Pokémon episodes removed from rotation

There are over 500 episodes of the Pokémon anime; however, for various reasons, some have been taken out of the rotation of episodes in reruns in some countries by some TV stations.

Pokémon (original series)

Beauty and the Beach

File:James breasts.jpg

A screen capture from the unedited Japanese-language version of this episode.

"Beauty and the Beach", known in Japan as "Aopulco no Kyūjitsu" (アオプルコのきゅうじつ, Aopuruko no Kyūjitsu, lit. "Aopulco Holiday"), is banned in all countries that receive the series from 4Kids Entertainment. It is the 18th episode of the original Japanese series. On June 24, 2000, a newly produced English-language version of the episode aired on Kids' WB! as "Beauty and the Beach". Promoted as a "lost episode" special presentation, it has only received one rerun and has not yet been shown elsewhere or released on DVD or VHS.

In this episode, the female characters all enter a beauty contest. Team Rocket also enters, with James donning a suit with inflatable breasts. One scene of the episode involved James showing off his artificial cleavage for humorous effect. All the scenes showing James in the suit were removed from the English-language version when it aired.

File:Pokemon Gun.jpg

A gun is pointed to Satoshi's (Ash's) face.

Miniryu no Densetsu

"Miniryu no Densetsu" (ミニリュウのでんせつ, Miniryū no Densetsu, lit. "The Legend of Miniryu") was the second episode to be banned by 4Kids Entertainment; this was the 35th episode of the original Japanese series. At several points in this episode, guns are pointed at people threateningly, and warning shots are fired.

The removal of this episode leads to continuity problems, as Ash captured 30 Tauros in this episode. The Tauros appear in later episodes, even being used in Pokémon Tournaments by Ash; only one episode very briefly alludes to where they came from. Brock also caught a Tauros, but it was never seen or used again.

Dennō Senshi Porygon

File:Pikachu seizure-2.jpg

One frame of the scene that caused the seizures.

"Dennō Senshi Porygon" (でんのうせんしポリゴン, Dennō Senshi Porigon, lit. "Digital Soldier Porygon," although most commonly translated as "Electric Soldier Porygon") was aired in Japan on December 16 1997, around 18:30 Japan Standard Time (09:30 UTC). The episode became infamous for reportedly causing more than 600 epileptic seizures in young viewers. As a result, broadcasts of Pokémon in Japan were halted for four months. Since the seizures, Porygon, and it's evolved forms, Porygon2 and Porygon-Z, have yet to appear again in another episode.

Kōri no Dōkutsu!

"Kōri no Dōkutsu!" (こおりのどうくつ!, lit. "The Ice Cave!"), which would have been part of Pokémon: Master Quest, was skipped over by 4Kids Entertainment and therefore never shown outside of Asia, however, it had been broadcast, dubbed, by YTV in Canada. It was the first widespread ban of a Pokémon episode in four years. This episode, much like Holiday Hi-Jynx (although that episode was only removed from rotation in one country) was also banned because of the appearance of controversial character Jynx. Many people believed that Jynx was a racial stereotype to African-Americans. Jynx had large breasts, big lips, and blonde hair, along with pure black skin. Later Jynx was re-edited and given purple skin instead. The episode was also banned because of the disease Influenza going around (the symptoms were SARS-like). In this episode many characters were intentionally given Influenza. Though according to Carole Boston Weatherford, the SARS part is a myth. The episode was skipped due to the controversial version of Jynx.

Pokémon: Advanced Generation

Yureru Shima no Tatakai! Dojoach VS Namazun!!

In "Yureru Shima no Tatakai! Dojoach VS Namazun!!" (ゆれる島の戦い!ドジョッチVSナマズン!!, Yureru Shima no Tatakai! Dojotchi Tai Namazun!!, lit. "Battle of the Quaking Island! Barboach VS Whiscash!!"), Ash Ketchum finished the Mossdeep City Gym, and his next goal is the final Gym at Sootopolis City. Ash and friends journey toward Jojo Island on the way and are caught in an earthquake caused by Whiscash. They then met a Pokémon trainer named Chōta and they started the Whiscash extermination there.

The episode was originally set to air in Japan on November 4, 2004, but was skipped due to the episode's similarities to the Chūetsu earthquake on October 23, 2004. The episode was later postponed, and then discontinued. While most of the other episodes were either not dubbed for English-language release or taken out of English-language syndication rotations, this episode of Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation was the first episode to be banned inside Japan prior to its first scheduled airing.

The episode was intended to be aired between AG100, "Solid as a Solrock", and AG101, "Vanity Affair".

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