Cloning
- This article is about the process of genetic duplication. For the glitch, see cloning glitches.
Cloning is a process that creates a genetic duplicate of a being that is or was alive.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Cloning has appeared a few times in Pokémon the Series, always in relation to the Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo. Its most prominent appearance is in the first movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back.
In the prologue to Mewtwo Strikes Back, The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin, Dr. Fuji creates an enhanced clone of Mew as requested by Giovanni in exchange for funding his primary project, a (failed) attempt to clone his dead daughter Amber, and three test clones of the Kanto first partner Pokémon.
In Mewtwo Strikes Back, Mewtwo itself makes clones (Japanese: コピーポケモン Copy Pokémon) of various Pokémon belonging to the Trainers who have come to New Island. Mewtwo captures the target Pokémon in special Poké Balls called "Mewtwo Balls"—even those currently in their Poké Balls can be caught by these—then sends these Balls through a special cloning machine. All of Mewtwo's clones appear to have been created fully-grown, unlike Fuji's clones. All cloned Pokémon—excluding Mewtwo—appear identical to a normal Pokémon of their species, though a few of the clones have multiple black horizontal marks on their bodies.
Mewtwo and its clones reappeared in the feature-length special, Mewtwo Returns.
Cloning also plays a role in the movie Genesect and the Legend Awakened, in which another Mewtwo was cloned from Mew's DNA by an unknown group.
List of cloned Pokémon
In the spin-off games
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, Clone Pokémon were made available, in celebration of Pokémon Day and the release of Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution on Netflix, from February 25 to March 2, 2020. While the first partner Pokémon were found in Raid Battles, Pikachu appeared as a photobomb encounter. When caught, Venusaur would know the move Frenzy Plant, Charizard will know Blast Burn, and Blastoise will know Hydro Cannon. Clone Pokémon also cannot Mega Evolve.
Clone Venusaur | Clone Charizard | Clone Blastoise | Clone Pikachu |
Trivia
- In an interview with @Gamer magazine, Junichi Masuda and Ken Sugimori revealed that there was originally going to be a Pokémon based on Dolly, the first cloned sheep, but was deemed "too controversial."
- In Pokémon the Series, cloned Pokémon appear to be fertile, even those that would normally not be. Baby Rhyhorn and Nidoqueen (not Nidoran♀) are seen in Mewtwo Returns.
- Notably, Nidoqueen was able to breed despite being part of the No Eggs Discovered egg group, meaning that it cannot breed at all. Even before the concept of breeding, the Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia states that upon evolving from Nidoran♀, Nidorina are unable to lay eggs. Additionally, baby Nidoqueen were shown rather than its first-stage of its Evolution, Nidoran♀. Whether the cloned Nidoqueen being able to breed baby Nidoqueen is a property of cloned Pokémon or an oversight by the animators is unknown.
External links
Related articles
Mewtwo Strikes Back | |
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Characters | Dr. Fuji • Raymond • Miranda • Corey • Fergus • Neesha Mew • Mewtwo • Pikachutwo |
Locations | Guyana • Old Shore Wharf • New Island |
Other | Cloning |
Soundtrack and Score | Soundtrack • Score Sound Picture Box - The Birth of Mewtwo Don't Say You Love Me (single) • Together With the Wind (1998 single) Pikachu the Movie Song Best 1998-2008 |
Adaptations | Manga • Novel • Ani-Manga • Picture book • A Pokémon Super Story! |
TCG | Mewtwo • Mewtwo Strikes Back • Striking Back Mewtwo Pikachu • Dragonite • Electabuzz Pokémon Illustrator 1998 illustration contest (Winning Mewtwo card) • Pokémon card art life |
Merchandise | The Art of Pokémon The First Movie • All Movies Perfect Guide • Pokémon Movie Companion Pokémon Tales Movie Special: I'm Not Pikachu! Topps Trading Cards • 1998 Meiji set • 1999 Burger King trading cards Poké-Packs first release • 1999 Burger King promotional Pokémon toys Game Boy Light special edition Pokémon Tomato Ketchup |
Misc tie-in media | The Birth of Mewtwo (prologue audio drama) • Pokémon Live! Pokémon Pop Quiz Pokémon Puzzle League • Mewtwo (Super Smash Bros.) |
Event distributions | Pokémon Rally 2017 Mew • Pocket Monsters the Movie Mew |
Related animation | EP065 (preceding TV episode) The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin (prologue) • Mewtwo Returns (sequel) Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (CGI remake) Pikachu's Vacation (Pikachu short) Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture • Pikachu the Movie Memorial |
Genesect and the Legend Awakened | |
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Characters | Diona • Eric • Mewtwo's creators • Mother and daughter • Neva • Tanner Genesect • Mewtwo |
Locations | New Tork City • Pokémon Hills • Absentia Natural Park • Genesect's home |
Other | Cloning • Fossil • Mega Evolution |
Soundtrack and Score | Soundtrack Smiling Face (single) |
Adaptations | Manga |
TCG | Genesect • Shiny Genesect • Eevee Red Genesect Collection • Mewtwo vs Genesect Deck Kit • EX Battle Boost Campaign Pack • Movie Commemoration Genesect Set • Genesect Sleeve Set |
Merchandise | Pokémon Movie Companion • Zukan BW Movie Set V6 • MC Fifth Generation movie sets |
Event distributions | Pokémon Hills Mewtwo (English, Japanese) • Cinema Genesect (Japanese, Korean) • P2 Laboratory Genesect Eevee House Sylveon Shiny Genesect C-Gear Skin Tretta (Eevee, Red Genesect) |
Related animation | Eevee & Friends (Pikachu short) Top Secret Internal Team Plasma Genesect Video (prolgue) • Mewtwo — Prologue to Awakening (prologue) BW123 (following TV episode) |
Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution | |
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Characters | Dr. Fuji • Raymond • Miranda • Corey • Fergus • Neesha • Mother and daughter Mew • Mewtwo • Pikachutwo |
Locations | Guyana • Old Shore Wharf • New Island |
Other | Cloning |
Soundtrack and Score | Soundtrack • Single Together With the Wind (2019 single) |
Adaptations | Manga |
TCG | Armored Mewtwo • Mewtwo & Mew-GX • Charizard • Pikachu • Ancient Mew Fall 2019 Collector Chest • Special Advance Ticket 7-Eleven Limited Set • Mewtwo & Mew-GX Special Jumbo Card Pack • card sleeves |
Event distributions | LGPE Professor's Mewtwo (Korean) • SwSh Ash's Charizard GO events (Armored Mewtwo • Clone Pokémon) Mezastar tags (Mewtwo) |
Related animation | EP065 (preceding TV episode) The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin (prologue) • Mewtwo Returns (sequel) Mewtwo Strikes Back (original film) |
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