For more than 25 years, the Pokémon anime has been a constant companion for fans of all ages, who would gather around their TVs to watch Ash’s adventure. It is an iconic series that became an emblem of the 90s and early 2000s, still considered one of the best shows of the time.

Nonetheless, despite how beloved the series is, not every decision the creative team took was equally well received. Various polemics have surrounded the anime throughout the years, with many of them threatening the continuation of the show. From insensitive representations to plotlines that nearly caused the audience to jump ship, Pokémon does not lack its catastrophic controversies.

10 Shipping Wars

Fans Were Pushed Away By Toxic Behaviors

Even though the introduction of Ash’s various companions served to keep each season entertaining and unique, it also caused a major problem for the franchise. Whenever a female character ed the protagonist on his adventure, a group of fans would begin pairing them, a tendency that is common among anime viewers. In Pokémon’s case, the long list of ships Ash was a part of caused the fandom to enter a decades-long war.

Misty and Serena’s fans were particularly vocal about their , believing that no one besides their favorite was the love of Ash's life. The shipping wars continued until the end of the series, causing massive disappointment among the fanbase when Ash did not end the series with a romantic partner. Despite this, fans who were not interested in pairing characters were dissuaded from watching the show once the heated battles began.

9 Sun & Moon Redesigns

The Drastic Change In Animation Dissuaded Many Fans

As the series progressed, the animation quality between the seasons often increased, but the character designs stayed as like the original as possible. After a few years, the series' art style became recognizable worldwide. When the Sun and Moon season of the anime was announced, the series revealed that the animation style would also drastically change, becoming more cartoonish and simpler.

Fans immediately complained, not understanding why the show suffered such a drastic alteration. For a significant portion of the fandom, this was the last straw, prompting them to stop ing the anime. When Pokémon Journeys was announced, the series attempted to blend both styles, still adding cartoon-like scenes but retaining more serious animation for important moments.

8 Jynx’s Original Look

The Pokémon Resembled Harmful Stereotypes

As the years have ed, Jynx has become one of the most iconic Ice-Type Pokémon in the franchise, with fans loving it since the first generation was released. Jynx made its anime debut in a special Christmas episode in 1998, an entry that would not see the light of day for many years. The main reason this episode was removed from the series’ list was the infamous original design of the Pokémon.

After its first appearance in the series, many complaints were raised about Jynx resembling racially insensitive depictions of black people. Many viewers complained that she looked like bigoted cartoons made to mock people of color. As such, the episode was removed from circulation for many years to come, and the Pokémon was changed into the purple-skinned version fans know today.

7 Lenora’s Inspiration

The Character’s Design Had To Be Changed

Introduced in the Black and White season of the anime, Lenora is the Normal-Type Leader of the Teselia Region’s League. She is a proud and intelligent woman who manages a successful and intriguing museum on top of her responsibilities as a gym leader. Yet, her original design did not sit well with audiences outside of Japan, as it unintentionally depicted her as a harmful stereotype.

Lenora is a dedicated archeologist, meaning that she often wears an apron on top of her clothes to keep them clean. Due to this, her particular physique, and plump lips, many fans pointed out that she could be confused with the depictions of Mammys, black women whose job was to cock and clean for white families. To avoid issues, the anime in the West decided to change her appearance, removing her apron completely.

6 Tobia’s Team

One Of The Oddest and Most Unfair Battles

Legendary Pokémon are beings who, by their nature, are supposed to be extremely rare and difficult to tame. Throughout his journey, Ash came across many of these creatures, never attempting to catch them. Nevertheless, the series itself hinted at the reason behind his decision being the need for these Pokémon to remain free. This reasoning would soon go down the drain with the introduction of Tobias, one of the most despised characters in the franchise.

The team of Ash’s opponent during the Sinnoh League consisted of nothing but some of the most powerful Pokémon in the anime. Such was his power that only two of his six partners were revealed, these being Latios and Darkrai. Although Ash fought valiantly, he could do little against such a dangerous team. Viewers of the anime have complained for years about how unfair this battle was, with many dropping the show after this battle.

5 Misty & Brock’s Exit

Viewers Dropped The Show After The Original Companions Left

One of the most important traits of the Pokémon anime series is the charismatic and memorable characters who accompany Ash on his journey. While the series has a long list of incredible companions, Brock and Misty are often referred to as the most iconic. Not only were they Ash’s original partners, but they also stayed by his side during some of his most difficult moments.

Fans loved these characters dearly, an affection that quickly turned into anger once their exit from the anime was announced. Misty was the first to go, as she decided to stay in Kanto to become a Gym Leader. Brock remained by Ash’s side for many years more, but he eventually was also retired. Many fans stopped watching the show after these two events, believing that the series would not be the same without the original companions.

4 Ash Losing at the Kalos League

His Hard Work Was For Naught

Ever since he began his journey during the Indigo League season of the franchise, Ash proclaimed that he would one day win a tournament and become a true master. The hero participated in almost all Pokémon Leagues, with his performance varying greatly in each iteration. The one in which fans expected him to finally sur all their combatants was the tournament held in the Kalos region.

His team for this competition was among the most powerful in the entire series, with the notable addition of a unique Pokémon, his special Greninja. Moreover, his final opponent during the competition was Alain, whose main partner, Charizard, was weak in his Water-Type moves. Even with all these advantages by his side, Ash lost the finals, a narrative decision that pushed many fans to stop watching the series.

3 Alleged Satanic Messages

The Show Was Almost Banned In Its Early Stages

During the early 2000s, the name industry received a major backlash from conservative religious associations who considered the shows to contain satanic imagery. Pokémon did not escape this time unscathed, as its popularity turned it into one of the main targets of these groups. Among the main complaints, the fact that the creatures in the series could evolve stood as one of the biggest problems.

Pokémon using magic-adjacent abilities during battle was also constantly mentioned, as the leaders of these associations claimed the series was inducing children into witchcraft. As time went on, these complaints began dying out, and the show was able to continue its course without input from these groups. Still, the initial backlash greatly hurt the franchise, with many young adults ing their parents prohibiting them from watching the series as children.

2 The Porygon Episode

Hundreds Of Children Hurt By An Animation

While most controversies surrounding the Pokémon franchise can be forgiven as they did not harm anyone, the infamous Porygon episode cannot be included in this category. Episode #38 of the first season of the anime, better known as Electric Soldier Porygon, was heavily criticized for its use of bright, flashy colors.

This entry was not accompanied by a warning, a choice that would later come back to haunt the series. When the episode first aired in Japan, the lights caused children to enter an epileptic seizure. Over 600 cases were reported across the country, becoming widely known as the Pokémon Shock incident. The episode was banned shortly after, not airing internationally or on Japanese TV Networks for many years.

1 Voice Actors Recasting

An Extreme Overreaction With Dire Consequences

In March 2016, the anime series declared that the English dub of the series would recast many of the original voices. Something similar has occurred with various other anime throughout the years, as voice actors are not always able to continue their roles. While this is regularly not a major problem, besides fans becoming saddened by the departure of a beloved cast member, the Pokémon community did not take the news well.

The anime received massive backlash from fans, who demanded that the original voices be brought back. The situation became so dire that many of the new cast ’ names had to be hidden from the public, only being credited using pseudonyms. It was a dark time for the franchise in the West, to the point that the U.S.A.-based branch of the company had to release a statement asking fans to stop the harassment.