Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu riding Porygon

"Dennō Senshi Porygon" (でんのうせんしポリゴン, Dennō Senshi Porigon^?, lit. "Digital Soldier Porygon", although most commonly translated as "Electric Soldier Porygon") is the thirty-eighth episode of the original Pokémon anime and is banned worldwide. It was aired on Japanese television in December 16, 1997 and is notorious for using visual effects that caused seizures in a number of Japanese viewers, an incident referred to as the "Pokémon Shock" (ポケモンショック, Pokemon Shokku^?) by the Japanese press. Image File history File links ScreenshotPokemonEpi38. ... Image File history File links ScreenshotPokemonEpi38. ... Original run Original Series: April 1, 1997 – November 14, 2002 September 8, 1998 – October 25, 2003 Advanced Generation: November 21, 2002 – September 14, 2006 November 1, 2003 – March 3, 2007 Diamond & Pearl: September 28, 2006 – June 4, 2007 – No. ... There are over 500 episodes of the Pokémon anime. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... This article is about epileptic seizures. ...

Synopsis

Ash, Misty, Brock and Pikachu discover that the system used to transfer Pokémon from one Pokémon Center to the other is malfunctioning. On Nurse Joy's request, they go to Professor Akihabara, the one who created the Pokeball transfer system. He tells them that Team Rocket stole his prototype Porygon, a CG Pokémon who can exist in cyberspace, and is using it to steal trainers' Pokémon from inside the computer system. He then sends them into the computer system to stop Team Rocket with his second Porygon. Porygon is able to defeat Team Rocket's Pokémon, but Nurse Joy, monitoring the situation, has sent a vaccine into the system to combat what she thinks is a virus. Pikachu uses a Thunderbolt attack on the vaccine, and the group and Team Rocket are able to escape the computer. Ash Ketchum, known as Satoshi ) in Japan, is the protagonist of the anime Pokémon. ... Misty, known as Kasumi ) in Japan, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise. ... Brock, known in Japan as Takeshi ), is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... Nurse Joy in action in the video game Pokemon Emerald Nurse Joy is a minor recurring character in the Pokémon media franchise, most famous as being a predominant character in the Pokémon anime. ... In the fictional world of the Pokémon video games and anime television series, a Poké Ball (known as Monster Ball in Japan) is a spherical device used by Pokémon Trainers to capture new Pokémon and store them when they are not in use. ... This article is about the version of Team Rocket seen in the Pokémon anime. ... Porygon ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... It has been suggested that Virtual world be merged into this article or section. ... The official Pokémon logo. ... This article is about the machine. ... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to establish immunity to a disease. ... A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ...

Controversy

One frame from the scene that caused the seizures

About 20 minutes into the episode, there was a scene in which Pikachu stops some rockets with its Thunderbolt attack, resulting in a huge explosion that flashed red and blue lights. Although there were similar parts in the episode with red and blue flashes, an anime technique called "paki paki", this scene was extremely intense, for these flashes were extremely bright strobe lights, with blinks at a rate of about 12 Hz for approximately 4 seconds in almost fullscreen, and then for 2 seconds outright fullscreen. At this point, viewers started to complain of blurred vision, headaches, dizziness and nausea; in a sense, this might be considered a striking occurrence in actual reality of the literary trope known as the motif of harmful sensation. A few people even had seizures, blindness, convulsions and lost consciousness. 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. Some other people had seizures when parts of the scene were rebroadcast during news reports on the seizures.^[1] Image File history File links Pikachu_seizure-2. ... Image File history File links Pikachu_seizure-2. ... US Smarties (by Ce De Candy) US Smarties (by Ce De Candy) In the United States, Smarties are a type of artificially fruit-flavored candy produced by Ce De Candy. ... Full screen is a term used to describe a video release of a widescreen film which has subsequently been altered in order to create a 4:3 aspect ratio, rather than maintain the original theatrical aspect ratio through the use of letterboxing with black bars at the top and bottom... Full screen is a term used to describe a video release of a widescreen film which has subsequently been altered in order to create a 4:3 aspect ratio, rather than maintain the original theatrical aspect ratio through the use of letterboxing with black bars at the top and bottom... The motif of harmful sensation refers to the physical or mental damage that a person suffers merely by experiencing what should normally be a benign sensation. ... This article is about the visual condition. ...

Scientists believe that the flashing lights triggered photosensitive seizures in which visual stimuli such as flashing lights can cause altered consciousness. Although scientists know that approximately 1 in 4,000 people (0.5–0.8% of children between 5–13 years old) are susceptible to these types of seizures, the number of people affected by this Pokémon episode was unprecedented. For a List of scientists, see: List of anthropologists List of astronomers List of biologists List of chemists List of computer scientists List of economists List of engineers List of geologists List of inventors List of mathematicians List of meteorologists List of physicists Scientist pairs List of scientist pairs See... Photosensitive epilepsy is a form of epilepsy in which seizures are triggered by visual stimuli that form patterns in time or space, such as flashing lights, bold, regular patterns, or regular moving patterns. ...

A Pokémon website, Pokémon Press Battle, made the following observation:

(...) photo induced epileptic attacks can be caused by exhaustion, stress, and sitting too close to the television. All of the above are facts in most Japanese school children's lives, who live under constant academic and social pressure in small homes. Experts have speculated that the children were intensely focused and involved with the show, figuratively 'glued to the set' when the scene went off like a bomb in their faces.

This event was briefly mentioned in a Ripley's Believe it or Not! book and a Guinness World Records book. Believe It or Not redirects here. ... Guinness World Records 2008 edition. ...

