[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWEzxtIAm98[/youtube]

SEGA of America announced on Sonic’s 20th Birthday last week that their blue hedgehog will be making his inflatable return to the Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade this year in celebration of his 20th Anniversary. Sonic the Hedgehog was the first video game character to ever appear in the parade way back in 1993. This year Sonic will again be appearing in balloon form measuring approximately 48-feet tall, 60-feet long, and 26-feet wide.

The 85th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® takes place on Thursday November 24th and airs live in the U.S. nationwide on NBC-TV, from 9:00 am – Noon, in all time zones.

Check out the press release below:

SAN FRANCISCO, CA and NEW YORK, NY – June 23, 2011–A beloved blue blur is set to return to the skies of New York City, as SEGA® of America, Inc. today announces that Sonic the Hedgehog will fly once again at the 85th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. On Thursday, November 24th, Sonic will defy gravity and soar as a giant helium balloon in the famed spectacular in celebration of his 20th Anniversary. A trailblazer from the start, Sonic in 1993, made his debut as the first-ever video game character to appear in the heralded march down the streets of Manhattan. Over the past 20 years, Sonic has evolved as one of gaming’s greatest icons, with his blue body and unforgettable spikes being recognized worldwide as a symbol of speed, adventure and fun.

On Thanksgiving, the Sonic balloon will sky rocket into the atmosphere with massive blue spikes, his signature white gloves and red shoes, shining in the sun. For his parade return, Sonic will measure approximately 48-feet tall, 60-feet long, and 26-feet wide, solidifying his presence, once again, as a historic character in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade line-up.

“Sonic the Hedgehog was a Macy’s Parade trailblazer when he burst into the line-up, becoming the first-ever video game character to fly in our annual march,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “Sonic continues to be a worldwide phenomenon and we are thrilled that this Thanksgiving his distinctive blue spikes will be seen zooming down the route once more, as part of his 20th birthday celebrations.”

“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a celebration of the most famous faces and characters in our culture, so it was a simple decision to bring Sonic back to the parade to celebrate his 20th anniversary in great company,” says Judy Gilbertson, Senior Brand Manager, SEGA of America. “It will be a thrill for Sonic fans young and old to see the balloon this Thanksgiving.”

Alongside his parade return, Sonic’s highly anticipated new title, Sonic Generations, will be released this holiday season,commemorating Sonic the Hedgehog’s 20thanniversary.

Sonic Generations features Sonic the Hedgehog playable as both the much loved classic 1991 character and the modern day video game hero he has become. In this exciting new fast paced adventure set across three defining eras from 20 years of Sonic the Hedgehog, you can now speed through some of the most iconic environments, playing as Classic Sonic in re-imagined 2D side scrolling levels and as Modern Sonic in all new, stunning 3D levels.Sonic Generations will be available this holiday season for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Nintendo 3DS™.

The 85th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC-TV, Thursday, November 24, 2011 from 9:00 am – Noon, in all time zones.

Source: SEGA of America’s website

Thanks to SSMB member XD375 for the heads up!