Pokémon Concierge is the Best Pokémon in Decades

We've watched all of Dwarf Studios' delightful Pokémon Concierge series, and we think it's the best Pokémon media has been in years.
---
Official Merch Store! store.outsidextra.com/
If you like what we do, you can support us by joining the OX Supporters Club. It's totally optional but it helps us make more of the stuff you love: / oxclub
Outside Xtra is a companion channel to Outside Xbox, covering the wider world of gaming with weekly list videos, Let's Plays and shows with your hosts Ellen and Luke. Look for regular appearances by OG Outside Xboxers Andy, Jane and Mike, and generally more of the videos you love, about more of the platforms you enjoy, from a team now two people larger overall.
Thanks for watching and be excellent to each other in the comments.
Find us at www.outsidextra.com
Subscribe to us at / outsidextra
Follow us on Twitter at / outsidextra
Follow us on Instagram: / outsidextra
Like us on Facebook at / outsidextra

[@screetchycello]

4:20 "Pokémon are like human toddlers, in that they need everything explained to them and they're quite emotional..." *And* they'll happily fight each other if you put them in a pit! I'm not allowed to babysit my nieces and nephews anymore.

[@Terastas]

My take on it (and I'm not being snarky when I say this) is that Pokemon are just as prone to being competitive as people, even over stupid things. The way we look at two Pikachus fighting each other is the way those Pikachus look at us when the folks from Guinness have to come out and measure somebody's giant pancake.

[@tomgymer7719]

"It's rending my body" "Aw there's an Eevee" Amazing reaction from Ellen to Luke being savaged.

[@TheGhostclimber]

Not only amazing, but possibly the most reallistic one

[@XWRL6]

Pokemon has so much untapped potential, and I think Concierge is a glimpse into what the games and anime can be if they moved away a bit from trainers and battles. Imagine pokemon media about a researcher/breeder, with the MC learning their habitats and behaviors. Or a ghost story series.

[@merepseu]

Pokemon Snap had a vaguely cursory glance in that direction but a lot of it is "How do I provoke this pokémon into giving me a better shot?", with a fair bit of emphasis on the "provoke" part for fairly obvious gameplay reasons.

[@thornd9060]

youtube has a channel that does a documentary type show called PokeWorld Why there is not an official version, that goes like National Geographics, I do not know

[@Umbra451]

If there's two people I trust to know what a cute Pikachu look like, it's these two

[@ka-mai]

You never watched them "draw" a Pikachu, right?

[@ElMonoFuerte]

@@ka-mai I mean: I can tell what amazing guitar playing is while being fully incapable of playing it. Just because they don't dedicate 12 hours a day to drawing the best Pikachu doesn't mean I don't trust Ellen to squee at the cutest darn Pikachu she's ever seen.

[@mrm.acampbell2722]

What made Concierge work was it avoided all the battle mechanics which can bog down both games and the various series. More slice of life pokemon content please

[@BennyGoId]

That's kinda what watching Pokemon Journeys: The Series (2019) was like for me. I went in blind, expecting more or less the same Ash battling all the gyms and then participating in the region's league, but the show featured many of the regions we already know, and only featured Galar a handful of time (one episode within the first ten, some more spread out between, and then two towards the end of the first season of the series). It was honestly refreshing to watch slice-of-life episodes for the Pokemon anime, since I prefer and lean towards watching slice-of-life anime in general.

[@rider765]

It’s so nice to have a show with zero stakes. It reminds me of Legends and Lattes.

[@graylinbeaudry4651]

been meaning to buy that one and add it to my reading list.

[@rider765]

@@graylinbeaudry4651 It's so good, it lives up to its tagline of "High fantasy, low stakes". I didn't want it to end.

[@DeathnoteBB]

Seriously. I get “good media” has high stakes but listen I wish we as a society could remember no stakes is also a thing. Cozy stuff is also good. Especially nowadays.

