Beatrice Lang
Electric Soldier Porygon, also known as Dennō Senshi Porygon, is the 38th episode of the Pokémon anime series. It first aired in Japan on December 16, 1997, and became infamous for causing adverse health effects in viewers, including seizures, vomiting, and irritated eyes, due to the use of flashing lights. This incident, dubbed the Pokémon Shock, resulted in the episode being banned and never aired again in Japan or any other country, including the United States. The episode's impact extended beyond its initial airing, as it sparked discussions about the use of strobe lighting effects in media and the implementation of new broadcasting standards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of airing in Japan | 16 December 1997 |
| Episode number | 38 |
| Number of children hospitalised | 685 |
| Other symptoms | Blindness, irritated eyes, vomiting, convulsions |
| Episode title | "Dennō Senshi Porygon" (translated as "Computer Warrior Porygon" or "Electric Soldier Porygon") |
| Episode plot | Ash and his friends find something wrong with the Poké Ball transmitting device at the local Pokémon Center |
| Episode ban | Never aired outside Japan |
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What You'll Learn
Electric Soldier Porygon was never aired in America
Electric Soldier Porygon, also known as Computer Warrior Porygon, was the 38th episode of the Pokémon anime's first season. It first aired in Japan on December 16, 1997, but it never aired in America. The episode included several scenes with flashing lights that induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across the country. This incident, known as "Pokémon Shock" in Japan, resulted in the hospitalisation of over 600 people, mostly children, while many others experienced milder symptoms.
Following the incident, the Pokémon anime was taken off the air for four months. When it returned to TV, the opening credits were changed to avoid any possibility of a repeat incident. During the commercial breaks, TV Tokyo aired infomercials explaining what had happened and assuring viewers it would not recur. The incident also led to new broadcasting standards in Japan to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The Electric Soldier Porygon episode was pulled from syndication and the original network, and it has never been rebroadcast anywhere in the world. It is one of the few episodes of the show to be banned globally. The episode's infamy also impacted the appearance of Porygon and its evolutions in subsequent episodes of the anime. They have only appeared in brief cameos since the incident.
The Electric Soldier Porygon episode's impact extended beyond its ban, influencing the show's production and character appearances. It delayed episodes that were scheduled to air after it and caused confusion among viewers when those episodes eventually aired out of order. The incident also resulted in a special program being aired before the show's return, explaining the issue to children.
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The episode caused seizures in children
"Dennō Senshi Porygon", more commonly known as "Electric Soldier Porygon", is the 38th episode of the Pokémon anime's first season. It was first broadcast in Japan on December 16, 1997, and has never been aired in any other country. The episode is infamous for resulting in many viewers suffering adverse health effects, including seizures, vomiting, irritated eyes, and other related symptoms. This was due to the use of a flashing strobe effect.
During its sole broadcast, multiple scenes with flashing lights induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across the country. It is estimated that around 600-685 people, mostly children, were taken to hospitals, while many others experienced more mild symptoms that did not necessitate hospitalization. In the days following the episode, around 12,000 children reported feeling ill as an effect of watching Pokémon, though this was largely attributed to mass hysteria.
The episode caused the Pokémon anime to go on hiatus for approximately four months. The episode was pulled from rotation and was never aired in any other country. The incident also complicated plans for an American localization of the series and resulted in new broadcasting standards in Japan to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The specific scene that induced seizures involved Pikachu using an Electric attack on a group of vaccine missiles. The explosion occupied a significant portion of the frame, flashing brightly and alternating rapidly between red and blue. It is important to note that seizures do not automatically indicate epilepsy, and that non-epileptic seizures can occur in people without a history of epilepsy when triggered by flashing lights.
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It was banned and pulled from syndication
"Dennō Senshi Porygon", more commonly known as "Electric Soldier Porygon", is the 38th episode of the Pokémon anime's first season. Its sole broadcast was in Japan on December 16, 1997, and it never aired outside of Japan. The episode was subsequently banned and pulled from syndication due to its infamous association with the Pokémon Shock incident.
During its broadcast, multiple scenes with flashing lights induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across Japan. Over 600 people, mostly children, were hospitalised, while many others experienced milder symptoms that did not require hospitalisation. The incident caused widespread panic and negative media attention, resulting in the episode being pulled from syndication and never re-aired. The episode's content, particularly the flashing strobe effect, was deemed unsafe for viewers, leading to its removal from the show's lineup.
The episode's removal from syndication extended beyond Japan, impacting the show's syndication in other countries as well. It was never commercially released or re-broadcast anywhere in the world. The show went on hiatus for approximately four months following the incident, and when it returned, the opening credits were changed to avoid any possibility of a repeat incident.
