Top 10 Most Controversial Pokémon Episodes When it comes to the longevity of an anime franchise, very few can compete with that of Pokémon. It first aired in Japan on April 1st, 1997 with the episode "Pokémon, I Choose You!". As of this writing, there have been 23 seasons of Pokémon that aired all around the world and I still remember the first time I saw the anime. It had something for everyone whereas Dragon Ball appealed mostly to males and Sailor Moon appealed mostly to females. Or is that just me? But as light casts darkness, the series was bound to have some mishaps along the way. From scenes that North American parents won't find appropriate for their children to episodes that actually sent people to the hospital and episodes that upset fans in general, here are some to get started.