The Pokémon Company and Wallace and Gromit creators Aardman reveal first footage of Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu.
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival is a wonderful showcase of the best animation projects to come, and they did not disappoint with this latest news. In the “Lights, Camera, Aardman!” panel, the Wallace and Gromit creators Aardman revealed they have been working with The Pokémon Company to bring to life the stop-motion project: Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu. The audience was treated to the first footage of the pilot, noting this project will take place in the Galar region, and is scheduled to be released to the public in 2027.
It was not confirmed whether this snippet of Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu would be publicly released, but the first key art was also unveiled. It features Pichu, Sirfetch’d, and Fletchling. The Galar region was the setting for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. In case you were not sure, Sirfetch’d is the evolved form of Farfetch’d, and made its debut in the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games. The Galar region was intended to be based on the United Kingdom, which The Pokémon Company noted in their official press release how it was a “fitting setting” for the first collaboration between the Japanese company and the British animation studio Aardman.
Director of Original Animation at The Pokémon Company International, Phil Rynda joined Aardman’s Chief Creative Director, Sarah Cox on stage to share behind-the-scenes insights on the Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu project development and creative collaboration. They shared the first footage from the pilot and in-development production materials, offering the audiences in attendance an early look at Sirfetch’d and Pichu in action. The first look at the upcoming project was first shown in a teaser back in July 2025.
“It’s an honour to take part in Aardman’s panel at Annecy and talk about the shared commitment to quality, strong storytelling, memorable characters, and a genuine respect for audiences and fans,” said Rynda. This project gives us a unique opportunity to tell stories from the point of view of Pokémon, made possible by Aardman’s extraordinary craft, remarkable artistry. Their warmth and affection for this much-loved Pokémon cast are evident in every brilliantly crafted frame.”
If you are unfamiliar with Aardman’s works, they include Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time, and Chicken Run. I grew up on Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run, so I know their stop-motion animation will be perfect for this Pokémon project. Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu is described as “an epic journey through the wilds of Galar.” The description follows: “Our 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.”
Cox added, “Aardman are delighted to bring the vivid physicality of Stop Frame animation into the Pokémon world. Director Tom Parkinson and team have created a hand-crafted spin on the wonderful Pokémon we all know and love with comedic storytelling that celebrates the quirks, eccentricities and charms of our heroes as they explore Galar on a delightfully offbeat quest. Aardman and Pokémon share a strong commitment to creativity and talent on this shared quest of our own to bring joy to audiences across the world.” It will be very interesting to see how the two art styles blend into one another. Pokémon Concierge has been a hit on Netflix, so this could be another staple show as well.