Guidelines

Many Japanese television broadcasters and medical officials got together to find ways to make sure this never happened again. They established a series of guidelines for future animated programs, ^[2] including:

• Flashing images, especially those with red, should not flicker faster than three times per second. If the image does not have red, it still should not flicker faster than five times per second.
• Flashing images should not be displayed for a total duration of more than two seconds.
• Stripes, whirls and concentric circles should not take up a large part of a TV screen.

Japanese broadcasters also began broadcasting an on-screen advisory at the beginning of animated programs. Some example warnings:

「テレビを見る時は部屋を明るくして離れて見て下さい」

"When watching TV, please brighten the room and sit at a distance from the TV."

(as seen on TV Asahi broadcasts of Ichigo 100% and Steel Angel Kurumi, also during the first opening of Kamen Rider Kabuto pilot.)

「テレビアニメをみるときは、部屋をあかるくして近づきすぎないようにしてみてくださいね。」

"When you're watching anime on the TV, please brighten the room and don't sit too close."

(as seen on TV Tokyo's anime broadcasts from then on.)

「犬夜叉からのお願い…テレビアニメを見るときは部屋を明るくして画面からはなれてくださいね」

"A request from Inuyasha... When you're watching anime on the TV, please brighten the room and sit away from the screen."

(as seen on Nippon Television broadcasts of InuYasha)

TV Asahi Corporation ) (TYO: 9409 ), also known as EX and Tele-Asa ), is a television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. ... Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump Original run February 2002 – August 2005 No. ... Serialized in Monthly Ace Next Original run May 10, 1999 – April 4, 2000 No. ... Kamen Rider Kabuto , Masked Rider Kabuto) is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. ... The logo of TV Tokyo. ... Nippon Television Tower (headquarters) in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan Nippon Television Network Corporation ) (TYO: 9404 ) is a television network in Shiodome area of Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan owned by the Yomiuri Shimbun. ... “Inuyasha” redirects here. ...

Cultural influences

The Simpsons watch Battling Seizure Robots.

There was also a reference to this in an episode of The Simpsons, entitled "Thirty Minutes over Tokyo." Bart is seen watching TV and asks, "Isn't this that show that causes seizures?" and is seen having a seizure about 3 seconds later. Soon everyone in the room is having a seizure (except Homer, who just plays along with them), and the show is revealed to be "Battle Seizure Robots." Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... Thirty Minutes over Tokyo is the season finale of The Simpsons tenth season, which originally aired on May 16, 1999. ... For the comic book series of the same name, see Bart Simpson comics. ...

In South Park, episode 42, Kenny suffers from a seizure playing a Chinpokomon video game. This article is about the TV series. ... Chinpokomon is episode 42 of Comedy Centrals animated series South Park. ... Kenneth Kenny McCormick is a fictional character in the animated series South Park. ... Computer and video games redirects here. ...

This advisory notice was parodied in the first ending sequence of Sonic X where Sonic is reprimanded for watching TV in the dark and sitting fairly close to the TV.
This article is about Sonic X, an animated series. ... Sonic the Hedgehog ), trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog,[4] is a video game character and the hero of a video game series released by Sega, as well as numerous spin-off comics, cartoons and books. ...

Aftermath

The opening screen of "Anime: Pocket Monster Problem Inspection Report".

After the airing of "Dennō Senshi Porygon", Pokémon went into a four month hiatus. TV Tokyo discontinued some program specials that were supposed to air around the end of December. After the hiatus, the timeslot changed from Tuesday to Thursday. The opening theme was also redone, and black screens showing various Pokémon in spotlights were broken up into four images per screen. Before the seizure incident, the opening was originally one Pokémon image per screen. A new episode titled "Pikachu's Goodbye" was also produced, and was introduced into the airing order, creating a schedule differing from that before Dennō Senshi Porygon's airing. Image File history File links Soudou-news04. ... Image File history File links Soudou-news04. ... In television scheduling, a hiatus refers to a break of at least several weeks in the normal schedule of a television program. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Pokémon (anime). ...

Before the beginning of the reairing, "Anime: Pocket Monster Problem Inspection Report" (アニメ ポケットモンスター問題検証報告, Anime Poketto Monsutā Mondai Kenshō Hōkoku^?) was shown. Broadcast in Japan on April 11, 1998 and April 16, 1998, a woman named Miyuki Yadama went over the circumstances of the program format and the on-screen advisories at the beginning of animated programs.

YAT Anshin! incident

A similar scene to the Pokémon Incident

In March 29, 1997, a 25th episode of an anime called YAT Anshin! Luxury Space Tour had a similar incident when reportedly four children were taken to hospitals by ambulance after watching a scene with rapidly flashing red and white colors. After the "Pokémon Shock" incident it was noted that the YAT Anshin! incident was similar. ^[3] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 88th day of the year (89th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... YAT Anshin! Luxury Space Tours, YAT安心！宇宙旅行 ), is an anime produced Group TAC, the anime aired on NHK in Japan on October 5, 1996 to September 27, 1997 and the second series April 11, 1998-October 03, 1998. ...

References

For the band, see 1997 (band). ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• CNN archive news article about Seizure episode
• CNN archive news article (2) about Seizure episode
• Neuroscience for kids - Pokémon on the brain
• Forbidden Pokémon - Pikachu Attack Induces Seizures
• A Japanese page showing the seizure-inducing images
• episode screenshots
• Audio-Visual Sensory Perception