I’m not sure how people have been feeling about the latest anime installment in the Pokemon series, but do you hear that? Oh yes. Time for another irrelevant opinion.

Playing the seventh generation game was a unique experience, and turned out to probably be my favorite generation since Johto. It took the traditional structure of the game and gave it a new twist that (in my unimportant opinion) gave it a breath of life.

Of course, as I played I wondered how the series adaption would fair. Twelve episodes in and I have to say it too is shaping up to be one of my favorites yet.

[Minor Spoilers below]

1-The Animation- I know there are people that are not on board at all for the new style of animation. Personally, I love it. I think a property needs a little change every now and then and I’m enjoying the new look for Ash and the overall presentation.

2-Digimon?- We know as Ash and his friends travel towards the Pokemon League, they all traditionally catch various pokemon along the way. So far, Ash has made a group of friends at the Pokemon School and each, like Ash, has a “signature” partner. Other than Kiawe who hangs around his grandfather’s Charizard, the others don’t seem to have any other Pokemon. I would be tempted to be annoyed with this but I’m not? I actually quite enjoy that each of them has a signature Pokemon type, they each wear the symbols of the captains, and they have a very tight bond with one Pokemon like Digimon. The fact that it is the power of the trainer with their pokemon that can access the Z-Power reminds me of the concept of the crests from the Digimon series as well. It’s different, and as episodes progress perhaps they will catch more partners, but for now I quite enjoy this element. I can’t wait for Lillie’s Vulpix to hatch!

3-Just… Hanging out?- In every series before if Ash and his friends weren’t staying at a Pokemon Center they were roughing it out in the wilderness. This time around? Ash is staying at Professor Kukui’s house with his Rockruff (Hey, even he has a signature pokemon). Instead of moving along traveling island to island to collect the Z- Crystals and face off against all the kahuna’s, he has taken his time to live on the island, hang out with his friends, and go to the pokemon school.

This could be boring but again, I like it! I like the change in the pace of the show. I like that for a region that is symbolic of the Hawaiian islands, a place synonymous with relaxation, peace, and paradise, that Ash’s journey there would line up with those elements. Again, as the series progresses, He will have to travel to other islands. After all, there ARE more kahuna’s and three more trial captains (Hey, what happened to Lima?).

4- Z-Power- I thought the concept was a little lame when it was announced. Won’t lie. But it has grown on me. I think the moves are dramatic, larger than life, and I think they visually escalate the battles to a fun place. I’m eager to see what the other moves will look like.

5-Mimikyu- CREEPIEST pokemon ever made and yet…the funniest? The interactions that Team Rocket has with this thing make me CRACK. UP. In the latest episode when it gets out of the water and turns around and they see all the paint dripping scarily down it’s face and they scream? Priceless.

Team Rocket is doing their thing. Nothing too different from their usual antics. As they too recycle their pokemon season to season I, so far, (clearly) love Mimkyu and am thoroughly enjoying Bewear keeping them emotionally and physically hostage (lol).

6-(Bonus)- Pose- I love the ending credits theme. So sorry ’bout it. I am confident that I have played it on loop for like half an hour at some point. Thank you pokemon. Thank you.

So, will there be moments that I just don’t care for? Of course. Episode 13 is about a pancake race for crying out loud. But I’m enjoying the changes made and I’m eager to keep up with Sun and Moon.

Sun and Moon is twelve episodes along in Japan with the a US release planned for some time in 2017.