Mimikyu
Mimikyu (/ˈmɪmikjuː/), known in Japan as Mimikkyu (ミミッキュ), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Mimikyu was designed by Megumi Mizutani and first introduced as part of the 7th generation of Pokémon in the video games Pokémon Sun and Moon. It is referred to as the "Disguise Pokémon", because it tends to disguise itself as a Pikachu in an attempt to make friends.
Mimikyu | |
---|---|
Pokémon series character | |
First game | Pokémon Sun and Moon |
Designed by | Megumi Mizutani[1] |
Voiced by | Billy Bob Thompson (English, Jessie's) Sarah Natochenny (English, Acerola's) Daisuke Namikawa (Japanese, Jessie's) Kei Shindō (Japanese, Acerola's) |
Mimikyu is a Ghost and Fairy type Pokémon that is known for its unique puppet-like appearance and ability to disguise itself as other Pokémon. Its body is covered in a ragged and tattered cloak, which it uses to hide its true form. Despite its menacing appearance, Mimikyu is quite friendly and only wants to be loved. It will however become aggressive when someone looks under its baggy disguise. In the Pokémon animated series Mimikyu is shown to be aggressive towards any Pikachu it sees.
Its name is a play on the word "mimic" and the Japanese onomatopoeia kyūkyū (きゅうきゅう, the sound of squeaking), sounding similar to Pikachu's own name. Mimikyu was introduced as the first Ghost/Fairy Pokémon in 2016.
Design and characteristics
Mimikyu is a small Pokémon, standing 8 inches (0.2 m) tall, and is hidden underneath a tattered cloak that is said to be made of straw. The cloak is shaped like Pikachu, and has black eyes, red cheeks, a black mouth, a lightning bolt-shaped stick that resembles a tail, and ears that are black on the top. It has beady black eyes that 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. It will occasionally extend a black appendage from beneath the disguise.[2]
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. Underneath the cloak, Mimikyu's true form is said to be too horrifying to behold, so it keeps itself hidden at all times. Its ability, Disguise, allows it to take a single hit without taking any damage, but then the cloak is damaged.
Appearances
Pokémon video games
The Pokémon video game series is a long-running franchise that has released numerous games over the years. The games typically follow the same general formula, in which the player controls a young Pokémon trainer on a quest to capture and train Pokémon. The trainer travels through various regions, battling other trainers and wild Pokémon, and collecting badges and other items along the way. The games have been released on a wide variety of platforms, including the Game Boy, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo Switch.
Mimikyu appears in Pokémon Sun and Moon as a dual-type Ghost/Fairy Pokémon.[3] 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 move that requires Mimikyu to know the move Play Rough and hold a Mimikium Z, "Let's Snuggle Forever",[4] It can be found on Ula'ula Island in the Abandoned Thrifty Megamart.[5] Also in both Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Mimikyu appears as a totem Pokémon. Mimikyu appears in Pokémon Sword and Shield during foggy weather, in a section of the Wild Area named Giant's Mirror.[6] Mimikyu is also present in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, found near ruins and in a forest called Tagtree Thicket.[7] It is one of the Poke Ball Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which grabs and damages a fighter when summoned. Mimikyu also appears as a Spirit. If its Spirit is equipped the fighter will start the match with a Death's Scythe.[8] Mimikyu also appears in Pokémon Rumble Rush, Pokémon Shuffle, Pokémon Masters EX, Pokkén Tournament DX[9] and Pokémon Go.[10]
The Pokémon anime
Mimikyu appears in the anime Pokémon: Sun & Moon, it was 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.[11] It later allies with Team Rocket when it sees them fighting Ash Ketchum's Pikachu, expressing its hatred for Pikachu as the reason it emulates the Pokémon's appearance.[12]
The Pokémon anime is a long-running animated television series that is based on the Pokémon video game series. It follows the adventures of a young Pokémon trainer named Ash Ketchum and his Pokémon companion Pikachu as they travel through various regions, meeting new friends and encountering a wide variety of Pokémon along the way. The anime first aired in Japan in 1997 and has since been dubbed and aired in many other countries around the world. It has also spawned several spin-off series and films.
