5 Banned Episodes of Cartoons

Cartoons are funny, inspirational, often innocent mediums of entertainment meant for everyone’s enjoyment across the world. Despite having an innocuous reputation, some cartoons can actually push beyond their boundaries with regard to censorship, whether it’s for shock value or because it tells a very important message that children need to hear. Regardless of their intent, some of the most famous cartoons have had episodes pulled from publications due to issues such as sensitive content (i.e. smoking, drinking and sexual innuendo) and political and social reasons that include racism, homophobia and cursing.?

Below are five banned episodes of well-known cartoons.?

Pokemon

The 90s hit anime?Pokemon ?has had quite a few of its episodes pulled from running in Western television due to graphic content. But its most famous banned episode would have to be the 1997 episode “Electric Soldier Porygon ” that only aired once in Japan.

When Ash and his friends were about to be attacked by one of Team Rocket’s weapons, Pikachu unleashes one of his electricity-fuelled powers, causing the weapon to explode. The explosion caused a flashing pattern of lights that induced photosensitive epileptic seizures in many Japanese children watching the episode at the time.?

In total, over 680 children were hospitalized for more than two weeks, causing Pokemon and Nintendo a massive loss in shares. The episode was pulled from rotation and has never been aired since.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The?2003 Teenage?Mutant Ninja Turtles ?cartoon series aired on 4Kids until 2009. The fourth season episode “Insane in the Membrane ” talks about the turtles’ archnemesis Dr. Baxter Stockman and his tragic backstory.?

Working for Shredder, Dr. Stockman had been mutilated to the point of becoming nothing but a head in a glass jar, and had created a new body for himself. Despite warnings from Agent Bishop, Stockman enjoys his new body until it starts falling apart. Stockman goes mad and tries to kill April and the turtles, but in a moment of clarity, he remembers his mother, her warm words, and April escapes just as Stockman falls from a broken cable car to his death.

This episode was pulled from airtime on 4Kids TV because of its extremely graphic nature. Throughout the episode, we see Dr. Stockman lose fingers, limbs, and even his lower jaw because his body is rejecting his head and mind. There are scenes of him?nailing his limbs together with a hammer?in order to keep them in place. Nasty stuff.

The Simpsons

Matt Groening’s 1989 hit sitcom?The Simpsons ?has made global fame for its run time. Of course, being culturally relevant, some episodes have come under fire as the years went by.?

In Season 9 Episode 1 “The City of New York vs Homer Simpson ,” Barney Gumble lands Homer’s car in New York after an alcohol relapse. The Simpsons travel to New York City to retrieve the car and hilarity ensues. After the September 11 2001 attacks, the episode was pulled from airing because many scenes included the Twin Towers. A few years later, it was put back on rotation, but with certain scenes cut, such as Homer running between towers to use the bathroom, as well as some lines (a businessman comments “they stick all the jerks in Tower One”).

Gargoyles

Gargoyles ?was a 1994 fantasy children’s series in which stone gargoyles came to life at night to protect New York City, a pact they had made a thousand years ago. They had human counterparts to help them take down villains and keep the city safe.

The eighth episode of the first season titled “Deadly Force ” showed one of the gargoyles, Broadway, playing with cop Elisa’s gun while they were in the kitchen. The gun goes off and accidentally hits Elisa. While she is hospitalized, Broadway feels incredibly guilty for shooting her, and takes his frustration out on any criminal he comes in contact with. The rest of the team thinks this was the work of a famous mobster, and plan to get justice.

This episode was initially banned due to the controversial subject matter of gun use and gun safety, as well as the disturbing image of Elisa lying in a pool of blood after getting shot. A few years later, Disney XD and Toon Disney decided to re-air it with parts cut out; instead of showing Elisa lying in blood, it shows a close up of her unconscious face instead.

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