The centerpiece of the deal is a new stop-motion series, Pokemon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu, created with Aardman Animation, slated to premiere on Disney XD and Disney+ in 2027, set in the Galar Region.

The project was discussed on a panel with Aardman’s Tom Parkinson, Nat McKay, and James Young alongside Pokemon’s Phil Rynda, covering puppets, sets, and the production process.

The first visual of Sirfetch’d and Pichu was released alongside the announcement.

Publicly announced in 2024, the project has progressed through milestones including a latest trailer and new visuals.

The piece notes a positive reception and invites readers to share anticipation on social media.

Production involves about 262 people at any given time, with animators delivering roughly 13.5 seconds per week and episodes taking about 10–11 weeks to complete, typically with three episodes in production concurrently.

Key production updates include Annecy appearances, puppet demos and set walkthroughs, and the appointment of James Young for model-making and Natalie McKay for creative direction alongside Tom Parkinson.

Behind-the-scenes footage and pilot materials were shown, highlighting collaboration and craftsmanship between Disney-Pokemon and Aardman.

The article looks ahead to future Pokemon tales from this collaboration, with exact scope and schedule to be announced later.

Aardman’s recent success with Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance boosted confidence in the collaboration and its potential reach.

Previous Pokemon anime shorts and projects, including Earth Day shorts and the Wartortle short, are noted as part of ongoing anime efforts.

The December 2024 announcement marks a shift toward varied visual styles and formats beyond traditional anime.