Mimikyu, known in Japan as Mimikkyu, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. It was first introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon. It is referred to as the "Disguise Pokémon", as it disguises itself to look like Pikachu to make friends. Its name is a pun of "mimic you", while also referencing the pokemon Pikachu. It is one of the most popular Pokémon.
Design and characteristics
Mimikyu is a small Pokémon, standing only 8 inches tall, and is hidden almost entirely underneath a disguise. It has beady black eyes which can be seen through its disguise, and a vague semblance of a foot or lower body can be seen at the hem of its disguise. It will occasionally extend a black appendage from beneath the disguise; the disguise has black eyes, red cheeks, a squiggly black mouth, a lightning bolt-shaped stick that resembles a tail, and ears that are colored black on the top. According to the official Pokémon website, Mimikyu is "dreadfully lonely", and in an effort to emulate the popularity of Pikachu, wears the Pikachu-like costume in order to make friends. Mimikyu is drawn to dark or dimly lit areas, and its health will decline if exposed to sunlight.
Mimikyu appears in Pokémon Sun and Moon as a dual-type Ghost/Fairy Pokémon, and changes its appearance when hit by an attack. Its special ability, "Disguise", allows it to avoid damage from an enemy attack once during a battle. In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Mimikyu was given an exclusive Z-move called Let's Snuggle Forever, a Fairy-type move that requires Mimikyu to know the move Play Rough and hold a Mimikium Z. Mimikyu can be found on Ula’ula Island in the Abandoned Thrifty Megamart. Mimikyu is one of the Poké Ball Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which captures a fighter when summoned. Mimikyu also appears as a Spirit. If its Spirit is equipped, the fighter will start the match with Death's Scythe. Most recently, it appeared in Pokémon Sword and Shield, in Giant's Mirror, in heavy fog, but it has an exceptionally rare spawn rate of 3%.
Mimikyu appears in the anime , and is encountered by Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket. Meowth, being able to understand Mimikyu, becomes in love by unheard horrifying things it says, and when they begin to battle, Meowth lifts up Mimikyu's disguise, nearly killing himself with the sight of Mimikyu's true form. It later allies with Team Rocket when it sees them fighting Ash Ketchum's Pikachu, expressing its hatred of Pikachu as the reason why it emulates the Pokémon's appearance. It joins Team Rocket in the following episode when Jessie uses James's Luxury Ball, which enables her to capture Mimikyu without the need to weaken it. A shiny Mimikyu is owned by Acerola, which is nicknamed Mimikins. Unlike most Ghost-types, Mimikins is the ghost of a deceased Mimikyu. This allows it to float and pass through solid objects. It is often seen outside of its Poké Ball.
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.
Kotaku called Mimikyu "Game Freak’s most brilliant and heartbreaking Pokémon that they’ve ever come up with", and noted Mimikyu's large Internet fan following. Catrina Dennis of Inverse also observed this following, writing that "a new, immediate obsession has begun to spread throughout the fandom surrounding one addition that has pulled at players’ heartstrings already". Janine Hawkins of Paste explained the online attention as being a result of the character's design, writing that "fans have embraced the creature expressly because of overt vulnerability... Mimikyu was designed to emotionally compel us, and they’ve already been a huge success". Destructoid listed Mimikyu as one of its staff's favorite Alolan Pokémon, stating that it is "probably going to be the star of Gen VII for a lot of people". Allegra Frank of Polygon wrote that Mimikyu "may be one of the most unique, cutest Pokémon to ever join the series", and Jessica Lachenal of The Mary Sue wrote that "Mimikyu is as mysterious as it is adorable".
