A New Sonic the Hedgehog Animated Series Is Coming to Netflix

A brand new Sonic the Hedgehog animated series is coming to Netflix, the streaming service announced Monday. The 3D animated series will be called Sonic Prime and geared toward “kids, families, and long-time fans,” according to a press release. Twenty-four episodes have been ordered, to debut in 2022.

Sonic Prime is described as “a high-octane adventure where the fate of a strange new multiverse rests in [Sonic’s] gloved hands” and “more than a race to save the universe, it’s a journey of self-discovery and redemption.”

Credit: CNW Group/WildBrain Ltd.

The series will be animated by WildBrain’s Vancouver studio. SEGA and WildBrain will handle production, distribution and licensing. Man of Action Entertainment, creators of the animated hit Ben 10, will serve as executive producers and showrunners for the series.

“With generations of devoted fans around the world, Sonic the Hedgehog is more popular today than ever before, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Netflix, SEGA and Man of Action to deliver all-new Sonic adventures for audiences worldwide,” Josh Scherba, president of WildBrain, said in a statement.

“This premium franchise is ideally suited to WildBrain’s capabilities and it’s already inspiring great things from our talented creative teams. We’ve witnessed first-hand the enduring popularity of this brand from the strong and steady global demand for our library of legacy Sonic series. We look forward now to bringing fresh and exciting Sonic content to fans both new and old.”

2021 marks the 30th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, whose classic Sega Genesis video game debuted in 1991. Since his debut, the “Blue Blur” has sold over 1.14 billion game units and downloads, starred in several animated series, and headlined a long-running comic book series from Archie Comics.

Last year, the franchise proved as enduring as ever with the success of its first feature film, the live-action/CGI hybrid Sonic the Hedgehog. Starring Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, the film became the top grossing video game adaptation of all time in the U.S. A sequel has been announced for April 8, 2022, reportedly due to begin filming in March 2021.