Pokemon x Aardman: Our wish list for the claymation crossover

In just a few short years, fans will get to see what’s sure to be an incredible Pokemon x Aardman claymation collaboration. We have some ideas for what we want to appear.

The Pokemon Company announced in mid-December 2024 that it’s currently working on a “special project” with renowned stop-motion film studio Aardman Animations. Fans may recognize movies like Wallace and Gromit as well as shows like Shaun the Sheep from Aardman’s expensive repertoire. This won’t be Pokemon’s first step into the world of stop-motion or even clay. Notably, the four-episode mixed-media series Pokemon Concierge features plenty of sculpted scenes, and who can forget about the TCG’s occasional clay art?

Pokémon × Aardman | Coming in 2027!

While there may be almost no information out about the claymation crossover, that also means that we have plenty of room to speculate. Here’s our wishlist for what, in an ideal world, we’d get to see from a Pokemon x Aardman collaboration.

Our wishlist for the Pokemon x Aardman crossover

Epic claymation battles

Obviously, one of the main mechanics in every Pokemon game and show is battling. Pokemon battles were purposefully left out of Pokemon Concierge to focus more on the day-to-day life of all of the hotel guests. Aardman, then, could have the opportunity to show fans something new.

Imagine seeing Charizard slowly build up a clay-fire blast that almost grabs onto its opponent and the ensuing transition from healthy to charred. Or a clay wave rolling up behind Gyarados to overtake the battlefield and leave both parties shaking off water. Or Altaria soaring up to the sky before using Take Down and sending up a cloud of dust. The possibilities are endless, should Aardman choose to pursue them.

Yuka Morii involved in some way

Visual artist Yuka Morii has been working with The Pokemon Company since 2001 with the Neo Discovery line. Fans will recognize her work by the distinctive clay Pokemon art featured on 211 cards. Since the new project is claymation, how cool would it be to feature a known Pokemon artist who also works in the same medium?

Aardman is a British-based company, so a collaboration with the Japanese designer may be difficult to pull off. Still, we can dream of seeing a Morii Applin or Ditto on the big screen.

A series of shorts rather than a full feature

Both Pokemon and Aardman are known for creating full-length features as well as episodic content. While a movie-length claymation special would be more than welcome, we’re more interested in seeing multiple shorts. Individual episodes allow for a fuller exploration of the Pokemon world, where we could get Cosmog and Nihlego on Alola and Origin Form Dialga and Palkia in Hisui.

This may be the case, too. Aardman managing director Sean Clark stated that the team hopes “to create charming, original and new stories for audiences.” With his emphasis on stories rather than stories, he could be hinting at an episodic model.

As fans dream of a Pokemon x Aardman collaboration, others are wondering if Marvel Rivals includes a stat tracker.

Cameos from the Aardman cinematic universe

This one may be a long shot, but we would love to see some of the big-name characters from Aardman’s ‘verse sneak into its Pokemon project. With decades of claymation projects to choose from, a cameo or two would be a nice nod to fans of both companies Here are a few subtle ways this could be done.

• A Smeargle Gromit
• A Torchic Rocky from Chicken Run
• A Rattata Roddy from Flushed Away
• A Mareep or Wooloo Shaun the Sheep
• Wallace as a background trainer

Does the Pokemon x Aardman crossover have a release date?

Although announced at the very end of 2024, the Pokemon x Aardman project is scheduled for a 2027 release date.

Claymation is notorious for taking a long time to pull together. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit took approximately five years to make, according to creator Nick Park. Though many are upset at having to wait so long, Pokemon likely revealed the project because significant progress has already been made. Plus, it gives them the ability to potentially build hype with already-made teasers.

Fans who can’t wait until 2027 have a few options to tide them over. First, the latest Aardman studio project hits Netflix in January 2025 and features Wallace and Gromit dealing with a super-intelligent gnome. Additionally, Pokemon Concierge is available on Netflix. Otherwise, fans will have to bide their time and make do with the Pokemon they have at home.