Pokémon will never really vanish, will it? That’s probably something we say for sure. Just when you think it’s out, they’ll introduce a new generation, the most surprising video game of the year — hey, Pokopia, how you doing? — or introduce another adorable creature with the potential to evolve into a literal bomb, and suddenly everyone is a happy camper again. And hey, Pikachu still looks just the same, after that dramatic weight loss in his early years. He has to share the name of his plastic surgeon with us. Anyway, in the 30th year of the storied Japanese franchise, the long-running anime appears to have found a new home.

Pokémon is reportedly coming to Disney+ in 2026, with the anime also meant to be heading back to Disney XD. That would be a huge shift for the franchise, which has been closely associated with Netflix — even collaborating to create original programming — for a number of years. Disney and The Pokémon Company haven’t yet publicly announced the change, but once it’s confirmed, the move would bring the franchise back under the Disney umbrella after previous series aired on Disney XD.

But a move to refresh brand awareness and visibility makes a ton of sense for the 30th anniversary. The franchise began with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green (not Pokémon Red, as some of you may be screaming at the screen) in Japan in 1996 before exploding into a global phenomenon across video games, trading cards, movies, anime, toys, you name it. The franchise has already been celebrating the milestone across games and merchandise — including a special Collector’s Edition guide to every Pokémon — so a broader streaming push would be an ideal fit into that strategy.

Where is ‘Pokémon’ Just Now?

ThePokémonanime has remained a major part of the franchise, even after the original Ash Ketchum era came to an end. Yes, Ashfinallystopped trying to become a Pokémon master because… well, he became one! The current anime,Pokémon Horizonsshifted focus to new leads Liko and Roy.

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