 | |
| Series | Sonic Underground (DiC, 1999) |
| Season | Season 1 (the only season) |
| Episode | Episode 20 of 40 (production order) · production no. 420 · WildBrain no. 120 |
| French title | BB AJT |
| First aired (France) | 14 March 1999 · TF1 |
| First aired (US) | 24 September 1999 · BKN Kids II (syndication) · 20th in US broadcast order |
| Written by | Len Janson |
| Directed by | Marc Boreal, François Hemmen and Daniel Sarriet; Tom Smith (US) |
| Song | “Being a Kid Is Cool” |
| Previous episode | The Jewel in the Crown (S01E19) |
| Next episode | Dunes Day (S01E21) |
ManicHip the babySanctuary
Three Hedgehogs and a Baby is episode 20 of Sonic Underground, DiC’s 1999 cartoon about Sonic, Sonia and Manic, the hedgehog triplets of Queen Aleena. It is number 20 in production order – the order TF1 first showed the series in France, where it premiered on 14 March 1999 – and it was the 20th episode to air in the United States, on 24 September 1999. It was written by Len Janson, and its song is “Being a Kid Is Cool”.
Synopsis
While investigating Robotnik’s new micro-Roboticizer, the siblings find a baby hedgehog abandoned in an alley. Unable to trace its parents, they leave Manic on babysitting duty, much to his disgust.
Manic soon finds that the baby loves music and flying, nicknames it “Hip” and becomes very attached. When the others suggest a shelter, he insists that the safest place is Sanctuary, the secret refuge for the Resistance’s children, and sets off to take Hip there alone. Sonic and Sonia learn the truth too late: the micro-Roboticizer was a distraction, and Hip is a spy robot built to lead Robotnik straight to Sanctuary.
Sonic and Sonia race after Manic with Sleet’s fleet on their tail. In the struggle Hip falls and smashes, and Manic is heartbroken to find that the baby he loved was a machine. The siblings beat off the fleet and keep Sanctuary hidden, and Manic later visits the real children there to teach them about rhythm.
The Song: “Being a Kid Is Cool”
“Being a Kid Is Cool” fits the closing scene, where Manic shows the Sanctuary children that you do not need instruments to make music.
Key Moments
- Manic becomes a reluctant babysitter.
- “Hip” is revealed as a Robotnik spybot.
- Manic visits the real children at Sanctuary.
Trivia
- The title spoofs the 1987 film Three Men and a Baby.
- Sanctuary, the children’s refuge, already comes up in Tangled Webs, when Trevor lets its name slip in front of Cyrus.
- Babysitting had already been played for laughs in a DiC Sonic cartoon: Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog did it in “Baby-Sitter Jitters”.
Watch the Episode
The full episode, uploaded by WildBrain’s official Sonic The Hedgehog – WildBrain YouTube channel (checked 6 November 2026).
Part of our Sonic Underground episode guide. The series page covers the characters, the songs, the prophecy and the show’s history.
Sources: titles, writers, songs and air dates from Luke’s original Sonic Scene guide, cross-checked with Wikipedia, Sonic Wiki Zone and Sonic Retro (Wayback copy); synopsis written for Sonic Scene from the episode, its official description and several fan references; title card and screenshots via Sonic Wiki Zone, copied to our media library.