Sega Releases Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond, a 35th Anniversary Animated Short

Sega has released Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond, the animated short it made for the Blue Blur’s 35th anniversary, and you can watch the whole thing for free on the official Sonic the Hedgehog YouTube channel right now.

What it is about

The short was first announced back in July at Anime Expo 2026, during a panel looking back at 35 years of Sonic animation. Sega’s synopsis has Dr. Eggman trying to turn Metal Sonic into the ultimate fighting machine by stealing Sonic’s life-data and using the power of the Chaos Emeralds. Sonic and friends work out that the only way to beat him is to lean on the friendships they have built over all those adventures.

It is a proper ensemble piece. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, Shadow and Rouge all turn up, and Sonic City reported back in the summer that it runs to around ten minutes.

Who made it

According to Sega Bits, the Anime Expo reveal came from Sega’s own Sonic art and animation team, with Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka on the panel alongside guests including Tyson Hesse (the man behind the Sonic Mania Adventures shorts and the Sonic Mania animated intro) and Sonic comics writer Evan Stanley. That is a good sign for anyone who loved the Mania era’s look.

A long line of cartoons

Sonic has never been shy of the small screen. As Time Extension points out, the hedgehog has been through Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, the darker Saturday morning “SatAM” show, Sonic Underground, Sonic X, Sonic Boom and Sonic Prime, and that is before you count the films. For many of us who grew up with a Mega Drive under the telly, though, the bits we remember most are the short animated intros and endings Sega made for the games themselves, and Memories and Beyond feels like it comes from that same place.

Our take

Thirty-five years on, Sonic still gets a birthday party most mascots would be jealous of. A free, ten minute short with the whole gang and Metal Sonic as the big bad is a lovely thing for Sega to put out, and a nice excuse to dust off the Mega Drive this weekend. And if you missed it, our last Sonic story covered Sonic and the Secret Rings getting a revival on PC. Have you watched it yet, and which Sonic cartoon was yours growing up?