Pokémon Tales: Aardman's Stop-Motion Sirfetch'd & Pichu Series — Everything We Know

The Pokémon Company and Aardman Animations—the legendary Bristol-based stop-motion studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run—are bringing a new animated adventure to the Pokémon world. Here is a complete guide to the series, from its title and main characters to its setting, plot, and release timeline.

Title and Main Characters

The series is officially titled Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu . For the first time in a major animated series, two Pokémon take the lead roles as protagonists: Sirfetch'd, the Gallant Pokémon, and Pichu, the Tiny Mouse Pokémon .

Setting: The Galar Region

The story unfolds in the Galar region, a location inspired by the real-world United Kingdom that first appeared in the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield video games . Aardman co-founder Peter Lord noted the setting is a region "very close" to the studio's own heart—a fitting match given Aardman's British roots .

Plot Synopsis

According to the official synopsis released at Annecy, the series is "an epic journey through the wilds of Galar." The heroes embark on a gallant quest to help and protect Pokémon across the region. Their missions rarely go as planned, but their noble deeds forge their friendship as they step bravely into the unknown. Peril, alliances and rivalries, extraordinary Pokémon, and endless laughs await them .

Aardman Chief Creative Director Sarah Cox described the show as embracing "comedic storytelling that celebrates the quirks, eccentricities, and charms of our heroes" .

Timeline: From Announcement to 2027 Release

• Late 2024 / early 2025: The partnership between Aardman and The Pokémon Company was first initiated or teased, with the project described as having started in secret in 2025 .
• July 2025: The series was publicly announced during a Pokémon Presents livestream, revealing the title, first look images, and a 2027 release window. Aardman co-founder Peter Lord spoke about centering the two Pokémon .
• June 21–22, 2026 (Annecy Festival): Major details were unveiled, including the setting, plot synopsis, and behind-the-scenes footage. Never-before-seen materials showed, for example, yellow celluloid being used to depict Pichu's electricity powers in Aardman's trademark tangible style .

How It Was Revealed at Annecy

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival hosted the reveal as part of Aardman's "Lights, Camera, Aardman!" program on June 21–22, 2026 . The panel featured Phil Rynda, Director of Original Animation at The Pokémon Company International, and Sarah Cox, Chief Creative Director at Aardman . The presentation showed pilot footage and in-development production materials, giving fans their first detailed look at the stop-motion world .

Other Projects Teased Alongside the Pokémon Series

During the same Annecy panel—which also celebrated Aardman's 50th anniversary—the studio teased several other projects :

• Let's Go Timmy! — A preschool spin-off of the Shaun the Sheep universe, notable for its heavy use of 2D animation alongside stop-frame work.
• Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom — A horror-inspired feature film described as "the biggest shoot in the fastest time" the studio has ever done, scheduled for a mid-September cinema release.
• The (Almost) Untold Story of Danger Delilah — A new mixed-media project with a significantly older-YA tone than Aardman's typical fare, based on concept art by Irish illustrator Oliver Jeffers.
• An upcoming Lego short was also teased alongside these projects .