{"rewrite":{"id":"r_8fcc19b99c2725ff0a9783f9","clusterId":"c_7788a4408e5e43ebb85d1b06","slug":"sega-reveals-sonic-the-hedgehog-memories-and-beyond-short-film-at-anime-expo-2026","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Sega Reveals Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond Short Film at Anime Expo 2026","summary":"Sega announced the Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond 35th anniversary short film at Anime Expo 2026, releasing a sneak peek video. The full short debuts this fall. The story involves Dr. Eggman upgrading Metal Sonic using Sonic's life-data and the Chaos Emeralds, with Sonic and friends relying on their friendship to win.","whyItMatters":"The short film marks a new animated project for the Sonic franchise's 35th anniversary, with key creative staff present at the panel.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eSega unveiled the Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond short film during an Anime Expo 2026 panel on Saturday, accompanied by a sneak peek video. The full short is set to debut this fall. According to Sega\u0026#39;s description, Dr. Eggman\u0026#39;s scheme involves upgrading Metal Sonic into an ultimate fighting machine by stealing Sonic\u0026#39;s life-data and harnessing Chaos Emerald power, forcing Sonic and his friends to rely on their friendship to defeat him.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSonic art and animation team members Takashi Iizuka, Austin Keys, and Jasmin Hernandez attended the panel, which celebrated 35 years of the franchise. Separately, the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog 4 film is scheduled for March 19, 2027, with a fifth film planned for 2028. The franchise also has a manga, Sonic to Yūki no Tsurugi, which launched in Monthly CoroCoro Comic in June 2025.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Sega announced Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond, a 35th anniversary short film, at Anime Expo 2026. A sneak peek video is out. Full short this fall.","twitterPost":"Sega announced Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond, a 35th anniversary short film, at Anime Expo 2026. A sneak peek video is out. Full short this fall.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Sega announced the Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond 35th anniversary short film at Anime Expo 2026, releasing a sneak peek video. The full short debuts this fall, featuring Dr. Eggman upgrading Metal Sonic. Key staff including Takashi Iizuka attended the panel.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-04/sonic-the-hedgehog-memories-and-beyond-short-animated-film-revealed-in-sneak-peek-video/.239283\",\"title\":\"Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond Short Animated Film Revealed in Sneak Peek Video\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":3810,"outputTokens":613,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1783147714,"createdAt":"2026-07-04T06:38:40.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-04T06:43:32.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-04T06:38:40.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_7788a4408e5e43ebb85d1b06","canonicalTitle":"News\nSonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond Short Animated Film Revealed in Sneak Peek Video","representativeArticleId":"a_ebf7f6ea32c5c35b03e698db","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"anime\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-04T05:57:25.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-04T05:57:25.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-04T06:43:32.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-04/sonic-the-hedgehog-memories-and-beyond-short-animated-film-revealed-in-sneak-peek-video/.239283","title":"News\nSonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond Short Animated Film Revealed in Sneak Peek Video"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond"],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}