Pokémon Concierge is a vibrant, gorgeous, and wonderful journey about victories over anxiety. The stop motion aesthetic that dwarf studios brings works marvelously with Pokémon. The only down side to this series was that there were only four, fifteen minute tops, episodes. The series follows Haru, a new concierge at the resort, who takes care of the Pokémon alongside the experienced senior staff embarking on a journey of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery.
The first episode introduces Haru and the rest of the staff at the Pokémon Resort. Haru specifically is just starting the job after just breaking up with her boyfriend of six and half years. She is worried about everything and couldn’t relax if you paid her to. Just like the games in these moments, I really wished I could spam “A” to get to the Pokémon parts. The series however does a fantastic job of balancing these characters of the series while focusing on, mainly, the Pokémon at the resort. It shows an actually wide variety of Pokémon doing all sorts of cute and fun things.
In the second episode, Haru begins to work with a very shy Psyduck she befriends at the resort. Some people would take this moment to say, “More like Shyduck. Am I right?”, I am not one of those people. Anyway, in this episode Haru begins to help Psyduck control his fear of his Psychic powers by helping him train. Episode three is about a Magikarp that needs a floatie to swim. Episode four is about a Pikachu that can’t let loose. All episodes drill on the ever present motif of working through your anxieties and fears. To not be so concerned about “evolving” (literally or figuratively) and to just have fun.
The series is as wholesome as they come and stuffed full with all the things Pokémon fans would want to see. Magikarp evolving? Yes. A dozen Pikachu on the screen at once? Yes also. A Metagross and Graveler being besties? Yes again! Pokémon Concierge is a blip of time when it comes to series length, but it will leave you smiling for longer than most.
Pokémon Concierge releases on Netflix on December 28.
