IL023: The Tower of Terror

Synopsis
On their way to Lavender Town, the woods suddenly become foggy around Ash and friends. The group fight a bit and arrive at the ghost tower. They hear screaming from the tower and are afraid to go in. They eventually go in and see the place by Charmander’s fire. Brock and Misty leave the place because they are scared by a trick the ghosts played and leave Ash and his Pokémon to explore the place alone. They meet Haunter who Charmander starts to battle, it then makes a funny face causing Haunter to laugh. Charmander is licked and Ash calls him back. Haunter and Gengar try to be funny, but Ash doesn’t find it funny. Just as they are about to leave, Ash crashes after them causing the light above to fall on him and Pikachu; knocking them out. Haunter pulls their ghosts out of their bodies and plays with them for a while to make them realize how lonely they are. Ash says he cannot stay because he must become a Pokémon master. Just as Ash gives up on catching one, Haunter goes with Ash and scares off the other two.

Trivia

 * The episode was temporarily banned from re-airing on Kids' WB!  after the September 11 attacks. It was later put back into circulation.
 * Due to this, Kids' WB!  refused to give the tape to  Cartoon Network  for them to air this episode back in 2002. They have since conceded the rights to air it.
 * This episode's English title is a reference to the Tower of Terror theme park ride.
 * Gastly is shown to be able to create hands out of its purple surroundings.
 * In this episode, Ash and Pikachu share an out of body experience; a real-world phenomena.
 * The book  Night in the Haunted Tower  is based on this episode.