>>30186426I expect that the studio is still perfecting and modifying the style, like XY over time started off brighter and less detailed but gradually came into what it was in XYZ with really detailed shots, photorealisim type backgrounds and such.
Give it time and the art a chance anon, we know Ash is going to be doing the Island Trials at some point and around that time things should start changing in tone somewhat especially if the focus starts shifting to Lillie somewhat and we get a possible storyline similar to hers in the games.
SM was relatively dark storywise, they'd need to alter the style somewhat to fit the tone instead of the lighthearted show they've got going now.
And the games themselves were relatively slow at the start, you even attended a Trainers school for a while before going to your first trial.
Right now the anime is loosely following the games, it may get closer to them depending on the direction it takes.