# Disney and Pokémon distribution partnership

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/disney-and-pokmon-distribution-partnership
> Updated: 2026-08-31T04:39:22.000Z. Sources: 54. Developments: 3.

Disney and The Pokémon Company have established a distribution partnership for various anime content. Initially, the first season of the Pokémon anime, the Indigo League arc, began streaming on Disney+ and Hulu in the United States, with approximately 27 episodes released in the first stage.

The partnership has since expanded into a global distribution agreement with The Pokémon Company International. This broader deal includes the original series, “Pokémon the Series: The Beginning,” which is airing on Disney XD and streaming on Disney+ in the United States and select international markets. A planned rollout for this classic series to Latin America is scheduled for 2027.

During the Pokémon XP fan event in San Francisco, held alongside the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, details were shared regarding a major component of the partnership: a new stop-motion animated series titled “Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu.” Produced by the British studio Aardman, the series is scheduled for a worldwide release in 2027, debuting on Disney XD and streaming exclusively on Disney+.

Set in the Galar Region, the show follows Sirfetch’d and Pichu on quests to protect other Pokémon. The production will utilize Aardman’s signature stop-motion style and is expected to feature storytelling through animation and character movement rather than human dialogue, with Pokémon communicating by stating their own names. Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, noted that the franchise maintains relevance for both long-time fans and younger audiences through these new creative perspectives.

## Claims

- A new stop-motion animation series titled ‘Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu’ is in production. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The series will be released on Disney+ in 2027. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Aardman, the animation studio behind ‘Shaun the Sheep’, is producing the series. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The story is set in the Galar region and follows the characters Sirfetch’d and Pichu. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The announcement was made at the PokémonXP event in San Francisco. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Disney+ and The Pokémon Company International have entered a global distribution agreement. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: Disney+ and Pokémon announce global distribution partnership

Disney+ and The Pokémon Company International have signed a global deal to stream new stop-motion series from Aardman and classic Pokémon adventures starting in 2027.

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/disney-and-pokmon-announce-global-distribution-deal-1

### 2026-08-28: Disney+ and Pokémon announce global distribution deal

Disney+ and The Pokémon Company International have signed a global deal to distribute new and classic Pokémon content, including a 2027 Aardman stop-motion series.

36 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/disney-and-pokmon-announce-global-distribution-deal

### 2026-08-08: Pokémon: Indigo League begins streaming on Disney+

The Pokémon: Indigo League anime arc has launched on Disney+ and Hulu in the U.S., starting with an initial batch of 27 episodes as part of a broader distribution agreement.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pokmon-indigo-league-begins-streaming-on-disney

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Cite as: Disney and Pokémon distribution partnership. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/disney-and-pokmon-distribution-partnership