The Pokémon franchise may be known for its kid-friendly approach, but even a beloved brand has its share of eyebrow-raising moments. While the franchise typically appeals to young fans and their families, certain Pokémon cards have crossed the line, either through controversial artwork or even legal complications.
In this top 10 list, we’re exploring some controversial cards that raised enough alarms to be revamped or even removed entirely from circulation.
Enjoy!
10. Ghost Pokemon are too ghost-like for the west
We all know Gengar belongs to the Ghost line of Pokémon, so it’s only fitting to see it in a spooky setting… like a graveyard, right? That’s exactly what the Japanese Gym Heroes release of Sabrina’s Gengar depicted—a mist-filled, eerie area with stone crosses that look like gravestones.
The English department wasn’t too keen on this and made a change, but surprisingly, not a complete overhaul. They kept Gengar’s character but covered up the graveyard with a holographic foil.
The English version still slaps IMO though.
9. Pokemon drink… Cow’s milk?!
Enough to make any grandparent or parent blush when a kid asks what little Sentret is doing to the cow in this Trainer card from Neo Genesis.
Now, I get it—maybe it’s just nature… or is it? Does this mean Pokémon need cow’s milk to grow up big and strong? Or is it simply a tasty treat? Does this imply that other Pokémon species enjoy milk from Earth animals? What’s next—a Tyranitar drinking goat’s milk? So many questions.
Thankfully, they swapped it out for Moo-Moo Milk in the English version, sparing me (and many others) a mental breakdown.
8. Hustling in the Game Corner
We all remember the days spent grinding in the Game Corner during the Gen 1 Pokémon Game Boy era. It makes you wonder if those hours spent, effectively gambling, might explain a bit of why I have a c̶r̶i̶p̶p̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶g̶a̶m̶b̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶d̶d̶i̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ fascination with the bright lights and tech of slot machines.
Well, the powers that be in the West certainly found it problematic. To address this, the 2000 English Neo Genesis set renamed the card to Arcade Game (the Japanese version translates to “Slot Machine”). The artwork also saw a slight crop, showing only a single slot machine screen, while the Game Corner was kept strictly within the games.
7. Magmortar’s links to NRA
This one’s straightforward—it’s a Magmortar from Japan’s Dragon Blade set (2012) aiming a firearm-like arm cannon right at anyone who locks eyes with it. No surprise it got altered for international releases. Cool artwork, though; probably just best kept away from the kiddos.
6. Sabrina giving us the middle finger
Sabrina’s Gaze from Leader’s Stadium didn’t immediately strike me as problematic. I actually had to read up on it to understand why it caused a stir.
Sure, once it’s pointed out, you can see it—and once school kids figure out what it could mean, you can bet a few teachers might get flipped off for no apparent reason. Poor teachers.
Anyway, if she is giving us the finger, it might just be her reaction to a well-known glitch in Pokémon Green, where she’s programmed to automatically hand over her badge. Can’t blame her for being a bit annoyed
5. Kadabra’s war with Uri Geller
Noticed Kadabra’s was missing for a while? There’s a reason for that—and it’s all because of Uri Geller. His claim to fame was bending spoons (of course, later debunked) with his mind. So, when Kadabra, a psychic-type Pokémon, was depicted holding spoons, well… you can guess what happened next.
While Kadabra wasn’t explicitly altered or re-released, it was effectively banned from appearing anywhere from 2003 to 2023. Thankfully, Geller had a change of heart, lifting the ban, and now we’ve seen Kadabra’s first reappearance in 20 years in the 2024 Pokémon 151 set.
Fresh out of Poké-prison after a 20 stretch, respect.
4. Koga’s brush with fascism
This Gym Challenge Trainer Card stirred up some controversy as it features a symbol that looks a lot like the Nazi emblem.
Thing is, this symbol actually has deep roots in Buddism, where it stands for peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, when it’s rotated and without dots at the end of each ‘arm’, it resembles the Nazi symbol infamous in the West.
Could the illustrator or team have spotted this? Maybe, but awareness around this association varies, especially in parts of Asia where it’s better known for its ancient, religious roots.
So, it’s likely just an unintentional oversight rather than a deliberate choice.
3. Grimer’s upskirt no-no
At number 3 on our list is the Japanese Team Rocket Grimer card from 1997.
At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between this version and the English one. But focus for a moment, and you’ll notice the shift in Grimer’s pupils. Why, you ask?
Well, it seems old Grimey here was drawn with a bit of an up-skirt view in mind. The artist placed what appears to be a schoolgirl with a short skirt near Grimer—and, let’s just say, the initial eye placement is questionable. Bad Grimer. No. Stop it.
Thankfully, in the 2000 English Team Rocket release, Grimer’s gaze was redirected away from the girl. It seems the three years between releases were wisely spent.
2. Jynx’s racism controversy
In the early 2000s, controversy emerged over Jynx’s design in the Pokémon TCG and games. In January 2000, writer Carole Weatherford noted that Jynx’s appearance resembled offensive caricatures from the past and called for a redesign.
Nintendo responded by changing Jynx’s skin colour from black to purple, first seen in the American releases of Pokémon Gold and Silver in 2000. This redesign carried over to the TCG, with five Jynx cards updated, starting with the ‘purple Jynx’ in 2001. The altered sets include:
- Base Set
- Base Set 2
- Legendary Collection
- Gym Heroes
- Gym Challenge
1. Naked Misty
Wow, where to begin with this one…
At number one on our list is a Japanese trainer card featuring Misty clutching her beloved Staryu, and, well, she’s not exactly dressed for battle.
It’s already a questionable choice of artwork, but then you remember that in the anime, Misty is portrayed as just 10 years old. If the red flags weren’t obvious to begin with, they certainly are now.
Now, you’re probably thinking, “Well, perhaps the card came out before the anime?” but, unfortunately, that’s not the case. This trainer card was released in 1998 as part of the Leaders’ Stadium set (released in English as Gym Heroes), while the anime premiered back in 1997.
Not a great look.
Thankfully, this artwork was swapped out for the Gym Heroes release, and frankly, we’re relieved.