Porygon's Hospitalization: The Pokémon Episode's Health Crisis

In 1997, the 'Pokémon' episode Dennō Senshi Porygon, commonly known as Electric Soldier Porygon, induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in hundreds of Japanese children, resulting in their hospitalisation. The episode featured a scene with flashing red and blue lights, causing what became known as Pokémon Shock. The episode was pulled from schedules, and the show went on a four-month hiatus, returning with reworked opening titles and an on-screen disclaimer warning kids not to sit too close to the TV.

The 'Pokémon Shock' incident

On December 16, 1997, the 38th episode of the Pokémon anime's first season, titled "Dennō Senshi Porygon" (commonly known as "Electric Soldier Porygon"), aired in Japan. This episode contained a scene with flashing red and blue lights, creating a strobe effect known as "paka paka". This visual effect induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across the country, with over 600 children being hospitalized within an hour of the broadcast. The incident, referred to as "Pokémon Shock", resulted in the hospitalization of 685 children across Japan, with symptoms including convulsions, nausea, vomiting, irritated eyes, and seizures. The episode was pulled from rotation and has not been aired again, and the Pokémon anime went on a nearly four-month hiatus following the incident.

In the controversial scene, Ash and his friends encounter a problem with the Poké Ball transmitting device at the local Pokémon Center. They are led into a room with a giant machine and are transported into cyberspace along with a Porygon to defeat Team Rocket, who have stolen another Porygon and are causing havoc within the system. During the confrontation, Pikachu's Thunderbolt attack results in an explosion with flashing lights, which caused the seizures in the viewers.

The impact of the "Pokémon Shock" incident extended beyond the immediate hospitalizations. The shares of Nintendo, the company that produced the Pokémon games, fell by about 3.2%. The show eventually returned with reworked opening titles and an on-screen disclaimer warning kids not to sit too close to the TV. "Electric Soldier Porygon" was never rebroadcast in Japan and was absent from the series shown worldwide. The official Pokémon Twitter account later referenced the episode in 2020, stating "Porygon did nothing wrong," acknowledging that Porygon was a scapegoat due to Pikachu being the franchise's mascot.

The incident also had lasting effects on the viewers who experienced seizures. A three-year study of 103 patients found that 22% reported seizures after the incident, with 15 determined to have had visually induced seizures. Additionally, 56% of patients who experienced seizures following the incident had epilepsy. The study also revealed that only 25 (24%) of the patients had a history of seizures before the incident.

Photosensitive epileptic seizures

Photosensitive epilepsy is a condition where exposure to flashing lights at certain intensities or certain visual patterns can trigger seizures. It affects about 3% to 5% of people with epilepsy, with children and adolescents aged 7 to 19 being more susceptible. The condition becomes less frequent with age, with relatively few cases reported in the mid-twenties.

Photosensitive seizures can be triggered by flashing or flickering lights, as well as certain patterns such as stripes. The frequency of the flashing lights that are most likely to cause seizures varies from person to person, but generally, it is between 5 to 30 flashes per second. Other common triggers include stimulating images that take up the complete field of vision, such as being very close to a TV screen.

In the case of the Pokémon episode "Electric Soldier Porygon", a scene with flashing red and blue lights induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across Japan. This strobe effect, known as "paka paka", caused over 600 children to be hospitalised with various symptoms, including headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, convulsions, vomiting, and seizures. The episode was pulled from schedules, and the show returned with reworked opening titles and an on-screen disclaimer warning kids not to sit too close to the TV.

To prevent photosensitive seizures, people with photosensitive epilepsy should minimise their exposure to seizure triggers. This includes avoiding places with strobe lights, such as certain bars, clubs, or concerts, and disabling video autoplay on social media and website browsers. Anti-epileptic medications are also available to reduce the risk of seizures, and it is recommended to consult a doctor if concerned about flashing lights triggering seizures.

Repetitive visual effects

The ""Dennō Senshi Porygon" episode of the Pokémon anime, commonly known as "Electric Soldier Porygon", featured a scene with flashing lights that induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across Japan. The episode, which first aired on December 16, 1997, contained repetitive visual effects that led to a substantial number of Japanese viewers experiencing adverse health effects, including epileptic seizures, vomiting, irritated eyes, and other related symptoms.

In the episode, Ash and his friends encounter a problem with the Poké Ball transmitting device at the local Pokémon Center. To investigate the issue, they enter a giant machine and are transported into cyberspace, where they encounter a giant holographic image. It is during this scene that the repetitive visual effects, specifically a barrage of red and blue strobe lighting, caused by Pikachu's electric attack, occur.

