The one of the best trainers.

Yet, at some points in the series, more weary and mature topics were approached. These scenes would often feel disruptive to the usually child-friendly atmosphere of the show. From Ash being put in mortal peril on several occasions to the death of beloved partners in horrible accidents, the Pokémon anime is no stranger to traumatizing and dark events.

8 Sabrina Turning People into Dolls

Pokémon: The Indigo League, "Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

Sabrina was one of the first and best Gym Leaders Ash encountered on his journey through the Kanto region. This Psychic-Type trainer was known for being cold and heartless, often acting cruelly toward her opponents. Her behavior was explained as a coping mechanism for the lonely childhood she had to endure, never having a single friend because of her psychic abilities. Among the many amazing and frightening powers the trainer showed, turning people into sentient dolls was by far the most horrible.

To fill the void in her heart, Sabrina would turn her opponent or their companions, in Ash’s case Brock and Misty, into living dolls, forcing them to play with her. Being turned into an inanimate object by itself is already a horrible fate to encounter, but the situation would only become worse from that point onwards. In the end

7 Haunter Robs Ash of His Soul

Pokémon: Indigo League, "The Tower of Terror"

As the anime series progressed, fans met Pokémon of all types, who are often friendly and just want to find friends to play with. Nonetheless, there is a group considered too scary to catch, due to them having terrifying powers that could even kill a human: Ghost-Types. Ash is familiar with how brutal an interaction with these Pokémon can be, as he has been a victim of their tricks. In episode #23 of the original series, the trainer was looking for a Ghost-Type to catch and help him defeat Sabrina.

During their brief trip to Lavander Town’s tower, he and Pikachu had their souls removed from their bodies by a Haunter. While the Pokémon had no ill intent, as it just wanted new spirits to play with, the shock caused by seeing his own body lying lifeless must have left Ash with a long-lasting trauma. Many children became scared of their souls being separated from their bodies after watching this episode. Worst of all, the Haunter that tormented Ash became one of the many Pokémon the trainer did not catch despite having a perfect opportunity to do so.

6 Ash Turning Into Stone

Pokémon: The First Movie / Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution

The battle against the clones in the first of the long list of amazing Pokémon movies is a scene that many fans fondly. This epic and significant confrontation was the climax of the entire film, being an amazing representation of the struggle Mewtwo and his creations were subjected to for not being born naturally. Nonetheless, this fantastic battle also has one of the most scaring moments in the franchise, with Ash turning to stone after receiving an attack from Mew and Mewtwo.

At the time, the film made it seem as if the hero had died, with even his loyal companion Pikachu crying over his petrified corpse. Ash’s statue-like body remained immobile while all the surrounding Pokémon witnessed the consequences of their battle. The trainer ended up being saved by the tears and love of his friends, but this did not prevent viewers from thinking that they had seen one of the most beloved anime characters die in front of their eyes.

5 A Group of Spearow Almost Killing Ash

Pokémon: Indigo League, "Pokémon, I Chose You!"

Episode #1 of the Pokémon anime franchise has become an emblem of anime, as it was the beginning of an epic adventure that would last for more than two decades. Even though most of this initial entry focuses on the growing relationship between Ash and his new partner, Pikachu, its ending is something most people can’t seem to forget. To save his partner from a flock of Spearow, the trainer steps between the opposing Pokémon and his friend.

While these bird-like creatures are not known for attacking humans, seeing Ash challenging them directly was enough reason for them to break the rules and cause major damage to him. The flock of Spearow did not show signs of comion, even when both their opponents were on the brink of collapsing. If not for Pikachu saving Ash in one of the most epic moments of the original series, the protagonist could have been mortally wounded by the birds.

4 Mewtwo’s Backstory

Pokémon: The First Movie / Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution

One of the most important rules of being a Pokémon trainer is to respect and love the creatures that you catch. Most trainers in the world share a deep bond with their companions, considering them part of their family, more than just pets. As such, Pokémon trust humans unconditionally, knowing that no harm will be done to them if their trainers are there to protect them. Woefully, this is not the reality of every character in the series, as the legendary Mewtwo would know.

Created by Team Rocket with the only purpose of becoming a living weapon, Mewtwo’s past is one of the most tragic in the series. From birth, this god-like force was tortured and experimented with, all to turn it into the ultimate warrior who would help the criminal organization rule over the world. He developed a deep hatred for humanity, wanting nothing more than to eliminate them from the planet. Ash’s love for his companions was the only thing that could prove to Mewtwo that not all humans were bad.

3 Harriet’s Snubbull Dying

Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us

The 2018 film, The Power of Us, is a moving tale about the dangers of human greed and the need to keep nature safe. It might not be one of the most popular movies in the franchise, but many fans love it, and not without reason. Nevertheless, despite its colorful and cheerful atmosphere, the film hides one of the most heartbreaking moments in the series. 50 years before the start of the story, a group of greedy humans tried to destroy an entire forest looking for one of the strongest Electric-Types, Zeraora.

Harriet, a woman who built a wind turbine to give electricity to the city near the forest, tried to power her windmills to stop the fire and protect the Pokémon who lived there. Her loyal friend, a small and kind Snubbull, entered their burning house to find the key its trainer needed, only to be burnt alive when the fire started spreading. Harriet was forced to watch as her partner died in one of the most horrible ways possible, leaving her scared for life.

2 Morelull Draining Vital Energy

Pokémon: Sun & Moon, "Lulled to La-La Land"

Most Pokémon introduced in the anime have special powers that make them outstandingly helpful to their trainers. Others were given abilities that make them a danger to anyone around them, like Morelull. This mushroom-like creature was introduced during Ash’s trip to the Alola region, presented as a shy but friendly Pokémon. Lamentably, its feeding habits quickly turned it into a nightmarish monster, as it is said to use its spores to put any living creature around it to sleep, only to absorb their vital force.

Although Morelull does not try to kill its victims, it does not have control over how much energy it consumes, resulting in its targets dying after only a few minutes. Most terrifying of all, the trainers and Pokémon that serve as its food often do not realize that they are about to die, as Morelull’s spores work nearly immediately.

1 The Tree of Beginning and End

Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

For many fans, the eighth entry in the film series is one of the best of all time, thanks to its charming new characters, memorable locations, and engaging story. Still, it is also one of the most terrifying of them all, as it contains the biggest number of protagonists' deaths in the series. As they travel through the Tree of Beginning and End to recover their Pokémon from Mew, the heroes are attacked by the plant’s immune system.

They are slowly absorbed into the bark of the tree, becoming a part of its life essence and effectively ceasing to exist. What made these moments even more tragic was the fact that before dying, the trainers would release their Pokémon to prevent them from meeting the same fate. The deaths were temporary, as Mew ended up saving everyone in the end, but this did not help to prevent kids from being scared of seeing their favorite characters being killed on screen.