Netflix’s recent Pokémon Concierge anime demonstrates the varied appeal of the long-running franchise. The first game came out almost 28 years ago, with the animated series hitting the airwaves the following year. Most media in the franchise focuses on watching or guiding the iconic creatures as they fight. We all love seeing Pikachu launch lightning at Venusaur, but sometimes, we’d rather hang out with them. Pokémon Concierge is the best version of that impulse yet.
A Brief History of Pacifist Pokémon
In 1998, Nintendo produced the Pokémon Pikachu toy. It was a digital pet device modeled off of Bandai’s Tamagotchi. Pokémon Pikachu was a pedometer that counted steps and rewarded users with currency they could use to buy their beloved mouse presents. This was the first example of a Pokémon product designed to emphasize companionship with the titular creatures. Pokémon Concierge is the perfect evolution from this moment. Pokémon Pikachu led to Hey You, Pikachu! for the N64. That game lets players speak to the flagship creature through a tiny microphone and befriend other Pokémon. The following year, Pokémon Snap centered on admiring and photographing the creatures in their natural habitat. By 2003, Pokémon Channel launched onto the GameCube as a semi-sequel to Hey You, Pikachu!. The WiiWare title My Pokémon Ranch saw players oversee a farm of ugly polygonal creatures. This theme carried through to the mainline games.
Every new iteration of Pokémon introduced a side element or two. They eventually knew it couldn’t be all combat. Instead, they introduced beauty pageants, athletic competitions, and casinos to liven up moments between fights. The most significant crossover with the virtual pet entries came in Pokémon X and Y, which introduced the Pokémon-Amie mechanic. Players earned gameplay benefits by treating their team like pets. Pokémon battles are always the center of the games, but new entries found ways to let players enjoy their allies’ company. Scarlet and Violet introduced a lovely picnic with the team. The various anime series have similarly prioritized combat. Most feature occasional stories about Pokémon as pals, but they typically revert to violence quickly. Netflix and Pokémon Concierge finally complete the circle by producing an anime for the virtual pet crowd.
Take a Lovely Vacation With Pokémon Concierge
Netflix’s latest Pokémon anime follows the guests and employees at the Pokémon Resort. It’s a beautiful stop-motion animation experience. The vibe is relaxing, charming, and endlessly joyous. Pokémon has always been about bright colors, adorable creatures, and the power of friendship, but this title avoids the other implications. Every parody mentions the juxtaposition between Ash’s loving relationship with Pikachu and the never-ending fights he signs him up for. Yes, they seem to love battles, but that doesn’t change the fact that most Pokémon-trainer relationships center on violence. The games are worse in that regard. Many of them are treated as tools to move rocks or cut down trees. You often pick up a new Pokémon because they represent a type advantage you need. Even the catchphrase, “Gotta Catch ‘Em All,” reduces them to collectibles. Pokémon Concierge treats them as the individual creatures they are.
If there’s one Pokémon in the new anime who has earned his celebration, it’s Psyduck. The earlier anime series often lent personalities to specific species. Psyduck was a standout, then as he is now. His pose in most games conveys a sort of “give me a second here” sense of urgency. The anime plays that out with his loud, agitated, Daffy-adjacent quack and consistent panicked attitude. He’s put-upon, stressed, and in dire need of a break. Pokémon Concierge is about him taking that time off. The show lets us experience the personalities of these creatures when they’re off the clock. The absence of battles guarantees freedom from violence but also from ambition. We expect them to unleash immense power in regulated competitions and strive to achieve our goals. Here, at last, we can enjoy them as they are.
Pokémon Concierge isn’t the first example of a chill Pokémon anime. The First Movie came packaged with a 21-minute short called Pikachu’s Vacation, which featured a more comedic take on a similar premise. While some outings have tried to capture relaxation, the original intention behind Pocket Monsters almost always slips through. The immaculate vibes of Concierge stand above every other example. If you’ve always loved Pokémon more than any Pokémon game, Concierge is the perfect experience for you. If you’ve ever felt genuinely bad for making your captured creatures fight, it’s exactly the joyous redemption you’ve been looking for.
