The unsettling genetic experiment designed to be the world's strongest Pokémon

Entertainment · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born from horrific gene splicing and DNA engineering, Mewtwo was designed to be more powerful than its genetic source, Mew. This bipedal feline creature was engineered to possess an unsettling aura, capable of telepathy, telekinesis, and even human speech, making it one of the most iconic figures in the Pokémon franchise.

Mewtwo was conceived by design lead Ken Sugimori as a character intended to appeal to North American audiences through its sheer power. Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall, the bipedal feline features a light gray physique, a pronounced tail, and a unique tube-like mass of flesh connecting the back of its head to its upper back. While often called a clone, Japanese producers like Kubo Masakazu intentionally avoided the term 'kuron' because of its frightening connotations. This character has appeared in various media, including the musical Pokémon Live! and the Super Smash Bros. series. It even made a cameo in Detective Pikachu.

Players uncover how Mewtwo came to be by finding research logs within Cinnabar Island's derelict Pokémon Mansion during Pokémon Red and Blue. According to the lore, a scientist found the Pokémon Mew in a Guyana jungle before using extensive DNA engineering to produce Mewtwo. This process resulted in a psychic powerhouse with abilities far surpassing those of Mew, including the capacity for flight, telekinesis, and rapid regeneration. In the original games, the player can battle and capture this creature to pit it against other Pokémon. It is also one of the few species capable of human speech via telepathy.

The character's narrative depth was further expanded in the 1998 film Pokémon: The First Movie and the 1999 radio drama 'The Birth of Mewtwo.' In the latter, it is revealed that Mewtwo was one of several cloning attempts by Dr. Fuji, who also attempted to clone his deceased daughter, Amber. The psychological weight of its existence—questioning whether one's actions or their circumstances of birth define them—became a central theme of its character arc. In the film, the character's personality was made more megalomaniacal for English audiences. This change was intended to create a clearly evil villain.

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