Move over, Pikachu! Pokémon has found its new star, and that shining beacon is a round yellow duck with chronic headaches. Psyduck is the scene companion for a new stop-motion animated Pokémon series from Netflix and Dwarf Studios.
follows a young woman named Haru who accepts a new job at a Pokémon complex. In her position, she must keep the Pokémon happy and make sure they have fun (so to speak, she is the Pokémon’s janitor). At first, she struggles to find the perfect Pokémon partner for her, but after a chance encounter, she befriends Psyduck, who will become her main friend throughout the series.
If you want to love this Psyduck, all you have to do is watch him do anything. I love the way it narrows its eyes when it uses its psychic powers or the look of absolute horror when it dives into the water despite being a water-type Pokémon. Either way, Psyduck delivers. Even the way he rides the bike – he makes an adorable sound as the engine hums – is iconic. At another point, he can be seen holding an old shell to his ear, presumably to try to hear the ocean. Every scene with Psyduck is like watching a brief but fleeting moment of pure, unadulterated happiness.
Psyduck’s redemption arc is especially notable given the historical treatment of this Pokémon in other series. Haru has a Pikachu-print scarf and becomes infatuated with a group of Pikachus visiting the resort. (It’s funny that one of his co-workers comments: “Another inveterate Pikachu lover.”) But not even his love for Pikachu can match Psyduck’s irresistible charms. When he assigns Pokémon to specific flavors of candy, he says, “And the yellow one is Pika… I mean, it’s Psyduck,” and the once shy duck snuggles up to her.
All the Pokémon that appear in Pokémon Concierge
Pokémon Concierge brings stop-motion Pokémon to Netflix in its first trailer
OLM, the animation studio responsible for the original anime, chose Pikachu as a mascot because of his popularity among children in the early years of the franchise. Today, Pikachu is the driving force behind Pokémon: Pikachu has appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade for more than 20 years. Pikachu was the only Pokémon that stayed with Ash from season to season in the anime. He also appears on an overwhelming amount of merchandise and stars in many of the themed plushies. There’s a Pikachu train, and there are even entire Pikachu parades.
Few have resisted the dazzling stardom of the electric mouse. Sure, Eevee has become the secondary mascot and Charizard appears in many games, but no Pokémon has come close to Pikachu. In the game we meet an adorable Pikachu, but this Pikachu does not get the precious role of being the protagonist’s friend. That honor goes to Psyduck.
As a kid, I remember watching the original Pokémon anime with Misty’s Psyduck. She verbally abused his Psyduck and openly hated him. He presented him as unreliable and stupid. So I kind of wrote off Psyduck as a useless Pokémon. However, I leave my viewing a new woman: I will not tolerate any type of slander about Psyduck again, not even from Misty.
2023-12-31 11:57:52
#Pika #Pokémon #Concierge #Psyduck #lover
