3D龍（即多邊獸）在《寶可夢》動畫中引發的爭議，被稱為著名的「3D龍事件」或「寶可夢休克事件」，是1997年動畫史上最具影響力的事故之一。該事件發生在一集使用高頻紅藍交替閃光的動畫中，導致多名兒童觀眾出現光敏感性癲癇（PSE）症狀，其中一些甚至需要送醫治療。事件發生後，後果相當嚴重：該集被永久禁播，動畫停播數月，而3D龍及其進化型態從此消失於動畫中，這不僅震驚了觀眾，也對動畫產業產生深遠影響，促使業界正視閃光特效的安全問題。

事件集中在38集《電腦戰士3D龍》，於1997年12月16日在東京電視台首播。為了表現電腦世界的效果，該集後半段出現約五秒鐘的紅藍交替閃光，每秒12幀，明顯高於當時動畫的標準播放速度，視覺刺激極為強烈，對兒童而言過於危險。

播出後，觀眾反應驚人且迅速。大量兒童出現頭痛、眼花、噁心、暫時失明、抽搐甚至昏迷等症狀，總計有685名兒童被送往醫院急救。事件震驚社會大眾，也引發媒體廣泛報導，使公眾對動畫內容的安全性產生高度關注。對《寶可夢》動畫而言，影響極大：全系列停播約四個月，第38集被永久禁止播出，海外版本亦未曾播放。同時，任天堂股價因此下跌。動畫製作流程也因此改變，閃光特效在廣告前後被取消或嚴格限制，確保兒童觀眾的安全。

至於3D龍本身，事件造成其在動畫中的命運極為特殊。多邊獸及其進化型態多邊獸Ⅱ、多邊獸Z自此再未出現在動畫中，成為事件的「受害者」。這次事故不僅影響單一角色，也促使動畫產業重新制定國際閃光標準，確保未來作品能避免類似健康風險。

「3D龍事件」至今仍被視為動畫史上最著名的意外之一，它揭示創意表現、技術實驗與觀眾安全之間的微妙平衡，也讓後來的動畫製作更重視責任與審慎，特別是在針對兒童觀眾的內容設計上。

The controversy surrounding 3D Dragon, also known as Porygon, in the Pokémon anime is widely remembered as the infamous “3D Dragon Incident” or the “Pokémon Shock Incident” of 1997. This event occurred when an episode featuring high-frequency red-and-blue flashing lights triggered photosensitive epileptic seizures (PSE) in numerous child viewers, some of whom required hospitalization. The immediate consequences were severe: the episode was banned, the series went on temporary hiatus, and 3D Dragon and its evolutions vanished from the anime, leaving a lasting imprint on both fans and the animation industry. The incident also served as a wake-up call, prompting the industry to address the safety of flashing visual effects.

The episode in question, titled “Electric Soldier Porygon” (Episode 38), aired on December 16, 1997, on Tokyo Television. To depict the digital world within the story, the latter half of the episode featured approximately five seconds of red-and-blue alternating flashes at 12 frames per second—a rate significantly higher than normal animation standards. The visual intensity of the sequence was unprecedented for children’s television at the time.

Viewer reactions were immediate and alarming. Many children reported headaches, dizziness, nausea, temporary vision loss, and involuntary muscle spasms. In total, 685 children were taken to hospitals for treatment. The scale of the medical emergency shocked the public and the media, creating widespread concern over the safety of animated content. The consequences for the Pokémon franchise were dramatic: the anime went off the air for about four months, Episode 38 was permanently banned, and overseas broadcasts omitted the episode entirely. Even Nintendo, which held a licensing stake in the franchise, experienced a noticeable drop in its stock price following the incident. In response, production standards across the anime industry were revised, with flashing sequences before and after commercials being removed or heavily moderated to protect young viewers.

As for 3D Dragon itself, the incident had a lasting impact on its presence in the series. The Pokémon—along with its evolutions Porygon2 and Porygon-Z—never appeared in subsequent episodes, effectively making it the “victim” of the event. Beyond the fate of a single character, the incident fundamentally changed the way animated shows approached visual effects. It spurred the creation of international guidelines for flashing sequences in animation, ensuring that future productions would prioritize viewer safety and minimize the risk of similar health hazards.

The “3D Dragon Incident” remains one of the most notorious moments in anime history, highlighting the intersection of creative ambition, technological experimentation, and the unforeseen consequences of visual media on vulnerable audiences. Its legacy continues to influence how animators design effects, emphasizing caution and responsibility when producing content for young viewers.