The "Pokémon Shock" incident had a significant impact on broadcasting standards and guidelines. Broadcasters and media experts collaborated to implement new guidelines to prevent the use of similar techniques in the future. The incident also resulted in changes to the Pokémon anime itself, with Porygon and its evolutions being removed from the anime. Despite Pikachu being the cause of the seizure-inducing strobe effect, Porygon bore the brunt of the blame, and its reputation was tarnished.
The episode's infamy and impact on the Pokémon anime and broadcasting standards demonstrate the serious consequences of neglecting viewer safety. The decision to ban and pull "Electric Soldier Porygon" from syndication was a necessary step to protect viewers and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
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The show went on a four-month hiatus
The episode "Electric Soldier Porygon" of the Pokémon animated series was first broadcast in Japan on December 16, 1997. The episode included several scenes with flashing lights that induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in hundreds of children across the country. This incident, coined ""Pokémon Shock"" by the Japanese press, resulted in the hospitalisation of over 600 people, with thousands more reporting negative symptoms in the following days.
Due to the severity of the incident, the Pokémon anime went on a four-month hiatus. The episode "Electric Soldier Porygon" was pulled from rotation and was never aired again in any country. The show's original Tuesday time slot was also changed to Thursday when it returned to TV.
The incident caused a wave of concern regarding the potential impact of anime on children. Broadcasters and media experts collaborated to establish guidelines aimed at preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future. This event also led to the implementation of new broadcasting standards in Japan.
The hiatus had a notable impact on the production of "Mewtwo Strikes Back". The episodes that were supposed to air before the movie and foreshadow Mewtwo's appearance were delayed due to the hiatus. As a result, a prologue was created to explain Mewtwo's backstory.
In addition, the incident complicated plans for an American localisation of the series. The show's return in April 1998 included changes to the opening credits to prevent a repeat of the "Pokémon Shock" incident. During commercial breaks, TV Tokyo aired infomercials explaining the incident to viewers and assuring them of their commitment to preventing such occurrences in the future.
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The episode was Pikachu's Thunderbolt attack
"Dennō Senshi Porygon", more commonly known as "Electric Soldier Porygon", is the 38th episode of the Pokémon anime's first season. It was aired in Japan on December 16, 1997, and has never been aired or commercially released in any other country since. The episode is infamous for resulting in many viewers suffering adverse health effects, including epileptic seizures, vomiting, irritated eyes, and other related symptoms. This was due to the use of a flashing strobe effect during a four-second section in which Pikachu uses a Thunderbolt attack on a group of vaccine missiles, causing a large explosion.
In the episode, Ash and his friends find that there is an issue with the Poké Ball transmitting device at the local Pokémon Center. On Nurse Joy's request, they go to Professor Akihabara, the creator of the Poké Ball transfer system. Akihabara tells them that Team Rocket stole his prototype Porygon, a digital Pokémon that can exist in cyberspace and is using it to steal trainers' Pokémon from inside the computer system. Akihabara sends Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and his second Porygon into the cyberspace system using his Dimension Transporter.
During the episode, Team Rocket awakens at the bottom of a bug pit, realizing that their Porygon is knocked out and that they cannot escape. The antivirus locks onto them, but Bulbasaur's Vine Whip intervenes. Held onto Akihabara's Porygon by Bulbasaur, Team Rocket weighs Porygon down, slowing its progress toward the exit portal. The antivirus then fires four more missiles, which Pikachu detonates with his Thunderbolt attack, allowing Porygon to escape.
The explosion caused by Pikachu's Thunderbolt attack occupies a significant portion of the frame and flashes brightly, alternating rapidly between red and blue. This flashing strobe effect induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across Japan, with over 600 people, mostly children, hospitalized, and many others experiencing milder symptoms. The incident caused the Pokémon anime to go on a four-month hiatus and resulted in new broadcasting standards in Japan to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
The Electric Porygon episode was never aired in America.
The episode was pulled from rotation and was never aired in any other country due to its infamous seizure incident.
During the episode, Pikachu uses an Electric attack on a group of vaccine missiles, resulting in a flashing strobe effect that induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across Japan.
The incident resulted in thousands of children being hospitalised and caused the Pokémon anime to go on a four-month hiatus. It also led to new broadcasting standards in Japan to prevent similar incidents in the future.
No, the episode has never been commercially released or re-broadcast anywhere in the world. It is one of the very few episodes of the show to be banned globally.
