History Recap / SonicSatAMS01E01HeadsOrTails

Sonic heads to Robotropolis in search of materials to build a defense against an impending invasion by Robotnik. However, the inexperienced Tails is tagging along.

!!Tropes appearing in this episode:
* AudienceSurrogate: One reason Sonic takes Tails to Robotropolis is so he can explain the workings of the setting to the audience.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn:
** Rotor has a goofier design with a purple color scheme. Similar to the Sally example this would be utilized in the comics (though actually was kept as his permanent design in that media). His design would be changed again halfway through the show's run. His personality is also a lot more buffoonish, having more a PluckyComicRelief role that Antoine and Dulcy would later usurp.
** Tails acts like a four-year-old (the age of his other cartoon counterpart at the time) instead of his eight-year-old self.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: This episode features Sonics pet dog Mutsky, who was roboticized by Robotnik. He is never seen or mentioned again.
* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: The pilot's version of Sally has a pink color scheme (with black hair) and [[VocalEvolution a higher more childlike voice]]. This design would be used in initial comics as well, which initially used early concept work for the show to develop upon. Ditto for Rotor, who has a far goofier design.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The pilot has several noteworthy differences from the series proper:
** Sally has [[EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference pink fur and black hair]], rather than the brown fur and hair she has in the rest of the show.
** NICOLE is a computer monitor on a wheeled stand, rather than a handheld computer.
** Buzzbombers appear in this episode, attacking Knothole, making them the only actual enemies from the games to appear in this series. They are never seen again.
** The overall coloring and animation is brighter and lighter.
** The [=SWATBot=]s are shown with their comic-based gray coloring instead of their stealthy black coloring as well as a personality (two are shown laughing at Snively after an accident.)
** The episode's title doesn't have the word "Sonic" in it (though that naming scheme was dropped in the second season anyway).
** Rotor has a different, goofier looking design. Franchise/ArchieComics would keep that design for their adaptation.
** It also contains an example of EarthDrift. Sonic mentions [[Music/GunsNRoses Axl Rose]] while playing the guitar, and the show takes place on Mobius in the 33rd century. No more references to real life places or people are made after this, although if the show had continued for longer, [[WhatCouldHaveBeen it would have been revealed that Mobius is a post-apocalyptic Earth]].
*** In "Sonic Converison", Robotnik makes reference to "Topeka" but then immediately muses he doesn't know where or what it is.
* EarsAsHair: Bunnie is shown using curlers on her ears.
* EarthDrift: Sonic mentions Axl Rose. This is a case of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness and these are averted for the rest of the show's run.
* HiMom: Sonic, Tails and Rotor are confronted with a surveillance orb. It's just Robotnik and Snively at the other end, but Tails still says this phrase.
* NonLethalWarfare: The Freedom Fighters fend off Robotnik's robots with catapults shooting water balloons at them.
* OrphanedEtymology: Sonic name checks Axl Rose. But then again, the third season was going to reveal that Mobius is a far-future Earth (an idea later adapted to the Archie comic series).
* PottyEmergency: Tails tells Sonic that he has to go to the bathroom, and starts shaking up and down.
* SneezeOfDoom: Tails happens to sneeze just as he and Sonic are camped out in an Air-Vent Passageway above Robotnik. Not only does the noise give them away, the force of the sneeze is enough to knock the pair of them out of the vent and into the open.
* WaterGunsAndBalloons: The Freedom Fighters repel Robotnik's forces...with water balloons.
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* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Rotor has a goofier design with a purple color scheme. Similar to the Sally example this would be utilized in the comics (though actually was kept as his permanent design in that media). His design would be changed again halfway through the show's run. His personality is also a lot more buffoonish in the pilot, having more a PluckyComicRelief role that Antoine and Dulcy would later usurp.

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Rotor has a goofier design with a purple color scheme in the pilot episode. Similar to the Sally example this would be utilized in the comics (though actually was kept as his permanent design in that media). His design would be changed again halfway through the show's run. His personality is also a lot more buffoonish in the pilot, having more a PluckyComicRelief role that Antoine and Dulcy would later usurp.