Pokémon
Pokémon follows young trainer Ash Ketchum and his loyal Pikachu as they travel a fantastical world catching creatures, competing in gym battles, and fending off the bumbling villains of Team Rocket. The series runs well over 1,000 episodes across many seasons and this report covers the whole run; the vast majority of episodes are lighthearted and repetitive-in-a-cozy-way, with a handful of standout moments that are spookier or more intense than the baseline.
Most comfortable for ages 6 and up; curious, imaginative kids under 6 can enjoy it with a grown-up nearby for the occasional tense or spooky episode.
Episodes to know about
This episode ('Electric Soldier Porygon') contains a multi-second sequence of rapidly alternating red and blue strobing lights that caused seizures in hundreds of viewers on its original airing; it has been banned worldwide and should not be accessible on any legal platform, but parents should be aware if it is ever encountered on unofficial sources.
The three-episode Sabrina arc features a gym leader with frightening psychic powers who shrinks Ash's friends into tiny dolls, a haunted tower full of ghost Pokémon, and the separation of Ash's and Pikachu's souls from their bodies; spookiest stretch of the original series and may unsettle young or sensitive viewers.
In 'The Tower of Terror,' Ash and Pikachu are knocked unconscious by a falling chandelier and their spirits briefly leave their bodies; resolved playfully but can be alarming for little ones.