Welcome to Pokémon Resort, where you and your adorable pocket monster can enjoy amenities like a spa, zip lining, and extreme yoga. If that sounds like heaven, then you're probably in the target demographic of “Pokémon Concierge,” Netflix's simple but refreshing new stop-motion series.
With only four episodes, none of them longer than 20 minutes, “Pokémon Concierge” may seem like nothing more than a superficial television treat aimed at little ones. But the instant popularity of the series indicates otherwise. “Pokémon Concierge” is adorable fun, but for an older audience; It's not exactly a sweet treat, but rather a comfort food for the modern, anxious millennial.
The show follows Haru, a young woman who needs a change after facing work problems, a breakup, and a streak of bad luck. She comes up with a practical solution: get on a boat and travel to an island resort to become a concierge for cute, magical battle pets.
There is no plot in the series; each episode is just a look at one day of Haru's time on the island. The most difficult tasks she faces involve making sure guests don't run too close to the pool and tracking a Pokémon's float.
And yet, Haru is incessantly worried, letting her anxieties get the better of her. Her first assigned task (simply exploring and enjoying the resort as a guest) almost breaks her spirit. Fearing she's failed at the job on her first day by accidentally relaxing too much, she tries to prove herself like any harried office worker would: by giving a PowerPoint presentation.
The show's simplistic storytelling and simple lessons can seem childish (be true to yourself, like an introverted Pikachu, or let yourself evolve at your own pace, like a Magikarp who can't swim). But the fact that the protagonist is not a child preparing for battle but a neurotic, high-achieving adult preparing for a day of work shows that “Pokémon Concierge” is intentionally speaking to a particular type of fan older than , probably like Haru, still has a soft spot for nostalgia for the adorable Pikachu and his friends.
After all, millennials came of age during the height of Pokémonmania. And as reassuring as a lunchtime game of Pokémon Go may be for a fan, the root of the Pokémon brand has always been a competitive video game where people must collect, train, and then battle Pokémon to advance in the game. the world hierarchy.
And yet, “Pokémon Concierge,” which features many original Pokémon alongside later breeds, uses beloved characters like Pikachu and Bulbasaur to invite fans into a much more peaceful and rehabilitative version of the Pokémon universe.
Haru's mission at Pokémon Resort is to relax, and that serves as an invitation to us as viewers to do the same. The stop-motion animation gives the series a satisfying tactile quality. The show is bright in color and rich in texture, all evoking a world that looks like a giant game stage. Even Pokémon noises are softly softened in contrast to the games' harsher, meowing sounds; Here the creatures purr, cry, coo and sigh like docile domestic pets. The show excels at creating the increasingly popular backseat viewing experience: you can put the series on in the background while you do chores, maybe even let episodes repeat, simply visiting the resort and its visitors. when it suits you.
“Pokémon Concierge” is a rare example of a franchise taking advantage of how the culture and its fan base have changed. When we were kids growing up with Ash Ketchum and Co., we may have dreamed of becoming Pokémon masters, but now we have grown-up jobs, real pets to care for, and kids of our own. We fight; now we need PTO Who better to serve as our concierge in a space of nostalgic fun and leisure but Psyduck, Squirtle and Pikachu?
