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| Series | Sonic Underground (DiC, 1999) |
| Season | Season 1 (the only season) |
| Episode | Episode 38 of 40 (production order) · production no. 438 · WildBrain no. 138 |
| French title | La musique adoucit les monstres |
| First aired (France) | 16 May 1999 · TF1 |
| First aired (US) | 20 October 1999 · BKN Kids II (syndication) · 38th in US broadcast order |
| Written by | Laren Bright |
| Directed by | Marc Boreal, François Hemmen and Daniel Sarriet; Tom Smith (US) |
| Song | “The Sound of Freedom” |
| Previous episode | Bartleby the Prisoner (S01E37) |
| Next episode | The Pendant (S01E39) |
ARTMusic vs machinesLosing hope
The ART of Destruction is episode 38 of Sonic Underground, DiC’s 1999 cartoon about Sonic, Sonia and Manic, the hedgehog triplets of Queen Aleena. It is number 38 in production order – the order TF1 first showed the series in France, where it premiered on 16 May 1999 – and it was the 38th episode to air in the United States, on 20 October 1999. It was written by Laren Bright, and its song is “The Sound of Freedom”.
Synopsis
Robotropolis has a new policy, eradication, and a new enforcer to carry it out: ART (Artificial Robot Thought Technology), a giant robot with a mind of its own that learns as it goes, built to destroy everything in its path, the Sonic Underground included.
ART seems unstoppable until it hears the siblings rehearsing for a concert. The music calms its circuits, and as it learns about friendship it changes sides. In quieter moments the hedgehogs admit to their new friend that they are losing hope of ever finding their mother.
Sleet sees a chance to finish off ART and the hedgehogs together, even using a hologram of Queen Aleena as bait. ART ends up sacrificing itself, and the siblings watch the destruction from a distance.
The Song: “The Sound of Freedom”
“The Sound of Freedom” is the music that wins ART over.
Key Moments
- ART, a thinking robot, is built to destroy.
- Music turns ART against Robotnik.
- Sleet uses a hologram of Queen Aleena as bait.
Trivia
- ART stands for Artificial Robot Thought Technology, according to Wikipedia.
- The French title, La musique adoucit les monstres, plays on the saying “la musique adoucit les mœurs” (music soothes the savage breast): here it soothes monsters.
- Written by Laren Bright.
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.