 Japanese title card · “The Day the World Stood Still” | |
| Series | Sonic X (ソニックX), TMS Entertainment |
| Season | Season 2 (2003–2005) |
| Episode | Season 2, episode 23 · no. 49 of 78 |
| English title | “The Beginning of the End” (4Kids) |
| Japanese title | 世界が静止する日 (Sekai ga Seishisuru Hi, “The Day the World Stood Still”) |
| First aired (Japan) | 7 March 2004 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 12 March 2005 · Fox Box / 4Kids TV (Fox) |
| Directed by | Mamoru Enomoto |
| Written by | Masahiko Shiraishi |
| Storyboard | Kiyoshi Egami |
| Previous episode | The Volcanic Venture (S02E22) |
| Next episode | Running Out of Time (S02E24) |
HomeboundTime stagnation
The Beginning of the End is episode 23 of Season 2 of Sonic X and the 49th of the anime’s 78 episodes. In Japan it is called “The Day the World Stood Still” (世界が静止する日). It premiered on TV Tokyo on 7 March 2004, and the 4Kids English version followed on Fox Box / 4Kids TV (Fox) on 12 March 2005. It was directed by Mamoru Enomoto and written by Masahiko Shiraishi.
Synopsis
The Freedom Movement is at its height, Decoe and Bocoe are working for the Thorndykes, and Nelson and Lindsey are finally spending time with Chris. Then the President’s adviser Christina Cooper arrives with a scientist, Dr. Kim Bickley, and alarming news: Earth and Sonic’s world were once one, and they are slowly coming back together.
If the merger finishes, time itself will stop – a phenomenon the government calls “time stagnation”. The only fix is to send Sonic and everyone from his world back home, and Chuck already has the go-ahead for Project Homebound.
Chris refuses to accept it. Convinced it is another Eggman trick dressed up as science, he gets Decoe and Bocoe to take him to their old boss, with Bokkun showing the way. Eggman’s answer stings: this time it isn’t his doing, and Chris is being childish and selfish – Sonic and his friends have to go home. Tails finds the last two Emeralds, and Chuck starts building the portal.
Key Moments
- Dr. Kim Bickley explains “time stagnation”.
- The government decides Sonic and his friends must go home.
- Chris refuses to believe it.
Trivia
- As Wikipedia’s episode list notes, the Japanese title echoes the 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still.
- 4Kids TV aired it on 12 March 2005, the same day as “The Volcanic Venture”.
- On home video: Japanese DVD/VHS volume 13 (Victor Entertainment, 21 July 2004); 4Kids/FUNimation volume 10, The Beginning of the End (16 May 2006); the The Egg Moon, Emerl & Homebound Sagas DVD set (2009); and Discotek’s Sonic X Collection 1 (2016) and complete-series Blu-rays.
Watch the Episode
The full 4Kids English episode, uploaded by TMS Entertainment’s official “Anime! on TMS” YouTube channel (checked 6 November 2026).
Part of our Sonic X Season 2 guide. See the Sonic X series page for the cast, theme songs and home video.
Sources: titles, credits and air dates from Wikipedia’s list of Sonic X episodes and Sonic Wiki Zone, cross-checked with each other and with Luke’s original Sonic Scene episode table; synopsis written for Sonic Scene from the episode, Wikipedia’s summary and Sonic Wiki Zone’s plot notes; title card and screenshots via Sonic Wiki Zone, copied to our media library.