Fictional character
Mimikyu (ミミッキュ, Mimikkyu) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise, designed by Megumi Mizutani for the 2016 video games Pokémon Sun and Moon.[2] It is referred to as the "disguise Pokémon" in the series due to its appearance, which resembles a ragdoll form of Pikachu.
According to Pokédex entries, Mimikyu is a lonely creature who wears the disguise in order to seek affection from humans within the Pokémon world.[3] However, in the animated series, Mimikyu is shown to be hostile towards Pikachu, often attacking Pikachu on sight.
Design and characteristics
Mimikyu is a fictional species of Pokémon created for the Pokémon franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the series began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the video games Pokémon Red and Blue for the Game Boy.[4] In these games, the player assumes the role of a Pokémon Trainer whose goal is to capture and train creatures called Pokémon. Players use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon, and some can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution.[5] A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokémon index (Pokédex), a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia,[6] by capturing, evolving, and trading to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.[5]
Mimikyu is a small Pokémon, standing 8 inches (0.2 m) tall. The Pokémon itself hides underneath a tattered cloak, that is shaped like Pikachu, with black eyes, orange cheeks, a black mouth, a lightning bolt-shaped stick that resembles a tail, and ears that are black on the top. A pair of beady black eyes can be seen in the lower area of its costume, and a vague semblance of a lower body can be seen at its costume's hem. During some attacks, it will occasionally extend a black appendage from beneath the disguise.[7][8]
The cloak is so shabby and worn that it is almost unrecognizable as Pikachu, but Mimikyu wears it in the hopes of being loved and accepted, as its true form is said to be too horrifying to behold.[9]
Appearances
Pokémon video games
Mimikyu first appears in Pokémon Sun and Moon as a dual-type Ghost/Fairy Pokémon.[8] It changes its appearance when hit by an attack. Its ability, "Disguise", allows it to avoid damage from an enemy attack once during a battle. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Mimikyu can use an exclusive Fairy-type Z move, "Let's Snuggle Forever", that requires Mimikyu to know the move "Play Rough" and hold a Mimikium Z.[10] It can be found on Ula'ula Island in the Abandoned Thrifty Megamart.[11] It appears in a totem Pokémon in both Sun and Moon, and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.[12]
Mimikyu appears in Pokémon Sword and Shield during foggy weather, in a section of the Wild Area named Giant's Mirror.[13] Mimikyu is also present in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, found near ruins and in a forest called Tagtree Thicket.[14]
Mimikyu also appears in Pokémon Unite, Pokémon Rumble Rush, Pokémon Shuffle, Pokémon Masters EX, Pokkén Tournament DX,[15] and Pokémon Go.[16]
The Pokémon anime
Mimikyu appears in the anime Pokémon: Sun & Moon, encountered by Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket. Meowth, being able to understand Mimikyu, is terrified by the unheard horrifying things it says. When the two of them begin to battle, Meowth lifts Mimikyu's disguise, and is nearly killed by the sight of its true appearance.[17] It later allies with Team Rocket when it sees them fighting Ash Ketchum's Pikachu, expressing its hate for Pikachu as the reason it emulates the Pokémon's appearance.[18]
Mimikyu also made a short appearance in the anime Pokémon Journeys: The Series, in the episode "That New Old Gang of Mine!" In the episode, when Ash and Pikachu are searching for their friend Goh, Mimikyu can be found in the foreground carrying a Pinap berry, alongside a Bewear, Stufful, and Mareanie.[19]
Other appearances
Mimikyu appears in a music video rapping about itself that was uploaded to the official Pokémon YouTube channel, in Japanese.[20][21] Mimikyu also starred alongside Scraggy in a Looney Tunes-styled animation short uploaded to the Japanese Pokémon Kids TV YouTube channel.[22]
Mimikyu makes an appearance in the 16th chapter of the manga Pokémon Adventures, authored by Hidenori Kusaka and published by Shogakukan.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it can be summoned with the Pokéball item, in which it will try to grab and damage a fighter when summoned. Mimikyu also appears as a Spirit in this game. If its Spirit is equipped, the fighter will start the match with a Death's Scythe.[23]
Promotion and reception
To promote Mimikyu, the Pokémon Company release a short video called Mimikyu no Uta, in which a Mimikyu raps in Japanese explaining what it is.[24] Items featuring the character were sold in retail shops in Japan beginning on September 22, 2018.[25] On October 8, 2018, it was announced that Bandai would release a Mimikyu plush doll in January of the following year.[26][27] A special Ditto-Mimikyu plush, with the former Pokémon imitating the latter, was released alongside four other Ditto imitation stuffed toys.[28] In 2019, the Pokémon Company dedicated the month of October to Mimikyu.[29] A Mimikyu costume for Pikachu was released on Pokémon Go for the 2019 Halloween Event.[30] In 2020, a gold, silver, and platinum necklace of Mimikyu was created by U-treasure.[31] A Halloween Mimikyu themed meal was also released in the Japanese Pokémon Cafe during the same year,[32] while in 2021 an Ichiban Kuji for Mimikyu featured a tea and sweets theme.[33] In 2022, an Ichiban Kuji for Mimikyu featured a café theme.[34] On December 7, 2022, Peach John released a collaboration with Pokémon that included a Mimikyu themed 3-piece lounge suite.[35]
In the Pokémon of the Year poll held by The Pokémon Company, Mimikyu was voted the most popular Generation VII Pokémon with 99,077 votes; this also placed it 3rd overall in the competition.[36]
Kotaku's Patricia Hernandez called Mimikyu the "most brilliant and heartbreaking" Pokémon that Game Freak had created, feeling that instead of fighting Pikachu's popularity with newer designs the developers embraced it "to great effect", and represented the possible envy other Pokémon as intelligent creatures may have towards said popularity. She additionally noted Mimikyu's immense popularity with fans since it was revealed,[37] a statement echoed by Catrina Dennis of Inverse.[38] In a followup article, Hernandez attributed Mimikyu's popularity to the fandom's own reaction to the "bombardment" of Pikachu in Pokémon media and merchandise, stating "Grappling with that reality is one of the best things the Pokémon games have ever done."[39] Edge also praised it as a "moment of self-awareness" on the part of Game Freak regarding the franchise's success, while indicating a broader change with Sun and Moon in contrast to the previous titles, "with everything shifted a few degrees away from normal."[40]
Other sources shared similar praise for Mimikyu's design. Madeline Virtue of Dualshockers called it one of the series' best designed characters, calling it "a star of the Pokémon world since its debut" and praising how well its design worked with the gameplay aspect of Mimikyu's Disguise ability.[41] Dennis Carden of Destructoid described it as one of the most pleasant surprise to come out of Sun and Moon, further describing it as "perhaps the most adorably creepy Pokémon to ever be conjured up by the minds at Game Freak" and its backstory "so tragically sweet [...] To put it simply, Mimikyu is a Mimikyutie."[42] The sentiment was shared by other contributors to the site, who echoed similar praises.[43]
