Season one
In February 2023, during the Pokémon Day presentation, it was announced that a stop motion animated television series was in development for Netflix. The Pokémon Company collaborated with Dwarf Studios on the series. In July 2023, it was announced that Rena Nōnen would be voicing the main protagonist, Haru. In November 2023, a trailer was released, revealing the main Japanese and English voice cast. Pokémon Concierge premiered on Netflix on December 28, 2023. It consists of four episodes.
Pokémon Concierge received largely positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 100% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Precious as a Pikachu, Pokémon Concierge is good clean fun for fans who prefer to see the pocket monsters' cuddlier side."[15] Charles Pulliam-Moore, writing for The Verge, described the series as "one of the first times in years that the company's landed on something truly inspired," describing the focus on real life dread while also having a cheerful atmosphere and visuals allowed the series to appeal to both old and young viewers. He highlighted the series' focus on low-stakes episodes as enhancing the core themes of the series.[5] Kenneth Shepard, writing for Kotaku, stated the low stakes of the series helped focus on the themes of friendship and cooperation the series entailed, additionally stating that it allowed the series to focus on aspects other than the Pokémon franchise's traditional focus on Pokémon battling. Shepard described Haru as being the soul of the show, with her interactions with the Pokémon in the series helping her to grow and develop away from her workaholic lifestyle. Shepard stated that while the series' short length made it feel disjointed at times, he believed the series helped focus on the personalities of the individual Pokémon species and franchise that had been lacking in previous Pokémon media.[2]
Joshua Yehl, writing for IGN, praised the series for its stop-motion animations and its usage of the protagonist Haru to relate to millennials. He stated that its short run time helped emphasize the series' themes of relaxation while accomplishing the series' main message effectively.[16] Ana Diaz, writing for Polygon, additionally praised the series' "cozy" atmosphere. She praised Haru's role in the series, with her growth to accept herself for who she is being described as a "welcome change of pace for the franchise."[6] Reuben Baron, writing for Paste Magazine, praised the series' animation and messages. They praised the "feel good" vibes of the series and positive messages, but felt the show's small number of episodes hurt its ability to persist in the minds of its viewers following a viewing of the series.[17] Surej Singh, writing for NME, believed the show helped capture the playful aspects of the Pokémon franchise that had been sidelined in prior media for the series. He stated that while Haru's arc with Psyduck was not overly complicated, he believed it to be calming for viewers. Singh additionally praised the voice acting and animation for the series, though he believed the small number of episodes to be a waste given the series' high quality.[18]
Pokémon Concierge was nominated for an Annie Award for its second episode in the category "Best Direction- TV/Media."[19]
Season two
Prior to the release of the season, promotional merchandise was released featuring Pokémon from the series.[20] Psyduck wearing floatie rings were also added to spin-off game Pokémon Go as part of an in-game event celebrating the season's release.[21]
Elijah Gonzalez, writing for The A.V. Club, praised the show's second season, highlighting its ability to be a lighthearted, cute series while still focusing on the struggles of adult life. Gonzalez additionally praised the show's visuals, but wished the series was longer.[22] Angela Marrujo Fornaca, writing for Nintendojo, similarly praised the animation, moments featuring Psyduck, and the atmosphere, particularly highlighting how each episode had lessons that did not feel overly "preachy". However, she disliked the season's final episode, as she felt it did not justify why viewers should feel sympathy towards Kent.[23] Anime News Network also praised the season's animation and lighthearted atmosphere, highlighting the season's focus on Haru helping other people in similar situations to her. However, they felt like the season was short and could have had more episodes.
