Mewtwo is the genetically engineered central character in Pokémon: The First Movie.
In the film, scientists create Mewtwo from genetic material connected to the mythical Pokémon Mew. The experiment produces a powerful Pokémon that struggles with questions of identity, purpose, and whether a created life can define its own future.
Mewtwo invites Trainers to New Island, where it tests them and creates cloned Pokémon. This conflict drives the movie’s action and gives the story a more serious theme than a simple tournament or journey. The film’s Japanese title, Mewtwo Strikes Back, directly highlights the character’s confrontation with the world that created it.
Mew and Mewtwo are often confused because they are closely connected in the story, but they are separate Pokémon. Mew is the ancient mythical species associated with the genetic material, while Mewtwo is the laboratory-created Pokémon featured as the main antagonist and tragic figure.