This Year...(2019)

Games

A racing spin-off, 2019 saw the debut of "Team Sonic Racing." Although their had been both car-racing games (with the Sega "All-stars") and racing games mixed with plot (the Riders series), this game saw the first combination of the two (excluding the somewhat-obscure 90s ones like "Sonic Drift").

It's gameplay also set to make itself unique by adding it's "team" element, a feature similar to Sonic Heroes.

TSR has been the only game recently and seems quiet about future games, leading to speculation and dreams of "Sonic Adventure 3." I wouldn't go that far. 

Animations

The spring saw two surprising shorts created for TSR, similar to last year's Mania Adventures. Comical, they featured Knuckles, Big the Cat, Shadow the Hedgehog, Eggman, and other characters. 

Even more surprising was the "Chao in Space" animation that Sega posted just this month. Cute and nostalgic, the focus is shared between Sonic in a Chao Garden and a Chao in a dream space-battle.

Comics

The main focus of IDW's fairly new Sonic comics this year has been the "Metal Virus," a metallic pathogen that's turning the planet into a group of Zombie-like robots. Many characters have unwillingly transformed and tension has continued to boil. Unfortunately, the "Zombot" plot has gotten tiresome for some, and it's continuing into next year.

Meanwhile IDW's new heroes, Tangle and Whisper, have taken on a different threat in their 4-part mini-series. The spin-off explored the duo and could be a sign that IDW might expand on alternate stories (Tangle/Whisper or other characters) in the future. There are plans for a new "annual" already. 

Movie

In the summer an unforgettable horror was released upon the world: "movie" Sonic.

Paramont responded to the backlash and took pains to have the CGI-character revised, including enlisting help from Sega's comic/animation go-to-guy, Tyson Hesse.

The cuter Sonic meant the movie would be pushed to February, but it was well worth the wait. 

The Light's Green: Team Sonic Racing Overdrive Returns

Another AMAZING animation in anticipation for Team Sonic Racing has been released. Part 2: Eyes on the Prize.

Honestly, though, I was kind of disappointed there were less characters than last time.

At least we got Team Dark.  

And Team Hero. And Eggman.

I was kind of hoping to see "Team Vector" since neither Blaze nor Silver have ever made it into animated material (Vector has been in Sonic X and Sonic Boom).

However it is very expressive and I suppose what it lacks in characters it makes up for in visuals.

I still have some hope that there will be a surprise "Part 3" (considering Mania Adventures--which had 6 parts to begin with--had an additional 7th). But the game comes out in May, and TSR is not a part of the "main series" (as a racing game, it's a spin-off). It likely does not have as much of a priority. I wonder what kind of opening TSR will have (if any).

Crush 40's song for the game, "Green Light Ride" is also used in this short. Crush 40, of course, is known for their Sonic themes and haven't made the title theme since 2009 (since then they've done some covers as well as "Sonic Youth"). I know I keep stressing this, but it's a long time coming (TEN YEARS? How did that happen?). 

Ultimately, I hope that Sega continues to work with Tyson Hesse and that these shorts become a regular alongside new games. They're awesome, creative, and too good to ignore.   

Unlike trailers.

TSR Overdrive: New Animated Short Races to Impress

Is that...NO, NOT YACKER!

Sega's done it again. In a style somewhat similar to Mania Adventures (yeah, congrats, there's no talking classic fanatics), a new animated short has been released!

So far Team Sonic, Rose, and Dark have appeared, as well as Eggman and an Egg Pawn. So that leaves Team Vector and Dona-whatever-his-name-is. I think including Blaze and Silver would be a real treat since they haven't appeared in any Sonic cartoons to this date--and of course who wouldn't want to see Vector--but we'll have to wait and see...

Apparently the reason they don't have dialogue is not actually to mimic Mania. Modern Sonic = talking, but they didn't have voice work done due to the cost of translating to other countries. I'm sure it's actually worked to their favor, here, though.

and, uh...PEACE!

Creative, funny. I don't think it's animation is quite as good as Mania--but it has a lot more elements and characters to consider.

At the moment it sounds like there will only be 2 parts, with the second airing in April. But maybe with a little fan persuasion...

This awesome-ness does have one drawback, however. Those rumors about a "new cartoon" (as fans claimed, "to replace Sonic Boom") that everyone jumped at can all likely be drawn back to this. And it's awesome, but it's just another promotional mini-series.

I like it and hope this is a sign that Sega will continue to create shorts for games in the future. TELL ME, SILVER. I WANT TO KNOW.


Team Sonic Racing has a lot of hype now, between the trailers, the one-off comic, the pushed date, and now these shorts. Lets just hope it doesn't blow up in their faces!

Always look both ways before crossing the street, kids.