Other appearances
Mimikyu appears in its own music video that was uploaded to the official Pokémon YouTube channel, rapping a song about itself in Japanese.[13][14] Mimikyu starred alongside Scraggy in a Looney Tunes-styled animation short uploaded to the Japanese Pokémon Kids TV YouTube channel.[15] Mimikyu also made a short appearance in the anime Pokémon Journeys: The Series. In the episode titled "That New Old Gang of Mine!", as Ash and Pikachu are searching for their friend Goh, you can see Mimikyu in the foreground carrying a Pinap berry. Mimikyu is accompanied by Bewear, Stufful, and Mareanie.[16] Mimikyu makes another appearence in the 16th chapter of the manga Pokémon Adventures, authored by Hidenori Kusaka and published by Shogakukan.
Reception
This section's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (March 2022) |
Kotaku called Mimikyu the "most brilliant and heartbreaking" Pokémon that Game Freak had created, noting the Pokémon's large Internet following.[17] Catrina Dennis of Inverse also observed this following, stating that fans had grown "obsessed" over it and that it "...pulled at players' heartstrings" .[18] Janine Hawkins of Paste had expressed belief that the online attention was a result of the character's design, writing that "fans have embraced the creature expressly because of [its] overt vulnerability ... Mimikyu was designed to emotionally compel us, and they've already been a huge success".[19] Allegra Frank of Polygon, David Lozada of GameRevolution, and Patricia Hernandez of Kotaku all stated that Mimikyu in the Pokémon Sun and Moon anime is the "...scariest and most terrifying Pokémon".[20][21][22] Michael Derosa of Screen Rant ranked Mimikyu second in a list of ten Generation VII Pokémon that make no sense, and stating that "..it must be quite terrifying, but it would have made more sense to show what it looks like".[23] David Cabalerro of Screen Rant, a Youtube channel that creates subjective opinions based reviews of media, ranked Mimikyu as seventh coolest ghost-type Pokémon.[24] Kevin Slackie of Paste also listed Mimikyu as the 8th best Pokémon.[25] BJ Colangelo of Syfy described Mimikyu as having a dark and disturbing origin, stating that "this poor little Pokémon is based on the Bugul Noz, a Breton myth of a kind fairy spirit that is so ugly, it's perpetually alone because no one wants to look at it."[26]
In 2019, the Pokémon Company dedicated the month of October to Mimikyu, paying homage to "this lonely, terrifying Pokémon – who really just wants to snuggle".[27] In the Pokémon of the Year poll held by The Pokémon Company, Mimikyu was voted the most popular Generation VII Pokémon, receiving 99,077 votes, placing it 3rd overall in the competition,[28] And as of 2020, Mimikyu had become more popular than Pikachu, the Pokémon Mimikyu tries to imitate in canon.[29]
Mimikyu items were sold in retail shops in Japan beginning on September 22, 2018.[30] On October 8, 2018, it was announced that Bandai would release a Mimikyu plush doll in January of the following year.[31][32] A special Ditto-Mimikyu plush, with the former Pokémon imitating the latter, was released alongside four other Ditto imitation plushies.[33] In 2020, a gold, silver, and platinum necklace of Mimikyu was created by U-treasure.[34] A Halloween Mimikyu themed meal was also released in the Japanese Pokémon Cafe during the same year.[35]
References
- ^ . Pokémon Center ONLINE. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022.
- ^ The actual Pokémon beneath the cloth can not be seen, or else it would cause "a mysterious illness, or even a painful death"
- ^ Nadia Oxford (9 December 2016). "Best Pokémon in Pokémon Sun and Moon". USgamer. from the original on 12 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ Jacob Kleinman (28 November 2016). "How to catch Mimikyu in 'Pokémon Sun and Moon': Location, true form and more". Mic Network, Inc. Tech.Mic. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ . December 20, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20.