The flashing lights created a strobe effect known as "paka paka", which induced seizures in children who were photosensitive or epileptic. Over 600 children were hospitalized within an hour of the episode being broadcast, with symptoms including convulsions, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting, and seizures. The incident, referred to as "Pokémon Shock" in Japan, led to the episode being pulled from rotation and it has not been aired again in any country since.

The "Electric Soldier Porygon" episode of the Pokémon anime was the 38th episode of the first season. After the incident, the show went on a nearly four-month hiatus and returned with reworked opening titles and an on-screen disclaimer warning kids not to sit too close to the TV. The episode itself was never rebroadcast in Japan and was absent from the series shown worldwide.

Mass hysteria

On December 16, 1997, the 38th episode of the Pokémon anime's first season, titled "Dennō Senshi Porygon" (commonly known as "Electric Soldier Porygon"), aired in Japan. This episode featured a scene with flashing red and blue lights, creating a strobe effect known as "paka paka". This visual effect induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across the country, resulting in a significant number of hospitalizations. The incident, referred to as "Pokémon Shock", led to a four-month hiatus of the Pokémon anime and various changes to subsequent episodes.

Within an hour of the episode's broadcast, hospitals across Japan admitted 618 people, mostly children, with complaints of headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, convulsions, vomiting, and seizures. The number of hospitalizations rose to over 700 the following day, and an additional 12,000 children who were not hospitalized reported mild symptoms of illness. The symptoms exhibited by these children more closely resembled mass hysteria than seizures.

The "Electric Soldier Porygon" episode has not been rebroadcast in Japan and has been absent from the series shown worldwide. However, it has gained a cult status, and can be found on YouTube. The episode's impact extended beyond the anime's hiatus, as Nintendo stocks took a hit, and the US Army was reportedly inspired to develop a weapon that could trigger seizures in individuals.

While the episode's visual effects were determined to be the primary cause of the seizures, the spread of symptoms to additional children highlights the potential consequences of mass media coverage and the risk of future mass hysteria outbreaks. This incident serves as a reminder of the influence that television and news coverage can have on susceptible individuals, particularly children.

To prevent similar incidents, it is crucial to exercise caution when utilizing visual effects, especially those that may trigger photosensitive epilepsy. Additionally, providing appropriate disclaimers and warnings, such as advising viewers not to sit too close to the television, can help mitigate potential risks.

Porygon's scapegoating

On December 16, 1997, the 38th episode of the Pokémon anime's first season, titled "Dennō Senshi Porygon" (commonly known as "Electric Soldier Porygon"), aired in Japan. The episode featured a scene with flashing red and blue lights, creating a strobe effect known as "paka paka". This visual effect induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in children across the country, with over 600 children hospitalized within an hour of the broadcast. The incident, referred to as "Pokémon Shock" in Japan, resulted in the episode being pulled from rotation and never aired again.

While Porygon was blamed for the incident, it is important to understand the underlying causes and subsequent scapegoating of the character. Firstly, the flashing lights in the episode were the primary trigger for the seizures. The rapid and intense strobing effect exceeded safe thresholds, causing a physiological response in susceptible individuals. This was a result of the animation techniques used and the absence of guidelines or awareness about photosensitive epilepsy in television content at the time.

Secondly, the context of Porygon's involvement in the scene should be considered. In the episode, Jessie's Porygon changes the shape of its head to gain a sword-like beak and attacks another Porygon. Pikachu's Thunderbolt attack, not Porygon's actions, causes the flashing lights and explosion. Porygon was simply following its programming and reacting to the actions of other characters.

Additionally, the cultural impact of Pokémon as a popular anime franchise cannot be understated. The show had a massive following among children, and when news of the hospitalizations spread, it triggered a chain reaction of symptoms in others. This mass hysteria, driven by media coverage and peer influence, led to an additional 12,000 children reporting mild symptoms, even though they did not require hospitalization.

In the years following the incident, Porygon has been recognized as a scapegoat. The official Pokémon Twitter account acknowledged this in 2020 with a tweet stating, "Porygon did nothing wrong." This sentiment is shared by fans who understand that Porygon was not the direct cause of the seizures and that the character has been unfairly blamed for the unfortunate events.

In conclusion, while the "Electric Soldier Porygon" episode resulted in a tragic and unprecedented impact on its young viewers, Porygon as a character has been unfairly scapegoated. The blame lies with a combination of factors, including the animation techniques used, the absence of safety guidelines, and the intense following and media coverage surrounding the Pokémon franchise. Porygon's scapegoating highlights the complexities of media influence and our understanding of photosensitive epilepsy, leading to increased awareness and hopefully preventing similar incidents in the future.

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