 | |
| Series | Sonic the Hedgehog (“SatAM”), ABC |
| Season | Season 1 (1993) |
| Episode | Season 1, episode 10 (guide and DVD order) · aired 6th · WildBrain no. 109 |
| First aired (US) | 23 October 1993 · ABC |
| Written by | Frank Santopadre |
| Directed by | Dick Sebast |
| Story editor | Len Janson |
| Opening theme | “Sonic the Hedgehog” main title – Noisy Neighbors Productions |
| Previous episode | Hooked on Sonics (S01E09) |
| Next episode | Warp Sonic (S01E11) |
Cloud BursterIsland of NimbusSonic and Sally
Sonic’s Nightmare is episode 10 of Season 1 of Sonic the Hedgehog, the ABC cartoon fans call SatAM, in the order of our original episode guide and the Shout! Factory DVDs. It was the sixth Season 1 episode to air, on 23 October 1993. It was written by Frank Santopadre and directed by Dick Sebast.
Synopsis
Sonic is losing sleep over a recurring nightmare in which Sally is roboticized while he stands by, powerless. The timing could not be worse: Sally has uncovered Robotnik’s Cloud Burster, a giant airship built to seed the clouds with toxic rain, with the factory island of Nimbus in the Great River as its testing ground.
An attempt to sabotage the craft fails, and Sally, Bunnie and Antoine are captured and caged on Nimbus. Haunted by his dream, Sonic has to keep his nerve as he crosses to the island, lures a self-guiding fireball into the river and tricks a squad of SWATbots into the water, all while Robotnik hunts him from the sky.
Damage to the Cloud Burster’s circuits forces Robotnik to retreat, but the island is sinking. Sonic has Sally press a Power Ring against the cage’s energy bars to drain them, and with everyone holding on he speeds them out of the collapsing factory before Nimbus vanishes beneath the water. Sally decides the nightmare was a warning to think before he acts – then finds Sonic asleep, dreaming of chili dogs.
Sonic must fight to retain control of his mind while being tormented with a recurring nightmare, where Princess Sally is roboticized by Robotnik and Snively, and he is powerless to stop them. The Freedom Fighters learn of Robotnik’s next plot, which is seeding clouds with acid rain, using the factory-filled Nimbus Island as a testing zone. Princess Sally realizes that if anyone is there, they must be warned, and Sonic leads the way. Sonic begins to fall apart, daydreaming that Sally was Roboticized, and nearly being captured. Will the Freedom Fighters make it out from Nimbus Island, or will Mobius end up swimming in acid rain?
— From Luke’s original SatAM episode guide on Sonic Scene
Key Moments
- Sonic’s recurring nightmare of Sally being roboticized.
- Robotnik’s Cloud Burster, built to seed clouds with toxic rain.
- The factory island of Nimbus sinks into the Great River.
Trivia
- Sixth to air, on 23 October 1993 (Sonic Retro, Wikipedia); Sonic Wiki Zone gives 13 November.
- Released on NCircle’s 2009 DVD Sonic Goes Green.
Watch the Episode
The full episode, uploaded by WildBrain’s official Sonic The Hedgehog – WildBrain channel (checked 5 November 2026).
Part of our SatAM Season 1 guide. See the SatAM series page for the show’s history, cast and credits.
Sources: air date, writer and director from Sonic Retro (Wayback copies), Wikipedia and Sonic Wiki Zone, cross-checked; synopsis written for Sonic Scene from the episode and the official DiC description; title card and screenshots via Sonic Wiki Zone, copied to our media library.