Aardman Animation, the studio behindWallace & Gromit, will soon be tacklingPokémonas well, and a recent interview has offered a little insight into the mysterious project. Fans are certainly curious about the collaboration, especially following the success ofPokémon’s last stop-motion work,Pokémon Concierge.
The collaboration betweenAardman andPokémonwas first announcedback in December, although little in the way of detail was available at the time. Not much has changed on that front since, with the project still shrouded in mystery for the moment, but the success of Aardman’s latest work,Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, has offered them a platform in which to discuss not only the creative process for that film, but their approach to future projects as well. That, of course, includes the upcomingPokémonseries, which is currently set to debut in 2027.
Aardman Animation Values Its Creative Freedom
It’s All About “Keeping Our Own Identity Strong”
Ina recent interview with Discussing Film, Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham sat down to discussVengeance Most Fowl, and the topic of conversation inevitably strayed to some of their newer projects, such as the recently announcedPokémoncollaboration. While the creators were tight-lipped about the project, which must still be in the early stages, they did offer some insight into Aardman’s perspective on the collaboration.
“It makes for a healthy and strong ecosystem within the studio,“said Merlin (at around 19 minutes in), in regard to using third-party IPs likePokémonalongside their own original creations.“As long as it’s a harmonious balance, and we can keep our own identity strong, why not?!“There certainly seems to be a sense of excitement about working on these IPs at Aardman, and based on their statement, fans can expect that,Pokémonor not, their new works will continue to contain the flourishes and tone that have made the studio a legend in the animation field for decades now.
Aardman’s Pokémon Project is the Latest in Pokémon’s Animation Experimentation
Pokémon Has Been Expanding Beyond Basic Anime Style In Recent Years
WhilePokémonstill has a traditional anime going in the form ofPokémon Horizons, as well as other side projects, such asthe recently announcedDragonite and the Postmanshort, the franchise has been increasingly experimenting with new styles and formats in recent years.The most notable, of course, isPokémon Concierge, a stop-motion animation series that debuted on Netflix in December 2023 to extremely positive reviews.Conciergeis produced by a Japanese stop-motion studio, Dwarf Studios, and offers a very different look at the Pokémon World, with no battles to be found.
Pokémon has also experimented with different styles of animation in its “PokéTOON” animated shorts, which have used a variety of art styles to tell small, slice-of-life stories about various Pokémon, deviating from the typical anime look quite significantly at times. BothConciergeandPokéToonhave been quite successful projects, withConciergecurrently producing a second season. These successes seem to have emboldened The Pokémon Company, leading to these more surprising collaborations, such as this Aardman/Pokémon project.
When Will Fans Learn More About Aardman’s Pokémon TV Show?
Pokémon Day 2025 May Be The Best Opportunity to Show More
There’s been little news on the collaboration since its announcement in December, which is perhaps to be expected since the project won’t be released for at least 2 years. If The Pokémon Company wishes to share more about the upcoming show,the best chance to do so would likely be Pokémon Day–June 27, 2025. Fans are already looking forward to Pokémon Day greatly in hopes of learning more about the upcomingPokémon Legends Z-A, but a bit of news or a tease of the Aardman show could certainly appear as well. Seeing Pikachu or other iconic Pokémon in the Aardman claymation style would be exciting, even if it were only a few seconds.
While there’s no guarantee that the Aardman/Pokémon project will make an appearance during Pokémon Day announcements, an acknowledgment of the project for fans who may have missed the initial announcement does seem pretty likely. Most ongoing Pokémon games and projects are usually mentioned during Pokémon Day, which would presumably include this one. That may or may not mean new information, however.
Both Aardman Animation and The Pokémon Company seem to be excited about this new collaboration, and that’s reason enough for fans to be excited as well.Wallace & Gromit’s iconic creators are no doubt up to the task of producing a newPokémonseries, so hopefully more news arrives about the project soon.
