Which Pokémon episode was withdrawn after viewers reported seizures in Japan?

“Electric Soldier Porygon” was the Pokémon episode withdrawn after viewers reported seizures in Japan.

The episode aired in Japan on December 16, 1997. A scene near the end used rapidly alternating red and blue flashes during an explosion. Some viewers experienced symptoms including seizures, dizziness, headaches, and nausea, and the incident led to widespread media coverage.

The episode was pulled from circulation and has not received a regular television rebroadcast. The event also caused the anime to pause temporarily while production and broadcasting practices were reviewed. The Pokémon franchise adopted additional precautions for flashing effects, and the episode became one of the best-known examples in discussions of photosensitive epilepsy and television safety.

Although Porygon is named in the title, the Pokémon itself was not responsible for the flashing sequence; Pikachu’s attack appears during the scene. The episode is also sometimes called “Dennō Senshi Porygon,” its romanized Japanese title.