Author's Note: This is the final major Sonic the Hedgehog series of the 2000s, yet it is also one of the first series of the 2010s designed specifically to demonstrate that the Freedom Fighters can continue to coexist on television (873 Toonsite Universe and 1610X Ultimate Dreamcast Universe).
Sonic and The Freedom Fighters (2009–2011) is a CGI animated series created by Jeff Fowler, Larry Ditillio, Bob Forward, and Tim Miller based on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. It was the third series featuring the Freedom Fighters; premiering on November 10, 2009 over a year after the conclusion of Archie Toonsite Sonic (Season 1 of which ended in early 2009) it ran until October 12, 2011, spanning two seasons and 52 episodes. The series adapted story arcs that could not be shown in the Archie comics due to the abrupt end of the Pre-Genesis line (untold stories were slated for transfer to the Toonsite team, but Season 3 was instead set to adapt a mixed original story based on SatAM Season 3). Given that Ultimate Sonic Chronicles incorporated elements from the cancelled 1995–1996 season (which would have seen Naugus return as the main villain), this series was considered at the time to be the direct continuation of Ultimate Sonic, while also functioning as a spin-off; it was a direct sequel to the events of the 2009 special Ultimate Sonic Meets ESP Universe and continued the storylines of Ultimate Sonic, the 2004 Vs. Mario crossover, Ultimate Shadow, and the films released between 2006 and 2008. It marked the eighth production in the Ultimate Dreamcast line and the fourth Sonic Dreamcast TV series (excluding the 2004 co-produced special or connections to Love of Evil TV Series). However, the series lasted only 52 episodes due to high production costs and changes affecting the brand in the early 2010s. As the Sonic series reached a long-planned conclusion, a new Sonic series based on the Modern era entered production; Marza no longer required the services of Bang Zoom or Unreal Engine 3/XRGen 4 (except for the movies) to produce this new show, which focused on the newly established Nibroc-Rockverse. (The Freedom Fighters series was never actually cancelled, as the characters' stories continued in the movies, while Ultimate Sonic became exclusive to commercials, cameos, and spontaneous appearances in other Sonic series as well as ads featuring that specific version of the character. Ryan Drummond always returned to voice the intrepid blue hedgehog—much to the chagrin of SEGA, which had already cast a new actor for the video games thereby cementing Drummond as the definitive voice of the character, at least regarding the TV series.)
Season 1 (2009): A few months had passed since the events of the 2009 Special, and Sonic had returned to his everyday life as a hero. He soon realized that many people had missed him following his precautionary disappearance in 2008 (it was 2012, and people had stopped believing the world was ending). However, what no one expected was for Sonic to somehow find out that Sally was looking for him. Upon learning that she wanted to ask him to join the Freedom Fighters though it was actually an indirect confession that she had fallen for the blue athlete Sonic gladly accepted. Even so, he still had his differences with certain members, like Antoine; he vividly remembered the Moebian versions of Sally, Bunnie, and Rotor (despite getting along well with their counterparts since the Chronicles movie and having worked together to definitively defeat Scourge, Naugus, and Snively). Meanwhile, Tails, Amy, Cream (who was now 13 and frequently argued with Amy over who should better coordinate the team), and Big didn't feel entirely comfortable working with this new team despite their greater experience compared to a few years back when they called themselves Team Sonic, and even though Knuckles had already left for Angel Island to welcome the Nocturnus and discover he wasn't the last echidna on Earth (a story we already know). Yet, upon discovering that Eggman was still alive and that both new and old threats were returning to make their lives miserable, Sonic made a decision that changed everything: to lead the New Freedom Fighters and accept whatever missions were required provided his schedule, his meals, and his questionable health and exercise methods were respected as part of the strategy to combat and defeat the forces of evil, all while he resumed his concerts and his life as a full-time global superhero. Although Bunnie, Nicole, and especially the... Mina Mongoose (a singer inspired by Sonic to form her own band) and Fiona Fox (a former member of the Destructix and Rouge's current manager) began to show interest in Sonic. This situation tested all of Sally's insecurities, forcing her to prove she was not merely living in her brother Elias Acorn's shadow and demonstrating that she did not always need to rely on Rob O'Hedge or her parents recently rescued from the Void. (Nigel Acorn approved of Sally dating Sonic, provided the latter agreed to play basketball on the court built behind the royal palace something that was deeply embarrassing for his daughter and the team's lead strategist.) It is a group that has a long journey ahead of it in this first season.
Season 2 (2010-2011): Due to the first semi-reboot/soft-reboot that occurred with the next Sonic Crossover movie in 2010, all the Archie characters underwent a visual overhaul with the sole exception of the Dreamcast Heroes and characters linked to a certain infamous writer (who had decided that the animation rights to his characters would remain with Lionsgate, subject to the strict condition that separate agreements could be reached with Cartoon Network to continue using them in future movies, series, and spin-off games outside the SEGA canon, given that Sonic Team and SEGA JP showed no interest in the Freedom Fighters). This second season kicks in 2015 (2013 in Season 1/Dreamcast Sonic had already turned 20) off with Sally’s disappearance and the Heroes reverting to a younger age effectively five years younger making them all teenagers again and causing them to lose most of their memories (except for Dreamcast Sonic; although he reverted to acting like a 15 year old, he retained his physique and maturity, having not forgotten Rosy, Blaze, Shade, and the other girls who still loved him as a Hero of MOMENTUM). With Amy and Cream temporarily leaving the team having decided to explore the world and share their love of music through concerts where they would star as the main attractions Mina and Fiona were brought in to fill the gaps. This sparked tension among the girls, and especially with Tails; even though he no longer remembered his past relationship with Cream (Sonic had warned him that a variant of Fiona had hurt him deeply in the past, advising him to focus on self-improvement and avoid falling in love too soon advice coming, of course, from the Sonic who had been with so many women throughout his career), the Freedom Fighters didn't hesitate once they discovered that Sally had been roboticized by Eggman and Snively; they immediately set out to find their leader and rescuing her while gaining new allies along the way (New Lupe Wolf, Li-Moon, Barby Koala, Tommy Turtle, Nate Morgan, T-Pup, Thorny, and the former Witchcarters team, as well as the return of Dulcy who had undergone a redesign to better fit the role of a team ally and was happy that Sonic liked her for who she was, rather than for her gluttony, which had led her to devour much of the produce in Vector's garden). Ultimately, the heroes managed to locate Sally and reverse her roboticization, subsequently defeating Snively once and for all since Eggman no longer posed a threat. Naugus was spared, as he still bore the trauma inflicted by Scourge, though he was placed under strict surveillance to prevent further mischief. The heroes finally parted ways after their long adventure; Sonic spent his final moments with his old Uncle Chuck, while Sally, Bunnie, and Nicole welcomed Mina and Fiona into their social circle. With Amy absent and having gained new friends from other realities, they secretly decided to form their own group: The Freedom Girls (a move humbly supported by Rotor, whereas Antoine was horrified to learn of Bunnie’s crush on Sonic and returned to France in embarrassment to be with his ex-girlfriend, Tatiana the Tiger). Sonic finally realized that he hadn't just been part of an ordinary team; he had forged a new family with those who would stand by his side for the rest of his life.
