Highlights
- Marza Animation Planet, known for its work on Sonic the Hedgehog games, has released a new short featuring fan-favorite characters Su, Uh, and Lah.
- The short, titled Ghost Tale, is a Halloween special and showcases the same energy and personality that made the characters beloved in the original Sonic: Night of the Werehog short.
- The return of these characters, along with the prominence of Fang the Hunter in Sonic Superstars, suggests that more obscure but beloved characters may make a comeback in the future of the Sonic franchise.
Three fan-favorite Sonic the Hedgehog characters have made a return in an adorable two-minute short released by Marza Animation Planet, the studio responsible for many of the CG cutscenes and animations seen in the series' demo loops and trailers. Marza's made a name for itself as the studio that animated one of the more famous intros for a Sonic the Hedgehog game, stunning many with the opening cutscene for Sonic Unleashed.
As part of Marza's involvement with the animation for Unleashed, the company produced four special shorts starring Sonic and his new friend Chip. Three of these animations can be unlocked as fans make their way through the game, but one in particular was made as a Halloween special. This short, Sonic: Night of the Werehog, would also become a fan-favorite Sonic animation that starred three ghosts known as Su, Uh, and Lah.
These ghosts had memorable designs and were animated with such personality that many fans adored them years after the short premiered. Su, Uh, and Lah grew to be adored by the animators at Marza Animation itself, and they became the studio's de-facto mascots. Now, 15 years later, Marza has once again made another short titled Ghost Tale that stars Su, Uh, and Lah just as fans remember them as a brand-new short treat for Halloween.
Ghost Tale runs for two minutes and is available for free to watch on YouTube, just like the original Night of the Werehog short is, albeit the latter is cut into two parts. There isn't much to it, as it's the same story of Su and Uh trying to impress Lah in order to win her favor and admiration, but it's great to see them animated with the exact same energy that Night of the Werehog was known for. There are a few more ghosts with the three original characters, and eagle-eyed fans can spot props from the original short in the background, such as Lah's Wolfman poster that sparked her interest in Sonic's werehog form.
It's nice to see these ghostly characters return once again after Marza Animation Planet has kept them alive in art and many social media posts about them long after Night of the Werehog short had premiered. Even the Sonic the Hedgehog IDW comics had kept them around, as one of the latest issues show them hanging around in the underbelly of Spagonia, one of Sonic Unleashed's memorable locations.
2023 seems to be a great year to put the spotlight on some of the Sonic franchise's more obscure, but beloved characters. Not only have Uh, Su, and Lah made their return, but Fang the Hunter is a prominent character in Sonic Superstars after decades of him being absent from the games beyond cameos. This only spells good news for those who like the series' extended cast, as there's a high chance that some of their favorite faces may return in the future.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a prolific game franchise that started life on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. Covering both 2D and 3D iterations through the generations, Sonic is known for speedy movements and interesting platforming mechanics.