Netflix expands ‘Pokémon’ franchise with stop-motion series

Pokémon Concierge

Netflix has partnered with The Pokémon Company on a new stop-motion animated series set in the world of the popular Japanese kid’s franchise.

Produced by Dwarf Studios, Pokémon Concierge takes a fresh look at this world by following the story of Haru, who works at the Pokémon Resort, and her interactions with the eponymous battling creatures and their human owners.

The media franchise, which is managed by The Pokémon Company, sprung from a pair of video games launched in 1996 and has expanded over the decades to include a trading card game, movies and several animated series.

The first anime show in the franchise, Pokémon, premiered on TV Tokyo in Japan in 1997, following the adventures of Ash Ketchum and his sidekick Pikachu and has run for 25 seasons and more than 1,200 episodes.

“Netflix is looking forward to delighting fans in Japan and around the world with Pokémon Concierge, an entirely new visual and storytelling experience featuring ground-breaking stop-motion animation set in the Pokémon world in close collaboration with The Pokémon Company,” said Minyoung Kim, VP of Netflix content in Asia.”