Tragic & Twisted Pokémon Series: Mimikyu

When people think of tragic and twisted Pokémon, Mimikyu is usually at the forefront of their mind. Despite being a fan favourite, Mimikyu is often considered one of the loneliest stories in Pokémon. He represents something that is an inbuilt fear in all of us. Whether a person, Pokémon or anime, we all dread the idea of being unloved and alone.

Mimikyu when he first appears to Team Rocket

Yōkai are spirits in Japanese, often mistakenly compared to demons, and Mimikyu was inspired by these often neutral and misunderstood beings. The eerie but intriguing links are subtle but seen.

Side note, Mimikyus have a 50/50 chance of being male or female, but we'll be using he here because that's what Rox picked for her Mimikyu plushie.

Mimikyu began his life as a lonely creature who craved affection. It was more than that. He was desperate for love of any kind. It's a feeling that resonates with a lot of us, and one that hits particularly hard for those of us who have ever been bullied, rejected or made to feel isolated.

The original Mimikyu concept art

Many think that Mimikyu is a shoddy knockoff of Pikachu, capitalising on the popularity of the anime's signature Pokémon. In a sad way, he sort of is.

Mimikyu doesn't actually look anything like Pikachu. He wears a handmade and battered looking Pika costume in a bid to be wanted. At least, it's most commonly shown as Pikachu. There are several examples of alternative outfits, but none that we could find are officially licensed. Given there are official accessories for Mimikyu in the GAME and Build-A-Bear lines, it seems he could adapt.

In fact, in episode 38 of Sun and Moon, ‘Mimikyu Unmasked!’, Mimikyu’s outfit does get badly torn. We don't get to see much, but Jessie does, and when she offers Mimikyu a few other outfits, he refuses. Some think that it's because he sees being Pikachu as his only hope and clings to that symbol of hope. If true, that means he can change outfits but doesn't want to.

Mimikyu picked Pikachu because he saw how popular the electric mouse was, and made his outfit in an effort to make friends the same way as Pikachus do.

Not only is it heartbreaking that Mimikyu feels like he'll only be loved by pretending to be a different Pokémon, but the childlike look of the costume is a sad symbol of having to do things without help.

The costume has the vibe of a kid wearing a sheet at Halloween and wandering the streets alone because nobody in their home cares enough to offer them even the simplest joy that most take for granted. The crumpled ear and crayon scribbled eyes show a desperate effort without support.

Pokémon Sleep suggests that the copying goes beyond the outfit, noting that Mimikyu copies many of Pikachu's mannerisms. These are so ingrained that the two sleep in similar ways.

Sleepy Mimikyu

A lot of yõkai wear disguises to be accepted, which is a big part of the inspiration for the Pokémon. There are many but a couple stand out as being very similar. Yurei, for example, are spirits trapped in the lonely limbo between life and death, and dress in funeral kimonos to cover what they are. They're a symbol of pain and longing, just like Mimikyu. Kitsune, Tanuki and Bakeneko all wear disguises since they're shapeshifters, becoming something more physically desirable to be accepted.

It hasn't fully been revealed what a Mimikyu actually looks like, but there have been glimpses in the anime. The black eye holes on the body of the costume are exactly that – holes. Mimikyu has purple eyes that are believed to be quite large. We also know from various angry scenes that they turn yellow when enraged.

Mimikyu glimpsed

Underneath the costume, Mimikyu’s body can be seen a little, both in the anime and in merchandise. It's black, and many thought this could be a shadow until it was later shown in the anime that he slips out a claw-like appendage of the same colour.

It makes sense, given other ghost type Pokémon have claws like Haunter, Banette and Dusknoir. Additionally, Banette and Dusknoir both have links to torn material, which forms a pattern with Mimikyu. As for the black colour, that is common in ghost type Pokémon too, like Duskull, Giratina Altered and Origin forms, Spiritomb and Gastly.

Even though there are so many similarities, there's one big difference. Mimikyu’s true form is meant to be so devastatingly frightening that seeing it causes illness, or in rare cases death. We actually see this in Sun and Moon episode 3 where Meowth takes a sneaky peek under Mimikyu’s costume and nearly dies from the shock.

If we go by game lore, Pokémon Sun's Pokédex, aims to confirm this potentially horrifying trait. It says, ‘A scholar who saw what was under its rag was overwhelmed by terror and died from the shock’ however, this could be an urban legend.

Mimikyu may replicate Pikachu, but Sun and Moon episode 3, ‘Loading the Dex!’ reveals that his mimicry isn't flattery. Mimikyu initially hates Pikachu and everything he represents. In a rage Mimikyu lunges right at him on their first – and a few other – meetings. It comes across as hurt more than actually anger.

It is really sad that Mimikyu is this way, and there's a painful irony in his type that makes this hit home all the more. Ghost and Fairy dual typing makes Mimikyu a rare being. Most Fairy type Pokémon want to share happiness with the world, but Mimikyu also craves it for himself. This reversal is like a reflection, which is what Mimikyu tries to be. It is both a mimicry and a cruel mockery.

One of Mimikyu’s common moves adds another layer of symbolism to this Pokémon. Mimikyu can use ‘disguise’ as an ability/move (depending on whether you go by the TCG, game or anime). This lets it absorb one attack without damage, amplifying how he uses his rag and scribble costume as a shield against the hurt that life throws at him.

Mimikyu is also the only known Pokémon capable of using the Z-Move ‘Let's snuggle forever’ which sees Mimikyu latch on to an opponent with dark energy, before tossing them away – presumably killing them.

It's not all heartache though. Mimikyu does find some acceptance. When joining Team Rocket, Jessie didn't try to change Mimikyu, and accepted him as he was. Not only that, but loved him – just as she did Meowth (who also features in our Tragic and Twisted Pokémon series).

Jessie and Mimikyu make a great team

By the time we reach episode 146 of Sun and Moon, ‘Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!’ Mimikyu actually sees his reflection during battle. He becomes so overwhelmed that he stops fighting. He chooses to walk away. Once again, he's alone, rejecting Ash's offers of support.

It may seem dark, but it is actually a moment of self-acceptance. He leaves and cries, but Meowth comes to his side. This moment is a beautiful one, as he cries at the end of a journey of self-loathing and hurt, but inevitably starts a new chapter as a beloved Pokémon. The closing image is a serene one, with Mimikyu peacefully basking in the company of his found friends, Stufful and Mareanie.

Mimikyu is described as ‘constantly crying and feels very cold’ in the Ultra Sun Pokédex. That may be the case physically, but there's definitely warmth in the end of Mimikyu’s story.

Thanks for reading about Mimikyu and the gloom of his journey. We have plenty more tragic and twisted Pokémon series entries to come, so feel free to check back in soon.