Sonic the Hedgehog turns 35 and Sega celebrates with Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond, a 13-minute animated short (13:08 in the full video) that arrived on November 12, 2026, to the official channel of the franchise on YouTube. The piece works as the center of the animated part of an anniversary that has spread throughout the year.
The starting point is an old obsession with Dr. Eggman: Turning Metal Sonic into the ultimate combat machine. To achieve this, he steals Sonic’s vital data and resorts to the power of the Chaos Emeralds, forcing Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow and Rouge to stand up to the scientist and his creation.
When Metal Sonic absorbs Sonic’s memories
The conflict takes a turn when Metal Sonic absorbs the emotions and memories of his rival. It is there where the team uses Sonic’s good moments to try to change the machine, and the short takes advantage of that thread to review key stages of the saga: Sonic 2 together with Tails, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic CD with Amy and Sonic Adventure games with Rouge and Shadow.
The most recent trailer revealed Super Metal Sonic, a track of how far the Eggman upgrade leads. The full video can be seen here:
Ian Flynn signs the script for a 3D special
The original story was conceived by Takashi Iizuka, while the script was given by Ian Flynn, a name known for his work on Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Origins and Sonic the Hedgehog comics. The animation is in 3D and worked on GXS Productions, a studio that had already collaborated with Sega in the animations of Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings and Sonic Racing: Crossworlds. This would be his fourth collaboration with the company, also telling the animated trailer for the Shinobi DLC: The Art of Vengeance.
Production lasted more than twelve months. The release date was confirmed with a trailer presented at Club Chaos, in New York, on October 9, after the project was announced at Anime Expo 2026 with a preview.
From 1991 to the anniversary t-shirt
The original Sonic came out in June 1991 for Sega Genesis, developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. That starting point holds all the anniversary speech, and the short one closes it by thanking fans 35 years of memories with a phrase: «Lets race forward together and create many more».
The celebration has also had its commercial part: a special edition shirt of Memories and Beyond At the Sega Shop, within the 35th anniversary collection, and limited time discounts on titles such as Sonic Frontiers and Sonic Origins.