Kairyuu to Yuubinyasan

This short celebrating Pokémon Day is truly a testament to the emotional range Pokémon stories can have, and to just how incredible Pokémon is as a franchise. Pulling a stacked but unexpected cast of being animated by CoMix Wave Films (Your Name, Weathering With You) and with music by Evan Call (Violet Evergarden, Frieren) x suis from Yorushika (Frieren, BokuYaba), this short does not pull punches when it comes to hitting an emotional story beat within its short runtime.

Evan Call feels right at home again writing the music for another series about the power of letters in expressing feelings to others, and the short ... does an amazing job of delivering that message, balancing some fun comedic moments with a strong emotional buildup into a climax that made me tear up. It also does an amazing job of showcasing a world of Pokémon co-existing with humans, and how much joy and wonder Pokémon brings to both children and adults alike.

In short, this short made me laugh and cry, and it's a truly fitting short to honor Pokémon on Pokémon Day. It reminded me that, in fact, I really do love Pokémon!

If you're a Pokémon fan, "Dragonite and the Postman" is a must-watch. Initially, I thought it was a feature-length film, but it was a short film that, makes me sad😭.But, Despite its running time only (15:00 min.) it packs emotional depth into its brief runtime. The story is understated yet powerful, capable of making viewers both laugh and cry (lowkey). CoMix Wave Films, known for hits like "Your Name," delivers stunning animation, though there are some noticeable CGI moments. The voice actors bring life to the characters, and the original soundtrack is superb. However, the inclusion of legendary Pokémon like Kyogre and Lugia felt a ... bit forced, as these rare creatures appeared unexpectedly. Overall, it's a heartwarming tale of Dragonite and the postman's bond.

"Dragonite and the Postman" effectively captures the unique bond between Pokémon and humans, Also, between father and his son that making it a heartwarming and engaging experience for fans of all ages. The attention to detail in depicting both wild and domestic Pokémon adds depth to the story, celebrating the rich history of the series and setting the stage for future adventures. Despite its brief runtime, this short film is a delightful addition to the Pokémon universe.

Then Mine,

Animation : 8/10
Soundtrack : 8/10
VA to the Character : 9/10

Overall : 9/10

PREMISE/STORY/CHARACTERS

A girl at the post office in Paldea is bored sorting mail and looks for more interesting work. She ends up hitching a ride with Dragonite and flying to Kanto with a little boy to deliver a letter to his father. Everything about the script is very simple but all the characters' motivations have more than enough weight to them to fill fifteen minutes and the story they create gives us great excuses to see cute Pokemon in action!

VISUAL/SOUND

This is the real point of Kairyuu to Yuubinyasan and is it ever great. The quality of the drawings is high and we get ... a lot of expressive movement of people and espeically Pokemon in a variety of settings. We see everything from Litwick melting wax in the post office to Mabosstiff taking a walk to schools of Lanturn illuminating the ocean to Latios and Latias in disguise. This is all presenting with a rapid, almost overwhelming pace that reinforces just how varied the Pokemon setting has become over the past thirty years. The human's voices are fine and the music does its job setting the tone of grand adventure but the highlight here is also the Pokemons' cries.

VERDICT: PASS