Disney and The Pokémon Company International unveiled a multifaceted distribution partnership that will expand Pokémon content available on Disney’s streaming platforms. The arrangement encompasses both new and established programming, with Disney+ and the Disney XD cable channel receiving rights to air the material.
Central to the deal is a stop-motion series titled Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu, scheduled to premiere in 2027. The series is being developed by Aardman, the animation studio known for properties including Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. The creative team includes director Tom Parkinson, creative director for intellectual property development Nat McKay, and model making creative lead James Young. The show will feature the titular characters navigating the Galar Region while assisting and safeguarding Pokémon inhabitants there.
The agreement also grants Disney platforms streaming and broadcast rights to Pokémon the Series: The Beginning, the foundational animated series introducing core characters including Ash and Pikachu. This content is now available on Disney+ and began airing on Disney XD earlier in August. Disney and The Pokémon Company announced the partnership at Pokémon XP, a fan convention held in San Francisco, on Friday.
Executives from both organizations emphasized the franchise’s broad appeal and the creative approach of the new series. Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, highlighted Pokémon’s ability to resonate with longtime followers while remaining contemporary for younger audiences. Phil Rynda, Pokémon’s director of original animation, noted that Aardman’s filmmaking approach would provide audiences with a distinctive perspective on the franchise’s world and characters.
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