Aardman is putting a stop-motion spin on Pokémon, and fans have finally got a first proper peek.
Aardman and The Pokémon Company International have unveiled an exclusive teaser trailer for Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu, offering a fresh look at the upcoming stop-motion series set in the Galar region.
The teaser made its world premiere during a special Behind the Scenes with Aardman, Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu panel at Pokémon XP, held alongside the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco.
The event drew 50,000 fans for a weekend packed with competitive play, fan experiences, parades and live performances. But the real treat was behind the scenes, where Aardman pulled back the curtain on its latest Pokémon adventure.
The Pokémon Company International original animation director Phil Rynda was joined by Aardman director Tom Parkinson; IP development creative director Nat McKay; and model making creative lead James Young. The panel offered fans a closer look at the craft behind the series, including production insights, behind-the-scenes imagery and puppet demonstrations.
At the heart of the series are Sirfetch’d and Pichu, an unlikely pair with plenty of personality. Parkinson describes Sirfetch’d as a noble but slightly bumbling would-be knight, while Pichu plays the curious and playful squire, and often the voice of reason.
The duo’s adventures will see them travel through Galar, helping Pokémon in need while stumbling, succeeding and, presumably, causing a fair bit of chaos along the way.
“These stories, full of adventure and heroism, all told from the perspective of Pokémon are made even more exciting through the lens of the incredible filmmakers at Aardman. Audiences will be delighted to get to know Sirfetch’d & Pichu, and the wonderful cast of Pokémon featured in this series. Aardman has brought Galar to life in a way that makes you feel like you can smell the air, touch the tree bark, and want to adventure alongside our series heroes,” Rynda explained.
Aardman director Parkinson said, “From the moment we had selected our titular heroes, we knew it had the makings of a really funny, heartfelt odd-couple story. They really are best friends, and we think audiences are going to fall in love watching them stumble, succeed and help Pokémon in need along the way.”
Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis said, “Pokémon has that rare ability to mean something to longtime fans while continuing to feel completely relevant to young audiences today. Our new series ‘Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu’ brings Aardman’s signature stop-motion artistry with a bold, playful new perspective to this beloved world, giving audiences a fresh way to experience the characters they know and love. Along with Pokémon the Series: The Beginning, these series are powerful additions to Disney XD and Disney+.”
With a teaser now out in the wild and Aardman’s fingerprints all over Galar, Sirfetch’d and Pichu look ready to turn Pokémon’s familiar world into something wonderfully handmade. Consider this adventure officially underway, one stop-motion step at a time.
