In the original American release of Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998, players who traveled to Cinnabar Island to battle the gym leader Blaine, first had to make their way through the Pokémon Mansion. Amongst the halls full of Growlithes, Dittos and Grimers, trainers could discover the secret of the most powerful human-made Pokémon (up to that point). “Diary: Feb. 6. Mew gave Birth. We named the newborn Mewtwo.” Those few words tell a story that the rest of the game fleshes out later to brilliant effect.
Mew was the most mythical Pokémon (until Arceus was introduced) that could learn any move and transform into any other Pocket Monster. The malicious Team Rocket wanted to make its own powerful monster, so they brought in scientists to help create it. In the original Red and Blue, as well and Silver and Gold, Mewtwo was “birthed” out of Mew, but, in Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee that detail was retconned in favor of “obtaining a new Pokémon from Mew.”
Fun fact: Ditto may just be leftover or failed clones of Mewtwo. That’s why Mew and Ditto are the only two Pokémon of the original 151 to know Transform and also potentially why the purple blob can be found in the Pokémon Mansion.
The lore of Pokémon is fairly complicated and hidden, with multiple timelines and Easter eggs alluded to throughout the franchise. Mewtwo’s birth note in that tiny book was one of the first major spoilers and anecdotes that the series has since become known for. Mewtwo, like Pikachu, has become a mascot for the series and has been shoved into multiple movies, manga and games. There’s a Mega Mewtwo X and Y, as well as the Armored Mewtwo who is making its return to Pokémon Go.
Fans celebrating Mewtwo’s birthday have flooded Twitter with their favorite memes and references to the all-powerful psychic.
Mewtwo holds a special place in the hearts of fans that grew up with the franchise. For enthusiasts, catching the one and only in Cerulean Cave with (or without) a Master Ball is burned into our memories. Crying at the final act of Pokémon: The First Movie as Mewtwo learns to trust humanity was just part of our upbringing. On February 27, Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, a Netflix remake of the original movie, will stir the nostalgia senses of those who adored the source material.
The purple-tailed beast might have started off as a genetic experiment, but it’s gained great admiration from gamers and anime fans around the globe.