[@aught2be859]

Loved that story. And the prequel “Bookshops and Bonedust” is just as good

[@DeathnoteBB]

Omg based on the cover this reminds me of the book I’m trying to write. I want it to be about a rogue but my drafts keep also being about the tavern my rogue’s family runs

[@r.lum.r]

Slice Of Life Pokemon content feels like such a home run. Having Pokemon use their powers for co-existing with the humans and each other seems so much more funny than having battles, imo. Also WOW mariya takeuchi is an absolute legend in city pop!! I did not expect to see her in this context but that is a welcome surprise I hope theres more of this show!

[@TeryJones]

Nemona's waking nightmare, a resort where there is no Pokemon battling allowed whatsoever XD

[@jlp11889]

The pokemon shorts are also very chill, like the one with the little girl trying to be friends with a Slugma that heats her grandparent's home.

[@happyyyoung]

I ADORE that one

[@Bigd2k]

With as big as some fandoms get, I’m surprised more don’t make a “this what life is like in this world” slice of life like show. For most it would be interesting and would sell pretty well.

[@Nostripe361]

This just reminds me of the fact I’ve seen mangas have a spinoff based on either high school or these powerful characters as preschool children. Not sure if there used to be a name for this spinoff genre

[@maxdanielj]

Demon Slayer slice of life for a regular person 😂😊

[@soulreapermagnum]

@@maxdanielj isn't that just the finale?

[@liamross340]

that’s kinda what the mcu tried to do with she hulk i think. while it wasn’t the most popular i enjoyed the elements of it that were like yeah superpowers are relatively common now so they need their own lawyers and there’s a social media influencer with super strength

[@SimuLord]

@@Nostripe361 To steal a naming convention from game genres, how about a "Muppet Babies-like"?

[@MrTheoilersfan]

If they made Concierge a VR game, I would never emerge from my home again.

[@liamross340]

it wouldn’t even need to be like a game game for me if it was just ‘wander around a resort and watch pokemon exist for 2 hours’ simulator i’d give them all my money

[@ScottEproductions]

You're literally describing Pokémon snap

[@clazluvsdolphins]

Ellen has never seen "Bye bye Butterfree" clearly 😭😭😭😭😭

[@ggEmolicious]

My favorite part of Saturday mornings used to be cartoons, now it's show of the weekend!

[@landonewts]

I’m not even a Pokémon fan, even just knowing this exists makes me happy. Things that bring joy and peace are too few and far between (and while I’m here, SOTW brings me joy.) Glad this exists.

[@chronicallychic]

I actually really appreciate Luke bringing up that the quiet Pikachu can be read as autistic coded! I definitely see that too as someone who is autistic.

[@keatsiannightingale]

same here! I was happy for the comment and when I watched it I thought the same. It's a great series, I hope we can get some more one day.

[@randomthunk]

Delighted to hear Ellen is a Digimon fan. To quote a video I saw last week, "now Digimon, that's a thinkin' man's game!"

[@user-hs1xb9tv6e]

The only bad thing I can say about this show is the fact that it was just too damn short even for netflix standards. Now I just hope that there would be another season with longer episodes.

[@honteebee]

eh I think it's fine, as ellen said it's more like an hour-long special and I think that's what it's intended to be! the length is probably also the reason why it can look as good as it is, because they can just channel their best work without having to make compromises in order to fulfill a bigger quota (goes without saying that stop-mo takes a long time to make lol). I absolutely want /more/ but doesn't necessarilky need to be longer, just more of this same thing as long as it means they can maintain this same quality!!

[@CantankerousDave]

Just long enough to get people hooked so they can crush their spirits when they inevitably cancel it.

[@Shiki0414]

It's better to keep your audience wanting more than getting tired of your work.

[@alankenny4308]

You do know how long stop motion takes?

[@alexandersmit4256]

@@Shiki0414 As an audience it's also better to walk away with the feeling "I wish there were more", than "I wish they stopped at episode/season X". Although I could see there being a near inexhaustable amount of demand for gentle slice-of-life Poké-stuff.

[@stuartmurdock2873]

To sum up Pokémon concierge in one word… wholesome. Best little short series I’ve ever watched. Very well written and just great!

[@rodrigocampos1302]

Now i want a farming game like Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing, but with pokemon

[@madalice5134]

I would absolutely love that!BTW, if you like chill, slice of life games, Mineko's Night Market is a really nice, funny slice of life, crafting game with some low stakes mystery and Japanese mythology in it. I've been playing it to relax and de-stress.

