The Pokémon anime has delivered hundreds of episodes across multiple regions, featuring everything from intense Gym battles to heartwarming goodbyes. While many episodes follow the familiar rhythm of adventure, training, and friendship, there are a few that completely break the mold, leaving fans shocked, emotional, or simply stunned.
Among all of them, one episode stands out as the most unexpected in Pokémon anime history—an episode that took a dark, surreal turn no one saw coming:
“The Tower of Terror” (Season 1, Episode 23)
Yes, we’re going all the way back to Kanto, where one eerie episode left young viewers both laughing and low-key traumatized.
Let’s break down what makes this episode so iconic, strange, and utterly unexpected—even by today’s standards.
The Haunter Hunt
At this point in the anime, Ash is traveling through Kanto with Pikachu, Misty, and Brock. He’s just faced a crushing defeat against Sabrina, the Saffron City Gym Leader, whose psychic powers are so strong, she turns people into dolls.
After that chilling encounter, Ash is told that the only way to beat her is by catching a Ghost-type Pokémon. That sets the stage for a trip to Lavender Town, home of the Pokémon Tower—a place notorious in the games for being filled with ghostly spirits and eerie backstories.
Fans expected a spooky episode. What they got was something else entirely.
The Moment That Shocked Everyone
Upon entering Pokémon Tower, Ash and Pikachu meet the Ghost trio: Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar. But here’s where things go from spooky to straight-up surreal.
Ash and Pikachu are playing around with the ghosts, when a chandelier falls from the ceiling and crashes right on top of them.
And then… Ash dies.
Yes, seriously.
For several minutes of the episode, Ash and Pikachu’s spirits leave their bodies. They float around as ghostly versions of themselves, invisible to Misty and Brock. The ghosts take them on a joyride through the spirit world, laughing and flying through walls like it’s an episode of Looney Tunes meets The Twilight Zone.
For a children’s show, especially one as formulaic as Pokémon was at the time, this twist was jaw-droppingly bizarre. The series had never—and has rarely since—tackled death so directly, especially with its main character.
The Blend of Comedy and Darkness
What makes “The Tower of Terror” so memorable is its weird tonal blend. It’s not full-on horror, but it’s definitely unsettling. At one moment, you’re watching ghost Pokémon pull pranks and make silly faces. The next, you’re realizing that Ash’s body is lying on the ground motionless.
This tonal shift was deeply unexpected for a show that usually stuck to a safe, upbeat formula.
And yet, it works.
- The humor keeps the mood from becoming too dark.
- The visuals—especially the floating souls of Ash and Pikachu—are genuinely haunting.
- The resolution feels warm: Haunter follows Ash and later helps him defeat Sabrina, fulfilling the episode’s purpose.
Why It Still Stands Out Today
More than two decades later, “The Tower of Terror” still holds up as one of the most talked-about episodes of the original anime. Here’s why:
- It dared to explore life after death in a show where Pokémon “faint” instead of die.
- It broke the rules of narrative structure with Ash’s temporary death, something that would never happen in most kid-focused anime.
- It humanized ghost Pokémon—showing that they weren’t just creepy or mysterious, but fun-loving and misunderstood, a theme that would echo throughout later generations.
Few episodes have had the emotional and narrative range this one packed into 22 minutes.
Honorable Mentions: Other Unexpected Pokémon Episodes
While “The Tower of Terror” takes the top spot, here are a few other episodes that delivered some truly unexpected twists:
- “Bye Bye Butterfree” – The emotional goodbye that proved Pokémon could make us cry.
- “The Legend of Dratini” – Banned in the West due to gun scenes, making it a mysterious “lost” episode for many.
- “Pokémon: I Choose You!” (Movie) – When Ash seemingly dies (again!) and Pikachu talks, breaking hearts and minds alike.
- “Pikachu’s Goodbye” – Teased fans with the idea of Pikachu leaving Ash forever. Cue tears.
But none of them blend comedy, death, ghost Pokémon, and haunted houses quite like “The Tower of Terror.”
Conclusion
“The Tower of Terror” remains the most unexpected episode in the Pokémon anime not because of shocking battles or epic reveals, but because it dared to do something weird. It took risks. It gave kids a dose of the surreal and the spooky while still delivering heart and humor.
It’s the kind of episode that makes you stop and say, “Wait… did that really just happen?” And decades later, the answer is still: Yes. It did.
💬 Did you watch “The Tower of Terror” as a kid? What was your reaction? Did it confuse you, scare you, or make you laugh? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’re dying to hear them (pun intended).