Buzz
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Pokemon's debut, this franchise has grown into a global phenomenon that spans beyond video games, TV shows, and movies to include a wide array of collectibles. Whether it’s trading cards, plush toys, or the latest headlines, there's no shortage of ways Pokemon continues to shape pop culture and spark debates.
Below are ten of the most bizarre reasons why Pokemon has consistently found itself making news.
10. PETA's Opposition
When you break down the Pokemon universe, at its core it involves children capturing creatures and making them fight in dangerous battles. While the games and shows highlight the friendships that grow between trainers and their Pokemon, some critics argue this is just a cover for the exploitation of these creatures. This has been a central point of concern for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
PETA has long been known for its provocative campaigns aimed at raising awareness about animal rights. One of its most controversial actions was comparing the act of eating meat to the Holocaust. In response to Pokemon, PETA felt compelled to intervene and fight against what they perceived as the virtual cruelty the franchise promotes.
In 2012, in protest of the release of Pokemon: Black and White, PETA launched a parody game called Pokemon: Black and Blue. Their goal was to teach children that instead of 'catching them all,' they should 'free them all.' Unfortunately, the game ultimately highlighted the risks of playing poorly designed flash games online.
When Pokemon Go was released years later, PETA took a firm stance by declaring that no Pokemon should be captured on their properties, further emphasizing their opposition to the franchise’s underlying message.
9. Banned in Saudi Arabia
In 2001, Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, one of the most influential religious figures in the nation, issued a Fatwa condemning Pokemon as a threat. He argued that the game was promoting Zionism, referencing the Star of David on the cards, which he believed was linked to international Zionism and Israel’s national emblem. Additionally, he expressed concerns over supposed ties to Freemasonry.
Another concern raised by critics was the game's use of the term 'evolution.' It was noted that children often used the word 'evolution' both in and out of the game. Despite having no connection to the scientific concept of evolution, the mere mention of the word was enough to make the game controversial and, in some circles, unacceptable.
The ban largely faded from memory until 2016, when some players in Saudi Arabia started downloading Pokemon Go, bringing the franchise into the streets of the country. While the game remained banned in Saudi Arabia for being un-Islamic, many players still found ways to illegally download and play it.
8. Jynx
When entering new markets, companies must be cautious to avoid cultural missteps. For instance, Ford's Pinto faced failure in Brazil after discovering that the term 'pinto' translates to 'small penis' in Portuguese.
In 2000, Carole Boston Weatherford wrote an op-ed after watching an episode of Pokemon. She described Jynx, Pokemon #124, as having unmistakably human traits: dark skin, large pink lips, wide eyes, straight blonde hair, and a full figure with noticeable cleavage and swaying hips. In her critique, Weatherford compared Jynx to a racist stereotype of the past, specifically the overweight drag queen-like representation of Little Black Sambo, a figure that had long since been removed from children's books.
It is unclear whether Jynx's appearance was intended as a racially insensitive parody, but in an effort to avoid further offense, Nintendo, the creators of Pokemon, decided to change Jynx's skin color from black to purple.
7. Uri Geller Sues
Uri Geller is a world-renowned psychic who claims to possess supernatural abilities. He became famous for demonstrating how he could bend spoons with just a flick of his fingers, a skill that helped him amass wealth and fame.
Although psychic Uri Geller could not predict that his likeness would be used for a Pokemon character, he took issue with the fact that the psychic Pokemon, known as Kadabra, was depicted wielding spoons as a symbol of its power. While Geller might not have noticed the connection at first, the Pokemon's Japanese name, 'Yungera,' closely resembled Geller's own name in Japanese transliteration.
Geller filed a $60 million lawsuit against Nintendo, accusing the company of stealing his identity and turning him into a sinister character. In response, Nintendo removed Kadabra from Pokemon cards worldwide. However, in 2020, Geller eventually gave his permission for Kadabra to appear again, which means the spoon-wielding Pokemon may soon return to Pokemon cards.
6. Pokemon Go(es to an inappropriate place)
Pokemon Go, an augmented reality game, allows players to hunt for Pokemon in the real world. Upon its release, the game became an instant hit, encouraging players to explore their neighborhoods as they searched for virtual creatures. The game transformed local landmarks into Pokestops, where players could collect in-game rewards.
However, not all locations the game chose were suitable for the lighthearted nature of Pokemon battles. At the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, three Pokestops were placed among the displays dedicated to the horrors of the Nazi regime. In one case, Koffing, a poison gas Pokemon, appeared in a room recounting the atrocities of the gas chambers. The museum sought to be removed from the game due to this unfortunate pairing.
