The creators of South Park claimed they predicted the gaming phenomenon Pokemon Go in an episode broadcast 17 years ago.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone were asked when the popular app would appear on their animation comedy during a panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Trey replied: “We did it in 1999! We did an episode called Chinpokomon.”

Trey Parker and Matt Stone (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Trey Parker and Matt Stone (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

He then joked: “They ripped off our f****** thing! So we’re suing them for our f***** idea.”

Trey was referring to South Park’s season 11 episode Chinpokomon, in which a seemingly harmless fad is actually a recruitment strategy for the Japanese army.

South Park has a big presence at this year’s Comic Con, with an art exhibit and a massive mock-up of the cut-out town outside the centre.

The 20th series of the show airs on Comedy Central in America on September 14.