If you told us a year ago that Pikachu would be getting the Wallace & Gromit treatment, we’d have raised a suspicious eyebrow. But lo and behold, the unthinkable has happened, and it’s glorious. The Pokémon Company has teamed up with legendary UK stop-motion studio Aardman Animations (yes, that Aardman) to deliver a whimsical new short film called Pokémon: Path to the Peak – London, and honestly? We’re obsessed.
In a delightful departure from the standard 2D or CG Pokémon visuals, this new animation drops our favourite pocket monsters into a textured, handcrafted world brimming with charm, detail, and a dash of Aardman’s signature British quirk.
The short, set in a lovingly recreated claymation version of London, was produced to celebrate the 2024 Pokémon World Championships. And it does more than promote an event, it taps directly into your childhood memories and hugs them tightly. Imagine Pikachu wandering cobblestone streets, Psyduck getting into its usual nonsense, and Eevee bouncing about with those big blinking eyes. All rendered in the soft, almost squishy aesthetic only Aardman can pull off. From the moment the short begins, you’re pulled into a world that feels both entirely new and comfortingly familiar. It’s like Studio Ghibli visited Bristol, grabbed some modelling clay, and said, “Right then, let’s do Pokémon.”
Creative professionals and fans alike are praising the collab. Animation lovers are especially thrilled by the handcrafted stop-motion feel, calling it a “visual palate cleanser” in a digital world saturated with ultra-slick CGI. Many are also applauding the clever way the animation bridges East and West, combining the global powerhouse that is Pokémon with the unmistakable heart of British animation.
The attention to detail is stunning. Each Pokémon is modelled with tactile precision, from Pikachu’s fuzzy clay-textured cheeks to the soft gleam of London’s lamplight. The streets are filled with playful nods to both Pokémon lore and Aardman’s filmography (yes, eagle-eyed fans, there is a subtle Wallace & Gromit reference).
The partnership works because both brands are storytelling icons in their own right. Pokémon brings the emotion, nostalgia, and expansive character universe, while Aardman brings handcrafted warmth, quirky humour, and decades of animation mastery. What’s more, this isn’t just a gimmick, it’s a storytelling triumph. Path to the Peak – London manages to squeeze joy, humour, and heart into a tight run-time, and leaves you wanting more. It also reminds us of the power of physical craft in a digital world. The imperfections of clay, the flicker of real lighting, and the love embedded in each frame.
Whether you grew up battling Gym Leaders or binge-watching Shaun the Sheep, this new Pokémon x Aardman project is pure animated joy. It’s a crossover that shouldn’t work, but absolutely does. And if this short is any indication of what’s to come, we’re ready for an entire claymation Pokémon series. Netflix, are you listening?
So yes, we’re already in love. And if you haven’t watched it yet, go fix that. Your inner child will thank you.
