Mewtwo is a Psychic-type legendary Pokémon who debuted as #150 in Pokémon Red and Green on February 27, 1996, created in the game's lore by scientists splicing Mew's DNA. The character grew into a fan favorite through the 1998 anime film, Super Smash Bros. appearances, and an annual February 6 fan art tradition celebrating its in-game birthday.
Origin
Mewtwo first appeared in Pokémon Red and Green, released in Japan on February 27, 1996[1]. In-game lore states that scientists altered the DNA of an embryo inside a pregnant Mew to engineer the new Pokémon, and Mew gave birth on February 6[3]. Mewtwo grew too powerful to control, destroyed the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island, and fled to Cerulean Cave, where players can only encounter it after beating the Elite Four[1].
- Platform: Pokémon Red and Green (video game) / Twitter (fan art tradition)
- Creator: Game Freak
- Date: 1996
Overview
Mewtwo's appeal comes from its status as a genetically engineered legendary Pokémon with a villainous backstory, ranked as one of the most powerful and popular monsters in the series[3]. Fans latched onto the character as a rare Pokémon willing to challenge trainers, destroy its own creators, and speak in full sentences in the anime[7]. That dark energy carried across the mainline games, the first Pokémon film, and later fighting game crossovers, keeping Mewtwo in rotation for nearly three decades[1].
Every February 6, artists on Twitter mark Mewtwo's canonical in-game birthday with new illustrations, a tradition large enough that Twitter Moments compiled a highlight reel of the 2018 posts[5]. The character sits at #150 in the original 151-Pokémon roster and is one of the few first-generation legendaries to get repeat starring roles across later generations[1].
How It Spread
The Pokémon anime rewrote Mewtwo's backstory for the 1998 film Pokémon: The First Movie, framing it as a Team Rocket experiment that turns on its creators, destroys the HQ, and escapes to New Island to challenge trainers before a climactic fight against Mew[2]. The film cemented Mewtwo as the franchise's most recognizable villain-Pokémon.
Mewtwo returned as a catchable Pokémon in later remakes and picked up two Mega Evolution forms in Pokémon X&Y for the sixth generation[1]. Beyond the mainline titles, it appeared as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and got a starring slot in Pokkén Tournament[4]. It also filled the endgame boss role in the first Pokémon Stadium game[6].
Fan art built the third pillar of Mewtwo's staying power. Because February 6 is Mewtwo's birthday in the games, illustrators post tribute art every year, and Twitter Moments packaged the 2018 wave into a curated collection[5].
How to Use
The Mewtwo fan art tradition typically happens on February 6, the character's in-game birthday, when artists post original illustrations under Mewtwo tags on Twitter and other platforms[5]. Common conventions include showing Mewtwo mid-Psychic-attack, referencing the anime film's cape-and-armor look, or drawing it alongside Mew as a nod to the creation lore[3].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mewtwo?
Mewtwo is a Psychic-type legendary Pokémon and the 150th entry in the original Pokédex, created in-lore by scientists who spliced the DNA of Mew[1].
Where did Mewtwo come from?
Mewtwo debuted in Pokémon Red and Green, released in Japan on February 27, 1996[1], and got a reworked origin story as a Team Rocket experiment in the 1998 anime film[3].
What does Mewtwo mean?
Fans view Mewtwo as the rare 'cool' Pokémon, a genetically engineered outcast that seeks power and turns on the humans who made it[7].
How do you use Mewtwo?
In Red and Green, players can catch Mewtwo in Cerulean Cave only after defeating the Elite Four[1]; outside the games, fans post original Mewtwo fan art every February 6 to mark its birthday[5].
Is Mewtwo still popular?
Yes, the February 6 birthday fan art tradition is still active on Twitter[5] and Mewtwo picked up two Mega Evolution forms in the sixth-generation Pokémon X&Y games[1].
