EP038
Template:EpisodePrevNext でんのせんしポリゴン (Den no Senshi Porygon, Electric Soldier Porygon; no known English title) is a somewhat notorious episode of the Pokémon anime, due to the fact that on its single airing in Japan in December 1997, more than 700 Japanese children suffered seizures, vomiting, irritated eyes and other symptoms due to a flashing strobe effect.
The episode was never commercially released or re-broadcast anywhere in the world due to it being banned by the Japanese government.
The scene which caused the seizures was a fifteen-second section in which Pikachu used an Electric attack on some vaccine missiles. The explosion was shown as a bright flashing object which alternated rapidly between red and blue.
The seizures caused by this episode caused OLM to drop the strobe effects from Pikachu's electric attacks. Also, a disclaimer is now broadcast at the beginning of television anime precautioning viewers to not sit too close to the television screen.
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Synopsis
Satoshi-tachi go to a Pokemon Center in order to revive a tired Pikachu when they see a distressed Joi. There's a problem with the Poké Ball transporter--the pokemon she sends arrives at another Pokemon Center as a different pokemon! Akihabara-Hakase, the inventor of the Pokemon Transport System, explains that some thieves have intruded into the system and are causing havoc. He sends the reluctant Satoshi-tachi into the computer world, where the Rocket-Dan have set up barricades. Just as the barricades are destroyed, a flying jet-like machine enters with missiles aimed at our heros! It seems that Joi hired a technician to put an anti-virus program into the computer, and it indiscriminately targets the Rocket-Dan AND Satoshi-tachi. After a hectic chase and a strong electric blast from Pikachu, the program is destroyed. Satoshi-tachi emerge in the real world, and now the system is restored to normal.
Pokémon Debuts
Trivia
- This episode aired (in Japan) between "Ditto's Mysterious Mansion" and "Pikachu's Goodbye".
- The seizures caused from this episode were parodied by The Simpsons in the episode "30 Minutes Over Tokyo."
- There was originally going to be a New Year's Eve episode of Pokémon. It was never shown, not even in Japan. Electric Soldier Porygon is to blame for this.
- 4Kids Entertainment has dubbed this episode and reduced the speed and intensity of the flashing explosion to make it safe, but the episode has still never been shown.
