Mew (Pokémon)

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Mew
Pokémon series character
National Pokédex
Mewtwo - Mew (#151) - Chikorita
First gamePokémon Red and Blue

Mew (ミュウ, Myū) is one of the fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri.

Mew has been considered a legendary Pokémon in the Pokémon anime and films ever since its first appearance in Pokémon: The First Movie as a main character, alongside Mewtwo. It was resurrected from a fossilized hair found in the Amazon River by a team of scientists who used it to create Mewtwo, a genetically-enhanced Mew clone.[2] In the Pokémon video games, Mew has become much of a secret character. Apart from a now-famous glitch in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, and use of the GameShark or Action Replay, the only way to obtain Mew is through Nintendo promotional events. Mew is known as a "New Species" Pokémon because it was the "secret" 151st Pokémon when Red, Blue, and Yellow had been released recently, and Mewtwo was thought to be the last. Despite its rarity, Mew has become one of the most popular Pokémon.

Design and characteristics

Mew appears as a pink, feline-esque Pokémon with large feet, big blue eyes, and a very long tail. Its skin is covered with a layer of fine pink hair. By nature, Mew is known to be a playful and kind Pokémon. Its DNA is said to possess the genetic composition of all existing Pokémon species, thus allowing it to use all known Pokémon techniques.[3] Though Mew has a pink colouration in the games, it has always been shown with white fur in the anime.

In the video games

Mew is a legendary Pokémon from the first generation, along with Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Mewtwo. However, unlike those Pokémon, Mew cannot be obtained within the game except by various Nintendo promotional events and a glitch. The glitch, which involves exploiting small delays before certain events such as the initiation of a battle, has spawned many parodies in which pranksters fabricate complicated and completely untrue "glitches". Although it is not encouraged by Nintendo, Mew, like other Pokémon, can be obtained with the GameShark and Action Replay.

In the video games, it is possible for Mew to learn any move that is a Technical or Hidden Machine, or is taught by the Move Tutor, and also a few of its own. Other than Ditto, it is the only Pokémon that can shapeshift by learning Transform.

Mew is mentioned in journal entries found in the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island, stating that it was discovered deep in the jungles of Guyana, South America, on July 5 (the year is not specified),[4] and named on July 10,[5] and that it "gave birth" to Mewtwo on February 6.[6]

Mew is also available in Pokémon Emerald via a Nintendo promotional event. After downloaded to the player's game, a man gives the player an "Old Sea Chart" which allows you access to a secret island, called Faraway Island. Many fans were very happy about this because Mew was previously only in the Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow versions and therefore could not be transferred to third-generation games. Since third-generation games can transfer Pokémon to Diamond and Pearl, Mew can be imported there. It can also learn Lucario's trademark move, Aura Sphere.

After transferring 1,000 Pokémon onto the WiiWare game My Pokémon Ranch, Mew can be traded for any Egg. It can then be transferred to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.

In the non-Pokémon-exclusive video games Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, there is a small chance that a Poké Ball item contains Mew. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it may leave the player with a CD, a rare item that unlocks additional music in the game.

Mew was used as a marketing ploy by Tajiri, where the creature was advertised as a secret Pokémon that was difficult to unlock. As a result of this, more games were sold.[7]

In the anime

Mew's first major appearance was in Pokémon: The First Movie where it served as one of the main characters. It was believed to be a long-extinct Pokémon whose DNA was extracted from a fossilized hair found in the Amazon River. The DNA was used to create Mewtwo, a genetically enhanced clone of Mew who becomes the film's main antagonist. In Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, the backdrop revolves around Mew's mysterious history and how this extremely rare Pokémon came to be so powerful. At the beginning of the movie, a Pokémon "family tree" is shown; the first Pokémon on it is Mew, and the last is Ho-Oh. Though it has made appearances in two of the franchise films and a special, Mew has not been featured in an episode as of the eleventh season.

In the anime, it is also capable of flight, teleportation, shapeshifting, summoning giant pink bubbles of psychic energy (which serve various purposes such as closing itself in for protection, acting as a cushion, or simply for Mew's amusement of bouncing on),[8] and rendering itself invisible.[9]

Cultural impact

Merchandising

Mew's likeness has been featured in Pokémon stickers, books, toys, and other media. At Nintendo promotional events during Pokémon Red and Blue's heyday, fans of the video games could pay to have Mew downloaded to their copy of Red, Blue, or Yellow.

Studies

The book Pikachu's Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokémon noted Mew as popular with younger female children who tend to be drawn to "cute" characters; Mewtwo in comparison was described as a polar opposite, popular with older male children who tend to be drawn to "tough or scary" characters.[10]

Notes and references

  1. ^ "Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold". PR Newswire. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  2. ^ Mew's entry on the Pokémon wiki. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
  3. ^ Pokédex: A POKéMON of South America that was thought to have been extinct. It is very intelligent and learns any move. Game Freak (2008-07-27). Pokémon FireRed (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo.
  4. ^ "Diary: July 5. Guyana, South America. A new POKéMON was discovered deep in the jungle." Game Freak (2004-09-09). Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo.
  5. ^ "Diary: July 10. We christened the newly discovered POKéMON, MEW." Game Freak (2004-09-09). Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo.
  6. ^ "Diary: Feb. 6. MEW gave birth. We named the newborn MEWTWO." Game Freak (2004-09-09). Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo.
  7. ^ "Pokémania: Secrets Behind the International Phenomenon" (PDF). Columbia Business School. 2000-02-07. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  8. ^ Pocket Monsters Mewtwo no Gyakushū (in Japanese). Japan: Toho/Nintendo. {{cite AV media}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |date2= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Pokédex: A MEW is said to possess the genes of all POKéMON. It is capable of making itself invisible at will, so it entirely avoids notice even if it approaches people. Game Freak (2003-03-17). Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo.
  10. ^ Tobin, Joseph Jay (2004), Pikachu's Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokémon. Duke University Press, p. 283. ISBN 0-822-33287-6.

External links

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