 | |
| Series | Sonic Underground (DiC, 1999) |
| Season | Season 1 (the only season) |
| Episode | Episode 37 of 40 (production order) · production no. 437 · WildBrain no. 137 |
| French title | Mauvaises mines |
| First aired (France) | 12 May 1999 · TF1 |
| First aired (US) | 19 October 1999 · BKN Kids II (syndication) · 37th in US broadcast order |
| Written by | Elenor Burian-Mohr and Terence Taylor |
| Directed by | Marc Boreal, François Hemmen and Daniel Sarriet; Tom Smith (US) |
| Song | “Justice Calling” |
| Previous episode | Sleepers (S01E36) |
| Next episode | The ART of Destruction (S01E38) |
BartlebyA show trialThe ruby mine
Bartleby the Prisoner is episode 37 of Sonic Underground, DiC’s 1999 cartoon about Sonic, Sonia and Manic, the hedgehog triplets of Queen Aleena. It is number 37 in production order – the order TF1 first showed the series in France, where it premiered on 12 May 1999 – and it was the 37th episode to air in the United States, on 19 October 1999. It was written by Elenor Burian-Mohr and Terence Taylor, and its song is “Justice Calling”.
Synopsis
Bartleby, the mink Sonia was once meant to marry, finally gets his hero moment. Robotnik has him charged with treason and convicted in a show trial – a trial that is really bait for Sonia and her brothers. When Bartleby works that out, he would rather be roboticized than see her caught, and begs her to stay away.
Sonia cannot stay away, but first there is a job to do. The siblings have orders to blow up a ruby mine whose stones are good enough to drive titanium-cutting lasers.
With the mine in pieces, Sonia races to the rescue, but Sonic’s speed gets him and Manic there first, and they spring Bartleby from his cell. He and Sonia say goodbye at an airport, and the pompous mink leaves as one of the show’s real heroes.
The Song: “Justice Calling”
“Justice Calling” suits an episode built around a rigged trial.
Key Moments
- Bartleby is convicted in a show trial.
- He tells Sonia not to risk rescuing him.
- The siblings free him and he says goodbye to Sonia.
Trivia
- Written by Elenor Burian-Mohr and Terence Taylor, their one credit in Luke’s guide and on Wikipedia’s list.
- Sonic Wiki Zone lists the song as “Justice Callin’”.
- The French title, Mauvaises mines, is a pun: “looking poorly” or, literally, “bad mines”.
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.