[@elii1i]

Ooblets fits that description. It's got the resource collecting and relationship building of Stardew Valley with the little animal(?) collecting of pokemon. Except instead of fighting each other, the little animals(?) have dance battles.

[@toymachine2328]

I'm watching Flipsie play Palworld, focusing on base building and resource gathering. I'm hoping the game's devrlopers included invite only mode in the default options, so I can have a chill time without having to worry about greifers and raiders.

[@jjchipol]

Literally after watching this video I went to see the show… I have never felt so much joy. I actually cried a little! It was wonderful and I demand more Psyduck adventures! Thanks guys for introducing me to the show :D

[@AidanDracole]

LOL, same, on all counts... and I'm not even a Pokemon player/fan(!)

[@keatsiannightingale]

yes! I saw Psyduck in a very different light after watching the show.

[@christopherhammond5142]

Surprisingly sweet and beautiful, huh? I shed a couple of happy tears too.

[@Rubrickety]

Ellen is becoming one with the purple sofa. Soon she will be rendered invisible.

[@Nightjarish]

Imagine a chill, wholesome, casual Concierge game. No stress, no battles, no grinding. Just looking after Pokemon 😍

[@JohnZ117]

The Sims, after skills are maxed out.

[@maxdanielj]

Like a Sims pokemon dlc

[@DoritoBurrito77]

something about Luke and Ellen talking about random things combined with that outro music just makes me feel like everything's gonna be alright

[@garethm9523]

Ellen talking about the family dynamic. It was my mum who got me into watching Yu-Gi-Oh because my nephew watched it. Context my nephew would have been 4-5, I'd have been in my mid 20's and my mum in her 50's. I used to find her sneaking games of rainbow islands and bubble bobble when I was in high school

[@samthompson1804]

Took an 80-minute break in the middle of this video to watch Pokemon Concierge. I didn't cry at the shy pikachu; I just had something in my eye.

[@MegaHentai00]

Next season, a Pokémon becomes concierge of the resort from Dead or Aluve Xtreme.

[@robertoazuaje9279]

Welcome Luke to the City Pop fandom! Soon enough he'll be desperately looking for songs by artists whose names he doesn't know because they were written in kanji when he listened to them on Spotify, just like the rest of us

[@Zenlore6499]

Pikachu has pudgy little arms?! AAAHHH!!! Pudgémon is very very important

[@MsKornkitty]

I love pokemon spin offs so much more than the whole catch-battle system. Snap and Ranger felt like being in the world. I wish they would make a cozy management sim like this. Doesn't have to be massive or complicated. They had some stuff early on that let you play with your Pokemon but they were all very obviously aimed at tiny children. imagine a Pokemon resort game where you run it, care for them, gradually build it up Animal Crossing style...

[@OverlordMMM]

This is basically what growing up on the show, but without the games, was for me. Battling for me was always second to the mix of adventure and kinship with the Pokemon.

[@Kaito57]

Each pokemon was a freaking plushie and I was all for it…

[@Felstable]

Thought you were going to talk about a game where you work as a concierge at a pokemon hotel 😄 helping the guests, booking activities for them, just hotel life

[@stone5against1]

Same! Had never heard of that show before watching this video

[@decusq]

Never in my life after watching this show did i think i NEEDED an episode of Pokemon where a Pikachu had social anxiety and was taking the first steps to try and overcome it's shyness. My freaking heart melted and i've been dead inside for years!

[@jehan60188]

Elder millennial here. Went and watched the first episode right away and it’s exactly what I need these days! Thanks for sharing!

[@timhutchinson8485]

Loved it. Really hoping for a (longer) season 2. Psyduck has always been one of my favorites, but this show really elevated them.

[@Iron_Bishop]

The worst part of Pokémon Concierge is honestly that it's only 4 episodes! 😭😭😭

[@reno_2200]

Bidoof's Big Stand is free on Pokemon's KZbin channel and is a rollercoaster 8 mins of brilliance.

[@jamie1602]

Yeah maybe Bidoof's Big Stand made me cry a little, too.

