Mewtwo

Mewtwo (; Japanese: , Hepburn: ) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's ''Pokémon'' media franchise. It was first introduced in the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'', and later appeared in subsequent sequels and spin-off titles, such as '' Pokkén Tournament'' and Detective Pikachu. In the video games, the player can fight and capture Mewtwo in order to subsequently pit it against other Pokémon. The player can first learn of Mewtwo late in ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'' by reading research documents left in a ruined laboratory on Cinnabar Island where Mewtwo has escaped. Mewtwo is regarded as one of the series' strongest Pokémon, often referred to as "the world's strongest Pokémon" in various media, and was the strongest in the original games in terms of base statistic distribution. It is known as the "Genetic Pokémon" and is a Legendary Pokémon, a special group of Pokémon that are very rare and usually very powerful. Mewtwo has also appeared in various animated adaptations of the franchise.

Masachika Ichimura was the first to voice the original Mewtwo character in Japanese, and the creature's younger self is voiced by Fujiko Takimoto in the ''Sound Picture Box: Mewtwo's Origin'' CD drama and Showtaro Morikubo in the anime adaptation. In English, Jay Goede voiced Mewtwo in '' Pokémon: The First Movie'' (being credited under the pseudonym "Philip Bartlett") and the '' Pokémon Live!'' musical, while Dan Green provided the voice for ''The First Movie''s direct sequel, '' Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns''. Green reprised the role in the 2019 remake of the first Pokémon movie, '' Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution''.

Actress Reiko Takashima voiced a second, unrelated Mewtwo in the ''Pokémon'' anime special ''Mewtwo: Prologue to Awakening'' and its direct sequel, '' Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened''; this second Mewtwo is voiced by actress Miriam Pultro in the English dub. Mewtwo has featured in other game franchises, such as '' Super Smash Bros.'' series, in which Ichimura reprised in '' Super Smash Bros. Melee'' and Keiji Fujiwara in ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'' and '' Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. A third Mewtwo also appears in the 2019 live-action animated film '' Detective Pikachu'', voiced simultaneously by Rina Hoshino and Kotaro Watanabe.

Conception and design

Mewtwo is a species of fictional creatures called Pokémon created for the ''Pokémon'' media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Green'' for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'' in 1998. In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon. A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.

Introduced in ''Red'' and ''Blue'', Mewtwo was conceived and designed by design lead Ken Sugimori, and was one of the earliest designs created, preceding that of series mascot Pikachu. Standing tall, it appears as a bipedal feline. Mewtwo has a light gray physique with a pronounced tail and abdomen, large thighs, purple irises, bulbous fingertips, pronounced collarbone, crest-like pinnae, and a tube-like mass of flesh that connects from behind its head to the center of its upper back. Sugimori intended for the details in its shape as well as the look in its eyes to give off "an unsettling aura". According to Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara, Mewtwo was expected to be popular with North American audiences, citing their preference for strong, powerful characters.

Created as a genetically modified clone of another Pokémon, the ancient Mew, Mewtwo directly precedes Mew in the game's numerical Pokémon index due to programmer Shigeki Morimoto's last minute creation and inclusion of Mew into the game prior to release. Until the first ''Pokémon'' movie was released in the United States, Mewtwo was rarely referred to as a "clone" in Japanese sources. Kubo Masakazu, executive producer of ''Mewtwo Strikes Back'', explained that they "intentionally avoid using the term 'kuron' lone�� because the word has a frightening feel".

In the original games, Mewtwo is intended to be "the strongest Pokémon ever." Due to genetic engineering being applied to a sample of Mew's DNA in order to fully create Mewtwo's genome, Mewtwo is an extremely powerful psychic, with its abilities surpassing Mew's due to intentional alterations to the genetic source material. As such, it can use telekinesis for flight, to shield itself and to powerfully throw opponents aside. In addition, it is among the very few Pokémon capable of human speech, doing so via telepathy. Otherwise, it conserves its energy until needed, such as against powerful opponents. In addition to its psychic abilities, Mewtwo can also regenerate, which allows it to quickly recover from near-fatal injuries. For the sixth and seventh generations of the Pokemon video game series, Mewtwo has two Mega Evolved forms, Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y. These can be activated if the player gives Mewtwo either the Mewtwonite X or the Mewtwonite Y.

Appearances

In video games

In ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'', the player learns of Mewtwo's existence by reading research notes left in the ruined Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island. The notes say that a scientist discovered a new Pokémon in a Guyana jungle, that they named it Mew, and that it later gave birth to a creature they called Mewtwo; the game's Pokédex entry states that Mewtwo was "created by a scientist after years of horrific gene splicing and DNA engineering experiments". Mewtwo proved too mighty to control, destroying the laboratory and escaping. The player is later given an opportunity to capture Mewtwo in the Cerulean Cave, which is accessible only after defeating the game's final bosses, the Elite Four and Blue; in the remakes ''Pokémon FireRed'' and ''LeafGreen'' this prerequisite was expanded, requiring the player to explore more thoroughly and record information on sixty Pokémon species before access to the cave would be granted. Mewtwo can be caught in ''Pokémon HeartGold'' and ''SoulSilver'' in the same location as before after defeating all of the gym leaders in Kanto. The character was also the focus of a promotion and downloadable content giveaway for ''Pokémon Black'' and ''White'', debuting with its signature move "Psystrike" that can also be learned by leveling up. Mewtwo also reappears in ''Pokémon X'' and ''Y'' after completing the main story, and is one of the handful of Pokémon capable of using the new Mega Evolution mechanic, as it can transform into either Mega Mewtwo X or Mega Mewtwo Y. Mewtwo reappears in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, another remake of ''Red and Blue'', again in Cerulean Cave and is capable of Mega Evolution. Mewtwo is also obtainable alongside other past Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra, and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

In addition to being transferable to almost every mainline ''Pokémon'' game, Mewtwo has also made appearances in multiple spin-offs. In '' Pokémon Stadium'' and '' Pokémon Pinball'', Mewtwo appears as a final boss after all competitions have been completed. In '' Pokémon Puzzle League'', Mewtwo, voiced by Philip Bartlett, serves not only as the final opponent, but also as the main antagonist

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