Pokemon Concierge

Pokemon follows Ash, sometimes to the detriment of the franchise. In this, there are definitely fans of the series who are looking for something following a different format, at the very least a series that doesn't involve Ash, the never-aging Pokemon trainer from yesteryear, not because there is any lack of love for the franchise or Ash, but simply because there is a want for something new. This, of course, can mean a series within the franchise that doesn't follow the never-aging Pokemon trainer, but there's also something to breaking away from the formula of not following another trainer on the journey to become one ... of the greatest.

Pokemon Concierge is in the latter when it comes to breaking the formula in that it doesn't just follow Ash; it follows nobody wanting to become a trainer and instead takes a more slice-of-life direction. Of course, in saying this, going in this direction in breaking the formula, this particular addition to the franchise is slice-of-life with no battles. There is a calm to it, a mellowness, but the episodes are also on the shorter length, making the series something that's definitely meant for relaxation purposes, not so much turning off ones brain, but more of sitting back and enjoying the day-to-day slice-of-life antics that happen at the resort.

Which, yes - slice-of-life isn't everyone's cup-of-tea, I admit, but to say, "Oh, I've mixed feelings about recommending this because someone doesn't like slice-of-life" really isn't fair to the series, as a slice-of-life series isn't meant for those who don't like slice-of-life, but anybody reading the review should be aware of whether they like the sub-genre or not. And for those who do like the sub-genre, this was certainly a pleasant series, one that I'd even argue would appeal to those who aren't fans of Pokemon because it fits the genre so well.

Oh my gosh this miniseries is so beautiful and wholesome. The main character is adorable, and is such a strong driving force in every episode. I really like how she stays motivated despite her harsh upbringing. Definitely a good message to give to any audience.

This may not be the battle-centric Pokémon we've become so used to, but we still have a very good and light-hearted scenery with all sorts of fun human characters, as well as all the adorable Pokémon filling this world.

The character design is really good. I love how they get around to each Pokémons's design and the felt textures some of them ... have. This little anime is just one big good vibe and I love it for that. It's a very easy show to jump into, even if you're not familiar with the franchise

Yeah, it’s cute. The stop motion looks pretty good, albeit some of the Pokemon themselves only have glued on expression changes. It’s fluidly animated and its human characters look good.

That being said, the narrative is nothing to write home about. Little lessons are learned by our lead each episode as she picks up the concierge craft, but it all feels very safe. I give this some credit for just letting us sit in the Pokemon world for a bit without battles or major stakes, but it feels just like a day in the life of a neurotic young woman as she seeks to fit in ... working in a Pokemon resort. That’s fine, and it does pretty well at it, but that’s a low bar for success. Worth the watch if you like the world (I do, well enough anyway), but nothing special.