Disney+ Adds Pokémon the Series: The Beginning and Aardman's Pokémon Tales — What You Need to Know

Disney has announced it has acquired streaming rights to two Pokémon animated properties: Pokémon the Series: The Beginning and the upcoming Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu. Both series will be offered via Disney+ and will also appear on Disney XD, with Pokémon the Series: The Beginning available in select markets including the United States and the United Kingdom. The acquisitions mark a notable expansion of Disney's animated catalog and a new home for Pokémon television content outside traditional broadcast partners. The Pokémon franchise—overseen commercially by The Pokémon Company and closely tied to Nintendo's gaming ecosystem, including flagship titles on Nintendo Switch—continues to reach audiences across both games and linear/streaming media. Disney highlighted the creative pedigree behind the new series. A Disney Kids & Family executive said the company sees Pokémon as a rare franchise that appeals to longtime fans while remaining highly relevant to younger viewers. Disney emphasized that Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu is a fresh take on the property that leverages Aardman's distinctive stop-motion craft, offering viewers a bold, playful perspective on familiar characters. Representatives also praised Aardman's filmmaking approach. In a company statement, a spokesperson remarked that Aardman's team brings the Galar region to life with rich tactile detail, creating an immersive environment that invites audiences to join the series' heroes on their adventures. Aardman, the British animation studio known for stop-motion work, is credited with producing the new Pokémon Tales project. That studio's involvement underscores a different aesthetic direction for the franchise, complementing existing 2D and CG Pokémon productions. Availability and rollout details are currently limited to the markets already confirmed by Disney. Viewers interested in the titles should watch Disney+ release schedules and Disney XD programming announcements for region-specific launch dates. Given Pokémon's cross-media profile, the arrival of these series on Disney platforms is likely to coincide with broader franchise activity managed by The Pokémon Company and its partners. For fans of Pokémon and animation, the move represents an intersection of a globally recognized gaming IP and established streaming distribution, bringing a new creative voice to a long-running franchise.