Pokémon Concierge Is Back With Another Extremely Cuddly Vacation

But despite its willingness to stop and think about these kinds of adult problems, the series remains lighthearted and very cozy, as it delivers these weightier moments alongside criminally huggable stop-motion Pokémon. These intricate felt creations had me audibly yelling “Cute!” at frequent intervals, and whether it was a squeaking Dedenne tripping up Haru, a big boy Snorlax inadvertently posing for the camera, or an Eevee so precious it overcame my fatigue with this secondary mascot, the show combines its everyday issues with tactilely realized models that will take fellow millenials back to the days where you wished these Pocket Monsters were real. The excellent pastel color palette does a lot of work in smoothly compositing these Mons against similarly ornate backdrops, all of which combine to create a portrait of summer you’ll want to get lost in.

And perhaps most impressively, Dwarf Studios (Rilakkuma and Kaoru) animates these central little dudes with a smoothness that keeps them cute instead of uncanny, bringing out the latent charm of not only these critters but also the human cast. These characters’ puppets are expressive in a way that makes it much easier to emotionally connect with their struggles, with Haru truly going through it as she grapples with anxious internal monologues and vacantly stares up at the ceiling in her pajamas. And while these details can bring out the drama, they’re also used to create a calming effect, as we’re transported to a welcoming island resort defined by clear blue water, bucolic greenery, and creatures you’ll want to reach through the screen and pet.

But of course, there’s a cost to all this hand-crafted artistry, which brings us to the main critique of the first season and now the second: this show is very short. Despite it being almost two years since Season 1, this latest release is once again only four 15-20 minute episodes. Due to this brief runtime, the series can only delve so deep into its characters, not quite able to deliver the type of repeated shenanigans that would fully endear us to the extended cast. Its masterfully crafted visuals certainly make the most of each minute, but there’s only so much this can do.

At the same time, though, the honest reality is that stop motion is an absurdly labor-intensive process, and the particularly intricate approach here is probably not making that hurdle any easier to clear. Personally, I’d prefer for Dwarf Studios to retain their meticulous attention to detail rather than compromise their vision by churning out more for the content mill, even if the series’ fleeting length continues to be its biggest flaw.

Because, while its short runtime makes it more of a refreshing day trip than a lengthy stay, Pokémon Concierge brings us into the nitty-gritty of this setting through impressively tangible visuals and workplace foibles that mirror our own. Specifically, it mixes a dollop of millennial angst with a generous helping of good vibes, as these beautifully crafted backdrops and fuzzy creatures soothe the soul—if you need to cleanse your brain, this is probably a pretty good way to do it. While I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish there were more, this hand-crafted take on Pokémon has me eager for our next check-in.

Pokémon Concierge‘s second batch of episodes premieres Thursday, September 3rd, on Netflix.

Elijah Gonzalez is an associate editor for Endless Mode. In addition to playing the latest, he also loves anime, movies, and dreaming of the day he finally gets through all the Like a Dragon games. You can follow him on Bluesky @elijahgonzalez.bsky.social.