Pokémon controversy
There have been numerous controversies over events, images, names, and other themes stemming from Pokémon. This is likely due to the game's extreme popularity eliciting a backlash from some members of society.
Imagery, religion, etc.
Perceived Nazi imagery
In the TCG
Members of the Jewish community accused Nintendo of using an offensive image in the Japanese version of Koga's Ninja Trick. The image in question, features an omote manji, a left-facing version of the swastika.
Even though the Western world perceives the swastika to be a symbol of the fascist and racist policies of Nazi Germany during the course of World War II, as well as hate, prejudice and White supremacy in general, the swastika has its roots as a symbol of peace and good luck by many cultures. The earliest form of the swastika discovered was one used in Ancient India. It also was found in cultures that had no connection with India, such as Native American and First Nation cultures. It was because its long and ancient history that Adolf Hitler adopted it as the Nazi Party symbol, as he felt it to be—among other things—a connection to Aryan ancestors who lived in Ancient India.
Since World War II, however, its use has diminished, but it is still commonly used by other cultures who either didn't have any contact with the Nazis or their use of the swastika as a symbol of peace was still stronger than the swastika as a symbol of hate. In India and its neighboring countries, the swastika represent love and mercy, as well as wealth and good fortune. In Asian countries, such as China, Japan and (South) Korea, the swastika can be found on maps to represent Buddhist temples. In all these nations, the swastika can also be found on all kinds of media, businesses, buildings, clothing just as much as any other symbol would. However, it is because of its liberal use that the swastika can create international miscommunications, such as its use on the Japanese version of Koga's Ninja Trick.
In the anime
In All Things Bright and Beautifly!, A Team Rocket fantasy involves Jessie, James and Meowth, as well as many Team Rocket Grunts, raising their hands in a manner somewhat similar to the Hitler salute. This was edited out in the English dub of the anime, with the grunts no longer raising their hands. More, presumably female, grunts were also added, replacing some of the generic male ones. Despite this, Meowth's arm remains unedited in the dub.
Original Japanese version
Dubbed English version
In the games
In European releases of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the sprite art for Registeel is altered slightly. While in Japanese and English releases Registeel's arm is extended, non-English European versions use an altered sprite presumably due to the original pose's resemblance to the Hitler salute. In all versions of Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, and Platinum, the sprite is of this new design.
International DP Registeel
European DP/Worldwide PtHGSS Registeel
Satanism
Some fundamentalist Christian groups have accused Pokémon as being linked to Satanism. The following is a summarized and possibly incomplete list of their reasons for this accusation:
- Pokémon are like demons. They are captured and must be called upon to perform tasks.
- Magical talismans (supposedly a reference to Gym Badges) are needed to control them.
- Pokémon evolve. Though this transformation is more akin to metamorphosis in most Pokémon, the theory of evolution is denied entirely by the most fundamentalist creationists, who believe that all things as they are presently were divinely inspired.
- Some Pokémon evolution even requires the use of certain magical stones.
- Many Pokémon have extraordinary paranormal powers, notably Psychic-types. Those with Psychic powers are labeled as having been given these powers by Satan in the Bible itself.
- Many Pokémon embody or practice East Asian spiritual or mystical concepts, being that the franchise originated in Japan. Some Christian groups denounce these as pagan rituals.
- Some claim that if one were to play backwards the Pokérap, "Gotta Catch 'em All!" can be heard as "I love Satan".
- Some Pagan religions claim many Pokémon have similarities to many pagan spirits.[citation needed]
Claims of Zionist Jewish plot in the Arab and Islamic world
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Some outspoken, fundamentalist Muslims claimed that Pokémon is a Jewish conspiracy that is intended to brainwash Muslim children to make them renounce their faith. These same groups claimed that the word "Pokémon" is a phrase that means "I am Jewish", with the claimers and their followers generally unaware of the franchise's Japanese origin. The "Evolution vs. Creationism" conflict was also commonly brought up.
In 2001, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, who is the highest religious authority in the kingdom, issued a fatwā banning the Pokémon franchise, claiming it encourages gambling and promotes Zionism. High Muslim authorities in Qatar and Egypt then joined the ban. As this happened during the second Intifada, a Jordanian newspaper printed a caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sitting in a tank and laughing at an Arab man chasing a Pokémon. This is meant to convey that Arabs are distracted from their conflict with the Israelis by popular franchises, with Pokémon as an example of such "distractions."
Despite the initial banning, which quickly wiped away Pokémon merchandise, especially the card game, from markets in Saudi Arabia, Pokémon video games quickly returned to be sold normally, but under much less demand from local consumers. Some Pokémon merchandise, such as the Expedition Base Set reappeared in certain stores a few years later, but newer sets were never brought. Generation III and Generation IV games seem completely unaffected by the ban.
Racism
Jynx
Carole Boston Weatherford, a cultural critic, claimed that Jynx, which had recently appeared in Holiday Hi-Jynx, was a negative racial stereotype of African-Americans. She chiefly compared Jynx to the racist characters in The Story of Little Black Sambo, and further compared Jynx to Mr. Popo of the Dragon Ball franchise, a character who is also potentially offensive in his design.
Weatherford's complaint caused many repercussions in Pokémon. The sprites of Jynx in the international release of Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal were changed, and EP250 was cut from international airings of the anime. A Jynx that appeared in All Things Bright and Beautifly! was also cut from the dub.
Jynx's design was officially changed by Nintendo to being purple, rather than black, and this change was reflected in later games (beginning with Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire) and the anime (starting in Mean With Envy). Jynx has also been recolored in VIZ Media's reissues of Pokémon Adventures. Although the manga appears in black-and-white, Jynx appearing in the manga are recolored as a dark gray rather than straight black, implying that they are purple and not black. It is also recolored to purple on the back cover of the reissue of Volume 4.
