The next mainline Sonic the Hedgehog video game could lean more on storytelling, said creative officer Takashi Iizuka on Wednesday, so it reaches not only long-time followers, but new fans through movies and animations as well.

He made the comment in an interview with Anime News Network at this year's Anime Expo in Los Angeles, where SEGA announced a new short-form animation to commemorate the franchise's 35th anniversary.

The creative chief gave no further details about the next mainline title, which may follow the open-zone approach from Sonic Frontiers.

"After releasing Sonic Frontiers, we took on the challenge of creating a full-fledged, cross-platform, online multiplayer game with Sonic Racing CrossWorlds. This was a new feature for Sonic titles, so I'm excited that we were able to make it a reality. I can't reveal any more information about our next project. Still, I'd like to create a story-driven game that can be enjoyed not only by gamers but also by fans of the character who discovered Sonic through movies and anime."

The franchise has drawn new fans through recent theatrical releases, third-party collaborations, and animations on social media and Netflix. SEGA has touted Sonic's multi-faceted reach as part of the company's "transmedia" effort, which recently expanded to Rovio's Angry Birds.

In fact, the Sonic franchise are among the properties that adopted a "more community-oriented strategy" to deepen ties with fans, which SEGA president Shuji Utsumi remarked at an Anime Expo panel that Anime News Network reported last Thursday.

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Iizuka's interview also covered the shadow-dropped launch of the Definitive Edition of Frontiers, which was a part of the 35th anniversary celebrations despite earlier leaks; and CrossWorlds' weak fiscal performance, despite good reviews and a newly planned season of post-launch content.

When asked about the blue blur's 40th anniversary, the creative chief said it "would absolutely be a milestone worth celebrating in a big way," but the focus for now will stay on this year's 35th anniversary.

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