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Porygon Was Innocent: An epileptic perspective on Pokémon’s “Electric Soldier Porygon”

On December 16th 1997 Pokémon made international headlines when their latest episode, “Dennō Senshi Porygon”—now commonly translated as “Electric Soldier Porygon”— caused 685 children to be taken into hospital by ambulance due to seizures, blindness, and convulsions. The event was dubbed by the Japanese Press as “PokémonShock” (“Pokémon Shokku”), and launched an investigation by the Japanese Government into what had happened. When discussed the story usually ends there, just a fun way to conclude a listicle of banned anime episodes, or an explanation to fans as to why Porygon has never had a major role  in the main anime since. But there is far more to the story of Pokémon’s banned episode: a story that includes a model train enthusiast from Birmingham, England, and a little mouse who got away scott free. 

As an Epileptic, I’ve been very outspoken about my opinions on the increased use of strobe lighting effects in American cartoons. Even today with movies like The Incredibles II, the use of flashing lights and red lighting effects has made a lot of cinema not only inaccessible but potentially deadly for many viewers. Yet people have accused me of being a hypocrite: why do I continue to love Pokémon? Surely if I had conviction in my beliefs, I’d refuse to watch the show that caused all those children to be taken to hospital! My response often surprises people. That, in my personal opinion, morally speaking, the animators were not responsible for what happened. That Porygon was, in fact, innocent. 

Read it at Anime Feminist!

I wasn't dissociating when I was reading, real life taught me that lol

I used to dissociate a lot (not sure exactly what the deal with it was other than some quirk in my brain, possibly related to ADHD but I grew out of it but not the rest of ADHD) and it's. Completely different from reading. What are you TALKING about.

ill be honest with this image from earlier, when i came across the tumblr screenshot i was thinking that this interaction was very nanami and anthy, but i also saw the word "kangaroo" and had neuron activation that immediately sealed the deal of me using it

just don’t leave

The Busy World of Richard Scarry (1994)

Opening up the “Black Box Diaries” with Shiori Ito

Content Warning: Discussion surrounding rape, misogyny

Ito Shiori made waves in 2017 when she accused Yamaguchi Noriyuki of raping her in 2015. Following her suit, the Japanese journalist also published her memoir “Black Box” detailing the difficulties in proving her case in Japan’s legal system. Ito’s decision to go public with her accusations, especially against a veteran journalist known as former-Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s biographer, attracted considerable online backlash against her. Eight years on, Ito captures that experience in “Black Box Diaries,” her autobiographical documentary, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film has been shown in 50 different festivals in more than 30 countries, but still not in Japan.

Anime Feminist Editor Chiaki Hirai spoke to Ito during her stop in San Francisco during the San Francisco International Film Festival in April of 2024.Ito, who had attended high school in rural Kansas and now resides in the U.K., conducted the interview in English.

So, I wanted to ask real quick, are you secretly recording this interview as well or?

Do you want to know?

Ito slowly reaches for the collar of her shirt. She stops and grins.

No.

Nah, I would absolutely do that too, so.

Okay, let’s get started then.

Yeah, lets.

So my first question is that your accusations in 2017 predate … the #MeToo movement, and you said that it didn’t really have as big of an impact in Japan, but how did it impact you?

It impacted me in a big way. It was really the same time when I published my book in October, and I remember that the news came in, when I just saw my book in a bookstore and I was so happy about it, but then about the same time, I started receiving e-mails from women, very cold and saying that they’re very ashamed of me as a Japanese woman. But then on the other side of the world, I knew there were other women who’s showing solidarity, so it meant a lot to me.

Read it at Anime Feminist!

I'm certain this is on Tumblr somewhere, but I haven't seen it around, so I'm sharing it myself

Customer: JAPANESE TV SHOW AND MY MODEL CAR COMBINED. DMV: DAMN GUN; is a famous anime, Infiniti on ANI Verdict: ACCEPTED

Thinking about him today

"When I choose to see the good side of things, I'm not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It's how I've learned to survive through everything. I know you see yourself as a fighter. Well, I see myself as one too. This is how I fight."

When you see a really good post but there’s some form of guilt tripping to reblog it added on at the end