The Pokémon anime was banned in Turkey in December 2000 following a series of incidents where children attempted to imitate characters from the show, leading to serious injuries.([JordanThrilla][1])
### What Happened?
Two notable incidents occurred:
* On November 22, 2000, an 11-year-old boy in Konya tragically died after leaping from a balcony while wearing a homemade Pokémon costume, attempting to fly like the characters.([expertbeacon.com][2])
* Just three days later, on November 25, a 7-year-old girl in Kilis jumped from her fifth-floor balcony trying to imitate Pikachu and glide through the air. She survived but sustained serious injuries. ([expertbeacon.com][2])
These incidents prompted Turkey's Health Minister, Osman Durmus, to call for an expert study on the effects of Pokémon on children. The study concluded that the show caused children to lose touch with reality and desensitized them to violence. As a result, the Radio and Television High Council ordered the TV channel ATV to stop airing the series and imposed a one-day broadcasting blackout as a penalty. ([Awn][3], [JordanThrilla][1], [CNN][4])
### Long-Term Impact
Despite the ban on the anime, Pokémon video games remained legal and popular in Turkey. Fans continued to engage with the franchise through games, VPN access to international content, and informal channels. Attempts to lift the ban, including appeals in 2016 and 2021, were unsuccessful, with regulators citing ongoing concerns about children's safety and media influence. ([expertbeacon.com][2])
The Turkish case remains one of the most prominent examples of a country banning Pokémon due to concerns over children's behavior and media influence.
