If you have epilepsy, I strongly advise you to not watch this. In this episode, Nurse Joy has difficulties using the Pokémon Transfer Machine. Whenever she tries to transport a rare Pokémon to another city, the Pokémon goes missing and a different one is transported instead. With the help of the designer of the machine, Ash, Brock and Misty are transported into the computer only to find that the culprits are Team Rocket who transported themselves to steal the rare Pokémon. Meanwhile in the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy gets someone to install an anti-virus into the system. However, what she doesn't know is that installing the anti-virus will target anyone inside the computer, including Ash and the others. This is the part that caused many seizures when the episode aired because of the explosions caused by the anti-virus' missiles and Pikachu's counterattacks which create even more flashing images (I don't have epilepsy and my eyes started hurting after watching this). Ash, Misty, Brock safely escape, Team Rocket thanks them for getting them out of there before running off and the Transfer System is operating correctly. I would've said this was a good episode if it weren't for the flashing images.
10 Reviews
You really shouldn't sit too close to the TV
ericstevenson30 July 2017
This is it, people. This is the pokemon episode that appeared on Wikipedia's list of unusual articles because it caused seizures in Japanese children. Porygon's evolutions are the only pokemon to never appear in the anime because of this. Actually, it was Pikachu that was in the scene that caused the seizures who then went on to appear in literally every episode afterwards. Wow! I guess Porygon is the pokemon equivalent of Muhammad. If they did an episode with Porygon's evolutions, would the creators get death threats? So many people have referenced this episode, more so than any other anime episode ever made.
As for the actual episode itself, I actually really enjoyed it. It features the Pokeballs being blocked in the teleporter so the characters have to literally go inside the teleporter to fix it. Porygon is actually a really cool pokemon! I loved how it could shapeshift and turn into various weapons. Honestly, it was such a waste with its evolutions never appearing in the anime. There were a few cameos by it later but of course never an episode focusing on it. I love how Team Rocket just thank them and run away at the end. ****
As for the actual episode itself, I actually really enjoyed it. It features the Pokeballs being blocked in the teleporter so the characters have to literally go inside the teleporter to fix it. Porygon is actually a really cool pokemon! I loved how it could shapeshift and turn into various weapons. Honestly, it was such a waste with its evolutions never appearing in the anime. There were a few cameos by it later but of course never an episode focusing on it. I love how Team Rocket just thank them and run away at the end. ****
Good thing this episode exist
parishlyfe-268744 June 2020
I know it sounds counterintuitive, but let me explain why it's a good thing the episode was made. Being born with a form of epilepsy (petite mal seizures) isn't easy to live with. Strobing lights don't effect me, but having random seizures triggering is completely dangerous.
Does it suck that 685 children were affected? Absolutely, but that's 685 people who were diagnosed in a safer environment. Think of the positive aspects of all the people who are now safely and properly medicated. Also, think of all of the lives that were saved. Imagine not knowing you have a seizure disorder and have one will driving. This episode potentially saved lives, not just for the people with the disorder, but others who may have been on the road.
Like I said, seizures aren't a laughing matter. It's a very serious medical condition. And since I was born with them, I definitely understand how much worse this could have been.
Does it suck that 685 children were affected? Absolutely, but that's 685 people who were diagnosed in a safer environment. Think of the positive aspects of all the people who are now safely and properly medicated. Also, think of all of the lives that were saved. Imagine not knowing you have a seizure disorder and have one will driving. This episode potentially saved lives, not just for the people with the disorder, but others who may have been on the road.
Like I said, seizures aren't a laughing matter. It's a very serious medical condition. And since I was born with them, I definitely understand how much worse this could have been.
4Kids made a dumb choice
michael_p_cassidy21 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
If you know enough about this show, you know that both the production companies and dubbing companies love to make episodes and then keep them from us forever. In fact, there are 4 total episodes that haven't aired even once. Back to this one. Yes, seizures, vomiting, headaches. I can sympathize with that. But 4Kids edited the episode to remove the flashes, and still never aired it. A waste of time, money and effort. Poor Porygon never appeared again, save for the intro to first 5 movies, where it appeared briefly behind a chain link fence as if it were trapped (it even looked sad), in a scene transition, and in the opening to the 15th movie (simply because all Pokemon appeared). Porygon2 and Porygon-Z never appeared at all, save for said 15th movie opening. The ban also creates a plot hole, as Team Rocket gets a Porygon in the episode, and manage to run off with it at the end.
Anyway, this episode is great simply because it's so weird. Converted into digital data, our heroes encounter anti-virus software, which looks like giant flying vaccine needles. Porygon's Conversion, Sharpen and Defense Curl attacks are also interesting. If you want to see this, there's a version out there which the strobe sequences removed, and I recommend it.
Edit: Also, "Electric Soldier Porygon" isn't even a correct translation. "Dennou" can mean "computer," "cyber," "electronic" or "artificial intelligence." Bulbapedia translates the title as "Computer Warrior Porygon." Porygon isn't even electric, it's a Normal-type. I have no idea where "Electric" came from. I would also like to point out that the flashing lights were Pikachu's fault, not Porygon's. Who appears in every episode? Pikachu. And who appears in next to no episodes? Porygon. Something's screwy here...
