 | |
| Series | Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (“AoStH”), first-run syndication |
| Episode | Christmas special (1996), not part of the 65-episode run |
| First aired (US) | 24 November 1996 · USA Network (Sonic Retro’s list: 24 Dec 1996) |
| Written by | Bruce Shelly & Reed Shelly |
| Directed by | Blair Peters |
| Sonic Says | – (no segment in the special) |
| Previous | Sonically Ever After |
| Next | – (the last AoStH story) |
Christmas specialRobotnik ClausSatAM crossover elements
Sonic Christmas Blast is the 1996 Christmas special of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, made three years after the 65 weekday episodes. It first aired on 24 November 1996 on USA Network (Sonic Retro’s list: 24 Dec 1996). It was written by Bruce Shelly & Reed Shelly and directed by Blair Peters.
Synopsis
Christmas Eve in Robotropolis, and the giant screen shows Santa Claus – very obviously a robot – announcing his retirement and his successor, Robotnik Claus. The new Santa turns the holiday upside down: from now on the presents go to him, and a boy who complains is packed off to a robot factory.
Sonic has a Christmas problem of his own. He and Princess Sally agreed not to swap gifts, but he wants to get her one anyway, so he drags Tails out shopping – and straight into Robotnik’s takeover, which leads them to the real Santa, held prisoner. Sonic tricks the robots into giving away where, and the pair set him free.
Santa spots the squiggle on a ring Sally gave Sonic: it matches an ancient cave painting about ultimate speed, whose wearer must pass three tests. Sonic passes all three, takes back the stolen presents and delivers them across Mobius. Santa decides it is time to retire for real, an elf hands Sonic the hat, and Tails dubs him “Sonic Claus”.
Key Moments
- Robotnik Claus takes the stage on the big screen.
- Sonic hunts for a present for Princess Sally.
- Sonic passes Santa’s three tests of speed.
Trivia
- Its 1996 production borrows from SatAM – Robotropolis, SWATbots and Princess Sally – while keeping AoStH’s comedy (Sonic Retro, Sonic Wiki Zone).
- Sonic Retro says it began life as An X-Tremely Sonic Christmas, a tie-in for the cancelled Saturn game Sonic X-treme; it became Sonic Christmas Blast after Sonic 3D Blast.
- Directed by Blair Peters, with Chris Turner replacing Christopher Welch as Tails (Wikipedia).
- Dates differ: Wikipedia, Sonic Wiki Zone (citing a 1996 newspaper TV listing) and Luke’s original list give 24 November 1996; Sonic Retro’s episode list says 24 December.
Watch the Episode
The full special, from WildBrain’s official Sonic The Hedgehog – WildBrain channel on YouTube (checked 6 November 2026).
Part of our Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog episode guide. See the series page for the show’s history, cast, Sonic Says and home video.
Sources: production code, air date and writer from Sonic Wiki Zone’s episode list (codes from the US Copyright Office record), Wikipedia and Sonic Retro (Wayback copy), cross-checked against Luke’s 2017 list; synopsis written for Sonic Scene from the episode and these summaries; title card via Sonic Retro and screenshots via Sonic Wiki Zone, copied to our media library.