After a seemingly premature announcement in December 2020, Netflix officially announced Sonic Prime, a new 3D animated series from Sega, WildBrain and Man of Action Entertainment. It will debut in 2022.
Here are the first details, via Netflix:
■ About
The animated adventure of 24 episodes for children, families and longtime fans is based on the pillars of the brand and presents the “Blue Blur” of video game fame in a high octane adventure where the fate of a strange new multiverse rests in its gloved hands. Sonic’s adventure is more than a race to save the universe, it is a journey of self-discovery and redemption.
The series will be animated at the WildBrain studio in Vancouver, and Sega and WildBrain will jointly participate in production, distribution and licensing. Man of Action Entertainment, creators of Ben 10 and the characters and the team in the Oscar-winning film Big Hero 6, were brought in as showrunners and executive producers on the series.
Taking advantage of the momentum generated to sonic in 2020 – and as the brand celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2021 –Sonic Prime aims to captivate the imagination of audiences aged 6 to 11, as well as legacy sonic fans of all ages, and will match the scale and scope of epic adventures synonymous with sonic franchise. In 2020, the feature film Sonic the Hedgehog, reached number one in the world on the opening weekend and remained at the global top for weeks, breaking national box office records. Producers Sega Sammy and Paramount Pictures announced that a sequel to the film is in development.
■ Comments
Dominique Bazay, Netflix’s original animation director
“Sonic is a beloved character and has a special place in everyone’s heart, including mine. I spent many hours with the blue blur as a child and it is a privilege to be able to bring this character that everyone knows and loves in a new adventure with Netflix – one that a generation of loyal fans and new fans around the world can enjoy. ”
Ivo Gerscovich, Sega Brand Director
“Sonic the Hedgehog is an icon of global entertainment that has captivated audiences since its video game debut in 1991. With over 1.14 billion game units sold and downloaded to date, an exciting movie, a robust licensing program and much more, the Sega’s iconic hedgehog continues to surprise and delight audiences worldwide. We are excited to partner with WildBrain, Man of Action Entertainment and Netflix to accelerate this new animated chapter on sonic franchise.”
Josh Scherba, President of WildBrain
“With generations of dedicated fans around the world, Sonic the Hedgehog is more popular today than ever, and we are excited to partner with Netflix, Sega and Man of Action to offer all new sonic adventures for audiences worldwide. This premium franchise is ideal for WildBrain’s capabilities and is already inspiring great things from our talented creative teams. We witness firsthand the enduring popularity of this brand due to the strong and constant global demand for our legacy library sonic Series. We look forward to bringing you new and exciting sonic content for new and old fans. “