Anyway, this episode is great simply because it's so weird. Converted into digital data, our heroes encounter anti-virus software, which looks like giant flying vaccine needles. Porygon's Conversion, Sharpen and Defense Curl attacks are also interesting. If you want to see this, there's a version out there which the strobe sequences removed, and I recommend it.
Edit: Also, "Electric Soldier Porygon" isn't even a correct translation. "Dennou" can mean "computer," "cyber," "electronic" or "artificial intelligence." Bulbapedia translates the title as "Computer Warrior Porygon." Porygon isn't even electric, it's a Normal-type. I have no idea where "Electric" came from. I would also like to point out that the flashing lights were Pikachu's fault, not Porygon's. Who appears in every episode? Pikachu. And who appears in next to no episodes? Porygon. Something's screwy here...
Why it's banned?
ratso_rios2 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
It's obvious why this episode is banned from all known countries is due to an event that happened in Japan...
When the episode is aired in Japan, the episode was left with a controversial scene in it - the one which triggered seizures in about 685 children - more than 150 of them were admitted to hospitals. What caused the seizures was that the scene involves flashing lights that appear for less than one second. Efforts were made to tone down the episode, but it didn't happen. The result? The Pokemon TV series went into a four month hiatus and the episode was no longer revealed to the public... ever.
Most of the children have lived to tell the tale, sharing their story with their classmates.
So there you have it. This is why no-one would ever see the episode com into existence. Ever.
When the episode is aired in Japan, the episode was left with a controversial scene in it - the one which triggered seizures in about 685 children - more than 150 of them were admitted to hospitals. What caused the seizures was that the scene involves flashing lights that appear for less than one second. Efforts were made to tone down the episode, but it didn't happen. The result? The Pokemon TV series went into a four month hiatus and the episode was no longer revealed to the public... ever.
Most of the children have lived to tell the tale, sharing their story with their classmates.
So there you have it. This is why no-one would ever see the episode com into existence. Ever.
Mental trip
The_Bastard_Son10 March 2008
Before going on I'll have to ask myself if those guys that reviewed this before me have a clue on what they are talking about. It seems no one have actually seen the episode. And by the way, no one, luckily, died after seeing this. The ban of this episode is not because of the story itself, but because of 105 blue/red flashing lights in 5 seconds (yeah, you've read right!). The synopsis is not big deal. I mean, it could be good for a 10 years old boy, but for other is not great. Not terrible, but not great. 4Kids dubbed it, and slowed down/applied filther/did everything possible to prevent seizures, but probably since this episode gave Pokémon such a bad reputation, they decided to never show it. Well, after all it's an episode like another on the Pokémon series, not great, not terrible. If it wasn't for seizures, this episode wouldn't have been remembered
Deserved to be BANNED!
MaximusQ85 September 2007
This is due to the episode #38 of the Pokemon Anime series "Electric Soldier Porygon" was deserved to be BANNED! Why? Because of a 5 second series of flashing lights (red and blue) that caused photo-sensitive children to experience seizures.
So, the Japan's Fire Defense Agency reported that a total of 685 viewers (310 boys, 375 girls) were taken to hospitals by ambulances. Although many victims recovered during the ambulance trip, more than 150 of them were admitted to hospitals. Two people remained hospitalized for over 3 weeks!
Scientists believe that the flashing lights triggered photo-sensitive seizures in which visual stimuli such as flashing lights can cause altered consciousness. Although scientists know that approximately 1 in 4,000 people (0.50.8% of children between 513 years old) are susceptible to these types of seizures, the number of people affected by this Pokémon episode was unprecedented.
So, the Japan's Fire Defense Agency reported that a total of 685 viewers (310 boys, 375 girls) were taken to hospitals by ambulances. Although many victims recovered during the ambulance trip, more than 150 of them were admitted to hospitals. Two people remained hospitalized for over 3 weeks!
Scientists believe that the flashing lights triggered photo-sensitive seizures in which visual stimuli such as flashing lights can cause altered consciousness. Although scientists know that approximately 1 in 4,000 people (0.50.8% of children between 513 years old) are susceptible to these types of seizures, the number of people affected by this Pokémon episode was unprecedented.
My eyes!
keithphillips-4281714 January 2022
Good episode, but too sick!
abaihaqi-7488230 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I like episode, but sure this episode are contains seizures, this means this episode are totally banned in various country, some country could be censored otherwise not. For example: this was rerun, but censored into white flash instead blue and red flash. This is example there really need chance, but after chance, there not to be rerun again. Porygon himself become character that really banned.
Spoiler: this episode plot ash and friends to find at Pokemon center, then ash think what wrong with this pokeball in transmitting device.
That's it, fortunately still rerun, only once or maybe rerun to some country with censored itself.
Spoiler: this episode plot ash and friends to find at Pokemon center, then ash think what wrong with this pokeball in transmitting device.
That's it, fortunately still rerun, only once or maybe rerun to some country with censored itself.
A banned episode!
geeked-out-4-movies13 June 2022
This is it, fans the reason why Pokemon caused such a controversy iin the USA and around the world is due to this right here, the episode that gave over 700 people in Japan epileptic seizures cause they were sitting to gosh darn close to the boob tube. In response, Japan toned down the lighting effects of the episodes after this one.
9/10 stars.
9/10 stars.
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