10 Biggest Pokémon Controversies

There were three cards in particular which have caused controversy for The Pokémon Company over the years, and all three were changed for Western release. Two follow a similar theme, while the other one appears to come out of nowhere but does seemingly have more justification.

As should maybe be expected by now, the first two cards feature nudity, again with underage girls. Staryu’s card features it being held by a naked Misty for some reason, while Grimer is just a grubby pervert.

In the West, Grimer’s card has it peeking out of a sewer like a cheeky little Oscar the Grouch. In Japan though, his eyes are clearly tilted so he’s looking up a schoolgirl’s skirt.

Now for something completely different: Golbat’s card. No nudity is involved, but the topic is if anything even more sensitive, with what appears to be a Nazi swastika in the top left corner.

In fairness, this symbol is used to signify peace or celebration in Asia, even sometimes used for various holidays in China. However, knowing the significance of the symbol in the West, it was replaced by a completely different shape. Unfortunately, that’s not the only time Nazi imagery has featured in Pokémon...