Cloning

This article is about the process of genetic duplication. For the class of glitches, 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-related media, 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", which can capture already caught Pokémon, even those currently in their Poké Balls. Mewtwo 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. Most of the cloned Pokémon—excluding Mewtwo—appear visually identical to a normal Pokémon of their species, though a few of the clones have alternate markings 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

Mewtwo Bulbasaurtwo Charmandertwo Squirtletwo Pikachutwo ♂ Venusaurtwo Charizardtwo Blastoisetwo Meowthtwo ♂ Psyduck Vulpix Gyarados Seadra Nidoqueen Golduck Tentacruel Vaporeon Pidgeot Scyther Hitmonlee ♂ Sandslash Dewgong Rhyhorn Wigglytuff Vileplume Ninetales Rapidash

Breeding

In Pokémon the Series canon, 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 was introduced to the franchise, the Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia states that upon evolving from Nidoran♀, Nidorina are unable to lay eggs. Additionally, in the animated special, baby Nidoqueen were shown rather than the first stage of its Evolution line, 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.

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."

External links

• Cloning on Wikipedia

Related articles

Pokémon forms and variants Permanent Shiny Pokémon (GO · GO list · TCG) • Alternately colored Pokémon (animation) • Gender differences Form differences (GO) • Totem-like Pokémon • Brilliant Pokémon • Alpha Pokémon Form changes and transformations Mega Evolution (Shuffle · Masters · GO) • Primal Reversion (GO) • Bond Phenomenon Ultra Burst • Dynamax (GO) • Gigantamax (GO) • Eternamax • Terastal phenomenon Groups Totem Pokémon • Noble Pokémon • Titan Pokémon Regional forms Alolan • Galarian • Hisuian • Paldean Analogous species Paradox Pokémon • Ecologically similar Pokémon Species-specific Arbok variants • Pikachu variants (Surfing · Flying · Cosplay · Cap) Ditto transformations • Eevee variants Miscellaneous Giant Pokémon • Spiky-eared Pichu • Partner Pokémon (LGPE) Fusions (GO) • Human–Pokémon transformation • Talking Pokémon Side series original Colo/XD: Shadow Pokémon (Shadow Lugia · list) Spin-off original GO: Shadow Pokémon (list) • Battle-Only Form • Mighty Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Primal Dialga • Rumble: Toy Pokémon (Rusty Pokémon) Pokkén: Shadow Mewtwo • Quest: Pokéxel • New Snap: Illumina phenomenon Animation original Pokémon the Series: Pink Butterfree • • Crystal Onix Mirage Pokémon • Meta Groudon • Green-crystal Deoxys Manga original Adventures: Thu-Fi-Zer • Electric Tale: Black Fog • Golden Boys: Black Tyranitar TCG original Crystal Pokémon • Dark Pokémon • Light Pokémon δ Delta Species • • • Radiant Pokémon

This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.