Story perspectives

Disney+ Lands Global Deal for Pokémon Stop-Motion Series

8/28/2026

Summary

Disney+ Secures Pokémon Deal

Disney+ announced a global distribution deal with The Pokémon Company International.
The deal adds the stop-motion series Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu.
The series will debut on Disney XD and stream exclusively on Disney+ in 2027.
The agreement also includes Pokémon the Series: The Beginning.
The Beginning began airing on Disney XD earlier this month, streaming in the U.S. and select markets.

Summary

Pokemon Trailer Premiere

The teaser trailer premiered on the @Pokemon YouTube channel during the Pokémon XP panel.
Fifty thousand fans attended the panel in San Francisco for the series preview.
Attendees watched puppet demonstrations and exclusive stop-motion behind-the-scenes imagery.
Ayo Davis, Disney Kids & Family president, said the series bridges longtime fans and new viewers.
The showcase coincided with the weekend of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships.

History

Historical Context

When Netflix debuted its first original series, House of Cards, in 2013, it proved streaming platforms could secure exclusive, high-profile content. Netflix reported 20 million paid subscribers that year and invested $100 million in original programming, reshaping media distribution economics across the United States. Disney+’s 2019 launch leveraged its brand, and its pact with The Pokémon Company International mirrors Netflix’s approach by adding Pokémon Tales to Disney XD channel. The precedent suggests Disney+ will deepen subscriber engagement, driving global viewership growth and prompting other studios to pursue similar exclusive streaming alliances.

1 of 3

Disney+ Secures Pokémon Deal

Disney+ announced a global distribution deal with The Pokémon Company International.
The deal adds the stop-motion series Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu.
The series will debut on Disney XD and stream exclusively on Disney+ in 2027.
The agreement also includes Pokémon the Series: The Beginning.
The Beginning began airing on Disney XD earlier this month, streaming in the U.S. and select markets.

1 / 3