Hard to believe it, but way back in 1997 we got our first taste of what Pokemon was due to
a controversy surrounding a Japan episode that induced seizures.


For those who don't remember, Pokemon made headlines in 1997 in the United States and was all over the news.
Even the Simpsons spoofed it a year later. This would be MANY first peoples taste of who Pikachu was a FULL year
before Red & blue debuted in the United states.

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--bVVvRL04--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/o19f09fksxjbc0her3lm.jpg

guess there is no pokemon fans here

guess there is no pokemon fans here


Bruh, you would have got way more responses if this was a general Pokémon thread. Haha No Pokémon fan legitimately remembers it because the episode is almost non existed and the topic its self is difficult to comment on.

Bruh, you would have got way more responses if this was a general Pokémon thread. Haha No Pokémon fan legitimately remembers it because the episode is almost non existed and the topic its self is difficult to comment on.


I mean not really if you have memories of 1997 ;)

I mean not really if you have memories of 1997 ;)
Nah. He's right. Since the episode gave tons of kids seizures due to the strobe lights, it was banned everywhere and therefore was not aired ever again. Besides, in 1997 Pokemon wasn't much a thing yet and it was still the Power Ranger era.

I remember this incident clearly. It was covered all over the news at the time. If I recall, it was initially being reported as a "strange" or "bizarre" incident. But certain strobe or flashing lights, or even IMAX type movies, can induce seizures, especially in people with pre-existing conditions like epilepsy. I had never heard of Pokemon at the time, and I'm not sure I even knew of anime as a thing, though I had seen a "Galaxy Express 999" movie on HBO as early as 1984 or so. Something with a transparent female folksinger singing something about "my love is light years away". 

Nah. He's right. Since the episode gave tons of kids seizures due to the strobe lights, it was banned everywhere and therefore was not aired ever again. Besides, in 1997 Pokemon wasn't much a thing yet and it was still the Power Ranger era.



Ugh no lol  Power Rangers started declining in season 3 after the movie, by the time TURBO aired in 1997 the show was almost canceled.

I remember this incident clearly. It was covered all over the news at the time. If I recall, it was initially being reported as a "strange" or "bizarre" incident. But certain strobe or flashing lights, or even IMAX type movies, can induce seizures, especially in people with pre-existing conditions like epilepsy. I had never heard of Pokemon at the time, and I'm not sure I even knew of anime as a thing, though I had seen a "Galaxy Express 999" movie on HBO as early as 1984 or so. Something with a transparent female folksinger singing something about "my love is light years away".

MHM !  It was everywhere on the news, It just wasn't called Pokemon at the time, it was all over the internet as well, I remember there was AOL chatrooms that were linking the clip via Real Player. I will try to find the news clips on CNN that aired.

Shortly after this broke the news, some video games included newer refined Seizure warnings in the instruction booklets.
I am glad you remember this because it actually was a huge conversation piece at school.

MHM !  It was everywhere on the news, It just wasn't called Pokemon at the time, it was all over the internet as well, I remember there was AOL chatrooms that were linking the clip via Real Player. I will try to find the news clips on CNN that aired.

Shortly after this broke the news, some video games included newer refined Seizure warnings in the instruction booklets.
I am glad you remember this because it actually was a huge conversation piece at school.


It was also reported at the time as a possible case of mass hysteria.

Nah. He's right. Since the episode gave tons of kids seizures due to the strobe lights, it was banned everywhere and therefore was not aired ever again. Besides, in 1997 Pokemon wasn't such a thing yet and it was still the Power Ranger era.
i agree, while Pokemon was huge in Japan it was pretty unknown in the West in 97. You would've had to really watch the news at the time to really known about it back then. Most Americans weren't aware of Pokemon existence until about mid 98. One of the first big Pokemon controversies that hit America was when a pastor was preaching on how demonic it is which gave Pokemon the stigma of being "evil" by evangelicals.

Yes, huge in Japan, but when the first film was released in 1999, it only received 15% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was dire...

I do remember this being on the news and being talked about it magazines

Whoa, that's really creepy!  :o  :o  :o

Probably a case of me not paying attention, but I don't see Pokemon as a thing until like 1998, or 1999.

yikes