In recent years, some fans of Pokémon have noted that Jynx may be inspired by ganguro, a Japanese fashion where women tan heavily, bleach their hair, and apply large amounts of makeup, instead of a black stereotype. This theory is mainly based on Jynx's long, straight, blonde hair, a common attribute of ganguro fashion.
Other people, however, think Jynx is based on a Nordic princess. This is because there are legends saying things like due to the blistering cold, a princess's skin turned black. They argue that Jynx's hair looks more like royalty than an African stereotype. They also say that being based on a viking could reason why they are Ice type.
- Spr 2c 124.gif
International Crystal Jynx
- Spr 2c 124 jp.gif
Japanese Crystal Jynx
Lenora
Nacrene City Gym Leader Lenora also brought up concerns of racism. While no complaints were filed, actions were taken to alter her clothing. Lenora's original artwork, as well as her in game sprites, depict her wearing a large apron. Concerns arose that people outside of Japan would allude Lenora to the Mammy archetype. Similar to Lenora, the mammy is a dark skin-toned woman who wears a handkerchief on her head and an apron. Because of the similarity, Lenora's artwork was change from her wearing the apron to her having it slung over her shoulder like a cape. Despite this, Lenora's in-game sprites were not altered in the international release of Black and White.
In the original version of A Night in the Nacrene City Museum!, Lenora was depicted wearing her apron. In the English dub aired, her apron was removed completely.
Animal cruelty
In the past, several animal rights groups have tried to ban Pokémon, claiming that Pokémon battles closely resemble cockfights. This aspect of the controversy was actually touched upon in Pokémon Black and White.
Upon the release of Pokémon Black and White Versions 2, PETA released a mock game named "Pokémon Black and Blue". In it the player controls the Pokémon to attack the opposing human. PETA claims that the way the Pokémon are "stuffed" into the Poké Ball is similar to how circus elephants are chained inside railroad carts.
Lawsuits
Various lawsuits have been filed against Nintendo and Game Freak regarding Pokémon or Pokémon characters.
Uri Geller
In November 2000, Uri Geller, a psychic who claims to be able to bend spoons, tried to sue Nintendo for £60 million (the equivalent of US $100 million), claiming that Kadabra, known as Yungerer in Japan, was an unauthorized parody of himself. Besides Kadabra's use of bent spoons to enhance its Psychic powers, the katakana for its name, ユンゲラー, is visually similar to the transliteration of his own name into Japanese (ユリゲラー).
He also claimed that Kadabra was anti-Semitic in nature, with the star on its forehead and lightning bolts resembling the logo of the Nazi SS. He is quoted as saying: "Nintendo turned me into an evil, occult Pokémon character. Nintendo stole my identity by using my name and my signature image."
The lawsuit was thrown out of court. Despite this, there has not been a Kadabra card in the Trading Card Game since Skyridge in 2003 and Kadabra has not appeared in the Pokémon anime since Fear Factor Phony, perhaps as a precaution against Geller's history of lawsuits. Abra and Alakazam cards, have continued to be printed, despite the fact that this makes it impossible to play an Alakazam card in matches that prevent the use of old cards without a card that specifically allows the play of evolved Pokémon.
Gambling
A parents' group attempted to sue manufacturers of collectible cards, including Nintendo and Wizards of the Coast, claiming that the cards' collectible nature and the random distribution of the cards in packs constitutes illegal gambling.
European releases of Pokémon Platinum replace the slot machines in Veilstone City's Game Corner from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl with non-playable game machines in fear that they would encourage younger players to gamble. This change has been greatly criticized by European players, who felt that it virtually destroyed the concept and point of the Game Corner.
All non-Japanese releases of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver replace the interior of the two Game Corners in Goldenrod City and Celadon City with a new game called Voltorb Flip. In this game, similar to Minesweeper, coins are not wagered against a win or a loss, but instead given out for completing a level. While many find the game to be entertaining, unlike the case with the European release of Pokémon Platinum, the change in the Game Corners' interior design removed the ability of coins to be purchased in bulk, making playing Voltorb Flip the only possible way to get coins. Additionally, due to the change, the location of the Coin Case was changed in the international versions, and is now given directly by the man in charge of the Game Corner.
Pokémon Black and White and Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 feature no Game Corner at all.
"Pokémon Kills"
In 1999, as a promotion for Mewtwo Strikes Back, Burger King released a series of promotional toys in handheld Poké Balls with their Kids' Meals. After their son suffocated because he had covered his mouth and nose with half of the Poké Ball, two parents set up a website named "Pokémon Kills".
In response to this, Burger King recalled the Poké Balls and exchanged them for food for a limited amount of time.
Violence
Although 4Kids and TAJ allow for some cartoon violence in the anime, some episodes contain scenes that were dubbed as "too violent" and cut from the English broadcast.
- Pokémon - I Choose You!: Misty slaps Ash after he tells her that he's okay, presumably because of his apparent lack of care for Pikachu.
- The School of Hard Knocks: Misty hits Brock with a log because he says "to be continued..." rather than beginning the episode.
- EP035: Safari Zone Warden, Kaiser, repeatedly threatens Ash and the group with a revolver, leading to the episode being banned.
- A Corphish Out of Water: A Carvanha hits Ash in the back of the head.
Scenes like these are common in Japanese animation, and are a source of comic relief, much like how characters in Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry who are hit by heavy objects are completely fine afterward.