by Tuesday Pope
The most recent episode of Twilight Wings just aired on YouTube and I am remiss i have yet to talk about it here. The series is produced by Studio Colorido and is set in the Galar region. Each episode is approximately 5-6 minutes long and follows a different character and how they live their life. Sadly the series is only seven episodes long and number five just aired. One episode has aired a month since February. The only real connecting factor from episode to episode is the taxi driver and his Corviknight.
Many episodes focus on Leon on the unique dynamic of him being unbeatable and how that impacts the other characters. That’s something I liked about the video games and it gave weight to defeating him in the end. The first episode focuses on a sick young boy who wants to give his drawing of Leon to Chairman Rose. He is very inspired by Leon and his Charizard. Another is about Hopp’s Wooloo feeling inadequate due to Hopp’s joy at watching Leon’s Charizard battle. There’s one about Bea and how she loses to Leon which leads her to train to the detriment of herself and her Pokémon.
The other two episodes, while not directly about Leon, are still related to how the Pokémon league system works. Nessa balances her career of modeling with running a Pokémon gym. Chairman Rose insinuates she may have trouble with the balance. One thing in particular I love about this episode is that Nessa is shown venting to her gal pal Sonia. It’s mentioned they’re best friends in the games, but it’s really nice to see them interact.
The most recent episode is about Oleana. She’s a character I never particular liked in the games, but in five minutes I find myself relating to her and really growing to like her as a character. She’s a very hard worker who is damn good at what she does and takes great pride in what she does, living up to the recommendation of the chairman by taking on far too much.
The show is great for this. They nail how to present the characters in a likable and relatable way. You really feel for their struggles and it also makes the world of Galar feel much more complete. I honestly hope this series gets a sequel or we explore characters from other regions, especially ones that never got a proper chance to shine.
The animation is absolutely stunning and the show is freely available on YouTube so there’s no excuse not to watch it. The attention to detail is also amazing. There’s so much to take in with each frame that you’ll always notice something new. The world feels alive and vibrant from familiar characters in the background to smaller things like glances and body language. In the most recent episode, the city streets feel like a place that could actually exist. For those few moments, it’s nice existing one the atmosphere. I don’t know how a five minute short manages to capture a moment for environment, but this series is that good.
The next episode will feature Allister. Considering I got sword and has Bea as my third gym leader instead of him, it’ll be good to learn more about him. I assume episode seven will focus on Leon, but we’ll have to wait and see. Each episode ends with a small shot to tease the next character.
Unlike Pokémon Origins or Pokémon Generations, previous YouTube mini series made in the same vein, this one hits me in my feelings. Maybe it’s because I’ve grown with the series and can relate to the struggles, but whatever it is, I absolutely recommend this series. There’s no reason to not watch. If you like this, I absolutely recommend Pokémon Origins. It’s a mini series that retells the adventure of the very first game and gives a lot of interesting insight into the world. It’s the one infamous for the biting squirtle scene and not being afraid to go hard. I have yet to see Generations, but I plan on checking it out. Considering these are quarantine times, there’s really no excuse for me.
Pokémon has nailed the mini-series format. They make a lot of great content not only on that YouTube, but there’s another one that’s Japanese only targeted more for kids that has a LOT of fun content and music videos. The most recent video is a Pokémon short made in the style of early merry melody cartoons and has some stunning animation. It’s also just fun. Hopefully I’ve helped you add a few things to your stuck at home watch list and I know I’ll excitedly be looking forward to whatever project Pokémon has next!
