Disney+ Bags Pokémon: Aardman Stop-Motion Series and Classic Anime in New Distribution Deal
Disney+ has landed a global distribution deal with The Pokémon Company International, greenlighting a new stop-motion series from Aardman and bringing the classic Pokémon anime to its platforms.
The headline title is Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu, a stop-motion series produced by The Pokémon Company International with Aardman — the British studio behind Wallace & Gromit. The show follows Sirfetch'd and Pichu on a journey through the Galar Region, helping and protecting Pokémon along the way. It will debut on Disney XD and stream exclusively on Disney+ in 2027 (Deadline, 28 August 2026).
The Aardman creative team includes director Tom Parkinson, Creative Director – IP Development Nat McKay, and Model Making Creative Lead James Young. The announcement was made on Friday at Pokémon XP (Deadline, 28 August 2026).
But the stop-motion series is not the first title to arrive under the agreement. That distinction goes to Pokémon the Series: The Beginning, the classic animated series that follows Ash and Pikachu. It is already airing on Disney XD and streaming on Disney+ (Deadline, 28 August 2026).
Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, oversees the Disney side of the partnership. No further deal terms — duration, financials, or additional titles — have been disclosed.
For Pokémon, the deal widens a property that has run continuously since its 1996 launch in Japan and is described by its parent company as one of the most popular children's entertainment properties in the world (corporate.pokemon.com). The franchise already has a major game release on the horizon: Pokémon Champions launches on Nintendo Switch in April 2026, with early downloaders receiving a Dragonite (pokemon.com, 27 February 2026).
What makes this deal stand out is the creative pairing. Aardman's clay-and-stop-motion craft is a sharp departure from the cel-shaded animation Pokémon fans are used to, and it puts two of the most recognisable names in family entertainment on the same production. For Disney+, the agreement adds an established global franchise to a kids' slate at a moment when streaming platforms are competing hard for family viewing hours.
No episode count or specific 2027 release date has been confirmed for The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu. The Pokémon Company International maintains a press room at press.pokemon.com for further announcements (press.pokemon.com).
