British animation studio Aardman has released new behind-the-scenes footage showing the intricate stop-motion process behind Pichu, one of the lead characters in the upcoming series Pokémon Stories: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d and Pichu for Disney+.
The video offers a detailed look at how animators move the physical figure of the small Pokémon millimeter by millimeter to bring the character to life frame by frame.
Footage from the studio shows an animator working directly with the Pichu puppet on set. Every single motion requires the animator to make subtle adjustments to Pichu's posture, take a single photograph, and adjust the figure again to build a complete movement sequence.
Rather than generating character movement digitally using computer animation, Aardman relies on physical figures carefully manipulated by hand during filming. The technique is the hallmark of the Bristol-based studio, which is recognized globally for iconic stop-motion productions including Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep.
The new clip underscores the high level of precision needed to ensure tiny physical gestures communicate character personality once all the frames are combined. Subtle head tilts, body positions, and minimal limb movements form part of an extensive, labor-intensive process that yields only a few seconds of screen action. Aardman explained that the aim is to retain the signature expressiveness of the Pokémon while adapting the character to the studio's distinct visual style.
Handcrafted models revealed at PokémonXP
The release of the footage follows an appearance by Aardman and The Pokémon Company at the PokémonXP event, where members of the creative team shared behind-the-scenes production materials. Creative leads presented images of the development process, physical puppets, and technical details explaining how the world of Pokémon is being adapted into physical animation.
Series director Tom Parkinson led discussions surrounding the project alongside Natalie McKay, the creative director of IP development, and James Young, who heads creative model construction. The three Aardman leads participated in a dedicated panel on the creation process together with Phil Rynda, the director of original animation at The Pokémon Company International.
Building the physical world of Galar
Aardman confirmed that its handcrafted approach extends beyond the lead characters to encompass the entire Galar region. The studio emphasized the physical component of this version of the Pokémon universe, designing sets, characters, and props to have a tangible presence on screen. Galar, first introduced in the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield video games, is a diverse region modeled after Great Britain.
A chivalric duck and a playful companion
The upcoming series centers on the contrasting relationship between Pichu and Sirfetch’d as they journey across the region. Sirfetch’d, a fighting-type Pokémon depicted as a wild duck carrying a large leek lance and shield, approaches adventures with the noble spirit of a knight, though his chivalric attitude often leads to trouble.
By contrast, Pichu serves as a playful and curious companion who frequently provides necessary common sense during their exploits. Pichu is an electric-type Pokémon known as the pre-evolved form of Pikachu, the flagship mascot of the franchise created by Nintendo and Game Freak.
The narrative follows the duo as they travel throughout Galar attempting to assist and protect other Pokémon, though their heroic missions do not always turn out as planned. Aardman noted that the new video highlights the immense behind-the-scenes labor required before Pichu can move for just a few seconds on screen, placing the manual craftsmanship at the forefront of the project.
