Inside the ‘cursed’ Pokémon episode that hospitalised 12k kids

Popular anime series Pokémon first aired in 1997 and continues to be a household favorite to the present day. 

And OG fans were devastated to learn that voice actress Rachael Lillis – who the voiced the characters Misty and Jessie on the beloved show – died at the age of 46 this week.

Co-star Veronica Taylor, who voiced the character Ash Ketchum, confirmed that Lillis died after a battle with breast cancer.

Rachael’s death is not the only tragedy that has surrounded the programme in recent years, as last year scientists confirmed that a Pokémon episode hospitalised thousands of children.

The cursed episode, titled ‘Dennō Senshi Porygon’, aired on December 6, 1997, and was never shown again.

Popular anime series Pokémon first aired in 1997 and continues to be a household favorite to the present day

The episode, titled ‘Dennō Senshi Porygon’, aired on December 6, 1997, and was never shown again

One hour after it originally aired over 600 children were rushed to hospital and claimed to have symptoms including convulsions, nausea and vomiting.

In the episode, main characters Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu discover something is wrong with the Poké Ball, and they journey inside it to fix it. 

There was then a barrage of red and blue strobe lighting when Pikachu launched one of his Thunderbolt attack.

The following day, TV Tokyo (the original network behind Pokémon) issued an apology and suspended the show.

In the days that followed the episode airing, a staggering 12,700 children went on to affected by it.

26 years after the episode aired, a study identified the real cause of the mass illness.

A study by doctors Benjamin Radford and Robert Bartholomew has revealed that while many of the first batch of hospitalised children were indeed suffering from epileptic reactions, it did not affect the rest of the kids.

It explained: ‘The victims were nearly exclusively school children in early adolescence; and anxiety from dramatic media reports of the first wave of illness reports was evident.’

Then it concluded that what thousands of the children had actually fallen victim to was mass hysteria.

One hour after it originally aired over 600 children were rushed to hospital and claimed to have symptoms including convulsions, nausea and vomiting

In the days that followed the episode airing, a staggering 12,700 children went on to affected by it

It said: ‘Media reports and publicity fuel the hysteria as news of the affliction spreads, planting the idea or concern in the community while reinforcing and validating the veracity of the illness for the initial victims.’

It comes after voice actress Rachael passed away after a battle with breast cancer.

‘Rachael was an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing,’ Taylor wrote in a tribute.

‘She will be forever remembered for the many animated roles she played, with her iconic performances as Pokemon’s Misty and Jessie being the most beloved.’

Taylor added: ‘I am not sure how this very dark void will be filled now that her light no longer shines in it.’

On the show that debuted in 1996, the Misty character sports a short orange ponytail and travels with Ash while specializing in water-type Pokemon.

The Jessie character is a member of rival Team Rocket who followed Ash and friends around often trying to steal his Pikachu.

Lillis’s sister, Laurie Orr, wrote in an update on GoFundMe that her health started to decline last week.

Pokemon voice actress Rachael Lillis has died at the age of 46 after battling cancer

Lillis played Misty (pictured) who sported a short orange ponytail and traveled with Ash while specializing in water-type Pokemon

Jessie (right) is a member of rival Team Rocket who followed Ash and friends around often trying to steal his Pikachu

‘This was unexpected and we are completely grief-stricken. My heart breaks losing my dear little sister, though I am comforted knowing she is free,’ Orr said.

‘She remembered many of you that she happily met at conventions, for instance, and related stories to us about the experience and all the people she appreciated meeting.’

In the Pokemon universe, Lillis also voiced the beloved singing Pokemon Jigglypuff and played the character in the popular Super Smash Brothers Nintendo game, according to Variety .

She also had roles in Your Lie in April, Hunter x Hunter, Winx Club and many more shows.

It was revealed Lillis was diagnosed with breast cancer in May and she had been living in a nursing home since January.