sonic the Hedgehog Character
Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog is a beloved character created by Japanese game developers, Yuji Naka and Naota Ohshima. Additionally, the iconic hedgehog stars in the Sonic franchise and is Sega’s mascot with the ability to run at supersonic speed. In his adventures, Sonic collects rings by navigating through levels and avoiding their obstacles, all in pursuit of defeating his main enemy and arch-nemesis, Doctor Eggman. Alongside Sonic, a cast of supporting characters, including friends, Miles “Tails” Prower and Amy Rose, and rivals, Knuckles the Echidna and Shadow the Hedgehog.
Rise of Sonic Prime
The animated series follows Sonic on an action-packed adventure through the multiverse. Unlike his past fights with Dr. Eggman, this run-in triggers a universe-shattering event, resulting in Sonic’s prime reality being torn apart. To save his world, however, Sonic embarks on an epic quest, racing through various alternate realities known as the Shatterverse. Moreover, the blue hedgehog gains new allies, consisting of fresh yet familiar faces to aid him along his journeys. In the end, Sonic Prime promised to be a heart-pounding adventure, and given its popularity, it accomplished its goal.
WildBrain’s Vice President of Global Sales & Acquisitions, Katie Wilson, emphasized Sonic the Hedgehog’s impact on the gaming industry. In a statement, she proclaimed Sega’s iconic blue hedgehog as one of the most popular gaming characters worldwide. Furthermore, Sonic Prime has been a huge hit among fans, demonstrating how WildBrain’s partnership with IP owners can drive brand engagement.
Alongside IP owners, WildBrain has also benefitted from its partnership with Paramount, resulting in a successful track record of producing Sonic content. In addition to Sonic Prime, Paramount benefitted from the live-action feature films and the Knuckles series. Furthermore, WildBrain and Paramount aim to extend the show’s popularity to new worldwide audiences on Nickelodeon.
Sonic the Hedgehog’s Popularity
What’s more? Nickelodeon’s Senior Vice President of Global Acquisitions and Content Partnerships, Layla Lewis, echoed the same sentiment. According to Lewis, the Sonic the Hedgehog universe has captivated millions of fans worldwide. Due to its popularity, Nickelodeon was thrilled to collaborate with WildBrain to bring the series to life on its channels, further exciting fans.
Even the Head of Sega Brands, Ivo Gerscovich, would also give his opinion regarding Sonic’s popularity. Specifically, she added that the support from the Sonic community has only grown stronger following its release. Interestingly, Sega aims to build on this momentum by making its content as accessible as possible for its dedicated fans. With this partnership, they hope to achieve their goal of promoting Sonic Prime to broader audiences globally.
Sega and WildBrain Partnership
Sega and WildBrain co-produced the episodic series as a collaborative effort. Additionally, WildBrain’s Vancouver Studio is responsible for bringing its animations to life, while both companies are actively involved in production, licensing, and distribution. Concerning licensing, Sega handles representation for Sonic Prime in these specific countries: North America, Latin America, and Japan. Meanwhile, WildBrain focuses on the rest of the world.
Final Details
Not only do these companies gain from this partnership, but so do the fans, as they receive access to more exciting content. In particular, Sega and WildBrain combined their expertise to produce high-quality Sonic Prime episodes. Alternatively, the collaboration promotes the series to wider audiences, introducing new fans to the series and the franchise. Lastly, this move enables fans to experience more Sonic content, including characters, storylines, and wild adventures.
