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| Series | Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (“AoStH”), first-run syndication |
| Episode | Episode 1 of 65 in production order (code 238-101) · aired 23rd · WildBrain no. 101 |
| First aired (US) | 6 October 1993 · syndication |
| Written by | Bruce Shelly & Reed Shelly |
| Directed by | Kent Butterworth |
| Sonic Says | Calling 911 in an emergency |
| Previous | – (first episode in production order) |
| Next | Subterranean Sonic |
Origin storyScratch & Grounder’s originCoconuts
Super Special Sonic Search & Smash Squad is episode 1 of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog in production order (production code 238-101), the order used by the DVDs, WildBrain’s official uploads and our episode guide. It was the 23rd episode to air in the 1993 syndicated run, on 6 October 1993. It was written by Bruce Shelly & Reed Shelly and directed by Kent Butterworth.
Synopsis
The episode opens with Sonic and Tails dangling upside down, captured at last by Scratch and Grounder. Sonic, unbothered, decides to remind his captors how they all met – and the rest of the story is one long flashback.
It starts at a convention of robot bounty hunters, where Robotnik offers a fortune for the hedgehog without noticing that Sonic is sitting in the audience. When the hunters give chase, Sonic sends each one to its doom. Back at the fortress, Robotnik feeds his robot-making machine everything it needs to build the perfect Sonic-catcher and gets Scratch; one extra lever later he also has Grounder, and the pair start squabbling over who is his favourite before the paint is dry.
Watching from latrine duty, the demoted Coconuts swears he will bag Sonic himself and win his old job back. His meddling is exactly what gives Sonic the chance to slip free in the present day and have the last laugh.
Key Moments
- Robotnik’s bounty-hunter convention, with Sonic hiding in plain sight.
- Scratch is built first and mistakes Robotnik for his mother; Grounder follows when Scratch pulls the wrong lever.
- Coconuts, reduced to cleaning the toilets, vows revenge on the new favourites.
Sonic Says
Sonic explains when and how to call 911 – and that it is only for real emergencies.
Every episode’s segment is listed on the series page.
Trivia
- The show’s origin episode: it explains the Super Special Sonic Search and Smash Squad of the title.
- Its Sonic Says, about calling 911, is the first segment of the 65-episode series; the unaired pilot had an earlier one, about crossing the street.
- WildBrain’s official upload is titled “Super Special Sonic Search and Smash Squad”.
- Between them, Bruce Shelly and Reed Shelly also wrote Lovesick Sonic, Birth of a Salesman, Tails’ New Home, Spaceman Sonic, Tails’ Tale, Hero of the Year and Fast and Easy.
Watch the Episode
The full episode (uploaded as “Super Special Sonic Search and Smash Squad”), from WildBrain’s official WildBrain Hero Tower 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 and the on-screen title card; 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.