Full Breakdown
Disney+ Secures Global Distribution Deal for New Pokémon Stop-Motion Series
8/28/2026, 11:54:46 PM
Deal Overview
Disney+ has entered a worldwide distribution agreement with The Pokémon Company International. slated to debut on Disney XD and stream globally on Disney+ in 2027. The agreement also brings the classic animated series “Pokémon the Series: The Beginning”**—the original Indigo League episodes featuring Ash Ketchum and Pikachu—into the Disney portfolio.
Background and Context
The partnership was announced during a Pokémon XP panel in San Francisco on August 28, 2026. The panel, held alongside the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, revealed the first teaser trailer for the new stop-motion series and confirmed Disney+ as its exclusive worldwide streaming destination. The deal follows Disney+’s recent addition of the original Pokémon anime to its library, with the first 27 episodes of “The Beginning” beginning streaming on August 7.
Creative Team
- Tom Parkinson – Director, Aardman
- Natalie “Nat” McKay – Creative Director – IP Development, Aardman
- James Young – Model-Making Creative Lead, Aardman
- Phil Rynda – Director of Original Animation, The Pokémon Company International
- Ayo Davis – President, Disney Kids & Family
- Peter Lord – Cofounder and Creative Director, Aardman (mentioned in the official Pokémon website release)
The series will be produced by The Pokémon Company International and animated by Aardman, the British studio known for *Wallace & Gromit* and *Shaun the Sheep*.
Timeline
- December 2024 – Initial announcement of the series title and characters.
- July 2025 – Additional artwork and story details released.
- August 28, 2026 – Pokémon XP panel unveils teaser trailer and confirms Disney+ distribution.
- 2027 – Planned debut on Disney XD and worldwide streaming on Disney+.
Official Statements & Responses
Disney Kids & Family announced that the deal expands Disney+’s children’s-media slate and provides a “powerful addition” to both Disney XD and Disney+. The company highlighted the series’ blend of Aardman’s stop-motion craftsmanship with the Pokémon brand’s cross-generational appeal.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Pokémon has that rare ability to mean something to longtime fans while continuing to feel completely relevant to young audiences today,” — Ayo Davis, family president
- “These stories, full of adventure and heroism, all told from the perspective of Pokémon is made even more exciting through the lens of the incredible filmmakers at Aardman,” — Phil Rynda, alongside members of the series’ creative team at Aardman: director Tom Parkinson
- “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,” — Phil Rynda, alongside members of the series’ creative team at Aardman: director Tom Parkinson
Data & Statistics
- 2027 – Scheduled year for the series premiere on Disney XD and Disney+.
- August 28, 2026 – Date of the Pokémon XP panel that revealed the teaser trailer and confirmed the distribution deal.
- August 7 – Date when “Pokémon the Series: The Beginning” began streaming on Disney+.
The agreement marks Disney+’s first global partnership with the Pokémon franchise, combining a legacy anime series with a novel stop-motion interpretation. The collaboration leverages Aardman’s award-winning animation expertise and Disney+’s expansive streaming reach, positioning both brands for continued growth in the children’s entertainment market.
