Pokémon Concierge (2023) First Viewing Thoughts.

Hey everyone- this started as another first impressions piece; but it’s yet another time I ended up binging the whole show instead. So, here are my first viewing thoughts on the stop-motion animated Pokémon Concierge; now available on Netflix.

Courtesy: The Pokémon Company/Netflix/Dwarf Studio

I have been looking forward to this show ever since I first found out about it; and I am pleased to say it’s one of the best pieces of animation I’ve seen from the franchise this year. Centered around a young woman named Haru, we follow her taking a new job at the Pokémon Resort. As she tries to find out what she truly wants from life, she seeks to find the answer with a Psyduck and an assortment of eccentric but kindly staff and guests. Humans and Pokémon alike can explore their bonds on the island.

Major advantages I’ve argued the franchise has over other “monster tamers” is how well it conveys visual storytelling and how it emphasizes the bonds between monster and partner. Though the adaptations are admittedly in uncharted waters now that To Be A Master is done (Blog note: still working on finishing full look); the video games have a lot of material to pull from. With that in mind, we’ve reached a point where the concept of day to day life in the Pokémon world can be explored in a nuanced way. The pitch can be best described as “everyday life with Pokémon,” which is quickly becoming a key facet of this era of the franchise.

There are no big blowups, convoluted storylines or mystery box McGuffins- there aren’t even any villains that try too hard. Haru simply wants a less stressful line of work and to find her place in the world. Given the time in which this show is streaming; I can say that’s something I identify with and consider a far better understanding of the franchise from an adult perspective than Horizons. Sometimes, all you need for a conflict is to gather ingredients for pie filling or to help a quiet Pikachu find their voice.

Of course, the stop motion from Dwarf Studio is the main attraction; with the human characters having inviting designs (standouts I like include the resort super Watanabe and Tyler; a chef and yoga instructor who has the appearance and persona of a laid-back surfer). Individual Pokémon have great attention to detail, be it the gleam of a Metagross or the plumage of a Pidgeot. The Psyduck that Haru bonds with over the course of the show is accurate to the games in its own way.

While I still don’t know the future of the anime as a whole, this is an easy-to-digest four episodes; complete with Japanese audio and subtitles. I look forward to other collaborations The Pokémon Company and Netflix are working on (their live-action event is something I have more confidence in after the recent One Piece and YuYu Hakusho event series). 

I strongly recommend this as a longtime fan and on its own merit. Even with all the hubbub around Horizons, Pokémon Concierge is a show that does more with less. See you all again real soon.