- ^ Chan, Daniel (November 27, 2019). "Pokemon Sword and Shield: Where to Find Mimikyu". Game Rant. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ Galloway, Ryan (2022-11-22). "Where to catch Mimikyu | Mimikyu locations in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ Radulovic, Petrana (June 22, 2018). "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Everything we know". Polygon.
- ^ Frank, Allegra (January 11, 2018). "Pokkén Tournament DX DLC adds a fan-favorite sad guy and familiar legendaries". Polygon.
- ^ Lee, Julia (October 18, 2019). "With the Mimikyu costume, Pokémon Go finally got event Pikachu right". Polygon.
- ^ Christian Hoffer (25 November 2016). "Mimikyu Is Super Messed Up in the New Pokemon Anime". Comicbook.com. from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ Patricia Hernandez (25 November 2016). "Mimikyu Is Terrifying In The Pokémon Sun and Moon Anime". Kotaku. from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Allegra Frank (21 October 2016). "This Pokémon would like to remind you it's not Pikachu, thanks very much". Polygon. from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ Dustin Kemp (24 October 2016). "Pokemon's New Pikachu Ghost Is Twisted But Adorable, Its New J-Pop Theme Song Sums It Up". Inquisitr. from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ Lee Julia (5 June 2020). "New Pokémon animation is like a Looney Tunes short with Scraggy and Mimikyu". Polygon. from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Pokémon Franchise Gets 2 New Pokétoon Net Anime Shorts". Anime News Network.
- ^ Patricia Hernandez (13 July 2016). "The Internet Has Fallen In Love With Pokémon Sun and Moon's Pikachu Imposter". Kotaku. from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Catrina Dennis (15 July 2016). "Pokemon Fans Are Going Nuts For Sad, Adorable Mimikyu". Inverse. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ Janine Hawkins (25 July 2016). "The Power of Helplessness: Why Everybody Loves Mimikyu and Hates Popplio". Paste. from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ Frank, Allegra (January 27, 2017). "The Pokémon anime's latest episode proves Mimikyu is the scariest monster". Polygon.
- ^ "Mimikyu Is Terrifying In The Pokémon Sun and Moon Anime". Kotaku. 25 November 2016.
- ^ "Scariest Pokemon Ever - Most Creepy Pokemon of All Time". 22 October 2018.
- ^ "10 Generation VII Pokémon That Make No Sense". ScreenRant. April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Pokémon: The 10 Coolest Ghost-Type Pokémon". ScreenRant. March 18, 2021.
- ^ "The 100 Best Pokémon". pastemagazine.com. February 27, 2017.
- ^ . www.syfy.com. Archived from the original on 2019-07-31.
- ^ Alexander, Julia (October 1, 2019). "Pokémon's saddest creature, Mimikyu, finally gets its due". The Verge.
- ^ Hernandez, Patricia (February 27, 2020). "Google's Pokémon of the Year contest is a humiliating defeat for Pikachu". Polygon.
- ^ Hernandez, Patricia (2020-02-27). "Google's Pokémon of the Year contest is a humiliating defeat for Pikachu". Polygon. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
- ^ "Latest Pokémon Prize Lottery Features Mimikyu Circus Items". Anime News Network.
- ^ Barder, Ollie. "The Unnervingly Creepy Pokémon Mimikyu Gets A Plush Early Next Year". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ "Mimikyu Cushion Adds Spooky Cuteness to Trainers' Workspace! | Product News | Tokyo Otaku Mode (TOM) Shop: Figures & Merch From Japan". otakumode.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ "The New Ditto-Mimikyu Pokémon Plush Is Breaking My Brain". Kotaku. 8 October 2019.
- ^ "Pokemon Mimikyu Necklace by U-Treasure Now Available to Pre-Order". October 12, 2020.
- ^ "Pokémon Café summons Mimikyu for its 2020 Halloween-themed meal". Nintendo Wire. September 4, 2020.
External links
- Mimikyu on Bulbapedia
- Mimikyu on Pokemon.com
- 【公式】『ポケットモンスター サン・ムーン』 ミミッキュのうた (Official "Pokémon Sun and Moon" Song of Mimikyu)