[@anascoolcat]

Pokemon Concierge kinda remind me of Pikachu's Vacation, it's just seeing pokemon chillin'

[@piyam5948]

As someone currently in daily toddler battles this doesn't sound as perfect a job as you made out

[@ottersintuxedos4981]

If you want to see Pokemon interacting with each other you should play the Snap games, they’re incredible

[@dallydaydream]

One of the reasons I adore the Detective Pikachu movie so much is it just feels like a chance to exist in the world of pokemon-- not the battle circuit, but the general environment with all the pokemon just living their lives. (Also one of the reasons I enjoy Pokemon Snap.) This series looks like a distillation of that feeling

[@TessaOswin]

This show has similar vibes as a CBeebies shows ‘Sarah and duck’. Which is a drawn show about a kid called Sarah and their duck called duck going around their life and there is so many details in the background and the stories are very sweet.

[@maxdanielj]

That was one of my favorite things to watch with my daughter when she was in preschool ❤

[@katherinevasper1791]

I loved that show! Sarah always had lemon water to drink. It was such a cozy show to watch.

[@mattball8622]

Luke discovering City Pop is like the time I stumbled over Vaporwave playing Paradise Killer and immediately made it my entire personality

[@mattball8622]

What I'm saying here is that Vibes are the most important part of any musical genre.

[@Elsie909]

"Autistic coded Pikachu" was a sentence I never thought I would hear, but yeah now that you mention it! That's sweet. :)

[@Eeveefall]

Thank you guys so much for covering this. I probably wouldn't have watched it and thought it was probably going to be kiddy but I saw it and loved it. 😅 You guys are great! 😊

[@sesportsfan10]

Thanks for talking about this show and introducing me to it. Such a sweet and simple show that is very enjoyable and helped me in a stressful time. Exactly what I needed at this moment.

[@sebastianwlodarczyk]

I mean, you had me at "stop motion animation"- but it also has a nice, calm vibe AND an Oxtra-grade Pikachu drawing? Ok, I think now I have to watch it!:D

[@kevinjohnbetts]

13:00 Until about twenty minutes prior to watching this show I had never heard of the 'City Pop' genre. John ( _Plainly Difficult_ ) mentioned Ken Kobayashi's 'Sizzle' album in passing during his latest video. Two completely different channels releasing unrelated videos yet linked by a style of music I knew nothing about at 9pm this evening. It's now 10pm and I'm shivering slightly.

[@CantankerousDave]

I went and looked up some examples of City Pop, and sure enough, it's basically the soundtrack of every 1980s anime. Pretty dang familiar to me, in other words. Luke should listen to the opening and closing songs of an anime called Kimagure Orange Road. It's full of it. Natsu no Mirage and Fire Love in particular. (I never gave much thought to the term, it's just "that music I like from the era I grew up in.") Also, I usually translate iyashikei as "comfort food anime".

[@DarkFlareGC]

Thank you so much for including this in show of the weekend. I had remembered wanting to watch this, but then forgot about it. I hadn't realized it was out. So after your video, I went and watched the whole series. It was so much more sweet and charming than I was expecting. I just wish it was more than 4 episodes! Also, I think i liked it for the same reason New Pokemon Snap is my favourite pokemon game. I just really enjoy watching pokemon be pokemon, more than battling. (Also chill vibes)

[@Jonathon_Hennessey]

I remember going as a kid to see the first animated Pokemon movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back. I got a shiny Mew card for showing up. I also watched the second movie Pokemon 2000 with the legendary birds. And later I saw the Detective Pikachu movie.

[@crystalhighwater7634]

I had no idea this existed until this video so I went and watched it and it was amazing! I’ve watched some of the Pokemon TV shorts but it’s so awesome to see a dedicated series!

[@frodobaggins7710]

Man, the budget for special effects must have skyrocketed for Oxtra to be able to do that ending scene

[@deandawson2143]

My only criticism is that there are only 4 episodes. I want more

[@pctech714]

Thank you for recommending this! I watched all 4 episodes earlier today and it was exactly as you said: so sweet and relaxing.

[@andyquelch9652]

Luke, Ellen, Thank you so much for this video and sharing this. Ellen, your lovely words at the end about swinning the break up really landed in 'the feels' for me. Thank you!

