Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, also known as The Terrifying Mirage Pokémon in Japan, is one of three Pokémon specials.

Dr. Yung shows Ash and his friends holographic Pokémon, also known as Mirage Pokémon. They have no weaknesses and know moves that they normally can't learn. However, the Mirage Master kidnaps Dr. Yung and Professor Oak, and Ash and his friends are unable to rescue them because of an army of Mirage Pokémon.

This special is infamous for the voice cast change well before the special aired. The Pokémon Company said that they used the special for a testing ground for the new actors. Of the results, Ash's intended replacement, Kayzie Rogers, was replaced by newcomer Sarah Natochenny. Some liked the new voices, but most hated them. Petitions were created in order for the old voice actors from 4Kids Entertainment to return, even before the new cast's work was aired. Thankfully, most of the new actors (save for Ash and Brock's, both of whom still remain Replacement Scrappys) got better overtime, so the complaints lessened.

Tropes used in Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon include:
  • Anachronic Order : At the time the movie was first broadcast in the US, Pikachu had not learned Volt Tackle in the series. At the end of the movie, however, Pikachu delivers one to Mewtwo with no problem.
  • Big Bad : The Mirage Master, aka Dr. Yung.
  • Bruce Wayne Held Hostage: An interesting variation. Early in the movie, Dr. Yung is kidnapped by the Mirage Master, only for it to be revealed at the climax that Dr. Yung IS the Mirage Master, and the one who supposedly kidnapped him was just a hologram.
  • Continuity Nod: During a memory-probe of Pikachu, a screen displays Pokémon that appeared in the second through fifth movies. Ultimately, a holographic Mewtwo is created based on those memories.
  • Curb Stomp Battle: Basically the entire fight is this, as Mirage Mewtwo is far too powerful for all of the gang's attacks combined to even scratch.
  • Go Out with a Smile: Mew.
  • Hey, It's That Voice!: In addition to Kayzie Rogers and Jimmy Zoppi, Ken Gates returns to his old role as the narrator.
    • Dr Yung's voice would later be Harley in the main series.
  • No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Mewtwo vs Mew. It doesn't end well for Mew.
  • Off-Model: Justified because the animation studio responsible for making the special had never done any prior Pokémon-related work.
  • The Other Darrin: See above.
  • Powers as Programs: Quite literally in this case, as the holographic Pokémon are capable of using any attack.
  • Ridiculously Cute Critter: The mirage Mew.
  • The Sociopath: The titular villain, in actuality Dr. Yung, who places no value on life.
  • Take That: Against players who use hacking devices on their Pokémon games.
  • What Measure Is a Non-Human?: Mirage Mew. Dr. Yung merely views it as a glitch in the Mirage system, even as it was the closest to being a living Pokémon. Dr. Yung is also called out on preferring his Mirage system over utilizing real Pokémon.
  • You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Upon creating Mirage Mewtwo, the Mirage Master orders it to attack the other Mirage Pokémon that had been helping him up to that point.
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