Is Pokemon more sinister than we previously thought?
 

Found this article in the Fortean Times. No, it's not the usual twaddle from religious freaks about how Pokemon is 'pagan' and 'ungodly'. It's a rather fascinating account of how thousands of Japanese children were hospitalised after watching an episode apparently no different (in any unusual way) from the others.

http://www.forteantimes.com/articles/149_pokemon.shtml

Yeah, I read about that in the Fortean Times book 1999 - which came out in '98. It's strangely funny, but at the same time disturbingly upsetting. I have to admit to not reading the article, because it seemed to be an exact copy of the published version.

I wonder what really was the trigger.

it was supposidly like this 5 second screen of flashing blue and red really really fast and they all had seizures and crap. and i wouldnt blame them, a full screen of blue and red flashing isnt exactly appealing....

that's scary now i know why i don't watch pokemon. by the way how many are there now :eek: :eek: :eek:

I think there are about 250ish now. I don't really care; I much prefer the 150 originals. Some of the new ones are cool, though; I like Typhlosion and Feraligatr.

I heard about that episode! It was one where Porygon was introduced. Just goes to show ya, Poke'mon is pure pure evil!

As some may know being infatuated with Japan makes up 1/3 of my life, and I followed this story as it happened o'so long ago.

I even have the clip that apparently triggered the phenomenon on my old PC. The episode was "Digital Soldier Porygon" in which a virus was disrupting the transfer of Monster Balls to different Centers. The episode has been banished and is not allowed to be shown anywhere by the Japanese government.

I've watched the clip dozens of times and so have my friends and none of us have yet to have a seizure. I think there were some other elements involved other than the blue and red flashing lights that just can't be reproduced easily.

I used to be a Pocket Monster fan and even played the gameboy games and followed the anime, most of this activity was in Japanese. If only I had known it was going to be this big in America I might be a rich man right now. I have since then grown away from it, though I still take any challenge my nephews throw at me!!!

BTW if anyone is curious from the December issue of Newtype (gen. anime mag from Japan) that I have it says episode 232 came out the 6/12, damn that's a lot of episodes.