Pokémon: Paldean Winds tells the story of three students who have to work together on a school project, while also dealing with their individual feelings. Each episode focuses on one of the students and their starter. They travel through the beautiful animated Paldea region to find what it is that they really want. It is a nice story about growth and friendship. Even though this anime does not really provide deep background stories or a big plot, the light-hearted story kept me well entertained. If you are new to the Pokémon Scarlet/Violet game, or have already finished it, this anime is a nice way to relaxas a Pokémon fan. For those who did finish the game, you will definitely see familiar characters and sceneries, which I think was great!

Just like Sun & Moon, Paldean Winds is a series with a slice-of-life tone. The themes of the episodes revolve around school life and everyday situations, and the Pokémon often feel more like an addition to the story than the central focus of the plot. Paldean Winds is visually appealing: while the animation isn't exceptional, the anime stands out thanks to its beautiful backgrounds. Combined with a competent musical score, this might give the impression that we're watching a promising slice-of-life series — but in truth, it's quite weak when it comes to characters. Although the main trio does receive some development, their personalities are overly simple,and their interactions feel basic and flat. They're not entirely dull, but they lack the depth or charm to make them memorable. The episodic plots also fail to offer anything particularly notable, with a couple that feel overly generic. While it's not a bad anime, Paldean Winds ends up being too forgettable and simplistic. Its strong technical elements and slice-of-life approach had the potential to become something more engaging — maybe even a Pokémon iyashikei — but it ultimately falls flat. I’d only recommend it if you’re a big Pokémon fan, especially of the ninth generation.