Sonic the Hedgehog turns 35 this year, and SEGA is celebrating in style. On the final day of Anime Expo 2026, the company unveiled Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond — a brand-new 10-minute animated short film slated for a Fall 2026 release — alongside a sneak-peek trailer that sent the audience into a frenzy. It is the latest in a long line of beloved Sonic shorts, and it looks like it could be the best one yet.
The Story: Metal Sonic Goes Full Chaos
Dr. Eggman is at it again, this time with an especially dangerous plan: harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds to steal Sonic’s life-data and evolve Metal Sonic into an unstoppable weapon. To beat a threat this powerful, Sonic cannot go it alone — the short leans hard into the bonds forged across years of adventures, bringing together Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, Shadow, Rouge, and Tails for a full team-up showdown.
The title — Memories and Beyond — hints at a story that looks backward at the franchise’s history while pointing forward to what comes next for Sonic and crew. Given the short bridges directly to Sonic the Hedgehog 4, arriving in theatres in March 2027, it looks like this will be essential viewing for fans before the film lands.
The Creative Team Behind the Short
The short was announced during a panel titled “Sonic the Hedgehog Animated Shorts: A Frame-by-Frame Retrospective”, and the talent assembled for it reads like a who’s-who of Sonic animation history. SEGA’s own Takashi Iizuka was on stage, joined by series veterans Tyson Hesse (director of the beloved Ova-style short Sonic Mania Adventures), Evan Stanley, and Alan Wan, as well as Austin Keys and Jasmin Hernandez. With Hesse and Stanley involved, expectations are sky-high — their previous Sonic shorts are some of the most-viewed pieces of Sonic content on YouTube.
A 35-Year Legacy Singapore Fans Grew Up With
Sonic has always had a passionate following in Singapore — from the arcade era to Sonic Riders in the early 2000s, through the Boost games on handhelds, and right up to the recent live-action film trilogy. The franchise’s animated shorts are a big part of why the fandom stays so attached between major game releases; Sonic Mania Adventures and the Team Sonic Racing Overdrive shorts racked up millions of views and introduced a whole new generation to the classic character dynamics.
Memories and Beyond arriving in Fall 2026 gives Singapore fans something to look forward to while waiting for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 in March 2027. No streaming platform has been announced yet — watch the official Sonic the Hedgehog YouTube channel for updates. In the meantime, catch up on all our anime news and previews here on GameTrader.