Not a Day Without Pokémon: Delving Further into (Enjoying) PokéToon

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Delving Further into (Enjoying) PokéToon

Around this time last year, I explained about another path that the Pokémon anime had taken, which is a path that is stylistically different from its usual incarnations. That would, of course, be about the animated series called PokéToon, which also has the subtitle of "The Pokémon Cartoon Animation". The explanations in that post mostly continue to apply, but I also bring forth a few updates about it, in particular regarding how it may be enjoyed and perceptions regarding their enjoyment.

For the former, after being Japanese-exclusive for about a year, PokéToon is now available for the rest of the world to enjoy in an adapted form (dubbed in English). Eight episodes have been uploaded on the official Pokémon YouTube channel, as well as that for Pokémon Asia for regional availability. This new form may just highlight subtle nuances that those who have attempted watching the original Japanese might have missed, which also applies to watching the anime in general beyond this specialized path.

Unlike Twilight Wings, the episodes of PokéToon vary significantly in length, from just under four minutes (for the Scraggy and Mimikyu episode) to slightly over 14 minutes for the longest - nearly two-thirds of the episodic content of a regular anime episode without breaks. So, some episodes might fit within short breaks, while the longer ones will likely require devotion of some free time to watch them. Yet it is almost a guarantee that they can now be more or less universally enjoyed.

I did mention how "wondrous" this different Pokémon animated series might be for some people previously, but considering the run of eight episodes (some having animation styles of their own), that may not be completely true. On the other hand, there is some correspondence of the animation styles in the eight episodes to the source from which I made the "wondrous" comparison previously. In this way, the matter might still be considered to apply, but for how "wondrous" PokéToon might just be, that may be according to the beholder.

Regardless, PokéToon still has a special place in the realm of the Pokémon anime for its unique take by way of its varied style. And now with its general and broader availability, it means more people who can enjoy the animated shorts. Something has to be said for the power that the Pokémon franchise has in captivating people - in one part through its animated forms - over all these years, and if anything, PokéToon is just one of those statements, one that hopefully lasts as Pokémon goes through more twists and turns.

Like the other short animated features, I can't leave well enough alone without the two-line summaries for them:

Blossom's Dream