[@torgarth]

"aww, its an Eeevee!"

[@Vegimite-Butter-Sandwich]

I feel like these reason's Ellen and Luke gave is why Pokemon Adventures is such an amazing season, who knew Lugia's skin was rough like sandpaper!

[@maxvel0city906]

Ellen and Luke losing it over cute Pokémon is just what I needed.👍😃💜

[@blue_tetris]

I loved every minute of this show. But excluding the intros/outros, there were only 42 of them.

[@SF-hx5nc]

The digimon shade was uncalled for 💀

[@veesvoyages]

It's such an adorable wholesome show, I hope they create more episodes in the future as it is so adorable and I like that it isn't about battles and gym badges. I LOVE the art/animation style too! I'd also love if they created some Pokemon Concierge game like the slower paced, cosy Animal Crossing style games that so many of us love. I would totally play a Pokemon game like that!

[@mild1natio2]

I had not heard about this, thanks for highlighting it! 😊

[@coyoteartist]

Well as I don't have Netflix, I won't be watching it, but it does very much look like it's totally up my alley. Glad to know it's out there.

[@SwaySilva]

The last episode may have made me weep twice.

[@sohairtayyabbutt1456]

Slice of life anime is genuinely awesome and perhaps one of the biggest genres of it. Seems like you guys are new to it, so I would strongly suggest watching some. Stuff by KyoAni is a pretty good shout, especially K-ON!. K-ON! is a really good place to start. It's an anime about a bunch of high-school girls who form a music club and just their daily lives in general. It's really sweet and wholesome! And yeah, Mariya Takeuchi is incredible. I mean, Plastic Love is legendary!

[@princereynart]

Completely understand the appeal. My child regularly asks me what fictional city I'd live in, which I think he asks just so I'll explain why my answer is Ryme City because it's Pokemon without battling (second is Mêlée Island, which takes more explaining). Also, I'm sure Eisner would be pleased with that cool bit of cross-promotion streetwear vibe, Luke.

[@AllenAllanAlan]

I'm glad there are people who just want to have a Pokemon, instead of enslaving them and making them battle or build things until they die.

[@ragingangel7424]

Got some delightful mood whiplash from the english voice cast, the main character is voiced by Kimiko from The Boys and her boss is also The Boss from MGS3.

[@thebrokenkindle]

This is the sort of Pokémon content I need more of. I need a Concierge style game where I can go look after Pokémon and just generally have a good time

[@rachelrezko4229]

It reminds me of one of my favorite pokemon media, Pikachu's Vacation.

[@andrewthielmann5342]

It was delightful! So well produced. Karen Fukahara's voice work was excellent as well!

[@AlexanderOsias]

Outside Xtra and Outside Xbox are my chill and laugh channels. If you recommend this show for the same reasons, it’s a must watch! Thanks for all you hard and smart work!

[@TheGothicSora]

I really liked that the background music was based on music from the games

[@nathanhiggins860]

I'm not a Pokemon fan but on your recommendation I checked this out. It's a good show and great stop motion. I also love 80's music so I checked out a city pop playlist and it's good stuff.

[@FalseHero004]

100% agree, so wish there was more to the series!!

[@ALLCAPSKELL]

Autistic Pikachu is my new favorite. Right next to disabled Magicarp. When Pokémon characters talk about their connection to their own Pokémon, I bet they have what we see in Concierge. I want that in a Pokémon game so badly.

[@adamsouthfield9454]

I was sad it was only 4 episodes. Definitely need more of it

[@ralphbutcher7294]

You said stop motion and my brain automatically decided it was Wallace and Grommit with pokemon, I’m definitely going to have to watch this now

[@alexandersmit4256]

I don't have Netflix, nor am I that into Pokémon, so I probably won't see it, but this was a lovely charge of wholesome energy for my battery.

[@jasonnewell7036]

Stop motion is the perfect medium for Pokemon media.

[@karichhoy]

Ok so I just finished watching Pokémon Concierge. It was the cutest. ❤❤ Thanx so much for showing this to me!