Of course, players might bear some responsibility as well. If you're visiting a site like Auschwitz, perhaps hunting for a Rattata might not be the most respectful activity.
5. Teaching Evolution
Evolution is one of the most well-supported theories in science. Very few scientific concepts have as much evidence backing them as evolution does. Almost every area of biology and medicine can be understood through the lens of evolutionary theory. This is likely why scientists can become defensive when the validity of evolution is questioned.
From the beginning, Pokemon has incorporated a form of evolution. If you train your Pokemon enough and reach the right level, they 'evolve' into a different Pokemon. While the term 'evolve' is used, the more accurate term would be 'metamorphosis,' as true evolution works on populations, not individuals. Nonetheless, it was the choice of the word 'evolution' by Nintendo that caused an uproar among Christian fundamentalists.
Fundamentalists, despite the fun connotation of their name (though they might be more 'mental'), viewed Pokemon as a tool for teaching children about evolution. However, if the game was designed to teach evolution, it certainly wasn’t well-executed, as no scientist would consider Pikachu evolving into Raichu as an example of real evolution.
4. Card Scams
During times of uncertainty, certain commodities tend to rise in value, as they are always in demand. Gold is often the go-to asset for nervous investors, but sometimes it's a much less obvious product that becomes valuable. Recently, Pokemon cards have seen a massive surge in value, and with this increase, the number of scams associated with them has also dramatically risen.
While many people collect Pokemon cards for their nostalgic appeal or because they think they’re cool, Chris Camillo saw them as an investment. After studying the market, he realized there was money to be made. With a single Charizard card fetching over $200,000, some cards can be extremely valuable. So, in a live YouTube broadcast, he exchanged $375,000 for a box of unopened Pokemon cards that was supposed to contain rare and valuable items.
However, upon opening the box, Camillo discovered it had already been opened and stripped of its valuable cards. Fortunately, he was able to get his money back after the scam came to light, though not everyone buying cards like Squirtles and Blastoises has been so fortunate.
3. Pokemon Go Deaths
Pokemon Go took the world by storm when it was released. Millions of players downloaded the app, which had a significant impact on their lives. Some found new friends while hunting Pokemon, others met their future spouses. For some, the game even provided an incentive to get fit, and it helped alleviate depression by encouraging people to step outside. Unfortunately, amidst the fun, there were several tragic events.
The first reported death linked to the game occurred when a man was shot while playing late at night in San Francisco. Other players were shot at after trespassing on private properties in search of rare Pokemon. Additionally, the act of constantly walking around with a phone out made players vulnerable to robbery, with many being mugged at gunpoint or threatened with knives.
Many players ignored the game's warning against playing while driving. One such distracted player had the misfortune of hitting a police car while playing behind the wheel. Research into the potential harm caused by Pokemon Go suggests the game may have resulted in up to $7 billion in damages and contributed to hundreds of additional deaths. No Pokemon is worth a human life—unless it’s especially shiny, of course.
2. Seizures
On December 16, 1997, millions of children in Japan tuned in to watch an episode of Pokemon. In the episode titled “Denno Senshi Porygon,” characters were transported to a virtual world where they faced off against the Pokemon Porygon. At the climax of the battle, Pikachu unleashed an electrical attack, causing the screen to flash with red and blue lights. Moments later, children began collapsing.
While the story is widely known, it’s undeniable that flashing lights can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. However, it was reported that even many children without epilepsy had similar reactions. It seems the news of the initial seizures spread, and by the time the episode aired the next day, more children experienced the same symptoms.
What likely happened was a case of mass hysteria. The seizures were real, but they were unrelated to the flashing images on the screen. A follow-up study found that most of the affected children experienced no further symptoms for up to three years after the episode aired.
1. Satanism
What could Pokemon possibly have in common with the Prince of Hell? On the surface, nothing at all, but some sharp-eyed Christians have pointed out several supposed connections between Pokemon and Satanism.
Have you ever heard that Pokemon were intentionally designed to resemble the demons that appeared in medieval books once used by witches? No? Of course, that’s not true, but that didn’t stop some people from claiming Pokemon were actual demons. Why else would they have horns and magical abilities? Some pastors believed Pokemon were a dangerous gateway, leading children toward the occult.
Urban legends spread claiming to expose the demonic side of Pokemon. Some even argued that the eerie music in Lavender Town from the game had driven children to suicide. Others circulated a fake interview with Pokemon’s creator, stating he had designed the game to intentionally oppose Christianity, though that was nothing more than a fabrication.
When Pokemon Go was released, one pastor warned that “this technology will be used by the enemies of the cross to target, locate, and execute Christians.” Thankfully, Satanists have yet to use Pokemon Go for such a purpose.
