Which Pokémon anime episode was withdrawn after its Japanese broadcast because of flashing effects?

“Electric Soldier Porygon” was the Pokémon anime episode withdrawn after its Japanese broadcast because of flashing effects.

The episode aired in Japan on December 16, 1997. During a scene involving explosions and computer-generated imagery, rapidly alternating red and blue flashes affected some viewers. Hundreds of children were taken to hospitals with symptoms including seizures, dizziness, headaches, and nausea. The incident became known as the Pokémon shock.

Japanese broadcasters and Pokémon’s production partners responded by suspending the series and reviewing broadcast practices. “Electric Soldier Porygon” was not rebroadcast in Japan and was never released in the regular English-language television run.

Although Porygon appears in the episode, Pikachu’s electrical attack is associated with the flashing sequence. As a result, some people incorrectly call it the “Pikachu episode.” The incident also influenced later guidance for animated television, including recommendations about flash rates, brightness, and color changes.