[@PLAYER_42069]

This video makes me so happy Outside Xbox and Outside Xtra have never resorted to fake outrage, or clickbait videos for views. In the era of rage equals engagement, it makes me proud they're one of the few big creators who reject negativity and talk about things they're positively passionate about like Pokemon Concierge. As fans, we may take it granted, but if you look outside Outside's content (pun intended)... It's a filthy cesspool of negativity created by many who don't even like video games, but use them to promote their divisive and sometimes dangerous agendas & ideas.

[@dubbingsync]

Oh come on Luke… the super volcano will only activate is someone brings a Heatran to the island.

[@BENch_Gaming44444]

Luke is wearing a Mom Can't Cook Shirt!

[@MathiasDemo]

Luke correcting Ellen's Pokemon misnomers, but he misidentified a Panpour as an Aipom.

[@AllHailVenom]

Thank you for hooking me in. Watched it. Tis awesome. 😋

[@madnessarcade7447]

9:53 the anime and games have a lot of chill cute moments too tho

[@Hellfire_Tom]

Pokémon have done a couple of amazing shorts in the last year or so….Bidoof’s Big Stand and the Hisuian Voltorb shorts are great, definitely worth a watch 👍… Just a few minutes each, but outside the norm for Pokémon, as you described with concierge

[@AdamusPrime24]

Well this sounds delightful ^^ The no-stakes vibe is similar to the mainstay of Hayao Miyazaki's film-making; to take in the environments and enjoy being in the world...As he would put it 'the gap between the claps' in a story ^^ Also I can very much see the Aardman similarities; Aardman still do great background gags and details to this day...Must be a thing with stop-motion animation XD

[@devinjones2420]

After watching this series, i just want more slice of life Pokémon stories, no battles, no trainers, no Pokémon confined to pokéballs, no high stakes. Just normal people and pokémon being like normal animals and pets.

[@claretravels783]

I absolutely love Rilakkuma and Kaoru, so I'm excited to give this a try now n_n stop motion animation is always my favourite kind, I think because it's very clearly hand made art

[@lady_draguliana784]

I'm sure the next season will be soft earthquakes that have to be soothed b/c the island is actually on the back of a torterra that's crying or something... and i'm here for it

[@DenisRyan]

I put on the first episode of Pokémon Concierge one evening and knew immediately I'd made a mistake. I turned it off until the following evening, when I enjoyed all four episodes back to back with my daughter and son. We all adore it! My kids asked for more, and over the following week, we watched every little documentary piece Netflix put out on their KZbin channel about how it was made! Utterly magical!

[@keatsiannightingale]

Edit: I watched it yesterday and it is amazing! A feel good, chill series with focus on adorable pokemon, it does not get better than that! The art style is amazing and so well done. I understand it's very difficult to do and takes quite a lot of time, so there's only 4 episodes so far. I hope it succeeds so well they want to make more. Easy profit there, c'mon! Thank you for showing this series to us, it's lovely. (on the complete opposite we're getting games that instead of celebrating such lovely creatures we actually hurt them?! how that game ever got the clear to be produced is absurd to me -.-) --- I'm so glad this exists, it feels super cozy and I can't wait to watch it. I love the style, the cuteness and the overall feeling. It will probably become a comfort show easily!

[@sharkkebunni]

Look now we have both Palworld, rough, "real" and violent on an island and now this Pokémon Concierge, relax and chill on an Island lol

[@user-is2ic4yd6j]

Is no-one going to reference Luke's stop motion Pokemon short from show of the weekend a few years ago (starring Mewtwo and the Pikachu Brothers)?

[@zerin25]

So based on your description of this show having immaculate wholesome vibes, can we assume that none of the terrifying Pokemon you've made several videos about are allowed on the island?

[@briarpelt2333]

Luke: “Aaah, aah, it’s rending my body!” Ellen: “Oh, there’s an eevee!”

[@toymachine2328]

So shortly after Luke's comment on western media's tendency to make you anticipate the other shoe dropping.

[@shadowcat1606]

6:05 Same, actually... as a kid, sure, it would have been cool to become a kickass trainer and all that. Now, as an adult, if i lived in the world of Pokemon, all i'd want to do is come home after a day of work, sit on my couch petting a pet-pokemon like an Eevee, a Litten, a Lycanroc or a Growlithe...